The effect of aqueous extract of gross and commercial yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) on intra-abdominal and epididymal fat and glucose levels in male Wistar rats

This study analyzed the plasma lipid profile, glucose levels and fat deposits in male rats treated with aqueous extract of gross yerba mate, commercial yerba mate or water. Yerba mate treatment did not change body weight gain and lipid profile. The consumption of gross yerba mate significantly increased blood glucose (6.6 mmol/L) as compared to the water (4.8 mmol/L) and commercial group (5.2 mmol/L) and decreased epididymal and intra-abdominal deposits (10.1 mg/g and 23.7 mg/g of weight) as compared to the water (15.4 mg/g and 36.9 mg/g of weight) and commercial group (12.5 mg/g and 28 mg/g of weight). The results suggest that gross yerba mate reduces fat more efficiently but produces a greater increase in blood glucose when compared to commercial yerba mate and water groups.     

克氏原鳌虾在养殖过程中形成铁壳虾的原因及对策

克氏原鳌虾又称小龙虾、红鳌虾、淡水小龙虾,是淡水经济虾类。因肉味鲜美,深受广大消费者欢迎,因其杂食性,生长速度快,适应能力强而在当地生态环境中形成绝对的竞争优势。由于小龙虾的高密度养殖,在诸多因素影响下产生了大量铁壳虾,铁壳小龙虾,又称“丁壳虾”“钢虾”等。笔者于2019年5月份走访龙虾田口,安徽地区小龙虾养殖行业增加了很多稻虾养殖户电话,微信中虾农时常提起“铁壳虾”,“红头虾”,顾名思义,虾壳厚且坚硬,甲壳呈现艳红色,而且头大身子小,尾部肉质较少,松散。全身黑色,看上去很脏,并且身黏附着很多水生微生物。本文分析了影响克氏原鳌虾产生铁壳虾的因素,指出“铁壳虾”给养殖户带来的危害,结合各地铁壳虾情况,提出有效降低稻田中铁壳虾比例的有效方法,最后提出关于稻虾田水质管理的指标,供养殖户参考。     

Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

Effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D gene on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells induced by Ox-LDL

AIM: To investigate the effects of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene on the proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). METHODS: The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N2/XPD was transfected into HUASMCs by liposome. The cells were divided into blank control group, pEGFP-N2 group, pEGFP-N2/XPD group, Ox-LDL group, Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2 group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group. The proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT and EdU assays. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of XPD, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the expression of XPD was increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group (P<0.05). According to the results of MTT and EdU assays, the cell proliferation in pEGFP-N2/XPD group was reduced compared with blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with Ox-LDL group, the cell proliferation in Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the cell proportion of S phase decreased and the G₀/G₁-phase cell proportion increased significantly in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, repectively (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, the protein level of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: XPD inhibits the proliferation of HUASMCs and promotes their apoptosis, and reduces the promoting effect of Ox-LDL on the proliferation of HUVSMCs. XPD may be the target for treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Albumin overload aggravates kidney injury and renoprotective effect of simvastatin in adriamycin nephropathy mice

AIM: To investigate the aggravating effect of albumin overload on the kidney injury induced by lipid nephrotoxicity, and to observe the renoprotective effect of simvastatin (SIMV) on adriamycin nephropathy (ADR) mice.METHODS: SPF healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, ADR group, ADR with bovine serum albumin (BSA) overload (ADR+BSA) group, and ADR with both BSA overload and SIMV treatment (ADR+BSA+SIMV) group. All mice were uninephrectomized under general anesthesia 2 weeks before setting up ADR model. ADR+BSA model started to be set up 4 weeks later. At the end of the 0th, 2nd, 6th, 10th and 14th weeks, 24 h urinary protein was evaluated. At the end of the 14th week, the serum biochemical indexes and the kidney pathological changes were observed, and glomerulosclerotic index (GSI) was also evaluated. The cholesterol in the kidney was measured by enzymic colorimetric method and oil red O staining. The expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) in the kidney tissues was determined by real-time PCR. The expression of IL-1β and IL-17 was measured by immunohistochemistry and the expression of IL-17 in the kidney was measured by ELISA.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1, IL-17 and LDLr, and cholesterol content in the kidney and the GSI were all significantly increased in ADR group (P<0.05). Compared with ADR group, 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine, the expression of IL-1β, IL-17 and LDLr, and cholesterol content in the kidney were all significantly increased in ADR+BSA group (P<0.05). Treatment with SIMV significantly decreased the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1, IL-17 and LDLr. The accumulation of cholesterol in the kidney and the GSI were also decreased (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Inflammation aggravates the lipid deposition and glomerular sclerosis by increasing the expression of LDLr in ADR mice. Albumin overload further accelerates the progressive kidney damage by regulating the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1 and IL-17, which promotes the increase in LDLr. The beneficial effect of SIMV might be mediated by its anti-inflammatory effect.     

Effect of Alfalfa Flavonoids on Growth Performance and Serum Indexes of Sheep

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alfalfa flavonoids (Medicago sativa) on growth performance and serum indexes of sheep.This experiment was performed with hybrid F1 sheep of Suffolk sheep×Small-tailed Han sheep.Twenty-eight sheep with the body weight of (27.02±3.03) kg were randomly divided into 4 groups with 7 replicates in each group and 1 sheep per replicate.Sheep in different groups were fed diets with 0 (group Ⅰ), 0.1% (group Ⅱ), 0.2%(group Ⅲ) and 0.4% (group Ⅳ) alfalfa flavonoids, respectively.The experiment was cosisted of 7-day-preliminary trial and 41-day-formal trial.The results showed as follows:① Dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids had no significant effects on growth performance of sheep(P>0.05).② Dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids had significant effects on the contents of GLB, ASP, BUN, HDL and P in serum (P<0.05).Serum GLB content at the 1st day in group Ⅲ was significantly lower than that in groupsⅠand Ⅱ(P<0.05), serum ASP contents at the 1st and 21th days in group Ⅳ were significantly lower than those in group Ⅰ(P<0.05), serum BUN content at the 1st day in group Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P<0.05), serum HDL content at the 21th day in group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P<0.05), serum P content in group Ⅳ at the 21th day was significantly lower than that in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05).In conclusion, dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids might modulate lipid metabolism, improve nitrogen utilization, maintain energy metabolic and balance Ca and P contents, and have the potential function for promoting growth and no adverse effect on liver.The results suggested that the appropriate supplemental level of alfalfa flavonoids for sheep was 0.2%.     

金黄色葡菌球菌脂蛋白对M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞免疫作用的影响

本研究旨在阐明金黄色葡萄球菌脂蛋白对M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞免疫作用的影响，为金黄色葡萄球菌致病性研究提供理论参考。以金黄色葡萄球菌野生株SA113（WT SA113）和SA113 lgt：：ermB脂蛋白表达缺失菌株（SA113Δlgt株）体外感染M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞，分为3组：空白对照组、WT SA113感染组（MOI：3：1）、SA113Δlgt感染组（MOI：3：1）。采用ELISA法检测M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）、趋化因子（RANTES）和白细胞介素10（IL-10）的水平，实时荧光定量PCR检测Toll样受体2（TLR2）、Toll样受体4（TLR4）和含NLR家族Pyrin域蛋白3（NLRP3）基因的表达，免疫荧光法检测脂蛋白对M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞吞噬金黄色葡萄球菌作用的影响。结果显示，与空白对照组相比，WT SA113感染组和SA113Δlgt感染组均可显著上调M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞中TNF-α、RANTES、IL-10分泌量以及WT SA113感染组TLR2、NLRP3基因表达水平（P<0.05），而TLR4基因表达量显著降低（P<0.05）；与WT SA113感染组相比，SA113Δlgt感染组M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞中TNF-α、IL-1β、RANTES、IL-10分泌量以及TLR2（12 h除外）、NLRP3基因表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。免疫荧光结果显示，M1型巨噬细胞对SA113Δlgt株的吞噬作用显著低于对WT SA113株的吞噬作用（P<0.05）。综上，金黄色葡萄球菌的脂蛋白在M1型小鼠骨髓源巨噬细胞中主要通过激活TLR2和NLRP3受体，诱导细胞因子TNF-α、IL-1β、RANTES和IL-10的产生和释放。     

一种使用新型润滑剂压制高密度磁体的方法

文章涉及一种磁体的制作方法，尤其是使用新型润滑剂模压制作高密度磁体的方法。包括造粒、模压固化等六个步骤。文章的方法生产制作高密度磁体，在压制过程中新型润滑剂能从固体变成粘性液体，并在文章方法作用下流动到阴模壁，既能润滑模壁，又能润滑磁粉颗粒，从而使磁粉颗粒间的空隙被压缩，使其运动并达到磁粉颗粒的最佳排列，有效地提高磁件毛坯密度以及保证磁件的密度均匀。不但成型压力大大减小，节约了能源，而且有效地保护了模具，使生产磁体的成本大大降低。