Overload of ferric ammonium citrate triggers MAPK pathways by producing high level of reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of human hFOB1.19 osteoblast cells

AIM：To investigate the role of reative oxygen species (ROS) generated by iron overload in activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and apoptosis. METHODS：Cultured human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19 was treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) at concentrations of 0~500 μmoL/L. The proliferation of hFOB1.19 cells was analyzed by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining. The expression levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 were determined by Western blotting 24 h after treatment with FAC. RESULTS：After treated with FAC, the cell proliferation was inhibited. The early apoptosis and total cell death were significantly increased. The levels of ROS were increased to (35.73±2.52)%, (62.89±4.24)% and (76.06±3.55)% with the increasing doses of FAC treatmen,respectively. The expression levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 were also remarkably elevated in FAC groups. CONCLUSION：Iron overload increases intracellular ROS level, thus triggering the MAPK pathways and inducing apoptosis of human hFOB1.19 osteoblast cells.     

云南省古林箐自然保护区物种多样性及保护

古林箐自然保护区位于北回归线以南,哀牢山南端以东的滇东南高原向东南半岛延伸的结合部,南亚热带与热带的过渡地带。在这特殊的自然地理条件下,成为我国三大生物多样性中心之一的滇东南—桂西北的核心部位,区内有发育完整,保存完好的森林生态系统和丰富的生物资源。但在管理中存在许多方面问题,据此提出保护措施。     

An investigation of links between metabolic rate and feed efficiency in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

Feed efficiency (FE) is the amount of body weight gain for a given feed intake. Improving FE through selective breeding is key for sustainable finfish aquaculture but its evaluation at individual level is technically challenging. We therefore investigated whether individual routine metabolic rate (RMR) was a predictor of individual FE in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, a major species in European mariculture. The European sea bass has three genetically distinct populations across its geographical range, namely Atlantic (AT), West Mediterranean (WM), and East Mediterranean (EM). We compared FE and RMR of fish from these three populations at 18 or 24 °C. We held 200 fish (62 AT, 66 WM, and 72 EM) in individual aquaria and fed them from ad libitum down to fasting. FI was assessed for an ad libitum feeding rate and for a fixed restricted ration (1% of metabolic body weight·day⁻¹, with metabolic body weight = body weight^0.8). After being refed 12 wk in a common tank, individual RMR was measured over 36 h by intermittent flow respirometry. There was a significant effect of temperature whereby fish at 18 °C had greater mean FE (P < 0.05) and lower RMR (P < 0.001). There was also a significant effect of population, where AT fish had lower FE (P < 0.05) and greater RMR (P < 0.001) than WM and EM, at both temperatures. Despite these differences in temperature and population means, individual FE and RMR were not significantly correlated (P > 0.05). Therefore, although the results provide evidence of an association between metabolic rate and FE, RMR was not a predictor of individual FE, for reasons that require further investigation.     

甘肃省兴隆山区域丛枝菌根真菌多样性初探

本研究采用Illumina HiSeq分子测序技术,探究了兴隆山东山丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌多样性及其在不同海拔高度的分布特征。结果表明:1)自兴隆山东山土壤分离获得AM真菌共52种,隶属于4目8科13属,其中球囊霉属(Glomus)和原囊霉属(Archaeospora)为主要物种,分别为20种和9种,共占总物种的55.77%;2)各海拔梯度AM真菌种属分布结果表明,优势属球囊霉属(Glomus)和类球囊霉属(Paraglomus)随海拔变化呈现规律性分布,其余各属均匀分布于不同海拔梯度;球状巨孢囊霉(Gigaspora margarita)、蜜色无梗囊霉(Acaulospora mellea)、白色球囊霉(Glomus albidum)、球囊霉属的Glomus sp.1和Glomus sp.4,还有弯丝硬囊霉(Sclerocystis sinuosa)仅在部分海拔梯度出现,为不同海拔特有种;3)AM真菌丰富度分析表明,从低海拔到高海拔,ACE和Chao1指数总体上表现出“单峰”变化曲线,且部分海拔间差异性显著(P<0.05)。Spearman相关性分析发现,该地区AM真菌种属分布受海拔因子影响较小,两者间不具有显著相关性。综上,兴隆山东山AM真菌资源丰富,物种繁多,具有较大的应用潜力。     

新疆草地优势种植物相对生物量沿海拔梯度变化特征

优势种作为草地生态系统中地上生物量的主要贡献者,其生物量既受到环境因素的影响,也受到共存种种间关系的影响。然而,由于物种的不同和环境梯度的差异,目前有关优势种生物量与环境因素关系的研究,尚未获得一致性的结论。基于此,本研究以2011-2013年对新疆9种草地类型397个样地中优势种相对生物量的调查数据为基础,首先统计了不同草地类型中优势种组成,其次通过一般线性模型分析了优势种相对生物量随海拔梯度变化特征,以及共存优势种相对生物量之间的关系。结果显示：1）新疆草地共有169个优势种,隶属31科120属。这些优势种主要以禾本科植物为主,占据了优势种的19.53%。其中,高寒草原、温性草甸草原、温性草原、温性荒漠草原和温性草原化荒漠中,最主要的优势种均为针茅。而在高寒草甸、山地草甸和温性荒漠中,最主要的优势种则分别为珠芽蓼、千叶蓍和角果藜;2）优势种相对生物量与海拔的关系可以归为5类,分别呈现无显著关系、先降低后升高的U型变化趋势、显著正相关关系、显著负相关关系和先增加后降低的单峰型关系。这5类关系所对应的优势种数量分别为50、9、8、6和4个,分别占优势种总数的64.9%、11.7%、10.4%、7.8%和5.2%;3）24个共存优势种之间,其相对生物量共存在19对显著关系,且大多数共存优势种相对生物量之间主要表现为负相关关系。本研究表明,优势种相对生物量与海拔的关系,因物种不同呈多种变化格局且受到共存优势种的影响,结果可对未来新疆草地地上生物量的维持和管理,提供一定的参考依据。     

PEG干旱胁迫对3种葱属植物种子萌发期渗透调节物质及酶活性的影响

为探明东北地区常见野生葱属植物耐旱能力,筛选野生葱属植物耐旱种质资源,本研究以野韭（Allium ramosum L.）、山韭（Allium senescens L.）和蒙古韭（Allium mongolicum Regel）3种葱属植物为材料,采用不同浓度的PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫,分析其种子萌发期渗透调节物质及酶活性的影响,并结合主成分分析和隶属函数分析比较抗旱性。结果表明：干旱胁迫下,3种葱属植物种子萌发期相对电导率显著升高（P<0.05）,丙二醛、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白含量及超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶、多酚氧化酶活性均呈现先上升后下降的趋势。3种植物相比,山韭相对电导率最低,渗透调节物质积累量最高,酶活性变化明显。主成分分析表明,4种酶活性之间显示出强相关性。隶属函数分析得出3种植物种子的抗旱性由高到低依次为：山韭 > 野韭 > 蒙古韭。     

Assessment of pulse co-oximetry technology after in vivo adjustment in anaesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo compare values of haemoglobin concentration (SpHb), arterial haemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) and calculated arterial oxygen content (SpOC), measured noninvasively with a pulse co-oximeter before and after in vivo adjustment (via calibration of the device using a measured haemoglobin concentration) with those measured invasively using a spectrophotometric-based blood gas analyser in anaesthetized dogs.Study designProspective observational clinical study.AnimalsA group of 39 adult dogs.MethodsIn all dogs after standard instrumentation, the dorsal metatarsal artery was catheterised for blood sampling, and a pulse co-oximeter probe was applied to the tongue for noninvasive measurements. Paired data for SpHb, SpO₂ and SpOC from the pulse co-oximeter and haemoglobin arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) and arterial oxygen content (CaO₂) from the blood gas analyser were obtained before and after in vivo adjustment. Bland–Altman analysis for repeated measurements was used to evaluate the bias, precision and agreement between the pulse co-oximeter and the blood gas analyser. Data are presented as mean differences and 95% limits of agreement (LoA).ResultsA total of 39 data pairs were obtained before in vivo adjustment. The mean invasively measured haemoglobin–SpHb difference was –2.7 g dL^?1 with LoA of –4.9 to –0.5 g dL^?1. After in vivo adjustment, 104 data pairs were obtained. The mean invasively measured haemoglobin–SpHb difference was –0.2 g dL^?1 with LoA of –1.1 to 0.6 g dL^?1. The mean SaO₂–SpO₂ difference was 0.86% with LoA of –0.8% to 2.5% and that between CaO₂–SpOC was 0.66 mL dL^–1 with LoA of –2.59 to 3.91 mL dL^–1.ConclusionsBefore in vivo adjustment, pulse co-oximeter derived values overestimated the spectrophotometric-based blood gas analyser haemoglobin and CaO₂ values. After in vivo adjustment, the accuracy, precision and LoA markedly improved. Therefore, in vivo adjustment is recommended when using this device to monitor SpHb in anaesthetised dogs.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism in avian uncoupling protein gene is associated with thermoregulation in chicks

Avian uncoupling protein (av-UCP) is a key protein for thermoregulation in poultry. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the av-UCP gene has been reported in chickens. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the association between this av-UCP gene mutation and thermoregulation in chickens. Wild and mutant type chicks for the av-UCP gene SNP (g. 1270 of the av-UCP gene exon 3 with C to T substitution and amino acid substitution) were exposed to high ambient temperature. Rectal temperature, radiation temperature on the body surface, and the expression of heat dissipation behavior (wing drooping and panting) during heat exposure were measured. In addition, oxygen consumption rate in the thermoneutral zone in wild and mutant type chicks was measured. Changes in wing temperature during heat exposure in wild-type chicks were lower than those in mutants. The latency of continuous wing drooping during heat exposure in wild-type chicks was shorter than in mutant chicks. It was also found that the SNP in the av-UCP gene caused reduced oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the av-UCP gene mutation affects thermoregulation, especially heat production, in chickens.     

Effect of different inspired fractions of oxygen on F-shunt and arterial partial pressure of oxygen in isoflurane-anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated Shetland ponies

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) on intrapulmonary shunt fraction as measured by F-shunt in ponies during isoflurane anaesthesia.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsA group of 23 adult Shetland ponies undergoing a total of 32 anaesthetic procedures.MethodsPonies were premedicated intravenously (IV) with detomidine (0.01 mg kg^–1) and either morphine (0.1 mg kg^–1) or butorphanol (0.02 mg kg^–1). Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine (2.2 mg kg^–1) and midazolam (0.07 mg kg^–1) administered IV. Ponies were randomly allocated to maintenance of anaesthesia with isoflurane in oxygen (group TH; FiO₂ = 0.95) or a mixture of oxygen and medical air (group TL; FiO₂ = 0.65); all ponies were given a constant rate of infusion of detomidine. Animals were mechanically ventilated to maintain PaCO₂ between 40 and 50 mmHg. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed every 30 minutes. The F-shunt equation was calculated for each time point T0, T30, T60 and T90. Data were analysed using linear mixed model analysis and presented as mean ± standard deviation (p < 0.05).ResultsPaO₂ was greater in group TH than in group TL (TH: 406 ± 90, 438 ± 83, 441 ± 69 and 464 ± 53 mmHg versus TL: 202 ± 90, 186 ± 84, 172 ± 85 and 191 ± 98 mmHg at T0, T30, T60 and T90, respectively; p < 0.0001). In TH, F-shunt was < TL. Significant differences were found at T60 (TH: 13.2% ± 4.3 versus TL: 19.4% ± 8.3; p = 0.016) and T90 (TH: 11.7% ± 3.5 versus TL: 18.6% ± 9.5; p = 0.036).Conclusions and clinical relevanceOur findings do not support a beneficial effect of using a reduced FiO₂ to improve oxygenation in anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated Shetland ponies.