RESUMEN

Calcification of bones is the critical process of bone development in birds, which is very important for sustaining the normal biological function of bones. Light is one of the vital factors affecting bone development, but whether light intensity affects bone calcification and the underlying mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we used duck sternum as a model to analyze the calcification process under different light regimes. In addition, the underlying mechanism was also illustrated by integrating metabolomics and transcriptome methods. The experiment lasted from 14 to 51 d of duck age. The control group (LP1) kept light intensity 2 lx during the whole experiment. The two light supplement groups (LP2, LP3) were given light with the intensity of 70 lx at different time (14-29 d for LP2, 14-43 d for LP3). Samples were collected at 52 d of duck age. Sternal calcification analysis showed no significant difference in proportion of area of cartilage matrix and trabecular bone in keel tissue among the 3 groups, but the degree of keel calcification in LP3 was higher than in the other 2 groups. Serum metabolomics showed 32 and 28 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the 2 comparison groups, LP1 vs. LP3 and LP1 vs. LP2, respectively. Carboxylic acids and derivatives were the most abundant among the DAMs. Sternal transcriptome analysis showed 231 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 177 upregulated genes and 54 downregulated genes in group LP1 vs. LP3, and 22 DEGs in group LP1 vs. LP2. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis on DEGs between LP1 and LP3 showed that genes BTRC, GLI1, BMP4, and FOS were in the core position of the interaction network, and are also involved in bone development. KEGG pathway analysis of DAMs and DEGs showed that differences in Hedgehog signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, apoptosis, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism following light treatment seem likely to have contributed to the observed difference in calcification of duck sternum.

Asunto(s)

Patos , Transcriptoma , Animales , Pollos/genética , Patos/genética , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/veterinaria , Proteínas Hedgehog/genética , Metaboloma , Esternón

RESUMEN

1. High stocking densities can lead to animal stress responses and lead to changes in bird behaviour, egg production and the fertility of laying birds. The oviduct plays a crucial role during the process of laying eggs. Therefore, it is essential to know how high stocking density affects oviduct function.2. In this study, a total of 2,115 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in duck oviduct tissues between different stocking density groups. These genes are mainly enriched in membrane components, calcium ion binding, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and focal adhesion. These pathways were closely related to the formation of eggs. This indicated that secretion and material transport functions of the oviduct are affected under high-density stocking. Further analysis showed that a total of 408 genes related to the transportation process were expressed in the oviduct, of which 96 genes were differentially expressed (LogFC≥1, P < 0.05). Forty-two of these DEGs belonged to the solute carrier family. The data showed that the expression of 31 transcripts was different between the two density groups. Expression of KCNJ15, SLC26A8, and TRPM5 was only seen in the high-density group (8/m2), while ATP13A3 and KCNIP2 were only expressed in the low-density group (4/m2).3. Consequently, high stocking density may affect the expression and splicing of genes related to molecular transport in the oviduct.

Asunto(s)

Pollos , Patos , Animales , Pollos/fisiología , Patos/genética , Femenino , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/veterinaria , Oviductos , Óvulo , Transcriptoma

RESUMEN

1. The thymus and bursa of Fabricius are important immune organs in poultry as they play essential roles in sustaining the normal immune function to maintain health. The following trial investigated whether the stocking density affected gene expressions in immune organs.2. Jinding ducklings were raised in either low or high density (4 or 8 birds/m2) conditions from four to 14 weeks of age, and were then slaughtered and tissues removed. Samples were subjected to high-throughput sequencing to sequence RNA extraction. After filtering calculations with R software, a total of 508 (thymus) and 1,356 (bursa of Fabricius) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, suggesting that stocking density has an effect on gene expression in duck immune organs.3. Out of a total of 112 immune factor genes and 112 immune pattern receptor genes in ducks, four thymus and 18 bursa of Fabricius genes were differentially expressed in ducks, which indicated that the change of stocking density could affect the expression of immune genes in poultry.

Asunto(s)

Bolsa de Fabricio , Patos , Animales , Pollos , Patos/genética , Expresión Génica , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/veterinaria , Bazo , Timo , Transcriptoma

RESUMEN

This study aimed to demonstrate whether exposure to bifidobacteria during early life influences immunity and alleviates the risk of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies in adulthood. BALB/c neonatal mice (n=54) were administered with a lyophilised cell preparation of Bifidobacterium bifidum TMC3115 (TMC3115) for 3 weeks. Following the intervention, the mice were immunised with intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA). The morphology and function of the intestinal epithelium were determined using histopathological examinations. Intestinal microbiota was detected using quantitative PCR and characterised using next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from faecal DNA. Caecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the percentage of splenic CD4+ T cells were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively. TMC3115 did not significantly affect body weight, and cause any severe systemic inflammation or other clinical symptoms among the neonatal or adult mice, although the crypt depths and Muc2-positive cells in some intestinal segments of neonatal mice were significantly lower than control. Oral TMC3115 administration significantly increased faecal microbial diversity, relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and caecal SCFAs production in neonatal mice. Following the intervention, neonatal mice treated with TMC3115 exhibited less increase in serum IgE levels induced by OVA in adults and significantly higher TNF-α and IL-10 levels than in control. Our findings indicate that the oral administration of bifidobacteria, particularly certain strains, such as TMC3115, during early life could alleviate the risk of IgE-mediated allergies in adult host animals. Modifications of intestinal microbiota, SCFAs metabolism and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production by bifidobacteria may at least in part be a key mechanism underlying the effect of bifidobacteria on the IgE-mediated immune sensitivity of hosts to attacks by allergens at both neonatal and adult stages.

Asunto(s)

Bifidobacterium bifidum/fisiología , Hipersensibilidad/tratamiento farmacológico , Inmunoglobulina E/inmunología , Probióticos/administración & dosificación , Administración Oral , Animales , Animales Recién Nacidos/inmunología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Humanos , Hipersensibilidad/etiología , Hipersensibilidad/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad/microbiología , Recién Nacido , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/genética , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/inmunología , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/microbiología , Interleucina-10/genética , Interleucina-10/inmunología , Interleucina-6/genética , Interleucina-6/inmunología , Intestinos/inmunología , Intestinos/microbiología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ovalbúmina/efectos adversos , Ovalbúmina/inmunología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/inmunología

RESUMEN

Material modifications can be used to induce cell responses, in particular-CH(3) and -NH(2) have shown potential in enhancing the ability of a material to support mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion and differentiation. Currently this process is variable, due to the lack of definition of controlled contextual presentation of the chemical group of interest across the surface. This paper defines the potential of -CH(3) modified surfaces, with optimised dynamic surface chemistry, to manipulate initial MSC adhesive events, integrin binding, and subsequent cell function. An array of -CH(3) silane modified glass substrates was produced using different -CH(3) chain lengths and mechanisms of bonding to the base substrate. We show that changing the chain length affects the ability of the surfaces to support viable adult MSC adhesion, directly related to induced FGF release, and expression of STRO-1, CD29, 73, 90 and 105. Chlorodimethyloctylsilane (ODMCS) modified surfaces resulted in significant increases of associated adult MSC markers compared to all other -CH(3) modified and control substrates. In contrast Dichlorodimethylsilane (DMDCS) modified surfaces did not support adult MSC adhesion due to high levels of early FGF release, which had an inhibitory effect on adult MSC culture, but enhanced the efficiency and cell selective properties of the substrate in isolation of multi-potent progenitor/MSC from adult human whole blood. Incorporation of optimised -CH(3) groups is a cost effective route for producing substrates that significantly enhance MSC isolation and expansion, highlighting the potential of the optimised substrates to replace RGD and fibronectin modifications in selected applications.

Asunto(s)

Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula/métodos , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/fisiología , Adulto , Materiales Biocompatibles/química , Materiales Biocompatibles/metabolismo , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Adhesión Celular , Moléculas de Adhesión Celular/metabolismo , Separación Celular/métodos , Células Cultivadas , Humanos , Ensayo de Materiales , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Estructura Molecular , Silanos/química , Silanos/metabolismo , Propiedades de Superficie , Ingeniería de Tejidos/métodos

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive dementia. The hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to damage at the very earliest stages of AD. This article seeks to evaluate critical AD-associated regional changes in the hippocampus using machine learning methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution MR images were acquired from 19 patients with AD and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Regional changes of bilateral hippocampi were characterized using computational anatomic mapping methods. A feature selection method for support vector machine and leave-1-out cross-validation was introduced to determine regional shape differences that minimized the error rate in the datasets. RESULTS: Patients with AD showed significant deformations in the CA1 region of bilateral hippocampi, as well as the subiculum of the left hippocampus. There were also some changes in the CA2-4 subregions of the left hippocampus among patients with AD. Moreover, the left hippocampal surface showed greater variations than the right compared with those in healthy control subjects. The accuracies of leave-1-out cross-validation and 3-fold cross-validation experiments for assessing the reliability of these subregions were more than 80% in bilateral hippocampi. CONCLUSION: Subtle and spatially complex deformation patterns of hippocampus between patients with AD and healthy control subjects can be detected by machine learning methods.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedad de Alzheimer/patología , Inteligencia Artificial , Hipocampo/patología , Aumento de la Imagen/métodos , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador/métodos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Reconocimiento de Normas Patrones Automatizadas/métodos , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sensibilidad y Especificidad

RESUMEN

In the present study, we investigated the effects of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on repeated cerebral ischemia-induced impairment of spatial memory of the 8-arm radial maze in rats. Repeated ischemia (10 min ischemia x 2 times with 1 h interval) impaired the spatial memory in the 8-arm radial maze test and produced apoptosis in the hippocampus 7 days after final occlusion, and gradually increased the NO(x)(-) levels approximately 30-180 min after the second reperfusion. Post-ischemic administration of L-NAME at a dose of 50 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min following the second occlusion, significantly attenuated the repeated ischemia-induced impairment of spatial memory in the 8-arm radial maze test and suppressed apoptosis in the hippocampus, and also significantly suppressed a delayed increase in the NO(x)(-) levels induced by repeated ischemia. However, pre-ischemic administration of L-NAME at a dose of 50 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before the first occlusion, caused about 90% mortality (the mortality rate of vehicle-treated group was 10%). These results suggest that the delayed generation of NO(x)(-) may cause spatial memory impairment and induction of apoptosis in the hippocampus in rats subjected to repeated ischemia.

Asunto(s)

Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Isquemia Encefálica/psicología , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Memoria/efectos de los fármacos , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Nitroarginina/farmacología , Animales , Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Isquemia Encefálica/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/administración & dosificación , Hipocampo/irrigación sanguínea , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/patología , Inyecciones Intraperitoneales , Inyecciones Intraventriculares , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/efectos de los fármacos , Microdiálisis , Óxido Nítrico Sintasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Nitroarginina/administración & dosificación , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Factores de Tiempo

RESUMEN

We used a coculture model to evaluate the inflammatory potential of ammonia gas plasma modified PET and PTFE by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. In these studies, human endothelial cells from umbilical cord (HUVEC) and promonocytic U937 cells were used. HUVECs grown on polystyrene tissue culture coverslips and HUVECs stimulated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were used as controls. U937 adhesion to endothelium on each surface was evaluated at day 1 and day 7. To further investigate the role of leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in cell-to-cell interaction on material surfaces, the expression of the leukocyte-endothelial CAMs: ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, and E-selectin on HUVECs were evaluated after U937 cell adhesion. The results demonstrated that plasma treated PET (T-PET) and treated PTFE (T-PTFE) did not increase U937 cell adhesion compared to the negative control. Maximal adhesion of U937 cells to HUVEC was observed on TNF-alpha stimulated endothelium with significant differences between day 1 and day 7, which is consistent with our prior observation that T-PET and T-PTFE did not cause HUVECs to increase the expression of adhesion molecules. After U937 cell adhesion, the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 of HUVECs were not different on T-PET and T-PTFE compared with the negative control. However, the expression of E-selectin was reduced on day 1, but not on day 7. The effects of plasma treated PET and PTFE on HUVEC adhesion and proliferation were also studied. On day 1 there were slight increases in the growth of HUVECs on both of T-PET and T-PTFE but this was not statistically significant. On day 7, the cell number increased significantly on the surfaces compared to the negative control. The results demonstrate that the plasma treatment of PET and PTFE with ammonia improves the adhesion and growth of endothelial cells and these surfaces do not exhibit a direct inflammatory effect in terms of monocyte adhesion and expression of leukocyte-endothelial CAMs. The monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells on surfaces can be used as a tool for the evaluation of material surface modification and further to study the mechanisms of cell-to-cell interactions in response to surfaces.

Asunto(s)

Materiales Biocompatibles/farmacología , Endotelio Vascular/citología , Leucocitos/citología , Monocitos/citología , Tereftalatos Polietilenos/farmacología , Politetrafluoroetileno/farmacología , Adhesión Celular , División Celular , Separación Celular , Células Cultivadas , Selectina E/biosíntesis , Citometría de Flujo , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Intercelular/biosíntesis , Molécula-1 de Adhesión Celular Endotelial de Plaqueta/biosíntesis , Factores de Tiempo , Células U937 , Venas Umbilicales , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Celular Vascular/biosíntesis

RESUMEN

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of human endothelial cells in response to the systematic variation in materials properties by the ammonia plasma modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). These adhesion molecules act as mediators of cell adhesion, play a role in the modulation of cell adhesion on biomaterials and therefore condition the response of tissues to implants. First and second passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on plasma treated and untreated PET and PTFE. HUVECs grown on polystyrene tissue culture coverslips and HUVECs stimulated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were used as controls. After 1 day and 7 days, the expression of adhesion molecules platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Integrin alphavbeta3, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin and L-selectin were evaluated using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. There was a slight increase in positive cell numbers expressing the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on plasma treated PET and PTFE. A significant increase in E-selectin positive cells on untreated PTFE was demonstrated after 7 days. Stimulation with TNF-alpha demonstrated a significant increase in the proportion of ICAM-1. VCAM-1 and E-selectin positive cells. Almost all cells expressed PECAM-1 and integrin alphavbeta3, on both materials and controls but did not express P- and L-selectin on any surface. When second passage cells were used, the expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was markedly increased on all surfaces but not with TNF-alpha. These significant differences were not observed in other adhesion molecules. These results were supported by immunohistochemical studies. The effects of plasma treated PET and PTFE on cell adhesion and proliferation was also studied. There was a 1.3-fold increase in cell numbers adhered on ammonia plasma treated PET compared to untreated PET and a 5.5-fold increase in cell numbers on treated PTFE compared to untreated PTFE after 1 day. This is significantly different when analysed statistically. After 7 days, cell number increased significantly on all surfaces compared to 1 day, except for untreated PTFE which conversely reduced by 41%. Cell number on the surface of untreated PET was no different to treated PET on days 1 and 7 when second passage cells were used. The study has shown that the plasma treatment of PET and PTFE with ammonia improves the adhesion and growth of endothelial cells and slightly upregulates the expression of adhesion molecules. This surface modification should promote colonisation of an artificial vascular prosthesis by endothelial cells and make it less vulnerable to immune system cells of the recipient. In addition, it should be considered which passage of cells is used due to the different adhesion features of different passages of HUVECs on untreated PET.

Asunto(s)

Materiales Biocompatibles/farmacología , Moléculas de Adhesión Celular/metabolismo , Endotelio Vascular/efectos de los fármacos , Endotelio Vascular/metabolismo , Tereftalatos Polietilenos/farmacología , Politetrafluoroetileno/farmacología , Materiales Biocompatibles/química , Adhesión Celular/efectos de los fármacos , División Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Selectina E/metabolismo , Endotelio Vascular/citología , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Técnicas In Vitro , Integrina alfaVbeta3/metabolismo , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Intercelular/metabolismo , Selectina L/metabolismo , Ensayo de Materiales , Selectina-P/metabolismo , Molécula-1 de Adhesión Celular Endotelial de Plaqueta/metabolismo , Tereftalatos Polietilenos/química , Politetrafluoroetileno/química , Propiedades de Superficie , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Celular Vascular/metabolismo

RESUMEN

3D visualization and virtual reality are important trend in the development of modern science and technology, and as well in the studies on biomedical engineering. This paper presents a computer procedure developed for 3D visualization in biomedical applications. The biomedical models are constructed in slice sequences based on polygon cells and information interaction is realized on the basis of OpenGL selection mode in particular consideration of the specialties in this field such as irregularity in geometry and complexity in material etc. The software developed has functions of 3D model construction and visualization, real-time modeling transformation, information interaction and so on. It could serve as useful platform for 3D visualization in biomedical engineering research.

Asunto(s)

Procesamiento Automatizado de Datos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Programas Informáticos , Ingeniería Biomédica

RESUMEN

Within the mammalian lung, cells with a neuroendocrine phenotype are few in number and are sparsely distributed. In contrast, neuroendocrine neoplasms represent a major group of lung cancers. The aim of this study was to develop a model of mammalian PNECs and to compare glucocorticoid regulation of calcitonin secretion in normal and neoplastic cells with neuroendocrine differentiation. Cell cultures of PNECs were initiated after the disaggregation of neonatal hamster lungs with 0.1% collagenase and fractionation of the resultant cell suspension on a gradient of iodixanol (1.320 g/mL). Cell fractions enriched in PNECs were identified by positive staining for 5-hydroxytryptamine and the presence of calcitonin. Calcitonin secretion was investigated after exposure to hydrocortisone (0 to 1,000 nM). A dose-dependant inhibition of calcitonin secretion was seen after 7 days between 10 nM (55% of control), and 1,000 nM (29%) hydrocortisone. Cell cultures grown in the presence of hydrocortisone also contained significantly fewer PNECs between 10 nM (90% of control), and 1,000 nM (45%). Human bronchial carcinoid cells (NCIH727) cultured under identical conditions showed a similar inhibition of calcitonin secretion between 10 nM (53%) and 1,000 nM (52%), although at these concentrations, no reduction in cell number was seen. In contrast, 2 human small cell lung cancer cell lines (DMS-79 and COR-L24 cells) showed no dose-dependent inhibition of calcitonin secretion and no effect on cell proliferation in response to hydrocortisone. These results show that enriched cultures of mammalian PNECs can be used to investigate functional aspects of their biology, including peptide secretion in response to potential regulators. Furthermore, calcitonin secretion is inhibited in normal PNECs and bronchial carcinoid cells at physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids, but this feature appears not to be present in the 2 more invasive neuroendocrine neoplasms (small cell lung cancer cells) investigated in this study.

Asunto(s)

Calcitonina/metabolismo , Tumor Carcinoide/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Sistemas Neurosecretores/metabolismo , Animales , Animales Recién Nacidos , Calcitonina/análisis , Tumor Carcinoide/patología , Carcinoma de Células Pequeñas/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Pequeñas/patología , Recuento de Células , División Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Transformación Celular Neoplásica , Cricetinae , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Femenino , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/farmacología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Mesocricetus , Sistemas Neurosecretores/efectos de los fármacos , Sistemas Neurosecretores/patología , Serotonina/análisis , Serotonina/metabolismo , Células Tumorales Cultivadas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Tumorales Cultivadas/metabolismo , Células Tumorales Cultivadas/patología

RESUMEN

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the inflammatory potential of endothelialized surfaces of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) after ammonia gas plasma modification. HUVECs grown on polystyrene and HUVECs stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were used as controls. At day 1 and day 7, surfaces were evaluated for U937 cells and HUVECs using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Plasma-treated PET (T-PET) and treated PTFE (T-PTFE) increased U937 cell adhesion compared to the negative control but this was not statistically significant. Maximal adhesion of U937 cells to HUVEC was observed on TNF-alpha stimulated endothelium with significant differences between day 1 and day 7. There was a small increase in U937 cell adhesion to plasma-treated PET compared to PTFE on both day 1 and day 7, but this was not statistically significant. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated two patterns of distribution for monocyte adhesion on materials. On T-PET the cells were positioned in clusters attached to HUVECs and on T-PTFE the cells were randomly distributed on HUVECs and material. The effects of plasma-treated PET and PTFE on HUVEC adhesion and proliferation were also studied. On day 1 there were slight increases in the growth of HUVECs on both of T-PET and T-PTFE but this was not statistically significant. On day 7, cell number increased significantly on all of surfaces compared to the negative control. The results demonstrate that the plasma treatment of PET and PTFE with ammonia improves the adhesion and growth of endothelial cells and these surfaces do not exhibit a direct inflammatory effect in terms of monocyte adhesion. Plasma-treated PTFE enhances HUVECs growth and was less adhesive for monocytes as compared with treated PET. The monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells on surfaces can be used as a tool for the evaluation of material surface modification and further to study the mechanisms of cell to cell interactions in response to surfaces.

RESUMEN

This paper provides a package of automatic and semi-automatic methods for computing the area of different kinds of body surface injuries. Compared with traditional methods, these processes of examination are faster and the conclusions are more precise and objective. Also presented are the authors classify the items into many types by standards which are necessary to let computer draw conclusions automatically. This software is conducive to improvement in work efficiency and convenience for judicial supervision.

Asunto(s)

Medicina Legal/instrumentación , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/instrumentación , Programas Informáticos , Heridas y Lesiones , Algoritmos , Procesamiento Automatizado de Datos , Humanos

RESUMEN

Berbamine, an ingredient of Berberis, which itself is widely utilized in Chinese folk-medicine has been used as a source of leukogenics, anti-arrhythmics and anti-hypertensives. In recent years, the immunosuppressive effects of berbamine has been demonstrated. In order to further investigate the value of berbamine as an immunosuppressive agent, the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH) response with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and a skin model of allograft rejection on mice were studied. Berbamine showed suppressive effects on DTH and MLR and significantly prolonged allograft survival compared with untreated transplanted mice. The results indicate that berbamine may be a potential agent in clinical transplantation.

Asunto(s)

Alcaloides/farmacología , Bencilisoquinolinas , Rechazo de Injerto/prevención & control , Inmunidad Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Inmunosupresores/farmacología , Trasplante de Piel/inmunología , Linfocitos T/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Prueba de Cultivo Mixto de Linfocitos , Medicina Tradicional China , Ratones , Plantas Medicinales/química , Linfocitos T/inmunología

RESUMEN

A previously studied (Enz and Schilling 1986 J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 19 1765) magnetocrystalline anisotropic Hamiltonian with a magnetic field applied along the medium axis is reconsidered, with emphasis on the topological phase effect. A quantum inteference effect is revealed.

RESUMEN

A transcriptional-interference selection was performed to identify genes of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 that encode DNA-binding proteins able to bind to the rbcL promoter. Unexpectedly, the selection yielded the previously identified sigA gene, which encodes the principal sigma factor. Protein extracts from Escherichia coli containing the sigA gene bound the rbcL promoter fragment in mobility shift assays, and competition experiments indicated binding to rbcL and glnA but not xisA or nifH upstream regions.

Asunto(s)

Anabaena/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Clonación Molecular/métodos , ARN Polimerasas Dirigidas por ADN , Factor sigma/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Unión Competitiva , ADN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/genética , Genes Bacterianos/genética , Vectores Genéticos/genética , Glutamato-Amoníaco Ligasa/genética , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Ribulosa-Bifosfato Carboxilasa/genética , Factor sigma/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética

RESUMEN

In 31 patients with ovarian cancer, the sIL-2R level of the sera and ascitic fluids were measured by ELISA, to investigate the inhibitive effect of sIL-2R purified from ascitic fluids on normal lymphocyte transformation, stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The results showed that the sera sIL-2R levels in the patients were much higher than those in the normal controls (857 +/- 428kU/L vs 235 +/- 90kU/L, P < 0.001). The sera sIL-2R levels in mucinous cancer were significantly higher than those in serous cancer (988 +/- 539kU/L vs 488 +/- 233kU/L P < 0.01). But no obvious correlation was observed with the histopathological grading, nor with metastasis. Higher levels of sIL-2R were also observed in the ascitic. The normal lymphocyte transformation stimulated with PHA was significantly inhibited by high sIL-2R purified from the ascitic fluids.

Asunto(s)

Cistadenocarcinoma Mucinoso/inmunología , Cistadenocarcinoma Papilar/inmunología , Neoplasias Ováricas/inmunología , Receptores de Interleucina-2/análisis , Adulto , Anciano , Líquido Ascítico/química , Femenino , Humanos , Tumor de Krukenberg/inmunología , Persona de Mediana Edad

RESUMEN

VF1 is a DNA-binding protein from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. VF1 was originally identified on the basis of its binding affinity to the upstream region of xisA, which encodes a heterocyst-specific site-specific recombinase. VF1 also binds to the glnA, rbcL, and nifH promoters in vitro, suggesting that VF1 interacts with genes expressed in both vegetative cells and heterocysts. The role of VF1 in regulating gene expression in PCC 7120 is unknown. As a step towards the goal of understanding the role of VF1 in regulating gene expression, we have cloned the bifA gene by using a genetic selection strategy. bifA encodes a protein, BifA, that has chromatographic and DNA-binding properties indistinguishable from those of VF1. The cloning strategy was based on a transcriptional interference assay in which a strong synthetic promoter, conII, interferes with the expression of an aadA gene, which provides resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin (S. J. Elledge, P. Sugiono, L. Guarente, and R. W. Davis, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:3689-3693, 1989). A selection plasmid, pAM994, which has the conII promoter negatively regulated by a VF1-binding site, was used to enrich for VF1-producing clones from an expression library containing PCC 7120 DNA fragments. Mobility shift assays were used to identify a 672-bp open reading frame that encoded VF1-like binding activity. The deduced BifA amino acid sequence shows 77% identity to NtcA, which is a global regulator involved in nitrogen control in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. Both BifA and NtcA belong to the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) family of prokaryotic regulatory proteins. Genes similar to envM, hisB, and ORF60-5 were found near the bifA gene.

Asunto(s)

Anabaena/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas , ADN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Regulación Bacteriana de la Expresión Génica , Genes Bacterianos/genética , Factores de Transcripción/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Secuencia de Bases , Clonación Molecular , Proteína Receptora de AMP Cíclico/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/biosíntesis , Escherichia coli/genética , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Proteínas Recombinantes/biosíntesis , Secuencias Reguladoras de Ácidos Nucleicos/genética , Selección Genética , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Homología de Secuencia de Aminoácido , Transcripción Genética

RESUMEN

45 chemical components of the essential oil from Ligusticum brachylobum were identified, the main ones being alpha-pinene (45.46%), beta-pinene (18.01%) and limonene (8.19%), etc. In the essential oil, however, no ligustilide was found that makes an effective component of the essential oils from L. sinense cv. chuanxiong and from L. sinense. This result provides a basis for the quality evaluation of the drug.

Asunto(s)

Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/química , Monoterpenos , Aceites Volátiles/química , Terpenos/análisis , Monoterpenos Bicíclicos , Compuestos Bicíclicos con Puentes/análisis , Ciclohexenos , Limoneno

RESUMEN

This article reported the result of the chest radiographs of 14 patients with trichinosis, in regard to the X-ray manifestations, pathologic basis and clinical significance. The radiologic findings included hilar enlargement, exaggerated and fuzzy lung markings, and pulmonary patchy infiltrations of varying sizes as well as fine nodular shadows. The pathologic basis consisted of dilatation and congestion of pulmonary vessels and capillary beds and intrapulmonary hemorrhagic lesions. The pulmonary radiologic manifestations are helpful for estimating patient's prognosis.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades Pulmonares/diagnóstico por imagen , Pulmón/diagnóstico por imagen , Triquinelosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Radiografía