Differential Distribution of RBPMS in Pig,Rat, and Human Retina after Damage

RNA binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) is expressed exclusively in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina and can label all RGCs in normal retinas of mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and monkeys, but its function in these cells is not known. As a result of the limited knowledge regarding RBPMS, we analyzed the expression of RBPMS in the retina of different mammalian species (humans, pigs, and rats), in various stages of development (neonatal and adult) and with different levels of injury (control, hypoxia, and organotypic culture or explants). In control conditions, RBPMS was localized in the RGCs somas in the ganglion cell layer, whereas in hypoxic conditions, it was localized in the RGCs dendrites in the inner plexiform layer. Such differential distributions of RBPMS occurred in all analyzed species, and in adult and neonatal retinas. Furthermore, we demonstrate RBPMS localization in the degenerating RGCs axons in the nerve fiber layer of retinal explants. This is the first evidence regarding the possible transport of RBPMS in response to physiological damage in a mammalian retina. Therefore, RBPMS should be further investigated in relation to its role in axonal and dendritic degeneration.     

Red blood cell tocopherol and liver tocopherol in hyperlipemic rats as compared with plasma tocopherol

In rats with hyperlipemia induced by Triton WR-1339, changes in tocopherol concentrations in plasma and RBC were compared with those in the liver and its subcellular fractions, microsomes and mitochondria. After daily injection with Triton, plssma total lipids at 3 days and 7 days, respectively, showed elevation 6.5 times and 15 times as high as those in the control rats, and triglycerides showed the most predominant elevation. With the hyperlipemia, the concentrations of tocopherol in RBC and the subcellular fractions decreased, as plasma lipids and plasma tocopherol increased, while no change occurred in tocopherol concentrations in liver homogenates. The changes in the ratio of tocopherol to total lipids in plasma coincided with changes in tocopherol concentrations in the RBC and subcellular fractions.     

Lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rat tissues. Differences in the effects of gender and fasting

To evaluate the effects of strain, gender and fasting in the regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) activities were measured in tissues of male and female Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats after feeding or a 24-h starvation period. It is noteworthy that an effect of gender on LPL activity was observed in Wistar, but not in Sprague-Dawley rats, not in the basal (fed) activity in several tissues, such as white and brown adipose tissues, heart, and brain, but also in response to fasting which affected LPL activity in brown adipose tissue, heat and lung of female but not of male Wistar rats. By contrast, HL activity in liver, plasma and adrenals of Sprague-Dawley rats was higher in females than in males. No effect of gender on HL activity was observed in Wistar rats. Our results indicate that differences exist between Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats in the regulation of both LPL and HL. Some of the contradictory results found in the literature may be explained by the differences between rat strains and gender, as well as differences in the nutritional status of the animals.     

Intake of dietary fiber in the Central American isthmus: nutritional implications

Mean intakes of dietary fiber (DF) were estimated in the population of Central America and Panama, using the results of dietary surveys conducted in 1969 and 1986 both in rural and urban areas, as well as data on the DF content of foods as consumed in the region. Data on preschool children were also estimated. The results indicated that DF intake in urban areas is lower than that of rural areas, particularly in Costa Rica and Panama. In 1969, intake varied from 32g in El Salvador to 15g in Panama in urban areas, while in rural areas intake was from 45g in El Salvador to 13g in Panama. The foods which contributed most to the total intake in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras were tortillas and beans, while in Costa Rica and Panama, beans provided the largest intake. In preeschool children, intake was 12.5g in El Salvador and 5.4g in Costa Rica in 1969, which is the same tendency as that found for adults. From more recent data on food intake, it was found that DF intake had decreased in the rural areas of El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica, being between 4 and 9% in the first two countries and 12% in Costa Rica. In the urban area of the latter, from 1969 to 1986 a decrease in DF intake of around 20% has taken place.     

食品接触材料中初级芳香胺的迁移风险与法规管控

汇总了国内外法规、标准、技术指南和文献中与食品接触材料相关的41种初级芳香胺(PAAs),分析了食品接触材料中PAAs的来源和迁移风险,对比了2021年以前中国、欧盟、韩国等国家及地区PAAs相关技术法规的差异.研究发现,食品接触材料中PAAs主要来源于偶氮着色剂、芳香族异氰酸酯以及其他助剂;聚酰胺餐厨具、有色塑料制品...     

Characterization of Glutathione Peroxidase 4 in Rat Oocytes,Preimplantation Embryos,and Selected Maternal Tissues during Early Development and Implantation

This study aimed to describe glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) in rat oocytes, preimplantation embryos, and female genital organs. After copulation, Sprague Dawley female rats were euthanized with anesthetic on the first (D1), third (D3), and fifth days of pregnancy (D5). Ovaries, oviducts, and uterine horns were removed, and oocytes and preimplantation embryos were obtained. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescent, and Western blot methods were employed. Using immunofluorescence, we detected GPx4 in both the oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Whereas in the oocytes, GPx4 was homogeneously diffused, in the blastomeres, granules were formed, and in the blastocysts, even clusters were present mainly around the cell nuclei. Employing immunohistochemistry, we detected GPx4 inside the ovary in the corpus luteum, stroma, follicles, and blood vessels. In the oviduct, the enzyme was present in the epithelium, stroma, blood vessels, and smooth muscles. In the uterus, GPx4 was found in the endometrium, myometrium, blood vessels, and stroma. Moreover, we observed GPx4 positive granules in the uterine gland epithelium on D1 and D3 and cytoplasm of fibroblasts forming in the decidua on D5. Western blot showed the highest GPx4 levels in the uterus and the lowest levels in the ovary. Our results show that the GPx4 is necessary as early as in the preimplantation development of a new individual because we detected it in an unfertilized oocyte in a blastocyst and not only after implantation, as was previously thought.     

TRPA1 Expression and Pathophysiology in Immune Cells

The non-selective cation channel TRPA1 is best known as a broadly-tuned sensor expressed in nociceptive neurons, where it plays key functions in chemo-, thermo-, and mechano-sensing. However, in this review we illustrate how this channel is expressed also in cells of the immune system. TRPA1 has been detected, mainly with biochemical techniques, in eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, but not in neutrophils. Functional measurements, in contrast, remain very scarce. No studies have been reported in basophils and NK cells. TRPA1 in immune cells has been linked to arthritis (neutrophils), anaphylaxis and atopic dermatitis (mast cells), atherosclerosis, renal injury, cardiac hypertrophy and inflammatory bowel disease (macrophages), and colitis (T cells). The contribution of TRPA1 to immunity is dual: as detector of cell stress, tissue injury, and exogenous noxious stimuli it leads to defensive responses, but in conditions of aberrant regulation it contributes to the exacerbation of inflammatory conditions. Future studies should aim at characterizing the functional properties of TRPA1 in immune cells, an essential step in understanding its roles in inflammation and its potential as therapeutic target.     

Physicochemical changes in starch during corn alkaline-cooking in varieties with different kernel hardness

Changes in starch characteristics caused by alkaline-cooking in two corn genotypes (hard and soft) were studied in the present work. Color, pH, pasting properties (Brabender viscoamylograph), water sorption, solubility, swelling power and thermal analysis (Differential scanning calorimetry) were determined in starches previously extracted, from raw and alkaline-cooked hard and soft corns. A reduction in maximum viscosity peak, temperature at the endothermic peak and swelling power at 90 degrees C, and an increase in solubility was observed in starches obtained from both hard and soft corn after alkaline-cooking. Starch from hard corn showed an increment in initial pasting temperature after alkaline-cooking. Alkaline-cooking induced higher modifications in hard than in soft corn starch, probably as a result of its endosperm type and grain hardness, although optimum cooking times were used for each corn genotype.     

聚苯硫醚的应用

聚苯硫醚是一种具有许多优良特性的工程塑料，其应用十分广泛。本文介绍了聚苯硫醚的性质，在膜材料上、在化工设备防腐上、在摩擦领域中、在电子电器领域中、在汽车领域中、在称重传感器应变计中、在食品机械上的应用并对其发展前景进行了展望。     

The Emerging Roles of Chromogranins and Derived Polypeptides in Atherosclerosis,Diabetes, and Coronary Heart Disease

Chromogranin A (CgA), B (CgB), and C (CgC), the family members of the granin glycoproteins, are associated with diabetes. These proteins are abundantly expressed in neurons, endocrine, and neuroendocrine cells. They are also present in other areas of the body. Patients with diabetic retinopathy have higher levels of CgA, CgB, and CgC in the vitreous humor. In addition, type 1 diabetic patients have high CgA and low CgB levels in the circulating blood. Plasma CgA levels are increased in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. CgA is the precursor to several functional peptides, including catestatin, vasostatin-1, vasostatin-2, pancreastatin, chromofungin, and many others. Catestatin, vasostain-1, and vasostatin-2 suppress the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human vascular endothelial cells. Catestatin and vasostatin-1 suppress oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced foam cell formation in human macrophages. Catestatin and vasostatin-2, but not vasostatin-1, suppress the proliferation and these three peptides suppress the migration in human vascular smooth muscles. Chronic infusion of catestatin, vasostatin-1, or vasostatin-2 suppresses the development of atherosclerosis of the aorta in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Catestatin, vasostatin-1, vasostatin-2, and chromofungin protect ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial dysfunction in rats. Since pancreastatin inhibits insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells, and regulates glucose metabolism in liver and adipose tissues, pancreastatin inhibitor peptide-8 (PSTi8) improves insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis. Catestatin stimulates therapeutic angiogenesis in the mouse hind limb ischemia model. Gene therapy with secretoneurin, a CgC-derived peptide, stimulates postischemic neovascularization in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and improves diabetic neuropathy in db/db mice. Therefore, CgA is a biomarker for atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. CgA- and CgC--derived polypeptides provide the therapeutic target for atherosclerosis and ischemia-induced tissue damages. PSTi8 is useful in the treatment of diabetes.     

The Effects of Immunosuppressive Treatment during Pregnancy on the Levels of Potassium,Iron, Chromium,Zinc, Aluminum,Sodium and Molybdenum in Hard Tissues of Female Rats and Their Offspring

The ideal immunosuppressive regimen should provide for excellent immunosuppression with no side effects. Yet, current immunosuppressive therapy regimens commonly used in clinical applications fail to meet this criterion. One of the complications caused by immunosuppressive drugs is mineralization disorders in hard tissues. In this study, we evaluated the effects of three immunosuppressive therapies used after transplantation on the levels of potassium, iron, chromium, zinc, aluminum, sodium and molybdenum in the bones and teeth of female rats and their offspring. The study was conducted on 32 female Wistar rats, subjected to immunosuppressive regimens (cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone; tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone; and cyclosporine A, everolimus and prednisone). The hard tissues of rats were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, ICAP 7400 Duo, Thermo Scientific) equipped with a concentric nebulizer and a cyclonic spray chamber. All the immunosuppressive regimens included in the study affected the concentrations of the studied minerals in hard tissues of female rats and their offspring. The therapy based on cyclosporine A, everolimus and prednisone led to a decline in the levels of iron in bone, zinc in teeth, and molybdenum in the bone and teeth of mothers, while in the offspring, it caused a decline of bone potassium, with a decrease in iron and increase of molybdenum in teeth. Moreover, the regimen caused an increase in aluminum and chromium in the teeth and aluminum in the bones of the offspring, and consequently, it seems to be the therapy with the most negative impact on the mineral metabolism in hard tissues.     

Theanine,Antistress Amino Acid in Tea Leaves,Causes Hippocampal Metabolic Changes and Antidepressant Effects in Stress-Loaded Mice

By comprehensively measuring changes in metabolites in the hippocampus of stress-loaded mice, we investigated the reasons for stress vulnerability and the effect of theanine, i.e., an abundant amino acid in tea leaves, on the metabolism. Stress sensitivity was higher in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 10 (SAMP10) mice than in normal ddY mice when these mice were loaded with stress on the basis of territorial consciousness in males. Group housing was used as the low-stress condition reference. Among the statistically altered metabolites, depression-related kynurenine and excitability-related histamine were significantly higher in SAMP10 mice than in ddY mice. In contrast, carnosine, which has antidepressant-like activity, and ornithine, which has antistress effects, were significantly lower in SAMP10 mice than in ddY mice. The ingestion of theanine, an excellent antistress amino acid, modulated the levels of kynurenine, histamine, and carnosine only in the stress-loaded SAMP10 mice and not in the group-housing mice. Depression-like behavior was suppressed in mice that had ingested theanine only under stress loading. Taken together, changes in these metabolites, such as kynurenine, histamine, carnosine, and ornithine, were suggested to be associated with the stress vulnerability and depression-like behavior of stressed SAMP10 mice. It was also shown that theanine action appears in the metabolism of mice only under stress loading.     

Stress–thermooxidative aging behavior of polyamide 6

The long‐term stress–thermooxidative aging behavior of polyamide 6 (PA6) was studied in terms of the creep behavior, mechanical properties, chemical structure, crystallization, and orientation behavior. During aging, a thermooxidation reaction occurred, which included molecular chain degradation and crosslinking, in PA6. Meanwhile, when the samples were subjected to stress, crystallization, orientation, and chain scission were induced. In the initial stages of aging, the stress‐induced crystallization and orientation dominated; this resulted in an increase in the creep deformation, mechanical strength, crystallinity, and orientation factor. Molecular degradation and chain scission dominated in the subsequent aging process and resulted in a decrease of the mechanical strength, reduced viscosity, crystallinity, and orientation factor and an increase in the formation of oxide and peroxide products. The stress may have promoted the chain scission of PA6 during thermal aging and resulted in a decrease in the reduced viscosity and an increase in the carboxylic acid concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Residual effects of phosphate fertilizers in relation to phosphate sorptivities of 27 soils

Three different parameters of the long term effects of phosphate fertilizers on perennial clover-based pastures were measured over 3–4 years in 27 experiments on acidic soils in an elevated region of eastern Australia. Recovery of fertilizer P was the difference between herbage P uptake in the presence of fertilizer and uptake in its absence, expressed as a % of the amount of P applied in the first year. Residual value was the size of the response to fertilizer P, applied in the first year, expressed as a percentage of the response to freshly applied P in the second and third years. Effectiveness was the product of the values of the Mitscherlich curvature and response parameters for each response curve, and residual effectiveness was relative to initial effectiveness. Soils varied widely in their P sorptivities, and represented Alfisols, Entisols, and Ultisols of basaltic, granitic and sedimentary origin. Mean P recoveries of 29% in the first year and 49% over 3 years, residual values of 84% in the second year and 60% in the third, and residual effectiveness of 77% in the second year and 47% in the third were high by most standards. Increasing P sorptivity tended to increase fertilizer effectiveness in the first year and residual value in the second year, but it depressed P recovery in the first year and residual effectiveness in later years. The long term effect of increasing P sorptivity on cumulative P recoveries tended to be negative at low to medium rates of fertilizer application and positive at high rates of application. There was a much smaller decline in residual values and effectiveness over the 3 or 4 years than there was in P recovery, and this was attributed to the beneficial effects of P on soil N fertility, via clover N fixation, and the subsequent growth of grasses in the phosphated treatments.     

Relationship between food habits and serum cholesterol levels in a suburban population in Argentina

Studies of cholesterol levels in a population of Gran Buenos Aires was made in 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1996, and the Argentinian alimentary habits in this period were analyzed. It was noticed a change in food consumption, with reduction in the intake of fatty foods, such as meat, butter, milk, and other dairy products, with the concomitant increment in fiber rich products and oil, meat and dairy products reduced in fats. Changes in serum cholesterol level were analysed in 3051 persons along 1983-1996. They were grouped according their age and sex: A) 1-6 years old, B) 6-12, C) 12-17, D) 17-30, E) 30-60, F) 60-80. It was observed an increment in cholesterol level with age. For each group during the first 10 years of study was noticed a constant decrease in total cholesterol being higher in women than in men and according with the alimentary changes. Group D in 1983 became group E in 1993, maintained their cholesterol level along 10 years of life, being lower than the corresponding E group of 1983, while the older ones did not present differences. Values of cholesterol/cholesterol-HDL index over 6.5 correlate with a high incidence in cardiovascular diseases. The 40% of the population studied during 1993 and 1996 was evaluated, and the maximum average value found was 4.90. These results suggest that reduction in fat intake and diversification in food consumption during this period has contributed to decrease cholesterol levels and cholesterol/cholesterol-HDL index, particularly in younger than 30 years old and women, contributing to reduce metabolical cardiovascular diseases.     

流体传热过程及工艺设计原理

中学物理学中的物质守恒定律、能量守恒定律、动量守恒定律，大学化工基础中的连续性方程、伯努利方程、牛顿粘性定律以及大学物理化学中的热力学第一定律、热力学第二定律，不容易在基础知识学习过程中相互联系和融会贯通，这必将影响基础知识在工业实践中的应用；本文将以流体流动和传热设备工艺设计计算为例，探讨学习过程中的能力培养和知识应用中的理论联系实际的问题。     

Comparative Analysis of Brain Lipids in Mice,Cats, and Humans with Sandhoff Disease

Sandhoff disease (SD) is a glycosphingolipid (GSL) storage disease that arises from an autosomal recessive mutation in the gene for the β-subunit of β-Hexosaminidase A (Hexb gene), which catabolizes ganglioside GM2 within lysosomes. Accumulation of GM2 and asialo-GM2 (GA2) occurs primarily in the CNS, leading to neurodegeneration and brain dysfunction. We analyzed the total lipids in the brains of SD mice, cats, and humans. GM2 and GA2 were mostly undetectable in the normal mouse, cat, and human brain. The lipid abnormalities in the SD cat brain were generally intermediate to those observed in the SD mouse and the SD human brains. GM2 comprised 38, 67, and 87% of the total brain ganglioside distribution in the SD mice, cats, and humans, respectively. The ratio of GA2–GM2 was 0.93, 0.13, and 0.27 in the SD mice, cats, and humans, respectively, suggesting that the relative storage of GA2 is greater in the SD mouse than in the SD cat or human. Finally, the myelin-enriched lipids, cerebrosides and sulfatides, were significantly lower in the SD brains than in the control brains. This study is the first comparative analysis of brain lipids in mice, cats, and humans with SD and will be important for designing therapies for Sandhoff disease patients.     

New Fast Acting Glucagon for Recovery from Hypoglycemia,a Life-Threatening Situation: Nasal Powder and Injected Stable Solutions

The goal of diabetes care is to achieve and maintain good glycemic control over time, so as to prevent or delay the development of micro- and macrovascular complications in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, numerous barriers hinder the achievement of this goal, first of all the frequent episodes of hypoglycemia typical in patients treated with insulin as T1D patients, or sulphonylureas as T2D patients. The prevention strategy and treatment of hypoglycemia are important for the well-being of patients with diabetes. Hypoglycemia is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients, due probably to the release of inflammatory markers and prothrombotic effects triggered by hypoglycemia. Treatment of hypoglycemia is traditionally based on administration of carbohydrates or of glucagon via intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous injection (SC). The injection of traditional glucagon is cumbersome, such that glucagon is an under-utilized drug. In 1983, it was shown for the first time that intranasal (IN) glucagon increases blood glucose levels in healthy volunteers, and in 1989–1992 that IN glucagon is similar to IM glucagon in resolving hypoglycemia in normal volunteers and in patients with diabetes, both adults and children. IN glucagon was developed in 2010 and continued in 2015; in 2019 IN glucagon obtained approval in the US, Canada, and Europe for severe hypoglycemia in children and adults. In the 2010s, two ready-to-use injectable formulations, a stable non-aqueous glucagon solution and the glucagon analog dasiglucagon, were developed, showing an efficacy similar to traditional glucagon, and approved in the US in 2020 and in 2021, respectively, for severe hypoglycemia in adults and in children. Fast-acting glucagon (nasal administration and injected solutions) appears to represent a major breakthrough in the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients with diabetes, both adults and children. It is anticipated that the availability of fast-acting glucagon will expand the use of glucagon, improve overall metabolic control, and prevent hypoglycemia-related complications, in particular cardiovascular complications and cognitive impairment.     

上海市虹口区15岁以上人群麻疹抗体水平监测与分析

目的了解上海市虹口区15岁以上人群麻疹抗体水平和麻疹发病情况,为制定成人麻疹免疫策略提供依据。方法定量ELISA法检测本区及外来15岁以上人群的麻疹抗体水平,与微量细胞中和法检测结果进行比较,并对1998～2007年本区和外来16岁以上人群麻疹发病资料进行分析。结果本区和外来15岁以上人群麻疹抗体平均阳性率分别为96.83%和98.21%,麻疹抗体GMT平均水平分别为1217.86和1553.73IU/ml,本区各年龄组抗体GMT水平15～19岁组最低,40岁以上组最高;外来各年龄组间抗体GMT水平差异无统计学意义,15～19岁组和30～39岁组麻疹抗体水平显著高于本区人群;ELISA法与微量细胞中和法检测结果呈正相关,回归方程有统计学意义,15岁以上人群中仅有83.5%达到麻疹抗体保护性水平;近10年来,本区与外来16岁以上人群中麻疹发病比例有逐年增高的趋势,本区发病比例显著高于外来人群。结论为消除麻疹,有必要制定成人麻疹免疫策略,其中本区成人麻疹防制策略较外来成人更为紧迫。