Inhibition of miRNA-27b enhances neurogenesis via AMPK activation in a mouse ischemic stroke model.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, but treatment options remain limited. Recent studies have suggested that cerebral ischemia-induced neurogenesis plays a vital role in post-stroke repair. Overactivation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master sensor of energy balance, has been reported to exacerbate neuron apoptosis, but the role of chronic AMPK stimulus in post-stroke recovery remains unclear. MicroRNAs have emerged as regulators of neurogenesis and have been reported to be involved in neurological function. In this study, we verified that miR-27b directly targets AMPK and inhibits AMPK expression. In cultured neural stem cells, miR-27b inhibitor improved proliferation and differentiation via the AMPK signaling pathway, but did not have an obvious effect on cell viability under oxygen and glucose deprivation conditions. In a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model, administration of miR-27b inhibitor significantly enhanced behavioral function recovery and spatial memory. Up-regulation of neurogenesis was observed both in the subventricular zone and in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Collectively, our data suggest that miR-27b inhibition promotes recovery after ischemic stroke by regulating AMPK activity. These findings may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for stroke.

[Dynamic behavior of aldicarb and its metabolites in cabbage by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ( LC-MS/MS ) method was developed for the study of dynamic behavior of aldicarb and its metabolite residues in cabbage. Aldicarb was applied onto cultivated cabbages. The pesticides concentrations were measured periodically (between application and harvest) , and modeled to illustrate the dynamic behavior. The results showed that the liner ranges of aldicarb and its metabolites were from 0. 005 to 0. 2 mg/L, and the recoveries ranged from 78. 9% to 108. 5% with the relative standard deviations of 2. 03%- 8. 91% (n = 8). The aldicarb in cabbage increased at first with the first-order kinetic equation model of c = 0. 020(0.136t) with the correlation coefficient (r2) of 0. 888, and then decreased with the equation of c = 0. 65e(-059t) with the r2 of 0. 979 and the half-life of 29. 1 d. The reducing processes of aldicarb-sulfone and aldicarb-sulfoxide both matched the first-order kinetic equations (c = 23. 4e(-0.044t) and c = 4. 54e(-0.027t) with r2 of 0. 916 and 0. 972 respectively. To meet the limitation requirement of 0. 01 mg/kg, 70. 7, 226. 6 and 176. 3 d were respectively necessary for aldicarb, aldicarb-sulfone and aldicarb-sulfoxide. Final residues of aldicarb-sulfone and aldicarb-sulfoxide were still more than the limitation requirements, indicating that aldicarb should not be used in vegetables of growth cycle shorter than 120 d. This study provided theoretical basis for dynamic behavior of aldicarb residue and its safe use in vegetables.

Adsorption of phosphate on hydroxyaluminum- and hydroxyiron-montmorillonite complexes.

One hydroxyaluminum-montmorillonite complex (HyAl-Mt), two hydroxyiron-montmorillonite complexes (HyFe-Mts) with different iron contents, and three hydroxyiron/aluminum-montmorillonite complexes (HyFeAl-Mts) with various Fe:Al molar ratios were synthesized. Behavior and kinetics of phosphate (P) sorption on selected Mt-complexes mentioned above were investigated under acidic conditions. The results indicated that the intercalations of polymeric HyFe and/or HyAl ions in interlayers of Na-saturated montmorillonite (Na-Mt) caused significant changes in surface properties of the Na-Mt, such as cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, pH at zero point of charge. In pH range tested (3.0-6.5), P adsorption on the Mt-complexes decreased with increasing pH, whereas the effect became weaker with increasing Fe contents in the Mt-complexes. The adsorption capacities of the HyFeAl-Mts were greater than those of the HyAl-Mt and HyFe-Mt, which could be attributed to decreasing crystallinity of Fe and Al oxides in the HyFeAl-Mts. The equilibrium adsorption of P on the Mt-complexes could be well described using the Langmuir isotherm, and the kinetics of P adsorption could be well described by both the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. An increase in Fe contents in the Mt-complexes could enhance the initial kinetic rate of P adsorption, as suggested by the Elovich models. It is inferred that a great number of Fe-related active sorption sites have been located on the outer surfaces of the HyFe-Mt, as indicated by extremely high alpha value in the Elovich model. Previous studies focusing mainly on P sorption on HyAl-Mt complexes might have underestimated the contributions of Mt-complexes to P retention in acidic soils high in Fe contents.