Resumo A hibridização e a poliploidização são os fenômenos mais comuns observados em plantas, principalmente no gênero Nicotiana, levando à duplicação do genoma. Embora as mudanças genômicas associadas a esses eventos tenham sido estudadas em vários níveis, o tamanho do genoma e a variação do conteúdo de GC são menos compreendidos devido à ausência de dados genômicos suficientes. Neste estudo, a técnica de citometria de fluxo foi usada para descobrir o tamanho do genoma e o conteúdo de GC de 46 espécies de Nicotiana, e comparamos as mudanças genômicas associadas aos eventos de hibridização ao longo da escala de tempo evolutiva. O tamanho do genoma entre as espécies de Nicotiana variou entre 3,28 pg e 11,88 pg, enquanto os conteúdos de GC variaram entre 37,22% e 51,25%. As espécies tetraploides do gênero Nicotiana, incluindo as seções Polydiclae, Repandae, Nicotiana, Rustica e Sauveolentes, revelaram aumento e redução do tamanho do genoma quando comparados à soma dos genomas de suas espécies ancestrais. Os tamanhos do genoma de três híbridos homoploides foram encontrados perto de suas espécies ancestrais. A perda da grande sequência do genoma foi observada nas espécies evolutivas mais velhas (> 10 Myr) em comparação com as que evoluíram recentemente (< 0,2 Myr). Os teores de GC foram homogêneos com diferença média de 2,46% entre as espécies de Nicotiana. Conclui-se que a mudança no tamanho do genoma apareceu em ambas as direções, enquanto os conteúdos de GC foram encontrados mais homogêneos no gênero Nicotiana.

Abstract Hybridization and Polyploidization are most common of the phenomenon observed in plants, especially in the genus Nicotiana leading to the duplication of genome. Although genomic changes associated with these events has been studied at various levels but the genome size and GC content variation is less understood because of absence of sufficient genomic data. In this study the flow cytometry technique was used to uncover the genome size and GC contents of 46 Nicotiana species and we compared the genomic changes associated with the hybridization events along evolutionary time scale. The genome size among Nicotiana species varied between 3.28 pg and 11.88 pg whereas GC contents varied between 37.22% and 51.25%. The tetraploid species in genus Nicotiana including section Polydiclae, Repandae, Nicotiana, Rustica and Sauveolentes revealed both up and downsizing in their genome sizes when compared to the sum of genomes of their ancestral species. The genome sizes of three homoploid hybrids were found near their ancestral species. Loss of large genome sequence was observed in the evolutionary more aged species (>10 Myr) as compared to the recently evolved one’s (<0.2 Myr). The GC contents were found homogenous with a mean difference of 2.46% among the Nicotiana species. It is concluded that genome size change appeared in either direction whereas the GC contents were found more homogenous in genus Nicotiana.

Abstract To ensure safety standards of drinking water, it is essential to perform NO3 remediation in groundwater. Owing to the lack of organic carbon in groundwater, heterotrophic denitrification is not quite effective in groundwater. Few studies have reported how Chinese lignite can be used as an organic carbon source for denitrification. In simulated conditions of groundwater, we determined whether the four lignite types (Lignite was obtained from Sanjitun, Lingshi, Wangniutan, and Zhaotong in China.) could be used as a solid-phase organic carbon source for denitrification; the analyses were performed in a test water column. For denitrification, the most effective carbon source was the lignite obtained from Wangniutan. It showed the highest efficacy of 34% in nitrate (NO3) removal for an influent NO3-N concentration of 30 mg· L−1. The effluent NO3-N concentrations below 20 mg L−1 and the water samples showed no acute toxicity when they were subjected to luminescent bacteria test. We performed static carbon release test and infrared spectral analysis on all the four lignite types, and we found that there was a direct relation between NO3 removal and the lignite’s ability for static carbon release. When NO3 concentrations were high and the rate of static carbon release was low, the efficacy of denitrification was greater. This effect was achieved when the molecular structure of lignite contained small molecular organic compounds in free states; these compounds primarily included the following functional groups: alcohols, phenols, and organic acids. These compounds were primarily used by the denitrifying bacteria.

Table grapes are of increasing interest for wine production in China. In this study, 480 yeast isolates were isolated from the tumultuous stage during the spontaneous fermentation of six table grape varieties, which were cultivated in an ecological environment that was not industry-influenced, in Central China. The 26S rDNA D1/D2 domain sequence analysis was more efficient for yeast species identification than the 5.8S-ITS region RFLP analysis in the present study. All the tested strains belonged to nine species from six genera: Hanseniaspora guilliermondii, H. opuntiae, H. uvarum, Pichia terrícola, Kazachstania hellenica, K. zonata, P. occidentalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces bailii. The yeast species and populations differed notably among the grape varieties. S. cerevisiae was found in the samples of four grape varieties (Vitis amurensis, Iona, Moldova and V. davidii), but not detected in Cuihong and Alimandeng Rose. Interdelta sequence fingerprinting analysis was used to discriminate between 128 S. cerevisiae isolates. Eight S. cerevisiae genotypes (G1 to G8) were distinguished. Genotypes Gl, G2, and G3 were the most dominant strains, accounting for 32.03%, 24.22% and 28.13% of the isolates respectively. This study shows the diversity of yeast species associated with spontaneous fermentations of different table grape varieties grown in an ecological environment without any wine industry effect or footprint.

We conducted pot experiments on the cypress Thujopsis dolabrata (Linn. f.) Sieb. et Zucc. in order to study the interaction of silicon (Si) and root exudates on cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in the rhizosphere,. Each variety was planted with 100 mg/kg Cd and/or 400 mg/kg Si for 210 days. The results showed that adding Si increased Cd tolerance in T. dolabrata, but that the mechanism was specifical. In T. dolabrata, Si did not prevent Cd translocation from roots to shoots, and it significantly enhanced Cd accumulation without inhibiting growth. Moreover, Si mobilized Cd from the rhizospheric soil by stimulating phenolic exudation from the roots, suggesting that Cd-chelation combined with Si-induced phenolics were involved in Cd detoxification.

Se condujeron experimentos en potes con el ciprés Thujopsis dolabrata (Linn. f.) Sieb. et Zucc. para estudiar la interacción del silicio (Si) y exudados radicales sobre la biodisponibilidad de cadmio (Cd) en la rizósfera. Cada variedad se plantó con 100 mg/kg de Cd y/o 400 mg/kg de Si durante 210 días. Los resultados mostraron que el agregado de Si incrementó la tolerancia al Cd en T. dolabrata, pero que el mecanismo fue específico. En T. dolabrata, el Si no previno la movilización de Cd desde las raíces a los tallos, y mejoró significativamente la acumulación de Cd pero sin inhibir el crecimiento. Más aún, el Si movilizó el Cd desde el suelo rizosférico estimulando la exudación de compuestos fenólicos desde las raíces, sugiriendo que el ligamento de Cd combinado con los compuestos fenólicos exudados desde las raíces estuvieron implicados en eliminar la toxicidad del Cd.

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships between total aboveground plant biomass versus altitude, latitude, longitude, mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, and species diversity. Simple linear regression analysis was used to study these relationships. Results showed that altitude was significantly, positively (R² = 0.038, P<0.01) related with total plant aboveground biomass. Meanwhile, when longitude (R² = 0.124, P<0.001) and latitude (R² = 0.221, P<0.001) increased, total aboveground biomass decreased. The relationship between biomass and mean annual precipitation was significantly, positively linear (R² = 0.149, P<0.001). Mean annual temperature was signifcantly, negatively correlated with biomass (R² = 0.145, P<0.001). The relationship between species diversity and biomass was significant, but relatively weaker (i.e., R²<0.063, P<0.05) compared with those for the climatic variables. This is, species diversity explained less than 7% of the total variability in total aboveground plant biomass. This result agrees with the idiosyncratic response hypothesis which suggests that ecosystem function changes when species diversity changes, but the magnitude and direction of these changes are unpredictable because the roles of individual plant species are complex and varied.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las relaciones entre la biomasa vegetal aérea total versus altitud, latitud, longitud, temperatura promedio anual, precipitación promedio anual, y diversidad de especies. Se utilizó regresión lineal simple para estudiar estas relaciones. Los resultados mostraron que la altitud se relacionó positivamente, significativamente (R² = 0,038, P<0,01) con la biomasa aérea total. Al mismo tiempo, cuando la longitud (R² = 0,124, P<0,001) y la latitud (R² = 0,221, P<0,001) se incrementaron, la biomasa aérea total disminuyó. La biomasa aérea total y la precipitación promedio anual estuvieron positivamente, significativamente (R² = 0,149, P<0,001) relacionadas. La temperatura promedio anual estuvo negativamente, significativamente (R² = 0,145, P<0,001) relacionada con la biomasa aérea total. Sin embargo, y si bien la diversidad de especies y la biomasa aérea total se relacionaron negativamente, significativamente (i.e., R² <0,063, P<0,05), dicha relación fue comparativamente más débil que aquella obtenida para las variables climáticas. Es decir, la diversidad de especies explicó menos de 7% de la variación total en la biomasa aérea total. Este resultado concuerda con la hipótesis de respuesta idiosincrática la cual sugiere que la función del ecosistema cambia cuando la diversidad de especies cambia, pero la magnitud y dirección de estos cambios son impredecibles debido a que los roles individuales de las especies son complejos y variados.

ABSTRACTIntramuscular fat (IMF) content in chickens significantly contributes to meat quality. The main objective of this study was to assess the expression of calcineurin (CaN) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) in lipogenesis in chicken muscle. Chickens were slaughtered and sampled at 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age. IMF content and the expression of CaN subunits and CaMK isoforms were measured in the thigh muscle tissue. The results showed that the IMF contents were greater at 16 weeks compared with those at 4 and 8 weeks (p<0.05). Transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and fatty acid translocase CD36 (FAT/CD36) mRNA significantly increased with age, from four to 16 weeks (p<0.05). The mRNA levels of CaNB and CaMK IV were significantly lower at 16 weeks than at four weeks (p<0.05), but CaMK II mRNA levels were significantly higher than at four weeks (p<0.05). In order to evaluate the role of CaMK and CaN in adipogenesis, SV cells were incubated in standard adipogenic medium for 24 h and treated with specific inhibitor of CaMK and CaN. The expressions of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein b (C/EBPb, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1),and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor g (PPARγ)were dramatically enhanced by the CsA, CaN inhibitor (p<0.05). KN93, CaMK II inhibitor, dramatically repressed the expression of those lipogenic gene (p<0.05). These results indicated that CaN and CaMK had different effects on adipogenesis in the muscle of chickens.

ABSTRACT Aims: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a technique which is used to destroy tumours and soft tissues by using microwave energy to create coagulation and localized tissue necrosis. It is used to treat the tumours which are considered to be inoperable and used to treat those patients who are ineligible for surgery due to some factors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of MWA in the treatment of liver cancer. Methods: The data were collected from Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital. From July 2010 to August 2011, a total of 123 patients with liver tumours was referred to Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital. One hundred patients were selected for this study and treated with MWA. The study group contained 64 (64%) males and 36 (36%) females with an average age (± SD) of 52 (± 5.1) years. Results: One month after therapy, complete ablation was obtained in nodules. The complete ablation rate in tumors ≤ 3 cm and those > 3 cm was 98% and 94%, respectively. Microwave ablation success was higher with nodules ≤ 3 cm (57/58; 98.3%) in comparison to nodules > 3 cm. Conclusion: Sonographically guided percutaneous microwave ablation proved to be safe, fast and effective for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

RESUMEN: Objetivos: La ablación con microondas (MWA) es una técnica que se utiliza para destruir tumores y tejidos blandos mediante el uso de la energía de microondas que producen coagulación y necrosis tisular localizada. Se utiliza para tratar los tumores considerados inoperables, así como para el tratamiento de pacientes no elegibles para cirugía debido a determinados factores. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar el uso de MWA en el tratamiento del cáncer de hígado. Métodos: Se recopilaron datos del Departamento de Ultrasonido del Hospital Oncológico de Harbin Medical University. De julio de 2010 a agosto de 2011, un total de 123 pacientes con tumores hepáticos fueron remitidos al Hospital Oncológico de Harbin Medical University. Cien pacientes fueron seleccionados para este estudio y tratados con MWA. El grupo de estudio estuvo formado por 64 varones (64%) y 36 (36%) mujeres con una edad promedio (± SD) de 52 (± 5.1) años. Resultados: Un mes después de la terapia, la ablación completa se obtuvo en los nódulos. La tasa de ablación completa en tumores ≤ 3 cm y tumores > 3 cm fue de 98% y 94%, respectivamente. El éxito de la ablación con microondas fue mayor con nódulos ≤ 3 cm (57/58; 98.3%) en comparación con nódulos > 3 cm. Conclusión: La ablación percutánea con microondas guiada mediante ecografía demostró ser segura, rápida y eficaz para el tratamiento del carcinoma hepatocelular.

Como parte de nossa pesquisa em andamento por constituintes bioativos de fontes medicinais coreanas, um fracionamento biomonitorado e uma investigação química de extrato metanólico de rizomas de Acorus gramineus resultaram no isolamento e identificação de dois alcaloides, incluindo um novo alcaloide do tipo aporfina, chamado gramichunosina e um alcaloide pirrol conhecido. Suas estruturas foram determinadas por uma combinação de análises espectroscópicas de ressonância magnética nuclear (NMR) 1D e 2D e espectrometria de massas de alta resolução (HRMS). Este é o primeiro relato de alcaloides de A. gramineus. Os compostos isolados apresentaram atividade antiproliferativa contra as linhagens de células A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, e HCT-15 com EC50 na faixa de 7,46-45,23 μM. Ademais, as atividades antineuroinflamatórias desses compostos foram determinadas através da medida dos níveis de óxido nítrico (NO) meio utilizando células de microglia murina BV-2. O composto gramichunosina inibiu a produção de NO em células BV-2 estimuladas com lipopolisacarídeo com valores de IC50 de 7,83 μM.

As part of our ongoing search for bioactive constituents from natural Korean medicinal resources, a bioassay-guided fractionation and a chemical investigation of the methanolic extract from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus resulted in the isolation and identification of two alkaloids, including a new aporphine-type alkaloid, named gramichunosin, and a known pyrrole alkaloid. Their structures were determined by a combination of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). This is the first report of alkaloids from A. gramineus. The compounds isolated showed antiproliferative activities against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2 and HCT-15 cell lines with EC50 values in the range of 7.46-45.23 μM. Moreover, the anti-neuroinflammatory activities of these compounds were determined by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the medium using murine microglia BV-2 cells. Compound named gramichunosin inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 with IC50 values of 7.83 μM.

This work presents an investigation on wear prediction of multibody system including dry revolute clearance joint using a computational methodology. A procedure to analyze multibody system in which wear is present at revolute joints is presented. The study involves integrating a dynamics model of the mutibody system with clearance joint into a wear prediction procedure. The contact model in clearance joint is established using a hybrid nonlinear contact force model and the friction effect is considered by using a modified Coulomb friction model. The wear modeling of revolute clearance joint in multibody systems is presented based on the Archard's wear model. Finally, an academic four-bar multibody mechanical system with revolute clearance joint is used as numerical example application to perform the investigation.

The evolutionary game of co-opetition relationship between regional logistics nodes is studied in this paper. A replicator dynamic model is built to obtain the Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS) of the game. Then, according to the status and level of logistics nodes, the symmetric and asymmetric game models based on evolutionary game theory are proposed, respectively. The former is used to analyze the changing trends of co-opetition relationship between logistics nodes from a same layer of a logistics network. While the latter can be used to deal with the relationship forecasting problems between logistics nodes from different layers. The result of the case study reveals that the proposed models have good practicability and accuracy in dealing with the relationship forecasting problems within a regional logistics network.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the positive rate of ventricular late potential (VLP) between patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and patients with acute non NSTEMI. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three cases of acute myocardial infarction (90 patients with STEMI and 73 with NSTEMI), admitted to the first hospital of China Medical University between June 2011 and August 2011, underwent VLP examination. RESULTS: The VLP positive rate of the STEMI group was 54.4%, while that of the NSTEMI group was 38.4%, and the differences have statistical meaning (χ2 = 4.186, p < 0.05). The occurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmia in VLP positive patients was 11.7%, while in VLP negative patients it was 3.5% (χ2 = 4.005, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The VLP positive rate of the STEMI group is higher than that of the NSTEMI group.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la tasa positiva del potencial tardío ventricular (PTV) entre pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio sin elevación del segmento ST (NSTEMI por sus siglas en inglés) y el infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (STEMI por sus siglas en inglés). MÉTODOS: Ciento sesenta y tres casos de infarto agudo de miocardio (90pacientes con STEMI) y 73 con NSTEMI, ingresados en la Universidad primer hospital de Medicina China entre junio y agosto de 2011, fueron sometidos a examen de PTV. RESULTADOS: La tasa positiva PVT del grupo STEMI fue 54.4%, mientras que la del grupo NSTEMI fue 38.4%, y las diferencias tienen significado estadístico (χ² = 4.186, p < 0.05). La tasa de ocurrencia de arritmia ventricular en pacientes PVTpositivos fue 11.7%, mientras que en los pacientes PVT negativos fue 3.5% (χ² = 4.005, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: La tasa PTV positiva del grupo STEMI es mayor que la del grupo NSTEMI.

Isozymes of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), esterase (EST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed on transgenic maize (with external chitinase gene) and its parent by vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). This study was made using shoots at the fourth leaf stage. Results showed that: POD and EST were detected in 6 bands. POD-2 and POD-3 were present at the bud and seedling stages. POD-1, POD-4, POD-5 and POD-6 were only present at the seedling stage. POD-6 expressed stronger in the transgenic maize with chitinase than in its parent. EST-2 was present only at the bud stage, and its expression in transgenic maize was stronger than that in its parent. EST-5 only existed at the seedling stage. EST-4 did not exist in the parent maize seedlings and EST-1, EST-3 and EST-6 were present at the bud or seedling stage. Four bands were detected for CAT. CAT-1 and CAT-3 were weaker bands than the others. CAT-3 in transgenic maize was stronger than in its parent. Three bands of SOD were detected; SOD-1 and SOD-2 existed at the bud and seedling stages, but SOD-3 was not shown in buds of the parent corn. All data showed that the expression of isozymes in transgenic and parent maize had obvious differences.

Las isoenzimas de la peroxidasa (POD), catalasa (CAT), estearasa (EST) y superóxido dimutasa (SOD) fueron analizadas en maíz transgénico (con el gen externo de la quitinasa) y su progenitor por electoforesis de gel de poliacrilamida (PAGE). Este estudio fue hecho utilizando tallos en el estado fenológico de cuarta hoja. Los resultados mostraron que: POD y EST se detectaron en 6 bandas. POD-2 y POD-3 estuvieron presentes en los estados fenológicos de yema y plántula. POD-1, POD-4, POD-5 y POD-6 sólo estuvieron presentes en el estado de plántula. POD-6 se expresó con más firmeza en el maíz transgénico con quitinasa que en su progenitor. EST-2 estuvo presente sólo en el estado de yema, y su expresión en el maíz transgénico fue más firme que en su progenitor. EST-5 sólo existió en el estado de plántula. EST-4 no existió en las plántulas progenitoras de maíz, y EST-1, EST-3 y EST-6 estuvieron presentes en los estados de yema o plántula. Se detectaron cuatro bandas para CAT. Las bandas fueron más débiles para CAT-1 y CAT-3. Este último se expresó más firmemente en maíz transgénico que en su progenitor. Se detectaron tres bandas de SOD: SOD-1 y SOD-2 existieron en los estados de yema y plántula, pero SOD-3 no estuvo presente en las yemas del maíz progenitor. Todos los datos mostraron que la expresión de las isoenzimas tuvieron diferencias obvias en maíz transgénico versus su progenitor.

Agaricus blazei Murill is a native Brazilian mushroom which functions primarily as an anticancer substance in transplanted mouse tumors. However, the mechanism underlying this function of A. blazei Murill remains obscure. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of fraction FA-2-b-ß, an RNA-protein complex isolated from A. blazei Murill, on human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro. Typical apoptotic characteristics were determined by morphological methods using DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The growth suppressive effect of fraction FA-2-b-ß on HL-60 cells in vitro occurred in a dose- (5-80 µg/mL) and time-dependent (24-96 h) manner. The proliferation of HL-60 cells (1 x 10(5) cells/mL) treated with 40 µg/mL of fraction FA-2-b-ß for 24-96 h and with 5-80 µg/mL for 96 h resulted in inhibitory rates ranging from 8 to 54.5%, and from 4.9 to 86.3%, respectively. Both telomerase activity determined by TRAP-ELISA and mRNA expression of the caspase-3 gene detected by RT-PCR were increased in HL-60 cells during fraction FA-2-b-ß treatment. The rate of apoptosis correlated negatively with the decrease of telomerase activity (r = 0.926, P < 0.05), but correlated positively with caspase-3 mRNA expression (r = 0.926, P < 0.05). These data show that fraction FA-2-b-ß can induce HL-60 cell apoptosis and that the combined effect of down-regulation of telomerase activity and up-regulation of mRNA expression of the caspase-3 gene could be the primary mechanism of induction of apoptosis. These findings provide strong evidence that fraction FA-2-b-ß could be of interest for the clinical treatment of acute leukemia.

Bone marrow stromal cells are critical regulators of hematopoiesis. Osteoblasts are part of the stromal cell support system in bone marrow and may be derived from a common precursor. Several studies suggested that osteoblasts regulate hematopoiesis, yet the entire mechanism is not understood. It is clear, however, that both hematopoietic precursors and osteoblasts interact for the production of osteoclasts and the activation of resorption. We observed that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) regulate osteoblastic secretion of various growth factors, and that osteoblasts express some soluble factors exclusively in the presence of HSCs. Osteoblasts and hematopoietic cells are closely associated with each other in the bone marrow, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between them to develop the HSC niche. One critical component regulating the niche is stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 which regulates stem cell homing and, as we have recently demonstrated, plays a crucial role in facilitating those tumors which metastasize to bone. Osteoblasts produce abundant amounts of SDF-1 and therefore osteoblasts play an important role in metastasis. These findings are discussed in the context of the role of osteoblasts in marrow function in health and disease.