The rhizospheric transformation and bioavailability of mercury in pepper plants are influenced by selected Chinese soil types.

Understanding and prediction of mercury (Hg) phytoavailability in vegetable-soil systems is essential for controlling food chain contamination and safe vegetable production as Hg-contaminated soils pose a serious threat to human health. In this study, four typical Chinese soils (Heilongjiang, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Jilin) with varied physicochemical properties were spiked with HgCl2 to grow sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in a pot experiment under greenhouse condition. The chemical fractionation revealed a significant decrease in exchangeable Hg, while an increase in organically bound Hg in the rhizosphere soil (RS) compared to bulk soil (BS). This observation strongly highlights the vital role of organic matter on the rhizospheric Hg transformation irrespective of contamination levels and soil properties. Stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) analysis between Hg concentration in plants, Hg fractions in RS and BS, and soil properties showed that Hg in plant parts was significantly influenced by soil total Hg (THg) (R2 = 0.90), soil clay (R2 = 0.99), amorphous manganese oxides (amorphous Mn) (R2 = 0.97), amorphous iron oxides (amorphous Fe) (R2 = 0.70), and available Hg (R2 = 0.97) in BS. Nevertheless, in the case of RS, Hg accumulation in plants was affected by soil THg (R2 = 0.99), amorphous Mn (R2 = 0.97), amorphous Fe oxides (R2 = 0.66), soil pH, and organically bound Hg fraction (R2 = 0.96). Among all the evaluated soils (n = 04), metal (mercury) concentration in terms of plant uptake was reported highest in the Jilin soil. Based on SMLR analysis, the results suggested that the phytoavailability of Hg was mainly determined by THg and metal oxides regardless of the rhizospheric effect. These findings facilitate the estimation of Hg phytoavailability and ecological risk that may exist from Hg-contaminated areas where pepper is the dominant vegetable.

Mibefradil reduces hepatic glucose output in HepG2 cells via Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-dependent Akt/forkhead box O1signaling.

The effects and underlying mechanisms of mibefradil on gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis were investigated using insulin-resistant HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). HepG2 cells were divided into one of four groups: control, palmitate (PA)-induced insulin-resistance (0.25 mM), low-concentration mibefradil (0.025 µM), or high-concentration mibefradil (0.05 µM). Glycogen synthesis and glucose consumption were evaluated in these HepG2 cells, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting techniques were used to detect expression of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Intracellular calcium concentrations were determined using Fluo-4 AM, and phosphorylation levels of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), protein kinase B (Akt) and FoxO1were detected by western blotting. Immunofluorescence was used for the localization and quantification of FoxO1.In vitro results were verified using a mouse model of T2DM. In HepG2 cells and mouse liver tissues, mibefradil decreased PA-induced cytoplasmic calcium levels and CaMKII phosphorylation, but increased the phosphorylation of Akt and FoxO1, thereby contributing to the cytoplasmic localization of FoxO1. Additionally, mibefradil alleviated PA-induced glucose output and insulin resistance through increased glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis, while decreasing the expression of key gluconeogenesis enzymes, including PEPCK and G6Pase. Mibefradil may help to control blood sugar levels by reducing glucose output and insulin resistance, and the mechanism of action may involve the Ca2+-CaMKII-dependent Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.

Health Risk Assessment of Different Heavy Metals Dissolved in Drinking Water.

Water pollution is a major threat to public health worldwide. The health risks of ingesting trace elements in drinking water were assessed in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Eight trace elements were measured in drinking water, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and compared with permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak EPA). In addition, health risk indicators such as the chronic daily intake (CDI) and the health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Our results showed that the concentrations of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) were 2593, 1306, and 695 ng/g, respectively, in Lahore and Jhang, while the concentrations of arsenic (As) in Lahore, Vehari, Multan, and Jhang were 51, 50.4, 24, and 22 ng/g, respectively, which were higher than the permissible limits suggested by the WHO. The values of CDI were found to be in the order of Cr > Ni > Mn > Cu > As > Pb > Co > Cd. Similarly, the health risk index (HRI) values exceeded the safe limits (>1) in many cities (eg, Cr and Ni in Lahore and As in Vehari, Jhang, Lahore, and Multan). The aforementioned analysis shows that consumption of trace element-contaminated water poses an emerging health danger to the populations of these localities. Furthermore, inter-metal correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that both anthropogenic and geologic activities were primary sources of drinking water contamination in the investigated areas.

Early diagnosis of primary ureteral neoplasms:report of 28 cases / 中国基层医药

Objective To evaluate the choice of early diagnosis method of primary ureteral neoplasms in or-der to improve the ratio of clinical diagnosis. Methods 28 cases with primary ureteral neoplasms were retrospectively analyzed. Ultrasonic examination, IVU, retrograde urogram, spiral CT, MRI, ureteroscopy and exfoliative cell examina-tion of urine were compared in this study. Results The most useful methods of detecting tumors preoperation were retrograde urogram, spiral CT, MRI, ureteroseopy. All the 28 patients underwent surgical treatment. Among them, nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff or partial resection were performed in 19 cases. Postoperative pathology showed transitional cell carcinoma in 27 cases,and adenoma in 1 case. 8 cases were T1-2 tumours. Of the 14 cases during 1990 ～1999 period, 1,5,3,2,2 and 1 cases had survival time of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 years ,respectively. Of the 14 cases during 2000～2007,4 were lost to follow-up;2 survived for 3 years and 2 for 1 year;the other 6 who have survived near 5 years have been followed till now. Conclusions To improve the early diagnosis rate,B-ultrasonic examination, IVU,retrograde urogram,3D spiral CT and MRI examination were necessary in the early stage. The patients should be opeiated as early as possible after diagnosis.

Determination of binding ability of PaP3’s terminase large subunit to cos site / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the binding ability of the terminase large subunit of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage PaP3 to the cos site. Methods The gene tls was amplified from the genome of bacteriophage PaP3 by PCR and subcloned into pMD18-T vector. Then the gene tls cut down from the vector was inserted into the plasmid pQE31 which could give a 6-His tag at the N-terminal of the expressed protein. The recombinant vector pQE-tls was transformed to E.coli. JM109, after induction with IPTG, the expressed bacteria were resuspended and sonicated, then after centrifugation, the inclusion body was obtained. The inclusion body was dissolved with lysis buffer, then the tagged protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and renatured by dialysis. Finally the DNA-binding ability of the fusion protein rTLS was determined by EMSA. Results The expression plasmid pQE31-tls was successfully constructed, and the target protein yield was up to 30% of the total bacterial proteins. After purification and renaturation, the fusion protein rTLS can partially bind the cos fragment. Conclusion The fusion protein rTLS was successfully expressed, purified and renatured. The rTLS has the specific DNA-binding activity. The present work lays the foundation for the further research of the gene tls.

Cloning of LVA Ca 2＋ channel and its primary structure features / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Aim To clone LVA calcium channel (also known as T-type calcium channel) from INS-1 cell line derived from rat pancreatic β cells. Methods RT-PCR, 3′ -RACE and 5′ -RACE were used to clone coding sequence of the whole gene. DNA sequencing and genomic DNA walking were used to identify the primary structure features and exons. Results The cloned gene, named as α 1 G-INS, was composed of 6 864 bp, encoding 2 288 amino acids, which shares 96.3％ identity to α 1G, the neuronal T-type calcium channel. Compared to α 1G, the amino acids in membrane-spanning regions of four transmembrane domains and intracellular loop LI-II of α 1G-INS were highly conserved, but there are three distinct regions. This discrepancy was due to alternative mRNA splicing. Scattering on other regions of the molecule there were 10 single amino acid substitutions, which could be explained as site-mutations of the gene. Conclusion A new isoform,α 1G-INS, of T-type calcium channel is successfully cloned from rat insulin-secreting cell line INS-1, which is significant to further understanding many Ca2＋ -involved biologically essential processes.