Effects of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways in lung tissues of rats with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-infected rat lung tissues and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats (n=40) were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group, model group, Jiedu-Qingfei group and positive control group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in experimental groups were slowly dripped with 1×10⁹ CFU/L MP solution into their nostrils for 4 d. One rat in each group was sacrificed for MP nucleic acid detection at the second day after inoculation, and the other rats were given gavage therapy. The rats in blank control group and model group were intragastrically given the same volume of normal saline, the rats in Jiedu-Qingfei group were given 8 mL/kg Jiedu-Qingfei mixture daily for 4 weeks, and the rats in psoitive control group were given dexmethasone sodium phosphate (0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1). After the experiment, the rats were killed. The serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected for detecting the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-13 and TNF-α by ELISA. The right lung tissues were used for pathological observation and HE staining, while the left lung tissues were used to detect the expression of NF-κB p50, I-κBα and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) at mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The results of MP nucleic acid detection showed that all the rats except blank control group were MP nucleic acid positive, indicating that the rat model of MP infection was successfully established. On the 1st day of the treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in model group and Jiedu-Qingfei group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in mo-del group were significantly higher than those in blank control group and Jiedu-Qingfei group. The levels of IL-12 in the serum and BALF in model group were significantly lower than those in blank control group after MP infection (P<0.05), while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-13 and TNF-α in the serum and BALF of MP-infected rats were increased significantly, while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly lower than those in model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in model group were increased significantly (P<0.01). After treatment, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK were decreased significantly compared with model group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in control group. After treatment, the mRNA expression of I-κBα in Jiedu-Qingfei group was significantly higher than that in model group (P<0.05). The protein levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in the lung tissues of model group were significantly higher than those of blank control group. After treatment, the protein expression of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK was decreased significantly. The protein level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in blank control group, and after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture, the protein expression level of I-κBα was increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Jiedu-Qingfei mixture may attenuate lung tissue inflammation caused by MP through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.     

Cell direct reprogramming：a new technique for treating diabetes

Diabetes is characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency in β-cell mass, which cannot be reversed with existing therapeutic strategies. The restoration of the endogenous islet β-cells can stabilize the level of blood glucose. The islet β-cells can be obtained from the directional differentiation of stem cells, but the process is complex and has the risk of teratomas generation. Cell direct reprogramming, one terminal differentiated cell can transdifferentiate into another kind of terminal differentiated cell, which is other than directional differentiation from stem cells. Direct reprogramming gives rise to the generation of islet β-cells from one terminal differentiated cell, may be preferable for diabetes therapy because of its unique advantage.     

NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N不同配比对菠菜生长及食用品质的影响

为探究氮素形态对菠菜生长和品质的影响,试验采用盆钵培养的方法,在总氮浓度为15 mmol/L的条件下,设置了5种NO_3~--N与NH_4~+-N配比(分别为100:0、75:25、50:50、25:75和0:100),测定了5种铵硝配比条件下菠菜生长与品质相关指标。结果表明:与NH_4~+-N相比,NO_3~--N更有利于菠菜生长与Vc积累。适当增加NH_4~+-N比例后,Vc含量虽显著降低,但对菠菜的生长却无显著影响,并可显著降低可食用部分硝酸盐含量。因此,为了提供高产、低硝酸盐的优质菠菜,笔者认为适宜的NO_3~--N?NH_4~+-N为50:50。     

Dexmedetomidine attenuates acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10 μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were obviously increase in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group, which were obviously increased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group, which was obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, ethanol induced marked liver histological injury, which was less pronounced in E+M and E+H groups. CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP2E1 and NF-κB expression.     

Clinical significance of KLF15 expression in human lung adenocarcinoma

AIM: To explore the clinical significance of Krüpple-like factor 15 (KLF15) protein expression in the patients with lung adenocarcinoma for exploring the therapeutic and prognositic biomarkers of lung cancer. METHODS: Four cases of lung adenocarcinoma tissues and matched adjacent tissues were collected from our hospital, and the expression of KLF15 protein in these tissues was analyzed by Western blot. At the same time, 72 cases of archived paraffin-embedded samples and clinical data of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma were also collected. The KLF15 protein expression in the archived paraffin-embedded lung adenocarcinoma samples was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The correlations between KLF15 protein expression and clinical characteristics of the patients including prognosis were also analyzed. In addition, the KLF15 protein was up-regulated in A549 cells, and then the effects of KLF15 protein on the viability of the cells were measured by CCK-8 assay. RESULTS: The protein expression of KLF15 in the 4 cases of lung adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in matched paracancerous tissues. Fifty-three cases of lung adenocarcinoma specimens showed low expression or no expression of KLF15 protein in total 72 cases (73.6%). The 5-year survival rate of the patients with high expression of KLF15 protein in their specimens was higher than that of the patients with the low expression of KLF15 protein (P<0.01), and the expression of KLF15 protein was significantly correlated with the pathological staging (P<0.01) and T stage (P<0.01) of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the low expression of KLF15 protein was an important poor prognostic indicator of the patients. Up-regulation of KLF15 protein in the A549 cells significantly inhibited the growth of the cells. CONCLUSION: KLF15 inhibits the growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells. It could be used as a therapeutic target and a prognostic biomarker for the patients with lung adenocarcinoma.     

不同运输方式对生菜采后生理的影响

为研究运输方式对生菜采后生理及保鲜效果的影响,以‘橡生2号’生菜为研究对象,选择3种常见的运输方式:保温箱包装常温运输(A)、保温箱加制冷剂包装在常温下运输(B)、PE包装袋加纸箱包装在0℃下运输(C)进行试验。结果表明,采用C方式在0℃冷藏条件下运输的生菜,其失重率和呼吸强度均低于另外2组,VC含量和感官评价高于另外2组。因此在运输时间在12 h内可以采用A方式运输,在24 h内可以采用B方式运输,如超过24 h则最好使用C方式运输来保证生菜的货架期及品质。     

绿皮苦瓜新品种冠春5号的选育

冠春5号是以高代自交系327作母本,以自交系186作父本配制而成的苦瓜一代杂种。植株生长势旺盛,早熟,从播种至始收82 d(天)。主侧蔓均可结果,主蔓第1雌花节位为第7~8节。瓜长棒形,瓜长25~35 cm,横径5~7 cm,肉厚0.9~1.0 cm,单瓜质量420 g左右。果表皮浅绿色,点状突起与短条状突起相间瘤状物,尾部钝,果肉脆,苦味淡。早春栽培一般每667 m~2产量约3 000 kg,田间对白粉病和疫病的抗性优于对照新农村油绿苦瓜。适宜四川、重庆等地种植。     

保水剂对千里光种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响研究

为探明保水剂对千里光(Senecio scandens)种子萌发、幼苗生长的影响以及最佳使用量,采用室内盆栽试验,研究了5个梯度的保水剂浓度[0(CK)、0.10%、0.20%、0.30%、0.40%]对千里光种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。试验结果表明,添加适宜浓度的保水剂可提高千里光种子发芽率,最佳保水剂浓度为0.30%,较对照提高了7.62%。添加保水剂可以提升千里光幼苗生物量、株高与根系长度,株高随保水剂浓度增加呈先增加后下降趋势,根系长度随保水剂浓度增加而增加,在0.40%浓度处理达到最大值。在采用千里光进行绿化时建议加入浓度为0.30%的保水剂,有利于提高其成活率及绿化效果。