Selenium Deficiency Affects the mRNA Expression of Inflammatory Factors and Selenoprotein Genes in the Kidneys of Broiler Chicks.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Se deficiency on the transcription of inflammatory factors and selenoprotein genes in the kidneys of broiler chicks. One hundred fifty 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to two groups fed with either a low-Se diet (L group, 0.033 mg/kg Se) or an adequate Se diet (C group, 0.2 mg/kg Se). The levels of uric acid (UA) and creatinine (Cr) in the serum and the mRNA levels of 6 inflammatory factors and 25 selenoprotein genes in the kidneys were measured as the clinical signs of Se deficiency occurred at 20 days old. The results indicated that the contents of UA and Cr in the serum increased in L group (p < 0.05), and the mRNA levels of the inflammatory factors (NF-κB, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α) increased in L group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of PTGEs and HO-1 were not changed. In addition, 25 selenoprotein transcripts displayed ubiquitous expression in the kidneys of the chicks. The mRNA levels of 14 selenoprotein genes (Dio1, Dio2, GPx3, Sepp1, SelH, SelI, SelK, Sepn1, SelO, SelW, Sep15, SelT, SelU, and SelS) decreased, and 9 selenoprotein genes (GPx1, GPx2, GPx4, SelPb, Txnrd1, Txnrd2, Txnrd3, SPS2, and SelM) increased in L group (p < 0.05), but the Dio3 and Sepx1 mRNA levels did not change. The results indicated that Se deficiency resulted in kidney dysfunction, activation of the NF-κB pathway, and a change in selenoprotein gene expression. The changes of inflammatory factor and selenoprotein gene expression levels were directly related to the abnormal renal functions induced by Se deficiency.

Xanthone derivatives from the fermentation products of an endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp.

Three new xanthones, 1,5-dihydroxy-3-hydroxyethyl-6-methoxycarbonylxanthone (1), 1-hydroxy-5- methoxy-3-hydroxyethyl-6-methoxycarbonylxanthone (2), and 1-hydroxy-3-hydroxyethyl- 8-ethoxycarbonylxanthone (3), along with seven known xanthones (4-10) were isolated from the fermentation products of an endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp.. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1-10 were also tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines (NB4, A549, SHSY5Y, PC3, and MCF7) by MTT method using paclitaxel as positive control. Compounds 1 and 3 showed cytotoxicity against A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 3.6 and 2.5 µM, respectively. In addition, 1 was cytotoxic to MCF7 cells with IC50 value of 2.7 µM.

Effect of oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide on apoptosis of immune organ induced by selenium deficiency in chickens.

Selenium is an essential element with antioxidant roles in immune regulation, but there is little understanding of how Se acts in apoptosis in the immune organs of birds. The aim of study was to evaluate the influence of Se deficiency on oxygen free radicals, NO and apoptosis in immune organ of chickens. 160 1-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to two groups of 80 each and were fed on a low-Se diet (0.032 mg/kg Se) or a control diet (0.282 mg/kg Se), respectively. OFR production in blood was determined on days 30, 45, 60 and 75, respectively. The iNOS-NO system activity in immune organ (thymus, spleen, bursa of fabricius) was identified by NO content and NOS activity assay on days 30, 45, 60 and 75, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by DNA ladder analysis, ultrastructural observations, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic DNA. The transcription of factor-associated suicide, caspase-3 mRNA was tested by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results showed that OFR production, NO and inducible NO synthases (iNOS) activity in the low-Se group were significantly increased (p < 0.05) than in the control group. In addition, apoptosis was observed in chicken immune organ in the low-Se group. The degree and the number of apoptotic cells rose in a time-dependent manner. The expression of Fas and caspase-3 mRNA increased (p < 0.05) than in the control group. It indicated that the oxidative stress and NO played a causative role in the apoptosis of immune tissues induced by selenium deficiency.

[Analysis of facial far-infrared thermogram of patients with acute facial neuritis].

OBJECTIVE: In order to provide an objective observational index for facial neuritis, the authors monitored the changes of facial far-infrared thermogram in patients with acute facial neuritis. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with acute facial neuritis were enrolled from Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Chinese PLA General Hospital. Another 21 healthy participants were selected as the control group. Focal plane thermal imaging system (thermal sensitivity 0.05 degrees centigrade) was applied to collect facial far-infrared thermogram. Temperature differences in the thermogram of both sides of the cheeks, inner canthus, supraorbitals and forehead of the same patient were compared separately and statistically and analyzed by software provided by the imaging system. RESULTS: Results of far-infrared thermography of the patients displayed obvious temperature differences ranging from 0.01 to 0.26 degrees centigrade between two sides of the cheeks, inner canthus, supraorbitals and forehead areas. In the control group, far-infrared thermogram showed that there were no obvious temperature differences between two sides of the cheeks, inner canthus, supraorbitals and forehead. There were significant differences in temperature difference in the four monitoring areas between the two groups (P<0.01). Among the 23 patients, there were 14 patients with congestive change, 7 with ischemic change and 2 with both congestive and ischemic changes. CONCLUSION: The facial far-infrared thermogram of patients with acute facial neuritis is characterized mainly by congestive changes. Far-infrared thermography can objectively reflect the changes of blood-supply status in patients with facial neuritis.

[SEM observation on leaf epidermis of different Ephedra species].

OBJECTIVE: Characters of stem epidermis, leaf epidermis and stoma could be used as important microcosmic morphological characteristic when inheritance trend is studied in Ephedra breeding and identification. METHOD: The stomatic density, stoma major axis and mimor axis, stomatic morphylogy, characters of leaf and stem epidermis of 6 Ephedra plants' stems were examined by SEM. RESULT: The stomatic density and characteristic of leaf epidermis and stem epidermis in six Ephedra species was differenc, there were no obvious morphological differences in stoma shape and size. The guard cells were covered with heavy cuticle and sunken stomata, which were the typical characteristics of xerophytes. The stomas of leaf lower epidermis were oblong or hexagon, but the stomas of steam epidermis were narrowed-oblong or dumbbell-shape, they all belonged to anomalous type. CONCLUSION: The stoma type and characters of Ephedra plants is stable and conservative, there was no obvious morphological differences in stoma shape and size between species, so it is difficult to distinguish different species by the variance of stomas, but that can be applyed to distinguish Ephedra from others at plant taxonomy.