Neuroprotection signaling pathway of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor against staurosporine induced apoptosis in hippocampal H19-7 cells

Neurotrophins protect neurons against excitotoxicity; however the signaling mechanisms for this protection remain to be fully elucidated. Here we report that activation of the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is critical for protection of hippocampal cells from staurosporine (STS) induced apoptosis, characterized by nuclear condensation and activation of the caspase cascade. Both nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) prevent STS-induced apoptotic morphology and caspase-3 activity by upregulating phosphorylation of the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) receptor. Inhibition of Trk receptor by K252a altered the neuroprotective effect of both NGF and BDNF whereas inhibition of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) had no effect. Impairment of the PI3K/Akt pathway or overexpression of dominant negative (DN)-Akt abolished the protective effect of both neurotrophins, while active Akt prevented cell death. Moreover, knockdown of Akt by si-RNA was able to block the survival effect of both NGF and BDNF. Thus, the survival action of NGF and BDNF against STS-induced neurotoxicity was mediated by the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling through the Trk receptor.     

肾小管上皮细胞损伤及其诱导草酸钙晶体成核

肾上皮细胞损伤可促进肾结石形成.本文采用过氧化氢(H2O2)对人类肾小管上皮细胞(HKC)进行了氧化损伤,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射分析(XRD)和倒置显微镜观察了HKC损伤前后的形态变化及其调控草酸钙(CaOxa)晶体成核、生长的差异;采用zeta电位分析仪检测了损伤前后HKC表面的zeta电位变化.结果表明,H2O2能明显地损伤HKC,降低细胞活性,且在H2O2浓度范围0.1～0.5mmol/L、作用时间0.5～1.5h内具有明显的剂量和时间的依赖性;使用0.5mmol/LH2O2作用1.5h可使HKC损伤达到饱和状态.HKC损伤程度增加后,其诱导的晶体数量显著增加,但晶体尺寸增加不明显(P0.05),表明损伤细胞诱导尿石症形成主要是增加晶体的成核位点而非促进晶体的生长.本文所建立的HKC氧化损伤的模型有助于进一步阐明CaOxa结石形成的细胞机制.     

溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池性能研究

以掺杂石墨粉的中间相碳微球(MCMB/G)烧结管为阴极支撑体,采用浸涂工艺分别制备了扩散层和催化层并在其外表面包裹Nafion膜,制得管状异型阴极并组装成异型直接甲醇燃料电池;采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了适用于直接甲醇燃料电池的溶胶-凝胶流动相。研究了溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池的阻抗,考察了阴极支撑体壁厚、阴极扩散层载量、实验温度和溶胶黏度等对电池极化性能的影响。结果表明,异型电池阻抗比传统平板电池大,但活化后电池阻抗明显下降;较低的溶胶黏度和较高的工作温度有利于提高电池性能;支撑体壁厚为1.3 mm、扩散层载量为3.5 mg/cm2时的电极性能最优。     

Prediction of retention indices. VI: Isothermal and temperature-programmed retention indices,methylene value,functionality constant,electronic and steric effects

The Kováts retention index system with n-alkanes as reference standards has properties not fully explored when single, isolated or stand-alone analytes are analyzed by isothermal gas chromatography. When a homologous series of analytes are analyzed by either linear or non-linear temperature-programmed gas chromatography, the retention data of the entire series can be treated systematically to produce an I vs. Z plot that is linear, thereby giving insight into the relationship between chemical structure and retention index. Dead time t_M is both instrument and temperature dependent. With no dead time t_M adjustment, the retention indices of analytes calculated from experimental retention times by the method of either linear or logarithmic interpolation give statistically identical values. Linear regression analysis of the data shows the slope as methylene value (A) and intercept as functionality constant or group retention factor (GRF) of the homologous series. The A and (GRF) values vary with chemical structures, intermolecular electronic and steric interactions, and polarity of column liquid phases, and can link gas chromatographic retention index to chemical structure. Examples of the influence of molecular electronic effects and steric effects on retention index are given and discussed.     

New separation methodologies for the distinction of the growth phases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle

In the present work two separation techniques, namely the gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF) and the reversed-flow gas chromatography (RFGC), are proposed for the distinction of the growth phases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (AXAZ-1) yeast cycle at different temperatures (30 °C, 25 °C, 20 °C, and 15 °C) and pH (2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) values. During the fermentation processes, differences observed in the peak profiles, obtained by GrFFF, can be related with the unlike cell growth. The distinction of the phases of AXAZ-1 cell cycle with the GrFFF, was also confirmed with the RFGC technique, which presented similar fermentation time periods for the alcoholic fermentation phases. Simultaneously, the reaction rate constant for each phase of the fermentation process and the activation energies were determined with the aid of the RFGC technique. Finally, the application of both the GrFFF and the RFGC techniques, in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography, allowed us to find the ideal experimental conditions (temperature and pH) for the alcoholic fermentation by AXAZ-1. The results indicate that S. cerevisiae cells performed better at 30 °C, whereas at lower temperatures decreases in the fermentation rate and in the number of viable cells were observed. Moreover, the pH of the medium (pH 5.0) resulted in higher fermentation rates and ethanol productivities.     

Analysis of amino acids and biogenic amines in breast cancer cells by capillary electrophoresis using polymer solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate

We describe simultaneous analysis of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA)-amino acid and NDA-biogenic amine derivatives by CE in conjunction with light-emitting diode-induced fluorescence detection using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). After sample injection, via EOF 0.1% PEO prepared in 100 mM TB solution (pH 9.0) containing 30 mM SDS entered a capillary filled with 0.5 M TB solution (pH 10.2) containing 40 mM SDS. Under this condition, 14 NDA-amino acid and NDA-amine derivatives were separated within 16 min, with high efficiency ((1.0–3.2) × 10⁵ theoretical plates) and sensitivity (LODs at S/N = 3 ranging from 2.06 to 19.17 nM). In the presence of SDS and PEO, analytes adsorption on the capillary wall was suppressed, leading to high efficiency and reproducibility. The intraday analysis RSD values (n = 3) of the mobilities for the analytes are less than 0.52%. We have validated the practicality of this approach by quantitative determination of 9 amino acids in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and 10 amino acids in normal epithelial cells (H184B5F5/M10). The concentrations of Tau and Gln in the MCF-7 cells were different than those in the H184B5F5/M10 cells, respectively. Our results show the potential of this approach for cancer study.     

Synthesis of Monomeric and Dimeric Repeating Units of the Zwitterionic Type 1 Capsular Polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae

Zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) from Bacteroides fragilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae display unique T‐cell activities. The first synthesis of a hexasaccharide representing two repeating units of the zwitterionic capsular polysaccharide from S. pneumoniae type 1 (Sp1) is reported. Key elements of the approach are stereoselective construction of 1,4‐cis‐α‐galactose linkages based on a reactive trichloroacetimidate donor that incorporates a 6‐O‐acetyl group, which may contribute to the high α selectivity in glycosylation. After assembly of the fully protected hexasaccharide from five monosaccharide synthons 2 – 4 , 24 and 25 , selective deprotection of the primary hydroxyl groups of the four galactose residues followed by oxidation to the corresponding uronic acids provides hexasaccharide 19 . The trisaccharide counterpart 1 was synthesized in similar fashion from three synthons, 2 – 4 . This approach employed both conventional and dehydrative glycosylation methodologies and avoids the use of poorly reactive uronic acid derived glycosyl donors and acceptors.     

质子交换膜燃料电池非贵金属型Fe-N-C催化剂的研究进展

质子交换膜燃料电池具有绿色、可持续、效率高等优点,被认为是解决环境与能源问题最有前途的替代方案。燃料电池核心是催化剂,目前应用最成熟的是铂族贵金属,但其高昂的成本制约着燃料电池的快速推广,另外铂族金属对CO、NH₃等气体较为敏感,使得燃料纯度要求苛刻,因此开发高性能低成本的催化剂替代贵金属是推动燃料电池商业化的重要途径。本文总结了近年来燃料电池近年来Fe-N-C催化剂的研究成果,并对Cu、Co等金属掺杂影响进行了系统综述。文中从制备方法、载体、氮源、金属掺杂等对Fe-N-C催化剂氧还原活性及耐久性的影响进行了详细的对比分析,对催化剂的失活机理进行了一定的探讨。最后,本文展望了Fe-N-C催化剂未来的发展方向,提出催化剂活性、耐久性同步提升以及优化燃料电池催化剂层的方案。