Effect of apple cultivars and storage periods on the virulence of Neofabraea spp.

Bull’s eye rot is a typical quiescent postharvest apple disease in major fruit-growing areas. The susceptibility of different apple cultivars to Neofabraea spp. (N. vagabunda and N. malicorticis) was assessed, with Granny Smith showing the most resistance and Cripps Pink the most susceptibility. To assess the factors involved in conidial germination, Neofabraea spp. were grown on crude protein extracts (CPEs) collected from apple fruits at different storage periods. Fungal germ tube growth rate and pathogenic enzyme (cellulase and xylanase) activity were assessed. Results showed that CPEs collected after 2 and 4 months of storage progressively stimulated conidial germination and germ tube elongation, while a lesser effect was observed from CPEs after 1 month of storage. Xylanase proved to be the main degrading enzyme secreted by all the isolates, while cellulase was produced only by N. vagabunda isolates. Overall, the isolate ID02 was the most virulent, based on more rapid germ tube elongation and greater activity of the lytic enzymes.     

Optimal dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios for silvery‐black porgy (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles

Four isonitrogenous diets containing different carbohydrate:lipid (CHO:L) ratios (0.3, 0.6, 1.1 and 1.8) were tested in triplicate groups (16 fish per replicate) of silvery‐black porgy juveniles for 8 weeks. Growth performance was not affected by different dietary CHO:L ratios (P > 0.05); however, the viscerosomatic index, the intraperitoneal fat, whole‐body lipid, energy and n‐3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids levels increased with decreasing dietary CHO:L ratios (P < 0.05). Fish fed with 1.8 CHO:L diet had the lowest apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and lipid, as well as the lowest plasma haemolytic and lysozyme activities (P < 0.05). Red blood cell counts and plasma glucose levels were higher in fish fed with 1.1 and 1.8 CHO:L ratio diets than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in the liver and plasma increased as dietary CHO:L ratios decreased (P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicated that the diets with CHO:L ratios between 0.6 and 1.1 are optimal for silvery‐black porgy, whereas higher ratios may result in hyperglycaemia and immune suppression, and lower CHO:L ratios may lead to oxidative stress and liver dysfunction.     

圆口铜鱼精浆的理化性质分析

对圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti)精浆离子和氨基酸成分及精液生理特性进行了检测分析。结果显示,圆口铜鱼精液pH值为7.3,呈弱碱性;精液浓度为39.7%,精子密度为5.3×10~9个/mL;精浆离子以Na~+含量88.7 mmol/L最高,其次是K~+,之后为Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Zn~(2+)、Cu~(2+);精浆水解氨基酸总量为2 872.69μmol/100mL,其中以脯氨酸含量最高,蛋氨酸、酪氨酸和组氨酸含量最低。该结果填补了圆口铜鱼繁殖生物学的相关数据,为圆口铜鱼规模化人工繁育提供了基础资料。     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on chondrocyte apoptosis and NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway in rabbits with osteoarthritis

AIM To explore the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on rabbit osteoarthritis and its possible mechanism. METHODS The rabbits with knee osteoarthritis were prepared and then divided into model group, sodium hyaluronate (SH) group and PRP group, and another sham operation group was set up, with 6 rabbits in each group. The gross morphological changes of rabbit cartilage were observed. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathomorphological changes of the cartilage. TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/interleukin-1β （IL-1β） signaling pathway-related molecules was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and the protein levels of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Chondrocytes were isolated and processed according to grouping, and the NLRP3 and IL-1β levels of the cells were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, chondrocyte apoptotic rate, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in model group were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in SH group and PRP group were decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased significantly (P<0.05). In PRP group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax were lower than those in SH group, while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was higher than that in SH group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the expression of NL?RP3 and IL-1β in MCC950 (NLRP3 ihibitor) group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), the expression of NLRP3 in eucalyptol (IL-1β inhibitor) group was not significantly changed (P>0.05), and the expression of IL-1β was significantly reduced (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Platelet-rich plasma promotes the repair of cartilage in osteoarthritis rabbits, which has better effect than SH. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3/IL-1β pathway and the reduction of chondrocyte apoptosis.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定农产品中的锗

采用微波消解处理农产品样品,电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定Ge,简单快速,检出限低。选用103Rh为内标,采用校正方程消除质谱干扰,经国家一级标准物质验证,方法准确度和精密度均满足实际样品分析的要求,回收率达到90%～110%。     

局部高浓度硝酸盐供应对玉米根系 形态及氮累积的影响

以郑单958和鲁单981为研究对象，进行水培分根试验，在正常供水和水分胁迫条件下，分别以均匀低浓度硝酸盐处理主根和种子根(LPR-LSR)、局部高浓度硝酸盐处理主根（HPR-LSR）和局部高浓度硝酸盐处理种子根（LPR-HSR），测定分析根系形态、生物量以及氮含量。结果表明：与氮低效鲁单981相比，氮高效郑单958具有较高的主根根长、根表面积、根系生物量、地上部生物量和氮累积量。水分胁迫条件下，郑单958和鲁单981的主根的根长、根表面积、根体积、地上部生物量和氮累积量总体上均低于正常水分条件。玉米主根和种子根对局部高浓度硝酸盐的反应存在差异。与均匀低浓度硝酸盐处理相比，局部高浓度硝酸盐处理促进正常水分条件下主根和种子根根系的生长，尤其是根长和根系表面积；在正常水分条件下，主根根长和根系表面积增加幅度范围为6.8%~27.3%和1.9%~21.9%，除HPR-LSR处理条件下的郑单958外，种子根根长和根系表面积增加幅度范围为30.4%~92.7%和10.5%~135.1%；在水分胁迫条件下，主根根长和表面积增加幅度范围为24.6%~152.9%和62.1%~229.9%，然而种子根根长降低了10.0%~29.9%，表明水分胁迫会影响种子根对高浓度硝酸盐的响应。除水分胁迫条件下LPR-HSR处理外，局部高浓度处理可同时增加两侧根系的生物量和氮累积量。无论是正常供水还是水分胁迫，与LPR-LSR处理相比，局部高浓度硝酸盐供应均能够增加地上部生物量以及氮累积量，在LPR-HSR处理条件下，增加幅度范围分别在35.0% ~107.9%和162.9%~291.1%，在HPR-LSR处理条件下分别为56.7%~109.4%和204.1%~377.0%，HPR-LSR处理条件下增加幅度较大，表明在氮素非均匀分布环境中，当主根处于高浓度硝酸盐区域时将会更显著促进生物量的增加和氮累积。     

过瘤胃胆碱对黔北麻羊羔羊生长性能及血浆生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究补饲过瘤胃胆碱(RPC)对黔北麻羊羔羊生长性能及血浆生化指标的影响.选取体况良好、体重相近的4月龄黔北麻羊羔羊20只随机分为对照组[(15.89±1.66) kg]和试验组[(15.30±1.86) kg],每组10只.对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组补饲10 g/d的RPC.试验期40 d,其中预试期10 d,正试期30 d.结果表明,补饲RPC:1)显著提高干物质采食量全期平均值(P＜0.05),显著降低料重比(P＜0.05);2)对干物质、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、中性洗涤纤维的表观消化率无显著影响(P＞0.05),但可显著提高酸性洗涤纤维、粗灰分的表观消化率(P＜0.05);3)可显著提高食入氮、吸收氮和沉积氮(P＜0.05);4)对血浆超氧化物歧化酶活性以及丙二醛、葡萄糖、尿素氮、极低密度脂蛋白、甘油三酯、总胆固醇、肌酐浓度的全期平均值均无显著影响(P＞0.05).在本试验条件下,补饲10 g/d的RPC可提高黔北麻羊羔羊生长性能,但对血浆生化指标没有显著影响.