Effects of radiation from 188Re on smooth muscle cell proliferation

AIM: Although endovascular radiotherapy inhibits neointimal hyperplasia, the exact alterations induced by β-particles irradiation remain to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability and the cellular mechanism of local β^-particles emission from ¹⁸⁸Re to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). METHODS: The SMCs in vitro were irradiated by ¹⁸⁸Re with single doses of 2.6 Gy-25.8 Gy. The effects of β-particles on SMCs, such as effective irradiate doses, the period of inhibition for SMCs proliferation, the changes of cell proliferation rate and DNA synthesis rate, cell cycle progression and related gene expression, were investigated by cell count, [³H]-TdR incorporation, cell cycle progression analysis, cell viability and immunocytochemistry, respectivecy. RESULTS: β-particles irradiation with dose of 5.2 Gy could inhibit significantly SMCs proliferation. At dose of 20.6 Gy DNA synthesis inhibitory rate was 92%, SMCs proliferation rate was only 3%. Renoval of ¹⁸⁸Re did not abolish the inhibitory effects of β-particles on SMCs proliferation. The expression of P53 was up regulation and PCNA was down regulation after irradiation. CONCLUSION: β-particles from ¹⁸⁸ Re was significantly effective and permanent in inhibiting SMCs proliferation, and inhibitory effect was in dose-dependet manner ED50was 5 Gy, the best dose to inhibit SMCs proliferation was 20 Gy. β-particles irradiation induced SMCs to occur G₀/G₁ arrest, damaged the ability of SMCs reproliferation and led to cell clonogenic death. P53 and PCNA had regulatiory effects on SMCs proliferation after β-particles irradiation.     

Effect of L-Arg on plasma content of endothelin and expression of c-fos mRNA in the left ventricle of rats with renovascular hypertensive hypertrophy

AIM:To study the effect of L-Arg on plasma content of endothelin (ET) and the expression of proto-oncogene c-fos mRNA in the left ventricle of rats with renovascular hypertensive hypertrophy. METHODS: The level of c-fos mRNA were measured by in situ hybridization. The ET in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:After eight weeks of treatment with L-Arg, the expression of c-fos decreased markedly (P＜0.01). The ET content in plasma also decreased significantly by L-Arg(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: Plasma ET content and the expression of c-fos in the left ventricle of rats with renovascular hypertensive hypertrophy could be decreased by L-Arg administration.     

Compositional and Functional Properties of Saskatoon Berry and Blueberry

Abstract

Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., Rosaceae) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L., Ericaceae) are substantially equivalent in all characteristics that are important to the consumer, including fruit color, shape, size, nutrition, texture, and uses. In addition, both fruits are native to North America and they have practically identical historical uses and known health benefits. Their composition, processing, nutritional value and metabolism, intended uses, and levels of undesirable substances are compared.     

多效唑对猕猴桃离体试管苗生长及内源激素的影响

多效唑（ＰＰ３３３）处理猕猴桃试管苗，降低了其生长强度；植株体内的ＧＡ３、ＩＡＡ和ＺＴ含量下降，ＡＢＡ的含量上升，乙烯释放率增加；并且能降低外源的ＧＡ３和ＩＡＡ促进生长的作用，而外源的ＧＡ３和ＩＡＡ又能不同程度地逆转多效唑的抑制作用，使植株恢复生长。     

Proteomic analysis between pathological scars and normal skin

AIM: To investigate and screen the sensitive proteins in the formation mechanism of pathological scars by comparing the results of differential proteomic analysis between pathological scars and normal skin.METHODS: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to detect the protein expression profiles in 8 keloid patients, 8 hypertrophic scar patients and 3 matched normal skin patients.The proteins that showed differential expression of over 4-fold change were cut and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.RESULTS: A two-dimensional protein profiling comparison between pathological scars and normal skin was successfully established.On average, 2 978 spots in keloid, 2 975 spots in hypertrophic scar and 3 053 spots in normal skin were identified using gel analysis software.Compared with normal skin, there were totally 36 differentially-expressed proteins in keloid and hypertrophic scar identified from the spots of over 4-fold change, including 16 proteins in both keloid and hypertrophic scar (8 up-regulated and 8 down-regulated), 11 only in keloid (9 up-regulated and 2 down-regulated) and 9 only in hypertrophic scar (4 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated).CONCLUSION: Proteomic analysis can identify the proteins with variance of pathological scars versus normal skin, thus providing probable new clues to reveal the formation mechanism of pathological scars.     

Cryopreservation of shoot apices of hawthorn in vitro cultures originating from East Asia

The objective of this study was to establish a cryopreservation protocol for hawthorn shoot apices (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.). Cryopreservation was carried out via encapsulation–dehydration, vitrification, and encapsulation–vitrification on shoot apices excised from in vitro cultures. We began by showing that cold-acclimation enhanced the regrowth of cryopreserved apices from 10.0 to 65.5% in encapsulation–dehydration. We then decided that the encapsulation–dehydration method was an optimal cryopreservation method for hawthorn shoot apices in terms of its high recovery after cryopreservation as well as its ease of use compared with vitrification and encapsulation–vitrification. In encapsulation–dehydration, the protocol leading to optimal regrowth was as follows: after cold-acclimation at 5 °C in the dark for 2 weeks, excised shoot tips were pretreated for 24 h at 25 °C on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue culture. Physiol. Plant. 15, 473–497] (MS) basal medium with 0.4 mol/L sucrose, then encapsulated and precultured in liquid MS medium with 0.8 mol/L sucrose for 16 h at 25 °C. Precultured beads were dehydrated for 6 h at 25 °C in the dessicator containing 50 g silica gel to a moisture content of 15.3% (fresh-weight basis) before cryostorage for 1 h. In addition, we examined the effect of adding glycerol to both the alginate beads and loading solution to enhance regrowth after cryopreservation in encapsulation–dehydration. In the present study, it was shown that adding 0.5 mol/L glycerol resulted in high regrowth percentages (82.5–90.0%) in four Crataegus species.     

Metallothionein inhibits homocysteine-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of metallothionein(MT) on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by homocysteine and its mechanism. METHODS:VSMCs proliferation was measured by [³-H]-TdR incorporation, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activity were determined by immunoprecipitation method, the intracellular contents of MT and malondialdehyde (MDA)were assayed by -hemoglobin saturation method and TBA reaction, respectively, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was measured by NADH oxidation. RESULTS:Hcy(10^-6-10^-4 mmol/L) stimulated [³-H]-TdR incorporation by the VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with control, [³-H]-TdR incorporation in VSMCs treated with 0.1 mmol/L Hcy was increased by 4.2 fold (P＜0.01). Meanwhile, Hcy enhanced MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of VSMCs with MT alone did not change above parameters, compared with control. However, MT (10^-6-10^-4 mol/L)attenuated significantly Hcy-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. And MT inhibited obviously Hcy-induced activation of MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release. Preincubation of VSMCs with 0.5 mmol/L ZnCl₂ for 6 h induced an increase cellular MT content by 5.7-fold (P＜0.01). The MT-overexpressed VSMCs resisted Hcy-stimulating action on MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH leakage (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION:These results show that MT has an inhibitory effect on Hcy-induced VSMCs proliferation, and that MT could inhibit Hcy-stimulated MAPK activity and lipid peroxidation.     

Coupling past management practice and historic landscape change on John F. Kennedy Space Center,Florida

Historic landcover dynamics in a scrubby flatwoods (Tel-4) and scrub landscape (Happy Creek) on John F. Kennedy Space Center were measured using aerial images from 1943, 1951, 1958, 1969, 1979, and 1989. Landcover categories were mapped, digitized, geometrically registered, and overlaid in ARC/INFO. Both study sites have been influenced by various land use histories, including periods of range management, fire suppression, and fire management. Several analyses were performed to help understand the effects of past land management on the amount and spatial distribution of landcover within the study sites. A chi-squared analysis showed a significant difference between the frequency of landcover occurrence and management period. Markov chain models were used to project observed changes over a 100-year period; these showed current management practices being effective at Tel-4 (restoring historic landscape structure) and much less effective at Happy Creek. Documenting impacts of past management regimes on landcover has provided important insight into current landscape composition and will provide the basis for improving land management on Kennedy Space Center and elsewhere.     

XBP-01 accelerated apoptosis induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein in vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM: Previous studies performed with XBP-01 in vitro indicated that XBP-01 could inhibit vascular smooth muscle cells from being transformed into foam cell and could eliminate the atherosclerotic plaque in C57BL/6J mouse. This experiment is to investigate its mechanism of eliminating plaques in vitro. METHODS: The cultured porcine artery smooth muscle cells incubated with XBP-01 of 0.1 mg/L for 24 h after preincubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein of 15 mg/L for 72 h in vitro. The samples were analyzed by fluorescence microscope, confocal microscope system and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Apoptosis was triggered by being incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein and this process was accelerated additionally by being incubated with XBP-01. CONCLUSION: XBP-01 can be effective in eliminating atherosclerotic plaque by accelerating the process in which oxidized low density lipoprotein induced smooth muscle cell apoptosis.     

The effect of exposure on landscape scale soil surface temperatures and species distribution models

Species distribution models (SDMs) often use elevation as a surrogate for temperature or utilise elevation sensitive interpolations from weather stations. These methods may be unsuitable at the landscape scale, especially where there are sparse weather stations, dramatic variations in exposure or low elevational ranges. The goal of this study was to determine whether radiation, moisture or a novel estimate of exposure could improve temperature estimates and SDMs for vegetation on the Illawarra Escarpment, near Sydney, Australia. Forty temperature sensors were placed on the soil surface of an approximately 12,000 ha study site between November 2004 and August 2006. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship with environmental factors. Elevation was correlated more with moderate temperatures (winter maximums, summer minimums, spring and autumn averages) than extreme temperatures (summer maximums, winter minimums). The correlation (r ²) between temperature and environmental factors was improved by up to 0.38 by incorporating exposure, moisture and radiation in the regressions. Summer maximums and winter minimums were predominately determined by exposure to the NW and coastal influences respectively, while exposure to the NE and SW was important during other seasons. These directions correspond with the winds that are most influential in the study area. The improved temperature estimates were used in Generalised Additive Models for 37 plant species. The deviance explained by most models was increased relative to elevation, especially for moist rainforest species. It was concluded that improving the accuracy of seasonal temperature estimates could improve our ability to explain the patchy distribution of many species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Expression and significance of c-IAP2 and GAS1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma

AIM: To detect the expression of cytoplasmic inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 (c-IAP2) and growth arrest-specific gene 1 (GAS1) in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and to investigate the role of two genes in the pathogenesis of HL and ALCL.METHODS: HE staining, the antibodies CD30, CD15, CD45RO and CD20 were used to screen the cases of HL and ALCL from 288 cases of lymphoma. The clarified HL and ALCL were subjected for immunohistochemical staining by SP and ABC methods to analyze the expression of c-IAP2 and GAS1. RESULTS: ①The positive rate of c-IAP2 in HL was 25/26(96.1%) while that in ALCL was 6/19(31.6%), there presented statistic significance between HL and ALCL groups(P<0.05), meanwhile the positive rate of GAS1 showed statistic significance between HL and ALCL groups(P<0.05). ②Two cases were showed to be a mixed type combined with large tumor cells of HL and relatively smaller tumor cells of ALCL.CONCLUSION: ①The different expression of c-IAP2 and GAS1 in HL and ALCL implied a different mechanism of oncogenesis and the different defects in the pathway of signal transduction of apoptosis in HL and ALCL;②Few cases showed an overlap and a likely transitional state between HL and ALCL; ③The different expressing manner of GAS1 and c-IAP2 in HL and ALCL implied the potential marks for the differential dignosis of two kinds of lymphoma.     

Influence of Sini decoction on the proliferation and apoptosis of artery smooth muscle cells after balloon injury

AIM: To investigate the influence of Sini decoction (SND) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rabbit abdominal aorta smooth muscle cells after ballon injury and discuss the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell's (VSMCs) proliferation and apoptosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restenosis (RS) and the feasibility of SND preventing post-PCI RS. METHODS: The animal model of rabbit abdominal aorta ballon injury was set up and the therapertic group was treated with SND. The shape of proliferative and apoptotic cell were investigated by electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using α-actin,PCNA and Cyclin E monoclonal antibodies. In situ Cell Death Detection Kit was used to identify apoptotic cells. Abdomial aorta angiography was operated in the 84th day subgroup and the stenosis degree was evalued by quantitative angiographic analysis. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the therapeutic group displayed a lower proliferative percentage and a higher apoptosic percentage (P<0.05). Moreover, the apoptosic peek time was on the 14th day after operation,which was longer than the control group. CONCLUSION: SND effectly inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs and iuduced apoptosis in VSMCs.     

Effects of patch attributes, barriers, and distance between patches on the distribution of a rock-dwelling rodent (Lagidium viscacia)

We tested whether size of habitat patches and distance between patches are sufficient to predict the distribution of the mountain vizcacha Lagidium viscacia a large, rock-dwelling rodent of the Patagonian steppe Argentina, or whether information on other patch and landscape characteristics also is required. A logistic regression model including the distance between rock crevices and depth of crevices, distance between a patch and the nearest occupied patch, and whether or not there was a river separating it from the nearest occupied patch was a better predictor of patch occupancy by mountain vizcachas than was a model based only on patch size and distance between patches. Our results indicate that a simple metapopulation analysis based on size of habitat patches and distance between patches may not provide an accurate representation of regional population dynamics if patches vary in habitat quality independently of patch size and features in the matrix alter connectivity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ergebnisse der Leistungsprüfungen der Süßkirschensorte ‚Stella‘ auf Gisela- und Weiroot-Unterlagen in Bulgarien

Zusammenfassung Die Leistungsprüfungen wurden im Zeitraum 1997 bis 2003 mit den Unterlagen Gisela 4 und 5, den Klonnummern 195/20 und 497/8 aus der Gisela-Serie sowie Weiroot 10, 13, 53, 72 und 158 durchgeführt. Dabei dienten Sämlinge von P1 (bulgarische Selektion aus Prunus mahaleb) als Kontrolle. Alle Unterlagen waren mit der Sorte Stella veredelt und im Dezember 1996 in der Versuchsanlage der Agraruniversität in Plovdiv, Bulgarien, im Abstand von 6 m×4,5 m gepflanzt worden. Dabei erfolgte ein Pflanzschnitt. Nach Abschluss der natürlichen Kronenentwicklung wurde jedes Jahr ein Winterschnitt vorgenommen. Der Boden wurde durch mechanische Bearbeitung offen gehalten und nach dem 4. Standjahr wurden die Baumstreifen mit Herbiziden behandelt. Die Wasserversorgung erfolgte durch eine dem natürlichen Gefälle folgende Überflutung, allerdings nicht immer zum optimalen Zeitpunkt, da keine eigene Wasserquelle zur Verfügung stand.Basierend auf den Ergebnissen bis zum Anfang des 7. Standjahres können die untersuchten Unterlagen in zwei Gruppen differenziert werden: starkwüchsig—Weiroot 10, P1 und Weiroot 13; mittelstarkwachsend bis schwachwüchsig—Gi 497/8, Gisela 4, Weiroot 53, Weiroot 158, Gi 195/20, Weiroot 72 und Gisela 5. Letztere zeichnete sich durch besondere Schwachwüchsigkeit aus. Die meisten Wurzelschosser bildeten Gisela 4, Weiroot 10 und Weiroot 13. Weiroot 53, Weiroot 72 und Weiroot 158 entwickelten deutlich weniger und P1, Gisela 5, Gi 195/20 sowie Gi 497/8 keine Wurzelschosser. Den frühesten Blühbeginn induzierte Gisela 4. Die anderen Unterlagen führten, in Abhängigkeit von den Temperaturbedingungen des jeweiligen Jahres, zu einer Verspätung der Blüte: P1 und Weiroot 10 um 1–2 Tage; Gi 497/8, Weiroot 13 und Weiroot 158 um 2–4 Tage; Weiroot 72 um 2–7 Tage; Gi 195/20 um 3–6 Tage; Weiroot 53 um 3–8 Tage und Gisela 5 um 3–10 Tage. Die Reifezeit der Früchte war bei den Bäumen auf Gisela 5 im Vergleich zu den anderen Varianten um 2–3 Tage verspätet. Gisela 5, Weiroot 72 und Gisela 4 induzierten bei der aufveredelten Sorte die höchsten Ertragsleistungen, P1 die geringsten. Bei den Bäumen auf Gisela 5 war die Fruchtgröße geringer als bei den anderen Unterlagen. Bäume auf Gisela 5 brauchen intensive Pflege. Nur wenn alle Produktionsfaktoren und kulturtechnischen Maßnahmen optimiert werden, kann das hohe Ertragspotenzial dieser Unterlage ausgeschöpft werden.     

Inhibitory β-adrenergic receptor in heart

β₃-adrenergic receptor is the third subtype of β-adrenergic receptors. The genetic structure and pharmacological property of β₃-adrenergic receptor are markedly distinguished from β₁-and β₂-adrenergic receptor subtypes. Recently studies show that myocardial β₃-adrenergic receptor mediates negative inotropic effect through Gi-protein/NO/cGMP pathway, the expression of β₃-adrenergic receptor and negative inotropic effect mediated by β₃-adrenergic receptor are increased in heart failure. However, because of the low expression of β₃-adrenergic receptor in the heart, the actual pathophysiological significance of β₃-adrenergic receptor remains unknown.     

Bio-effects of salusins on isolated rat heart and neonatal cardiomyocytes

AIM: To investigate the bio-effects of salusins on rat heart and cardiomyocytes. METHODS: The cardiac function was determined by multipurpose polygraph in isolated rat heart treated with various concentrations of salusin-α or salusin-β.[⁴⁵Ca²⁺] and[³H]-Leu incorporation were determined in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with β-liquid scintillation counter. RESULTS: 10^-12-10^-7mol/L salusin-α and salusin-β had no effects on isolated rat cardiac function. However, salusin-α and salusin-β stimulated uptake and[³H]-Leu incorporation. The [⁴⁵Ca²⁺] uptake induced by salusins were inhibited by nicardipine, and were synergistically increased by endothelin-1. The[³H]-Leu incorporation induced by salusin-α and salusin-β was inhibited by nicardipine, FK506 (a special inhibitor of carcineulin), PD₉₈₀₅₉ (inhibitor of MAPK) and chelerthine (inhibitor of PKC). The effects of salusin-β[⁴⁵Ca²⁺] on uptake was stronger than those of salusin-α. But there were no statistical difference in[³H]-Leu incorporation between salusin-α and salusin-β. CONCLUSIONS: Salusin-α and salusin-β did not affect directly cardiac function in rat hearts. But salusins improved calcium uptake and protein synthesize in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Those effects of salusins were related with calcium channel, carcinuelin, MAPK and PKC signal pathways. Salusins may be the regulatory factors for myocardium growth and hypertrophy.     

镧对镉、汞复合污染下豌豆生长发育效应的影响

以豌豆为试验材料,采用水培方法研究了镧对镉、汞复合胁迫下豌豆种子萌发与生长的影响.结果表明:当镉、汞浓度都为5 mg/L时,0.2 mg/L的镧对镉、汞的解毒效应最为显著,表现为能够促进镉、汞复合污染下豌豆幼苗的萌发,促进豌豆幼苗根和芽的生长,降低豌豆幼苗根尖细胞的细胞核畸变率,提高豌豆幼苗的叶绿素含量及过氧化物酶(POD)的活性.当镧浓度高于0.4 mg/L时,则与镉、汞协同迫害豌豆幼苗的生长.     

Urban greenspace access,uses, and values: A case study of user perceptions in metropolitan ravine parks

Urban greenspaces provide critical ecosystem services to urban area residents. While urban greenspaces provide a range of ecosystem services, cultural ecosystem services may be the most prominent to residents. Cultural ecosystem services provide benefits through educational, recreational, social, and spiritual opportunities. More knowledge is required about greenspace users’ perspectives of their local greenspaces, which will enrich park planners’ knowledge of the preferences, concerns, and potential points of conflict that greenspace users experience. To help increase this knowledge, we conducted a survey with closed and open-ended questions and supported it with a park audit and photographic evidence. As a case study, data were collected in six ravine parks in the City of Toronto, Canada. Ravine parks were of particular interest as they are a unique form of socio-ecological greenspace that have varied management goals which on occasion may differ from some user preferences and values. Quantitative data were analyzed with analysis of variance and chi-square tests of independence, and qualitative data were analyzed with conventional qualitative content analysis. Our results highlight that current ravine park users vary widely in their characteristics and the values they pursue through their park access. While the range of ravine park types accommodates some of this variability, there is also conflict between ravine park users with different values and expectations. We are offering a series of recommendations addressing these findings and hope that insights from this deep and rich case study will be of use to other forested, urban greenspaces under similar conditions.     

Integrating patterns across multiple genetic markers to infer spatial processes

Landscape geneticists can take considerable advantage of differences in the action of evolutionary forces (mutation, migration, selection, and drift) on different loci within the genome. Appropriate comparisons among loci allow researchers to isolate and study the effects of these processes. For example, the organelles are typically inherited maternally (but occasionally paternally), and so will experience migration only when females or seeds disperse (males or pollen in the paternally inherited organelles). Thus, the comparison with biparentally inherited loci allows inferences about the differential migration rates of male vs. female animals or of seeds vs. pollen in plants. Conversely, all biparentally inherited nuclear loci should experience the same levels of migration and drift. Thus, loci that show unusually large levels of variation across the landscape (as compared with the bulk of loci) may be reflecting the action of spatially varying natural selection (local adaptation). Such comparisons are conceptually straightforward, but are complicated by the high intrinsic variability of stochastic neutral processes. Careful statistical analysis is needed to avoid over-interpreting differences among loci. Inferences will be most robust when both genetic and non-genetic data can be integrated, and the collaboration of landscape ecologists with geneticists promises to be particularly fruitful.