Changes of neuropeptides and electrolytes in patients with acute traumatic brain injury

AIM: To investigate the levels of neuropeptides and electrolytes in the patients with acute traumatic brain injury.METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with acute brain injury were divided into mild, moderate and severe groups according to their GCS scores. The serum levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured on day 1, 3 and 7 after injury. The serum levels of electrolytes were also measured on day 1. Forty-one subjects who received healthy check-up served as normalcontrols. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the serum levels of AVP and Ang II significantly increased in the patients with traumatic brain injury (P<0.01), depending on the severity of brain injury. Both neuropeptides reached the peak on day 3 after injury. The concentrations of serum potassium and calcium decreased in the patients with acute brain injury(P<0.01),also showing a severity-dependent tendency. No significant change of serum sodium in the patients with brain injury was observed. CONCLUSION: The serum levels of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II canalso be used as the severity indicators of traumatic brain injuries. Decrease in serum potassium and calcium can also be used to evaluate the severity in patients with acute traumatic brain injury.     

精氨酸和B9配合使用对月季切花的保鲜效应

初步研究了不同浓度的精氨酸和B9及其不同配方的使用对月季切花保鲜效果的综合影响。结果表明,精氨酸在改善月季切花的外部形态、推迟最大花径达到的时间、调节月季切花花枝对水分的吸收、延缓花青素的降解、延长瓶插寿命等方面均有较明显的作用。B9可提高切花的最大花径,延长瓶插寿命,改善水分状况。精氨酸和B9配合使用可明显改善月季切花的外部形态,增加切花的最大花径,延长达到最大花径的时间和瓶插寿命。同时还能保持月季切花花枝鲜重、维护切花的水分平衡,延缓切花花青素降解速度。综合评定0.1 mmol/L精氨酸与300 mg/L B9组合处理的保鲜效果最好。     

鱼类精氨酸营养生理研究进展

精氨酸为鱼类的必需氨基酸之一，其在鱼体内参与蛋白质、多胺的合成，促进生长；精氨酸具有促内分泌作用；精氨酸可在体内生成一氧化氮，一氧化氮参与鱼类心血管活动、免疫功能的调节。某些鱼类可能具有自身精氨酸的合成能力。鱼类赖氨酸一精氨酸拮抗存在种问差异。本研究从精氨酸的合成、生理功能、与赖氨酸的关系以及需求量等方面对鱼类精氨酸的营养生理研究进行了综述。[中国水产科学，2006，13（4）：679-685]     

Cottonseed protein: What does the future hold?

Cottonseed protein has the potential to increase the world's food supply while decreasing the incidence of malnutrition among the world's hungry. Nutritionally, cottonseed flour compares favorably to other animal and vegetable protein sources, as it is low in fat and contains a substantial amount of high biological value protein. Animal studies, as well as human research, using gossypol-free glandless cottonseed flour have shown that cottonseed protein promotes growth, increased weight gain, and a positive nitrogen balance. Cottonseed protein food products have been shown to be a healthy addition to the diets of children, college-age women, and the elderly. With its light color and bland flavor, cottonseed has many uses in the food processing arena. Baked goods, snack foods and candy, as well as pet and livestock feed are just a few successful products developed utilizing cottonseed protein.     

精氨酸和维拉帕米对缓解胎鼠宫内发育迟缓的影响

本研究在日粮中添加精氨酸(L-Arg)和钙阻滞剂维拉帕米,旨在探讨L-Arg通过钙信号对小鼠宫内发育迟缓(IUGR)的影响。将160只雌性小白鼠随机分为4组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,L-Arg组、钙阻滞剂组、L-Arg+维拉帕米组分别在基础日粮中添加0.5%L-Arg、8 mg/kg维拉帕米、0.5%L-Arg+8 mg/kg维拉帕米。在妊娠第10、12、14、16天颈部放血处死母鼠,剖腹取胎鼠、子宫和胎盘等样品,测定相关指标,取14 d母鼠子宫固定于Carnoy’s和多聚甲醛中,分别用作肥大细胞(MC)、HE和免疫组化染色。结果表明:Arg组胎鼠数量、胎鼠体重等IUGR指标显著高于对照组(P0.05),维拉帕米组显著或极显著低于Arg组(P0.05或P0.01);L-Arg组子宫MC数显著低于对照组(P0.05),极显著低于维拉帕米组(P0.01);Arg组子宫巨噬细胞数较对照组显著增多(P0.05),维拉帕米组较对照组显著减少(P0.05),Arg组与维拉帕米组差异极显著(P0.01);L-Arg组子宫微血管(MVD)数较对照组显著增多(P0.05),较维拉帕米组显著减少(P0.05)。综上,L-Arg通过调控MC释放介质来提高母鼠的繁殖能力,维拉帕米能阻止Arg该作用,表明L-Arg通过钙信号发挥生物学作用,是其缓解IUGR的机理之一。     

Septic shock down-regulates L -arginine /NOS /NO pathway of platelet and aortic intima in rats

AIM: To investigate alteration and cross link of the aortic and platelet endogenous L -arginine/NOS/NO pathway induced by septic shock.METHODS: The septic shock model was made in rats by caecal ligation and puncture. NO^-₂/NO^-₃ production released from aortic and platelet was measured with Greiss assay. NOS activity and L-arginine transport activity were detected by isotope tracer method. RESULTS: Both in early and late stage of septic shock, NO^-₂/NO^-₃ production, NOS activity, and the L-arginine transport from the aorta intima and platelets were obviously decreased, while those of the aorta media and adventitia were obviously increased (P<0.01), but high-affinity L-arginine transport activity from the aorta intima and platelets was increased in early stage of septic shock (P>0.05 and P<0.05), as compared with the sham group, respectively. The inhibitory effects of NO^-₂/NO^-₃, NOS activity and the L-arginine transport showed a positive correlation between platelet and aortic intima (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Septic shock down-regulates endogenous L-arginine/NOS/NO pathway in aortic intima and platelet, up-regulates L-arginine/NOS/NO pathway of aortic media and adventitia. Detection of the alteration of endogenous L-arginine/NOS/NO pathway in platelet might act as an indirect method to assess the endothelial dysfunction involving the pathogensis of septic shock.     

高效液相色谱-蒸发光散射检测法测定板蓝根中精氨酸的含量

为了建立中药材板蓝根中精氨酸的含量测定方法,采用色谱柱为ZORBAXSB-Aq(5μm,4.6×250mm),柱温30℃,以水-三氟醋酸(100∶0.2)为流动相,流速0.3mL/min;蒸发光散射检测器检测,漂移管温度110℃,载气流量2.5L/min。结果显示,线性方程为Logm=0.62630·LogA-2.29056,相关系数R=0.9996,表明精氨酸在0.2μg^1.6μg范围内线性关系良好。平均加样回收率为100.5%,RSD=1.4%(n=9)。表明该方法简便准确,重复性好。     

Impact of zinc and arginine on antioxidant status of weanling piglets raised under commercial conditions

The effects of dietary zinc and L-arginine supplements on the weight gain, feed efficiency, antioxidant capacity and oxidative status of weanling piglets raised under commercial conditions were examined. A total of 288 piglets aged 21 d were fed for 15 d a diet supplemented or not with 2,500 mg/kg of zinc (provided as zinc oxide) and 1% L-arginine·HCl. The 4 treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design with 6 initial body weight categories (12 animals per pen). Access to feed and water was ad libitum. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial experiment using the SAS MIXED procedure, with zinc and arginine as the main independent variables. Blood collection day (d 8 and 15, samples were collected from the same 2 piglets in each pen before the morning feeding) was included as a third factor. The zinc supplement increased the average daily gain (ADG) from d 0 to 7, d 8 to 15 and d 0 to 15 (0.289 vs. 0.217 kg/d), average daily feed intake (ADFI) from d 8 to 15 and d 0 to 15 (0.338 vs. 0.279 kg/d) and the gain to feed (G:F) ratio from d 0 to 7 and d 0 to 15 (0.86 vs. 0.77) (P < 0.001). Both supplements significantly decreased the malondialdehyde concentration (zinc: 4.37 vs. 3.91 μmol/L, P = 0.005; arginine: 4.38 vs. 3.89 μmol/L, P = 0.002). Total antioxidant capacity and reduced glutathione (GSH) increased from d 8 to 15 (0.953 vs. 1.391 μmol/L, 2.22 vs. 3.37 μmol/L, P < 0.05) regardless of dietary treatment. Total and oxidized GSH concentrations on d 8 were higher in response to the combined supplements (zinc × arginine interaction, P < 0.05). Piglets fed either Zn-supplemented diet had a lower haptoglobin serum concentration (509 vs. 1,417 mg/L; P < 0.001). In conclusion, the zinc supplement improved piglet growth performance (ADG and ADFI) and oxidative status (based on malondialdehyde concentration). The arginine supplement had a limited effect on growth performance and oxidative status under these conditions.     

Effect of L-arginine on intimal proliferation and expression of related cell cycle regulatory factors after vascular injury in rats

AIM:To investigate the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on intimal proliferation and expression of related cell cycle regulatory factors after vascular injury in rats. METHODS:Rats were divided into three groups :sham operation group, balloon injury group(this group included balloon 48 h,7 d and 14 d subgroup) and balloon+L-Arg group. Neointima area were calculated morphologiocally. The expression of cyclin dependent kinase-2(CDK2),cyclin E and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured by means of immunohistochemical technique and computer image analyzer. RESULTS:After vascular balloon injury, the level of plasma NO decreased, CDK2、cyclin E and PCNA expressed in the media at 48 h and in the neointima at 7 d and 14 d but with low and undetected expression in the media, the expression of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA increased with the intima thickening. Compared with balloon 14 d group, the plasma NO level increased (P＜0.01), the neointima area reduced by 59.1%(P＜0.01) and the positive expression indexes of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA decreased by 36.1%, 46.3% and 76.2% respectively in balloon+L-Arg group (P all＜0.01). CONCLUSION:L-Arg can effectively repress intima proliferation after vascular injury, which may be associated with its inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell through downregulating the excessive expression of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA.