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.     

威宁县白萝卜优质生产技术

从播前准备、品种选择、播种方式和方法、田间管理、病虫害防治、适时收获等方面系统阐述了威宁白萝卜的优质生产技术措施，以期为广大农民朋友提供科学的技术指导和参考。     

3种农药对蔗田杂草香附子的防除效果及其安全性评价

研究旨在明确75%氯吡嘧磺隆WDG、25%硝磺·莠去津OD和73%甲·灭·敌草隆WP等对蔗田香附子的防除效果及其安全性。采用田间试验方法,分别调查了喷施不同药剂处理的甘蔗和香附子的叶色变化情况,香附子地表植株、根和地下球茎（或芽）的死亡率。结果表明,75%氯吡嘧磺隆WDG对香附子地上部分、根和地下球茎（或芽）防效均达90%以上且对甘蔗安全;73%甲·灭·敌草隆WP可有效控制香附子地表植株和根,但对地下球茎（或芽）防效较低;25%硝磺·莠去津OD仅能使香附子地表植株变色,对香附子根和地下球茎（或芽）几乎无效。75%氯吡嘧磺隆WDG对香附子防治效果好且对甘蔗安全,可作为蔗田香附子防治的轮换药剂,使用剂量以90、135 g/hm²为宜。     

The heterogeneous distribution of α-amylase and endoxylanase activity over a population of preharvest sprouted wheat kernels and their localization in individual kernels

To develop targeted approaches to improve the quality of preharvest sprouted (PHS) wheat as a raw material for food manufacturing, knowledge on the nature and distribution of hydrolytic enzymes in PHS wheat is crucial. Results of the present study indicate that α-amylase and endoxylanase activities are heterogeneously distributed among a population of PHS kernel. Within individual severely sprouted kernels, the enzyme activities are heterogeneously distributed throughout the different tissues. α-Amylase activity, almost exclusively of endogenous nature, is mainly detected in the germ region and to a lesser extent in the aleurone layer. Endoxylanase activity is predominantly of microbial origin and located on the kernel surface. In spite of this, light and epifluorescence microscopy show decreased kernel integrity and cell wall breakdown in the crushed cells layer, the endosperm, and the aleurone layer in a selection of kernels upon preharvest sprouting. This knowledge offers opportunities for the development of treatments to reduce the enzyme load in PHS wheat at postharvest level to improve its flour quality.     

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.     

Hydrodynamic method for estimating production carrying capacity of coastal finfish cage aquaculture in Southeast Asia

This paper presents the development of a simple and generally applicable hydrodynamic method for the estimation of production carrying capacity (PCC) of coastal finfish cage aquaculture. Dimensional analysis was used to find significant and general interdependencies between the hydrodynamics at fish farm locations and particulate wastes deposited on the seafloor by fish farms. Modeled ratios of deposition to emission of particulate wastes underneath fish farms were found to be primarily a function of the flow Reynolds numbers at the farming locations and the non-dimensional settling velocity of emitted wastes. In the non-dimensional model, farming conditions include daily feed rate, proportion of unconsumed feed, and carbon content in feed and fish feces. The relationship can be used to estimate the PCC of floating net cages imposing a threshold value for deposition. Results of in-situ assessments of the benthic impacts of several fish farms in an aquaculture site in the northwest of Bali, Indonesia were used to validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Predicted results were able to clearly identify fish farms operating beyond ecologically sustainable carrying capacity. The proposed method has broad applicability and could help make decisions regarding the estimation of production potential of individual farms in pristine areas, for providing first estimates in sites that have scarce data, and for assessment, expansion, and optimization of the currently operating aquaculture sites in Southeast Asia, China and potentially other data-poor island nations. As the method relies on dynamic models, it enables straightforward assessments over the entire aquaculture region.     

浮萍与稻糠控制稻田杂草效果初探

稻田杂草过分依赖除草剂,使杂草抗药性增强,同时对生态环境造成破坏。笔者通过田间试验表明,水稻种植早期撒施浮萍、稻糠对稻田单、双子叶杂草有较明显的生态控制作用,稻糠对杂草的株防效和总鲜重防效可达50%以上,但控制时间较短,对晚发双子叶杂草的抑制作用有限。相较之下,浮萍持效期更长,对单、双子叶株防效和总鲜重防效在70%左右。     

谈如何加强变电运行安全生产

变电运行的主要任务是电力设备的运行操作和维护管理工作。其特点是维护的设备多,出现异常和障碍的机率大;工作繁琐乏味,容易造成人员思想上的松懈;一旦发生变电事故,轻则造成经济上的损失,重则危及电网、设备和人身的安全,甚至会给社会带来不安定因素,影响社会的稳定。     

Effect of CCC and daminozide on growth of silver birch container seedlings during three years after spraying

Applications of growth retardants, daminozide and CCC (chlormequatchloride), were studied in order to determine their effects on morphology and post-planting growth of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) container seedlings. Daminozide was sprayed once (on 28 June at concentrations of 1.0 – 6.0 g l^–1) and CCC was sprayed twice (on 29 June and 27 July at concentrations of 0.5–3.0 gl^–1). Height growth, morphology of seedlings at the end of the growing season, the shoot and root growth potential the following spring and field performance during the following seasons were measured. During the first summer in the nursery, both daminozide and CCC retarded height growth,but daminozide was more effective. The effects of compounds on stem diameter during the summer of application were small. Neither of the compounds affected the field performance of seedlings. The most suitable applications for retardation of height growth, without negative effects on other morphological variables, were 4 g l^–1 (32 mg per seedling) for daminozide and 2 g l^–1 (16 mg per seedling), sprayed in two applications, for CCC.     

Effects of sludge on germination and initial growth performance of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings in the nursery

A study was carried out to determine the influence of different types of sludges （municipal, industrial and residential） on field germination, growth and nodulation of L. leucocephala seedlings in the nursery. Before sowing of seeds, different combinations of sludges were incorporated with the nutrient deficient natural forest soils. Field germination, nodulation status and physical growth parameters of seedlings （shoot and root length, vigor index, collar diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and total dry biomass increment） were recorded after three and six months of seed sowing. Field germination, nodulation status and growth parameters were varied significantly in the soil amended with sludges in comparison to control. The highest number of nodule was recorded from soil amended with residential sludge （ 1：1 ） and highest fresh and dry nodule weight was also found from the same combination in both three and six month old seedlings. In case of growth parameters, the highest growth was recorded from soil and residential sludge （ 1：1 ） combination compared to control. From the study, it can be recommended that soil amended with residential sludge （ 1：1 ） provide better field germination, growth and nodule formation of L. leucocephala in degraded soil.