Systematics of white-toothed shrews (Crocidura) (Mammalia: Insectivora: Soricidae) of Taiwan: Karyological and morphological Studies

We define the species boundaries of white-toothed shrews (genus Crocidura ) in Taiwan using karyological and morphological characteristics. Ninety-nine animals were obtained from all over Taiwan at capture rates usually less than 10%. Three species are recognized by distinct cytotypes: Crocidura attenuata tanakae 2n = 40, FN = 56; Crocidura suaveolens hosletti 2n = 40, FN = 50; Crocidura kurodai 2n = 40, FN = 54. A suite of six morphological characters diagnose the three species: shape of skull, position of incisive foramina, shape of fourth upper premolar, shape of pinna, tail vibrissae, and foot pads. A species key and notes on the life history of each species are provided. Finally, we discuss chromosomal evolution and biolgeography of Crocidura in East and South East Asia.     

Interleukin-6, but not soluble adhesion molecules, predicts a subsequent mortality from cardiovascular disease in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Inflammatory responses are an important element in the atherosclerotic process. Therefore, inflammatory markers can potentially serve as predictors of cardiovascular risk. However, the existing data are limited and controversial. We conducted a prospective cohort study with 263 patients with first acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were admitted to our Hospital within 6 h after the symptoms onset. Clinical data were recorded and serum admission levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) were determined. The patients were then followed up for 3 years to document cardiovascular mortality. During the follow-up, 34 patients died from cardiovascular causes. The admission levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in these patients, whereas sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sP-selectin were comparable between these and the survived patients. The Kaplan–Meier plots revealed a significant increase in cardiovascular mortality with increasing levels of IL-6 (P = 0.0002, χ² test). The logistic regression analysis indicated that IL-6 was an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality. To conclude, our findings indicate that elevated admission levels of IL-6, but not soluble adhesion molecules, provide valuable information for risk assessment of long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with STEMI.     

Additive protection by antioxidant and apoptosis-inhibiting effects on mosquito cells with dengue 2 virus infection

Cytopathic effects (CPEs) in mosquito cells are generally trivial compared to those that occur in mammalian cells, which usually end up undergoing apoptosis during dengue virus (DENV) infection. However, oxidative stress was detected in both types of infected cells. Despite this, the survival of mosquito cells benefits from the upregulation of genes related to antioxidant defense, such as glutathione S transferase (GST). A second defense system, i.e., consisting of antiapoptotic effects, was also shown to play a role in protecting mosquito cells against DENV infection. This system is regulated by an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) that is an upstream regulator of caspases-9 and -3. DENV-infected C6/36 cells with double knockdown of GST and the IAP showed a synergistic effect on activation of these two caspases, causing a higher rate of apoptosis (> 20%) than those with knockdown of each single gene (-10%). It seems that the IAP acts as a second line of defense with an additional effect on the survival of mosquito cells with DENV infection. Compared to mammalian cells, residual hydrogen peroxide in DENV-infected C6/36 cells may signal for upregulation of the IAP. This novel finding sheds light on virus/cell interactions and their coevolution that may elucidate how mosquitoes can be a vector of DENV and probably most other arboviruses in nature.     

圆柏属常绿木本植物叶片水分、渗透调节物质的季节变化与抗冷冻性的关系

以祁连圆柏（Sabina przewalskii）和圆柏（Sabina chinensis）为材料,研究了圆柏属植物的抗冷冻性与叶片水分和渗透调节物质季节变化的关系。结果表明,随秋季气温下降,叶片组织相对含水量（RWC）和自由水含量（FWC）下降,束缚水含量（BWC）、脯氨酸（Pro）、游离氨基酸（FAA）、可溶性蛋白质（SP）和可溶性糖（SS）含量增加,翌年春季气温回升,相对含水量和自由水含量增加,束缚水含量下降,有机渗透调节物再次增加。有机渗透调节物在秋末冬初及初春的增加正好与圆柏属植物抗冻锻炼及脱冻恢复生长的时间相吻合,因而是植物抗冻及脱冻适应的重要生理响应,在降低细胞冰点、防止细胞结冰引起的膜机械伤害、抑制膜脂过氧化、保护膜稳定性方面具有重要作用。祁连圆柏的相对含水量和自由水含量均低于圆柏,3种有机渗透调节物含量均高于圆柏,表明祁连圆柏在抗冷冻性诱导中具有更广泛的适应性策略。     

Identification of PLCL1 gene for hip bone size variation in females in a genome-wide association study

Osteoporosis, the most prevalent metabolic bone disease among older people, increases risk for low trauma hip fractures (HF) that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Hip bone size (BS) has been identified as one of the key measurable risk factors for HF. Although hip BS is highly genetically determined, genetic factors underlying the trait are still poorly defined. Here, we performed the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of hip BS interrogating approximately 380,000 SNPs on the Affymetrix platform in 1,000 homogeneous unrelated Caucasian subjects, including 501 females and 499 males. We identified a gene, PLCL1 (phospholipase c-like 1), that had four SNPs associated with hip BS at, or approaching, a genome-wide significance level in our female subjects; the most significant SNP, rs7595412, achieved a p value of 3.72x10(-7). The gene's importance to hip BS was replicated using the Illumina genotyping platform in an independent UK cohort containing 1,216 Caucasian females. Two SNPs of the PLCL1 gene, rs892515 and rs9789480, surrounded by the four SNPs identified in our GWAS, achieved p values of 8.62x10(-3) and 2.44x10(-3), respectively, for association with hip BS. Imputation analyses on our GWAS and the UK samples further confirmed the replication signals; eight SNPs of the gene achieved combined imputed p values<10(-5) in the two samples. The PLCL1 gene's relevance to HF was also observed in a Chinese sample containing 403 females, including 266 with HF and 177 control subjects. A SNP of the PLCL1 gene, rs3771362 that is only approximately 0.6 kb apart from the most significant SNP detected in our GWAS (rs7595412), achieved a p value of 7.66x10(-3) (odds ratio = 0.26) for association with HF. Additional biological support for the role of PLCL1 in BS comes from previous demonstrations that the PLCL1 protein inhibits IP3 (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate)-mediated calcium signaling, an important pathway regulating mechanical sensing of bone cells. Our findings suggest that PLCL1 is a novel gene associated with variation in hip BS, and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of HF.     

祁连山南坡植被景观格局及其破碎化

以扎麻什营林区的林相图和调查资料为基础,运用GIS手段,选取合适的景观格局指数,分析了祁连山南坡植被景观格局基本特征,并进行了破碎化评价.结果表明:研究区植被以草地和灌丛为主,景观基质已退化为裸地,各植被类型斑块密度远大于裸地,平均分维数较低,景观整体破碎化水平较高;草地和灌丛边界密度和破碎化指数均高于其他植被类型,反映出该区自然植被景观主要受放牧活动的影响;森林多以小面积零散分布,其中青海云杉林景观结构破坏较为严重,异质性较低,斑块形状趋于单一,显示出较高水平的破碎化,其他林种多以小面积集中分布于某些小的生境,受人类活动干扰较少,破碎化程度较低.

Abstract：

Based on the forest form map and investigation data of Zhamashi forest area, and by using GIS, appropriate landscape pattern indices were chosen to study the basic characteristics of vegetation landscape pattern on the southern slope of Qilian Mountain, with the landscape frag-mentation evaluated. In the study area, grass and shrub were the main vegetation types, and the landscape matrix had degraded to bare land. The patch densities of all vegetation types were far larger than that of bare land, and their mean fractal dimension was lower than that of bear land. All of these characters emphasized the highly fragmented condition of the vegetation landscape in this area. The total edge densities and fragment indices of grassland and shrub land were higher than those of other vegetation types, reflecting that the natural vegetation was mainly affected by grazing. The forests were more dispersed in small areas, and the landscape structure of Picea crassifollia forest was heavily destroyed, being induced that the heterogeneity became lower and the patch shape tended to single, suggesting a high fragmentation degree. Other forest types were centralized in a certain habitat and less disturbed by human activities, suggesting a lower frag-mentation degree.     

Reversal MDR in breast carcinoma cells by transfection of ribozyme designed according the secondary structure of mdr1 mRNA

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy. The present study aims to investigate whether the ribozyme could reverse MDR in breast carcinoma cells. In this study, two GUC sites (GUC106 and GUC135) on the surface of mdr1 mRNA were selected according to the secondary structure of the 5'-region of mdrl mRNA. The ribozyme gene RZ106 and RZ135 complementary to two sides bases of the target GUC were synthesized and cloned into the plasmid pEGFP -C1 which has EGFP (Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein) as report gene and Kan/Neo as selection gene. After transfection with the recombinant plasmid and selected by G418, the stable cell clones were produced and used for detection. The alteration of mdr1 mRNA and P-gp in the treated cells was detected by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and Rh123 retention. The reversal efficiency of the drug resistance for adriamycin was determined by MTT assay. The results showed that after transfection with RZ106 and RZ135, the amount of the mdr1 mRNA and P-gp decreased significantly and the efflux function of P-gp was inhibited accordingly. Nine-fold and 16-fold reduction of resistance for adriamycin was observed in the two groups of treated cells. These results suggested that both ribozymes can reverse the MDR phenotype by inhibiting the expression of mdr1 mRNA and P-gp, and the RZ135 showed the better cleavage efficiency. The ribozyme strategy designed according the secondary structure of the target RNA could be a useful therapy for reversal of MDR.     

内皮素-1预处理时大鼠心脏Gαq/11和Giα蛋白含量的变化

探讨内皮素 1预处理和缺血预处理两种预处理方式与G蛋白有关的信号转导途径的异同。用 0 5nmol/ml内皮素 1左心室注射或夹闭左冠状动脉 5min/再灌 5min× 2进行预处理 ,然后两组均缺血 6 0min ,再灌 30min。观察心电变化 ,免疫印迹法测定心脏Gαq/11和Giα2的含量。结果显示 ,无论是内皮素 1预处理还是缺血预处理均明显减轻缺血再灌注性室性心律失常。与对照组相比 ,缺血预处理组Gαp/11含量升 77 8% (P <0 0 5 ) ,Giα2含量无明显改变。内皮素 1预处理组Gαq/11含量升高 110 6 % (P <0 0 1) ,Giα2含量下降 31 0 % (P <0 0 5 )。本研究结果提示 ,激活Gαq/11蛋白是两种预处理对心肌产生保护作用的共同信号转导通路 ,而Giα2蛋白在两种预处理中的作用方式有所不同。     

外源NO对铅胁迫下三叶鬼针草幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

铅(Pb)是已知毒性最强的重金属污染源之一,一氧化氮(NO)是一种普遍存在于生物界的信使分子,广泛参与植物对Pb胁迫的应答反应调控,而三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa)是修复Pb污染的重要种质资源。为了进一步探明NO在植物Pb胁迫响应中的作用及机理,增强三叶鬼针草对Pb污染土壤的耐性以及更好地应用于Pb污染土壤的修复。该研究以培养60 d的三叶鬼针草幼苗为材料,用不同浓度NO供体硝普钠(SNP)预处理,测定600μmol/L硝酸铅胁迫处理第3天三叶鬼针草叶、茎和根的膜质过氧化、抗氧化酶系统和渗透调节物质含量等指标,分析外源NO对铅胁迫下三叶鬼针草活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明:300μmol/L SNP能显著降低铅胁迫下三叶鬼针草相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H2O2)含量以及超氧阴离子(O-2·)产生速率;能显著促进脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性蛋白(SP)、类胡萝卜素(Car)的合成;和不同浓度SNP对三叶鬼针草叶、茎和根中抗氧化酶活性的影响较复杂,其中200μmol/L SNP能显著增强叶和茎中抗坏血酸氧化酶(APX)活性、茎中谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性,300μmol/L SNP能显著增强叶中过氧化物酶(POD)活性,1000μmol/L SNP能显著增强茎和根中过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和叶中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。综上表明,适宜浓度NO可以通过启动抗氧化系统,增加渗透调节物质含量和调节抗氧化酶活性,从而有效保护三叶鬼针草膜系统稳定性,缓解Pb胁迫伤害。因此,适宜浓度NO可以增强三叶鬼针草对Pb污染土壤的耐性,其在三叶鬼针草修复Pb污染土壤中具有较好的应用价值。     

Pathway-based association analyses identified TRAIL pathway for osteoporotic fractures

Introduction

Hip OF carries the highest morbidity and mortality. Previous studies revealed that individual genes/loci in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) -Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) pathway were associated with bone metabolism. This study aims to verify the potential association between hip OF and TRAIL pathway.

Methods

Using genome-wide genotype data from Affymetrix 500 K SNP arrays, we performed novel pathway-based association analyses for hip OF in 700 elderly Chinese Han subjects (350 with hip OF and 350 healthy matched controls).

Results

The TRAIL pathway achieved a significant p value (p = 0.01) for association with hip OF. Among the 38 genes in the TRAIL pathway, seven genes achieved nominally significant association with hip OF (p<0.05); the TNFSF10 (TRAIL) gene obtained the most significant p value (p = 1.70×10⁻⁴). SNPs (rs719126, rs6533015, rs9594738, rs1805034, rs11160706) from five genes (CFLAR, NFKB1, TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, TRAF3) of the pathway had minor alleles that appear to be protective to hip OF. SNPs (rs6445063 and rs4259415) from two genes (TNFSF10 and TNFRSF10B) of the pathway had minor alleles (A) that are associated with an increased risk of hip OF, with the ORs (odds ratios) of 16.51 (95%CI:3.83–71.24) and 1.37 (95%CI:1.08–1.74), respectively.

Conclusions

Our study supports the potential role of the TRAIL pathway in the pathogenesis of hip OF in Chinese Han population. Further functional study of this pathway will be pursued to determine the mechanism by which it confers risk to hip OF.