Effects of apelin-13 on oxidative stress induced by high uric acid in adipocytes

AIM: To study the effects of apelin-13 on oxidative stress induced by high uric acid in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: 3T3-L1 adipocytes were stimulated with uric acid at 10 mg/dL for 48 h. Some of the adipocytes were administered with 1 μmol/L apelin-13 in the presence of uric acid at 10 mg/dL. The adipocytes stimulated with 100 μmol/L H₂O₂ were served as positive controls. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations were detected by flow cytometry. The biochemical kits were used to measure the activities of superotide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cell lysate and the supernatant. The mRNA levels of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components, including angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin-converting enzyrne1 (ACE1), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and AT2R, as well as angiotensin II receptor -like 1 (APJ) were measured by real-time PCR. The concentrations of angiotensin II (AngⅡ) in the cell lysate and the supernatant were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Adipocytes stimulated with uric acid at 10 mg/dL had lower activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-PX and CAT) and higher levels of NOX activity and MDA content (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the intracellular ROS levels were found to be dramatically increased. However, apelin-13 administration attenuated uric acid-induced oxidative stress in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Uric acid at 10 mg/dL upregulated the mRNA expression of local RAS, enhanced AngⅡ concentrations both in the cell lysate and the supernatant, and down-regulated the mRNA level of APJ in the adipocytes (P < 0.05). Conversely, apelin-13 partially reversed these parameters. CONCLUSION: Apelin-13 attenuates oxidative stress induced by uric acid, may be via down-regulation of local RAS expression in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

A comparison of changes in stable isotope ratios in the epidermal mucus and muscle tissue of slow‐growing adult catfish

Although stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool for determining diet, migration patterns and the structure of food webs in aquatic systems, the slow response of isotopic ratios in the widely used muscle tissue often hampers this approach, particularly in slow‐growing or adult fishes. We conducted a diet‐switch experiment to compare the changes in the stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C values) in the epidermal mucus and muscle tissue of five‐year‐old catfish (Silurus asotus). The isotope ratios in noninvasively sampled mucus changed more rapidly than those in the muscle tissue. As isotopic change in mucus was relatively rapid, this technique can be used over a finer timescale than traditional isotopic analyses using the muscle tissue. The isotopic change half‐life in our experimental condition was 200 days, which would not be short enough for some research purposes. Examining mucus along with the muscle would enable food habits of slow‐growing fishes to be determined over different timescales. However, the rate of isotopic change in the mucus was negatively affected by the size of fish and was slower than the previously reported rates in juvenile steelhead. These findings suggest that mucus turnover rates need to be determined prior to the field data interpretation.     

稳定碳、氮同位素在牛肉加工过程中的分馏效应

为了探究牛肉及副产物中稳定碳、氮同位素在加工过程中的变化规律,确证稳定碳、氮同位素在牛肉加工制品产地溯源中的稳定性和有效性。本试验通过对牛肉进行不同时间的水煮、烤制和油炸3种处理,其中水煮和烤制加工时间分别为5、10、15、20、25和30 min,油炸加工时间分别为1、2、3、4和5 min;采用元素分析仪-稳定同位素比率质谱仪(EA-IRMS)测定脱脂牛肉、粗脂肪及副产物中δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值。结果表明,脱脂牛肉中δ¹³C值在水煮、烤制和油炸3种加工方式不同加工时间之间均无显著差异,水煮和烤制后粗脂肪中δ¹³C值无显著变化,油炸后的牛肉粗脂肪δ¹³C值主要受植物油的影响,加工方式及加工时间对其无显著影响;水煮脱脂牛肉δ¹⁵N值在加工25、30 min时与对照组牛肉存在显著差异,但平均差值仅为0.3‰~0.9‰。牛肉稳定碳、氮同位素在不同加工过程中分馏效应较小,可有效用于牛肉加工半成品及成品的原产地溯源。     

Intensive organic vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated management

Intensive vegetable production in greenhouses has rapidly expanded in China since the 1990s and increased to 1.3 million ha of farmland by 2016, which is the highest in the world. We conducted an 11‐year greenhouse vegetable production experiment from 2002 to 2013 to observe soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics under three management systems, i.e., conventional (CON), integrated (ING), and intensive organic (ORG) farming. Soil samples (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) were collected in 2002 and 2013 and separated into four particle‐size fractions, i.e., coarse sand (> 250 µm), fine sand (250–53 µm), silt (53–2 µm), and clay (< 2 µm). The SOC contents and δ¹³C values of the whole soil and the four particle‐size fractions were analyzed. After 11 years of vegetable farming, ORG and ING significantly increased SOC stocks (0–20 cm) by 4008 ± 36.6 and 2880 ± 365 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, 8.1‐ and 5.8‐times that of CON (494 ± 42.6 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). The SOC stock increase in ORG at 20–40 cm depth was 245 ± 66.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, significantly higher than in ING (66 ± 13.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1) and CON (109 ± 44.8 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). Analyses of ¹³C revealed a significant increase in newly produced SOC in both soil layers in ORG. However, the carbon conversion efficiency (CE: increased organic carbon in soil divided by organic carbon input) was lower in ORG (14.4%–21.7%) than in ING (18.2%–27.4%). Among the four particle‐sizes in the 0–20 cm layer, the silt fraction exhibited the largest proportion of increase in SOC content (57.8% and 55.4% of the SOC increase in ORG and ING, respectively). A similar trend was detected in the 20–40 cm soil layer. Over all, intensive organic (ORG) vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated (ING) management.     

民勤4种主要灌木植物δ13C季节变化及与气象因子的关系

对民勤4种主要灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C测定，研究不同荒漠灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C差异及其季节变化，并探讨植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C与气象因子之间的关系。结果表明:1）4种灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C值不同月份之间存在极显著差异（P＜0.01），除梭梭外，其他3种植物δ¹³C值生长初期（5月）>生长中后期（6-10月）。4 种灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C值种间差异在5-10月都达到极显著水平（P＜0.01），沙拐枣＞梭梭＞柠条锦鸡儿＞白刺。2）4种主要灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C值受到物种、月份、物种×月份的影响，均达到极显著水平(P＜0.01)，但受物种的影响最大。3）4种灌木植物叶片/同化枝δ¹³C值与气象因子的关系因其物种而异；影响梭梭、沙拐枣、白刺、柠条锦鸡儿叶片/同化枝δ¹³C值的主要气象因子分别是平均气温、相对湿度、蒸发量。     

增密减氮对弱筋小麦‘宁麦13’产量和品质的影响

为实现弱筋小麦优质稳产,解决当前弱筋小麦存在品质稳定性差的问题。本试验以弱筋小麦‘宁麦13’为试材,结合方差分析等方法研究增密减氮对弱筋小麦的产量、群体质量指标以及籽粒品质的影响。结果表明,在240 kg/hm²施氮水平条件下,随着密度的增加,小麦LAI、干物质积累量均呈先增加后下降的趋势,密度超过240×10⁴/hm²会导致LAI、干物质积累量、产量下降。在240×10⁴/hm²密度条件下,施氮量超过240 kg/hm²会导致小麦叶面积指数、SPAD值、花后干物质积累量和产量下降。适当的增密减氮有利于提高弱筋小麦的优质稳产,而过量增密减氮则会导致小麦产量下降,品质不稳定。为实现产量和品质的最优化,生产上推荐采用种植密度为240×10⁴/hm²,施氮量为180 kg/hm²,氮肥运筹为7:1:2:0的栽培模式。     

黑荆树树皮单宁组分研究——Ⅲ.原花色素的分离鉴定及其~(13)C NMR特征(英文)

从我国江西四年生黑荆树(Acacia mearnsii)树皮单宁中分离鉴定了三个二聚原花色素:刺槐亭醇-(4α→8)-儿茶素、菲瑟亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素和刺槐亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素。其中刺槐亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素为首次从黑荆树树皮中以天然形式分离得到,为一新天然化合物。文中首次对黑剂树树皮二聚原花色素的~(13)CNMR进行了报道,并就其特征和确定二聚原花色素的相对和绝对构型进行了讨论。     

Analysis of the structure of lignin-carbohydrate complexes by the specific13C tracer method

In the present study the specifically¹³C-enriched lignin precursors of biosynthesis (i.e., coniferin-[side chain–¹³C], coniferin-[side chain-–¹³C] and coniferin-[side chain-–¹³C]) were synthesized and administered exogeneously to ginkgo shoots (Ginkgo biloba L.) to obtain¹³C-enriched lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs). The specifically¹³C-enriched LCCs were isolated from the newly formed xylem of ginkgo shoots administered with the¹³C-enriched precursors and degraded by enzymes. Lignin-rich fractions, so called enzyme-degraded LCCs (EDLCCs), were obtained. By determining their¹³C-NMR spectra, information related to the chemical structure of lignin building units and linkages between phenylpropane units of lignin and carbohydrates were obtained. It was found that these precursors were incorporated in natural lignin successfully. Three lignin-carbohydrates linkages (i.e., ether type, ester type, ketal type) were found at the C -position of the side chain of phenylpropane units in ginkgo LCC. No lignin-carbohydrate bond at the C- or C-position of the lignin side chain was observed in the¹³C-NMR spectra of the¹³C-enriched LCCs. This fact indicates that a specific¹³C tracer technique can be useful in NMR study of the chemical structure of LCCs.Part of this paper was presented at the 5th Pacific Polymer Conference, Kyongju, Korea, October 1997