LPS-TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling mediates alcohol-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis results from liver inflammation and progresses to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is known that nonalcoholic liver disease is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2)–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether alcoholic liver disease is also mediated by this pathway. To this end, we first established rat models of liver fibrosis by administering alcohol. Next, the rats were injected with anti-TLR4 and anti-MD-2 antibodies. Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the activation of the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Moreover, the expression of molecules related to liver fibrosis was estimated. The morphology of rat liver tissue was observed through hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining. For in vitro studies, Kupffer cells (KCs) isolated from the liver were transfected with si-TLR4 and si-MD-2 and co-cultured with HSCs to determine the activity of HSCs. It was found that alcohol treatment activated the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and upregulated the molecules associated with liver fibrosis. However, inhibition of TLR4 and MD-2 partially reversed this trend. Notably, in vitro studies indicated that knockdown of TLR4 and MD-2 in KCs partially inhibited LPS-induced activation of KCs and HSCs. Overall, this study showed that alcohol induces liver fibrosis via the LPS-TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway.     

鸭源呼肠孤病毒DRV-GZ株S2基因的序列分析及其表达

采用RT-PCR方法从鸭源呼肠孤病毒DRV—GZ株中扩增出了S2基因片段,将其克隆到表达载体pET-28a（＋）中,测序验证后转化入表达宿主菌Rosetta^TM2（DE3）plysS,进行IPTG诱导表达。结果表明,重组菌可表达出相对分子质量约为50000的重组融合蛋白,在浓度为0．6mmol／L的IPTG诱导4h的情况下表达效果最好。表达的蛋白以包涵体的形式存在于菌体中。表达产物经Ni柱纯化后可得到纯度较高的目的蛋白。经Western-blot分析,所纯化的蛋白能与抗呼肠孤病毒DRV—GZ株阳性血清进行特异性的免疫印迹反应,证实表达的蛋白具有较好的反应原性。     

华北山地阳坡中生灌草植被对CO2浓度和温度变化的光合响应

利用便携式光合气体分析系统(LI-6400),从全球变化的角度分析华北山地阳坡灌草植被群落中5种具有代表性的植物光合特征对CO2浓度和温度变化的响应.结果表明:随着温度的升高,狗尾草Setaria viridis和龙牙草Agrimonia pilosa净光合速率呈明显增大趋势,在华北山地阳坡灌草群落中具有较强的竞争力,而达乌里胡枝子Lespedeza davurica的净光合速率对CO2的响应值降低,在环境温度升高的条件下不利于其光合产物的积累.     

Serum chloramphenicol levels and the intramuscular bioavailability of several parenteral formulations of chloramphenicol in ruminants

Summary

Serum chloramphenicol concentrations were determined by microbiological and chemical assay methods in cows, ewes, and goats treated parenterally with seven different veterinary parenteral chloramphenicol products, including the water soluble sodium succinate ester of chloramphenicol and solutions of 20%, 25% and 50% of chloramphenicol base in various organic solvents. Serum drug concentrations were analyzed for the effect of product formulation differences, dosage, whether the drug was administered i.m. at a single body site or to two sites, and the method of assay, on the absorption from the injection site, peak drug levels, and the persistence in serum of effective concentrations of the drug i.e. 5 to 10 ug / ml. Although differences were observed among the 6 products containing chloramphenicol base in respect to absorption rate and peak serum drug levels, and although these differences significantly influenced the persistence of microbiologically‐active serum drug concentrations at the level of ≥ 10 μg / ml, they did not at the level of ≥ 5 μg / ml.

In the animal species examined, injections given at 2 sites appeared to influence the duration of predetermined serum drug levels more than the differences among the products in respect of the absorption and elimination rates from serum, the peak serum concentrations, and the dose. The shapes of the concentration‐to‐time curves in cows and ewes injected with the same dose of a given product were essentially the same, but they were different in goats. Serum chloramphenicol concentrations measured chemically after treatment with chloramphenicol base were 20% to 46% higher than those measured microbiologically.

For 60 minutes after the sodium succinate ester had been administered i.v. and i.m. to ewes, the chemically determined chloramphenicol levels were more than twice as high as the respective concentrations determined by microbiological assay, but thereafter, the magnitude of those differences was not greater than observed after treatment with chloramphenicol base.

Intramuscular bioavailability of the products containing chloramphenicol base injected at 2 sites was rather poor (51% to 80.5%ofthe dose) and even lower values were calculated after injection at a single site.

Results are briefly discussed of the effect of dosage form on the persistence of microbiologically effective serum drug levels. A dose of at least 50 mg / kg to be administered i.m. at two sites are essential prerequisits for chloramphenicol therapy in ruminants.     

Insecticidal compounds from the essential oil of Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes chinensis

BACKGROUND: In a screening programme for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz was found to possess strong insecticidal activity against the common vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster L. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation, and its constituents were determined by GC‐MS analysis. RESULTS: The main components of A. chinensis essential oil were β‐eudesmol (21.05%), β‐selinene (11.75%), γ‐elemene (7.16%) and isopetasam (5.36%). Bioactivity‐directed chromatographic separation on repeated silica gel columns led to the isolation of five compounds, namely atractylon, α‐elemol, β‐eudesmol, hinesol and β‐selinene. β‐Selinene, α‐elemol and hinesol showed pronounced contact toxicity against D. melanogaster adults, with LD₅₀ values of 0.55, 0.65 and 0.71 µg adult^?1 respectively. Atractylon and β‐eudesmol were also toxic to the fruit flies (LD₅₀ = 1.63 and 2.65 µg adult^?1 respectively), while the crude oil had an LD₅₀ value of 2.44 µg adult^?1. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis and its active constituents may be explored as natural potential insecticides. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

盐胁迫下外源Ca~(2+)对红豆草幼苗抗性生理的影响

以蒙农红豆草为材料,研究了100mmol/L NaCl胁迫下不同浓度外源Ca2+对红豆草幼苗的生长、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和叶绿素含量及根系活力的影响;探讨了Ca2+对盐胁迫伤害的缓解作用。结果表明:随着Ca2+浓度的增加,与CK相比,红豆草脯氨酸、可溶性糖、叶绿素含量及根系活力呈先升高后降低的明显变化趋势,在T3(100mmol/L NaCl+30mmol/L CaCl2)处理下,红豆草脯氨酸、可溶性糖及叶绿素含量与对照相比提高了32.3%,60.0%和9.7%,差异显著(P0.05);T3、T4处理的根系活力显著高于CK(P0.05),其他处理与CK无明显差异;T3处理的株高显著高于对照CK(P0.05),其他处理与CK间无显著差异,达到最佳的效果。     

Identification of viral pathogens in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets from cases of swine reproductive failure in Spain

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of recognised abortifacient viruses such as porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), in tissues from aborted fetuses and stillborn neonates in cases of late reproductive failure in swine. A total of 293 specimens (fetuses aborted in the last third of gestation and stillborn piglets) from 100 different cases of late-term abortions and premature farrowing from 15 different Spanish provinces were studied. PRRSV was detected in 9/100 cases by RT-PCR. Only 1/100 cases analysed (corresponding to a late-term aborted fetus with a negative PRRSV RT-PCR result) was positive for PCV2 by PCR. Neither ADV (monitored by viral isolation plus antigen detection) nor PPV (monitored by ELISA antigen capture test) infection was identified. The results suggest that PRRSV is one of the most important infectious agents, if not the most relevant one, associated with fetal infection leading to abortion or premature farrowing in Spain. Moreover, other viral pathogens such as ADV, PPV and PCV2 seem to have a minor impact on reproductive disease.     

猪链球菌2型溶血素B细胞表位预测

目的预测猪链球菌2型(SS2)溶血素(SLY)B细胞表位。方法以DNAstar分析为主,综合分析二级结构、亲水性、表面可及性及抗原性指数,辅以吴玉章氨基酸抗原指数计算方法进行SS2溶血素B细胞表位预测。结果推测最有可能的B细胞表位位于溶血素N端第74～85、231～244区域位。结论应用多参数预测SS2溶血素的特征,为表位疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

咪鲜胺原药中微量2,4,6-三氯苯酚测定方法的研究

建立了高效液相色谱法测定咪鲜胺原药中微量2,4,6-三氯苯酚含量的方法。采用Hypersil BDS C18色谱柱,以甲醇/水(72/28 V/V)为流动相(每500mL流动相中含0.5g四丁基溴化铵),检测波长为296nm,2,4,6-三氯苯酚的质量浓度在0～871.2μg/L范围内线性关系良好,其线性相关系数为0.999 8;加标回收率为99.71%～102.02%,变异系数为1.14%,检出限为0.88μg/L。     

青海海北高寒湿地近地层大气CO_2浓度的变化特征

采用快速响应红外气体分析仪对青海海北高寒湿地大气CO2浓度进行连续监测,分析2004年CO2浓度变化特征表明,CO2浓度存在明显的日、季变化,日、年内均表现“U”型变化特征。这些变化与植被生理活动、土壤呼吸、大气逆温层、及湍流交换强度等有关。自1月到7月CO2浓度的日变化过程中,日最高值出现时间在日出前后的5:00到9:00,并随7月的到来逐渐提早,日出后下降,约在下午15:00左右为最低,日落后又逐步升高。7月以后日最高值出现时间随时间推移又滞后,最低提早。一年中,月平均浓度最低值出现在7月份,最高值则在10月。观测表明,2004年海北高寒湿地CO2年平均浓度为315.3μmol/mol,月平均最高为335.0μmol/mol(10月),月平均最低值为270.1μmol/mol(7月)。统计海北高寒湿地旬平均CO2浓度与气象因素线性相关关系表明,海北高寒湿地CO2浓度与大多数气象因子有显著的负相关关系,但与土壤温度、气压、相对湿度等的相关关系不明显。