Effects of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension on expression of Hippo signaling pathway-related molecules in rat lung

AIM:To investigate the expression of Hippo signaling pathway-related molecules in the lung tissues of the rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline for exploring the significance of Hippo signaling pathway in the development of pulmonary hypertension. METHODS:SD rats (n=45) were randomly divided into control group (n=15) and model group (n=30). The rats in model group was given neck subcutaneous injection of monocrota-line at 60 mg/kg to establish pulmonary hypertension model, and the rats in control group was injected with the same volume of normal saline. Four weeks later, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured by right cardiac catheterization, and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) and right ventricular mass index (RVMI) were calculated. The remodeling of the pulmonary arterioles was observed by HE staining, and medial thickness/external diameter (M/E%) was evaluated. The fibrosis of lung tissues was detected by Masson staining. The protein expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP), tafazzin (TAZ) and TEAD was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the protein and mRNA levels of YAP, TAZ and TEAD in lung tissues were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the vascular wall in model group was thickened significantly, the M/E% was increased (P<0.01), the pulmonary fibrosis was obvious, and the RVSP and RVHI in model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01). The immunohistochemical staining showed that the protein expression of YAP, TAZ and TEAD in the pulmonary arterioles in model group was significantly higher than that in control group. The YAP, TAZ and TEAD protein and mRNA levels in the lung tissues were also higher than those in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The activation of Hippo signaling molecules may promote the remodeling of pulmonary arterioles and further regulate the development of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.     

Cepharanthine induces autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells

AIM: To investigate the autophagy of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells induced by cepharanthine and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The effect of cepharanthine on the viability of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The SKOV3 cells were treated with cepharanthine, and then the formation of autophagosome was observed with acridine orange staining under fluorescence microscope. The protein levels of LC3, AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, p-mTOR and GAPDH in the SKOV3 cells treated with cepharanthine were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Cepharanthine significantly inhibited the viability of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The number of the intracellular acidic autophagosomes with bright red fluorescence was significantly increased after cepharanthine treatment in the SKOV3 cells. The expression of LC3-Ⅱ in SKOV3 cells was significantly enhanced after cepharanthine treatment. Furthermore, treatment with cepharanthine in the SKOV3 cells also resulted in a significant down-regulation of phosphorylated form of AKT and mTOR (P<0.01), while the total protein level was not changed. Combination of cepharanthine and 3-methyladenine resulted in a substantial decrease in the cell viability compared with using cepharanthine alone.CONCLUSION: Cepharanthine significantly inhibits the growth of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and induces the autophagy, which may be correlated with down-regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.     

NRF2 attenuates oxidative stress and lysosomal dysfunction in doxorubicin-induced H9C2 cells

AIM:To study the effect of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) on oxidative stress injury and lysosomal dysfunction in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced rat myocardial H9C2 cells. METHODS:The H9C2 cells were treated with DOX. The expression of NRF2 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The H9C2 cells stably over-expressing NRF2 were established by lentiviral infection. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to identify the efficiency of over-expression. After DOX treatment, the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cell supernatant were detected. FITC-dextran was used to analyze lysosomal pH, and the protein expression of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and cathepsin B was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The expression of NRF2 at mRNA and protein levels in DOX-treated H9C2 cells was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Over-expression of NRF2 significantly up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of NRF2 in DOX-treated H9C2 cells (P<0.05). After DOX treatment, the cell viability was decreased, and LDH activity was increased. The activity of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT was decreased, and the content of MDA was increased (P<0.05). The lysosomal pH was increased, and the protein expression of LAMP1 and cathepsin B decreased (P<0.05). Over-expression of NRF2 increased the cell viability, decreased LDH activity, increased the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT, and decreased the content of MDA in cell supernatant (P<0.05). Over-expression of NRF2 also decreased the lysosomal pH, and increased the protein expression of LAMP1 and cathepsin B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:DOX inhibits the expression of NRF2 in the myocardial H9C2 cells. Over-expression of NRF2 attenuates oxidative stress and lysosomal dysfunction in the H9C2 cells induced by DOX.     

Suramin alleviates hypertrophic scar in mice by inhibiting fibroplasia and inflammatory response

AIM: To investigate the therapeutical effect of suramin on hypertrophic scar (HPS) and its mechanism. METHODS: After the mouse model of HPS was established by mechanical stretching, the suramin solution at low dose (5 mg/kg) and high dose (10 mg/kg) was applied onto the scar site caused by mechanical load in mice by transdermal administration once a day for 10 d. The degree of scar hyperplasia was observed by macroscopy. The scar cross-sectional area and scar elevation index in the HPS tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in HPS tissues were detected by immumohistochemical staining. The expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in HPS tissues was detected by immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR and Western blot. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the HPS tissues were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Macroscopic observation showed that the surface areas of scar in the HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). HE staining results showed that the scar cross-sectional area and the scar elevation index of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the number of α-SMA positive cells and the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA in scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL-6 in scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The results of ELISA showed that the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Suramin inhibits the formation of HPS, which may be related to the inhibition of fibroplasia and reduction of local inflammatory response.     

享誉中西的菊苣历史进程及产业应用

近年来, 一种由欧洲引进的蔬菜"金玉兰"在国内受到西餐爱好者的关注, 其被称为 "欧菜王子". 作为一种药食两种的蔬菜,其有极高的推广与利用价值.金玉兰,学名菊苣,是菊苣作为蔬菜的一个栽培品种,在欧洲具有长期的食用历史.其野生种在中国西北地区也有较为广泛的分布,并长期作为维吾尔族和蒙古族的民族药物而使用.在人工栽培过程,菊苣性状出现了很多变化,有的作为牧草,有的作为蔬菜.     

浙南山区高山蔬菜生产优势及发展思路

从浙南高山蔬菜规模生产的起步、产业形成、产品质量提升、产业发展转型升级4个阶段介绍了其发展历程,又分析了蔬菜生产发展的优势;最后,提出了浙南高山蔬菜生产发展的思路,如制定高山蔬菜发展规划,培育蔬菜产业新兴业态;加快蔬菜生产设施升级,改善高山蔬菜的生长环境;加强产品质量安全监管,提高蔬菜品质和产品质量安全水平;延伸蔬菜产业链条,促进农村一二三产业融合发展。     

张掖市塑料大棚春茬西瓜品种筛选试验

为获得张掖市塑料大棚春茬西瓜种植的最适品种,通过田间随机区组排列试验,对6个不同西瓜品种进行了比较试验。结果表明:在所有品种中,凯旋2012的光合速率与667m~2产量最高,分别为1.28μmol/(m~2·s)和6.91 t;不同品种产量的高低顺序为凯旋2012特大丰抗88天福2号西农8号丰抗八号(CK)好梦1号;各参试品种可溶性糖含量的大小顺序为丰抗八号(CK)西农8号凯旋2012特大丰抗88天福2号好梦1号;各参试品种番茄红素含量的大小顺序为丰抗八号(CK)凯旋2012特大丰抗88西农8号好梦1号天福2号。凯旋2012产量最高,可溶性糖和番茄红素含量较高,综合品质较好,适宜在河西走廊地区推广。     

原料茶干燥工艺对绿茶饮料品质的影响

为探明饮料用原料茶的适宜干燥工艺,将不同干燥方式、干燥程度绿茶原料加工成茶饮料,研究其浸出特性及品质稳定性。结果表明:(1)低温浸提时,茶多酚浸出量以炒干最高,高温时以烘炒焙、烘炒烘处理最高。氨基酸的浸出量则均以烘干、烘焙处理最高。(2)烘干、烘焙样品在灭菌前后及贮藏期间的L值显著为高,平均值较其余处理高2.035~3.905;抗色变能力同样以烘干较强,低温贮藏时的-a/b值较炒干处理样高19.5%。(3)感官风味比较显示,大多数处理茶汤在灭菌后均呈现出绿黄或黄绿色,香气带熟,但烘干处理仍能保持绿明亮,且滋味、香气未显熟味;贮藏期间的风味稳定性也以烘干样为最佳。综合分析,饮料用原料茶的干燥工序宜采用烘干工艺,且烘干程度以5%~6%为佳。     

茶农绿色防控技术采用行为影响因素实证研究

利用16个茶叶主产省2 210份茶农调查数据,借助Logit模型分析了影响茶农绿色防控技术采用行为的因素。结果表明,茶农采用绿色防控技术受个人特征、家庭特征、茶园经营特征和组织与技术服务特征4个方面的因素影响,其中组织与技术服务特征因素的影响最大。具体来看,年龄、家庭人口规模和茶园规模对茶农采用绿色防控技术有显著的负向影响;农残限量标准认知、家庭年收入、组织化程度、技术培训和技术交流对茶农采用绿色防控技术有显著的积极影响。了解农残限量标准的茶农采用绿色防控技术的概率约是不了解的2倍;家庭收入每增加1万元,技术采用发生比相对增加2%;加入合作社的茶农采用绿色防控技术的概率是未加入的1.73倍;茶农参加病虫害防治培训次数每增加1次,技术采用发生比提升为原来的150%。受教育程度、打工收入占比、农药价格敏感性等因素在本研究中对茶农绿色防控技术采用的影响不显著。由此,有关政府部门需要通过增强茶农组织化程度,加强农户病虫害防治培训,降低技术使用成本等手段促进农户绿色防控技术的采用,以便实现绿色农业。     

Miang茶(一种泰国发酵型茶)及其饮食

Miang茶是泰国北部地区居民一类传统日常食用的腌茶,是一种将茶树鲜叶通过腌制发酵的方法制得的食品.文章回顾了该茶的历史,论述了该茶的采摘与加工工艺,简述了亚洲相关国家如中国、日本、老挝、缅甸等地的腌茶,论述了Miang茶在泰国北部悠久的历史和重要的经济价值.探讨了这种天然的发酵类茶的化学成分和微生物种类及相关菌群对人体健康的益处.最后论述了该茶所面临的挑战,以期为Miang茶的进一步深入研究提供指导.