Soil fertility, salinity and nematode diversity influenced by Tamarix ramosissima in different habitats in an arid desert oasis.

The aim of this paper was to assess the influence of tamarisk shrubs on soil fertility, salinity and nematode communities in various habitats located in an arid desert-oasis region in northwest China. Three habitats were studied: sand dune, riparian zone and saline meadow, where tamarisk shrubs have been established in recent decades in order to vegetation restoration used as desertification control and saline land rehabilitation projects and become the dominant plant community. The parameters measured include soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), pH, salt component, and nematode community characteristics. Enrichment ratios (a comparison of the soil measurements between soils under canopy and in the open interspaces) for soil nutrients and salinity were used to evaluate fertility and salinity islands underneath the tamarisk shrubs. The soil nematode community was used as a biological indicator of soil condition. SOC and available P and K were higher beneath the plant canopy than in the open interspaces outside that canopy. The enrichment ratios for SOC and nutrients were highest for the sand dune habitat and tamarisk shrubs clearly created islands of greater salinity under the canopies. Nematode abundance per 100 g dry soil varied considerably between the locations and habitats, with the highest abundance found in sand dune and the lowest in saline meadow. A significantly higher nematode abundance and a lower trophic diversity were found in soils under the canopy compared to the soils in the open interspaces. With the exception of saline meadow, the abundance of bacterivores increased and fungivores decreased under the canopy relative to the open interspaces, and bacterivores dominated under the canopies in the sand dune and riparian habitats. The enrichment ratios for salinity were higher than for fertility, suggesting that improved soil fertility can not limit the impact of salinization beneath tamarisk shrubs. The adverse effect of salt accumulation on the soil environment should be taken into account when using tamarisk as restoration plant species, especially in saline meadow and controlling of tamarisk density should be considered when undertaking re-vegetation projects in the arid desert oasis regions.

Correlation of CerbB-2 to Ki-67 and P53 expressions in hormone-independent breast cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relation of CerbB-2 with Ki-67 and P53 expressions in hormone-independent breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 180 patients with breast cancer were examined for the positivity to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and subsequently divided into hormone-dependent group (positive for both ER and PR) and hormone-independent group (negative for both). CerbB-2, Ki-67 and P53 expressions were detected in these patients using an improved Envision immunohistochemical staining with the corresponding antibodies. Twenty-nine patients without definite immunohistochemical results of C-erbB-2 were excluded from further analysis. The 51 hormone-independent and 100 hormone-dependent cases were analyzed for the correlation of CerbB-2 to Ki-67 and P53 expressions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In hormone-independent cases negative for CerbB-2, Ki-67 and P53 expressions were significantly higher than that in hormone-dependent CerbB-2-negative cases (P<0.05), but in CerbB-2-positive cases, their expressions showed no significant differences (P>0.05) with respect to hormonal dependence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In hormone-independent CerbB-2-negative cases, the tumor cells show a higher proliferative activity and P53 expression than those in hormone-dependent cases, which can be an important reason for the high malignancy and poor prognosis of hormone-independent breast cancer negative for CerbB-2.</p>

Construction, expression and characterization of recombinant fusion protein HSA-PTH (1-34) in Pichia pastoris / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To obtain recombinant fusion protein HSA (human serum albumin)-PTH(1-34) in Pichia pastoris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HSA and PTH(1-34) cDNA were obtained with PCR and the DNA segments were cloned into vector pPIC9 with linker. The linearized plasmids were transformed GS115 competent cells treated with LiCl, and mut+ transformants were screened on MD plate. With AOX promoter and alpha-MF signal sequences leading, fusion protein was expressed in GS115. PCR and SDS-PAGE were employed to confirm the integration and expression of HSA-PTH(1-34). The fusion protein was identified by Western blotting and classical adenylate cyclase assay.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The PCR results showed that the gene of HSA-PTH(1-34) was integrated into GS115 genome. Western bolt approved the existence of two domains of HSA and PTH(1-34). The bioactivity assay in rabbit cortical membranes indicated that HSA-PTH (1-34) activated adenylate cyclase, but the activity was lower than that of the synthetic PTH(1-34).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Active fusion protein HSA-PTH (1-34) is successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris.</p>

Inhibition of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell by TNP-470 in combination with gemcitabine / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Angiogenesis is required for solid tumor growth and facilitates tumor progression and metastasis. The inhibition effects of O-(chloroacetyl-carbamoyl) fumagillol (TNP-470), an angiogenesis inhibitor, and gemcitabine, a chemotherapeutic agent, on expression of growth factors were investigated using human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line, A549. The A549 cells were divided into four groups: control group, 10(-6) mg/ml gemcitabine treated group, 10(-4) mg/ml TNP-470 treated group and gemcitabine+TNP-470 treated group. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (FLT-1) and kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR), in different groups were measured. The growth of A549 cell cultured with gemcitabine or TNP-470 was inhibited in an almost dose-dependent manner. Although gemcitabine (10(-6) mg/ml) alone and TNP-470 (10(-4) mg/ml) alone had no effect on the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and its receptors (FLT-1, KDR) in A549 cells compared to the control (P>0.05), 10(-6) mg/ml gemcitabine in combination with 10(-4) mg/ml TNP-470 had significant effect (P<0.01). Moreover, combination of the two drugs significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR compared to either drug alone (P<0.05). This study suggests that combined treatment with TNP-470 plus gemcitabine may augment the antiangiogenic and antineoplastic effects in lung cancer cells in vitro.