The bioconcentration ability of heavy metal research for 50 kinds of rice under the same test conditions.

The aims of this experiment are to explore the accumulation of metal contamination of different varieties of rice planted in paddy fields and to provide a basis for the further research. The rice specimens were grown in and collected from a total area of 8.24 acres of rice planting fields where local farmers cultivated 50 different kinds of rice. The crops were grown using the methods of seedling, transplanting, fertilizing, and irrigation, under the guidance of professional and technical personnel. The 50 kinds of paddy rice contain 20 kinds of conventional rice, 15 kinds of two-line hybrid rice, 15 kinds of three-line hybrid rice, and the whole experiment lasted 100 days. To begin our analysis of the data, we first gathered 15 irrigation water samples respectively from the first day of the experiment. This was then followed by gathering water samples from the tillering stage, then the development stage, the solid phase, and finally, the last day of the experiment. On the first day and at the end of the experiment, we had respectively gathered 6 mud samples from the rice paddies, with a total 12 parts of it. In addition to this, by the end of the experiment, we had gathered 6 samples of rice spike from each type of the investigated rice, with a total 300 parts of it. These samples were then analyzed in the laboratory to detect the contents and amounts of lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper, calcium, fluoride, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in the samples, and the pH quality of the samples. The quality of irrigation water was evaluated according to irrigation water quality standards (GB 5084-2005); the rice paddy mud samples were detected and evaluated respectively according to farmland soil environment quality monitor technology standards (NY/T 395-2012) and the journal of environmental quality assessment standard of edible agricultural products (HJ 332-2006); the rice grains were detected and evaluated according to the limited food standards (GB 2762-2012); the bioaccumulation factors (BCFs) were adopted to evaluate the accumulation ability of metal contamination in rice. As a result, the test values of the irrigation water samples were within irrigation water quality standards. Only the content of cadmium was beyond the environmental quality assessment standard of edible agricultural products, by 0.07 mg/kg. The content of lead and cadmium in 50 different rice were 0.41 ± 0.01~0.49 ± 0.01 mg/kg and 0.22 ± 0.01~0.25 ± 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. The varietal differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Lead BCFs, cadmium BCFs, and chromium BCFs in 50 different kinds of rice had no statistical difference (P>0.05). For the content of lead, cadmium, chromium, inorganic arsenic and copper in the conventional rice samples, two-line hybrid rice samples, and three-line hybrid rice samples, there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). Lead BCFs, cadmium BCFs, chromium BCFs, arsenic BCFs, and copper BCFs also had no statistical difference (P>0.05). This means the content of cadmium and lead contaminant in the 50 kinds of rice exceeded food quality and limits. The content of cadmium of mud samples exceeded the assessment standard by 0.07 mg/kg, the content of cadmium, of the 50 kinds of rice, exceeded the limited food standard by 0.04 mg/kg. The content of lead in the paddy mud was within the limited value, but the content of lead exceeded the limited food standard by 0.24 mg/kg. For the lead BCFs, cadmium BCFs, and chromium BCFs of the 50 kinds of rice, there was no statistically significant difference. This was the same for lead BCFs, cadmium BCFs, chromium BCFs, arsenic BCFs, and copper BCFs during conventional rice, two-line hybrid rice, and three-line hybrid rice. For the above, the rice had a strong adsorption capacity of lead. The conclusions of this data lead us to not only implement measures of control but also to conduct research on the suitable levels of lead in edible agricultural products.

[Effects of lycopene on blood lipid and red blood cell of rat with hypercholesterolemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of lycopene on red blood cell and the level of blood lipid. METHODS: According to the level of serum total cholesterol and weight, forty-eight adult male SD rats were divided randomly into six groups: normal control (group A), fed by normal feed; hyperlipidemia group (group B): fed by high fat diet; positive control group (group C): fed by high fat diet plus 10 mg * kg(-1) * d(-1) fluvastatin sodium; lycopene groups: fed by high fat diet plus 11 (group D), 22 (group E), 44 mg * kg(-1) * d(-1) (group F) lycopene through gavage, respectively. For all six groups, the level of serum total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG) were measured at the end of 0, 1, 3 weeks of the study by taking samples from tail vein. At the end of the experiment, RBC and HGB were measured. RESULTS: After the rats were fed with high-fat feed for a week, models of hyperlipidemia rats were established. At the end of 3 weeks, TC of group A, B, C, D, E and F were (1.31 +/- 0.05), (19.40 +/- 0.54), (4.66 +/- 0.07), (7.18 +/- 0.06), (5.30 +/- 0.28), (4.49 +/- 0.23) mmol/L (F = 4395.72, P = 0.00), respectively;and TG were (0.42 +/- 0.01), (2.29 +/- 0.42), (0.69 +/- 0.03), (1.10 +/- 0.05), (0.63 +/- 0.02), (0.62 +/- 0.04) mmol/L (F = 127.26, P = 0.00), respectively; HGB were (143.13 +/- 6.33), (112.63 +/- 2.56), (124.75 +/- 3.62), (124.63 +/- 7.78), (132.38 +/- 6.41), (142.13 +/- 5.54) g/L (F = 34.14, P = 0.00), respectively; RBC were (6.75 +/- 0.60) x 10(12)/L, (5.08 +/- 0.75) x 10(12)/L, (7.14 +/- 0.82) x 10(12)/L, (5.94 +/- 1.09) x 10(12)/L, (6.18 +/- 0.36) x 10(12)/L and (7.31 +/- 0.58) x 10(12)/L (F = 10.35, P = 0.00), respectively. CONCLUSION: Lycopene have some protective effects on red blood cells of the hyperlipidemic rats by regulating the blood lipid and antioxidant.

Comparison of lycopene and fluvastatin effects on atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the antiatherogenic effect of lycopene in rabbits fed a high-fat diet. METHODS: Forty adult male rabbits were divided into five groups that were fed a standard diet, a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 4 mg/kg of lycopene, a high-fat diet plus 12 mg/kg of lycopene, and a high-fat diet plus 10 mg/kg of fluvastatin, respectively. Lycopene and fluvastatin were administered intragastrically. The level of serum total cholesterol, total triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde were measured before and after 4 and 8 wk of experimental treatment. In addition, plasma levels of lycopene, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, serum nitric oxide, and interleukin-1 were measured after the experiment. The area of atherosclerotic plaque and pathologic changes of the aorta were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the control, levels of total cholesterol, total triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, malonaldehyde, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and interleukin-1 were increased and total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide were decreased in the animals with a high-fat diet (P < 0.05). Intragastric administration of lycopene counteracted the change in these parameters (P < 0.05). In this case, the data showed that lycopene in the used dose was better than the fluvastatin intervention. Morphologic analysis revealed that lycopene and fluvastatin markedly reduced the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta compared with the situation in rabbits on a high-fat diet alone. CONCLUSION: Lycopene, like fluvastatin, significantly attenuated atherogenesis in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.

Adsorption kinetics of heptadecafluoro-1-nonanol: Phase transition and mixed control.

HYPOTHESIS: The adsorption kinetics of heptadecafluoro-1-nonanol (C9H2F17OH) onto a clean air-water interface at low surfactant concentrations (equilibrium surface tension, γ(C) > 65 mN/m) has been reported, and the controlling mechanism was found to be mixed diffusive-kinetic controlled (Kuo et al., JCIS 402 (2013) 131). However, it remains to be determined what the adsorption kinetics are at higher concentrations. Hence, the dynamic surface tension, γ(t) of C9H2F17OH was measured and compared with the theoretical γ(t) curves predicted from phase transition model. EXPERIMENTS: A video-enhanced pendant bubble tensiometer was used to measure the γ(t) data of aqueous C9H2F17OH solutions at higher concentrations (C > 7.7 × 10-9 mol/cm3). A new generalized Frumkin-Langmuir phase transition model was built up to simulate the γ(C) and γ(t) data. FINDINGS: At higher surfactant concentrations, a constant-γ region at 64.8 mN/m was observed for one hundred to a few thousand seconds during the γ(t) relaxation. This constant-γ region implies the existence of a phase transition of the adsorbed surfactant monolayer at air-water interface. The γ(t) data of C9H2F17OH can be simulated perfectly using this mixed-controlled phase transition model with the adsorption rate constants ß1 = 1.0 ±â€¯0.5 and ß2 = 13 ±â€¯4 (105 cm3/mol·s). It is therefore concluded that the adsorption process of C9H2F17OH onto a clean air-water interface is of mixed-control.

Histamine induces the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and acid-binding protein (aP2) in white adipocytes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether histamine induces up-regulated expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and fat acid-binding protein (aP2) in white adipocytes (differentiated 3T3-L1 cells). METHODS: Differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes was induced by the addition of 5 microg/mL insulin, 1 micromol/L dexamethasone, 10 mmol/L 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine, 1% dimethylsulfoxide, and 10% fetal bovine serum in Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium. Total RNA from differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was extracted and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine the levels of UCP2 and aP2 mRNA. The expression level of UCP2 protein was determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Histamine at a concentration of 30 micromol/L significantly increased the expression of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 protein, and expression levels reached a peak value. There were significant differences in the expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 protein in adipocytes treated with 30 micromol/L histamine at various time points within 48 h, and their levels reached a peak value after 6 h of incubation. In addition, histamine increased the expression level of aP2 mRNA in adipocytes. Expression of aP2 mRNA in adipocytes reached the highest value at a concentration of 20 micromol/L histamine after 6-h incubation. Finally, we found that diphenhydramine (a H1 receptor antagonist) significantly decreased expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and protein, as well as aP2 mRNA. There were significant differences in expression levels of UCP2 and aP2 mRNA in adipocytes treated at concentrations of 20 micromol/L histamine and diphenhydramine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that histamine up-regulated the expression of UCP2 and aP2 in vitro in white adipocytes.

Impact of rosiglitazone on the expression of beta3-AR in the stable cell lines expressed beta3-AR gene.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2) agonist, on the expression of beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) at transcriptional and translational level. METHODS: We cloned the cDNA sequences of human PPAR-gamma2 (hPPAR-gamma2) gene and human wild type and mutant beta3-adrenergic receptor (hbeta3-AR) genes and established their eukaryotic expression vectors. The pcDNA3.1/hbeta3-AR (mutant and wild type) was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells using electroporation method. The expression level of beta3-AR protein was determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that the reverse transcription-PCR products were consistent with theoretical fragment sizes of human PPAR-gamma2 (1544 bp) and human beta3-AR genes (1578 bp). The sequence analysis of PPAR-gamma2 and beta3-AR genes showed that the fragment sizes were the same as that of human PPAR-gamma2 and human beta3-AR genes in Genbank. The pcDNA3.1/hbeta3-AR (mutant and wild type) was successfully cloned to SH-SY5Y cells. We found that the expression of beta3-AR protein was significantly inhibited by rosiglitazone in a concentration-dependent manner in SH-SY5Y cell lines stably expressed beta3-AR genes. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that rosiglitazone has a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the expression of beta3-AR protein, and this inhibitory effect may be due to activation of PPAR-gamma2 receptor.

Distributive characteristics of Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg genetic polymorphisms of beta1-adrenoceptor in Chinese Han and Dai populations.

AIM: Genetic polymorphisms causing Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutants of beta(1)-adrenoceptor may result in significant changes in the function of this receptor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequencies of the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutant alleles in healthy Chinese populations and to investigate the differences between 2 Chinese ethnic groups (Han and Dai populations) with respect to the frequencies of these alleles. METHODS: A total of 225 Han Chinese and 175 Dai Chinese unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by using a standard manual chloroform-phenol extraction. Fragments spanning the 2 polymorphisms were amplified by using polymerase chain reaction with template genomic DNA and relevant primers. The DNA products including the polymorphic loci were subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion with Eco0109I and BcgI. Digested fragments were detected with an ultraviolet detector after electrophoresis (100 V for approximately 1.5 h). RESULTS: The frequencies of the Gly49 and Arg389 alleles were, respectively, 16.2% and 76.4% in the Han population and 14.6% and 75.7% in the Dai population. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms causing the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutations of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor existed in both healthy Han and Dai Chinese populations. The frequencies of the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutant alleles were not significantly different in the Han and Dai populations. However, the frequency of the Gly389 variant seems to be significantly lower in these 2 populations than in an African-American population.