Cigarette dust particles induced lung function injury of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive disease (COPD) in mice by using nasal drip of cigarette dust particles (DSP) induced pulmonary function damage model.METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, LPS 100 mg/L group, DSP 0.75 mL/L group, DSP 1.5 mL/L group and DSP 3 mL/L group for 30 days. The method of nasal drip was used for 30 days to establish the COPD model. Rrs, Ers, Crs, Est, Cst, P-3/8Rn, P-3/8G and P-3/8H were measured for evaluating lung function of the mice in each group by the method of FlexiVent. The effect on the increase of airway resistance induced by methacholine (Mach) was determined using main bronchial rings by Myograph method. The HE, Masson and Resorcinol fuchsin staining of mouse tracheas and lung tissues were conducted. RESULTS: Continuous nasal drip with DSP for 30 days increased Rrs, Ers, Est, P-3/8Rn and decreased Crs, Cst, P-3/8G and P-3/8H in the mice. DSP significantly shifted the dose-effect curve of tracheal contraction induced by Mach to the left, increased the sensitivity of the airway to Mach, and significantly increased the maximal contractile airway effect of Mach. Exposure to DSP caused fibrosis of airway subepithelial, deposition of collagen in the airway basement membrane under the reticular plate, induced reticular plate thickening, pulmonary bronchial lumen serious deformation, and the inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung of mice. Significantly increased alveolar wall muscle fibers and collagen fibers were also observed. CONCLUSION: The lung function and pathomorphological changes of COPD mice induced by 30 days nasal drip of cigarette dust particles were similar to those of human COPD.     

Study on the Hepatoprotective Effect of Oxalis coriniculata L. and Related Mechanism by Regulating Oxidative Stress and TLR-2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

[Objectives]This study aimed to explore the protective effect of Oxalis coriniculata L.on rats with acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)and ...     

New Approaches to Modeling Methyl Jasmonate Effects on Pomegranate Quality during Postharvest Storage

Adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic algorithm–artificial neural network (GA-ANN) models were used to predict the effect of methyl jasmonate (at three levels 0, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) and storage time (0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days) on quality parameters and physiological changes of pomegranate fruits during storage. Methyl jasmonate reduced chilling injury and improved quality characteristics of pomegranates during postharvest storage. The GA-ANN and ANFIS were fed with two inputs of methyl jasmonate and storage time. The results showed that GA-ANN predictions agreed with experimental data and the GA-ANN with 14 neurons in one hidden layer can predict physiological changes and quality parameters of pomegranate (weight loss, pH, chilling injury index, ion leakage, ethylene, respiration, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity) with correlation coefficients equal to 0.87. The ANFIS model was trained by a hybrid method and agreement between experimental data and ANFIS predictions was significant (r = 0.90).     

毛竹林冰雪危害调查及灾后重建技术组装

以靖安县毛竹林为调查研究对象,调查冰雪危害毛竹林的规律,了解毛竹林分防御雪灾的能力,制定毛竹林损伤类型划分,组装毛竹林灾后重建技术.     

Involvement of TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome in contrast medium-induced inflammation and injury in renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM: To investigate whether Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were involved in contrast medium (CM)-induced inflammation and injury in renal tubular epithelial cells. METHODS: Iopromide was used to injure NRK-52E cells in the study. The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. The protein levels of TLR4, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speckle-like protein (ASC), caspase-1 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot. The releases of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 were detected by ELISA. The apoptotic rate was evaluated by Hoechst staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was analyzed by JC-1 staining. siRNA was transfected into the NRK-52E cells to silence NLRP3 expression. RESULTS: CM decreased the viability of NRK-52E cells (P<0.05). CM also elevated the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, TLR4, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 (P<0.05). Silencing NLRP3 attenuated CM-induced releases of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, treatment with TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 or knockdown of NLRP3 by siRNA transfection both attenuated cell apoptosis and loss of MMP caused by CM. CONCLUSION: TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome takes part in the pathogenesis of CM-induced acute kidney injury, and mediates CM-induced injury and inflammation in renal tubular epithelial cells.     

Dexmedetomidine attenuates acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10 μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were obviously increase in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group, which were obviously increased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group, which was obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, ethanol induced marked liver histological injury, which was less pronounced in E+M and E+H groups. CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP2E1 and NF-κB expression.     

甘薯贮藏冷害研究现状

甘薯富含丰富的糖、蛋白质、维生素和多种活性成分,具有很高的营养价值和经济价值,深受人们的喜爱。甘薯贮藏过程中极易发生冷害而腐烂,导致其品质下降,影响贮藏和流通。本文介绍了甘薯在贮藏期间冷害发生的表现、冷害对甘薯生理代谢、糖代谢、能量代谢和酚类代谢的影响以及不同处理(冷锻炼处理、乙烯处理和紫外辐照处理)对甘薯冷害的影响,以期为甘薯贮藏保鲜提供理论依据。     

草酸处理对桂七芒果冷害及细胞壁代谢的影响

为探讨草酸处理对低温冷藏下芒果冷害及细胞壁代谢的影响,本试验以桂七芒果果实为试材,采用5 mmol·L^-1草酸溶液浸泡处理,以清水浸泡处理为对照,并于4℃贮藏,分析芒果的冷害指数、丙二醛(MDA)含量、相对电导率、硬度、细胞壁物质含量、细胞壁代谢酶的变化。结果表明,与对照组相比,草酸处理显著降低了低温贮藏14 d后桂七芒果果实冷害指数、MDA含量、相对电导率、原果胶和纤维素含量,显著降低了低温贮藏28 d后果实的硬度;显著提高了低温贮藏14 d后果实水溶性果胶含量及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)、果胶甲酯酶(PME)、纤维素酶(Cx)活性,显著提高了贮藏21 d后果实β-半乳糖苷酶(β-Gal)活性。综上所述,草酸处理能减轻桂七芒果冷害,维持采后果实细胞壁降解酶较高活性和水溶性果胶含量。本研究为揭示草酸减轻芒果果实冷害机制提供了依据,可为草酸应用于其他冷敏型果实的贮藏保鲜提供理论参考。