Apoptosis and release of CD44s in bleomycin-treated L132 cells

The anti-cancer drug bleomycin (BLM) induces lung injury and triggers apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells. In epithelia, among other functions, the adhesion protein CD44 promotes the contact to components of the extracellular matrix like hyaluronate. A functional link between apoptosis and the loss of CD44 has been observed in colon carcinoma cells and involvement of CD44 in apoptosis of lung cells has been reported in several studies. The present in vitro study examined the expression of CD44s (CD44 standard) in two human epithelial lung cell lines, L132 and A549, during BLM-induced apoptosis. A loss of CD44s by lung epithelial cells and an increase of the soluble form of this adhesion protein in culture supernatants upon exposure to BLM were observed. Apoptosis was characterized by an activation of caspase-3 as well as by release of cytochrome C into the cytosol as shown for L132 cells. Inhibition of apoptosis by the broad-range caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk reduced CD44 release by both cell lines demonstrating that CD44 release is a result of apoptotic processes. Kinetic experiments failed to discriminate between the initiation of apoptosis and CD44 release. Blocking experiments using antagonistic anti-CD95 receptor antibodies revealed that BLM may cause apoptosis and CD44 release in a CD95-independent manner.     

Systematics and health effects of chemically distinct tannins in medicinal plants

The research began with an investigation of tannins from traditional medicinal plants and resulted in isolation and structure determination of hundreds of ellagitannins and dehydroellagitannins, as well as their oligomers and oxidized derivatives with various structures specific to each plant species. These polyphenols have been classified according to the stage of oxidative structural transformation and oligomerization, into types I-IV and I+ to IV+, etc. Parallels were found between their oxidative transformations and plant evolution. They were also classified by the linkage units between the monomers, into DOG, GOD, GOG and DOGOD types (D=Diphenoyl, G=Galloyl, O=Oxygen), etc. Besides their fundamental activities, e.g., reduction and anti-peroxidation properties, remarkable biological and pharmacological activities of various potencies have also been found, including, amongst others, inhibition of lipid-peroxidation, mutagenicity of carcinogens and tumor promotion, host-mediated antitumor effects specific to particular tannin structures, antiviral activity and potentiation of antibacterial activity.     

Identification of a novel conjugate in human urine: bile acid acyl galactosides

We report a novel conjugate, bile acid acyl galactosides, which exist in the urine of healthy volunteers. To identify the two unknown peaks obtained in urine specimens from healthy subjects, the specimens were subjected to solid phase extraction and then to liquid chromatographic separation. The eluate corresponding to the unknown peaks on the chromatogram was collected. Following alkaline hydrolysis and liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometric (MS) analysis, cholic acid (CA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) were identified as liberated bile acids. When a portion of the alkaline hydrolyzate was subjected to a derivatization reaction with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone, a derivative of galactose was detected by LC/ESI-MS. Finally, the liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties of these unknown compounds in urine specimens were compared to those of authentic specimens and the structures were confirmed as CA 24-galactoside and DCA 24-galactoside. These results strongly imply that bile acid 24-galactosides, a novel conjugate, were synthesized in the human body.     

高原鼠兔肺动脉血管功能及形态变化

目的研究肺循环对慢性缺氧的适应机理.方法在4300m的高度捕捉到高原适应动物鼠兔,带到2260m的高度并和10只Wistar大鼠在模拟4300m和5000m高度的低压仓内进行了肺动脉压的测定,观察肺组织学和组织免疫化学的改变.结果在2260m,鼠兔的Ppa明显低于Wistar大鼠,二者分别为(1.5±0@07)kPa和(2.9±1.1)kPa(P＜0.01).随着海拔高度的增加,鼠兔的Ppa上升不明显,而Wistar大鼠增加显著.左右心室比重鼠兔为0.22,而Wistar大鼠为0.45.鼠兔的Hb,Hct和2.3-DPG均低于大鼠.大鼠肺小血管周围可见肥大细胞(7.1±0.33)mm2,免疫组化染色mastcelltyptase颗粒呈阳性,鼠兔未发现肥大细胞及此种免疫反应.肺小动脉中层较鼠兔厚,分别为27.21%和9.22%,壁的厚度和Ppa有很好的(r=0.763).结论鼠兔无低氧性肺血管收缩,是一种遗传性适应.大鼠肥大细胞通过激活某些生长因子,在肺血管的再建过程中可能起一定作用.     

Combined Heart Rate Variability and Pulse Oximetry Biofeedback for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Preliminary Findings

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of an intervention that included heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback and walking with pulse oximetry feedback to improve functioning and quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty patients with COPD participated in 5 weekly sessions of HRV biofeedback and 4 weekly sessions of walking practice with oximetry feedback, with instructions for daily home practice. Primary outcomes measures were the distance walked in 6 min (6MWD) and overall quality of life, as measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Secondary outcomes included measures of self-efficacy, self-reported disability, anxiety, depression, dyspnea before and after the 6MWD, and HRV at the frequency of respiration during spontaneous and paced breathing. After 10 weeks of training, participants showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in 6MWD and quality of life. Significant changes were also seen in self-efficacy, disability, dyspnea before and after the 6MWD, and HRV amplitude during spontaneous breathing. We conclude that our intervention is feasible for patients with COPD and that further research using a randomized controlled design is warranted.     

Dominance As An Overlooked Measure of Invader Success

Recent multi-habitat studies across a range of spatial scales have shown that species-rich habitats are often highly invasible by exotic species. The primary measures of invasion in these and other studies are invader richness and the absolute cover or biomass of invaders. We argue that the relative biomass or cover of invaders (dominance) is an important but overlooked measure of plant invasion. We re-analyzed data presented in five previous studies to evaluate whether exotic relative abundance is positively correlated with native richness. There were either no relationships or negative relationships between native richness and relative exotic cover calculated from three spatial scales (1, 1000 and 4000 m²). Thus while the original studies reported high exotic richness or absolute cover in habitats rich in native species, native richness did not predict the degree to which exotics had become dominant or abundant relative to natives. Absolute measures of exotic cover reported in the original studies underestimated relative exotic cover in habitats with low native species richness. High exotic dominance in areas of low native richness may indicate that exotic richness and dominance are controlled by different factors. We conclude that it is useful for researchers to measure both invader richness and invader dominance when trying to understand the environmental factors that are associated with plant invasions.     

Hierarchical bivariate time series models: a combined analysis of the effects of particulate matter on morbidity and mortality

In this paper we develop a hierarchical bivariate time series model to characterize the relationship between particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and both mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases. The model is applied to time series data on mortality and morbidity for 10 metropolitan areas in the United States from 1986 to 1993. We postulate that these time series should be related through a shared relationship with PM10. At the first stage of the hierarchy, we fit two seemingly unrelated Poisson regression models to produce city-specific estimates of the log relative rates of mortality and morbidity associated with exposure to PM10 within each location. The sample covariance matrix of the estimated log relative rates is obtained using a novel generalized estimating equation approach that takes into account the correlation between the mortality and morbidity time series. At the second stage, we combine information across locations to estimate overall log relative rates of mortality and morbidity and variation of the rates across cities. Using the combined information across the 10 locations we find that a 10 microg/m3 increase in average PM10 at the current day and previous day is associated with a 0.26% increase in mortality (95% posterior interval -0.37, 0.65), and a 0.71% increase in hospital admissions (95% posterior interval 0.35, 0.99). The log relative rates of mortality and morbidity have a similar degree of heterogeneity across cities: the posterior means of the between-city standard deviations of the mortality and morbidity air pollution effects are 0.42 (95% interval 0.05, 1.18), and 0.31 (95% interval 0.10, 0.89), respectively. The city-specific log relative rates of mortality and morbidity are estimated to have very low correlation, but the uncertainty in the correlation is very substantial (posterior mean = 0.20, 95% interval -0.89, 0.98). With the parameter estimates from the model, we can predict the hospitalization log relative rate for a new city for which hospitalization data are unavailable, using that city's estimated mortality relative rate. We illustrate this prediction using New York as an example.     

Seasonal patterns of terpene content and emission from seven Mediterranean woody species in field conditions

The seasonal pattern of terpene content and emission by seven Mediterranean woody species was studied under field conditions. Emission rates were normalized at 30°C and 1000 μmol·m·s PFD (photosynthetic photon flux density). Bupleurum fruticosum, Pinus halepensis, and Cistus albidus stored large amounts of terpenes (0.01-1.77% [dry matter]) with maximum values in autumn and minimum values in spring. They emitted large amounts of terpenes (2-40 μg·g DM·h), but with no clear seasonal trend except for Cistus albidus, which had maximum values in spring and minimum values in autumn. The nonstoring species Arbutus unedo, Erica arborea, Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex also emitted large amounts of terpenes (0-40 μg·g DM·h) and also tended to present maximum emission rates in spring, although this trend was significant only for A. unedo. At the seasonal scale, emission rates did not follow changes in photosynthetic rates; instead, they mostly followed changes in temperature. From autumn to spring, the least volatile monoterpenes such as limonene were emitted at highest rates, whereas the most volatile monoterpenes such as α-pinene and β-pinene were the most emitted in summer. The monoterpene emission rates represented a greater percentage of the photosynthetic carbon fixation in summer (from 0.51% in Arbutus unedo to 5.64% in Quercus coccifera) than in the rest of the seasons. All these seasonality trends must be considered when inventorying and modeling annual emission rates in Mediterranean ecosystems.     

表皮生长因子对大鼠肺表面活性物质合成的调控及机制

目的和方法：采用无血清成年大鼠肺组织培养,用液体闪烁计数器测定＾３Ｈ－胆碱掺入磷脂酰胆碱量,消化定磷法测总磷脂,薄层层析及薄层扫描测磷脂各组分含量变化,观察生理浓度表皮生长因子对成年大鼠肺表面活性物质合成的调控。结果：①１０＾－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＥＧＦ作用８ｈ后,ＰＣ合成量显著增加,１６ｈ达高峰;②ＥＧＦ可显著增加总磷脂、ＰＳ特征性成分ＰＣ、ＰＧ合成（Ｐ〈０．０１）。而细胞膜特征性组分ＰＥ、ＰＳｅ、Ｓ     

Relative humidity- and ABA-induced variation in carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cotton leaves

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. CS50) plants were grown at two levels of relative humidity (RH) and sprayed daily with abscisic acid (ABA) at four concentrations. Plants grown at lower humidity had higher transpiration rates, lower leaf temperatures and lower stomatal conductance. Plant biomass was also reduced at low humidity. Within each humidity environment, increasing ABA concentration generally reduced stomatal conductance, evaporation rates, superficial leaf density and plant biomass, and increased leaf temperature and specific leaf area. As expected, decreased stomatal conductance resulted in decreased carbon isotope discrimination in leaf material ( Δ ¹³C_l). Plants grown at low humidity were more enriched in ¹⁸O than those grown at high RH, as theory predicts. Within each humidity environment, increasing ABA concentration increased oxygen isotope enrichment of leaf cellulose ( Δ ¹⁸O_c) and whole‐leaf tissue ( Δ ¹⁸O_l). Values of Δ ¹³C_l and Δ ¹⁸O_l predicted by theoretical models were close to those observed, accounting for 79% of the measured variation in Δ ¹³C_l and 95% of the measured variation in Δ ¹⁸O_l. Supporting theory, Δ ¹³C_l and Δ ¹⁸O_l in whole‐leaf tissue were negatively related.