Association of polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM:To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).METHODS:The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor γ chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China.RESULTS:The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54.4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17.2% and 42.9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24.4%) and G allele (45.6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31.4% and 57.1%, respectively) (P＜0.05). The TT genotype and T allele at position -29 were not associated with lupus nephritis in SLE patients (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.     

The application of atomic force microscope in clinic diagnosis of erythrocytes

AIM: To investigate the application of atomic force microscope (AFM) in clinic diagnosis. METHODS: Topographic images and some parameters of large range field and microstructures of erythrocytes in the blood of normal subjects, lung cancer and myelodisplastic syndrome (MDS) patients were examined by atomic force microscope. RESULTS: Many clear topographic images of many erythrocytes, single erythrocyte, and microstructure of erythrocyte membrane surface were obtained. Many erythrocytes in lung cancer patients were found to change into echinocytes. One erythrocyte had 10-20 protuberances, most of which, with a mean width of 589. 0 nm and a length of 646. 7 nm, were on the edge of cells. The protuberances on the center of echinocytes are lodged and embedded. The erythrocytes of MDS patients were biconcave in shape. Many apertures with different diameters of tens to hundreds nanometer appeared on the surface of cell membrane. CONCLUSIONS: AFM can be widely applied in clinic pathological inspection, including quantification of cells, obtainment and comparison of many parameters (such as diameter, thickness, volume, surface, surface area/volume ratio), observation of topograph of single cell, and observation and comparison of membrane surface microstructure of cells, and so on.     

Effect of Yigu capsule drug-containing serum on apoptosis and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase secretion in rat osteoclasts

AIM:The effects of Yigu capsule on tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) secretion and apoptosis in rat osteoclasts were investigated in order to further explore its mechanism of preventing and treating osteoporosis.METHODS:(1) Twenty-month-old Sprague-daweley rats were randomly divided into two groups(Yigu capsule group and saline group), and the drug-containing serum and control serum were prepared. (2) The newborn Sprague-daweley rat osteoclasts were cultured with different concentrations of Yigu capsule drug-containing serum. At different time point, TRAP activity was measured and the survival osteoclast was counted under reverse microscope.The percentage of osteoclast apoptosis was observed under fluorescence microscope after acridine orange staining.RESULTS:TRAP activity was lower and the percentage of osteoclast apoptosis was higher in drug-containing serum group than in control group at 24, 48 and 72 h(P<0.01), respectively, and the survival osteoclasts were less in drug-containing serum group than in control groups at 24, 48 and 72 h(P<0.01).CONCLUSIONS:These data suggest that Yigu capsule drug-containing serum induces apoptosis and inhibits TRAP activity in osteoclasts, which may be one of the mechanisms of Yigu capsule preventing and treating osteoporosis.     

Effects of TGF-β1 and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPC)

AIM:To study the effect of TGF-β₁ and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC). METHODS:CD₃₄⁺cells were purified from fresh umbilical cord blood by immunomagnetic beads, and mononuclear cells were purified from bone marrow by Ficoll-hypaque. The effects of TGF-β₁ and /or TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of CD₃₄⁺ cells、CFU-GEMM、CFU-GM、CFU-E and BFU-E were detected by using liquid and semi-solid culture systems.RESULTS:TGF-β₁ antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E, which was as 4, 2.6, 2.7, 1.8, 2.1 times as that of the control (the cytokines combination), respectively. TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 4, 2.9, 2.6, 1.7, 1.8 times as that of the control. The above two antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines could respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 5.3, 2.1, 2.7, 1.9, 1.8 times as that of the control.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of endogenous TGF-β₁ and TNF-α by antisense PS-ODNS will be one of the effective methods to expand HSPC ex vivo.     

菟丝子致死薇甘菊

薇甘菊Mikania micrantha是入侵的害草，已经由珠江三角洲扩散到粤东、粤西沿海地区，以及部分山区。在薇甘菊的天敌调查中看到菟丝子寄生于薇甘菊，严重时可以把薇甘菊致死。我们在本所的实验园中栽种薇甘菊，并让其被菟丝子Cusuta chinensis Lam.寄生，结果证实菟丝子在两个月左右，完全可以抑制薇甘菊的生长，最终把薇甘菊致死。这可能是以草治草的一种新途径，但是菟丝子也是我国农作物的一种重要昌，如何利用菟丝子控制薇甘菊的为害，而又不使菟丝子对薇甘菊的伴生植物和鞭它农作物造成为害，是下一步要解决的问题，菟丝子致死薇甘菊的机理更需要深入研究。     

ITS—RFLP分析进行昆虫病原线虫斯氏属和异小杆属的分类鉴定

本研究通过PCR扩增和六种限制性内切酶（AluⅠ，HinfⅠ，MboⅠ，RsaⅠ，HaeⅢ和PvuⅡ）酶切，对国内害虫防治上常用的几种昆虫病原线虫，包括斯氏属S.car-pocapsae,S.feltiae和S.glaseri以及异小杆属H.bacteriophora,H.zealandica,H.indicus和H.megidis等8个品系rDNA-ITS进行分析。建立起可以区分各线虫种的标准RFLP图谱。该方法快速简便，稳定可靠，需要的样品量少。可以用于新鲜的，或冻存的样品，甚至分析单条的线虫，不仅可进行昆虫病原线虫的快速分类鉴定。而且进一步可以应用于线虫田间释放的辅助监测。实际田间感染率的测定和线虫毒力的比较。     

水稻不同品种或组合对甲磺隆耐药性差异的机制研究

以水稻乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)比活力为研究对象,通过在离体和活体条件下比较其对甲磺隆的敏感性水平,探讨了水稻不同品种或组合的耐药性差异机制。结果表明,离体条件下不同水稻品种或组合ALS对甲磺隆均较敏感,当甲磺隆浓度为100 μg/L时,对ALS比活力抑制率达60%以上,且活力百分比与甲磺隆浓度对数成直线负相关关系,相关程度显著或极显著;活体条件下ALS活力均受到甲磺隆不同程度的抑制,但同一品种ALS活力不随甲磺隆浓度的变化而呈现规律性变化。在甲磺隆浓度相同时,活体条件下所有供试水稻品种ALS活力均显著高于离体条件下的ALS活力,影响程度与植株耐药性差异基本一致,说明甲磺隆在水稻体内存在较强代谢失活作用,代谢失活差异是水稻不同品种或组合对甲磺隆的耐药性差异机制。     

细胞骨架解聚药物对小麦与叶锈菌互作诱发的细胞过敏性反应的影响

 小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种洛夫林10和叶锈菌小种366组成不亲和组合,小麦叶片发生过敏性坏死反应(HR)是小麦抵抗叶锈菌侵染的重要因素。在接种前给小麦叶片分别预注射微管解聚药物磺草硝(oryzalin)和微丝解聚药物细胞松弛素D (cytochalasin D,CD),结果表明2种药物注射使得寄主因叶锈菌侵染诱导的细胞过敏性坏死数目明显减少,并且注射药物的浓度越大,寄主细胞发生HR的数量越少。说明肌动蛋白和微管蛋白的聚合状态是诱发小麦叶片发生HR防卫反应所必需的,细胞骨架在小麦抵抗叶锈菌侵染过程中可能起着重要作用。     

农作物病虫预报可视化发展与应用前景

农作物病虫预报可视化具有形象生动、信息传递快捷、覆盖面广等优点,是更好发挥预报作用的最佳方式。大范围实施这种预报发布形式的条件,目前已基本成熟,经过努力,必然会在不长的时间内取得长足进展。     

不同碳源对虎奶菇菌核蛋白质营养价值的影响

测定了四种碳源对虎奶菇菌核蛋白质营养价值的影响。结果表明，以玉米淀粉为碳源，虎奶薅菌蛋白质的化学评分，必需氨基酸指数，生物价和营养指数分别为11．63、69．80、64．40和9．98，均居四种参试碳源的第一位；氨基酸评分和氨基酸比值系数分分别为14．55和12．45，均居四种参试碳源的第二位，这些结果证实，以玉米淀粉为碳源，虎奶菇菌核蛋白质营养价值高，值得推广应用。