Are glutamate transporters neuroprotective or neurodegenerative during cerebral ischemia?

The accumulation of glutamate (Glu) in the synaptic cleft during cerebral ischemia triggers the death of neurons, causing mental or physical handicap. However, the mechanisms of the alteration in Glu homeostasis and the imbalance between the release and clearance of Glu in ischemia are not yet completely understood. Additionally, the role of Glu transporters in regulating Glu concentration in the synaptic cleft is controversial. This review aims to provide readers with an in-depth understanding of Glu transporters in the early or later stages of ischemic events, or in mild or severe cerebral ischemia via alteration of Glu transporter expression, reversal of Glu transporters function, and trafficking between membrane and cytoplasm, to further clarify whether the Glu transporters are neuroprotective or neurodegenerative during cerebral ischemia. We provide the insights for deeper understanding of the mechanism of Glu transporters regulation after different periods and severities of cerebral ischemia.

Significant genetic differentiation of Gobiopterus lacustris, a newly recorded transparent goby in China.

In our recent survey, the transparent small Lacustrine goby, Gobiopterus lacustris had reported as the endemic species of Luzon, Philippines, was identified as an abundant species in mangroves of Leizhou Peninsula, China. Here, high diversity and significant differentiation of five sites of samples representing the west and east populations were revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Five haplotypes of 56 cytochrome oxidase subunit I (Cox1) with the lengths of 623 base pairs (bp) have the high pairwise identity (>98.8%). Moreover, a total of 31 haplotypes for 129 partial D-loop regions were clustered into two clades corresponding to the east and west sampling sites. The strong population structure was confirmed (ΦST = 0.43017, p < .0001) with high haplotype diversity (h = 0.880 ± 0.017) and low nucleotide diversity (p=.00484). Moreover, both the mismatch distribution analysis and neutral test of D-loop revealed that the west group might experience a recent demographic expansion. Lastly, the isolation-with-migration analysis supported the expansion and indicated that the east-west split happened at approximately 7.1 kyr ago. Given the distribution and diversity, G. lacustris could be a good model for the study of the sea-level fluctuations and coast evolution of the South China Sea.

Morphological Characters and Transcriptome Profiles Associated with Black Skin and Red Skin in Crimson Snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus).

In this study, morphology observation and illumina sequencing were performed on two different coloration skins of crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus), the black zone and the red zone. Three types of chromatophores, melanophores, iridophores and xanthophores, were organized in the skins. The main differences between the two colorations were in the amount and distribution of the three chromatophores. After comparing the two transcriptomes, 9200 unigenes with significantly different expressions (ratio change ≥ 2 and q-value ≤ 0.05) were found, of which 5972 were up-regulated in black skin and 3228 were up-regulated in red skin. Through the function annotation, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the differentially transcribed genes, we excavated a number of uncharacterized candidate pigment genes as well as found the conserved genes affecting pigmentation in crimson snapper. The patterns of expression of 14 pigment genes were confirmed by the Quantitative real-time PCR analysis between the two color skins. Overall, this study shows a global survey of the morphological characters and transcriptome analysis of the different coloration skins in crimson snapper, and provides valuable cellular and genetic information to uncover the mechanism of the formation of pigment patterns in snappers.

Antioxidant and lipid-regulating effects of probucol combined with atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of probucol combined with atorvastatin on the serum oxidation index and lipid levels in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We randomly assigned 126 ACS patients (77 males and 49 females) to the control group (atorvastatin 20 mg/day, n=62) or the treatment group (atorvastatin 20 mg/day and probucol 750 mg/day, n=64). All the patients were followed up for 12 weeks. As oxidization indices, we measured the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) before and after treatment. We also monitored the adverse effects of the drugs during the treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no obvious differences (P>0.05) between the two groups (including age, gender, etc.). After 12 weeks of treatment, the ox-LDL levels in the treatment group were significantly lower while PON1 levels were significantly higher than those in the control group. There were no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the side effects (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of atorvastatin and probucol in ACS patients could reduce ox-LDL expression and increase PON1 expression more effectively than use atorvastatin alone.

Prevalence of and risk factors for postprandial hypotension in older Chinese men.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for postprandial hypotension (PPH) among old and very old Chinese men. METHODS: The study included 349 Chinese men aged 65 and older, grouped into two age categories: group 1 (old) included 163 men aged 65 to 80 years; group 2 (very old) included 186 men aged over 80 years. Blood pressure changes after meals were assessed every 15 min by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Symptoms after meal ingestion and after standing up and changes in the baseline condition relative to blood pressure changes were observed continuously. Additional baseline data included body mass index, medical history, and medication use. RESULTS: The prevalence of PPH was 59.3% overall and was significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 (63.4% vs. 54.6%, P < 0.05). In group 2, the prevalence of PPH after breakfast (33.8%) and lunch (32.1%) were higher than that after supper (20.9%), P < 0.05. Hypertension and age were significant risk factors for PPH (OR = 2.188, 95% CI: 1.134-4.223, P = 0.02; OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.112-3.11, P = 0.018, respectively). In contrast, acarbose use was protective against PPH (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.189-0.847, P = 0.017). The decrease in blood pressure during PPH was 20-40 mmHg and the maximum was 90 mmHg. PPH usually occurred at 30-60 min after a meal and lasted 30-120 min. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the prevalence of PPH in men aged over 80 years is significantly higher than those in men aged 65 to 80 years, and the blood pressure decline is also higher for men aged over 80 years. In addition, hypertension and age were main risk factors for PPH in the older men, which suggest that preventing and treating PPH is worthwhile.

DNA barcoding South China Sea fishes.

We have determined 222 DNA barcode sequences of 95 fish species in 86 genera of 69 families from 15 orders. Fish were captured by trawl from two important fisheries regions in South China Sea: Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands) and Beibu Gulf. The average genetic distances between intraspecies were about 60-fold less than those of interspecies within different taxonomic levels, as Kimura two-parameter genetic distances averaged 17.260% among congeners, 20.097% among genus, and only 0.317% for intraspecific individuals. There were a few examples of deep divergence within species, suggesting the need for further taxonomic work, and a few examples of closely allied species, perhaps reflecting introgressive hybridization. The results provide further evidence for the reliability and accessibility of DNA barcodes for marine fish identification, and also highlight their effectiveness for flagging cases needing taxonomical reexamination.

[Screening for genes associated with cardiac fibrosis induced by aldosterone].

AIM: To investigate differently expressed genes associated with cardiac fibrosis induced independently by aldosterone. METHODS: Fetal cardiac fibroblasts (FCFs)were isolated and cultured. Total RNA was extracted 8 hours after aldosterone administration. Then gene chips were used to screen these RNA samples. Some of candidate genes were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Differently expressed 1519 genes were screened. Up-regulated genes were 714 while down-regulated genes were 805. The expression of CCL7, MMP-26 and IL31RA was tested by RT-PCR and western blot, the results is identical with those by gene chips. CONCLUSION: Gene chip can efficiently single out differently expressed genes induced dependently by aldosterone in FCFs. CCL7, MMP-26 and IL31RA may be associated with cardiac fibrosis induced by aldosterone.

Omeprazole affects clopidogrel efficacy but not ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole, usually used in the antiplatelet therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), has been reported to increase ischemic events in retrospective studies. However, other clinical trials gave paradoxical results. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of omeprazole on clopidogrel efficacy and clinical events. METHODS: All patients (n = 172) received aspirin (loading dose 300 mg and maintenance dose 100 mg/d) and clopidogrel (loading dose 600 mg and maintenance dose 75 mg/d) during the therapy. They were randomized to receive omeprazole (20 mg/d) or placebo for 30 days. Residual platelet activities in the adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) pathway were detected on the fifth day after PCI with thrombelastography (TEG)-mapping. The clinical events were recorded after one month. RESULTS: According to the five levels of platelet activities, the frequency distributions of the inhibition rates were significantly different (P = 0.0062). However, no significant change was seen in the distribution among the highest or the lowest inhibiting levels (> 95% and < 30% inhibition rate). And there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in events incidence, while gastro-intestinal bleeding decreased in co-administration of omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole significantly blunts clopidogrel efficacy while not exacerbates ischemic events in ACS undergoing PCI. Omeprazole even can decrease gastro-intestinal bleeding in those patients.

[Screening and genetic diversity analysis of microsatellite markers in Chinese lobster (Panulirus stimpsoni)].

With the construction of a library of partial fractionated genomic DNA of Panulirus stimpsoni Hoehuis, the microsatellite sequences of P. stimpsoni were screened by PCR technique. Then, the genetic diversity was analyzed with the microsatellite markers. Seventy-eight microsatellite sequences in 55 positive recombinant clones were obtained by PCR technique with primers of M13+/- and (CT)15, and (AT)15. Among these microsatellite sequences, the numbers of perfect, imperfect, compound perfect, and compound imperfect sequences were 50 (64%), 3 (3.8%), 5 (7.7%), and 19 (24.5%), respectively. To analyze genomic DNA diversity of P. stimpsoni, 15 pairs of primers were designed from the microsatellite flanking sequences. In these microsatellite loci, the alleles numbers ranged from 3 to 12; and the sizes of these alleles ranged from 78 to 425 bp, which are in accordance with their predicted size range. The expected heterozygosity (He) and the polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.48 to 0.87 and 0.44 to 0.84 with the average values of 0.71 and 0.60, respectively. These results showed that these microsatellite loci were suitable for P. stimpsoni molecule markers and genetic analysis because of their richness in genetic information.

[Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of nine species of grouper in genus Epinephelus].

Thirteen microsatellite markers of Epinephelus awoara previously discovered by our lab were selected to analyze the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of nine species of grouper (E. awoara, E. merra, E. fario, E. fasciatus, E. lanceolatus, E. akaara, E. septemfasciatus, E. coioides and E. fuscoguttatus) from South China Sea. The results showed that the number of total alleles of these 13 microsatellite loci was 84 in these fishes, the mean number of alleles ranged from 2.69 to 5.38, mean polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.1976 to 0.4267, mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) from 0.4615 to 0.6239, mean expected heterozygosity (He) from 0.3510 to 0.4754 and mean Hardy-Weinberg departure value (D) from 0.1097 to 0.2836, respectively. All of these indicated that genetic diversity of the nine species of grouper was at a medium level. Two NJ dendrograms showed that E. coioides, E. fuscoguttatus and E. lanceolatus were grouped together, while E. awoara, E. akaara and E. septemfasciatus were in a second group, and E. merra, E. fasciatus and E. fario were in a third group which had a relatively closed relationship with the second group. The dendrograms could also support a conclusion that Promicrops lanceolatus (E. lanceolatus) should be included in genus Epinephelus.

[Rapid isolation and characteristics analysis of microsatellites from Lutjanus russelli].

The (CA)n DNA sequences in Lutjanus russelli were isolated through PCR arrays, and the characteristics of the microsatellite were analyzed. DNA was extracted from a sample of Lutjanus russelli, and digested with Hae+Dra. The fragments were ligated to pUCm-T vector and transferred into DH5alpha to construct a genomic library. The positive clones were isolated with universal M13 reverse and forward primers, M13 forward primer and the simple sequence repeats (SSRs) probes (CA)15, M13 reverse primer and (CA)15. After twice isolation, 121 positive clones, whose PCR products with M13 forward primer and probes (CA)15 or M13 reverse primer and (CA)15 were smaller than those with universal M13 reverse and forward primers probably contained microsatellites, were obtained. Then, 53 (CA)n(n> or =7) microsatellites were obtained by sequencing. The repeat length mainly distributed in 7-15(80.77%). Besides (CA)n repeats, other repeat motifs, such as An, (CAC)n and (AACA)n, were also obtained. Scorable and constant amplification of DNA fragments were observed with 48 pairs of SSR primers designed from the flank sequences. This research makes a positive contribution to explorating genomes of Lutjanus russelli, offers genetic tools to examine the genetic variations and constructs genetic linkage map.

A Chinese herbal medicine Ermiao wan reduces serum uric acid level and inhibits liver xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase in mice.

Ermiao wan, which is composed of phellodendri cortex and atractylodis rhizome, is described as eliminating heat, excreting dampness and anti-edema prescription in traditional Chinese medical literatures including Danxi's Experiences in Medicine and State Pharmacopoeia of People's Republic of China. So it is being used clinically in the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia in China. In the present study, the water extracts of Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex at 840 and 480 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days were demonstrated to possess in vivo potent hypouricemic effects both in hyperuricemic mice pretreated with oxonate and in normal mice, respectively. In the hyperuricemic animals, the effect of Ermiao wan was equal to that of the reference drug allopurinol (at 10 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days), but in the normal mice, the former was weaker than latter. In addition, both Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex were found to have in vivo relatively inhibitory effects on mouse liver xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities at the same dose described above. These inhibitory effects were weaker than that observed for allopurinol. Atractylodis rhizome at 340 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days did not show any effects on the above experiments. These results suggested that atractylodis rhizomes assisted and enhanced the effect of phellodendri cortex on reduction of serum uric acid level in hyperuricemic mice, and hypouricemic effects of Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex may be achieved by other mechanism partly instead of the XDH and XO inhibition.

[Effects of aqueous extract in herba of Lysimachia christinae on hyperuricemia in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study hypouricemic effect of aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae on hyperuricemia in mice. METHOD: The uricase inhibitor potassium oxonate was used to induce hyperuricemia in mice, and serum uric acid level was determined with the phosphotungstic acid method. RESULT: The aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae, when administered orally to the oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice at the doses of 5.2, 10.4 and 20.8 g.kg-1, was able to elicit dose-dependent hypouricemic effects. At these doses of the extract, the serum urate levels of the oxonate-pretreated mice showed no difference from the normal mice. In normal mice, however, oral administration of the extract at the same doses did not produce any observable hypouricemic effects. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae possesses potent hypuricemic effects on models of hyperuricemia in mice pretreated with oxonate.