Ellagic acid inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL)-induced metalloproteinase (MMP) expression by modulating the protein kinase C-α/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ/nuclear factor-κB (PKC-α/ERK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB) signaling pathway in endothelial cells

Previous studies have shown that vascular endothelium-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, a key event triggering acute myocardial infarction. In addition, studies have reported that the PKC-MEK-PPARγ signaling pathway is involved in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced expression of MMPs. Ellagic acid, a phenolic compound found in fruits and nuts, has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiatherogenic effects remain to be clarified. This study aimed to assess whether the effects of ellagic acid on the fibrotic markers MMP-1 and MMP-3 are modulated by the PKC-ERK-PPAR-γ signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that have been exposed to oxLDL. It was found that ellagic acid significantly inhibited oxLDL-induced expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3. Pretreatment with ellagic acid and DPI, a well-known ROS inhibitor, attenuated the oxLDL-induced expression and activity of PKC-α. In addition, ellagic acid as well as pharmacological inhibitors of ROS, calcium, and PKC strongly suppressed the oxLDL-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and NF-κB activation. Moreover, ellagic acid ameliorated the oxLDL-induced suppression of PPAR-γ expression. In conclusion, the data suggest that ellagic acid elicits its protective effects by modulating the PKC-α/ERK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway, resulting in the suppression of ROS generation and, ultimately, inhibition of MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in HUVECs exposed to oxLDL.     

Microbial distribution and function across wheat rhizosphere with oxamide and ammonium sulfate as N sources

Analysis of the effect of slow-releasing N fertilizers on microbial parameters of the rhizosphere soil is essential for their effective use. This investigation revealed the comparative effects of oxamide and ammonium sulfate as different N sources on some selected microbial parameters as well as the pH in the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Nourin No. 61). The study was conducted on a Japanese upland alluvial soil using a rhizobox system. In the central compartment (CC) of the rhizoboxes treated with oxamide and ammonium sulfate, four wheat seedlings were grown for 53 d. In either of the treatments, the pH of the rhizosphere soil increased with the increase in the distance from the CC. In contrast, nitrate production, bacterial and fungal numbers, microbial biomass nitrogen, and β-acetylglucosaminidase activity decreased with the increase in the distance, with the highest values of the respective parameters being recorded in the CC. However, remarkable changes of these microbial parameters were found within a distance of 1–2 mm from the CC to the distant compartments. Thus the results indicated that pH, bacterial number, and nitrate production were high in the oxamide treatment. In contrast, higher fungal number, microbial biomass N, and .B-acetylglucosaminidase activity were associated with the ammonium sulfate treatment. It was assumed that the significant (p<O.05) effect of the rhizosphere on microbial activities varied with the treatments.     

Using Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal as replacement for fish meal in the diet of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides,Hamilton)

The potential of Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal (FSBM) as a partial alternative component of fish meal (FM) in fed diets of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) was evaluated in this study. An FM‐based diet and seven diets containing 10%, 20% and 30% and 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of FM replaced by soybean meal (SBM) and FSBM, respectively, were fed to grouper for 84 days to evaluate possible substitution levels of FM by tracking growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and morphological changes in the liver and distal intestine. No significant differences in survival and muscle composition of grouper were found between controls and treatments. Growth performance and feed efficiency of fish fed diets with FM replaced by FSBM up to 30% were not significantly different from controls, whereas significantly decreased growth performance and feed efficiency occurred with diets containing >20% of SBM. Based on the feed efficiency, the maximum substituted levels of FM by SBM and FSBM in grouper diets were 18.36% and 29.32%, respectively, based on broken‐line analyses. Histopathological changes in the liver and distal intestine, and significantly lower activity levels of digestive enzymes, including pepsin in the stomach and trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in the distal intestine, were found in fish fed a diet containing 30% of FM replaced by SBM. However, these parameters were improved by the substitution of FSBM. It is therefore believed that FSBM has great potential to be used as a protein source in grouper diets in partial replacement of FM.     

Electroacupuncture-induced neural activation detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and elucidate the relationship between somatic acupoint stimulation and brain activation. ANIMALS: 40 New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Manganese-enhanced fMRI was performed in anesthetized rabbits manipulated with electroacupuncture (EA) on Zusanli (ST-36) and Yanglingquan (GB-34) acupoints. Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. T1-weighted images were acquired sequentially as follows: baseline, after mannitol injection, after manganese infusion, and 5 and 20 minutes after initiation of EA. RESULTS: Changes in focal neural activity were detected by use of manganese-enhanced fMRI. Stimulation on Zusanli (ST-36) for 5 minutes resulted in activation of the hippocampus, whereas stimulation on Yanglingquan (GB-34) resulted in activation of the hypothalamus, insula, and motor cortex. Activation became less specific after 20 minutes of EA. Furthermore, stimulation on ipsilateral acupoints led to bilateral brain activation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Each acupoint has a corresponding cerebral linkage, and stimulation on these points resulted in time-dependent neural activation. Understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways may provide a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

苦豆子种子抽提物对两种蔬菜害虫的活性

在害虫防治中,面对化学防治出现的一些问题,本文采集广泛分布于我国西北地区的野生豆科植物苦豆子Sophora alopecuroida(L.),采取有机溶剂制备提取物,测定了对两种蔬菜害虫的生物活性,结果简报如下。 1.1 苦豆子提取物制备及试验方法将苦豆子种子用植物粉碎机粉碎并过40目筛,在实验室以索氏抽提器进行抽提,然后将提取物在旋转蒸发器内蒸干,将此提取物稀释后进行毒力测定。供试虫为萝卜蚜Li-     

光活化农药的研究与应用

结合作者近期的研究工作，对光活化农药的研究现状、作用机理、应用前景及其与新农药创 制的关系进行了综述。     

京郊葫芦科作物花叶病毒的类型初报

从1957到1958年,在北京都区进行了瓜类作物花叶病毒的调查研究。在记述病作物症状的同时,还采集了各类花叶病株的标样,进行了病毒的常规鉴定。西葫芦的花叶病是一个严重的病毒病,鉴定的结果证明其毒原主要为典型的甜瓜花叶病毒(MMV),而且能侵染西瓜而产生系统性花叶症。在南瓜的花叶病标样中分离到的也是甜瓜花叶病毒,但是这个株系不同于典型的甜瓜花叶病毒,因为它们都不侵染西瓜。从黄瓜花叶病标样中分离出来的病毒全属于黄瓜花叶病毒种羣(GMV),其中可能有不同的株系,而秋黄瓜上却分离出了一个毒原,不侵染心叶菸,系统侵染普通菸和毛叶菸,在蔓陀蘿叶上产生局部枯斑而具有较高的致死温度(85℃)。作者认为这可能是一个新单元,称之为秋黄瓜花叶病毒(ACMV)。所有在甜瓜,哈密瓜及绞瓜上分离出来的毒原都是属于典型甜瓜花叶病毒的,但梢瓜(即白瓜)上的毒原都是黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV),没有广州报告的白瓜花叶花病毒。丝瓜花叶病的分离物类似甜瓜花叶病毒,但寄主范围远较狭隘,很可能是一个甜瓜花叶病毒的新株系。