胃溃疡患者血清多肽类激素及胃粘膜中单胺类神经递质的水平及其临床意义

目的:分析胃溃疡患者血清多肽类激素及单胺类神经递质的水平变化及其临床意义。方法:选取2014年8月-2015年8月在我院经胃镜检查确诊为胃溃疡的患者103例作为研究组,另选取54例健康志愿者作为对照组。检测两组血清中胃动素(MTL)、肾上腺髓质素(AM)、胃肠激素胃泌素(Gas)、生长抑素(SS)及降钙素基因相关肽水平(CGRP),以及胃黏膜中血管活性肠肽(VIP)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)、P物质(SP)水平。结果:胃溃疡患者血清Gas,AM及MTL明显高于对照组,而SS及CGRP明显低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。胃溃疡活动期患者血清Gas,AM及MTL明显高于愈合期及瘢痕期患者,而SS及CGRP低于愈合期及瘢痕期患者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);胃溃疡愈合期患者血清Gas,AM及MTL高于瘢痕期患者,而SS及CGRP低于瘢痕期患者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。胃溃疡患者胃粘膜内5-HT,SP及NE明显低于对照组,而VIP明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。胃溃疡活动期患者胃粘膜5-HT,SP及NE明显低于愈合期及瘢痕期患者,而VIP明显高于愈合期及瘢痕期患者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);胃溃疡愈合期患者胃粘膜5-HT,SP及NE明显低于瘢痕期患者,而VIP明显高于瘢痕期患者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:胃溃疡患者血清多肽类激素及胃黏膜中单胺类神经递质的水平变化与疾病进展密切相关,对胃溃疡的诊断及疗效评价具有指导意义。     

棉花纤维发育过程中内源激素含量和纤维品质变化及其关系研究

以新疆棉区优质棉品种‘新陆早16号’、品质中等品种‘新陆早10号’和‘新陆早13号’以及品质较差品种‘02-DB’为材料,测定了棉纤维发育过程中内源生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA4)、玉米素(ZR)和脱落酸(ABA)含量和主要纤维品质指标的变化,分析内源激素含量变化与纤维品质形成的关系。结果表明:不同品种棉花纤维发育中纤维内源激素变化趋势基本相似,其差异主要表现在IAA、GA4、ZR和ABA的含量大小及峰值出现的时间方面。‘新陆早16号’在纤维发育前期有较高IAA、GA4、ZR含量和较低的ABA含量,表现出纤维伸长速率较高、快速伸长时期较长等特征;而且在次生壁加厚期ZR峰值出现较早,有利于棉纤维成熟,从而表现出较优的纤维品质。‘02-DB’在纤维发育前期由于ABA含量较高影响了纤维伸长速率和快速伸长期的时间,同时后期ZR峰值出现晚,使纤维发育受到影响,而最终品质较差。可见,在棉花纤维伸长期IAA、GA4、ZR含量高而ABA含量低、次生壁加厚期ZR峰值出现早则有利于优质棉纤维形成。     

The tyrosine‐sulfated peptide receptors PSKR1 and PSY1R modify the immunity of Arabidopsis to biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens in an antagonistic manner

The tyrosine‐sulfated peptides PSKα and PSY1 bind to specific leucine‐rich repeat surface receptor kinases and control cell proliferation in plants. In a reverse genetic screen, we identified the phytosulfokine (PSK) receptor PSKR1 as an important component of plant defense. Multiple independent loss‐of‐function mutants in PSKR1 are more resistant to biotrophic bacteria, show enhanced pathogen‐associated molecular pattern responses and less lesion formation after infection with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. By contrast, pskr1 mutants are more susceptible to necrotrophic fungal infection with Alternaria brassicicola, show more lesion formation and fungal growth which is not observed on wild‐type plants. The antagonistic effect on biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogen resistance is reflected by enhanced salicylate and reduced jasmonate responses in the mutants, suggesting that PSKR1 suppresses salicylate‐dependent defense responses. Detailed analysis of single and multiple mutations in the three paralogous genes PSKR1, ‐2 and PSY1‐receptor (PSY1R) determined that PSKR1 and PSY1R, but not PSKR2, have a partially redundant effect on plant immunity. In animals and plants, peptide sulfation is catalyzed by a tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST). Mutants lacking TPST show increased resistance to bacterial infection and increased susceptibility to fungal infection, mimicking the triple receptor mutant phenotypes. Feeding experiments with PSKα in tpst‐1 mutants partially restore the defense‐related phenotypes, indicating that perception of the PSKα peptide has a direct effect on plant defense. These results suggest that the PSKR subfamily integrates growth‐promoting and defense signals mediated by sulfated peptides and modulates cellular plasticity to allow flexible adjustment to environmental changes.     

Larval development,developmental arrest,and hormone levels in the couple Galleria mellonella (lepidoptera-pyralidae)—Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata (diptera-tachinidae)

During their growth on the substitution host Galleria mellonella, about onethird of Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata larvae undergo a developmental arrest in the middle of the second stage. To assess the extent of endocrine involvement, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroid (ECD) determinations by radioimmunoassays were made both on G. mellonella and P. nigrolineata throughout the larval development of this parasitoid. The transfer of G. mellonella larvae from the usual rearing temperature (27.5°C) to that required for infestation (21°C) significantly affects hormone titers: the JH level increases 10 to 20 times, while the ECD level becomes 10 times lower. The JH levels are lower in hosts with parasitoids in developmental arrest than in those with P. nigrolineata in continuous growth, but the high variability makes it seem unlikely that the titer of this hormone is critical in regulating development of the parasitoid. ECD levels are depressed in the hosts with parasitoids in developmental arrest and are increased when the parasitoids resume growth. Therefore, we propose that the main cause of the developmental arrest of P. nigrolineata is the low ECD levels characterizing some G. mellonella larvae for which the transfer to 21°C has induced some physiological disturbances.     

Pubertal timing, hormones, and body composition among adolescent Turkana males

The Turkana, like other East African pastoral groups, are known for their tall adult stature, achieved despite a blunted growth spurt during adolescence and continued growth into the early 20s. To investigate the hormonal mechanisms associated with the pattern of slow and continued adolescent growth, we collected data on hormonal status, height, weight, and trunk skinfolds and ethnographic self-reports of testicular maturation in a cross-sectional sample of 35 nomadic and 37 settled Turkana males aged 14-24. Hormonal determinations included testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in blood, in addition to urinary DHEA. Self-reports of testicular maturation showed no difference between settled and nomadic subpopulations. However, nomadic boys exhibited significantly higher levels of T, DHEA, and SHBG. Of all the hormones, only SHBG showed a significant relationship with age. Multiple regression models show blood T and SHBG to be significant independent predictors of achieved height as well as weight, controlling for age. Our results suggest that onset of puberty is substantially delayed among Turkana males, and that bioavailable T is related to growth in stature during adolescence. We suggest that SHBG acts to mediate the effects of energy availability on adolescent growth in this energetically limited population. Our findings may also have implications for understanding adolescent growth among Homo erectus.     

Dexamethasone regulates expression of BRUCE/Apollon and the proliferation of neural progenitor cells

Glucocorticoid hormones (GHs) regulate cell proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) contributing to reduction of neurogenesis after stress. We show here that dexamethasone (Dex) decreases BRUCE/Apollon (BRUCE) in cultured NPCs in a GH-receptor-dependent manner. Downregulation of BRUCE by Dex or using silencing RNA reduced the number of proliferating NPCs, whilst overexpression of BRUCE counteracted the effect of Dex. Dex also elevated the deubiquitinating enzyme, Usp8/Ubpy, which via Nrdp1 decreases BRUCE. The results show that BRUCE is a target for GHs in the NPCs, and that BRUCE controls cell division of NPCs and possibly of other stem cells.

Structured summary

MINT-7148564: Nrdp1 (uniprotkb:Q8BH75) physically interacts (MI:0914) with BRUCE (uniprotkb:O88738) by anti bait co-immunoprecipitation (MI:0006)MINT-7148555: Nrdp1 (uniprotkb:Q8BH75) physically interacts (MI:0914) with Usp8 (uniprotkb:Q80U87) by anti bait co-immunoprecipitation (MI:0006)     

A-level common core

The kidney is traditionally regarded as an exocrine gland, producing urine to regulate body fluid volumes and composition and to excrete nitrogenous wastes. In addition to these functions, it is now recognized that a number of hormones are produced within the kidney that have local and systemic actions. These hormones and hormonal cascades include the renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin systems, production of calcitriol, erythropoietin and prostaglandins. These hormones act to influence inter alia blood pressure, sodium and water excretion, red blood cell production, calcium homeostasis and the immune system.     

Isolated microspore culture of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a defined media I. Effects of pretreatment,isolation methods,and hormones

Significant improvements were achieved in the production of haploid and doubled haploid plants from isolated microspore culture of wheat c.v. Chris on a defined media. Procedures found to be of benefit included: A 7-day pretreatment of anthers in 0.4M mannitol plus the macronutrients from FHG medium; the inclusion of 4.5 mg/liter abscisic acid in the pretreatment solution; the isolation of microspores from pretreated anthers by vortexing; and the use of phenylacetic acid (PAA) as the auxin source in MS medium. The best response was achieved with 4.0 mg/liter PAA in MS medium containing 90 g/liter maltose as the sugar source. Under these conditions, 68% of viable microspores underwent division, and an average of 93 embryos and 92 green plants were regenerated per 100 anthers used. The root-tip chromosome number and the fertility of 114 regenerating green plants revealed that 75% were completely fertile spontaneously doubled haploids.     

In vitro stimulation and inhibition of steroid hormone release from postovulatory follicles of the tilapia,Oreochromis mossambicus

Summary Postovulatory follicles of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were incubated with graded doses of salmon gonadotropin to identify the steroid hormones released by this tissue. In addition, the effects of either cytochalasin B or colchicine on steroid hormone release were studied. After the incubation, the tissue was examined by electron microscopy. Postovulatory follicles released testosterone and estradiol-17B in a dose-dependent manner with gonadotropin. There was no detectable release of progesterone or 17a-OH-progesterone. When stimulated with high doses of gonadotropin, the steroidogenic cells showed an increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, and lipid droplets. Also, microfilaments became arranged in orderly bundles and were found close to the numerous secretory vesicles and lipid droplets. Upon incubation with gonadotropin and either colchicine or cytochalasin B, the cells still appeared steroidogenic, but the filaments were not organized nor associated with vesicles or lipid droplets. Release of steroid hormone decreased significantly. Also in these tissues, vesicles were no longer numerous in the apical region of the granulosa cells, but were located primarily near smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes. This suggests that disruption of the cytoskeleton results in reduced steroid hormone synthesis or release.     

Metabolism of steroid hormones by Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci

Previous in vitro experiments showed that both, Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium cysticerci have the ability to metabolize exogenous androstenedione to testosterone. Here we evaluate on the capacity of both cysticerci to synthesize several sex steroid hormones, using different hormonal precursors. Experiments using thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed that both cysticerci were able to produce ³H-hydroxyprogesterone, ³H-androstenedione and ³H-testosterone when ³H-progesterone was used as the precursor. They also synthesized ³H-androstenediol and ³H-testosterone when ³H-dehydroepiandrosterone was the precursor. In addition, both cysticerci interconverted ³H-estradiol and ³H-estrone. These results, strongly suggest the presence and activity of the Δ4 and Δ5 steroid pathway enzymes, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ^5-4 isomerase-like enzyme (3β-HSD), that converts androstenediol into testosterone; and the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase that interconverts estradiol and estrone, in both types of cysticerci.