A morphometric study of the midgut in resistant and non-resistant Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae to its nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV)

In this investigation, the anterior and posterior regions of the midgut of resistant (RL) and non-resistant (SL) Anticarsia gemmatalis larvae were analyzed morphometrically to characterize different regions along their length. Also, this investigation compares the results between SL and RL to improve the understanding of the resistance mechanisms to the virus. Histological sections were analyzed in a computerized system and the data were statistically analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test and by multivariate analysis. The midguts are morphometrically different in the two larval populations; we observed higher values in RL. The morphometric analysis of the epithelial cells showed that only columnar and goblet cells were distinct along the midgut, in both larvae, with the higher values found in the anterior region. Comparing the results between the two larval populations, all the epithelial cells presented significant differences, with RL showing the higher morphometric values. We concluded that there are regional differences along the length of midgut in SL and RL that confirm the idea of two morpho-functional distinct regions. The consistently morphometric superior values in RL indicate that this variability can be related with the resistance of A. gemmatalis to its AgMNPV.     

Activation of Toll-like receptor 4 is associated with insulin resistance in adipocytes

Chronic inflammation is closely associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in innate immune response as well as inflammatory signals. Here, we observed that mRNA level of TLR4 was induced during adipocyte differentiation and remarkably enhanced in fat tissues of obese db/db mice. In addition, activation of TLR4 with either LPS or free fatty acids stimulated NFkappaB signaling and expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, such as TNFalpha and IL-6 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, we discovered that TLR4 activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes provoked insulin resistance. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of TLR4 in adipocyte might be implicated in the onset of insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes.     

Direct analysis of root zone data in a microculture system

Disks were isolated from young leaves of winter rape plants and grown in vitro at ambient (15°C) or low (2°C) temperatures for two weeks. In the control disks the growth cessation and beginning of chlorophyll degradation were observed after 1 week of culture. In the low-temperature treated disks the expansion of cells was slower than that in the control material but it continued for two weeks and was accompanied by a marked accumulation of dry matter. Practically, no chlorophyll degradation was observed. The low temperature treatment brought about the decrease in the frost killing temperature of the tissue which was associated with its increased capacity to subcool water. A short (18 h) exposure of the cold-grown leaf disks to slight frost (–5°C) increased further their resistance to freezing, despite the fact that the subcooling capacity of disks decreased in result of the treatment. Therefore, the two stages of hardening, observed previously for the whole plants, can also be detected in the isolated material. In the cold-grown disks, a transient accumulation of reducing sugars but a steady decrease in ATP and water-soluble protein contents were observed. These observations indicate that tissue isolation might affect processes involved in the functional adaptation of cells to cold.Abbreviations DTA differential thermal analysis - T_k50 frost killing temperature - T_in ice nucleation temperature     

医院内4种主要革兰阴性菌分布及耐药率分析

目的 分析大连某三甲医院4种主要革兰阴性病原菌的分布及细菌耐药性变迁,为抗菌药物的合理使用提供依据。方法 回顾性分析2012‒2015年住院患者中分离的4种革兰阴性菌临床分布及每年的耐药率,利用WHONET 5.6软件进行统计分析。结果 4年分离致病菌28 485株,其中大肠埃希菌2 994株,肺炎克雷伯菌1 375株,鲍曼不动杆菌1 079株,铜绿假单胞菌1 998株,共占分离致病菌总数的26.1%。4种菌对哌拉西林的耐药率最高（37.2%~78.2%）,对头孢哌酮/苏巴坦耐药率最低（6.7%~39.1%）。2012‒2015年,大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌和铜绿假单胞菌的抗生素耐药率有下降趋势,鲍曼不动杆菌对多数抗生素耐药率都高,且逐年上升。结论 本院4年感染中4种主要革兰阴性菌占主导地位。4种菌对不同抗生素耐药率和变化不同,鲍曼不动杆菌耐药最严重。4种菌对于头孢哌酮/苏巴坦均比较敏感,对哌拉西林耐药严重。在临床治疗中应有针对性加强管理和用药。     

有氧运动对2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌ERK1/2活性的影响

目的：观察有氧运动对2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK1/2）活性的影响,探讨有氧运动对2型糖尿病的预防和调控机制。方法：将75只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（CON）、糖尿病对照1组（DC1）、糖尿病运动1组（DE1）、糖尿病对照2组（DC2）、糖尿病运动2组（DE2）5组（n=15）。正常对照组用普通饲料喂养,糖尿病组用高脂高糖配方饲料喂养。经过8周高脂高糖喂养后,糖尿病2组大鼠腹腔内注射链脲佐菌素（STZ）,诱发2型糖尿病;糖尿病运动1组游泳的最后1周初和糖尿病对照1组同时注射STZ,注射剂量为35 mg/kg,3 d后尾部取血测血糖≥ 16.7 mmol/L为造模成功。运动干预8周后,测定大鼠血清胰岛素、骨骼肌中ERK1/2蛋白表达等指标。结果：①与正常对照组比较,糖尿病各对照组血液中总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL-C）、游离脂肪酸（FFA）显著升高（P<0.05,P<0.01）,空腹血糖（FBG）、胰岛素（FIN）含量和胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）显著升高（P<0.01）,ERK1/2磷酸化的蛋白表达显著下降（P<0.05）,糖尿病对照2组ERK1/2蛋白含量显著下降（P<0.05）;②8周游泳运动后,与糖尿病对照组比较,糖尿病运动组血液中TC、TG、FFA、LDL-C显著下降（P<0.05）,FBG、FIN、HOMA-IR显著下降（P<0.05,P<0.01）,ERK1/2磷酸化蛋白表达显著升高（P<0.05）。结论：长时间有氧运动,增加了骨骼肌ERK1/2磷酸化水平,改善了2型糖尿病大鼠胰岛素抵抗的状况,降低血糖。这可能是改善糖代谢紊乱,提高胰岛素敏感性的机制之一。     

Increased Growth and Yield of Hydroponically Grown Greenhouse Tomato Plants Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus monosporum, G. vesiculiferum, G. deserticola, G. intraradices, G. mosseae, and two unidentified species were tested to determine their effect on plant growth and fruit production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Trust inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) under near-commercial greenhouse conditions. Inoculation with G. monosporum and G. mosseae significantly increased fruit yield and fruit number of tomato plants grown hydroponically in sawdust. Plant height and plant dry weight increased significantly when inoculated with G. monosporum and G. mosseae. Further, plants inoculated with G. monosporum and G. mosseae showed significantly lower FORL root infection than the untreated control plants.     

Therapeutic antimicrobial peptides may compromise natural immunity

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as a promising new class of antimicrobials despite warnings that therapeutic use could drive the evolution of pathogens resistant to our own immunity peptides. Using experimental evolution, we demonstrate that Staphylococcus aureus rapidly evolved resistance to pexiganan, a drug-candidate for diabetic leg ulcer infections. Evolved resistance was costly in terms of impaired growth rate, but costs-of-resistance were completely ameliorated by compensatory adaptation. Crucially, we show that, in some populations, experimentally evolved resistance to pexiganan provided S. aureus with cross-resistance to human-neutrophil-defensin-1, a key component of the innate immune response to infection. This unintended consequence of therapeutic use could drastically undermine our innate immune system's ability to control and clear microbial infections. Our results therefore highlight grave potential risks of AMP therapies, with implications for their development.     

PPAR-γ as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease: evidence and uncertainty

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) is a key regulator of fatty acid metabolism, promoting its storage in adipose tissue and reducing circulating concentrations of free fatty acids. Activation of PPAR-γ has favorable effects on measures of adipocyte function, insulin sensitivity, lipoprotein metabolism, and vascular structure and function. Despite these effects, clinical trials of thiazolidinedione PPAR-γ activators have not provided conclusive evidence that they reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The apparent disparity between effects on laboratory measurements and clinical outcomes may be related to limitations of clinical trials, adverse effects of PPAR-γ activation, or off-target effects of thiazolidinedione agents. This review addresses these issues from a clinician's perspective and highlights several ongoing clinical trials that may help to clarify the therapeutic role of PPAR-γ activators in cardiovascular disease.     

杭州地区发酵乳制品中乳酸菌发生耐药传播的安全性研究

目的对杭州地区市售发酵乳制品中分离鉴定的乳酸菌进行耐药传播的安全性分析,旨在揭示发酵乳制品中是否存在可传递耐药基因的超级耐药菌。方法自行分离鉴定的耐药乳酸菌,提取质粒并电泳分析是否存在质粒;以耐受叠氮化钠的大肠埃希菌J53作为受体菌进行质粒接合试验;若乳酸菌存在耐药现象,发现存在耐药质粒,且耐药性可通过质粒传播,评定为3级。乳酸菌存在耐药现象,发现存在耐药质粒,但接合试验未能证明耐药性可通过质粒传播,评定为2级。乳酸菌存在耐药现象,但未检测出耐药质粒,评定为1级。结果美丽健产品中分离的双歧杆菌（MLJ-G-2）和乳杆菌（MLJ-G-1）检测出含有质粒,但不会发生耐药转移,三种菌耐药危害等级分别为2、2、1。伊利产品中分离的双歧杆菌（YL-G-3）、乳杆菌（YL-G-1）、嗜热链球菌（YL-Q）检测出含有质粒,但不会发生耐药转移,四种菌耐药危害等级分别为2、2、1、2。味全产品中分离的双歧杆菌（WQ-G-3）、乳杆菌（WQ-G-1）、乳杆菌（WQ-G-2）、嗜热链球菌（WQ-Q）均检测出含有质粒,其中乳杆菌（WQ-G-1）、乳杆菌（WQ-G-2）会发生耐药转移,四种菌耐药危害等级分别为2、3、3、2。光明产品中分离的乳杆菌（GM-G-2）、乳杆菌（GM-G-3）、嗜热链球菌（GMQ）检测出含有质粒,乳杆菌（GM-G-2）会发生耐药转移,四种菌耐药危害等级分别为2、1、3、2。蒙牛产品中只分离的嗜热链球菌（MN-Q）检测出含有质粒,不会发生耐药转移,耐药危害等级为2。结论发酵乳制品中分离所得的乳酸菌81.2%的菌能检测出质粒,耐药性可能与质粒相关,存在潜在的生物安全威胁;18.8%的菌的耐药性可通过质粒接合发生传播,存在直接的生物安全威胁。