Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; tau Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

A bacterium which can effectively degrade LAS (Linear Sodium Alkylbenzenesulfonate) was isolated from washing powder manufacturing effluent and was preliminarily identified as Corynebacterium jeikeium GZ6. The bacterium can degrade LAS up to till 700 mg/L, and the optimum pH, temperature and concentration of LAS are 7.0, 30℃ and 400 mg/L, respectively. The biodegradation rate can reach 98.7% after 24 hours'cultivation in the suitable conditions. Experiments also showed that some heavy metal ions such as Hg2+ , Co2+ , Cd2+ can differently inhibit the degradation of LAS.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA), T 1WI and three-dimensional thin-layer T 1WI sequences (3D-T 1WI) in evaluating the blood supply of brain tumors, so as to improve the enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning scheme of brain tumors. Methods:After the contrast agent was injected, 29 patients with brain tumors were scanned with CE-MRA, T 1WI and 3D-T 1WI. The imaging manifestations of " observing the enhancement of tumor substance" , " observing the small vessels in the tumor body" and " observing the small vessels around the tumor" were qualitatively classified, and the diagnostic differences of the three sequences were analyzed by McNemar test. Results:⑴ In the aspect of " observing the contrast medium in the tumor body" , CE-MRA, T 1WI and 3D-T 1WI sequences diagnosed as grade A1 were 0 cases, 8 cases (27.59%) and 19 cases (65.52%) respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of 3D-T 1WI sequences was better than that of T 1WI sequence ( P<0.05), and T 1WI sequence was better than that of CE-MRA sequence ( P<0.05). ⑵ In the aspect of " observing the small vessels in the tumor" , CE-MRA, T 1WI and 3D-T 1WI sequences diagnosed as grade B1 were 8 cases (27.59%), 5 cases (17.24%) and 16 cases (55.17%), respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of 3D-T 1WI was better than that of T 1WI and CE-MRA ( P<0.05). ⑶ In the aspect of " observing the small vessels around the tumor" , CE-MRA, T 1WI and 3D-T 1WI sequences diagnosed as grade C1 were 18 cases(62.07%), 5 cases (17.24%) and 14 cases (48.28%) respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of CE-MRA and 3D-T 1WI wre better than that of T 1WI ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The combination of 3D-T 1WI and CE-MRA sequence can comprehensively evaluate the blood supply of the tumor, which is of great significance for the localization, characterization and treatment of brain tumors.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the neuroprotective function of alpha7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) and its roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSpecific RNA interference to alpha7 nAChR mRNA expression was performed by gene specific small interference RNA (siRNA). SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with the siRNA or treated with 20 micromol/L 3-[2, 4-dimethoxybenzylidene] anabaseine (DMXB), an alpha7 nAChR agonist. After 48 hrs culture, levels of alpha7 nAChR mRNA and protein were monitored by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In the second experiment, SH-SYSY cells treated with siRNA or DMXB were exposed to 1 micromol/L Abeta(25-35), followed by protein analysis of alpha-form of secreted beta-amyloid precursor peptide (alphaAPPs), and total APP was assayed by Western blotting. In addition, lipid peroxidation and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction were measured by spectrophotometry.

RESULTIn RNA interference group, as compared with controls, alpha7 nAChR mRNA and protein levels were decreased with inhibitory efficiency by 80% and 69%, respectively, along with a decrease in protein levels of alphaAPP and reduction of MTT. However the product of lipid peroxidation was increased. There was an enhanced gene inhibition of alpha7 nAChR by Abeta. While cells treated with DMXB, the alpha7 nAChR protein was increased by 23% as compared with that of the control, along with decrease of alphaAPP and ERK 1/2 at the protein level. The enhanced expression of alpha7 nAChR reduced the neurotoxic effects resulted from Abeta.

CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate that alpha7 nAChR may play a significant neuroprotective role by enhancing cleavage of APP, improving antioxidant defenses and limiting the toxicity of Abeta, which has been implied in the pathogenesis of AD.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Nicotinic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Protease Nexins ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; physiology ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

To study photosynthetic characteristics and its influencing factors in leaves of medicinal plant Mirabilis himalaica, and provide an evidence for guiding artificial planting and improving the quantity. The light-response and diurnal photosynthesis course of leaves at the booting stages of 1-3 year old M. himalaica were measured with LI-6400 system. The Results showed that the light response curves were fitted well by non rectangle hyperbola equation (R2 > or = 0.98). The values of the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and light use efficiency of three-year old M. himalaica leaves were higher than those of 1-2 year old individuals. The diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) of 2-3 year old M. himalaica were typical double-peak curves determinately regulated by stomatal conductance. However, transpiration rate (Tr) of 1-3 year old plants leaves were single-peak curve, which was self-protection of harm reduction caused by the higher temperature at noontime. Correlation analysis showed that the changes between photosynthetic active radiation (PFD), air temperature (T ) and Pn, were significant positive related. Therefore, M. himalaica is a typical sun plant, which should be planted under the sufficient sunshine field and prolong the growing ages suitably in order to improve the yield.
Breeding ; Mirabilis ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Photosynthesis ; Temperature ; Time Factors

Heterokaryon incompatibility is a widespread phenomenon among fungi,controlled by specific loci termed het (for heterokaryon incompatibility).This review focuses on recent developments in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of nonself recognition and the relationship between the death progresses of heterokaryon incompatibility and associated proteins in fungi.The deep research of heterokaryon incompatibility mechanism will hopefully reveal underlying principles of the evolution of nonself recognition systems and will find some effective method for settling the instability of protoplast fusant of fungi.

This research was a part of the investigation of traditional Chinese medicine resources survey in Markam. The medicinal plants in natural reserve were studied for the first in this paper. There were 300 species in 202 genera of 54 families, among them there were 7 species of ferns in 5 genera of 5 families, 6 species of gymnosperms in 4 genera of 3 families, and 287 species of angiosperms in 194 genera of 61 families. There were 166 species Tibetan medicinal plants in 102 genera of 47 families. Quantitative analysis was carried out in 6 aspects of family and genus composition, medicinal parts, drug properties, flavour of a drug, Tibetan medicine, toxicity and new plants. The concrete suggestions of protection and exploitation were put forward, which provided scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of medicinal plants in this area.
Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Tibet

Base on the traditional Chinese medicinal materials list that include Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Dao-di Herbs, the common used herbs, endangered species, to analyze the key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list was analysed. Results displayed that the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is 894, the variety number of Dao-di Herbs is 495, the variety number of the common use is 326, the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials from endangered species is 280, and during the third national survey of Chinese material medica resources the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials that were analysed is 360. In the list of Dao-di Herbs and common used herbs over 85% are in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, in the list of the common used herbs over 80% are in the list of Dao-di Herbs, in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and Dao-di Herbs over 10% are in the list of endangered species. The key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list includes three part, the first part includes 563 variery traditional Chinese medicinal materials that need to statistics quantity of resource by field investigation, the second part includes 457 variery that need to monitor the changing situation, the third part includes 280 variery that need to estimated endangered situation.
Animals ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; economics ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; instrumentation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

Objective To study the effect of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1-42) on expressions of synaptophysin (Syn), dynamin Ⅰ (Dyn Ⅰ) and adaptor protein 180 (AP180) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2 and 5 μmol/L Aβ1-42, and control cells were given no treatment. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2- yl) - 2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide]reduction of the cells was measured by spectrophotometry. The protein levels of Syn, Dyn Ⅰ and AP180 in SH-SY5Y cells treated with 0.5 and 1 μmol/L Aβ1-42 were surveyed by Western blotting. The mRNA levels of Syn, Dyn Ⅰ and AP180 were detected by Real-time PCR in SH-SY5Y cells treated with 1 μmol/L Aβ1-42. Results SH-SY5Y cells showed obviously decreased reduction rates of MTT after exposure to Aβ1-42(0.1 μmol/L) as compared with the controls (P＜0.05), and dose-dependent negative correlation was noted in these SH-SY5Y cells. The protein level of Dyn Ⅰ in cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L Aβ1-42 was significantly decreased as compared with that in controls (P＜0.05). The protein and mRNA levels of Syn and Dyn Ⅰ in cells treated with 1 μ mol/L Aβ1-42 Were obviously decreased as compared with those in controls (P＜0.05), but the levels of AP180 were not changed. Conclusion Aβ1-42 reduces the levels of Syn and Dyn Ⅰ in SH-SY5Y cells, which might be a mechanism in eonnection with cognitive deficit of AD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of α3 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) on apoptosis and p38 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells and to assess the roles of α3 nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe levels of α3 nAChR mRNA and protein were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA. The mRNA level of bcl-2 and bax was measured by the real-time PCR. The siRNA transfected SH-SY5Y cells and control were then treated with 10 µmol/L Aβ25-35 for another 48 h, and the change in apoptotic rate and the levels of p-p38 and p38 were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Subsequently these SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to a blocker of p38 protein, and the apoptotic rate was measured again.

RESULTSCompared to the controls, the expression of α3 nAChR at mRNA and protein levels in the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA decreased by 95% and 86%, respectively; the mRNA levels of bax increased 2.11 times and that for bcl-2 decreased 0.53 times. The apoptotic rate was unaffected (3.40% ± 0.20%); but it increased after Aβ25-35 treatment (24.52% ± 1.59%); the level of p-p38 protein also increased by 178% in the α3 nAChR inhibited cells treated with Aβ25-35. Compared to controls, the Aβ25-35-treated SH-SY5Y cells and the Aβ25-35-treated and siRNA-transfected cells both showed a reduction in apoptosis after treatment with p38 blocker, especially in the former.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA silencing of α3 nAChR mRNA may enhance the effect of Aβ25-35 on the cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of p38 protein and bax mRNA and decreasing the level of bcl-2 mRNA, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; etiology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism