激活多巴胺I类受体对氧化性低密度脂蛋白诱导的人单核细胞THP-1分泌NO/NOS的影响

目的：探讨激活多巴胺Ⅰ类受体（DR1）对氧化型低密度脂蛋白（ox-LDL）诱导的人单核细胞（THP-1）分泌一氧化氮/一氧化氮合酶（NO/NOS）的影响及可能机制。方法：THP-1细胞经佛波酯PMA诱导分化,分为正常对照组（control）,氧化型低密度脂蛋白处理组（ox-LDL）,DR1激动剂干预组（SKF）,DR1阻断剂干预组（SCH）,ERK阻断剂干预组（PD98059）;应用油红O染色法鉴定泡沫细胞;硝酸还原法检测NO、NOS的变化情况;免疫荧光和Western blot检测各组细胞蛋白表达情况。结果：ox-LDL刺激48 h可形成泡沫细胞;DR1在THP1细胞上表达,ox-LDL刺激后,DR1蛋白表达降低（P<0.01）;激活DR1受体能够明显抑制由ox-LDL引起的NO、iNOS增多（P<0.01）;在MAPK阻断剂PD98059存在的情况下,SKF的作用部分丧失。结论：激活DR1受体可抑制ox-LDL引起的THP-1细胞NO的大量产生,此过程可能由ERK信号通路所介导。     

Lupane,friedelane, oleanane,and ursane triterpenes from the stem of Siphonodon celastrineus Griff

Twenty-one triterpenes consisting of a lupane derivative, two friedelanes, an oleanane derivative, and 17 ursane-type triterpenoids, together with three known triterpenes, three sterols, a fatty acid, a sesquiterpene alkaloid, and a glycerol derivative, were isolated from the stem of Siphonodon celastrineus. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, as well as comparison with literature data. Twenty-seven metabolites of these were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against six human cancer cell lines. The biosynthetic formation of a 1,4-dioxane bridge is also discussed.     

Magnolol inhibits colonic motility through down-regulation of voltage-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels of colonic smooth muscle cells in rats

This study aimed to investigate the effect of magnolol (5,5′-diallyl-2,2′-biphenyldiol) on contraction in distal colonic segments of rats and the underlying mechanisms. Colonic segments were mounted in organ baths for isometric force measurement. Whole-cell voltage-sensitive L-type Ca²⁺ currents were recorded on isolated single colonic smooth muscle cells using patch-clamp technique. The spontaneous contractions and acetylcholine (ACh)- and Bay K 8644-induced contractions were inhibited by magnolol (3–100 μM). In the presence of Bay K8644 (100 nM), magnolol (10–100 μM) inhibited the contraction induced by 10 μM ACh. By contrast, tetrodotoxin (100 nM) and N_ώ-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME 100 μM) did not change the inhibitory effect of magnolol (10 μM). In addition, magnolol (3–100 μM) inhibited the L-type Ca²⁺ currents. The present results suggest that magnolol inhibits colonic smooth muscle contraction through downregulating L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity.     

普生轮藻浸提液对两种淡水藻类的化感抑制作用及其数学模型

利用大型水生植物的化感作用抑制水华藻类是水域生态学研究的热点课题之一。探讨了不同浓度普生轮藻浸提液对产毒铜绿微囊藻和斜生栅藻(单纯以及混合藻类)的抑制作用,并根据实验过程中得到的数据和数据特征,在传统的Logistic模型和Lotka-Volterra模型基础上,通过微元法建立了普生轮藻浸提液对单纯产毒铜绿微囊藻、单纯斜生栅藻抑制的数学模型以及两藻混合时抑制的数学模型。结果表明,(1)普生轮藻浸提液无论对单独的毒性铜绿微囊藻或斜生栅藻还是共生状态的毒性铜绿微囊藻和斜生栅藻均有很强抑制作用,且对毒性铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用要显著高于对斜生栅藻;(2)所建立的抑藻模型可有效表征和预测在一定范围内的产毒铜绿微囊藻、斜生栅藻及其混合藻在普生轮藻浸提液胁迫下藻密度随时间变化的规律;通过这些模型可方便地计算出实验期间任何时间节点上普生轮藻浸提液的半抑制浓度(EC50)、最小有效浓度(MIC)等指标的预测值、混合藻在小生境中相对稳定时的预测值等等。该研究可为实际抑藻的方案制定和实施提供有价值的数据支撑和参考,具有一定的理论与应用意义。     

Kidney proteome responses in the teleost fish Paralichthys olivaceus indicate a putative immune response against Streptococcus parauberis

The proteomic response to bacterial infection in a teleost fish (Paralichthys olivaceus) infected with Streptococcus parauberis was analyzed using label-free protein quantitation coupled with LC-MS(E) tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 82 proteins from whole kidney, a major lymphoid organ in this fish, were found to be differentially expressed between healthy and diseased fish analyzed 6, 24, 72 and 120 h post-infection. Among the differentially expressed proteins, those involved in mediating immune responses (e.g., heat shock proteins, cathepsins, goose-type lysozyme and complement components) were most significantly up-regulated by infection. In addition, cell division cycle 48 (CDC48) and calreticulin, which are associated with cellular recovery and glycoprotein synthesis, were up-regulated in the universal protein group, whereas the other proteins in that group were down-regulated. There was continuous activation of expression of immune-associated proteins during infection, but there was also loss of expression of proteins not involved in immune function. We expect that our findings regarding immune response at the protein level would offer new insight into the systemic response to bacterial infection of a major immune organ in teleost fish.     

<i>In vitro</i> Antibacterial Activity of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Ethanolic Extract against Tomato Phytopathogenic Bacteria

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the world’s most important vegetable crops. Still, phytopathogenic bacteria affect the yield and quality of tomato cultivation, like Agrobacterium tumefeciens (At), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), and Xanthomonas axonopodis (Xa). Synthetic chemical products are used mostly on disease plant control, but overuse generates resistance to bacterial control. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves against At, Cmm, Pst, Rs, and Xa, as well as information about this plant species’ chemical composition. Antibacterial activity against pathogens observed by microplate technique, phytochemical screening, and FTIR analysis revealed different bio-active compounds on ethanolic extracts with antibacterial activity. The growth inhibition rate ranged between 0.08% and 99.94%. The inhibitory concentration, IC50, required to inhibit 50% of At, Cmm, Pst, Rs, and Xa bacterial growth, was 276.67, 350.48, 277.85, 351.49, and 283.22 mg/L, respectively. Inhibition of phytopathogen bacteria’s growth increased as the concentrations of the extract also increased. Moringa oleifera extract can be recommended as a potent bio-bactericide.     

The Role of Zoos in Modern Society—A Comparison of Zoos' Reported Priorities and What Visitors Believe They Should Be

Modern zoos are required to fulfill a growing number of responsibilities including scientific research, wildlife conservation, public recreation, and education. With so many roles and responsibilities and limited funds, zoos have to prioritize their activities in relation to their own specified goals, objectives, and mission statements. Given their desire to nurture community relations and educational opportunities, it is important to determine the extent to which zoos are prioritizing their activities, according to visitors' expectations. This paper presents empirical research of a two staged mixed-methods investigation into zoo priorities from both zoos' and visitors' perspectives. The first stage involved an online questionnaire to which more than 190 zoos across 52 countries reported their priorities and activities. We then undertook in-depth case studies in nine institutions, enabling direct observation of each site within its context, including face-to-face visitor interviews. Our research contrasts the priority given to zoo activities from each perspective and indicates that educating visitors, including school children, is the highest priority activity from the zoos' perspective and that of their visitors. The findings also show that visitors place high value on learning about actions they can take to help conservation efforts. Some inconsistencies between zoos' and visitors' priorities were also evident, such as the different emphasis placed on viewing endemic species, and zoos being a place for people to relax and socialize. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

小花杜鹃中两个新的木脂素

研究小花杜鹃(Rhododendron minutiflorum)的化学成分及其α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性。采用正相硅胶、ODS、Sephadex LH-20和HPLC等多种色谱技术,从小花杜鹃的95%乙醇提取物中分离得到9个化合物,通过波谱分析和文献数据对比,鉴定其结构分别为rhodominutinan A(1)、rhodominutinan B(2)、3,4-di(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)tetrahydrofuran(3)、venkatasin(4)、苔色酸甲酯(5)、苔黑酚羧酸乙酯(6)、2,4-二羟基-3,6-二甲基苯甲酸甲酯(7)、芹菜素(8)、山奈酚(9)。其中化合物1和2为新的木脂素,化合物3~9为首次从小花杜鹃中分离得到。通过α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂体外筛选模型评价化合物的潜在降血糖活性,结果表明化合物8和9具有较好的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性,IC₅₀值分别为57.51±6.35、54.70±3.67μM。     

Cytotoxic Triterpenoids from Roots of Actinidia chinensis

Phytochmical investigation of roots of Actinidia chinensisPlanch . led to the isolation triterpenoids 1 – 16 , including a new compound 2α,3α,23,24‐tetrahydroxyursa‐12,20(30)‐dien‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ). Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, HR‐ESI mass spectrometry, and by comparison with the literatures. The cytotoxicities of triterpenoids 1 – 16 against a panel of cultured human cancer cell lines (HepG2, A549, MCF‐7, SK‐OV‐3, and HeLa) were evaluated. The new compound 1 exhibited moderate antitumor activities with IC₅₀ values of 19.62 ± 0.81, 18.86 ± 1.56, 45.94 ± 3.62, 62.41 ± 2.29, and 28.74 ± 1.07 μm , respectively. The experiment data might be available to explain the use of roots of A. chinensis to treat various cancers in traditional Chinese medicine.