Frequent mutations of chromatin remodeling genes in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common type of bladder cancer. Here we sequenced the exomes of nine individuals with TCC and screened all the somatically mutated genes in a prevalence set of 88 additional individuals with TCC with different tumor stages and grades. In our study, we discovered a variety of genes previously unknown to be mutated in TCC. Notably, we identified genetic aberrations of the chromatin remodeling genes (UTX, MLL-MLL3, CREBBP-EP300, NCOR1, ARID1A and CHD6) in 59% of our 97 subjects with TCC. Of these genes, we showed UTX to be altered substantially more frequently in tumors of low stages and grades, highlighting its potential role in the classification and diagnosis of bladder cancer. Our results provide an overview of the genetic basis of TCC and suggest that aberration of chromatin regulation might be a hallmark of bladder cancer.     

超临界CO2萃取法提取库尔勒香梨精油及其成分分析研究

采用超临界CO2萃取法提取库尔勒香梨精油,用气相色谱-串联质谱技术对其成分进行分析,并对几种提取方法进行综合比较。结果表明,与水蒸气蒸馏法、固相微萃取法相比,超临界CO2萃取法具有香梨精油提取率最高,为0．0549％。感官分析的结果表明,超临界CO2萃取法所得的库尔勒香梨精油颜色为橙色透明液体,而且风味好。气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）分析结果表明：超临界CO2萃取法所得的香梨精油中共鉴定出28种成分。丁酸乙酯、顺-7-十四烯-1-醇和乙酸己酯的含量最高,含量分别为5．19％、4．85％和4．37％。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</Emphasis> supports Th17 differentiation and limits de novo regulatory T cell induction by directly interfering with T cell receptor signaling

Adaptive immunity critically contributes to control acute infection with enteropathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis; however, the role of CD4⁺ T cell subsets in establishing infection and allowing pathogen persistence remains elusive. Here, we assessed the modulatory capacity of Y. pseudotuberculosis on CD4⁺ T cell differentiation. Using in vivo assays, we report that infection with Y. pseudotuberculosis resulted in enhanced priming of IL-17-producing T cells (Th17 cells), whereas induction of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) was severely disrupted in gut-draining mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs), in line with altered frequencies of tolerogenic and proinflammatory dendritic cell (DC) subsets within mLNs. Additionally, by using a DC-free in vitro system, we could demonstrate that Y. pseudotuberculosis can directly modulate T cell receptor (TCR) downstream signaling within naïve CD4⁺ T cells and Tregs via injection of effector molecules through the type III secretion system, thereby affecting their functional properties. Importantly, modulation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells by Y. pseudotuberculosis resulted in an enhanced Th17 differentiation and decreased induction of Foxp3⁺ Tregs in vitro. These findings shed light to the adjustment of the Th17-Treg axis in response to acute Y. pseudotuberculosis infection and highlight the direct modulation of CD4⁺ T cell subsets by altering their TCR downstream signaling.     

Melatonin and mitochondrial function during ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury occurs in many organs and tissues, and contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Melatonin, an endogenously produced indolamine, provides a strong defense against IR injury. Mitochondrion, an organelle for ATP production and a decider for cell fate, has been validated to be a crucial target for melatonin to exert its protection against IR injury. In this review, we first clarify the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction during IR and melatonin’s protection of mitochondria under this condition. Thereafter, special focus is placed on the protective actions of melatonin against IR injury in brain, heart, liver, and others. Finally, we explore several potential future directions of research in this area. Collectively, the information compiled here will serve as a comprehensive reference for the actions of melatonin in IR injury identified to date and will hopefully aid in the design of future research and increase the potential of melatonin as a therapeutic agent.     

灰色关联度在甜高粱材料筛选中的应用

对甘肃省兰州市榆中县中试基地种植的11种甜高粱材料进行试验,以筛选出适合在兰州榆中地区种植的甜高粱材料。采用灰色关联度对材料的茎干鲜重、生物产量、茎杆平均含糖量进行分析,同时参考株高、穗长、穗颈长、物候期等指标,选定适合榆中地区不同用途的甜高粱材料。灰色关联度分析结果:茎秆鲜重、生物产量、茎秆平均含糖量三个指标中,茎秆平均含糖量灰色关联度最大,对结果影响最大;灰色综合评判排序显示08-2、2043、09-1、雅津43号分别排列前4位。08-2、2043、09-1、雅津43号综合表现最好,适合兰州榆中地区种植,可用于饲料生产和生物质能源储备种植。     

黄大铁路黄河特大桥顶推施工分析与监控技术

针对黄大铁路黄河特大桥连续钢桁梁多点同步顶推施工,利用倒拆法建模计算顶推施工全过程,找出主桁杆件在支点处的最大应力值以及导梁悬臂端变形规律和最大变形值,确定出全过程施工中的最不利工况为M2工况;设置变形监测点,监控导梁前段竖向位移变形,实测值基本与理论值吻合,施工线形可控;在M2工况中,将主桁和导梁自重荷载乘以1.35的放大系数,计算主梁在导梁悬臂140m,悬臂160m和导梁上墩20m后的主桁杆件的应力值,并在主桁上设置24个监测点监测杆件应力值,对比发现实测值均略小于理论值,施工过程中材料强度储备是安全可靠的。作为国内最大跨度的平行弦桁架桥顶推成功,对其他同类大跨度桥梁顶推施工具有较高的参考价值。     

虚拟极化增强雷达目标信号接收的原理和实现

利用双正交偶极子接收雷达回波信号,在天线的正交双通道中进行虚拟极化处理来增强信号、抑制杂波是改善目标信噪比的有效方法.文中介绍了虚拟接收变极化的原理,并运用虚拟极化实现了目标极化增强和杂波抑制,通过matlab仿真得到了直观的信噪比增强效果.     

WDR34 is a novel TAK1-associated suppressor of the IL-1R/TLR3/TLR4-induced NF-κB activation pathway

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) act as sensors of microbial components and elicit innate immune responses. All TLR signaling pathways activate the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), which controls the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes. Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is critically involved in the activation of NF-κB by tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and TLR ligands. In this study, we identified a novel protein, WD40 domain repeat protein 34 (WDR34) as a TAK1-interacting protein in yeast two-hybrid screens. WDR34 interacted with TAK1, TAK1-binding protein 2 (TAB2), TAK1-binding protein 3 (TAB3) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in overexpression and under physiological conditions. Overexpression of WDR34 inhibited IL-1β-, polyI:C- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced but not TNFα-induced NF-κB activation, whereas knockdown of WDR34 by a RNA-interference construct potentiated NF-κB activation by these ligands. Our findings suggest that WDR34 is a TAK1-associated inhibitor of the IL-1R/TLR3/TLR4-induced NF-κB activation pathway. D. Gao and R. Wang contributed equally to this work.     

Molecular mechanisms of BK channel activation

Large conductance, Ca²⁺-activated potassium (BK) channels are widely expressed throughout the animal kingdom and play important roles in many physiological processes, such as muscle contraction, neural transmission and hearing. These physiological roles derive from the ability of BK channels to be synergistically activated by membrane voltage, intracellular Ca²⁺ and other ligands. Similar to voltage-gated K⁺ channels, BK channels possess a pore-gate domain (S5–S6 transmembrane segments) and a voltage-sensor domain (S1–S4). In addition, BK channels contain a large cytoplasmic C-terminal domain that serves as the primary ligand sensor. The voltage sensor and the ligand sensor allosterically control K⁺ flux through the pore-gate domain in response to various stimuli, thereby linking cellular metabolism and membrane excitability. This review summarizes the current understanding of these structural domains and their mutual interactions in voltage-, Ca²⁺ - and Mg²⁺ -dependent activation of the channel. Received 25 September 2008; received after revision 23 October 2008; accepted 24 October 2008     

NaOH改性花生壳去除水中亚甲基蓝的吸附特性研究

利用亚甲基蓝水溶液进行实验,测定了NaOH改性处理的花生壳对其的吸附能力.运用单因素实验方法,探讨了改性花生壳的物理化学特性、吸附时间、吸附剂添加量、pH值、温度和离子强度等因素对吸附性能的影响以及等温吸附过程.结果表明,改性能够提高吸附剂的吸附效果.在低温碱性条件下,改性花生壳粉投加量为0.6 g·L~(-1),吸附时间为1 h时,亚甲基蓝的去除率可达94.43%,饱和吸附容量为294.12 mg·g~(-1),等温吸附过程遵循Langmuir方程.