Search

Corn is abundant in carbohydrate, protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients. However, because of its large embryo, it is easy to be infected by microorganisms and insects, which leads to the deterioration of corn quality. Therefore, the quality preservation and storage of corn is a challenge. So it is necessary to clarify the rule and change of corn storage quality. Corns with initial water content of 13.04%, 14.03% and 14.99% were taken as reasearch objects in this paper. During storage between 70% relative humidity and 20 ℃ (quasi-low temperature environment) , the changes laws of quality indexes such as bulk density, fatty acid value, germination rate, mold activity and microstructure of corn grain were studied emphatically. Otherwise changes of storage quality of corn at 70% relative humidity and 25 ℃ (room temperature environment) were compared. Therefore it can provide reference for safe storage of high-quality corn. The results demonstrated that the germination rate, fatty acid value and bulk density of corn under 20 ℃ were slower than those under 25 ℃. And they were in the suitable storage range in accordance with the national standard. The number of fungal spores increased sharply with the prolonged storage time. Meanwhile it showed significant correlation with the initial moisture content of corn. In other words, the number of fungal spores for corn under 14.99%w.b was stored for 120 d, and the safe storage periods of corn under 13.04%w.b, 14.03%w.b and 14.99%w.b were 180 d, 180 d and 100 d, respectively. The microstructure of corn kernel changed gradually during storage. It means the appearance changed from smooth and tidy to concave and convex folds. Furthermore, the arrangement of starch granules changed from tight structure to sparse and disordered structure. The main factors of corn quality and microstructure change were corn initial water content and storage time, during storage at quasi-low temperature environment. So the change laws of corn storage quality with different water content were explored, so as to provide new research perspective for maize post-harvest to reduce loss and guarantee qualtiy.

The study was to investigate the effect of baits on growth performance, serum biochemical indices and antioxidant capacity of Oreochromis niloticus. A total of 126 Oreochromis niloticus with similar body size and no body injury were randomly divided into three groups, with three replicates in each group and 14 Oreochromis niloticus in each replicate. Oreochromis niloticus in control group were fed with basal diet, 0.1% Macleaya cordata group and 0.5% Macleaya cordata group were fed with basal diet supplemented with 0.1% and 0.5% Macleaya cordata, respectively. The experiment lasted for 30 d. The results showed that compared with the control group, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, fattening degree and liver-body ratio of Oreochromis niloticus in Macleaya cordata group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The content of total cholesterol, albumin and glucose in serum and the activity of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in Macleaya cordata group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and muscle of Oreochromis niloticus in Macleaya cordata group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The catalase activity in liver and malondialdehyde content in muscle of Oreochromis niloticus in Macleaya cordata group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that when the weight gain rate was used as the evaluation index, regression analysis showed that the optimal supplemental amount of Macleaya cordata in the feed was 0.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to investigate the role of 3-bromopyruvate in inhibition of CD133+ U87 human glioma cell population growth. The results demonstrated that 3-bromopyruvate inhibited the viability of both CD133+ and parental cells derived from U87 human glioma cell line. However, the 3-bromopyruvate-induced inhibition in viability was more prominent in CD133+ cells at 10 μM concentration after 48 h. Treatment of CD133+ cells with 3-bromopyruvate caused reduction in cell population and cell size, membrane bubbling, and degradation of cell membranes. Hoechst 33258 staining showed condensation of chromatin material and fragmentation of DNA in treated CD133+ cells after 48 h. 3-Bromopyruvate inhibited the migration rate of CD133+ cells significantly compared to the parental cells. Flow cytometry revealed that exposure of CD133+ cells to 3-bromopyruvate increased the cell population in S phase from 24.5 to 37.9 % with increase in time from 12 to 48 h. In addition, 3-bromopyruvate significantly enhanced the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 in CD133+ cells compared to the parental cells. Therefore, 3-bromopyruvate is a potent chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma by targeting stem cells selectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging is one of the serious stresses in rapeseed cultivation in China. The present review focused on waterlogging effects on rapeseed growth, genetic diversity of waterlogging resistance, physiological and biochemical mechanisms of resistance to waterlogging. It also prospected future research on waterlogging resistance for molecular breeding, gene cloning and gene network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to examine the synergetic augmentation of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (CG) on cisplatin (CDDP) to induce apoptosis of human epithelial ovarian SK-OV-3 cancer cells., Methods: The SK-OV-3 cells were divided into four groups: control, CDDP monotherapy, CG monotherapy, and combined CDDP and CG treatment. The cell counting kit-8 method detected cell proliferation at different times and under different treatments. Hoechst 33258 staining and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining methods were used to observe the apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells. The caspase-3 enzyme activity detection method, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and western blot were used to detect the apoptosis-related factors and the activities of the enzyme in SK-OV-3 cells., Results: The inhibition rates of SK-OV-3 cell proliferation when exposed to 10 μM of CDDP, 50 μM of CG, and a combination of 10 μM of CDDP and 50 μM of CG were 23.2% ± 1.1%, 26.7% ± 2.0%, and 46.7% ± 1.3% after 48 h, respectively. Following the use of the drug combination, the apoptosis rate and caspase-3 enzyme activity were significantly higher than in the single-drug treatment group; the data differences were also significant (p < 0.05). At the protein and ribonucleic acid levels, CG significantly enhanced the effect of CDDP on p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2., Conclusion: In vitro, CG significantly increases the CDDP-induced apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells through the p53 pathway at the cellular level. In addition, using the drugs in combination reduces the toxicity and side effects caused by using CDDP alone., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

To introduce the application status of network Meta-analysis( NMA) in the field of traditional Chinese medicine,and to discuss the application value of NMA in the field of traditional Chinese medicine,this study comprehensively reviewed the systematic reviews with application of NMA in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. CNKI,Wan Fang,Sino Med,VIP,Embase,PubMed and Cochrane Library and the reference list of previous studies were searched. The AMSTAR scale was used to evaluate the quality of literature methodology,and PRISMA-NMA checklist was used to measure the degree of report specification. Overall,122 articles were included,including 80 in Chinese and 42 in English. The included studies centered on cancer,bone and joint disease,cardiovascular disease,respiratory disease,mental disease and digestive disease. Additionally,the intervention can be categorized into three groups,traditional Chinese medicine injection,oral Chinese medicine or prescription,and traditional physical therapy including acupuncture.Nearly one-third of the researches&apos; intervention program is aimed at comparing the effect of Chinese and Western combined therapy and monotherapy. The overall methodology quality grade is medium and the report quality is average,with methodology reporting and result reporting especially need to be improved. The subgroup analysis shows that the methodology quality of the English literatures is evidently higher than Chinese literatures,and the quality of the literatures published after 2015 is higher than those published in or before 2015.This study indicates that the NMA can compare multiple treatments simultaneously,which accords with characteristics of the clinical practice in traditional Chinese medicine that is complex and individual. NMA in the field of traditional Chinese medicine is still in the process of development. With higher level of quality control and reporting as well as the improvement of the statistical methodology and the accumulation of original researches,NMA application in the field of traditional Chinese medicine will be promising.

The study was aimed to investigate the role of 3-bromopyruvate in inhibition of CD133+ U87 human glioma cell population growth. The results demonstrated that 3-bromopyruvate inhibited the viability of both CD133+ and parental cells derived from U87 human glioma cell line. However, the 3-bromopyruvate-induced inhibition in viability was more prominent in CD133+ cells at 10 μM concentration after 48 h. Treatment of CD133+ cells with 3-bromopyruvate caused reduction in cell population and cell size, membrane bubbling, and degradation of cell membranes. Hoechst 33258 staining showed condensation of chromatin material and fragmentation of DNA in treated CD133+ cells after 48 h. 3-Bromopyruvate inhibited the migration rate of CD133+ cells significantly compared to the parental cells. Flow cytometry revealed that exposure of CD133+ cells to 3-bromopyruvate increased the cell population in S phase from 24.5 to 37.9 % with increase in time from 12 to 48 h. In addition, 3-bromopyruvate significantly enhanced the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 in CD133+ cells compared to the parental cells. Therefore, 3-bromopyruvate is a potent chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma by targeting stem cells selectively.

Objective: To observe the hemodynamic change and reperfusion injury cause by transient hepatic venous occlusion and transient hepatic inflow occlusion in rats., Methods: The rat liver was divided into 3 different areas: the ischemia reperfusion (IR) area: the inflow of the right superior lobe was clamped for half an hour; the non-isolated lobe congestive reperfusion (NIL-CR) area: the outflow of the right median lobe was clamped for half an hour; and the isolated lobe congestive reperfusion (IL-CR) area: the outflow of the left lobe was clamped for half an hour. The flux value and the oxygen saturation of microcirculation were monitored before at clamping for 30 minutes, and on 1 day, 3 days ,and 7 days after reperfusion. The hepatic damage and Suzuki's score were evaluated., Results: After clamping for 30 minutes, the flux value in the IR area was significantly higher than in NIL-CR area (P<0.01) and IL-CR area (P<0.01), the oxygen saturation in the IR area was significantly higher than in NIL-CR area (P<0.01) and IL-CR area (P<0.05). Compared with IR area, both NIL-CR area and IL-CR area were found having more severe liver damage in terms of Suzuki's score in early postoperative period (at clamping for 30 minutes and on 1 day, P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between NIL-CR area and IL-CR area in flux value, oxygen saturation, and Suzuki's score (P>0.05)., Conclusions: Hepatic venous occlusion can more effectively decrease the blood perfrusion and oxygen saturation; thus, compared to the IR, CR can result in more severe liver damage. The presence of normal liver tissue around the congestion area can not influence liver damage in transient hepatic venous occlusion.

Aim: To investigate the characteristics of PPAR gamma ligands induced apoptosis in liver cancer cells., Methods: The effects of ligands for each of the PPAR gamma ligands on DNA synthesis and cell viability were examined in BEL-7402 liver cancer cells. Apoptosis was characterized by Hochest33258 staining, DNA fragmentation, TUNEL and ELISA, and cell cycle kinetics by FACS. Modulation of apoptosis related caspases expression by PPAR gamma ligands was examined by Western blot., Results: PPARgamma ligands, 15-deoxy-(12), (14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and troglitazone (TGZ), suppressed DNA synthesis of BEL-7402 cells. Both 15d-PGJ2 and TGZ induced BEL-7402 cell death in a dose dependent manner, which was associated with an increase in fragmented DNA and TUNEL-positive cells. At concentrations of 10 and 30 microM, 15d-PGJ(2) or troglitazone increased the proportion of cells with G(0)/G(1) phase DNA content and decreased those with S phase DNA content. There was no significant change in the proportion of cells with G(2)/M DNA content. The activities of Caspases-3, -6, -7 and -9 were increased by 15d-PGJ2 and TGZ treatment, while the activity of Caspase 8 had not significantly changed., Conclusion: The present results suggest the potential usefulness of PPAR gamma ligands for chemoprevention and treatment of liver cancers.

Aim: To investigate whether troglitazone (TGZ), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma ligand, can induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation in human liver cancer cell line HepG2 and to explore the molecular mechanisms., Methods: (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), ((3)H) Thymidine incorporation, Hochest33258 staining, DNA ladder, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR, Northern and Western blotting analyses were employed to investigate the effect of TGZ on HepG2 cells and related molecular mechanisms., Results: TGZ was found to inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells and to induce apoptosis. During the process, the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein and Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated, while that of Bax and Bak proteins was up-regulated, and the activity of caspase-3 was elevated. Furthermore, the level of PGE(2) was decreased transiently after 12 h of treatment with 30 microM troglitazone., Conclusion: TGZ inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells, which may be associated with the activation of caspase-3-like proteases, down-regulation of the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, Bcl-2 protein, the elevation of PGE2 levels, and up-regulation of the expressions of Bax and Bak proteins.