Diversity of nitrogenase (nifH) genes pool in soybean field soil after continuous and rotational cropping

Diazotrophs diversity in soybean is a topic requiring thorough investigation since the previous researches have focused on only rice, forest, grass, water, etc. In this research, iron‐only nitrogenase nifH gene was as genetic marker. PCR‐RFLP was used to investigate the difference of diazotrophs community diversity in the soil from the continuous cropping (CC) (the 5‐yr tilling of soybean) and the rotational cropping (RC) (soybean‐corn) soils in the northeast of China. A total of 36 isolates were genetically characterized. Most of the isolates closely related to Azospirillum and Azotobacter. Eighty‐six unique nifH gene sequences were obtained by cloning of the respective PCR products in two soil samples. It was found that the diversity of nifH genes in CC changed obviously compared with RC. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most of the clones clustered together in a high homogeneity with some sequence retrieved from environmental representatives. The sequence diversity of nifH genes was high and the members of the Alphaproteobacteria were predominant in both samples. The experimental study also revealed the two non‐proteobacterial diazotrophs, firmicutes and euryarchaeota. Through this study, it can be assumed that different tillage perhaps affected the nifH gene‐containing population diversity. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phospholipids in human cerebrospinal fluid

Summary Phospholipid fractions in cerebrospinal fluid of normal persons were examined by separation with thin layer chromatography. 100 ml of cerebrospinal fluid were found to contain 22±4 g phospholipid phosphorus, on the average consisting of 12% lysolecithin, 20% sphingomyelin, 42% lecithin, 2% lysocephalin, 3% phosphatidylinositol, 2% phosphatidylserine, 9% phosphatidylethanolamine. 4% of the total phospholipids remained at the origin of the chromatograms, the rest was recovered in yet unidentified fractions.

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Zusammenfassung Phospholipidfraktionen wurden im Liquor cerebrospinalis von Normalpersonen durch Auftrennen mit Dünnschichtchromatographie bestimmt. In 100 ml Liquor wurden 22±4 g Phospholipidphosphor gefunden, davon 12% Lysolecithin, 20% Sphingomyelin, 42% Lecithin, 2% Lysokephalin, 3% Phosphatidylinositol, 2% Phosphatidylserin und 9% Phosphatidyläthanolamin. 4% wurden an der Auftragsstelle gefunden, der Rest in nicht identifizierten Fraktionen. Mit der angewandten Methode war es also möglich, mehr Phospholipidfraktionen als bisher angegeben aufzutrennen.

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List of Abbreviations CSF cerebrospinal fluid - PL phospholipid(s) - tot PL total phospholipids - PLP phospholipid phosphorus - LL lysolecithin (lysophosphatidylcholine) - SM sphingomyelin - L lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - LC lysocephalin, including lysophosphatidylethanolamine; lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophophatidylserine - O Origin     

Is surfactant therapy beneficial in the treatment of the term newborn infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of surfactant replacement on survival, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and chronic lung disease in term infants with prenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). STUDY DESIGN: Prenatally diagnosed infants born at > or =37 weeks' gestation with immediate distress at delivery and no other major congenital anomalies, who were enrolled in the CDH Registry, were analyzed. For univariate analysis, chi 2 tests were used for categoric variables and unpaired t tests for nominal variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Eligible infants (n = 522) were identified. Demographic variables were similar between the surfactant-treated (n = 192) and nonsurfactant-treated (n = 330) groups, with the exception of race (white, 88.0% vs 71.2%; P =.0007). The use of ECMO and incidence of chronic lung disease were higher (59.8 vs 50.6, P =.04; 59.9 vs 47.6, P =.0066) and survival lower in the surfactant-treated cohort (57.3 vs 70.0, P =.0033). Adjusted logistic regression for use of ECMO, survival, and chronic lung disease resulted in odds ratios inconsistent with an improved outcome associated with surfactant use. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis shows no benefit associated with surfactant therapy for term infants with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated CDH.     

大豆异黄酮保健食品中苷及苷元的等度HPLC法测定

目的建立等度高效液相色谱法(HPLC)分离测定保健食品中大豆异黄酮三种苷及其苷元的方法.方法采用Inert-silODS-3(4.6 mmx150 mm,5 μm)色谱柱,以1.5%乙酸-甲醇-乙腈(7022.57.5)为流动相等度洗脱,检测波长260 nm,柱温55℃,流速1.2 mL·min-1.样品用70%的乙醇超声提取,经0.45 μm滤膜过滤后进样.结果HPLC过程于30 min左右完成,大豆苷和黄豆苷的分离度为0.9以上,余者分离度均大于1.5.对4种市售保健食品作了分析.结论方法简便、快速、准确,为含大豆异黄酮的保健食品含量测定及质量控制提供了较为理想的方法.     

大豆异黄酮抗骨质疏松症的实验研究及作用机制的探讨

目的 观察大豆异黄酮的抗骨质疏松作用,并探讨其作用机制。方法 (1)切除10月龄大鼠双侧卵巢,3个月后分为己烯雌酚组、模型组、大豆异黄酮高、中、低荆量组,并灌胃,每日1次,连续3个月;用切除双侧卵巢旁部分脂肪的假手术同龄大鼠作对照(对照组)。测定各组动物的骨形态学指标、血清雌二醇(E2)、血清骨源性碱性磷酸酶(BALP)、血清钙磷、骨钙磷、尿钙磷以及子宫系数。(2)用含药血清培养成骨细胞,以MTT法检测成骨细胞增殖情况。结果 (1)大豆异黄酮能明显增加去卵巢大鼠骨小梁平均宽度、单位面积骨小粱骨细胞数、骨皮质平均厚度、股骨头平均吸光度和股骨干平均吸光度;明显升高血清E水平：明显降低血清BALP值;明显增加血清钙、骨钙含量：明显增加子宫系数。(2)大豆异黄酮能明显促进成骨细胞增殖。结论 大豆异黄酮具有明显的抗骨质疏松作用,其作用机制可能与其拟雌激素作用、提高体内雌激素水平、提高机体对钙的吸收与利用、促进成骨细胞DNA合成和生长增殖有关。     

中和剂对化妆品中霉菌和酵母菌检测结果的影响

目的探讨卵磷脂和吐温80作为中和剂对化妆品中霉菌和酵母菌检测结果的影响。方法使用虎红培养基和添加中和剂卵磷脂和吐温80的虎红培养基检测市售化妆品和经黑曲霉、白色念珠菌加标的化妆品的霉菌和酵母菌。结果用虎红培养基和卵磷脂、吐温80-虎红培养基分别检测市售化妆品,均未检出黑曲霉、白色念珠菌;检测黑曲霉加标化妆品,添加中和剂后,菌落数增加,差异有统计学意义(t=5.24,P0.05);检测白色念珠菌加标化妆品,添加中和剂后,菌落数增加,差异有统计学意义(t=3.185,P0.05)。结论卵磷脂和吐温80作为中和剂对化妆品中霉菌和酵母菌的检测结果有影响,可提高其检出结果。建议在化妆品检测标准方法中采用添加中和剂的培养基检测霉菌和酵母菌。     

Novel colloidal associations of soyasaponins and lipid components (DPPC,cholesterol) as potential adjuvants for vaccines

Soyasaponins from soybean (Glycine max) represent promising new potent adjuvants for vaccine research because of their immunostimulating properties and weak hemolytic activity. In the present study, saponin microstructures of soyasaponins (soyasaponin Bb, soyasaponin Ab) with lipid components (cholesterol, DPPC (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine)) were designed by the lipid film method. In interaction studies between soyasaponins (soyasaponin Ab/Bb) and Langmuir monolayers (model membranes), composed of cholesterol and DPPC, marked interactions between soyasaponins and a pure cholesterol monolayer were observed. No interaction was detected for soyasaponins with a pure DPPC monolayer. The intercalation of soyasaponins in a mixed DPPC/cholesterol (3:1, w/w) monolayer was only observed for the monodesmosidic soyasaponin Bb whereas the second sugar chain of the bidesmosidic soyasaponin Ab impaired the access to the monolayer. Transmission electron microscopy was used for visualizing particle formation of soyasaponins and lipid components. Pseudo-binary systems (soyasaponin Ab/Bb, cholesterol) formed colloidal associations built up from ring-like subunits in the nanometer size range. In pseudo-ternary systems (soyasaponin, cholesterol, DPPC) soyasaponin Bb attacked the liposomal membrane by forming colloidal associations. Colloidal associations in pseudo-ternary systems with soyasaponin Ab, cholesterol and a phospholipid were only observed in the presence of PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) instead of DPPC. In an MTT assay with a HaCaT cell line (keratinocyte cell line) the cell viability was neither affected by the soyasaponins nor by the corresponding formulations. Both the pure soyasaponin solution and the saponin formulations may be promising adjuvant systems for the intradermal vaccine application. Furthermore, interaction studies between the model antigen ovalbumin and colloidal associations of saponins and cholesterol using MST (Microscale Thermophoresis) gave first indications of an antigen binding to colloidal associations. Ex vivo T-cell proliferation in the presence of soyasaponin Ab was confirmed.     

Identification of potential bioactive peptides generated by simulated gastrointestinal digestion of soybean seeds and soy milk proteins

In this work, the bioactive peptides produced during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of soybean seeds and soy milk were investigated. The analysis was performed on extracted protein samples from soybean seeds and milk or directly on untreated soy milk. Proteins samples were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion and then analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for peptide sequencing. The identified peptides were 1173 in soybean seed samples, 1364 in untreated soy milk samples and 1422 in soy milk samples in which proteins were extracted by precipitation. The peptide identifications were then employed to search specific databases and look for the presence of bioactive peptides in the investigated samples, either with known biological activity or with potential antimicrobial activity. Results pointed out that soybean proteins underwent an extensive degradation process during gastrointestinal digestion and generated a large number of bioactive peptides, some with established activity, some with predicted antimicrobial activity. Finally, the supernatants collected after protein precipitation with acetone from both soybean seeds and soy milk were also analyzed to evaluate the presence of peptides produced by the action of endogenous proteases. Likely, peptides found in soy milk samples could be formed during food processing.     

淡豆豉与黑豆提取物抗癌细胞增殖作用及4种异黄酮成分的含量测定

目的:探讨淡豆豉和黑豆提取物对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖的调节作用,并检测提取物中4种异黄酮成分的含量。方法:MTT法观察淡豆豉和黑豆提取物对乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7细胞增殖率的影响,Annexin/PI法流式细胞仪分析检测细胞的早期凋亡,高效液相色谱法检测淡豆豉和黑豆提取物中4种异黄酮成分大豆苷、染料木苷、大豆苷元和染料木素的含量变化。结果:淡豆豉和黑豆提取物对MCF-7细胞的增殖均有抑制作用且诱发癌细胞凋亡,但高浓度淡豆豉提取物的抑制癌细胞增殖作用明显高于黑豆(P0.05)。淡豆豉提取物中大豆苷、大豆苷元和染料木素的含量显著高于黑豆提取物(P0.01),但染料木苷的含量未见明显变化。结论:淡豆豉提取物与黑豆相比具有较强的抑制癌细胞增殖作用,淡豆豉中含量较高的异黄酮成分大豆苷、大豆苷元和染料木素,可能是其较强的抗癌细胞增殖作用的物质基础。     

Interfacial Properties as Stability Predictors of Lecithin-Stabilized Perfluorocarbon Emulsions

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of small quantities of minor lecithin components (phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and cholesterol) and Pluronic F68 to lecithin could improve the stability of lecithin-stabilized perfluorocarbon emulsions. Attempts were made to correlate emulsion stability with interfacial properties (tension and charge). Dynamic interfacial tension was determined using a Teflon Wilhelmy plate method [reported previously (1)]. Emulsions were prepared by microfluidization. Microelectrophoresis was used to measure emulsion droplet charge, and photon correlation spectroscopy and Coulter analysis were used to determine emulsion stability as a function of droplet size. Thermal kinetic accelerated stability testing was conducted. Various droplet size parameters were used to compare emulsion stabilities, and an overall stability ranking, based on these parameters, was obtained for each emulsion. Small quantities of additives altered emulsion stability and these data were correlated with interfacial properties and initial droplet diameters. The addition of cholesterol to lecithin resulted in the most stable perfluorocarbon emulsion.