Spatial sampling design optimization of monitoring network for terrestrial ecosystem in China.

The rapid socioeconomic development leads to the deterioration of ecological environment. Ecosystem assessment has been conducted worldwide, e.g. the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to assess consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. To enhance ecosystem assessment in China, this study proposes the design of a monitoring network for the terrestrial ecosystem consisting of core stations and localized points. With focus on ecosystem services of NPP, water conservation, soil retention and sandstorm prevention, core stations of the monitoring network for observing all four services are first selected by assessing and improving spatial representativeness in ecoregions of forest, grassland and desert ecosystems. Then a spatial sampling method is applied to choose localized points for observing each specific service. Eventually expert's knowledge is used to make final decisions of added stations and points by utilizing existing networks and considering factors such as topography, spatial coverage. Combining both aforementioned approaches and experts knowledge, 60 core stations and 176 localized points are finally determined for the monitoring network. For the forest ecosystem, 39 core stations are decided with 31 selected from existing networks and eight newly added core stations improve spatial representativeness by 51.58 %, 68.11 % and 75.55 % in Temperate grasslands, Temperate desert and Alpine vegetation in Tibet Plateau respectively. For the grassland and desert ecosystem, 21 core stations are chosen with 18 from existing networks and three newly added core stations improve the representativeness by 21.60 % and 44.88 % in Tibet alpine grassland and Grassland in southern mountain areas respectively. Priorities in the implementation phase should be given to instruments installation for monitoring all four services in core stations from existing networks and setting up new stations in regions where representativeness are significantly improved.

Structural characteristics and catalytic cycle of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase-a review / 生物工程学报

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase is a flavin-dependent mitochondrial enzyme to catalyze the fourth step of the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine and to oxidize dihydroorotate to orotate. By selectively inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, thereby inhibiting pyrimidine synthesis, the enzyme has been developed for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, bacterial or viral infections, parasitic diseases and so on. The development of inhibitory drugs requires a detailed understanding of the structural characteristics and catalytic cycle mechanism of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Therefore, this paper reviews these two aspects, and indicates perspectives of these inhibitors in clinical application.

FBX8 degrades GSTP1 through ubiquitination to suppress colorectal cancer progression.

F-box only protein 8 (FBX8), as a critical component of the SKP1-CUL1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligases, has been associated with several malignancies through interacting with a member of proteins. However, the substrates of FBX8 for destruction in the progression of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) need to be explored. Here, we show that loss of FBX8 accelerates chemical-induced colon tumorigenesis. FBX8 directly targets GSTP1 for ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation in CRC. GSTP1 promotes the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of CRC cells. Furthermore, GSTP1 is upregulated in CRC tissue samples and predicts poor prognosis of CRC patients. The inactivation of FBX8 negatively correlated with increased levels and stability of GSTP1 in clinical CRC tissues and FBX8 knockout transgenic mice. These findings identify a novel ubiquitination pathway as FBX8-GSTP1 axis that regulates the progression of CRC, which might be a potential prognostic biomarker for CRC patients.

Lab-on-a-chip technologies for genodermatoses: Recent progress and future perspectives.

In recent years, molecular biology has proven to be a great asset in our understanding of mechanisms in genodermatoses. However, bench to bedside translation research lags far behind. Advances in lab-on-a-chip technologies enabled programmable, reconfigurable, and scalable manipulation of a variety of laboratory procedures. Sample preparation, microfluidic reactions, and continuous monitoring systems can be integrated on a small chip. These advantages have attracted attention in various fields of clinical application including diagnosis of inherited skin diseases. This review lists an overview of the underlying genes and mutations and describes prospective application of lab-on-a-chip technologies as solutions to challenges for point-of-care genodematoses diagnosis.

Effects of chronic sleep deprivation on the myosin heavy chain isoforms of masseter muscle in rats / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the changes of myosin heavy chain ( MyHC) isoforms in rat masseter muscle fibers caused by chronic sleep deprivation ( CSD) and a possible link with the pathogenesis of temporomandibular joint disorders ( TMD ) .Methods Total 180 male rats were randomly divided into three groups( n=60 per group): chronic sleep deprivation group ( CSD),cage control group ( CC),and large-platform control group ( TC ) .Each group was further divided into three subgroups ( n=20 in each group)according to the observation time point(7,14,and 21 days).The expression of MyHC isoforms in mas-seter muscle fibers was investigated by real-time quantitative PCR,Western blotting and immunohistochemi-cal staining.Results The expression of MyHC-Ⅰ,MyHC-ⅡA and MyHC-ⅡB deep and shallow masseter muscle in CSD7d group had differention with the control group(MyHC-Ⅰ:(0.314±0.005,0.134±0.005, P0.05) ,and there were no differences between the CC and TC groups at any time point.Conclusion These findings suggest that CSD alters the ex-pression of MyHC isoforms,which may contribute to TMD pathogenesis.

Separation and screening of components with fibrinolytic enzyme activity from twelve Chinese herbal medicines / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To separate and screen components with fibrinolytic enzyme activity from twelve Chinese herbal medicines. Methods The components were extracted with water and precipitated with salt, and they were tested by fibrinolytic protein plates method. The active components with fibrinolytic activity were separated and screened which were compared with urokinase. Results Eleven of the twelve extracts showed fibrinolytic activity, while Trichosanthes kirilowii got the biggest fibrinolytic zone after 36 hours, followed by Alisma plantago-aquatica and Leonurus japonicus, and the Radix Astagali got the smallest one. According to the concentration of the protein, the area of the fibrinolytic zone and the specific activity of the components, the extract from Angelica sinensis exhibited the best specific activity at level of 48.46U/mg. Conclusion The extracts from Chinese herbal medicines except Semen Persicae exhibit fibrinolytic enzyme activity which can dissolve the fibrin in different degrees.

Effects of aerobic exercise on plasma tissue plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and postaglandin I2/thromboxanes A2 in rats fed a high methionine diet / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To observe the effects of aerobic training on plasma tissue plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and postaglandin I2/thromboxanes A2 in rats fed a high methionine diet. Methods Ninetysix male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal diet control group (CR), a high methionine diet group (MR)and a high methionine diet plus 90 min aerobic training intervention group (T + MR). After 8 weeks of training, the plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy) 6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, t-PA and PAI-1 were measured. Results Plasma Hcy in the MR group increased two-fold as compared with the CR group, whereas t-PA/PAI-1 and 6-keto-PGF1α/TXB2 of the MR group decreased significantly. Plasma Hcy in the T + MR group significantly decreased, while plasma t-PA/PAI-1 and 6-ketoPGF1α/TXB2 increased significantly compared with the MR group. The above parameters were not different in the T + MR group from those of the CR group. Conclusions Hyperhomocysteinemia could be induced by a high methionine diet.Proper training can decrease the plasma Hcy level of rats fed with a high methionine diet, and correcting the imbalance of t-PA/PAI-1 and 6-Keto-PGF1α/TXB2 could prevent the development of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Screening the serum proteomic patterns of Paget disease with SELDI-TOF-MS / 中国医师杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrom-etry(SELDI-TOF-MS) for Paget disease. Methods The relative contents of serum proteins of 15 healthy people,15 patients with chronic eczema and 20 patients with Paget were detected by Weak cation exchanger protein chip (WCx2) and SELDI-TOF-MS. Results The con-tents of two proteins (3868Da,8876Da) had significant difference in healthy people and Paget disease patients(P<0.01). 291IDa, 3868Da and 5097Da protein peaks had significant difference in chronic eczema and Paget disease(P<0.05). Conclusion It shows great potentiality for early diagnosis and screening the tumor biomarkers of Paget disease with SELDI-TOF-MS.