Study on bone marrow angiogenic mediators and inhibitors in aplastic anemia

AIM: Through detecting bone marrow angiogenic mediators and inhibitors in aplastic anemia (AA) patients,the value of angionesis in AA pathogenesis was elucidated.METHODS: The patients were divided into severe AA group (SAA,8 patients),non severe AA group (NSAA,10 patients),and normal control group (7 persons),5 patients were observed before treating (group beginning) and getting improvement (group improving).The angiogenic mediators vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bFGF were detected by ELISA,angiogenic inhibitors IFN-γ and TSP were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS: The levels of VEGF were lower in SAA group and NSAA group than those in control group significantly (P<0.05),the levels of IFN-γ and TSP were higher than those in control group (P<0.05),especially in SAA group (P<0.01).Compared with group beginning,the level of VEGF was higher in group improving (P<0.05),the levels of IFN-γ,TSP were lower (P<0.05),there was no obviously difference between group beginning and group improving except IFN-γ.CONCLUSION: The dropping of angiogenic mediators and the rising of angiogenic inhibitors may be one reason of reducing the number of microvessel,which result in deficiency in supporting hemapoietic stem cells by bone marrow microenvironment.     

大豆抗营养因子对生长蛋鸡生产性能、氮代谢和小肠内胰蛋白酶活性的影响

为了观察不同梯度大豆抗营养因子（Ａｎｔｉｎｕｔｒｉｔｉｏｎａｌｆａｃｔｏｒｓ、简称ＡＮＦｓ）对不同生理阶段的生长蛋鸡的影响，本试验采用４８０只海兰褐蛋用雏鸡，以熟豆饼日粮为对照，从３或９周开始给饲３个水平的生大豆日粮（４％，９％和１３％），每期每个日粮４个重复。在３～８周和９～１８周观察雏鸡的采食量，日增重和饲料效率。在第８和１７周分别测定各组的粗蛋白质和干物质的代谢率。并于８、１３和１８周末每个重复随机抽取试鸡两只屠宰，观察小肠内胰蛋白酶活性的变化。结果表明，３个水平的大豆ＡＮＦｓ对育雏期雏鸡的增重没有影响，育成期对照组的增重明显高于采食生大豆组（Ｐ＜０．０５），大豆ＡＮＦｓ使饲料效率降低，但对氮和干物质的代谢影响不显著；８、１３和１８周龄雏鸡小肠内胰蛋白酶活性亦无显著变化。     

缺失SBTi—A2大豆杂交后代品系籽粒化学成分分析

对一个杂交组合后代１０个稳定缺失胰蛋白酶抑制剂（ＳＢＴｉ－Ａ２）品系及其亲本籽粒化学成分组成进行的分析比较表明，大豆籽粒中缺失ＳＢＴｉ－Ａ２对其蛋白质含量及天门冬氨酸、甘氨酸和丙氨酸含量有一定影响，表现为缺失ＳＢＴｉ－Ａ２品系显著低于高亲和双亲平均值；而对其他氨基酸和脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成基本没有显著的影响。     

Proteolytic activity in soil: A review

The aim of this work is to review current knowledge on inputs, sources and regulation of protease activities in soils from different ecosystems, while exploring limitations to proteolysis and N mineralisation. Extracellular proteases enter the soil via microbial production and other sources, including plant root exudates, animal excrements, decomposition processes and leaching from agro-industrial fertilisers. The synthesis and activities of proteases in soil are regulated by many factors, including climate, soil properties and the presence of organic compounds of plant and microbial origin. Two particularly important areas for future research are the regulation of proteolysis by low-molecular-weight organic compounds, including amino acids, sugars, flavonoids, plant hormones and siderophores, as well as the identification and characterisation of proteinaceous protease inhibitors of plant and microbial origin in the soil. Despite all the work that has been performed on soil proteases, our understanding of the roles of extracellular plant root proteases in N nutrition is weak. Furthermore, the regulation of soil proteolytic activities of different ecosystems, especially in terms of pollutant inputs and the impact of climate change, requires investigation. Other areas that pose important questions for the future include assessments of protease inhibitor inputs to the soil, regulation of these inhibitors via naturally occurring soil organic compounds and the interactions between soil organisms.     

Evaluation of the drug sensitivity and expression of 16 drug resistance-related genes in canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines

Canine histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an aggressive tumor type originating from histiocytic cell lineages. This disease is characterized by poor response to chemotherapy and short survival time. Therefore, it is of critical importance to identify and develop effective antitumor drugs against HS. The objectives of this study were to examine the drug sensitivities of 10 antitumor drugs. Using a real-time RT-PCR system, the mRNA expression levels of 16 genes related to drug resistance in 4 canine HS cell lines established from dogs with disseminated HS were determined and compared to 2 canine lymphoma cell lines (B-cell and T-cell). These 4 canine HS cell lines showed sensitivities toward microtubule inhibitors (vincristine, vinblastine and paclitaxel), comparable to those in the canine B-cell lymphoma cell line. Moreover, it was shown that P-gp in the HS cell lines used in this study did not have enough function to efflux its substrate. Sensitivities to melphalan, nimustine, methotrexate, cytarabine, doxorubicin and etoposide were lower in the 4 HS cell lines than in the 2 canine lymphoma cell lines. The data obtained in this study using cultured cell lines could prove helpful in the developing of advanced and effective chemotherapies for treating dogs that are suffering from HS.     

Capacity for digestive hydrolysis and amino acid absorption in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed diets with soybean meal or inulin with or without addition of antibiotics

This experiment was done to study the effects of dietary soybean meal (SBM) and inulin (a prebiotic) on the capacity for digestive hydrolysis and amino acid absorption by Atlantic salmon, and how a dietary supplement of the broad-spectrum antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) modulated these responses. A control diet (FM) was made from fish meal, fish oil and extruded wheat. Two similar diets were made with 250 g soybean meal (SBM) or 75 g inulin kg^− 1. Each diet was made with or without a supplement of 3 g OTC kg^− 1. All six diets contained yttrium oxide for estimation of apparent nutrient absorption. Each diet was fed to two groups of 172 g salmon kept in 1 m² tanks with 9 °C saltwater for 3 weeks. Intestinal organs were then sampled and weighed. Gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) were sectioned for analyses of brush border alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities. Tissue from the distal intestine (DI) was also fixed for histological examination. Digesta from the different sections were freeze dried for estimation of trypsin and amylase activities, and of apparent absorption of amino acids (AA), nitrogen (N), and sulphur (S). About 85% of the trypsin activity, 70% of the amylase activity, 85% of the ALP activity, and 82% of the LAP activity were found in the proximal (PI) and mid (MI) intestine of fish with functional DI, and the absorption of AA, N, and S was quantitatively completed in the MI. Dietary OTC resulted in lower relative liver weight, but apart from increased ALP and LAP activities in DI when feeding OTC in combination with inulin, OTC did not modify the responses to dietary SBM or inulin. Dietary SBM resulted in lower relative liver weight, and induced pathomorphological changes in the DI mucosa, thus lower the ALP and LAP activities in the DI. SBM also stimulated absorption of AA, N, and S in the PI, but at the same time increased the activities of trypsin and amylase in the DI, indicating reduced re-absorption and increased faecal losses of these endogenous enzymes. Dietary inulin did not damage the DI, and stimulated intestinal growth and higher relative mass of the GIT. Inulin without OTC did not affect the hydrolytic and absorptive capacity of the salmon GIT.     

Comparison of two methods for culturing neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts

AIM:To establish and compare the methods for culturing neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts culture. METHODS:Neonatal rat hearts were isolated by collagenase+trypsin or trypsin digestion. The cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were isolated by different attachment techniques. The cellular morphology, purity and reactions to the reagent were tested. RESULTS:For morphology and purity, no difference between the 2 methods was observed, though more myocytes were harvested by the method of collagenase+trypsin digestion. For the cellular responses to reagent, the cardiac fibroblasts harvested with trypsin digestion had more potent proliferative ability than those with collagenase+trypsin digestion. CONCLUSION:There is no difference of cellular morphology and purity in the cardiac fibroblasts isolated by collagenase+trypsin digestion and trypsin digestion, but the fibroblasts with trypsin digestion have more potent proliferative ability.     

Effects of aromatase inhibitors on reproduction in male three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, exposed to long and short photoperiods

Three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, males were implanted with Silastic capsules filled with different aromatase inhibitors; 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione or the non-steroidal CGS16949 A, 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydrimidazol [1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl) benzonitrile monohydrochloride or empty capsules. The fish were then exposed to long or short photoperiod. Under the long photoperiod most fish in all treatments displayed a hypertrophied kidney (a secondary sexual character in sticklebacks) and completed, quiescent spermatogenesis, similar as in the natural spawning period. Under the short photoperiod the controls had unstimulated kidneys and an active spermatogenesis, whereas the males implanted with both aromatase inhibitors had stimulated kidneys, though not to the extent as in the long photoperiod, and completed, quiescent spermatogenesis. These findings suggest that aromatization is of importance for the inhibitory effects of short photoperiod on reproduction in the stickleback. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Breaking seasonal limitation: year-round sporogenesis in the brown alga Laminaria saccharina by blocking the transport of putative sporulation inhibitors

Year-round induction of sporogenesis of Laminaria saccharina was performed by mechanically blocking the transport of the putative sporulation inhibitors produced by the blade meristem and culturing the plants in constant short days. Sporogenesis was successfully induced by removal of the blade meristem, either by cultivating distal blade fragments or by performing a transverse cut in the frond. The earliest sorus formation after artificial induction was 10 days. The age of the sporophytes used for induction was 6–11 months or 2 years in tank-grown or field-collected sporophytes, respectively. Zoospores were successfully released in all cases. Thus, by year-round artificial induction of sporogenesis, (1) sporeling production of L. saccharina and thereafter sporophyte cultivation could be achieved without seasonal limitation, and (2) the life cycle of L. saccharina (from spore to spore) could be completed within 8 months under controlled conditions.     

脲酶测定法判定豆浆抗营养因子热失活情况研究

大豆抗营养因子的主要成分是胰蛋白酶抑制剂,在大豆制品加工过程中,通常采用高温加热钝化的方法使胰蛋白酶抑制剂失去活性。豆浆是人们日常生活中喜欢的饮品之一,因为脲酶测定方法比较简单,目前多以加热钝化后豆浆脲酶活性来表示抗营养因子的去除情况。本研究通过测定豆浆中胰蛋白酶抑制剂和脲酶的活性研究豆浆加热过程中二者失活是否具有一致性,判定以脲酶活性来体现豆浆安全的科学性,同时通过豆浆加热程度与胰蛋白酶抑制剂失活情况的关系,对家庭豆浆制作提供一种安全的加热模式。