Alterations in plasma essential trace elements selenium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations and the possible role of these elements on oxidative status in patients with childhood asthma

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the status of plasma essential trace element selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) concentrations and the effect of these elements on oxidative status in patients with childhood asthma. Plasma Se, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and Fe concentrations, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by the colorimetric method. The plasma MDA/TAC ratio was calculated as an index of oxidative status. Plasma albumin levels were measured to determine nutritional status. Plasma Fe concentrations, MDA levels and the MDA/TAC ratio were significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.01, respectively) and Se and Mn concentrations and TAC were lower (p<0.01, p<0.05, and p<0.01, respectively) in patients when compared to the healthy subjects. Plasma Zn, Cu, and albumin levels were not found to be significantly different in patients and controls (p>0.05). There were positive relationships between plasma MDA and Fe (r=0.545, p<0.001) and TAC and Se (r=0.485, p<0.021), and a negative correlation between TAC and MDA values (r= −0.337, p<0.031) in patients with childhood asthma. However, there was no correlation between these trace elements and albumin content in patient groups. These observations suggest that increased Fe and decreased Se concentrations in patients with childhood asthma may be responsible for the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance.     

真菌鞘糖脂的生物学功能及应用研究进展

丝状真菌作为一类重要的微生物，被广泛应用于发酵食品、工业酶和次生代谢物等工业生产中。真菌鞘糖脂主要由鞘氨醇、脂肪酸链和特殊的极性基团组成，根据极性基团的不同，分为中性鞘糖脂和酸性鞘糖脂两大类。鞘糖脂不仅参与真菌生长、细胞分化、增殖、细胞凋亡、逆境胁迫等重要生理活动，中性鞘糖脂还可作为功能性医药用品、化妆品和保健食品的重要活性组分。本文论述了真菌鞘糖脂的主要种类、结构、生物合成途径和及其参与丝状真菌生长、分化和响应逆境胁迫的生物学功能；探讨了真菌中性鞘糖脂作为抗菌肽的靶点和酸性鞘糖脂在开发抗真菌药物中的应用；同时还综述了中性鞘糖脂作为化妆品的保湿成分或保健食品的功能成分，在改善皮肤屏障功能和预防特应性皮炎中的重要作用的相关研究进展，尤其是来源于曲霉的中性鞘糖脂，可显著增强皮肤屏障功能，并可作为益生元预防肠道损伤；另外还探讨了曲霉尤其是米曲霉作为开发中性鞘糖脂生物资源的优势。     

支气管哮喘患儿血清25 羟维生素D3水平对病情评估及临床转归的意义

目的：探讨支气管哮喘患儿血清25 羟维生素D3[25-(OH)D3］水平对病情严重程度及临床转归的影响。方法：选取144 例 支气管哮喘患儿为研究对象,依据病情严重程度分为轻度间歇组、轻度持续组、中度持续组及重度持续组,选取60 例健康儿童作 为对照组,检测血清25-(OH)D3 水平;在治疗4 周后应用儿童哮喘控制测试评分系统(C-ACT)对患儿哮喘控制情况给予评价,将 所有患儿分为未控制组、部分控制组及完全控制组,比较各组血清25-(OH)D3 水平的差异。结果：对照组、轻度间歇组、轻度持续 组、中度持续组、重度持续组5 组之间血清25-(OH)D3 水平存在显著的统计学差异(P＜0.05),从对照组到重度持续组血清25- (OH)D3 水平逐渐降低(P＜0.05);完全控制组、部分控制组及未控制组三组血清25-(OH)D3 水平亦存在显著的统计学差异(P＜ 0.05),从完全控制组到未控制组血清25-(OH)D3 水平亦呈现逐渐降低趋势(P＜0.05);血清25-(OH)D3 水平与病情严重程度呈负 相关(rs =-0.489, P＜0.05),血清25-(OH)D3 水平与C-ACT 评分亦呈负相关(rs =-0.470, P＜0.05);随着血清25-(OH)D3 水平下降 程度的加重,患儿发生重度持续发作、出现C-ACT 评分＜19 分的风险值(OR)则逐渐增大。结论：血清25-(OH)D3 水平与哮喘患儿 病情严重程度及病情控制情况密切相关,早期血清维生素D 水平对于哮喘患儿病情及近期预后具有一定意义。     

儿童癫痫的围产期高危因素分析

目的：研究儿童癫痫相关的国产期高危因素。方法：随访16986例新生儿后期癫痫的患病情况,分为儿童癫痫组与非癞痫组,比较两组各项围产期高危因素,进行单因素与多因素统计分析。结果：随访期内儿童癫痫的发病例数为118例（6．95‰）,癫痫的发病率在1岁以下的儿童最高（27．12％）。儿童癫痫的发生与孕周、高龄产妇、低出生体重、流产史、宫内窘迫、喂养方式、孕期感染、子痫、胎盘早剥、新生儿惊厥都有相关性,并且孕周、子痫和新生儿惊厥是儿童癫痫发生的独立危险因素。结论：儿童癫痫的发生与围产期高危因素密切相关,这对临床儿童癫痫的诊疗可能有提示作用。     

Maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the offspring: A population-based study in Northern Italy

IntroductionThis population-based study aims to evaluate the association between maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the offspring.MethodsAll 241,958 children born in three Northern Italy provinces 1998–2010 were followed from birth until first cancer diagnosis (National Childhood Cancer Register), age 15 years, or 31 December 2017. We computed hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of ALL in relation to the presence of maternal diabetes through Cox proportional regression models.ResultsWe observed 145 cases of ALL, with a higher incidence in children born to women with pregestational diabetes compared to the others (12.4 vs 4.6). Adjusted hazard ratio of ALL was 2.6 (CI, 0.6–10.5) for maternal diabetes.DiscussionWe estimated higher risks of ALL in the offspring of women with pregestational diabetes. These results are consistent with previous findings and compatible with a role of prenatal glycaemic environment in childhood cancer aetiology.     

小麦光温敏雄性不育系BS366铜锌超氧化物歧化酶基因的克隆及表达分析

超氧化物歧化酶(SOD,superoxide dismutase)是植物中一种主要的抗氧化酶,在植物应对逆境胁迫及抗衰老中起重要作用。本研究从基因芯片数据中筛选获得小麦Cu/Zn-SOD基因的EST序列,通过序列比对后拼接得到小麦Cu/Zn-SOD的候选基因,利用PCR技术在小麦光温敏雄性不育材料BS366中克隆并获得该基因。通过对Cu/Zn-SOD基因序列进行生物信息学分析,结果表明,该基因拥有连续且完整的开放阅读框,长495bp,编码164个氨基酸。氨基酸序列分析发现,该蛋白具有保守的Cu/Zn-SOD功能结构域与典型的Cu/Zn-SOD三维结构,且定位于细胞质中。通过同源进化分析表明,该蛋白与二穗短柄草(Brachypodium distachyon(L.)Beauv.)和大麦(Hordeum vulgare L.)的Cu/Zn-SOD蛋白亲缘关系较近,相似度分别为89%和94%。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术对其在小麦不同组织的表达特异性及不同逆境胁迫下的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,该基因在根、茎、叶、雌蕊、雄蕊、颖壳中均有表达,属于组成型表达,且在小麦的地上部含叶绿体的组织中含量较高;同时受多种胁迫诱导,可能参与了多种胁迫诱导调控途径。通过对该基因在不同育性环境中BS366育性转换期花药中的表达模式分析,发现可育环境下,在小孢子母细胞时期和减数分裂期的表达量分别约为对照的8倍与16倍;而不育环境下,该基因表达水平无明显变化。因而推测,小麦Cu/Zn-SOD基因可能参与了光温敏雄性不育系BS366的育性调控。本研究为深入研究Cu/Zn-SOD基因在小麦中的作用机理奠定了重要基础。