Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

UV-absorbing compounds and susceptibility of weedy species to UV-B radiation

Stratospheric ozone (O₃) depletion has led to increased terrestrial ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation (290–320 nm). Leaves exposed to this radiation produce UV‐absorbing compounds in the epidermal cells, which protect plants from UV‐B damage. To determine the role of UV‐absorbing compounds in the UV‐B sensitivity of weeds (common chickweed (Stellaria media), downy brome (Bromus tectorum), green smartweed (Polygonum scabrum), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), spotted cat’s‐ear (Hypochoeris radicata), and stork’s‐bill (Erodium cicutarium)) seedlings were exposed to 0, 4 (field ambient), 7 (18% O₃ depletion) and 11 (37% O₃ depletion) kJ m^?2 d^?1 of biologically effective UV‐B radiation in a greenhouse. Ultraviolet‐absorbing compounds were extracted from the second true‐leaf (0.5 cm² samples) with methanol : distilled water : HCl (79 : 20 : 1) in an 85°C water bath for 15 min, and the absorbance of the extracts measured at 300 nm. The shoot dry biomass was recorded to determine the susceptibility to UV‐B radiation. Common chickweed was the most sensitive and green smartweed the least sensitive weed to UV‐B radiation. The latter accumulated more UV‐absorbing compounds and this accumulation occurred earlier compared with common chickweed. As UV‐B_BE radiation levels increased from 0 to 11 kJ m^?2 d^?1, the green smartweed shoot biomass did not decline. However, the biomass of all five susceptible species declined despite an increase in the UV‐absorbing compounds in response to increased UV‐B radiation. Therefore, formation of a ‘UV‐screen’ in these species is not sufficient to fully prevent UV‐B damage. When the concentration of UV‐absorbing compounds in the six species was plotted against their susceptibility to UV‐B radiation, no relationship was observed. Thus, while the accumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds may be a major factor in the protection of certain species against UV‐B radiation and may offer some degree of defence in other species, it does not explain UV‐B susceptibility differences in weedy species in general.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统敲除葡萄中VviEDR2提高对白粉病的抗性

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统定点编辑葡萄白粉病感病基因VviEDR2(Enhanced disease resistance2),在VviEDR2的DUF1336结构域设计靶位点VviEDR2-T1,构建CRISPR/Cas9敲除载体,通过农杆菌介导法转化‘无核白’葡萄胚性愈伤组织。对PCR阳性植株进行靶位点扩增测序,结果表明,共有8个转基因植株在靶位点处发生不同类型的双等位基因突变,编辑效率为32%;突变体植株生长势较弱,叶片较小,茎秆丛生、细弱。进一步对突变体植株进行抗病检测,结果表明,接种葡萄白粉菌(Erysiphe necator Schw.)5d后,突变体植株叶片上白粉菌孢子仅能萌发出少量较短初级菌丝,表皮细胞产生大量明显的H2O2,而野生型叶片中白粉菌萌发出大量初级菌丝、次级菌丝和吸器,无明显H2O2产生。这些结果表明,可以利用CRISPR/Cas9技术编辑葡萄感病基因VviEDR2,提高葡萄白粉菌抗性。     

大鲵幼体蛋白质的需求量

为评定大鲵幼体对饲料蛋白质的需求量,以鱼粉为主要蛋白源配制6种蛋白质水平(干样基础)的实验饲料:D1(43.7%)、D2(47.1%)、D3(51.3%)、D4(55.7%)、D5(59.9%)和D6(64.4%),饲喂初始体质量为(20.99±0.15) g的大鲵幼体92 d。结果显示,①饲料蛋白质水平对大鲵增重率有显著影响,在D4组达到最大值,较D1组增加了276.4%,且全鲵蛋白质沉积率和肌肉RNA、RNA/DNA值、胃蛋白酶、H⁺-K⁺-ATPase、胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶和Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase、肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)均在D4组达到最佳,而肝脏和肠道丙二醛(MDA)在该组均达到最低;②随饲料蛋白质水平增加,肌肉粗蛋白线性增加,全鲵脂肪线性下降,全鲵水分和粗灰分在各组间差异不显著,全鲵粗蛋白先增加后趋于稳定,在D4组达到最大;③大鲵皮肤胶原蛋白含量在D4组达到最高,较D1组增加了27.83%。研究表明,以增重率、肌肉RNA/DNA值、蛋白质沉积率和皮肤胶原蛋白含量为评价指标,通过二次回归...     

玉米粉中伏马毒素FB1基体标准物质的评价

为填补我国在伏马毒素基体标准物质的空白,本试验研制了以玉米粉为基体的伏马毒素FB1标准物质,玉米样品经过筛、加标、冷冻干燥、磨粉、混匀、密封分装后,用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)法检验样品的均匀性、稳定性,幵联合多家实验室对玉米粉中伏马毒素FB1含量定值,同时分析样品的不确定度。样品均匀性经斱差分析法表明F值为1.42,小于临界值F_0.05,且伏马毒素FB1含量在觃定时间6个月内无明显变化。结果表明,均匀性与稳定性均符合标准物质的要求。样品定值为1475.56μg kg^–1,不确定度为169.98μg kg^–1。该标准物质可替代进口标准物质,用于伏马毒素检测过程中的仪器校准、实验室质量控制和操作人员的水平考核等。     

番茄ShARPC5抗白粉病功能分析

【目的】白粉病(powdery mildew)是番茄生产上的重要病害,严重影响番茄的产量。番茄基因组测序工作的完成为抗病基因挖掘提供了重要的信息资源。ARP2/3(actin-related protein 2 and 3)复合体是肌动蛋白微丝骨架动力学的主要调控因子,能够参与包括响应外界胁迫等多种细胞学过程。本研究通过对番茄ARPC5(actin-related protein C5)进行克隆和抗病功能验证,为番茄基因组信息完善、抗病机制解析和分子育种等方面打下基础。【方法】从番茄LA1777(Solanum habrochaites)cDNA中PCR扩增ShARPC5,使用DNAMAN 6.0进行多序列比对;MEGA 6.0构建系统发育树;应用在线工具ProtComp v. 9.0进行亚细胞定位预测。利用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)比较接种白粉菌(Oidium neolycopersici,On-Lz)后高感品种Moneymaker(MM)和高抗品种LA1777中番茄ARPC5的表达特征,分析白粉菌侵染与ARPC5表达的相关性。应用病毒诱导的基因沉默(virus-induc...     

Saquayamycin B1 Suppresses Proliferation,Invasion, and Migration by Inhibiting PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Moromycin B (Mor B), saquayamycin B₁ (Saq B₁), saquayamycin B (Saq B), and landomycin N (Lan N), four angucyclines produced by the marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp., are a class of polyketone compounds containing benzanthracene. Here, the structure–activity relationship of these four compounds was analyzed in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Saq B₁, which showed the strongest cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ of 0.18–0.84 µM for CRC cells in MTT assays, was employed to test underlying mechanisms of action in SW480 and SW620 cells (two invasive CRC cell lines). Our results showed that Saq B₁ inhibited CRC cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Notably, lower cytotoxicity was measured in normal human hepatocyte cells (QSG-7701). Furthermore, we observed proapoptosis, antimigration, and anti-invasion activities of Saq B₁ in CRC cells. At the same time, the protein and mRNA expression of important markers related to the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and apoptosis changed, including N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Bcl-2, in Saq B₁-treated CRC cells. Surprisingly, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was shown to be involved in Saq B₁-induced apoptosis, and in inhibiting invasion and migration. Computer docking models also suggested that Saq B₁ might bind to PI3Kα. Collectively, these results indicate that Saq B₁ effectively inhibited growth and decreased the motor ability of CRC cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which provides more possibilities for the development of drugs in the treatment of CRC.     

1-O-Alkylglycerol Ethers from the Marine Sponge Guitarra abbotti and Their Cytotoxic Activity

The cytotoxicity-bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract from the marine sponge Guitarra abbotti, whose 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerol ethers (AGEs) have not been investigated so far, led to the isolation of a complex lipid fraction containing, along with previously known compounds, six new lipids of the AGE type. The composition of the AGE fraction as well as the structures of 6 new and 22 previously known compounds were established using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GC/MS, and chemical conversion methods. The new AGEs were identified as: 1-O-(Z-docos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (1), 1-O-(Z-docos-17-enyl)-sn-glycerol (2), 1-O-(Z-tricos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (3), 1-O-(Z-tricos-16-enyl)-sn-glycerol (4), 1-O-(Z-tricos-17-enyl)-sn-glycerol (5), and 1-O-(Z-tetracos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (6). The isolated AGEs show weak cytotoxic activity in THP-1, HL-60, HeLa, DLD-1, SNU C4, SK-MEL-28, and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells. A further cytotoxicity analysis in JB6 P⁺ Cl41 cells bearing mutated MAP kinase genes revealed that ERK2 and JNK1 play a cytoprotective role in the cellular response to the AGE-induced cytotoxic effects.     

Antioxidant Efficacy of a Spirulina Liquid Extract on Oxidative Stress Status and Metabolic Disturbances in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

Lipid peroxidation is associated with the development of some pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases. Reduction in oxidative stress by antioxidants, such as Arthrospira (formely Spirulina), helps improving this redox imbalance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Arthrospira liquid extract “Spirulysat^®” on oxidative markers—in particular, oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/total LDL cholesterol—and isoprostanes and to investigate its impact on lipid and glucose metabolism in the metabolic syndrome subject. A controlled, randomised, double-blind design was conducted in 40 subjects aged 18 to 65 years with metabolic syndrome after a daily intake of Spirulysat^® or placebo for twelve weeks. Blood and urinary samples were collected at three visits (V1, V2, V3) in the two groups for parameters determination. Although the Spirulysat^® group showed a decrease at all visits of the oxLDL/total cholesterol ratio, there was no significant difference compared to the placebo (p = 0.36). The urinary isoprostanes concentration in the Spirulysat^® group was reduced (p = 0.014) at V3. Plasma triglycerides decreased at V3 (p = 0.003) and HDL-cholesterol increased (p = 0.031) at all visits with Spirulysat^®. In conclusion, Spirulysat^® did not change the oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/LDL ratio but decreased the urinary isoprostanes, plasma triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol, suggesting a beneficial effect on metabolic syndrome.     

果蔗脱毒种苗组培快繁技术研究

采用不同浓度的6-BA对果蔗进行了茎尖分生组织的诱导和幼芽增殖试验研究,利用不同状态的培养基对增殖芽进行了培养。结果表明,当6-BA浓度为4-5mg／L时,比较适宜于果蔗茎尖分生组织的诱导。在幼芽增殖前期．6-BA的浓度采用2-3mg／L;在将进入生根阶段时,6-BA的浓度采用0．5-1．5mg／L,有利于获得粗壮的幼苗。果蔗幼芽在增殖阶段。适宜采用液体培养基,可降低成本。