Cloning and expression profiling of testis-expressed microRNAs

Using a new small RNA cloning method, we identified 141 miRNAs from the mouse testis, of which 29 were novel. The 141 miRNAs were mapped onto all chromosomes except the Y chromosome and 2/3 of these miRNA genes exist as clusters. ∼ 70% of these miRNA genes were located in intronic or intergenic regions, whereas the remaining miRNAs were derived from exonic sequences. We further validated these cloned miRNAs by examining their expression in multiple mouse organs including developing testes and also in purified spermatogenic cells using semi-quantitative PCR analyses. Our expression profiling assays revealed that 60% of the testis-expressed miRNAs were ubiquitously expressed and the remaining are either preferentially (35%) or exclusively (5%) expressed in the testis. We also observed a lack of strand selection during testicular miRNA biogenesis, characterized by paired expression of both the 5′ strands and 3′ strands derived from the same precursor miRNAs. The present work identified numerous miRNAs preferentially or exclusively expressed in the testis, which would be interesting targets for further functional studies.     

Minimum population size,genetic diversity,and social structure of the Asian elephant in Cat Tien National Park and its adjoining areas,Vietnam, based on molecular genetic analyses

Vietnam’s elephant population that has suffered severe declines during the past three decades is now believed to number 60–80 individuals in the wild. Cat Tien National Park is thought to be one of the key areas for the recovery of Vietnam’s elephants. We carried out a molecular genetic study of elephants in Cat Tien National Park and its adjoining areas with the objectives of estimating minimum population size, assessing genetic diversity, and obtaining insights into social organization. We obtained a minimum population size of 11 elephants based on a combination of unique nuclear microsatellite genotypes and mitochondrial haplotypes. While mitochondrial diversity based on a 600-base pair segment was high in this small sample of individuals, the six microsatellite loci examined showed low diversity and the signature of a recent population bottleneck. Along with nuclear genetic depauperation of Cat Tien’s elephants, we also report disruption of normal social organization, with different matrilines having coalesced into a single social group because of anthropogenic disturbance. The results emphasize the critical condition of this elephant population and the need for urgent conservation measures if this population is to be saved.     

神经内镜手术与小骨窗开颅手术治疗高血压脑出血疗效对比的回顾性研究

摘要 目的：回顾性对比神经内镜手术与小骨窗开颅手术治疗高血压脑出血（HICH）疗效。方法：回顾性选取2018年7月~2021年3月期间在联勤保障部队第909医院治疗的83例HICH患者的临床资料。根据手术方式的不同,将患者分为A组（n=41）和B组（n=42）,A组患者采用小骨窗开颅手术治疗,B组患者采用神经内镜手术治疗,对比两组围术期指标、并发症发生率、神经功能、生活能力、神经损伤指标及预后。结果：与A组相比, B组的手术时间、住院时间明显缩短,术中出血量减少,血肿清除率升高（P<0.05）。B组术后1周美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分低于A组,Barthel指数评分高于A组（P<0.05）。B组术后1周神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、S100B 蛋白（S100B）、髓鞘碱性蛋白（MBP）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）水平低于A组（P<0.05）。B组的并发症发生率小于A组（P<0.05）。B组的预后良好率高于A组（P<0.05）。结论：神经内镜手术、小骨窗开颅手术治疗HICH均可获得较好的疗效,其中神经内镜手术在缩短手术时间、住院时间,减少术中出血量和并发症发生率,提高血肿清除率,减轻神经功能损伤,促进患者生活能力改善,改善患者预后方面的效果更为显著。     

小细胞肺癌患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群分析

目的探究化疗对小细胞肺癌(small cell lung cancer,SCLC)患者免疫功能的影响。方法选择2013年1月到2018年12月我院收治的95例小细胞肺癌患者为研究对象。患者第一周期、第二周期化疗前采用流式细胞术检测患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群水平,分别按照不同疗效及不同化疗方案对患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群进行比较。结果(1)化疗后,95例患者CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺细胞平均值增加,CD19⁺、γδT细胞平均值减少,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。(2)化疗后,部分缓解组患者CD3⁺、CD8⁺细胞平均值增加,CD19⁺细胞减少,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);病情稳定组和病情进展组患者各细胞水平无显著变化(均P>0.05)。(3)依托泊苷联合顺铂(EP)方案组化疗后患者CD3⁺、CD8⁺细胞平均值增多,CD19⁺细胞减少,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);伊立替康联合顺铂(IP)方案和依托泊苷联合卡铂(EC)方案组化疗后患者各细胞水平无显著变化(均P>0.05)。结论化疗可以调节小细胞肺癌患者的免疫功能,增强细胞免疫,降低体液免疫,其中EC方案对患者细胞免疫的增强作用较为显著。     

Prediction of intracellular targets of a small compound by analyzing peptides presented on MHC class I

In chemical biology, the elucidation of chemical target is crucial for successful drug development. Because MHC class I molecules present peptides from intracellular damaged proteins, it might be possible to identify targets of a chemical by analyzing peptide sequences on MHC class I. Therefore, we treated cells with the autophagy-inducing chemical TMD-457 and identified the peptides presented on MHC class I. Many of the peptides were derived from molecules involved in ER trafficking and ER stress, which were confirmed by morphological and biochemical analyses. Therefore, our results demonstrate that analyzing MHC class I peptides is useful for the detection of chemical targets.     

Circulating small non-coding RNAs provide new insights into vitamin K nutrition and reproductive physiology in teleost fish

Background

Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin known for its essential role in blood coagulation, but also on other biological processes (e.g. reproduction, brain and bone development) have been recently suggested. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms behind its particular function on reproduction are not yet fully understood.

Variability and Representativness of Lake Variables

This paper summarizes results from extensive field work in 95 Swedish lakes. It discusses four years (1986–1989) of monthly data on pH, Secchi depth, temperature, alkalinity, total-P, conductivity, Fe, Ca, hardness and colour. These variables vary both temporally and areally. The focus here is on such variations and patterns in variations, and how to express lake-typical values, not for specific sites and sampling occasions, but for entire lakes and longer periods of time (months-years). This is of importance in monitoring and validating models. A definition of total variability (TV), expressing variability between adjacent months within the year, and between the same month for different years, is presented. Selected results: An important pattern emerges for total-P with marked increases in TV during the summer and minimum values in winter. The pattern for colour shows lower TV during summer and higher TV during fall. The TV-values for pH are low and stable thoughout the year and no clear seasonal pattern can be seen. A seasonal pattern exists for conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, and Ca with higher TV during spring. The results concerning the variability within and between lakes show that the greatest differences exist for conductivity and Fe; the smallest (except temperature) for pH and alkalinity.     

编辑MSTN半胱氨酸节基元促进两广小花猪肌肉生长

肌生长抑制素(myostatin,MSTN)是转化生长因子 β(transforming growth factor-β,TGF-β)家族成员之一,是一种肌肉生长抑制因子.解除MSTN的生长抑制功能是提高畜禽肌肉产量的一种有效途径.TGF-β 的半胱氨酸节结构基元(cystine knot motif)能够稳定MSTN...     

Substance P analogues function as bombesin receptor antagonists and inhibit small cell lung cancer clonal growth

Human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) produces and secretes BN/GRP (bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide). Because BN stimulates the growth of SCLC cells and these cells have receptors for BN-like peptides, it is important to define agents which disrupt this self-promoting autocrine growth cycle. Here, substance P analogues were evaluated as BN receptor antagonists using SCLC cell lines. (D-Arg¹, D-Pro², D-Trp^7,9, Leu¹¹) substance P [(APTTL)SP] was one of the more potent analogues tested in inhibiting BN-like peptide receptor binding with an IC₅₀ value of 1 μM. Micromolar concentrations of (APTTL)SP antagonized BN receptor mediated elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels and decreased the colony formation in soft agarose. These data suggest that SP analogues function as SCLC BN receptor antagonists and may be useful in disrupting the autocrine growth function of BN-like peptides.