The Effects of Freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Extract on Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Prediabetic Patients in Taiwan

Freshwater clam extract (FCE) is a functional food that regulates the immune system and has been demonstrated in numerous studies to display desirable anti–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) responses. In addition, excess TNF-α production is positively associated with type 2 diabetes. However, few longitudinal clinical studies evaluating the efficiency and toxicity of FCE are available. This article reports that patients with prediabetes who received FCE had a desirable outcome of a reduction in serum TNF-α for a long period. This was a double-blind, randomized, parallel clinical trial conducted using FCE intervention and placebo groups, and 36 patients with prediabetes were enrolled. Two grams of FCE or placebo was consumed daily for 180 consecutive days. The serum of the participants was collected at four time points (0M: before the intervention; 3M: after 3 months of intervention; 6M: after 6 months of intervention; 12M: 6 months after cessation of intervention at 6M). A serum TNF-α concentration higher than 4.05 pg/mL was defined as a cut-off value. FCE reduced serum TNF-α in all participants at 6M and 12M. Moreover, FCE significantly suppressed serum TNF-α concentrations at 6M and 12M and inhibited TNF-α release with time series in subjects with elevated TNF-α values. FCE intervention effectively reduced serum TNF-α and persistently sustained the effects for half a year in patients with prediabetes. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS) analysis revealed that the major components of FCE were phytosterols and fatty acids, which exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-TNF-α abilities. Hence, FCE has the potential to be developed as a natural treatment for prediabetic patients in Taiwan.     

云斑尖塘鳢♀×线纹尖塘鳢♂杂交育种的初步研究

利用从国外引进的云斑、线纹尖塘鳢的自繁后代,经过强化培育、性腺促熟后,2009年5-9月开展人工杂交试验。试验结果:孵化水温28~30℃时,云斑尖塘鳢♀×线纹尖塘鳢♂孵化时间68h,受精率为90.0%,孵化率为83.6%,培苗出苗率为60.51%,研究证明尖塘鳢属种间杂交可以成功。     

中国对虾皮下及造血组织坏死杆状病毒（HHNBV）DNA探针的制备及应用

ＨＨＮＢＶ是１９９３年中国对虾暴发性流行病的主要病原之一。从纯化的病毒中提取ＤＮＡ，用ＥｃｏＲｌ限制性内切酶酶切成ＤＮＡ片段，与ＰＵＣ１８体外重组，建立ＨＨＮＢＶＤＮＡ文库。从中筛选出三个重组质粒（５＃、８＃、９＃），它们所插入的片段大小分别为：２．８Ｋｂ、０．８Ｋｂ、１．６Ｋｂ，它们分别用光敏生物素标记成探针，与感染ＨＨＮＢＶ的病虾ＤＮＡ呈阳性反应，以此利用制备的ＨＨＮＢＶＤＮＡ探针的高敏感性和特异性来检测虾病。     

草鱼出血病的电镜观察

草鱼出血病是由呼肠孤病毒感染所致的急性传染病，由于病鱼小血管受损引起全身性出血，并造成内脏器官和体壁肌肉组织局灶性病变。电镜观察表明病变细胞内各种细胞器的数量较正常细胞显著减少，形态结构也遭损坏。质膜的三层结构模糊不清，及至解体消失。与机体代谢密切相关的粗面内质网、滑面内质网、线粒体和高尔基复合体的数量减少及结构受损，使蛋白质、糖类和脂质合成及分解等一系列细胞代谢活动不能正常进行，加速了病鱼死亡。     

First account of a transient intersex in spotted scat,Scatophagus argus: a marine gonochoristic fish

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - This study presents the first incidence of intersex associated with testis-ova in spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) reared in a controlled environment. The...     

Aquatic birnavirus induces apoptosis through activated caspase-8 and -3 in a zebrafish cell line

In this study, the possible influence of temperature on infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV)-induced apoptosis in a zebrafish liver epithelium (ZLE) cell line was investigated. At a lower temperature (18 degrees C), there was expression of viral proteins VP2 and VP3 at 4 h post-infection (p.i.). At this time no expression was found in the high temperature group at 28 degrees C. The cell survival ratio was 52 and 18% at 24 and 48 h p.i., respectively, during IPNV infection at 18 degrees C. In addition, we assayed for apoptosis in IPNV-infected cells with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated end labelling (TUNEL) of DNA at different dosages of virus. We found a ratio of apoptotic cells of 8 and 25% at 12 and 18 h p.i., respectively, in the multiplicity of infection (MOI) 1 group. The MOI 10 group had 20 and 45% apoptotic cells at 12 and 18 h, respectively. Furthermore, at 18 degrees C IPNV activated the caspase-8 and 3 from 1.5 to 2 times at 12 and 18 h p.i., respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that successful virus replication occurs at the low temperature (18 degrees C) compared with the non-permissive temperature of 28 degrees C. Thus, IPNV replication is capable of activating caspase-8 and -3 and inducing host apoptosis.     

The pathology of selenium deficiency in Cyprinus carpio L

Selenium is essential for the normal life processes, and all animals, including fish, need this inorganic element. In order to research the pathology of selenium deficiency in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., 360 juvenile carp were allocated to three treatments. Each treatment containing 120 fish was randomly divided into four groups, fed with purified diets containing selenium at 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 mg kg^?1. The results indicated that the morbidity and mortality rates of the test groups were negatively correlated with the level of selenium in the diets. The morbidity and mortality rates were, respectively, 46.7%, 33.3%, 13.3%, 0 and 26.7% 16.7%, 6.7%, 0. The affected fish exhibited pathological changes, such as ‘thin back disease’ and lordosis. Histologically, there was no abnormality observed in muscles, liver and pancreas. Ultrastructurally, there was swelling of the mitochondria of the cardiac muscle cells, the liver cells and renal tubular epithelial cells, with disintegration and lysis of the cristae of the mitochondria which vesiculated. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels were increased and the activity of the serum glutathione peroxidase and the serum superoxide dismutase was decreased; in contrast, the serum malonaldehyde concentration was increased.     

LPG 发动机微机控制点火与数据采集系统的研究

国内 LPG 发动机多由汽油机改装而成,第二代电控 LPG 系统的开发和应用水平不高。介绍了一种小功率单缸汽油机的普通电子点火改装成 LPG 发动机微机控制点火与数据采集系统的实验研究。     

五味子的研究概况及其开发前景

通过对五味子的研究作简要概述,并试对我国五味子的资源培育、野生驯化、人工栽培、产业开发进行初步探讨。     

冰雪灾害后南岭常绿阔叶林受损优势种萌条特性

在南岭冰雪灾害受损常绿阔叶林建立4块样地,分析样地内受损树木的受损类型、径级、树种组成等因子与灾后萌条关系,结果表明:1)灾害后受损优势木72.00%以上均有萌条出现,乔木层优势木萌条率高于灌木层,为南岭地区冰雪灾害后受损森林生态系统快速恢复与重建提供保障;2)不同受损优势木萌条率存在差异,萌条率随着受损程度的增加呈增加的趋势,其中倒伏类型萌条率最高(100%),其他受损类型中灌木层金缕梅科萌条率最低,乔木层樟科萌条率最低;3)冰雪灾害后萌条特性表现出与采伐、刀耕火种后不同的规律,应做为1个特例进行研究;4)建议在我国亚热带地区森林自然干扰频发区,在人工促进恢复时多选用格药柃、小红栲和交让木等,有利于各层次结构与组成的保持.