Mitogenic response of rat lung and tracheal epithelial cells in monolayer primary cultures—Modulation of TNF-α expression

Epithelial cells isolated from rat lung and trachea were grown on monolayers and their response to a number of hormones and growth factors were studied. Maximum proliferative response in serum containing media was observed when insulin, cholera toxin and cortisol were present together. However, these additives when present independently showed a marginal response. The synergism, due to these factors in promoting growth was seen very early in culture (day 4) as shown by thymidine labelling studies, On examining the indices of early mitogenesis, such as the expression ofc-myc, our data suggests that these factors stimulate the expression ofc-myc within 4 h. With respect to expression of TNF-α mRNA, this study suggests a possible modulation of TNF-α expression in response to these mitogens that stimulate proliferation maximally. Whether this expression of TNF-α by these epithelial cells is due to a maximal proliferative stimulus and/or is an early step in the cascade of intracellular signalling events is to be investigated in detail.     

The kic1 kinase of schizosaccharomyces pombe is a CLK/STY orthologue that regulates cell-cell separation

The CLK/STY kinases are a family of dual-specificity protein kinases implicated in the regulation of cellular growth and differentiation. Some of the kinases in the family are shown to phosphorylate serine-arginine-rich splicing factors and to regulate pre-mRNA splicing. However, the actual cellular mechanism that regulates cell growth, differentiation, and development by CLK/STY remains unclear. Here we show that a functionally conserved CLK/STY kinase exists in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and this orthologue, called Kic1, regulates the cell surface and septum formation as well as a late step in cytokinesis. The Kic1 protein is modified in vivo, likely by phosphorylation, suggesting that it can be involved in a control cascade. In addition, kic1(+) together with dsk1(+), which encodes a related SR-specific protein kinase, constitutes a critical in vivo function for cell growth. The results provide the first in vivo evidence for the functional conservation of the CLK/STY family through evolution from fission yeast to mammals. Furthermore, since cell division and cell-cell interaction are fundamental for the differentiation and development of an organism, the novel cellular role of kic1(+) revealed from this study offers a clue to the understanding of its counterparts in higher eukaryotes.     

Are Seafood PCB Data Sufficient to Assess Health Risk for High Seafood Consumption Groups?

Some populations in Washington's Puget Sound area consume much more seafood than the general population. Mean consumption rates are 61?g/person/day for the Tulalip and Squaxin Island Tribes and 117.2?g/person/day for Asian and Pacific Islanders (API). There is concern about possible health risks from seafood PCB exposure for these groups, but exposure evaluation is difficult due to inadequacies of environmental data. Available seafood PCB data were matched to results from recent seafood consumption surveys. To rate quality of matches and identify data gaps, a ranking system based on species specificity, data quality, and location compatibility was developed. Sensitivity of total PCB and congenerspecific PCB testing (for use in TCDD toxic equivalency approaches) necessary for cancer risk assessment was explored and included in the ranking scheme. For the Squaxin Tribe, appropriate total PCB data for risk assessment were available for 58% of seafood consumed, which is dominated by local salmon. For API, appropriate total PCB data were identified for only 4% of seafood consumed, which is dominated by commercial shellfish. Insufficient sensitivity of commercial seafood PCB analysis and overall lack of sufficiently sensitive PCB congener analysis are major gaps in ability to characterize PCB exposure and risk for these groups.     

西双版纳区域气候变化对植物生长趋势的影响

目前全球变暖已经致使地球上生物群系的格局发生了显著的变化。高纬度地区的植物生长由此变得更加活跃,而热带地区植物生长的趋势仍然是一个具有争论的问题。西双版纳热带植物园地处中国西南地区,20世纪70年代以来,这里气候发生了显著的变化,其气温以每10年0.18℃的速度上升。本研究利用西双版纳热带植物园中的48种热带植物（28科）的株高生长数据（1974～2003年）来分析其对西双版纳区域气候变化的长期变化响应,通过对株高与气候因子的相关分析选出对植物株高生长影响最大的气候因子。结果表明,植物在研究期间的株高生长年间波动比较强烈,但没有表现出明显的趋势;植物的株高生长主要受到干热季（3、4月份）的日照时数（负）与月均最低气温（正）所影响,而干热季正是这些植物每年开始萌叶的时期;另外,降雨并没有对引种植物株高生长产生显著的影响;从2个关键因子的长期变化趋势来看,西双版纳气候变化将有利于保护植物的生长,进而将有利于植物园内热带植物的保护与保存。     

Intercellular communication that mediates formation of the neuromuscular junction

Reciprocal signals between the motor axon and myofiber induce structural and functional differentiation in the developing neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Elevation of presynaptic acetylcholine (ACh) release on nerve-muscle contact and the correlated increase in axonal-free calcium are triggered by unidentified membrane molecules. Restriction of axon growth to the developing NMJ and formation of active zones for ACh release in the presynaptic terminal may be induced by molecules in the synaptic basal lamina, such as S-laminin, heparin binding growth factors, and agrin. Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) synthesis by muscle cells may be increased by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), ascorbic acid, and AChR-inducing activity (ARIA)/heregulin, which is the best-established regulator. Heparin binding growth factors, proteases, adhesion molecules, and agrin all may be involved in the induction of AChR redistribution to form postsynaptic-like aggregates. However, the strongest case has been made for agrin's involvement. “Knockout” experiments have implicated agrin as a primary anterograde signal for postsynaptic differentiation and muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), as a putative agrin receptor. It is likely that both presynaptic and postsynaptic differentiation are induced by multiple molecular signals. Future research should reveal the physiological roles of different molecules, their interactions, and the identity of other molecular participants.     

连续性血浆滤过吸附对严重感染合并MODS患者炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探讨连续性血浆滤过吸附对严重感染合并多脏器功能障碍综合征(MODS)患者炎症因子水平的影响。方法:研究对象选取我院2013年3月-2016年3月收治严重感染合并MODS患者共160例,以随机数字表法分为对照组(80例)和观察组(80例),患者均先给予高容量血液滤过(HVHF)治疗,观察组加用连续性血浆滤过吸附辅助治疗,比较两组患者治疗前后平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SpO_2)、碳酸氢根(HCO_3~-)、肌酐(Scr)、总胆红素(TBi L)、急性生理与慢性健康II(APACHE Ⅱ)评分、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)及白介素6(IL-6)水平。结果:两组治疗后MAP、Scr、TBi L、TNF-α、IL-6、hs-CRP及APACHE Ⅱ评分均有所降低,而HR、SpO_2、HCO_3~-水平均上升,且观察组以上各指标改善更明显,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:连续性血浆滤过吸附辅助治疗严重感染合并MODS可有效稳定生命体征,改善生化指标,延缓病情进展,并有助于降低机体炎症反应水平。     

南昌市空气PM2.5和PM10的时空动态及其影响因素

PM_2.5和PM₁₀已成为我国大部分城市空气的首要污染物.本文通过分析南昌市2013—2015年的空气PM_2.5和PM₁₀质量浓度、气象因素、交通流量的监测数据,探讨了空气颗粒物污染的时空动态规律以及气象、交通对颗粒物浓度变化的影响.结果表明: 2013、2014、2015年,南昌市PM_2.5浓度(70.92 μg·m^-3＞53.70 μg·m^-3＞43.65 μg·m^-3)、PM₁₀浓度(119.72 μg·m^-3＞86.11 μg·m^-3＞73.32 μg·m^-3)逐年降低,并呈现出夏季低(PM_2.5和PM₁₀平均浓度分别为36.74、69.20 μg·m^-3)、冬季高(PM_2.5和PM₁₀平均浓度分别为74.29、111.64 μg·m^-3)的季节动态和由城市中心向郊区递减的城乡梯度变化; PM_2.5/PM₁₀值(0.595＞0.584＞0.557)逐年降低,并且表现出城市中心高、城市边缘低的空间分布格局;PM_2.5、PM₁₀浓度受到多种气象因素的影响,与气压、温度、相对湿度、风速、降水量、日照时数显著相关,各种气象因子对PM_2.5、PM₁₀浓度的影响存在差异;车流量会显著提高周边PM_2.5浓度,但对PM₁₀浓度影响不明显.     

Childhood brain tumours,early infections and immune stimulation: A pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE case-control studies (SFCE,France)

BackgroundFew studies have investigated whether early infections and factors potentially related to early immune stimulation might be involved in the aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT). In this study, we investigated the associations between CBT with early day-care attendance, history of early common infections, atopic conditions (asthma/wheezing, eczema, allergic rhinitis), early farm residence/visits and contact with animals.MethodsWe pooled data from two nationwide French case-control studies, the ESCALE and ESTELLE studies. Children with a CBT diagnosed between 1 and 14 years of age were identified directly from the French National Registry of Childhood Cancers, while population controls were recruited from telephone subscribers. Odds-ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsThe analyses included 469 cases and 2719 controls. We found no association between attending a day-care centre (OR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.7–1.2) or having had repeated common infections (OR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.7–1.2) in the first year of life and the risk of CBT. There was also no association with a history of asthma/wheezing (OR: 0.8, 95%CI: 0.56–1.1). Farm visits (OR: 0.6, 95%CI: 0.5–0.8) as well as contact with pets (OR: 0.8, 95%CI: 0.6–1.0) in the first year of life were inversely associated with CBT.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a protective effect of early farm visits and contact with pets, but not with other markers of early immune stimulation. This might be related to immune stimulation but needs further investigation.