Atorvastatin inhibits IL-1β and IL-18 releases via lowering the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome

AIM: To explore the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome in atorvastatin-induced reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) releases from the THP-1 macrophages. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 μg/L) was used to trigger the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in the THP-1 macrophages. The cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (1, 10 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h, or treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for different time (12 h, 24 h and 48 h). NLRP1 siRNA was transfected into the THP-1 cells. The mRNA expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was determined by Western blot. The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Atorvastatin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in the THP-1 macrophages in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transfection of NLRP1 siRNA significantly decreased the protein expression of NLRP1 and promoted the suppressive effect of atorvastatin on IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in the THP-1 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin inhibits the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in the macrophages through decreasing NLRP1 inflammasome expression, possibly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis.     

Comparison of 2 methods for establishing rat model of chronic osmotic diarrhea

AIM: To compare 2 different rat models of chronic osmotic diarrhea with the lactose enrichment and magnesium citrate methods. METHODS: The SD rats (n=31) were randomly divided into lactose enrichment diarrhea group (Lac group, 12 rats), magnesium citrate diarrhea group (Mg group, 12 rats) and normal control group (Con group, 7 rats). The rats in Lac group were fed with a lactose enrichment diet and freely drank water. The rats in Mg group were fed with a standard diet and drank magnesium citrate solution. The Con group was fed with a standard diet and normal water. The general conditions and the characteristics of stool were observed every day. The grip strength and motor activity of the rats were measured after diarrhea for 14 d. The trans-epithelial resistance of the colonic mucosa was detected by Ussing chamber. The pathological changes of villus height and villus surface area in the intestine were observed with hemato-xylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: The rats in both diarrhea groups displayed the clinical manifestations of slow increase in body weight, spare and dull hair, lacking in strength and physical inactivity. The grip strength and motor activity of the rats in both diarrhea groups decreased significantly compared with Con group. The diarrhea rate and diarrhea index of the rats in the 2 diarrhea groups were both significantly higher than those in Con group (P<0.05). Moreover, the diarrhea index in Lac group was significantly increased compared with Mg group. The thickness of intestinal mucosa in Lac group was thinner than that in Mg group at the same time. However, the damage of intestinal villi in Mg group was more serious than that in Lac group.CONCLUSION: Both methods of lactose enrichment-induced diarrhea and magnesium citrate-induced diarrhea meet the requirement of chronic osmotic diarrhea, but there are different advantages between the diarrhea models. Therefore, we should select the correct diarrhea model to meet different aims of the experiments.     

“紫科1号”红豆杉微枝繁殖技术研究

以"紫科1号"红豆杉的6种半木质化枝条为扦插繁殖材料,经3种处理液预处理,在8种基质上进行扦插繁殖试验。结果表明:3~12 cm长的枝条均可用作插穗,选用长5 cm左右的枝条进行微枝繁殖较为节约材料;用IBA∶NAA=3∶2,总溶质浓度为1 000 mg/L的处理液速蘸基部后,插于黄心土∶河沙=3∶2的基质中,其后每周用稀释1 000倍的处理液喷洒1次,生根率平均可达97.36%。     

四川大豆疫霉毒力鉴定及资源抗性分析

采用土壤诱捕和组织分离的方法,从四川省仁寿县和雅安市大豆根腐病发病田块采集的土壤中和病株上分离到4个大豆疫霉分离物RS1、RS2和YA1、YA2,用含有已知抗性基因的鉴别寄主进行毒力鉴定。结果表明YA1和YA2毒力公式相同,为1a,1b,1d,2,3c,属于同一致病型;RS1、RS2毒力公式分别为1a,1d,1k,3a,3c,4,5和1a,1b,1c,1d,1k,2,3c,5,分别为不同致病型。用3个致病型接种157份大豆资源,结果表明,抗病种质相对较少,占23.57%;地方品种抗病性较育成品种强,本研究可为大豆抗病性育种提供科学依据。     

白银市水稻品种比较试验

从外地引进优质水稻品种9个,进行品种比较试验,确定各品种的丰产性、抗逆性和适应性。试验结果表明,引进品种在当地种植均能够成熟,其中吉粳507表现最佳,产量为705.00 kg/667 m~2,较对照增产9.66%,与对照品种分别有1%和5%水平上的显著性,综合性状优良,分蘖率高,成穗率高,株高适宜,株型紧凑,经农业部稻米及制品质量监督检验测试中心品质化验分析,米质优良,适应当地推广种植。     

关于生物类基础化学教学中应用“问题学习法”的探讨

本文通过课前、课堂、课后三个部分的问题设置,紧扣教学大纲,紧密联系中学化学和后续课程中相关知识,体现理论联系实际、学科前沿。引领学生"主动学习,积极思考",为后续课程学习起到积极的、有效的铺垫作用。     

新疆十种野生药用植物核型分析

以新疆伊犁新源县的4科10种药用植物为试材,采用植物染色体标本制备的去壁低渗方法,研究了染色体数目并进行了核型分析。结果表明:大麻(Cannabis sativa L.)2n=20=12m+8sm、苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides L.)2n=36=26m+8sm+2st、毛牛蒡(Arctium tomentosum Mill.)2n=36=6m+28sm+2st、牛蒡(Arctium lappaL.)2n=36=8m+26sm+2st、千叶蓍(Achillea millefolium L.)2n=36=26m+10sm、牛至(Origanum valgare)2n=30=12m+18sm、菊苣(Cichorium intybus L.)2n=18=12m+6sm、新疆鼠尾草(Salvia deserta Schang)2n=14=4m+10sm、草原糙苏(Phomis protensis Kar)2n=22=12m+6sm+4st、乌拉尔甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fish)2n=16=6m+10sm,其染色体数目与前人报道一致。千叶蓍(Achillea millefolium L.)、牛至(Origanum valgare)、新疆鼠尾草(Salvia deserta Schang)3种植物为首次报道。     

麻核桃果实性状的变异及相关分析

以"满天星"、"苹果园"、"大官帽"等7个麻核桃品种为试材,对其青果的单果重、横径、纵径、果形指数以及坚果的单果重、横径、纵径、侧径、果形指数、三径均值进行了变异和相关分析,以期为麻核桃种植户、青果采购商在品种选择时提供参考依据。结果表明:在青果性状方面,"大官帽"的单果重和横径分别为109.01g和6.01cm,"承德官帽"的纵径为5.79cm,"满天星"的青皮厚度为1.17cm,均高于其它品种;"四座楼"单果重、纵径和青皮厚度的变异幅度分别为29.30g、0.63cm和0.29cm,变异系数分别为9.43%、3.63%和10.43%,"承德官帽"和"白狮子头"果形指数的变异幅度分别为0.11和0.11,变异系数分别为3.07%和3.97%,均低于其它品种。在坚果性状方面,"大官帽"的单果重、纵径、横径、侧径及三径均值分别为33.47g、4.47cm、4.69cm、4.39cm和4.52cm,均高于其它品种;"四座楼"和"苹果园"单果重、纵径及三径均值的变异幅度分别为9.00g、0.43cm、0.55cm和9.00g、0.44cm、0.45cm,变异系数分别为11.26%、3.91%、4.24%和12.09%、3.48%、4.00%,"四座楼"果形指数的变异幅度为0.13,变异系数为4.66%,均低于其它品种。青果和坚果性状的相关分析表明,青果单果重与坚果的单果重和横径呈显著正相关,与坚果的纵径和三径均值呈极显著正相关;青果纵径与坚果果形指数呈显著正相关,与坚果纵径呈极显著正相关;青皮厚度与坚果纵径呈极显著正相关。     

基于ITS序列分析秦巴山区黑木耳菌株的遗传多样性

通过黑木耳菌株的ITS序列分析,对秦巴山区44个黑木耳菌株进行遗传多样性研究。采用CTAB法提取黑木耳菌株基因组DNA,进行PCR扩增,对扩增产物测序,并通过软件ClustalX 1.83和MEGA 5.0进行序列比对以及系统发育树的构建。结果表明:秦巴山区黑木耳菌株遗传多样性较丰富,部分菌株之间同源性较高,甚至可能为同一品种,当相似系数为0.002时,聚类为5个分支,其中耳268与其它菌株亲缘关系较远,为今后秦巴山区黑木耳菌株的遗传多样性及优良品种的遗传育种奠定了理论基础。     

植物卷材中氮磷钾的流失及多效唑对植物的影响

以种植紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa Linn.)的植物卷材试件为研究对象,研究了植物卷材中紫穗槐氮磷钾的利用流失规律;采用5个多效唑浓度梯度(0.004、0.020、0.040、0.060、0.080g·L~(-1)),研究了多效唑对植物卷材中紫穗槐的氮磷钾利用和生物量产生的影响。结果表明:氮磷钾在成分单一的植物卷材基质中随冲刷的流失速度较快。在7次破坏试验中,基质中氮的损失量为22.4%,磷的损失量为15.9%,钾的损失量为25.4%。多效唑对植物利用固定氮磷钾的效应和对其生物量的影响有明显不同。紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa Linn.)在多效唑浓度为0.080g·L~(-1)时固定利用的氮磷钾最多,但此浓度并非紫穗槐营养生长最旺盛的浓度,反而多效唑浓度为0.040g·L~(-1)时,紫穗槐的生物量最大。