Heat-killed cells of lactobacilli skew the immune response toward T helper 1 polarization in mouse splenocytes and dendritic cell-treated T cells

It is believed that probiotics play an important role for the health of the host, including modulation of immune responses. Most studies have focused on the immunomodulatory effects of viable cells of lactic acid bacteria; however, we investigated those of heat-killed cells of lactic acid bacteria in this study. We first observed the effects on immune functions via stimulating splenocytes with three heat-killed Lactobacillus strains. Furthermore, we also investigated the effect of mouse dendritic cells (DCs) treated with these heat-killed Lactobacillus strains on T cell responses. The results showed that these Lactobacillus strains were able to stimulate cell proliferation and interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 p70, and interferon (IFN)-gamma production but not transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in splenocytes. In addition, these heat-killed Lactobacillus strains also stimulated high-level secretion of IL-12 p70 in DCs and switched T cells to T helper (Th) 1 immune responses, as evidenced by the elevated secretion of IFN-gamma but not IL-5, IL-13, and TGF-beta. These results showed that lactobacilli play a potentially important role in modulating immune responses and allergic reactions.     

Characterization of phosphorus in sub-alpine forest and adjacent grassland soils by chemical extraction and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We used chemical extraction methods and ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to investigate the effects of vegetation on the amount and structural composition of phosphorous (P) in the sub-alpine soils of central Taiwan. Chemical extraction methods were used to measure inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) in main soil horizons. The soil P composition was assessed by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy on alkaline EDTA–NaOH extracts. According to the results of chemical extractions, the forest soil had a higher amount of Pi than the grassland soil, which might be a result of the mineralization of Po. ³¹P-NMR spectra showed inorganic orthophosphate (up to 67%) and orthophosphate monoesters (up to 75%) as the major forms of P extracted in forest and grassland soils, respectively. Smaller proportions of orthophosphate diesters and trace amounts of phosphonates and pyrophosphate were found. With possible hydrolysis of P compounds during chemical extraction and slight systemic error in the processes of extraction with NMR, the results from NMR analysis are, in general, consistent with those of chemical extraction.     

海南省一起羊布鲁氏菌病流行病学调查

2017年3月,海南省某乡镇一村庄报告出现疑似羊布鲁氏菌病疫情。海南省动物疫病预防控制中心成立联合调查处置组,前往该市开展了流行病学调查及疫情监测工作,监测范围覆盖疫情乡镇的8个村庄。经实验室检测,证实该镇存在羊布鲁氏菌感染。调查认为,导致此次疫情的原因很可能是养羊户非法购入了未经检疫的患病羊只,后因共同放牧、公用种羊等行为,导致疫情在该村蔓延;村民因缺乏生物安全防护意识,与病羊密切接触而被感染。针对此情况,提出了人畜隔离、建临时病羊隔离圈舍、固定放牧草场、禁止共同放牧、扑杀阳性群,以及加强检疫、监测和宣传等针对性防控建议。调查提示,严格引入动物检疫、隔离,加强生物安全防护,对于预防人畜布鲁氏菌病具有积极意义。     

Consumption of lycopene inhibits the growth and progression of colon cancer in a mouse xenograft model

A previous study indicated that lycopene could significantly inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer cells in vitro. However, the in vivo anticancer effects of lycopene against colon cancer have not been demonstrated yet. Therefore, this study investigated whether consumption of lycopene could prevent the growth and progression of colorectal tumor in a mouse xenograft model. Bioluminescence imaging, histopathological, immunofluorescence (IFC), and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining results indicated that lycopene could effectively suppress the growth and progression of colon cancer in tumor-bearing mice. The results demonstrated that lycopene significantly suppressed the nuclear expression of PCNA and β-catenin proteins in tumor tissues. Consumption of lycopene could also augment the E-cadherin adherent molecule and nuclear levels of cell cycle inhibitor p21(CIP1/WAF1) protein. The chemopreventive effects of lycopene were associated with suppression of COX-2, PGE(2), and phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of lycopene were inversely correlated with the plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in tumor-bearing mice. These results suggested that lycopene could act as a chemopreventive agent against the growth and progression of colorectal cancer in a mouse xenograft model.     

Effect of bioactive dietary polyphenols on zinc transport across the intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers

Polyphenolic compounds are known to possess many beneficial health effects, including the antioxidative activities of scavenging reactive oxygen species and chelating metals, such as iron and zinc. Tea and red wine are thought to be important sources of these compounds. However, some polyphenolic compounds can also reduce the absorption of iron, and possibly other trace metals, when included in a diet. There is very little information on the effect of dietary polyphenolic compounds on the status of trace elements other than iron. The effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), green tea extract (GT), and grape seed extract (GSE) on the absorption of (65)Zn were examined and compared with their effects on (55)Fe absorption in human intestinal Caco-2 cells grown on microporous membrane inserts. The levels of EGCG, GT, and GSE used in this study were within physiological ranges and did not affect the integrity of the Caco-2 cell monolayers. GSE significantly (P < 0.05) reduced zinc transport across the cell monolayer, and the decreased zinc transport was associated with a reduction in apical zinc uptake. However, EGCG and GT did not alter zinc absorption. In contrast, the polyphenolic compounds in EGCG, GT, and GSE almost completely blocked transepithelial iron transport across the cell monolayer. The effect of GSE on zinc absorption was very different from that on iron absorption. Whereas GSE decreased zinc absorption by reducing apical zinc uptake, the polyphenolic compounds inhibited iron absorption by enhancing apical iron uptake. GSE inhibited zinc absorption similarly to that observed for phytate. Phytate significantly (P < 0.05) decreased transepithelial zinc transport by reducing apical zinc uptake. The inhibition of zinc absorption may be due to the presence of procyanidins in GSE, which bind zinc with high affinity and block the transport of zinc across the apical membrane of enterocytes. Further research on the absorption of zinc as zinc-polyphenol complexes and free zinc should provide further insight into the process of dietary zinc absorption in the presence of GSE and other bioactive dietary polyphenols. The present study suggests that some individuals should consider their zinc status if they regularly consume procyanidin-containing foods in their diet. However, further studies, especially in vivo studies, are needed to confirm these results.     

基于近红外光谱不同波段的红松木材含水率预测分析

运用近红外光谱技术结合偏最小二乘法(PLS),对所采集光谱进行一阶导数和二阶导数处理,并对未处理原始光谱、一阶导数处理光谱和二阶导数处理光谱分别在7个不同波段范围内建立红松含水率预测模型.结果表明红松样本近红外光谱经一阶导数处理,波段在1 000～2 100nm范围内所建模型最优,其校正集相关性系数为0.992 5,校...     

A comparative study of bamboo (Phyllostachys incarnata Wen) milled wood lignin and the successively alkali-fractionated lignins

The chemical composition and structural characterization of the milled wood lignin (MWL) and successively alkali-fractionated lignins from bamboo (Phyllostachys incarnata Wen) were comparatively investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 2D heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), and alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation. It was found that bamboo MWL (S/G?~?1.3) is of SGH type with a considerable amount of esterified p-coumaric acid and etherified ferulic acid. Molecular weights of 3,320?g/mol for MWL and varying weights between 970 and 3,430?g/mol for the alkali-fractionated lignins were obtained. Moreover, 2D HSQC of MWL showed a predominance of β-O-4′ linkages (65%), followed by β–β′ linkages (15%) and lower amounts of β-5′ (7%), β-1′ (4%), 5–5′ (4%) linkages, and cinnamyl acetate end groups (5%). In addition, a percentage (~45%) of the lignin side chain was found to be acylated at the γ-carbon. However, the alkali-fractionated lignins lost parts of these linkages during successive alkaline fractionation processes.     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段乔木层生物量特征

以中亚热带湖南省会同县处于演替早期的马尾松次生林、中期的马尾松阔叶树混交林和后期的常绿阔叶林分类型为研究对象,探讨了生态系统随不同演替阶段进行的乔木层生物量及空间分布特征。结果表明:乔木层生物量以常绿阔叶林最高,为292.51 t/hm~2,其次为针阔混交林,为206.87 t/hm~2,最小是马尾松林,为171.76 t/hm~2。乔木层生物量主要集中于树干,其占乔木层生物量比例由马尾松林向常绿阔叶林降低,而树根生物量所占比例由马尾松林向常绿阔叶林增加。马尾松林、针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林20 cm以上径级的生物量所占总生物量比例较大。     

滨海台地土壤微生物数量及影响因子

根据定位观测数据,对海南文昌滨海台地3种典型森林(椰子林、相思林和木麻黄林)土壤微生物的数量特征及其与土壤因子的相互关系进行研究。结果表明,滨海台地3种森林类型中,微生物总量表现为椰子林相思林木麻黄林;细菌数量以椰子林土壤最高(3 144.67×10~4 CFU·g~(-1)),分别为相思林、木麻黄林的1.99倍和2.56倍;真菌数量以相思林最高(46.12×10~4 CFU·g~(-1)),分别为椰子林、木麻黄林的2.61和1.37倍;放线菌数量以椰子林最高(413.84×10~4 CFU·g~(-1)),分别为相思林、木麻黄林的3.32和1.42倍。不同森林类型土壤微生物三大类群数量,以细菌所占比例最大,放线菌次之,真菌最小。除椰子林真菌数量外,3种森林类型土壤微生物总数、细菌、真菌及放线菌数量均随土层深度的增加而减少,与土层深度呈线性负相关。土壤微生物数量与土壤养分含量之间存在着不同程度的相关关系,椰子林中,土壤全氮和有机碳是影响微生物数量的主要土壤因子;相思林中,全氮和pH值是影响微生物数量的主要因子;木麻黄林中,全氮和全磷是影响微生物数量的主要因子。