Atorvastatin inhibits IL-1β and IL-18 releases via lowering the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome

AIM: To explore the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome in atorvastatin-induced reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) releases from the THP-1 macrophages. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 μg/L) was used to trigger the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in the THP-1 macrophages. The cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (1, 10 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h, or treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for different time (12 h, 24 h and 48 h). NLRP1 siRNA was transfected into the THP-1 cells. The mRNA expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was determined by Western blot. The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Atorvastatin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in the THP-1 macrophages in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transfection of NLRP1 siRNA significantly decreased the protein expression of NLRP1 and promoted the suppressive effect of atorvastatin on IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in the THP-1 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin inhibits the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in the macrophages through decreasing NLRP1 inflammasome expression, possibly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis.     

Functional changes of retinal ganglion cells in rd1 mice during midterm of retinal pigmentosa

AIM: To investigate how the function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) change in the midterm of retinal pigmentosa (RP) in rd1 mice (a transgenic animal model of RP). METHODS: The action potentials from multiple RGCs in rd1 mice at postnatal 20 d (P20) or normal C57 mice (control) were simultaneously recorded by multi-electrode array recording. The functional changes of surviving ganglion cells were evaluated by comparing spontaneous and light-evoked activities of RGCs between rd1 and control mice. The extent of photoreceptor degeneration was verified by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry results showed the thickness of the retinal photoreceptor layer of rd1 mice was significantly lower than that in normal mice at P20. According to the light response properties, we classified ganglion cells into 6 subgroups: ON sustained, ON transient, ON-OFF sustained, ON-OFF transient, OFF sustained and OFF transient RGCs, with a very tiny percentage of OFF sustained RGCs (1.0%~3.1%). The percentage of RGCs remaining light responsive in rd1 mice was significantly lower than that in C57 mice. The average spontaneous spiking rate for rd1 RGCs was overall significantly increased compared to that in C57 cells, whereas different RGC types had different changes. The light-induced responses and light sensitivities of all types of RGCs in rd1 mice were both significantly lower than those in C57 mice. CONCLUSION: The photoreceptors of rd1 mice are severely degenerated in the midterm of retinal degeneration. The functions of RGCs in rd1 mice in the midterm of degeneration decay obviously, with variance in different RGCs types.     

Effects of Huaiyu decoctum on serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in rats after anorectal operation

ATM: To investigate the effects of Huaiyu decoctum on the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in rats after anorectal operation. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group, model group, low-dose Huaiyu decoctum group and high-dose Huaiyu decoctum group. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in the rat serum were measured by ELISA. The pathologic changes of the anorectal tissues were observed under microscope with HE staining. The protein expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and NF-κB was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: After Huaiyu decoctum administration, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the serum were significantly decreased, and IL-10 concentration was increased as compared with model group. Moreover, Huaiyu decoctum markedly attenuated edema and hyperemia in the rats after anorectal operation. The protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and NF-κB in the anorectal tissues was obviously inhibited by Huaiyu decoctum treatment. CONCLUSION: Huaiyu decoctum improves the recovery of anorectal tissues after operation by decreasing the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10, and reducing the protein expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and NF-κB in the anorectal tissues.     

一种新的结合SVM和FNN的多聚焦图像融合算法

产业融合共生是新时期红色旅游的必然选择，红色旅游企业共生系统可分为区域内共生子系统和区域外共生子系统，表现为核心共生、主要共生和跨界共生三种形态，核心共生形态是红色旅游企业共生区别其他企业共生的根本所在。红色旅游企业共生由合作和共识耦合而成，但核心共生形态的形成机理更多地表现为天然性，要求红色旅游企业主动寻求合作，争取与其他共生单元达成共识，促进红色旅游企业共生关系的良性发展。     

鼠李糖乳杆菌益生素对猪生产性能及血清学指标的影响

[目的]为今后鼠李糖乳杆菌益生素的开发应用奠定基础.[方法]对照组猪饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组分别饲喂添加2和4ml/头鼠李糖乳杆菌益生素(RLB)的基础日粮,研究鼠李糖乳杆菌益生素对猪生产性能及部分血清学指标的影响.[结果]试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组妊娠母猪的死产、畸形、木乃伊和弱仔猪的总数量比对照组减少36.36％和54.55％,且平均初生重提高5.38％和10.00％;试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组断奶仔猪的平均重量比对照组提高1.31％和2.96％;与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组断奶仔猪的平均日增重分别提高5.03％和8.06％,料重比分别降低4.07％和5.81％,断奶仔猪的腹泻率分别降低74.90％和100.00％;试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组小猪的平均日增重较对照组分别提高1.60％和6.79％,料重比分别降低2.05％和5.13％.[结论]RLB可使断奶仔猪血清葡萄糖、IgA、白蛋白和总蛋白含量升高,血清胆固醇和IgG含量降低;RLB可以提高妊娠母猪、哺乳母猪、断奶仔猪和小猪的生产性能.     

Influence of Temperature on Symbiotic Bacterium Composition in Successive Generations of Egg Parasitoid,Anagrus nilaparvatae

Anagrus nilaparvatae is the dominant egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers and plays an important role in biological control. Symbiotic bacteria can significantly influence the development, survival, reproduction and population differentiation of their hosts. To study the influence of temperature on symbiotic bacterial composition in the successive generations of A. nilaparvatae, A. nilaparvatae were raised under different constant temperatures of 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C and 34 °C. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the diversity of symbiotic bacteria. Our results revealed that the endophytic bacteria of A. nilaparvatae were Pantoea sp., Pseudomonas sp. and some uncultured bacteria. The bacterial community composition in A. nilaparvatae significantly varied among different temperatures and generations, which might be partially caused by temperature, feeding behavior and the physical changes of hosts. However, the analysis of wsp gene showed that the Wolbachia in A. nilaparvatae belonged to group A, sub-group Mors and sub-group Dro. Sub-group Mors was absolutely dominant, and this Wolbachia composition remained stable in different temperatures and generations, except for the 3rd generation under 34 °C during which sub-group Dro became the dominant Wolbachia. The above results suggest that the continuous high temperature of 34 °C can influence the Wolbachia community composition in A. nilaparvatae.     

Effects of Culture Area,Stocking Density,and Shrimp and Fish Polyculture on the Cost Efficiency of Hard Clam,Meretrix meretrix,Culture: A Case Study of Hard Clam Farms in Yunlin,Taiwan

Using the hard clam farms in Yunlin, Taiwan as examples, this study analyzes the effects of culture area, stocking density, and shrimp and fish polyculture on the cost efficiency (CE) of hard clam farming. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate the farms' technical efficiency (TE), allocative efficiency (AE), and CE values. The findings show that the mean TE, AE, and CE values of hard clam farms are 0.74, 0.57, and 0.43, respectively. The TE value is higher than the AE value, which indicates that cost inefficiency is mainly attributable to poor AE. Tobit regression results suggest that there are positive relationships between CE and both culture area and operator experience. Hard clam stocking density and age of the operators have negative effects on CE. Hard clam culture areas larger than 2 ha and a stocking density of 1.1–1.2 million hard clams per hectare have higher CEs than smaller culture areas and smaller or larger stocking densities. The use of sand shrimp, white shrimp, kuruma shrimp, and grass shrimp for polyculture and the use of milkfish and silver sea bream for polyculture are both associated with high CEs.     

新疆十种野生药用植物核型分析

以新疆伊犁新源县的4科10种药用植物为试材,采用植物染色体标本制备的去壁低渗方法,研究了染色体数目并进行了核型分析。结果表明:大麻(Cannabis sativa L.)2n=20=12m+8sm、苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides L.)2n=36=26m+8sm+2st、毛牛蒡(Arctium tomentosum Mill.)2n=36=6m+28sm+2st、牛蒡(Arctium lappaL.)2n=36=8m+26sm+2st、千叶蓍(Achillea millefolium L.)2n=36=26m+10sm、牛至(Origanum valgare)2n=30=12m+18sm、菊苣(Cichorium intybus L.)2n=18=12m+6sm、新疆鼠尾草(Salvia deserta Schang)2n=14=4m+10sm、草原糙苏(Phomis protensis Kar)2n=22=12m+6sm+4st、乌拉尔甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fish)2n=16=6m+10sm,其染色体数目与前人报道一致。千叶蓍(Achillea millefolium L.)、牛至(Origanum valgare)、新疆鼠尾草(Salvia deserta Schang)3种植物为首次报道。     

外源赤霉素对桂林报春苣苔开花的影响

以桂林报春苣苔为试材,采用不同浓度的赤霉素(GA3)(50、100、500、800mg/L)进行整株喷施处理,以蒸馏水为对照,观察其花期并测量花形态指标,探讨了外源GA3对桂林报春苣苔开花特性的影响。结果表明:GA3对桂林报春苣苔具有催花和延长花期的作用,对花梗高、叶丛高、花冠长、花朵数具有促进作用,而对花梗与叶丛高度比、花冠宽、花序数影响较小,其中500mg/L处理效果较好,花期提前9d,花期达25d,花梗高度、叶丛高度、花冠长、花朵数分别为17.81cm、13.71cm、5.61cm、74.8朵。     

不同钾处理对富源花魔芋生理特性和产量的影响

以富源花魔芋为试材,采用大棚盆栽种植方式进行了不同钾处理(处理0、1、2、3的K2SO_4施用量分别为0.0、2.2、4.4、6.6g/株)的魔芋种植试验,并在施钾肥后5、15、30、60d测定了富源花魔芋叶片叶绿素、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、丙二醛(MDA)含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。结果表明:施用适量硫酸钾(处理2)有利于提高叶片叶绿素、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖含量,增强了叶片SOD、CAT、POD活性,降低了魔芋叶片MDA含量,对魔芋抗氧化酶系统以及膜质过氧化系统有一定的生理效果,增强了魔芋植株抵抗逆境和抗衰老的能力,进而影响了叶片的光合作用和同化物的合成、转化和运输,获得了魔芋的高产。处理2收获时大芋重量为485.71g,折合产量36 428.25kg/hm~2,是处理0的1.50倍,是处理3的1.56倍。