Effect of pidotimod on renal function and inflammatory response in rat IgA nephropathy model

AIM:To explore the effect of pidotimod on the renal function in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) rat model, and to further study whether this effect is related to the inhibition of inflammatory response. METHODS:The SD rats (n=36) were randomly divided into control group, IgAN model group, IgAN with prednisone treatment group and IgAN with pidotimod treatment group, with 9 rats in each group. The IgAN model was induced by consecutive oral administration of bovine gamma globulin (BGG) for 8 weeks followed by injection of BGG through tail vein for 3 d. After the IgAN model was established, the drug was continuously used for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were examined by an automated analyzer. IgA deposition in the renal tissues was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibronectin 1 in the renal tissues were detected by RT-qPCR. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the renal tissues were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS:No significant difference of the body weight was observed in different groups. Compared with control group, the content of urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas those were reversed by pidotimod treatment. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that pidotimod inhibited IgA deposition in the IgAN rats. Pitomod treatment inhibited the mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers TGF-β1 and fibronectin 1, and the mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in the renal tissues of IgAN rats. CONCLUSION:Pidotimod alleviates IgAN progression in rats by inhibition of inflammatory response.     

Knockdown of HMGA2 gene inhibits TGF-β1-induced human embryonic lung fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis

AIM: To investigate the effects of high mobility group A2(HMGA2) gene knockdown on the cell viability, apoptosis, collagen synthesis and oxidative stress of human embryonic lung fibroblast (HELF) induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). METHODS: The HELF were divided into blank group, TGF-β1 group,negative control (NC) group and HMGA2 siRNA(si-HMGA2) group. The protein levels of HMGA2, AKT and p-AKT were determined by Western blot. The cell viability and apoptotic rate was analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry,respectively. The mRNA expression of collagen I (COL-Ⅰ) and COL-Ⅲ was detected by RT-qPCR. DCFH-DA was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS: Compared with blank group, the protein levels of HMGA2 and p-AKT, the cell viability, the mRNA expression of COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲ in TGF-β1 group were significantly increased, but the apoptotic rate and ROS level were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with TGF-β1 group, the protein levels of HMGA2 and p-AKT, the cell viability, the mRNA expression of COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲ in si-HMGA2 group were significantly decreased, but the apoptotic rate and ROS level were significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Knockdown of HMGA2 gene expression decreases the viability and collagen synthesis, and promotes apoptosis and ROS production of human embryonic lung fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.     

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.     

厚皮甜瓜新品种红宝玉的选育

红宝玉是以10R15 为母本、10R8 为父本选育而成的中熟厚皮甜瓜一代杂种。植株长势稳健,抗病抗逆性强。全生育期95～110 d（天）,果实发育期30～35 d（天）。果实短椭圆形,成熟后果面乳白色,单果质量约1.5 kg,果肉橘红色,肉厚3.5～4.0 cm,腔小不发酵,中心可溶性固形物含量17.5%,肉质紧脆,不脱蒂,耐贮耐运。平均每667 m²产量3 600 kg 左右。适宜在山东、河北、陕西、安徽等地春季保护地设施栽培。     

黄瓜新品种京研春秋绿2 号的选育

京研春秋绿2 号是以10-c66 为母本、10-c11-29 为父本配制而成的春、秋保护地和露地兼用的黄瓜一代杂种。瓜条棒状,长35～36 cm,瓜色亮绿,有光泽,白刺,刺瘤中等大小,棱浅,果肉绿色,风味佳、品质优。抗枯萎病,中抗霜霉病,耐白粉病。北方地区春保护地栽培产量为5 000～6 500 kg·（667 m²）^-1,秋保护地栽培产量4 000～5 000 kg·（667 m²）^-1,适宜华北、东北、西北春、秋保护地和露地栽培。     

油页岩有机碳矿化特征及在栽培基质中应用可行性分析

探讨油页岩有机碳矿化分解过程、有机碳组分变化特征以及环境因素作用规律可为评价油页岩在栽培基质中应用的可行性提供科学依据.试验在室内控制温度和水分条件下,分析了洗盐和未洗盐油页岩有机碳矿化动态变化特征.结果表明:油页岩基质在60 d培养期间,温度升高10℃使未洗盐基质总矿化量分别增加2%～28%(100%田间持水量)、2%～22%(80%田间持水量)和1%～15%(60%田间持水量);洗盐基质则分别增加2%～17%(100%田间持水量)、1%～5%(80%田间持水量)和7%～14%(60%田间持水量).将第60 d基质中活性有机碳含量进行回归分析,发现两种不同供试油页岩活性有机碳含量与温度和水分之间均呈正相关关系;未洗盐油页岩活性有机碳含量与温度和水分间相关性不显著,而洗盐后油页岩活性有机碳含量与温度和水分之间相关性显著(P=0.0214).用一级动力学方程拟合油页岩基质有机碳矿化动态得到未洗盐基质分解速率常数最大达1.2×10-3/d,洗盐基质其分解速率常数介于0.5×10-3～0.7×10-3/d.油页岩在长达60 d的培养过程中表现为有机碳持续分解、活性有机碳递增,证实其在基质栽培中的应用将对养分持续供给和维护作物根系生理活性发挥重要作用.     

基于生态足迹分析的青海湟水河流域可持续发展能力

基于生态足迹模型,计算2000-2005年湟水河流域生态足迹.结果表明:6年来,湟水河流域人均生态足迹从2000年的1.426 5 hm2/人增加到2005年的1/659 6 hm2/人,人均生态承载力从2000年的1.116 8 hm2/人减少到2005年的1.056 9 hm2/人,人均生态赤字从2000年的0.443 8 hm2/人增加到2005年的0.729 5 hm2/人,生态压力指数从2000年的1.45上升到2005年的1.78,表征状态由较不安全(4级)上升到很不安全(5级),现有发展模式不变的话,预测2010年生态赤字达0.943 2 hm2/人,生态压力指数为2.07,处于极不安全状态(6级).同时,随着湟水河流域生态足迹多样性指数从2000年的1.03提高到2005年的1.29,GDP生态足迹由2000年的2.702 3hm2/104元降低到2005年的2.215 6 hm2/104元,发展能力从2000年的1.46增加到2005年的2.14,预测2010年发展能力将提高到2.71.基于可持续发展理论,提出了实现湟水河流域可持续发展的措施和对策.     

基于EMD的中国生态足迹与生态承载力的动力学预测

利用经验模态分解(EMD)方法对1961年以来中国生态足迹与生态承载力的变化波动的周期进行了分解,并在此基础上运用动力学建模方法,建立预测模型,对中国未来20年的生态足迹与生态承载力进行数值模拟和预测。研究结果表明:随着生态足迹的增大和生态承载力的减小,中国未来20年的生态赤字越来越大,发展处于不可持续状态。政府应从提高生态承载力和减小生态足迹消耗着手来实现可持续发展。     

黄土高原地区水资源承载力动态变化分析——以山西、陕西、宁夏、甘肃4省为例

水资源承载力对地区经济可持续发展和群众生活的物质基础具有重要影响,是达到地区社会、经济和环境不断优化的关键.采用模糊综合评价方法,选取水资源利用率、降水量、人均占有水量和生态用水量为评价指标,对黄土高原4省1994-2004年的水资源承载力进行了综合及分区评价.结果表明:黄土高原4省水资源承载力在1994-2004年总体上呈缓慢上升趋势,说明水资源有向良性发展趋势;陕西和山西省水资源承载力较高,2省水资源开发利用有较大空间,甘肃和宁夏水资源承载力已趋于饱和,实施跨流域调水和节水措施势在必行.     

山奈酚对三硝基丙酸诱导氧化应激胎鼠的影响

试验旨在研究山奈酚对三硝基丙酸诱导亲代小鼠氧化应激从而对子代胎鼠氧化应激和抗氧化能力的作用.42只亲代小鼠分为3组:对照组、氧化应激模型组、抗氧化剂组,试验重复3次.测定妊娠20d后的子代胎鼠肝脏、肺脏和心脏3个器官中的总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活力、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活力、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC...