Altered counts and mitochondrial mass of peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) damages liver cells through abnormal immune responses. Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for effector functions of white blood cells (WBCs). The aim was to investigate the altered counts and mitochondrial mass (MM) of WBCs by two novel indicators of mitochondrial mass, MM and percentage of low mitochondrial membrane potential, MMPlow%, due to chronic HBV infection. The counts of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes in the HBV infection group were in decline, especially for lymphocyte (p = 0.034) and monocyte counts (p = 0.003). The degraded MM (p = 0.003) and MMPlow% (p = 0.002) of lymphocytes and MM (p = 0.005) of monocytes suggested mitochondrial dysfunction of WBCs. HBV DNA within WBCs showed an extensive effect on mitochondria metabolic potential of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes indicated by MM; hepatitis B e antigen was associated with instant mitochondrial energy supply indicated by MMPlow% of neutrophils; hepatitis B surface antigen, antiviral therapy by nucleos(t)ide analogues and prolonged infection were also vital factors contributing to WBC alterations. Moreover, degraded neutrophils and monocytes could be used to monitor immune responses reflecting chronic liver fibrosis and inflammatory damage. In conclusion, MM combined with cell counts of WBCs could profoundly reflect WBC alterations for monitoring chronic HBV infection. Moreover, HBV DNA within WBCs may be a vital factor in injuring mitochondria metabolic potential.

Morpholine-modified permethyl ß-cyclodextrin supramolecular nanoparticles for precise dual-targeted imaging.

Possessing dual-targeted agents toward the lysosome and cancer cells, a ternary supramolecular assembly was constructed by a morpholine-modified permethyl ß-cyclodextrin, sulfonated porphyrin, and folic acid-modified chitosan via multivalent interactions. As compared with free porphyrin, the obtained ternary supramolecular assembly showed promoted photodynamic effect and achieved dual-targeted precise imaging in cancer cells.

[Effects of Management Measures on Soil Water-soluble Carbon and Nitrogen and Their Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Characteristics of Pinus tabulaeformis Plantations on Loess Plateau].

The Pinus tabulaeformis plantation on the Loess Plateau was selected as the research site to study the changes of soil water-soluble carbon and nitrogen content and components of soil dissolved organic matter (SDOM) under different management measures (litter removal, young Pinus tabulaeformis forest, shrubs, grassland). The uncleared Pinus tabulaeformis plantation was used as the control. Results show that the soil water-soluble organic carbon content of shrubs and young Pinus tabulaeformis forests was significantly higher than that in other management measures. The content of soil water-soluble organic carbon decreased with an increase in soil depth, whereas soil water-soluble organic carbon/soil organic carbon (WSOC/SOC) increased. The change of soil water-soluble nitrogen content corresponded to that of water-soluble carbon. The content of soil water-soluble nitrogen content in the young Pinus tabulaeformis forest was higher than that of other management measures, and generally decreased with an increase in depth. Different management measures have significant effects on SDOM components. Based on three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) analysis, four components of SDOM are identified, which are mainly divided into categories, humus, protein-like, and soluble microbial metabolites in three major categories, among which the main component of the SDOM is the rich acid humus, and the highest content in the soil of the young forest of Pinus tabulaeformis is rich acid. The results suggested that management measures had certain effects on soil water-soluble carbon and nitrogen content as well as SDOM components, especially in young Pinus tabulaeformis forests and shrubs. The young Pinus tabulaeformis forest and shrubs increased the content of soil water-soluble organic carbon and water-soluble nitrogen, enhanced their ability to migrate and transform in the soil, and changed the structural composition of soil organic matter, hence enhancing the degree of humification and further improving soil quality.

[Effects of shading on photosynthetic characteristics and yield at different growth stages of potato.] / ä¸åŒç”Ÿè‚²æ—¶æœŸé®å ‰å¯¹é©¬é“ƒè–¯å ‰åˆç‰¹æ€§å’Œäº§é‡çš„å½±å“.

We examined the effects of shading photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and tolerance to low light in two potato varieties (Jizhangshu 12 and Jizhangshu 8) at four growth stages (seedling, seedling/budding, budding/early flowering and flowering/harvest). There were three shading treatments (0(CK), 20% and 50%). The results showed that at both 20% and 50% shading rates, the SPAD value (a measure of leaf cellular chlorophyll content) of the two varieties decreased significantly at the seedling stage compared with CK treatment. No significant change in the SPAD value occurred at the seedling/budding stage or the budding/early-flowering stage. However, the SPAD value increased marginally after shading at the initial flowering stage. Under the 50% shading regime, the SPAD values of both varieties followed the same trend as the 20% regime. The range of changes at different growth stages remained similar. The only exception was that shading at the beginning of flowering increased SPAD value. Shading had little effect on leaf stomatal conductance (gs) at each developmental stage. There was no significant difference between all treatments and the control, except that the gsvalue of Jizhangshu 8 decreased significantly (43.9%) compared with the control under 50% shading at the beginning of flowering. After the shading treatment, the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of leaves showed an upward trend. 50% shading at the seedling and seedling/budding stages could significantly increase Ci, but not at other stages. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the four periods were all decreased after 15 d of shading. The Pn reduction of the two varieties, 50% shading, was greater than 20% shading. The decline range of Pn of Jizhangshu 12 was less than that of Jizhangshu 8 at all stages, except for that at the seedling stage. The yield of shading treatments decreased in all four stages, with the decrease rate of 50% shading treatment being greater than that of the 20% shading treatment. 'Jizhangshu 12'was not tolerant to low light at the seedling stage but performed better than 'Jizhangshu 8' at other stages. The comprehensive analysis of two test varieties implied that varieties with strong tolerance to low light experienced a smaller boost in intercellular CO2 concentration and a smaller drop in net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and yield post-shading.

Effects of siRNA Livin on EJ human bladder cancer cells treated with mitomycin-C.

The aim of this study was to observe the inhibitory and therapeutic effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Livin in EJ human bladder cancer cells. Specific siRNA targeting Livin was synthesized and transfected into EJ human bladder cancer cells treated or not treated with mitomycin-C (MMC). Livin mRNA and protein, as well as proliferation and apoptosis of EJ cells was examined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The results indicated that the expression of Livin mRNA and protein in EJ cells was significantly decreased by siRNA Livin. The proliferation of EJ cells was significantly inhibited by treatment with MMC and transfection of siRNA Livin. The inhibition of cell proliferation by treatment with MMC was further enhanced by transfection of siRNA Livin. The apoptotic rate of cells transfected with siRNA Livin and treated with MMC was significantly higher than those cells receiving a single transfection of siRNA Livin and single treatment of MMC. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that transfection of siRNA Livin induces growth suppression and apoptosis in EJ human bladder cancer cells, and increases the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of cells to MMC.