Expression of apoptosis-related genes in the endometrium of polycystic ovary syndrome patients during the window of implantation

The present study investigated the expression of the apoptosis-related genes fas-associated via death domain (FADD) and Bcl-2 in the endometrium during the window of implantation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. The aim was to explore the role of cell apoptosis in endometrial receptivity during this period. The subjects were divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group comprised 12 infertile women with PCOS, and the control group comprised 12 women who were infertile because of tubal pathological factors but had normal menstrual cycles. Endometria were collected by biopsy 7d after ovulation. Six samples from each group were randomly selected and subjected to gene chip analyses. The expression of endometrial FADD and Bcl-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry, and cell apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. Compared with the control group, 194 differentially expressed genes were found in the PCOS group, 102 of which were upregulated and 92 were downregulated. The differentially expressed genes were divided into 15 types according to function. Among the nine genes related to cell apoptosis, five (including Bcl-2) were upregulated and four were downregulated (including FADD). Bcl-2 expression during the window of implantation in the PCOS group increased compared with the control group, showing a significant difference (P<0.05). FADD expression in the PCOS group notably decreased compared with that in the control group, which also showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis analysis showed a significant difference between the average apoptotic indices in the PCOS and control groups (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed between the endometrial gene expression in the PCOS and control groups. The decrease in cell apoptosis during the window of implantation in PCOS patients may be one of the causes of the reduced endometrial receptivity.     

Analyses of chromosome copy number and expression level of four genes in the ciliate Chilodonella uncinata reveal a complex pattern that suggests epigenetic regulation

Exogenous wild-type p53 (wt-p53) tumor suppression increases the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. An iodized oil emulsion was used as a p53 vector for intra-arterial gene delivery to treat hepatic tumors. Whether the chemotherapeutic agent or the iodized oil affects exogenous wt-p53 activity remains poorly understood. In the present study, the early therapeutic response of rAd/p53, combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or with iodized oil, was observed in a human colon cancer model. Allograft models in 82 nude mice with human colon carcinoma SW480 were divided randomly into four groups and administered with physiologic saline, rAd/p53, rAd/p53+5-FU, and rAd/p53+iodized oil by intratumoral injection. At 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after treatment, p53 expression, the Ki-67 index (KI), and the degree of tumor necrosis were assessed. The p53 expression and tumor necrosis in the therapeutic groups were higher than those in the control group. p53 expression reached its peak at 120 h in the rAd/p53 group, at 72 h in the rAd/p53+5-FU group, and at 48 h in the rAd/p53+iodized oil group. The p53 expression in the rAd/P53+5-FU group and the iodized oil group was significantly higher than those in the rAd/P53 group at 24 and 48 h. The results revealed that tumor necrosis is positively correlated with p53 expression. The KI of the rAd/p53+5-FU group increased significantly at 24 h. 5-FU and iodized oil increase the anticancer effect of rAd/p53, and 5-FU combined with rAd/p53 has a synergistic anticancer effect.     

脑电双频指数监测技术及其临床应用

适宜的麻醉深度是保证患者的生命安全和创造良好手术条件的关键。脑电双频指数(bispectralindex,BIS)是用于监测镇静程度的一种新方法,自从临床应用以来它已得到多方面关注和研究,本文就其概念、原理及临床应用等方面进行综述。     

Specific features of ex‐obese patients significantly influence the functional cell properties of adipose‐derived stromal cells

Adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSC) are increasingly used in clinical applications due to their regenerative capabilities. However, ADSC therapies show variable results. This study analysed the effects of specific factors of ex‐obese patients on ADSC functions. ADSC were harvested from abdominal tissues (N = 20) after massive weight loss. Patients were grouped according to age, sex, current and maximum body mass index (BMI), BMI difference, weight loss method, smoking and infection at the surgical site. ADSC surface markers, viability, migration, transmigration, sprouting, differentiation potential, cytokine secretion, telomere length and mtDNA copy number were analysed. All ADSC expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, while functional properties differed significantly among patients. A high BMI difference due to massive weight loss was negatively correlated with ADSC proliferation, migration and transmigration, while age, sex or weight loss method had a smaller effect. ADSC from female and younger donors and individuals after weight loss by increase of exercise and diet change had a higher activity. Telomere length, mtDNA copy number, differentiation potential and the secretome did not correlate with patient factors or cell function. Therefore, we suggest that factors such as age, sex, increase of exercise and especially weight loss should be considered for patient selection and planning of regenerative therapies.     

普者黑岩溶湖泊湿地湖滨带景观格局演变对水质的影响

湖滨带作为湖泊与陆地之间的过渡带,是健康湖泊生态系统的重要组成部分。湖滨带景观格局的演变会对湿地水质产生重要影响,因此探究影响岩溶湿地水质变化的湖滨带关键景观因子,对深入了解景观格局对岩溶湿地水质的影响过程与机制具有重要意义。选择普者黑岩溶湖泊湿地为研究对象,以2005、2007、2009、2011年共4年的Landsat遥感影像及水质监测数据为基础,通过划定湖泊湿地湖滨带缓冲区域,运用秩相关分析和冗余分析研究湖滨带景观格局对普者黑岩溶湖泊湿地水质的影响。结果表明,湖滨带不同缓冲区内景观结构类型比例差异较大;枯水期水质与土地利用类型和景观格局指数的影响大于丰水期;景观格局在不同缓冲区尺度对岩溶湿地的水质具有不同的效应;随着监测点缓冲距离的增加,个别景观指数可较好的揭示湖滨带景观格局演变对岩溶湿地水质的影响,其中,蔓延度指数(CONTAG)、斑块结合度指数(COHSION)、均匀度指数(SHEI)对水质参数的影响较大,边界密度(ED)、聚集度(AI)对水质参数的影响随缓冲距离的增加逐渐减弱,其他景观指数对水质影响差异并不明显,最大斑块指数(LPI)在缓冲距离≤300m的区域内与水质的关系较密切,面积加权平均斑块分维数(AWMPFD)与水质参数有显著负相关性,多样性指数(SHDI)对水质的影响具有不确定性;另外,大部分水质参数与土地利用面积比例有较好的相关性,且湿地面积比例是表征岩溶湖泊湿地水环境质量的主要指标。     

Are cloud forest tree structure and environment related in the Venezuelan Andes?

Cloud forest vegetation structure and composition were studied in the Venezuelan Andes at three sites in Mérida State. Although the sites are within 10 to 30 km of each other, climatic, geologic and topographic differences are remarkable. The main purpose of the study was to determine the relationship of specific environmental variables to forest vegetation characteristics, including basal area, tree height, density and diversity, and leaf area index (LAI). At 51 plots, all trees' diameter at breast height >10 cm were recorded and identified. Although the environment at the three sites is distinctive, the tree species composition of the most abundant species was very similar. None of the measured environment variables were significantly correlated with the measured vegetation structure variables, except LAI, which was correlated with slope orientation; LAI showed higher values at south‐facing plots. Tree height was relatively uniform, while basal area was highly variable and reached very high values. Stem densities were in the range reported elsewhere in cloud forests. Multivariate analysis using structure or composition data shows segregation of the plots by site. Principal component analyses by site indicate a minor impact of environmental factors on forest variables. At each site, a particular group of species are correlated with the ordination axes. We conclude that species pools and forest dynamics add to the complexity of the structure of the studied cloud forests.     

Gastroprotective,cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of Oleum cinnamomi on ethanol induced damage

Peptic ulcer disease is a gastrointestinal disorder defined by mucosal damage and free oxygen radicals associated with peptic ulcer and gastritis. Cinnamon is a traditional herb used for many diseases and it has also effects as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and anti-ulcerative. Our research is based on oxidative stress and effects of Oleum cinnamomi on stomach, liver and kidney disorders induced by ethanol. In our experiment, 2–3 month old male Sprague–Dawley rats were used. One hour before the mucosal damage induced by 70 % ethanol, O. cinnamomi (2.5 ml/kg) was added into the groups. Gastric pH, analysis of gastric mucus and ulcer index were calculated from samples obtained from the stomach. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde and catalase (CAT) levels were determined in stomach, liver and kidney homogenates and erythrocyte hemolysate. Histopathological examination of stomach, liver and kidney were determined with H&E staining. The non-treated ulcerative group showed higher scores than the control group which was treated with O. cinnamomi, when ulcer scores, gastric mucus and pH level of stomach are compared. Increased lipid peroxidation levels were observed in the liver, kidney and erythrocyte hemolysate. SOD activity was decreased in liver whereas increased in stomach of ethanol treated ulcerative groups. CAT levels were increased in stomach and liver of ethanol treated rats. Histopathological findings showed that ethanol treatment cause multiply organ damage such as stomach, liver and kidney injury. O. cinnamomi treatment protected these tissues from ethanol-induced damage. Consequently, the current investigation shows that O. cinnamomi has protective effects on ethanol-induced oxidative and mucosal damage.     

Regulation by kinetin and abcisic acid of correlative senescence in relation to grain maturation,source-sink relationship and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

When kinetin was applied to the source organ (flag leaf) of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Ratna), foliar senescence was delayed and grain yield per plant (as evidenced by grain weight, grain/straw weight ratio and 1,000 grain growth) was increased through the increase of sink activity (increase in dry weight of the grains/plant), duration of sink capacity as well as photosynthetic ability of the glumes (as determined by the chlorophyll content of the glumes of the developing grains). However, application of kinetin to the sink organs (fruits), promoted senescence of the source but increased the yield by increasing the sink capacity and 1,000 grain growth mostly at the earlier stage of reproductive development. Lower sterility percentage was associated with higher grain yield of the plant by kinetin treatments. ABA applied either to the source or the sink promoted leaf senescence and reduced the grain yield by reducing the sink activity, harvest index, sink capacity duration and increasing the sterility percentage. Thousand grain dry weight at harvest did not vary significantly amongst the treatments. It was concluded that nutrient drainage was associated with the correlative influence of fruit on the monocarpic senescence of rice plant and that a competetion for differential allocation of cytokinin and ABA in the source and sink organs initiates this senescence syndrome.     

Water-soluble ferulic acid derivatives improve amyloid-β-induced neuronal cell death and dysmnesia through inhibition of amyloid-β aggregation

Ferulic acid (FA) has been reported to exhibit protective effects against amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo. Recently, we developed two water-soluble FA derivatives: 1-feruloyl glycerol and 1-feruloyl diglycerol. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of these water-soluble FA derivatives on Aβ-induced neurodegeneration both in vitro and in vivo. FA and water-soluble FA derivatives inhibited Aβ aggregation and destabilized pre-aggregated Aβ to a similar extent. Furthermore, water-soluble FA derivatives, as well as FA, inhibited Aβ-induced neuronal cell death in cultured neuronal cells. In in vivo experiments, oral administration of water-soluble FA derivatives to mice improved Aβ-induced dysmnesia assessed by contextual fear conditioning test and protected hippocampal neurons against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. This study provides useful evidence suggesting that water-soluble FA derivatives are expected to be effective neuroprotective agents.     

Discovery of novel indolinone-based,potent, selective and brain penetrant inhibitors of LRRK2

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The most frequent kinase-enhancing mutation is the G2019S residing in the kinase activation domain. This opens up a promising therapeutic avenue for drug discovery targeting the kinase activity of LRRK2 in PD. Several LRRK2 inhibitors have been reported to date. Here, we report a selective, brain penetrant LRRK2 inhibitor and demonstrate by a competition pulldown assay in vivo target engagement in mice.