Critical review on anthocyanins in blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) and their function.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is an emerging commercial fruit in the world, has been known for its multiple anthocyanins in the berries, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) is a major anthocyanin in berries and it makes up 76-92% of the total anthocyanins content, with high antioxidant capacity, and widely used in food products. In this review, recent studies related to anthocyanins in blue honeysuckle were sorted out, including the current status of research on anthocyanins in blue honeysuckle berries, especially C3G, qualitative and quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in berries, extraction and purification methods of anthocyanins from blue honeysuckle, in addition, biological effects of blue honeysuckle, and recommended utilization. Blue honeysuckle contains polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, minerals, and multiple bioactive compounds, it has been extensively reported to have significant antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, and anti-diabetic functions, and has been used in a variety of food products as raw materials.

[Pattern recognition and activation effect of mast cells in vitro infected by Brucella suis S2].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern recognition and activation effect of mast cells infected by Brucella (B.) suis S2. METHODS: Mast cells derived from bone marrow in vitro were infected by B.suis S2. The change in the cell morphology was observed with Wrights-Giemsa's staining, and cell degranulation was tested with toluidine blue staining. The extracellular levels of histamine, IFN-γ and IL-12 of mast cells at 1 and 12 h after infection were detected by indirect ELISA. The uptake pattern of mast cells to B.suis S2 was determined by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The expressions of TLR4 and TLR8 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR at 12 and 24 h after infection by B.suis S2, and the TLR4 and TLR8 protein expressions were detected by flow cytometry at 24 h. RESULTS: The form of mast cells infected by B.suis S2 was obviously changed. Significant degranulation was observed at 1 h, and at 1, 12 h post-infection by B.suis S2, the content of histamine secreted by mast cells was significantly higher than that of normal control group (P<0.05), and IFN-γ and IL-12 were not found. At 30 min and 1 h, B.suis S2 bound to the mast cell surface and were not uptaken into the mast cells. Compared with the control group, the expression of TLR4 mRNA increased after 12 h infection by B.suis S2, and was reduced at 24 h. The expression of TLR4 protein rose at 24 h, but the expression of TLR8 mRNA and protein did not alter at 12 and 24 h after infection by B.suis S2. CONCLUSION: B.suis S2 can bind to the cell surface and activate mast cells, cause their degranulation, induce the release of histamine, but IFN-γ and IL-12 were not found during the observing time. The mechanism may be that B.suis S2 can be recognized by mast cells through TLR4 but can not be phagocytosed by mast cells.

[Land use change and its effects on ecosystem services value in Ji' nan City of Shandong Province, East China].

Based on the GIS software platform, referring to the China 'Terrestrial ecosystem services per unit area value', and by using transition matrix, Costanza evaluation formula, and sensitivity analysis, this paper studied the change characteristics of land use and ecosystem services value in Ji' nan City in 1989-2009. During the study period, the built-up area in the City increased by 99.65 km2, while agriculture land and green space reduced by 103.21 km2, 90.4% of which was taken by the built-up land. The total ecosystem services value decreased from 256.22 x 10(6) yento 214.16 x 10(6) yen, with a decrement of 42.06 x 10(6) yen, mainly due to the decrease in the areas of agriculture land and green space. For the sustainable development of the population, resources, and environment in Ji'nan City, future urban planning should pay more attention on the natural resources protection, reasonable planning of land use structure, and maintenance of ecosystem stability and balance.

[Comparison of macrophages and dendritic cells infected by Brucella S(2)].

Objective To make a comparison of the characteristics between macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) infected by Brucella suis (B. suis) S(2);. Methods Wrights-Giemsa's stainning was used to observe the cell morphology and calculate the phagocytic rate. ELISA was employed to detect the expressions of IL-12 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatants as well as the contents of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the co-culture with T cells. With annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining, the cell apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry. Results 1 h after infected by B. suis S(2);, the phagocytic rate of macrophages was (43.6±4.8)%, which was significantly higher than that of the DC (16.3±2.7)% (P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of normal macrophages and macrophages 6, 12 and 24 h after infected by B. suis S(2); were (3.09±1.21)%, (19.89±1.36)%, (22.73±2.21)% and (42.44±3.12)%, respectively, which were dramatically higher than those of the DC at the corresponding time points, being (1.82±0.01)%, (3.76±0.13)%, (7.87±0.56)% and (9.08±0.23)%, respectively (P<0.05). The levels of IL-12 secreted by macrophages 24 and 48 h after infected by B. suis S(2); were significantly lower than those by the DC (P<0.01). At 24, 48 and 72 h, the levels of TNF-α secreted by macrophages were dramatically lower than those by the DC (P<0.01), and the levels of IFN-γ in the co-culture supernatants of macrophages and T cells were significantly lower than those in DC and T cell co-culture (P<0.01). Conclusion Macrophages have a better ability in phagocytosing B. suis S(2); than DC and the apoptosis rate of macrophages is higher than that of DC after infected by B. suis S(2);, but in activating and inducing the cellular immune response and presenting antigen, DC are stronger than macrophages.

[Suitability assessment of construction land in the central and southern parts of Hebei Province, China based on potential-limitation model].

The suitability assessment of regional construction land is one of the important prerequisites for the spatial arrangement in regional planning, and also, the important foundation for the reasonable utilization of regional land resources. With the support of GIS, and by using the regional comprehensive strength and spatial accessibility analysis and the eco-environmental sensitivity analysis, this paper quantitatively analyzed the development potential and its ecological limitation of the central and southern parts of Hebei Province. Besides, based on the cost-benefit analysis, the potential-limitation model was accordingly developed, and the three land suitability scenarios under different developmental concepts were captured through the interaction matrix. The results indicated that both the comprehensive strength and the development potential of the study area showed a primacy distribution pattern, and presented an obvious pole-axis spatial pattern. The areas with higher eco-environmental sensitivity were mainly distributed in the west regions, while those with lower eco-environmental sensitivity were in the east regions. Regional economic development concept had important effects on the regional ecological security pattern and urban growth. The newly developed principles and methods for the land suitability assessment in this paper could not only scientifically realize the spatial grid of regional development potential and capture the future land development trend and spatial distribution, but also provide scientific basis and effective ways for urban and regional planning to realize region 'smart growth' and 'smart conservation'.