Effect of Bovine Lactoferrin Treatment Followed by Acute Stress on the IgA-Response in Small Intestine of BALB/c Mice

Secretory IgA (SIgA) has a pivotal role in gut homeostasis, which can be disturbed by stress. SIgA is formed by IgA-dimers (associated by the J-chain) and the secretory component, a protein derivative of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Given the gut immuno-modulatory properties of bovine lactoferrin (bLf), the aim of this study was to compare, after bLf treatment followed by acute stress, the IgA response and IgA-associated parameters in proximal versus distal small intestine. Male BALB/c mice (n = 6) were orally treated with bLf (50, 500, and 5000 μg) for 7 days, then stressed by immobilization for 1 h, and sacrificed. In proximal and distal segments, levels were determined of IgA in gut secretions (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), the α-/J-chain and pIgR proteins in epithelial cells (Western-blot), and mRNA expression of the α-/J-chain, pIgR, and interleukins (ILs) in mucosa (RT-PCR). Data were compared by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (significance at P < 0.05). Under acute stress, bLf triggered higher levels of IgA, SIgA, and anti-bLf-IgA as well as greater mRNA expression of pIgR, IL-4, and IL-6 (500 µg) in proximal intestine, while inducing higher levels of the total IgA, α-/J-chain, and pIgR proteins as well as greater mRNA expression of the α-chain and IL-4 (5000 µg) in distal intestine. Compared to unstressed/bLf-untreated mice, plasma corticosterone (a stress biomarker, measured by ELISA) increased in stressed/bLf-treated (0, 50 and 500 µg) and unstressed/bLf-treated (5000 µg) mice. The interplay of corticosterone with gut neuroendocrine factors may have elicited signals creating anti-inflammatory conditions for an IgA-response profile in each intestinal region, according to the bLf concentration administered.     

中药材道地性评价与区划研究

道地药材是传统中医药文化的瑰宝和行业关注热点。本文从性状品质、化学品质和生态环境三个方面对道地药材进行多维度评价,并对中药材区划进行综述和展望,介绍了中药材定性区划和定量区划、生态区划和生产区划、中国区划和全球区划,生产区划因增加土地评价使得评价结果更有利于实际应用,全球区划从中医药海外发展战略角度发展历程将有利于中医药事业的海外发展。     

贵州栽培太子参质量评价及生长区划

为贵州省栽培太子参的引种栽培选址和合理生产布局,以及GAP种植基地选址提供科学依据。该文采用最大信息熵(Maxent)模型确定生态因子的贡献率,利用Arc Map空间分析功能划分太子参的适宜生长种植区,量化太子参最优生境范围,并探讨了环境因素对太子参药材质量的影响。贵州太子参最适宜区主要集中在施秉县、黄平县、凯里市中东部、岑巩县、余庆县南部、铜仁市西部等地区。太子参最适宜区面积达6 405.39 km~2,占研究区总面积的3.64%。土壤类型、最暖季降水量、坡向、坡度、最暖月最高温、土壤有机碳含量、最干月降水量这7个生态因子对太子参的生长影响最大。利用空间信息分析技术准确对贵州栽培太子参的最适宜种植区和最优生境进行了科学综合评价,建议将黔东南州的岑巩县和镇远县作为值得开发的太子参潜在适宜种植区。     

基于气候因子的全国栽培太子参品质区划分析

运用Maxent模型对气候因子进行逐层筛选分析,综合太子参环肽B和多糖2个内在质量评价指标构建回归模型,分析气候因子与太子参化学成分间的内在联系,寻找影响药材质量的关键气候因子,并基于关键气候因子明确太子参品质的空间分布规律。结果显示,多糖与气候因子无显著相关性,提示该指标并不是气候主导型的代谢物质。而太子参环肽B可与降水量构建回归模型,且区划结果显示,太子参环肽B含量总体呈现从东南向西北先升高后降低的趋势,这与全国降水量变化情况相一致,表明降水量是影响太子参药材中太子参环肽类物质积累的关键气候因子。     

栀子多波长HPLC指纹图谱及化学模式识别研究

目的采用多波长HPLC法研究67批栀子药材,对不同产地的栀子采用指纹图谱相似度评价及聚类分析和主成分分析(PCA)等化学模式识别技术进行研究,以期为栀子药材品质评控和生产区划提供参考。方法色谱条件为Durashell C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),流动相为乙腈-0.1%磷酸水溶液,梯度洗脱,体积流量0.8 m L/min,检测波长238、330、440nm,进样量10μL,柱温30℃。结果 67批样品有16个共有峰,共有峰保留时间的RSD<1%,峰面积的RSD比较大。各批次药材化学成分组成及量均存在一定差异。采用聚类分析及PCA从化学成分上揭示了67批样品的相似性及差异性。结论以指纹图谱数据为基础,将聚类分析与PCA结合起来,不仅可以进行栀子药材的质量控制,还可以为下一步栀子全国生产区划研究提供理论支持。     

Running,jumping, hunting,and scavenging: Functional analysis of vertebral mobility and backbone properties in carnivorans

Carnivorans are well-known for their exceptional backbone mobility, which enables them to excel in fast running and long jumping, leading to them being among the most successful predators amongst terrestrial mammals. This study presents the first large-scale analysis of mobility throughout the presacral region of the vertebral column in carnivorans. The study covers representatives of 6 families, 24 genera and 34 species. We utilized a previously developed osteometry-based method to calculate available range of motion, quantifying all three directions of intervertebral mobility: sagittal bending (SB), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR). We observed a strong phylogenetic signal in the structural basis of the vertebral column (vertebral and joint formulae, length proportions of the backbone modules) and an insignificant phylogenetic signal in most characteristics of intervertebral mobility. This indicates that within the existing structure (stabilization of which occurred rather early in different phylogenetic lineages), intervertebral mobility in carnivorans is quite flexible. Our findings reveal that hyenas and canids, which use their jaws to seize prey, are characterized by a noticeably elongated cervical region and significantly higher SB and LB mobility of the cervical joints compared to other carnivorans. In representatives of other carnivoran families, the cervical region is very short, but the flexibility of the neck (both SB and LB) is significantly higher than that of short-necked odd-toed and even-toed ungulates. The lumbar region of the backbone in carnivorans is dorsomobile in the sagittal plane, being on average ~23° more mobile than in artiodactyls and ~38° more mobile than in perissodactyls. However, despite the general dorsomobility, only some representatives of Canidae, Felidae, and Viverridae are superior in lumbar flexibility to the most dorsomobile ungulates. The most dorsomobile artiodactyls are equal or even superior to carnivorans in their ability to engage in dorsal extension during galloping. In contrast, carnivorans are far superior to ungulates in their ability to engage ventral flexion. The cumulative SB in the lumbar region in carnivorans largely depends on the mode of running and hunting. Thus, adaptation to prolonged and enduring pursuit of prey in hyenas is accompanied by markedly reduced SB flexibility in the lumbar region. A more dorsostable run is also a characteristic of the Ursidae, and the peculiar maned wolf. Representatives of Felidae and Canidae have significantly more available SB mobility in the lumbar region. However, they fully engage it only occasionally at key moments of the hunt associated with the direct capture of the prey or when running in a straight line at maximum speed.     

基于环境因子与化学成分关联的辽产道地药材龙胆分布适宜性分析及区划研究

目的 通过多种方法开展龙胆适宜性分析和品质区划研究,综合确定其适宜产区及环境因子范围。方法 基于最大熵（MaxEnt）模型和ArcGIS软件进行分布适宜性分析,将SPSS软件分析主成分得分作为衡量龙胆综合质量的指标之一,结合冗余分析法（RDA）深入分析有效成分、样地和环境因子三者或两两之间的关系。结果 龙胆在辽宁省的分布概率以辽东最高,面积占整个辽宁省分布的90%以上。通过分析环境因子响应曲线发现,辽宁省龙胆适宜分布在海拔较低、气候较湿润、秋冬季温度较低的温带季风和温带海洋性气候地区;最适土壤质地为粉沙壤土、壤土;最适土壤类型为黑土、石灰性黑土铁质淋溶土。RDA分析可知,獐牙菜苷与经度呈正相关,獐牙菜苦苷与经度、坡度、海拔、年均降水量呈正相关;龙胆苦苷与经度、坡度、海拔、年均降水量呈正相关;龙胆碱与经度、坡度、海拔、年均降水量呈正相关;龙胆多糖与日照时数、年均温呈正相关。主成分得分与经度、坡度、海拔、年均降水量呈正相关,与日照时数和年均温呈负相关,与经度相关性最大。结论 基于RDA得出有效成分、环境因子、样地之间的关系,可规划最优产区,引导农户合理选址种植,避免盲目引种造成的资源浪费,对龙胆总体质量的提高提供一定的依据。     

Units of sound representation and temporal integration: a mismatch negativity study

As a starting point for constructing a high-resolution, resliceable computer graphics model for the extraction, quantitative analysis, display, and modeling of neuroanatomical data the outer border and the boundaries of inner divisions and parts of the paraventricular nucleus have been drawn for all 39 serial histological sections prepared for a published reference atlas of the rat brain. This careful parceling revealed three new features of paraventricular nucleus topography: the full rostral extent of the anterior parvicellular part, the caudal end of the medial magnocellular part, and a thin rostrolateral extension of the dorsal medial parvicellular part composed at least in part of neurons expressing corticotropin-releasing hormone. The vector graphics drawings were aligned using the already established alignment of nine consecutive, relevant Atlas Levels, and then contours were smoothed to eliminate nonlinear distortions associated with histological mounting. This dataset was then used to create three-dimensional contour and surface models of the paraventricular nucleus, as well as two-dimensional horizontal and sagittal projections of its outer border. The computer graphics files containing raw and smoothed drawings for all 39 serial sections are supplied for use by researchers interested in developing new or better computer graphics analysis tools involving the paraventricular nucleus. This work may also stimulate the long range goal of creating a high-resolution, resliceable, computer graphics model of the whole brain, and eventually the whole nervous system, that is useful for quantitative analysis and topological transformation.     

关于中药区划理论和区划指标体系的探讨

在对中药区划相关文献的研究基础上,结合对中药区划研究的实践经验,对中药区划的相关理论基础进行了探讨。明确了中药区划应以中药资源学、生态学、地理学、经济学的相关理论为依据和指导进行区划研究;中药区划应遵循优质性原则、差异性原则、相似性原则和实用性原则;中药区划的研究对象包括中药资源、自然环境和人文环境3个方面。对中药区划进行了界定,暨中药区划是研究中药资源及其地域系统的空间分异规律,并按照这种空间差异性和规律性对其进行区域划分。根据中药区划的相关理论、遵循的原则、研究对象和研究内容对中药区划指标的选取进行系统梳理,构建了中药区划研究模型和指标体系。