Bacterial and mammalian DNA alkyltransferases sensitize Escherichia coli to the lethal and mutagenic effects of dibromoalkanes

Here we confirm and extend our previous studies demonstrating that the mutagenic potency of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and dibromomethane (DBM) is markedly enhanced (not prevented) in bacteria expressing the O6- alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ATase) encoded by the Escherichia coli ogt gene. We demonstrate that, in close parallel with mutagenesis, the Ogt ATase sensitizes the bacteria to the lethal effects of these carcinogens, suggesting that one or more of the potentially mutagenic lesions induced by DBE and DBM in the presence of Ogt has additional lethal capacity. We further demonstrate that the sensitization to both lethality and mutagenesis by DBE and DBM is a property shared by other DNA alkyltransferases. This objective was accomplished by quantifying the induction of mutations and lethal events in ogt- ada- E. coli expressing an exogenous bacterial or mammalian ATase from a multicopy plasmid. Mammalian recombinant ATases enhanced the lethal and mutagenic actions of DBE and suppressed the lack of sensitivity of the vector- transformed bacteria to DBM. In most cases the order of effectiveness of the ATases ranked: murine > human > Ogt > rat. Further comparisons included the full-length Ada ATase from E. coli and a truncated Ada version (T-ada) that retains the O6-methylguanine binding domain of the protein. The full-length Ada ATase was effective in enhancing the lethality but not the mutagenicity induced by DBE and DBM. The T-ada ATase provided less sensitization than Ada to lethality by DBE, but of the three bacterial ATases T-ada yielded the highest sensitization to mutagenesis by this compound. T-ada and Ada ATases were in general less effective than the mammalian versions, with the exception of the rat recombinant ATase. The effectiveness of the different mammalian and bacterial ATases in promoting the deleterious actions of dibromoalkanes was compared with the effectiveness of these proteins in suppressing the lethal and mutagenic effects induced by N-nitroso-N-methylurea. The ability to sensitize E. coli to the lethal and mutagenic effects of DBE and DBM seems restricted to DNA alkyltransferase, since overexpression of thioredoxin (Trx) or glutaredoxin (Grx1) in ogt- ada- cells showed no effect, in spite of the reported potential of bioactive dihaloethane- derived species to alkylate Trx.      

Impairment in short-term but enhanced long-term synaptic potentiation and ERK activation in adult hippocampal area CA1 following developmental thyroid hormone insufficiency.

Thyroid hormones are critical for the development and maturation of the central nervous system. Insufficiency of thyroid hormones during development impairs performance on tasks of learning and memory that rely upon the hippocampus and impairs synaptic function in young hypothyroid animals. The present study was designed to determine if perturbations in synaptic function persist in adult euthyroid animals exposed developmentally to insufficient levels of hormone. Pre- and postnatal thyroid hormone insufficiency was induced by administration of 3 or 10 ppm propylthiouracil (PTU) to pregnant and lactating dams via the drinking water from gestation day (GD) 6 until postnatal day (PN) 30. This regimen produced a graded level of hormonal insufficiency in the dam and the offspring. Population spike and population excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) were recorded at the pyramidal cell layer and the stratum radiatum, respectively, in area CA1 of hippocampal slices from adult male offspring. PTU exposure increased baseline synaptic transmission, reduced paired-pulse facilitation, and increased the magnitude of the population spike long-term potentiation (LTP). Phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) was increased as a function of LTP stimulation in slices from PTU-exposed adult animals. On the other hand, no differences in the basal levels of synaptic proteins implicated in synaptic plasticity (total ERK, synapsin, growth-associated protein-43, and neurogranin) were detected. These results reinforce previous findings of persistent changes in synaptic function and, importantly extend these observations to moderate levels of thyroid hormone insufficiency that do not induce significant toxicity to the dams or the offspring. Such alterations in hippocampal synaptic function may contribute to persistent behavioral deficits associated with developmental hypothyroidism.     

武汉东湖微囊藻毒素污染及其在鱼体内的动态研究

目的　了解武汉东湖微囊藻毒素污染水平及其在鱼体内的富集状况。方法　 2 0 0 0年 7月和 10月 ,采集了湖边和湖中的水样和鱼样 ,用ELISA法对样品的微囊藻毒素 (MC)进行测定。结果　各采样点都有蓝藻的污染 ,蓝藻已成为东湖的优势藻种。 10月份水中MC含量 ,显著高于 7月份水中MC含量 (P <0 0 5 ) ;肝脏中MC含量 ,显著高于肌肉中MC含量 (P<0 0 5 )。     

血细胞分析仪的工作原理及其近期发展

本文简要介绍了血细胞分析仪的主要工作原理，各主要厂家在血细胞分析仪上采用的白细胞分类技术及业界的技术进展。     

女性肾上腺性征异常症

目的 探讨女性假两性畸形的诊断和治疗的时机及方法。方法 回顾性分析近23年来收治的31例患儿的诊疗资料。1～6岁19例，7～14岁12例。性染色体均为46，XX。腕骨骨龄大于实际年龄的18例。出生后均见阴蒂肥大，27例为尿生殖窦单一开口，4例分别见到尿道和阴道口，半数已长出阴毛、声粗、痤疮，最小者2岁，3例14岁患儿身高不足150cm。行B超检查及尿生殖窦造影的病例均有正常女性生殖道。失盐型3例，在新生儿期出现危象而确诊。结果 剖腹探查的9例有正常卵巢及内生殖道。26例作了阴蒂缩短成形或肥大阴蒂切除，小阴唇成形。除1例外，其余30例均在确诊后接受内科药物治疗。结论 典型的女性肾上腺性征异常诊断虽不难，但就诊年龄多较晚，药物治疗滞后，对患儿的生理和心理有严重的负面影响。典型患儿不必作剖腹探查。失盐型患儿多在新生儿期出现危象，应尽早诊疗。     

Insights into oxazaphosphorine resistance and possible approaches to its circumvention.

The oxazaphosphorines cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and trofosfamide remain a clinically useful class of anticancer drugs with substantial antitumour activity against a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. A major limitation to their use is tumour resistance, which is due to multiple mechanisms that include increased DNA repair, increased cellular thiol levels, glutathione S-transferase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities, and altered cell-death response to DNA damage. These mechanisms have been recently re-examined with the aid of sensitive analytical techniques, high-throughput proteomic and genomic approaches, and powerful pharmacogenetic tools. Oxazaphosphorine resistance, together with dose-limiting toxicity (mainly neutropenia and neurotoxicity), significantly hinders chemotherapy in patients, and hence, there is compelling need to find ways to overcome it. Four major approaches are currently being explored in preclinical models, some also in patients: combination with agents that modulate cellular response and disposition of oxazaphosphorines; antisense oligonucleotides directed against specific target genes; introduction of an activating gene (CYP3A4) into tumor tissue; and modification of dosing regimens. Of these approaches, antisense oligonucleotides and gene therapy are perhaps more speculative, requiring detailed safety and efficacy studies in preclinical models and in patients. A fifth approach is the design of novel oxazaphosphorines that have favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and are less vulnerable to resistance. Oxazaphosphorines not requiring hepatic CYP-mediated activation (for example, NSC 613060 and mafosfamide) or having additional targets (for example, glufosfamide that also targets glucose transport) have been synthesized and are being evaluated for safety and efficacy. Characterization of the molecular targets associated with oxazaphosphorine resistance may lead to a deeper understanding of the factors critical to the optimal use of these agents in chemotherapy and may allow the development of strategies to overcome resistance.     

鹅掌藤中三萜类化合物的分离与鉴定

目的研究五加科鹅掌柴属植物鹅掌藤(Schefflera arboricola)枝茎的化学成分.方法采用柱色谱分离,通过理化数据和光谱分析确定化合物的结构.结果从鹅掌藤乙酸乙酯提取物中分离得到7个三萜化合物,分别鉴定为羽扇醇(1)、桦木酸(2)、3-epi-betulinic acid(3)、齐墩果酸(4)、3-乙酰齐墩果酸(5)、mesembryanthemoidigenic acid(6)、quinatic acid(7).结论化合物1、5、6、7为首次从该属植物中分得.     

Gatifloxacin inducing apoptosis of stromal fibroblasts through cross-talk between caspase-dependent extrinsic and intrinsic pathways

AIM: To reveal the cytotoxicity and related mechanisms of gatifloxacin (GFX) to stromal fibroblasts (SFs) in vitro. METHODS: SFs were treated with GFX at different concentrations (0.009375%-0.3%), and their viability was detected by MTT method. The cell morphology was observed using light/transmission electron microscope. The plasma membrane permeability was measured by AO/EB double-staining. Then cell cycle, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) were analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA damage was analyzed by electrophoresis and immunostaining. ELISA was used to evaluate the caspase-3/-8/-9 activation. Finally, Western blotting was applied for detecting the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS: Morphological changes and reduced viability of GFX-treated SFs demonstrated that GFX above 0.009375% had cytotoxicity to SFs with dependence of concentration and time. GFX-treating cells also showed G1 phase arrest, increased membrane permeability, PS externalization and DNA damage, which indicated that GFX induced apoptosis of SFs. Additionally, GFX could activate the caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, induce MTP disruption, downregulate B-cell leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and B-cell leukemia-XL (Bcl-XL), and upregulate Bcl-2 assaciated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad), Bcl-2 interacting domain (Bid) and cytoplasmic cytochrome C in SFs, suggesting that caspase-dependent extrinsic and intrinsic pathways were related to GFX-contributed apoptosis of SFs. CONCLUSION: The cytotoxicity of GFX induces apoptosis of SFs through triggering the caspase-dependent extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.     

三维可视化引导放疗摆位系统的研发及临床应用

目的:开发一种三维可视化技术辅助放疗患者摆位,并对比分析其在乳腺和盆腔放疗中与传统摆位方法的差异。方法:选取2020年6月至2021年4月常州第二人民医院40例放疗患者作为研究对象,其中乳腺、盆腔患者各20例。利用患者定位CT数据进行三维可视化重建,并将三维可视化模型与真实治疗环境融合,通过交互操作使得三维可视化模型位...