Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide,Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.     

Influence of soil phosphorus status,texture, pH and metal content on the efficacy of amendments to pig slurry in reducing phosphorus losses

Cost‐effective strategies for using chemically amended organic fertilizers need to be developed to minimize nutrient losses in surface and groundwater. Coupling specific soil physical and chemical characteristics with amendment type could increase their effectiveness. This study investigated how water‐extractable phosphorus (P) was affected by chemical amendments added to pig slurry and how this effect varied with soil properties. A 3‐month incubation study was conducted on 18 different mineral soils, stored at 10 °C and 75% humidity and treated with unamended and amended slurry which was incorporated at a rate equivalent to 19 kg total P (TP )/ha. The amendments examined were commercial‐grade liquid alum, applied at a rate of 0.88:1 [Al:TP ], and commercial‐grade liquid poly‐aluminium chloride (PAC ), applied at a rate of 0.72:1 [Al:TP ]. These amendments were previously identified by the authors as being effective in reducing incidental losses of P. The efficacy of the amendments varied with the soil test P, the degree of P saturation (DPS ) and the Mehlich aluminium, iron and calcium, but not soil texture. Chemical amendments were most effective in soils with DPS over approximately 20%. Due to their high cost, the incorporation of amendments into existing management practices can only be justified as part of a holistic management plan where soils have high DPS .     

NO对大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区DA神经元的调节

实验观察了微量注射 NOS抑制剂 L -NAME及微量联合注射 NO的前体 L-精氨酸( L-Arg) L-NAME于大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区( VTA)对该部位多巴胺神经元的调节。发现VTA注射 L -NAME( 1 mg/ 5μL )后 ,伏隔核( Acb)多巴胺 ( DA )代谢产物—双羟苯乙酸( DOPAC)水平升高到注射前的 1 2 2 .5% ( P <0 .0 0 1 ) ,小剂量注射 L-NAME( 0 .2 mg/ 5μL)对伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显影响 ;同样方法联合注射 L-Arg( 3 0 0 μg/ 5μL) L-NAME( 1 mg/5μL)后 ,伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显变化。结论 :VTA微量注射 L-NAME兴奋了该部位的DA神经元 ,而 L -Arg L -NAME联合注射 ,却不能影响 DA神经元的活动 ,说明 NO可以通过L-Arg-NOS-NO途径参与 VTA多巴胺神经元的调节     

恩肥对平菇菌丝生长,产量及品质的影响

本文报道了恩肥的施用浓度、施用时期对平菇菌丝生长、产量和品质的影响。试验结果表明,施用恩肥可促进平菇菌丝生长和子实体发育,有利于提高产量及改善品质。用肥量为每1000ml PDA或每公斤干培养料0.2～0.3ml时,菌丝生长速度显著加快,长满袋的时间可缩短4～5d,子实体产量可提高45.7％～55.9％,蛋白质、必需氨基酸和非必需氨基酸分别增加25.8％、14.94％和11.32％。在不同施肥时期中,又以现蕾期喷施效果最佳。     

女性身体·五四话语·革命救赎

在革命意识形态成为主流话语左右着文学创作时,丁玲试图通过对女性身体的革命救赎寓言化书写将女性书写融入主流话语体系之中。女性主体意识在这一过程中被深度扼制。然而,女身书写的自身逻辑却在另一层面干扰着文本意义的生成,不自觉地流露出作者未被泯灭的女性意识。     

弓形虫P30基因及其功能

弓形虫 P30基因所编码的蛋白为弓形虫主要表面抗原 SAG1 ,其约占速殖子总蛋白量的 5 %,SAG1对虫体侵入宿主细胞及其毒力具重要性 ,并有高度免疫原性和免疫保护性 ,被用于弓形虫疫苗的研制和弓形虫感染的分子诊断     

盐胁迫对4种禾本科牧草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

通过NaCl溶液(0、1.5、3.0、6.0、9.0g/L)处理4种禾本科牧草种子,测定了种子萌发和幼苗生长有关指标。结果表明:美洲狼尾草较耐盐,在9.0g/L盐溶液处理下比其它品种维持了高的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数,并且其相对值高,以及较高的相对苗长和根长,盐处理显著提高几种牧草幼苗质膜相对透性,总体上降低胚乳的利用速度和利用效率。     

桑蚕卵中酯酶A_4的研究

取产后两天内25℃保存的桑蚕卵为材料,精制酯酶A_4。将滞育卵中精制的酶液置5℃下冷藏,冷藏初期酶活性极低,大致在12～13日达最大值。以后迅速降低,体外保存的温度条件与酯酶A_4活性有关,较高的保存温度能促使酶活性峰提早出现:而低温保护能延缓酶的活化进程。酯酶A_4精制过程中,通过Sephadex G-25凝胶过滤,将大部分物质分段与酶分离排除,在5℃条件下,酶活性峰出现以前的任何时候加入排除分段物质,都可以停止酶的活性化,只有当重新除去所加的排除分段物质时,酶的活性化进程才得以继续。