Ecological drought monitoring of Inner Mongolia vegetation growing season based on kernel temperature vegetation drought index (kTVDI).

Ecological drought monitoring is important for regional status assessment and protection of water resources. In this study, we constructed a new ecological drought index, the kernel temperature vegetation drought index (kTVDI), by using the kernel normalized vegetation index (kNDVI) to improve the temperature vegetation drought index (TVDI) in Inner Mongolia. We further analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of ecological drought in Inner Mongolia during 2000-2022 and the future trend of ecological drought by using segmented linear regression model, Theil-Sen median, Mann-Kendall test, and Hurst index. The results showed that kTVDI performed better in monitoring ecological drought than TVDI. From 2000 to 2022, kTVDI showed a decreasing trend in the growing season in Inner Mongolia, but the change was not significant, and a sudden change occurred in 2016, and the wetting trend after the sudden change was more obvious. During the study period, ecological drought in 23.6% of the areas of Inner Mongolia showed an aggravating trend, and ecological drought was alleviated in 46.5% of the area. In the future, ecological drought would be exacerbated in the eastern part but alleviated in the central and western parts of Inner Mongolia.

Potential shared therapeutic and hepatotoxic mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides treating three kinds of autoimmune skin diseases by regulating IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides (TWP) are extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., which has the significant effects of anti-inflammation and immunosuppression and has been widely used to treat autoimmune diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. AIM OF STUDY: In Chinese clinical dermatology, TWP was generally used for the treatment of autoimmune skin diseases including psoriasis (PSO), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and pemphigus (PEM). However, the potential hepatotoxicity (HPT) induced by TWP was also existing with the long-term use of TWP. This study aims to explore the potential shared therapeutic mechanism of TWP treating PSO, SLE, PEM and the possible hepatotoxic mechanism induced by TWP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Network pharmacology was used to predict the potential targets and pathways in this study. The main bioactive compounds in TWP was screened according to TCMSP, PubChem, ChEMBL databases and Lipinski's Rule of Five. The potential targets of these chemical constituents were obtained from PharmMapper, SEA and SIB databases. The related targets of PSO, SLE, PEM and HPT were collected from GeneCards, DrugBank, DisGeNET and CTD databases. The target network construction was performed through STRING database and Cytoscape. GO enrichment, KEGG enrichment and molecular docking were then performed, respectively. In particular, imiquimod (IMQ)-induced PSO model was selected as the representative for the experimental verification of effects and shared therapeutic mechanisms of TWP. RESULTS: 41 targets were considered as the potential shared targets of TWP treating PSO, SLE and PEM. KEGG enrichment indicated that IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation were significant in the potential shared therapeutic mechanism of TWP. The animal experimental verification demonstrated that TWP could notably ameliorate skin lesions (P˂0.001), decrease inflammatory response (P˂0.05, P˂0.01, P˂0.001) and inhibit the differentiation of Th1/Th17 cells (P˂0.05, P˂0.01) compared to PSO model group. The molecular docking and qPCR validation then showed that TWP could effectively act on MAPK14, IL-2, IL-6 and suppress Th17 cell differentiation and IL-17 signaling pathway. The possible hepatotoxic mechanism of TWP indicated that there were 145 hepatotoxic targets and it was also associated with IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation, especially for the key role of ALB, CASP3 and HSP90AA1. Meanwhile, the potential correlations between efficacy and hepatotoxicity of TWP showed that 28 targets were shared by therapeutic and hepatotoxic mechanisms such as IL-6, IL-2, MAPK14, MMP9, ALB, CASP3 and HSP90AA1. These significant relevant targets were also involved in IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: There were shared disease targets in PSO, SLE and PEM, and TWP could treat them by potential shared therapeutic mechanisms of suppressing IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation. The possible hepatotoxicity induced by TWP was also significantly associated with the regulation of IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation. Meanwhile, the potential correlations between efficacy and hepatotoxicity of TWP also mainly focused on IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation, which provided a potential direction for the study of the mechanism of "You Gu Wu Yun" theory of TWP treating autoimmune skin diseases in the future.

Application of temperature vegetation dryness index for drought monitoring in Mongolian Plateau.

Taking the Mongolian Plateau as the study area, the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the land surface temperature (LST) in the growing season from 2000 to 2019 were used to construct the NDVI-LST feature space, and based on which the temperature vege-tation dryness index (TVDI) of the Mongolian Plateau was calculated. We used Theil-Sen Median trend analysis, Mann-Kendall test, and Hurst index method to analyze the spatial and temporal varia-tions and future trends of TVDI on the Mongolian Plateau. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between meteorological factors and TVDI on the Mongolian Plateau using partial correlation analysis. The results showed that the TVDI of the Mongolian Plateau during 2000-2019 showed an increasing trend with a rate of 0.0001·a-1, indicating that the Mongolian Plateau's drought condition became heavier slightly in the last 20 years. The drought condition in meadow steppe and typical steppe gradually decreased, and that in desert steppe and alpine grassland was increased. The average Hurst index of TVDI in the growing season was 0.45, and the area with TVDI less than 0.5 accounted for 71.5% of the total area, which indicated that the TVDI during 2000-2019 in most areas turned opposite to the past. In the future, the drought condition in the central desert steppe area and the eastern meadow steppe area might increase, and that in most of the typical steppe and the desert steppe in Inner Mongolia tended to decrease. The drought change in the alpine grassland area was uncertain. There was a significant positive correlation between the TVDI and temperature in 33.6% area of the Mongolian Plateau and a significant negative correlation between the TVDI and precipitation in 34.8% of the area. Moreover, the meteorological factors heavily affected the typical steppe.

Development of a novel rat model of heterogeneous hepatic injury by injection with colchicine via the splenic vein.

AIM: To develop a novel rat model of heterogeneous hepatic injury. METHODS: Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n = 10) and a colchicine group (n = 60). A 0.25% colchicine solution (0.4 mL/kg) was injected via the splenic vein in the colchicine group to develop a rat model of heterogeneous hepatic injury. An equal volume of normal saline was injected via the splenic vein in the control group. At days 3, 7, and 14 and weeks 4, 8, and 12 after the operation, at least seven rats of the colchicine group were selected randomly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, and then they were euthanized. Ten rats of the control group underwent MRI examinations at the same time points, and then were euthanized at week 12. T2-weighted images (T2WI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) were used to evaluate the heterogeneous hepatic injury. The heterogeneous injury between the left and right hepatic lobes was assessed on liver sections according to the histological scoring criteria, and correlated with the results of MRI study. RESULTS: Obvious pathological changes occurred in the hepatic parenchyma in the colchicine group. Hepatic injury scores were significantly different between the left and right lobes at each time point (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of DWI and liver-to-muscle ratio (LMR) of T2WI between the left and right lobes of rats in the colchicine group (P < 0.05) at each time point, and similar results were observed between the colchicine and control groups. Besides, there was a significant correlation between hepatic injury scores and ADC values or LMR (r = -0.682, P = 0.000; r = -0.245, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Injection with colchicine via the splenic vein can be used to successfully develop a rat model of heterogeneous hepatic injury. DWI and T2WI may help evaluate the heterogeneous injury among liver lobes.

[Measurement and analysis of reflected information from crops canopy suffering from wind disaster influence].

The corn in the grain filling stage fell over in the central region of Jilin province by the Typhoon Bolaven influence. In order to determine the impact of falling over corn canopy on the reflected information, the hyperspectral reflectance was detected at different viewing zenith angles, at the same time, the polarized reflection was also measured. The results from the analysis by combining the reflection and polarization from corn canopy showed that the reflection of falling over corn is low in visible, while increases in the near infrared wavelength. The reflection from falling over corn canopy was more anisotropic than stand-up corn canopy. The reflected light was highly polarized, the polarization of corn canopy provided the probability for distinguishing between falling over corn and stand-up corn. This research provides a basis for estimating the disaster area and lost units.

[Receptor-ligand analysis of killer cell Ig-like receptor in Jiangsu Han population].

AIM: To investigate the distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and its specific ligand human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in Jiangsu Han population. METHODS: 173 samples from unrelated healthy individuals of Jiangsu Han population were genotyped and observed for KIR, HLA-Cw and HLA-Bw4 using a SYBR Green I real-time PCR and PCR-SSP method, respectively. The number and type of KIR/HLA pairs inherited in each individual were analyzed. RESULTS: In Jiangsu Han population, all four inhibitory KIR (2DL1, 2DL2/3, 3DL1 and 3DL2) that recognize the classical HLA class I molecules HLA-A, -B and -C were present in >92% of the study group. Frequencies of 2DL2/HLA-C1, 2DL3/HLA-C1, 2DL1/HLA-C2 and 3DL1/Bw4 were 0.243, 0.971, 0.457 and 0.590, respectively; frequencies of 2DS1/HLA-C2 and 2DS2/HLA-C1 were 0.162 and 0.231, respectively. 54.3% of the cases expressed KIR2DL1 without HLA-C1, 32.9% inherited 3DL1 without HLA-Bw4 and 5.8% expressed HLA-Bw4 without 3DL1. 27.7% of the individuals had three iKIR/HLA pairs, 26% carried two iKIR/HLA pairs, and 25.4% inherited a single iKIR/HLA pair and no one was deficient in all three iKIR/HLA pairs. CONCLUSION: There was disparity between KIR receptor and HLA ligand in Jiangsu Han population. Inhibitory KIR/HLA pair frequency was higher than stimulatory one. About 1/4 of the study group expressed a single iKIR/HLA pair alone.

[Detection for KIR gene with use of SYBR green I real-time PCR].

AIM: To develope a novel real-time PCR method for KIR genotyping. METHODS: KIR genotyping is performed using 16 real-time PCR reactions, each containing two-three KIR-specific primers, a pair of internal positive control primers and a fluorescence dye, SYBR Green I. By the analysis of the Tm and the characteristic of the melting curve of the amplified products, we identified the presence or absence of 16 KIR genes. A variety of dilution folds were made to detect the sensitivity of this method. RESULTS: KIR genes were effectively genotyped by the analysis of the melting curve. This method can be used to detect KIR genes even from 0.1 ng of DNA. The feasibility of this method was tested by genotyping 10 DNA samples from Peripheral blood and 10 DNA samples from cervical cell. CONCLUSION: We developed a novel real-time PCR assay with SYBR Green I, which is a simple, rapid, sensitive, real-time and environmental method. It provides the possibility of the automated KIR genotyping.

[Effect of the immune strategy based on BCG priming and Ag85A/GM-CSF DNA vaccine boosting in mice].

AIM: To investigate immune effect in mice on the basis of BCG priming and DNA vaccine boosting, and to provide a new strategy for development of new type of anti-tuberculosis DNA vaccine further. METHODS: After mice were inoculated with BCG of 1x10(6) clone formation unit each three weeks, 100 microg of DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly in mice two times at 3 week intervals. The proliferative responses of murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer (NK) and spleen cell to antigen 85A(Ag85A) were measured by MTT method respectively. The antibody titers and IFN-gamma level from the immunized mice were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The proliferative responses of CTL and spleen cell to Ag85A, as well as IFN-gamma level in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy were significantly increased respectively compared with the control mice immunized with blank plasmid or BCG only. Although NK activity was a little higher in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy than that of immunized with blank plasmid mice, it was still lower than that of mice immunized with BCG alone. The titer of the specific antibody against Ag85A in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy was also higher than that of mice immunized with DNA vaccine alone. CONCLUSION: The immune strategy of BCG-prime and Ag85A/GM-CSF DNA vaccine boost improve immune effect, especially the Th1 cellular immune response increase obviously. This study provides the possibility of further research for investigating protective function in immunized mice challenged by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

[Anti-tumor mechanisms of Sp2/0 tumor vaccine transfected with mIL-21 gene in mice].

AIM: To explore the anti-tumor mechanism of Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine in mice. METHODS: The molecules of MHC-I and CD80 on the surface of Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) respectively. A flow cytometric CFSE-7-AAD cytotoxicity assay was used to detect the cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs. The expression of I-TAC in the tumor tissue was tested by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of MHC-I molecule on the surface of tumor vaccine was up-regulated obviously. The cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs were significantly enhanced in the mice inoculated with Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine compared with the mice inoculated with Sp2/0 tumor cell in control group. The expression of I-TAC in the tumor tissue was up-regulated. The histopathologic section analysis showed more lymphocytes were infiltrated in the tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine can induce strong cell-mediated immune response to tumor cells after it was inoculated s.c into mice. The anti-tumor mechanisms induced by Sp2/0 tumor cell vaccine are associated with the proliferation and activation of T lymphocyte, the differentiation and maturity of NK cell, the infiltration of lymphocytes in tumor tissue, and the enharuement of cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs.

[2000 Chinese total dietary study--the dietary arsenic intakes].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of dietary arsenic intakes in different areas in China. METHODS: Using the total dietary study method, the analytical samples were obtained in different areas by food consumption survey, food aggregation, food sampling and preparation. The levels of dietary total and inorganic arsenic were determined by the hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorospectrophotometry. The dietary total and inorganic arsenic intakes in different areas were obtained by timing the food consumption data and the arsenic content in different dietary samples. The safety of dietary arsenic was evaluated in Chinese four regions and average adults by using the dietary inorganic arsenic PTWI recommended by WHO. RESULTS: The results indicate that the dietary arsenic intake is safety in different regions. Only a few samples in some areas exceed tolerance limits of China national standard. Dietary total and inorganic arsenic (of PTWI) intakes in four different regions (north1, north2, south1, south2 and average adults) were 0.220 mg and 0.094 mg (69.3%), 0.254 mg and 0.098 mg (72.2%), 0.296 mg and 0.048 mg (35.6%), 0.335 mg and 0.077 mg (57.3%), 0.276 mg and 0.079 mg (58.6%) respectively. Mainly sources of dietary arsenic intake were cereals, vegetables and beverage and water. CONCLUSION: It is the first time that the dietary total arsenic and inorganic arsenic intakes of the adult were investigated in Chinese total diet study. The result shows that the total and inorganic arsenic intakes in Chinese people are safe.