Contrast enhanced ultrasonography of kidney in conscious and anesthetized beagle dogs

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is useful to evaluate tissue perfusion in the kidney. In veterinary medicine, sedation or anesthesia may be required in uncooperative or panting patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the normal kidney perfusion patterns in conscious and anesthetized dogs using CEUS. Eight healthy beagles were used in this study. Scanning was performed in conscious dogs using manual restraint (conscious group), or under general anesthesia using tiletamine-zolazepam and medetomidine (TZM group) or medetomidine (M group). The contrast agent (Sonovue^®) was administered as an IV bolus. The peak intensity (PI), time to peak enhancement from injection (TTP₀) and the time to peak enhancement from the initial rise (TTP_up), upslope, downslope and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed. Compared to the cortical values in the conscious group, TTP₀ was significantly delayed in the TZM group, and upslope, TTP₀ and TTP_up were significantly different in the M group. The AUCs in the TZM and M groups were not different from those in the conscious group. The upslope of renal medullary perfusion was significantly decreased in the TZM and M groups. TTP₀ and TTP_up were also significantly delayed in these groups. The AUC of the medulla was significantly decreased in the M group. Therefore, TZM is useful as an anesthetic protocol when performing CEUS, and the obtained data may serve as reference values in the evaluation of renal perfusion using CEUS in dogs under anesthesia.     

Effects of the severity and timing of basal leaf removal on the amino acids profiles of Sauvignon Blanc grapes and wines

The effects of the severity and timing of leaf removal(LR) on the amino acids of Sauvignon Blanc grapes and wines were studied during the 2017 growing season. High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to analyze the amino acids profiles of grape berries and wines. The basal leaves were removed at three time points(40, 56 and 72 days after flowering, named LR40, LR56 and LR72, respectively) at two severity levels(one at which the first, third, and fifth basal leaves of each shoot were removed(50% level); and another at which the first six basal leaves were removed(100% level)). The results showed that leaf removal had little impact on total soluble solids(°Brix), titratable acidity, pH or berry weight. The LR72-50% treated grapes had higher berry weight, titratable acidity and °Brix than those of the other treatments. The highest concentrations of total amino acids and of total amino acids except proline were detected in LR72-50% treated grapes(2 952.58 and 2 764.36 mg L~(-1), respectively); the lowest were detected in LR72-100% treated grapes(2 172.82 and 2 038.71 mg L~(-1), respectively). LR72-50% treatment significantly promoted the synthesis of aspartic acid, serine, arginine, alanine, aminobutyric acid and proline at both severity levels for grapes, the concentrations of all of these amino acids were increased relative to the control concentrations. The LR72-50%, LR40-100% and LR72-100% treated wines had higher total amino acids concentrations and higher concentrations of some individual amino acids, such as arginine, alanine and serine, than did the control wines. Of all the amino acids studied, glycine, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine and lysine were not significantly influenced by the timing or severity basal defoliation in grapes and wines. The present study reveals the effects of the timing and severity of leaf removal on the amino acids profiles of grapes and wines.     

Reduction in cadmium accumulation in japonica rice grains by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of OsNRAMP5

Cadmium (Cd) intake is harmful to human health and Cd contamination in rice grains represents a severe threat to those consuming rice as a staple food. Knockout of Cd transporters is a promising strategy to reduce Cd accumulation in rice grains. OsNRAMP5 is the major transporter for Cd and manganese (Mn) uptake in rice. Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether knockout of OsNRAMP5 is applicable to produce low Cd rice without affecting plant growth and grain yield. In this study, we adopted CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing technology to knock out OsNRAMP5 in two japonica varieties. We generated three independent transgene-free osnramp5 mutants and investigated the effect of osnramp5 mutations on Cd accumulation and plant growth. Hydroponic experiments showed that plant growth and chlorophyll content were significantly reduced in osnramp5 mutants at low Mn conditions, and this defective growth in the mutants could be fully rescued by supply of high levels of Mn. Cd and Mn accumulation in both roots and shoots was markedly reduced in the mutants compared to that in wild-type plants. In paddy field experiments, although Cd in flag leaves and grains was greatly reduced in osnramp5 mutants, some agronomic traits including plant height, seed setting rate, and grain number per panicle were affected in the mutants, which ultimately caused a mild reduction in grain yield. The reduced plant growth in the mutants can be attributed to a marked decrease in Mn accumulation. Our results reveal that the manipulation of OsNRAMP5 should be treated with caution: When assessing the applicability of osnramp5 mutants, soil pH and soil water content in paddy fields need to be taken into consideration, since they might affect the levels of available Mn in the soil and consequently determine the effect of the mutation on grain yield.     

Effect of miR-19a on lipid catabolism in hepatocyte LO2

AIM: To observe the effect of microRNA-19a (miR-19a) on the lipid catabolism of hepatocyte LO2, and to explore the potential mechanism. METHODS: miR-19a was over-expressed or silenced by transfection of miR-19a mimics or miR-19a inhibitor into LO2 cells, then the mRNA level of miR-19a was detected by real-time PCR. The potential target of miR-19a was found by the method of bioinformatics through internet website. The effect of miR-19a on the 3' UTR of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was measured by dual luciferase reporter assay, and the protein level of PPARα and its 2 major downstream rate-limiting enzymes involved in lipid catabolism, acyl-coenzyme a dehydrogenase (ACADM) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), were detected by Western blotting. Meanwhile, the effect of miR-19a on the generation of ketone body was measured by beta-hydroxybutyric acid (β-OHB) detection assay. RESULTS: The mRNA level of miR-19a was dramatically elevated by the transfection of miR-19a mimics, and sharply decreased by the transfection of miR-19a inhibitor (P<0.05). PPARα was found as a potential target of miR-19a, and dual luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting confirmed the regulatory effect of miR-19a on the expression of PPARα, with the protein level changes of ACADM and CPT1A. miR-19a mimics down-regulated, while miR-19a inhibitor up-regulated the concentration of β-OHB in LO2 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-19a regulates the lipid catabolism of hepatocytes by targeting the PPARα and its 2 downstream rate-limiting enzymes.     

豫北山区“粮—草—羊”高效平衡养羊模式现状

从粮食作物、经济作物及饲草的种植,饲草料的加工调制与利用,全舍饲肉羊的养殖及杂交繁育,以及羊粪尿的资源化利用等方面介绍了豫北山区“粮—草—羊”高效平衡养羊模式发展现状,以期为促进豫北山区资源可持续利用、山区生态环境良性循环和社会经济可持续发展提供思路。     

Fusarium solani Upregulated Sesquiterpene Synthase Expression,Sesquiterpene Production and Allelopathic Activity in Piper betle L.

Activators of sesquiterpene synthase (STS) gene expression and sesquiterpene production in Piper betle L. were examined using quantitative real time PCR and gas chromatography mass spectrometry methods, and the allelopathic activity of untreated and Fusarium solani-treated betel extracts was tested on seed germination and on the shoot and root growth of Thai rice variety PSL2 (Oryza sativa cv. Phitsanulok 2) and three dominant paddy weeds (Eclipta prostrata, Echinochloa crus-galli and Chloris barbata). The results demonstrated that F. solani dramatically upregulated STS expression and productions of β-cubebene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene D sesquiterpene when compared with the untreated control, and that betel extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on weeds than on rice. The effects were more clearly detected on seed germination and root growth than on shoot growth, and they were found to be dose-dependent. It is also noted that F. solani-treated extract had stronger effects than the untreated extract. The species most sensitive to the allelopathic effects was C. barbata, germination of which was completely inhibited even at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL untreated extract. With regards to rice, although betel extract at 1.0 mg/mL showed no inhibition on germination, it affected the elongation of rice roots, in addition to those of the tested weeds. The obtained data suggested that F. solani has potential as an activator of sesquiterpene allelochemical production via STS expression, the latter leading to the treated betel extract having a stronger phytotoxic effect. These results were beneficial in the promotion of natural herbicide production using biotechnology.     

典型草原枯落物分解过程中官能团的动态特征

选择锡林浩特东部国家气候观象台的生态监测研究样地,对大针茅(Stipa grandis)、羊草(Leymus chinensis)、糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)、知母(Anemarrhena asphodeloides)枯落物的化学结构特征进行阐释。结果表明:(1)枯落物分解速率呈先增大后减小的变化趋势,且知母枯落物分解速率高于大针茅、羊草和糙隐子草;枯落物总碳(TC)含量为富集-释放模式,在第120d时,知母枯落物TC含量高于其他3种植物。(2)大针茅、羊草、知母、糙隐子草枯落物所含的主要官能团为-OH;=C-H、-CH 2、-CH 3;C=O;C=O、C=C;C-O。(3)不同植物枯落物官能团含量在分解初期迅速减少,在分解后期减少趋势较为缓慢,与分解过程中枯落物的分解速率变化趋势一致;知母的含碳官能团含量在分解结束后最低,而羊草的则最大,且知母和糙隐子草损失量最大,与分解过程中枯落物TC含量的特征一致。(4)大针茅的支链化指数最大,羊草的最小;糙隐子草的芳香性指数最大,知母的最小。不同植物芳香性指数在分解初期迅速减少,在分解后期减少趋势较为缓慢,与分解速率变化趋势一致。     

成渝地区葡萄园营养状况初步研究与分析

在成渝地区具有代表性的葡萄园内进行了叶样和土样采集分析,结果表明:与标准值对比,大部分葡萄园内叶片中营养元素P与Mg含量水平较低,微量元素Mn与Fe含量水平则偏高；在大量使用有机肥的葡萄园内,土壤中速效性的营养元素N、P、K含量水平相对较高.     

何首乌茎尖嫩叶主要营养成分分析及评价

测定了何首乌茎尖嫩叶的VB2、VC、粗纤维等主要营养成分含量和K、Fe、Zn等矿质元素含量,以期为何首乌茎尖嫰叶的合理开发利用提供理论依据。结果表明,何首乌茎尖嫩叶营养丰富,各种营养成分较为全面,其主要营养成分和矿质元素含量也远远高于其他4种常见蔬菜,这为何首乌茎尖嫩叶的食用价值提供了科学依据,也为改善人们的膳食营养和餐饮文化、开发蔬菜资源及提高其利用价值提供了参考。