Role of mitochondrial dysfunction in genesis of severe shock

The high mortality is a leading element of human health that follows severe shock even after blood transfusion and other anti-shock therapy. Therefore, to find out the mechanism of high mortality in severe shock is very critical. As a hotspot in recent years, mitochondrial function has important value in the genesis of many diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and so on. Mitochondrial dysfunction often takes place in relation to the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore with intracellular low ATP content in severe shock. The consequence of intracellular low ATP content may lead to the dysfunction of various organs with difficult treatment of severe shock. Therefore, protection against mitochondrial damage is a novel approach for treatment of severe shock. This article summarizes the concept, pathogenesis, detection variables and treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction in severe shock.     

Role of estrogen in alleviating hemorrhagic shock-induced organ injury

Estrogen has many biological activities and extensive clinical applications. Hemorrhagic shock-induced major organ dysfunction and injury, which are related to sex differences, play a triggering role in irreversible shock. The present article reviews the role of estrogen in alleviating hemorrhagic shock-induced organ injury by analyzing and summarizing the recent studies, thus expanding the clinical application of estrogen and providing a novel approach for treatment of severe hemorrhagic shock.     

Isolation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Azotobacter chroococcum from local litchi orchards and evaluation of their activity in the air-layers system

Soil samples were collected from rhizosphere of litchi-growing areas of North-Western Himalayan Region (NWHR) of India, for finding qualitative and quantitative differences in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and Azotobacter chroococcum. These samples were taken from plants being grown in different cultivation types namely, weed control with weedicides or tillage; orchard floor either clear or with cover crops; intercropping with cereals and legumes. Qualitative and quantitative differences were noticed with different cultivation types and a marked reduction in the AM fungi was observed in orchards where chemicals were used for weed control and intensive farming system was used on the orchard floor. AM fungi were generally abundant in the soils with range pH 5.5–6.6. Among different AM fungi retrieved from the soils, Glomus spp. was most dominant. Fifteen AM fungal species were isolated, identified and characterized and along with their ability to colonize the roots. In the soil samples, a marked variation in viable bacterial count of A. chroococcum was also noticed due to varied physico-chemical characteristics of the orchard soils. The changes in AM fungal species composition can be attributed to changes in soil chemical properties resulting from cultural practices such as ploughing, application of chemical fertilizers and weedicides. An experiment was also conducted to study the comparative efficacy of four dominant and frequently occurring indigenous AM species namely, Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerdemann), G. magnicaulis (Hall), G. mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.), Gigaspora heterogamma (Nicol. & Gerd.) and two A. chroococcum strains viz., AZ₁ and AZ₂ singly and in dual combination to evaluate their effect in air-layers system. Dual inoculation of G. fasciculatum and AZ₁ increased total root length of air-layered shoots by 81.39% over uninoculated control. These studies indicated that indigenously isolated AM fungal species and A. chroococcum strains can be used for air-layering for better adaptation under specific agro-climatic and ecological zone conditions.     

马铃薯块茎淀粉组分高效检测体系的建立及应用

马铃薯块茎淀粉组分(直链/支链淀粉比AM/AP)影响淀粉特性以及决定其在食品和其他工业上的应用。AM/AP的测定对其合理利用以及选育特异淀粉组分的专用品种等具有重要意义。采用96孔板双波长法对马铃薯不同AM/AP比率标准样品进行测试,发现当测试样品AM/AP比率超过制作标准曲线的AM/AP比率(33.3%)时,测试结果明显高估直链淀粉含量。基于96孔板的碘染分析,建立了马铃薯AM/AP比率和最大吸收峰下波长的标准曲线:y=601.88x0.0215,R2=0.9999。该方法进一步提高了测试准确度和应用范围。利用该方法测试了198个马铃薯品种(系)以及高直链淀粉组分的转基因块茎,明确了收集的马铃薯品种(系)的直链淀粉组成范围为17.4%~33.3%。新建立的马铃薯淀粉组分测试方法为高效准确筛选遗传育种材料以及改良淀粉组分株系提供了方便。     

Progress in stress-induced heat shock signaling pathways

A lot of diseases (e.g., acute infarction and infections) and the diversity of harmful environmental changes, including elevating temperature, heavy metals and oxidants damage many kinds of proteins in organism. The denatured proteins usually evoke endogenous adaptive cellular mechanisms called heat shock response. After the activation, heat shock factors (HSFs) bind with heat shock element (HSE). This progress induces heat shock protein (HSP) expression, then facilitates repair of misfolded proteins, and finally inhibits the cell death (both necrosis and apoptosis) pathways. This review will introduce the structures and functions of HSF, HSP and HSE and details on the signaling process of HSP regulation by HSF.     

The role of adrenomedullin in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the role of adrenomedullin (AM) in diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: We observed the changes in the expression and secretion of AM, TGF-β₁ in the cultured human mesangial cells under high glucose condition and the contents of the laminin and type IV collagen in the supernatants. The effect of intervention with AM was also observed. RESULTS: High glucose condition resulted in increase in the expression and secretion of AM、 TGF-β₁、 laminin and type IV collagen. AM reversed the influence of high glucose on the cultured human mesangial cells. CONCLUSION: These results showed that high glucose condition is one of stimulating factors of AM and the renal protective action of AM may be associated with suppression of TGF-β₁ and reducing excessive accumulat ion of laminin and type IV collagen.     

丛枝菌根真菌对不同甜瓜品种产量及营养品质的影响

研究了大棚栽培条件下不同品种甜瓜播种时接种丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular mycorrihiza fungus,AM）GM（Glomus mossea-2）和GV（Glomus versiforme）对甜瓜产量和营养品质的影响。结果表明：接菌处理的幼苗在光合速率、根系活力等生理指标上均优于对照;不同品种的单瓜质量均以接种GM的处理为最高;果实硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐含量都有显著性下降,维生素C含量GM处理显著高于对照,但GV处理有所下降。对根系侵染率分析表明,两个供试菌剂中GM为优势菌种,‘丰雷’和‘中蜜5号’为8个供试甜瓜品种中GM的最佳宿主。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate iron deficient chlorosis in Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf under calcium bicarbonate stress

Summary

The effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus versiforme on chlorosis due to iron deficiency in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf) was studied under calcium bicarbonate stress in sand culture. Seeds were sown in a mixed substrate [1:1 (v/v), perlite:sand] with or without mycorrhizal inoculum. The test was carried out with four treatments: Hoagland and Arnon nutrient solution with normal, no added iron, or 50% normal iron at two levels of calcium bicarbonate. The results showed that the proportion of the total root length infected by the AM fungus was ≥ 83%, and was depressed under Fe deficiency. No root colonisation was found with no added AM fungus (NM plants).

Colonisation by AM fungus resulted in higher dry weights of both shoots and roots compared to NM treatments, suggesting that the AM fungus accelerated plant growth. The activities of peroxidase and catalase in NM plants were lower than in AM fungus-inoculated plants. The results indicate that AM fungus alleviated calcium bicarbonate stress on the cell membranes of host plants. The results also showed that AM fungus increased chlorophyll concentrations, iron contents, and the Fe:P ratios of whole plants, and decreased 50(10P+K):Fe ratios, which implied that the uptake and translocation of iron was strengthened. Therefore, AM fungus had a positive effect on ameliorating chlorosis due to iron deficiency in P. trifoliata L. Raf.     

甜菜根际土壤AM真菌分离与分子鉴定

为了揭示丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM）真菌与甜菜的共生关系,收集甜菜根系及根际土壤,采用湿筛倾析-蔗糖离心法分离甜菜根围土壤AM真菌孢子。利用形态学和分子生物学方法对分离得到的AM真菌抱子进行分类鉴定,并应用Nested—PCR技术检测甜菜根际土壤AM真菌侵染甜菜根系情况。依据AM真菌孢子形态特征及25SrDNA D1／D2区域序列分析,鉴定出甜菜根围土壤中具有摩西球囊霉（Glomus mosseae）,并且应用Nested—PCR技术从甜菜根内检测到了G．mosseae,表明G．mosseae侵染甜菜根系。     

Lipid peroxidation precedes TNF and PDGF release in alveolar macrophage of the experimental pulmonary fibrosis rats

AIM:To evaluate the role of alveolar macrophage(AM)lipid peroxidation in bleomycin(BLM)-induced TNF-and PDGF release from AM in rats.METHODS:Male SD rats were intratracheal y instilled with saline or BLM(5 mg/kg body weight), and AM were isolated and analyzed for malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)following 1, 3, 7, 14 or 28 day(s).Simultaneously, TNF-and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)were also determined in AM-conditoned media by ELISA and bioassay respectively.RESULTS:(1)MDA in AM was markedly increased on day1, peaked on day 3 and then decreased to near control level on day 7;on the other hand, GSH-Px activity in AM were decreased to non-detectable levels during day 1-7 after BLM instillat ion, returned to the control level by day 14.(2)TNF-and PDGF were increased significantly from the third day on and then exhibited a consectutive changes.(3)AM lipid peroxidation preceded TNF-and PDGF release.CONCLUSION:Prior oxidative changes leading to AM lipid peroxidation, depletion of antioxidative pool might be essential for the subsequent mediators release in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.     

不同氮肥及有机肥投入对设施番茄菜地AM真菌侵染势和空间分布的影响

在山东寿光一年两季设施番茄长期定位施肥试验的基础上,检测土壤中的AM真菌群落组成;并通过生物接种的方法,检测不同土层AM真菌侵染势(MIP),研究不同氮肥和有机肥投入对土壤中AM真菌繁殖体数量和生物效应的影响。结果表明,设施菜田中不同养分投入可在一定程度上改变土壤AM真菌群落结构,但仍能保持一定数量的AM真菌。施肥量的增加显著抑制了AM真菌侵染势,AM真菌在不同土层的空间分布差异不显著。     

丛枝菌根真菌对重茬草莓产量和品质的影响

于日光温室条件下,研究了丛枝菌根真菌Glomusmosseae(Nicol.&Gerd.)Gerd.&Trappe,GlomusintraradicesSchenck&Smith和Glomusversiforme(Karsten)Berch对重茬土壤中草莓生长、结实和品质的影响。结果表明,供试真菌在同一时期的侵染率不同,同一菌种在不同时期侵染率有较大区别;无论土壤消毒与否,它们均可促进草莓的生长发育,提早开花4～12d,显著提高草莓单果重、单株果数和单株产量,单株产量提高27.6%～39.5%,提早4～6d成熟,而且有利于草莓前期产量的形成。接种处理还提高了草莓果实中维生素C和糖的含量,降低了可滴定酸的含量,改善了草莓果实品质。其中以Glomusversiforme接种效应最大。     

Activity of delayed rectifier potassium channel in alveolar macrophages from COPD rats

AIM: To explore the change of delayed rectifier potassium channel (KV) activity in alveolar macrophages (AM) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats. METHODS: COPD model was established by exposure of the animals to cigarette smoke. With whole-cell voltage- or current-clamp techniques, KV activity, membrane capacitance and resting membrane potential (Em) in AM from COPD model and control rats were compared. RESULTS: (1) Significant increases in total mononuclear cells and AM in bronchoal aveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were found in COPD group compared with in control group. (2) The AM KV current altitude in COPD group ［(520.5±38.7）pA， +50 mV, n=30］ was significantly lower than that in control group ［(713.6±44.4）pA， +50 mV, n=30， P<0.01］; (3) AM from COPD group had no significantly different capacitances (P>0.05), but had more positive Em (P<0.01) compared with those from control group. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of KV function, increase in excitability and more positive Em in AM from COPD rats may be involved in the AM contribution to the COPD development.     

Heat shock protein and atherosclerosis

Studying of atherosclerosis is more than a hundred year. There are many theories about this disease, but now most of us seems to agree with the stress-reponse theory. Heat shock proteins are the products produced at the first stage of atherosclerosis. And someone think that it may have something to do with atherosclerosis. This paper discussed the heat shock proteins and atherosclerosis respectively, and emasized the relationship between them.     

Adrenomedullin and cardiovascular remodeling

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel vasoactive peptide. The actions of AM include vasodilatation, reduction of arterial pressure, inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell transference and proliferation, diuretic and natriuretic, inhibition of aldsterone secretion. Furthermore AM modulates extra cellular matrix deposition. So adrenomedullin plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular remodeling. This paper reviews the relationship between AM and cardiovascular remodeling.     

Myocardial fibroblasts of rat are an important source of producing adrenomedullin

AIM: To elucidate the cellular source of adrenomedullin (AM) in myocardial tissue, the effects of 5 substances on secretion of AM from cultured rat fibroblasts and myocytes were examined in this study. METHODS: Myocardial fibroblast and myocyte isolation and culture; AM was measured by radioimmunoassay; AM receptors were assayed by radioactive analysis method. RESULTS:Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) all could stimulate AM synthesis and secretion in myocardial Fb and myocyte, and the amount of AM secreted by Fb was greater than that by myocytes, whereas transforming growth factor-β(TGFβ),and interferon-α(IFNα) suppressed in it in myocardial Fb and myocytes. Myocardial Fb has two kinds of AM binding sites, but myocyte has only one high affinity-binding site.CONCLUSIOIN:Myocardial fibroblasts could synthesize and secrete AM, and there are AM receptors in both myocardial fibroblasts and myocytes.     

The expression of adrenomedullin mRNA in the right ventricle in chronic hypoxic rats

AIM: To study the role of adrenomedullin(AM) in the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia for 14 days. After the measurement of the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), the rats were executed. The weight of the right ventricle (RV), the left ventricle(LV) and the ventricular septum(SP) were determined. The ration RV/(LV+SP) was used to express the thickness of RV. In situ hybridization was used for the detection of the expression of AM mRNA in the lung and RV. RESULTS: The RVSP in the hypoxic group was (63.63±3.42) mmHg,which was significantly higher than that in control group [(34.13±3.40) mmHg]. The RV/(LV+SP) in hypoxic group was 0.439±0.039,which was increased obviously when compared with that of control (0.230±0.025). The level of AM mRNA expressed in the RV in the hypoxia group was significantly higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: The expression of AM mRNA in RV increased in the hypoxic condition, which suggests that AM may attenuate the inappropriate increase in pulmonary artery pressure.     

Role of bioinoculants in development of salt-resistant saplings of Morus alba (var. sujanpuri) in vivo

Pot experiments were conducted for the development of salt-resistant saplings of Morus alba (var. sujanpuri) involving bioinoculants, namely arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Azotobacter and indole butyric acid (IBA). The IBA and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations were optimized prior to the experiments. By using both low and high concentrations, 15 ppm IBA and 0.05% NaCl (w/v) were found to be optimum in acting synergistically with AM fungi and Azotobacter and also for increasing all the growth parameters and microbial count in the rhizosphere. For in vivo development of salt-resistant saplings, the optimal concentration of IBA, along with AM fungi and Azotobacter in different combinations, was applied. The saplings were irrigated regularly with 0.05% NaCl water. Although growth parameters such as AM infection percentage, AM spores per 100 g soil and Azotobacter cells/g soil were affected by NaCl watering, the inoculation of both bioinoculants significantly enhanced survival percentage of saplings from 25 to 50% under salt stress. Maximum survival (55%) of saplings was found with IBA (15 ppm)+AM fungi+Azotobacter.     

Effects of lipopolysaccharide on proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression on alveolar macrophages and Fas/FasL system expression on alveolar type Ⅱ epitelial cells in smoking rats

AIM:To study the effect of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression on alveolar macrophages (AM) and Fas/FasL expression on alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in smoking rats. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry SABC and immunofluorescence techniques were used to examine PCNA expression on AM and Fas/FasL system expression on alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells in smoking rats of different stages induced by LPS. RESULTS:The AM PCNA expression in smoking rats reached the highest level after 3 or 4 months. The AM PCNA expression in every groups stimulated by LPS significantly increased ( P＜0.01). The Fas/FasL system expression on alveolar type Ⅱepithelial induced by LPS were higher than control groups ( P＜0.01). Both the AM PCNA expression and Fas/FasL system expression on alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells were parallel. CONCLUSION:Smoking caused the increase in proliferous rate of AM and it may play an important role in the regulation of the injury and repair of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells.     

Effect of Aima recipe on the protein and mRNA expression of TNFα and ICAM-1 in the bronchus of rats with chronic bronchitis

AIM:To study the effect of Aima recipe (AM), a traditional Chinese medicine, on the protein and mRNA expression of TNFα and ICAM-1 in the bronchus of rats with chronic bronchitis(CB).METHODS:15 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, chronic bronchitis (CB) group, CB plus AM group. The protein and mRNA expression of TNFα and ICAM-1 were assayed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods.RESULTS:TNFα, ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were more strongly expressed in the area of bronchial epithelium in the CB group compared with control group (P＜0.01), treatment with AM significantly decreased their expressions(P＜0.05). CONCLUSION:Downregulating the expressions of TNFα and ICAM-1 mRNA and protein in the area of bronchial epithelium may be one of the mechanisms underlying therapeutic effect of AM on chronic bronchitis.