Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) significantly decreases the hybridization efficiency of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Fetal cells were enriched from maternal blood using density gradient centrifugation of Histopaque followed by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) to select CD71-positive cells. For each specimen, cells partially purified by Histopaque were split into equal portions, and each portion was subjected to purification by MACS in parallel. Cells before and after MACS were subjected to dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with X- and Y-chromosome-specific probes. We found that the hybridization rates were decreased by approximately 10% after MACS based on duplicated analysis for each sample. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Significantly higher number of fetal cells in the maternal circulation of women with pre-eclampsia

Although the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is unknown, several studies have indicated that abnormal placentation early in pregnancy might play a key role. It has recently been suggested that this abnormal placentation may result in transfusion of fetal cells (feto-maternal transfusion) in women with pre-eclampsia. In the present study, fetal nucleated red blood cells were isolated from 20 women with pre-eclampsia and 20 controls using a very efficient magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) protocol. The number of male cells was determined using two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for X and Y chromosomes. Significantly more XY cells could be detected in women with pre-eclampsia (0.61±1.2 XY cells/ml blood) compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies (0.02±0.04 XY cells/ml blood) (Mann–Whitney U-test, p<0.001). These results suggest that fetal cell trafficking is enhanced in women with pre-eclampsia, and this finding may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

运行微生物燃料电池减排稻田土壤甲烷的研究

为了研究稻秆还田条件下运行微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cells,MFCs)是否能有效减排稻田甲烷,本研究将添加质量分数0.5%稻秆的土壤装入MFCs反应器,淹水并种植水稻后运行MFCs.待水稻经历苗期、分蘗期、晒田期、灌浆期和成熟期共98 d后,停止MFCs运行.在MFCs运行过程中实时连续记录电压,每周一次采用静态箱法搜集并检测反应器的甲烷排放通量.结果表明,MFCs电流在分蘗期逐步升高并达到峰值,并且运行MFCs显著降低添加稻秆土壤在苗期和分蘗期的甲烷累积排放通量.原因可能与产电菌和产甲烷菌竞争有机底物有关.MFCs运行98 d后,水稻株高、地上和地下部分生物量,以及产量未受显著影响.本研究为稻田CH_4减排提供了一种潜在的绿色可持续的技术.     

Cadmium sulfide nanoparticle induces oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory effects in human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells

Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdSNP) are increasingly used in biological applications. This study was undertaken to understand the mechanisms underlying adverse effects of CdSNP using human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial (A549) cells. Cellular toxicity was evaluated by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide and neutral red assays. Results showed that CdSNP reduced mitochondrial function and induced lysosomal activity in concentration and time-dependent manner. CdSNP produced oxidative stress as evidenced by reduction of glutathione (GSH) levels and increase in reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation levels. Induction of caspase-3 enzymes and condensed, fragmented nuclei was observed in CdSNP-treated cells. Furthermore, the levels of interleukin-8, tumor growth factor and DNA fragmentation were significantly higher in CdSNP exposed cells. Data indicated that toxicity of CdSNP noted in A549 cells may be mediated through oxidative stress. This study warrants more comprehensive assessment of CdSNP prior to industrial applications.     

处理垃圾渗滤液的Fe/C空气阴极MFC性能研究

用浸渍法制得硝酸铁/活性炭粉催化剂,通过吸附法将催化剂吸附到碳毡上制作Fe/C催化剂碳毡空气阴极电极.通过改变初始活性炭粉投加量和硝酸铁浓度,考察了两者对以垃圾渗滤液为燃料的MFC产电性能影响;通过循环伏安测试,对不同硝酸铁浓度下自制阴极电极性能进行了评价;在最佳催化条件下考察了装置运行稳定性;并对不同进水COD浓度下同步产电和污水净化性能进行了研究.结果表明,随着活性炭粉投加量或硝酸铁浓度的增加,MFC产电性能均呈现先升高后降低的趋势;当活性炭粉投加量为1 g且硝酸铁浓度为0.25 mol.L-1时,电池性能最佳,功率密度为4 199.8 mW.m-3,表观内阻为465Ω;在硝酸铁和活性炭粉最佳比范围内,MFC的内阻和功率密度分别随着催化剂量的增加而减小和增加;循环伏安测试进一步表明,硝酸铁浓度为0.25 mol.L-1时放电容量最大,且性能稳定;在最佳催化条件下,随着进水COD浓度的增加,MFC产电性能增加,功率密度达5 478.92 mW.m-3,同时COD去除量也增加,最大为1 505.2 mg.L-1,垃圾渗滤液的COD去除率最大达89.1%.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and apoptotic induction in microglial BV-2 cells treated with sodium arsenate

The treatment of microglial BV-2 cells with sodium arsenate(As(V):0.1-400 μmol/L — 48 hr)induces a dose-dependent response.The neurotoxic effects of high concentrations of As(V)(100,200 and 400 μmol/L) are characterized by increased levels of mitochondrial complexesⅠ,Ⅱ,and Ⅳ followed by increased superoxide anion generation.Moreover,As(V) triggers an apoptotic mode of cell death,demonstrated by an apoptotic SubG1 peak,associated with an alteration of plasma membrane integrity.There is also a decrease in transmembrane mitochondrial potential and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate ATP.It is therefore tempting to speculate that As(V) triggers mitochondrial dysfunction,which may lead to defective oxidative phosphorylation subsequently causing mitochondrial oxidative damage,which in turn induces an apoptotic mode of cell death.     

Coating independent cytotoxicity of citrate- and PEG-coated silver nanoparticles on a human hepatoma cell line

The antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) resulted in their increasing incorporation into consumer,industrial and biomedical products.Therefore,human and environmental exposure to AgNPs(either as an engineered product or a contaminant)supports the emergent research on the features conferring them different toxicity profiles.In this study,30 ran AgNPs coated with citrate or poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) were used to assess the influence of coating on the effects produced on a human hepatoma cell line(HepG2),namely in terms of viability,apoptosis,apoptotic related genes,cell cycle and cyclins gene expression.Both types of coated AgNPs decreased cell proliferation and viability with a similar toxicity profile.At the concentrations used(11 and 5 μg/mL corresponding to IC50 and-IC10 levels,respectively) the amount of cells undergoing apoptosis was not significant and the apoptotic related genes BCL2(anti-apoptotic gene)and BAX(pro-apoptotic gene) were both downregulated.Moreover,both AgNPs affected HepG2 cell cycle progression at the higher concentration(11 μg/mL) by increasing the percentage of cells in S(synthesis phase) and G2(Gap 2 phase) phases.Considering the cell-cycle related genes,the expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin E1 genes were decreased.Thus,this work has shown that citrate- and PEG-coated AgNPs impact on HepG2 apoptotic gene expression,cell cycle dynamics and cyclin regulation in a similar way.More research is needed to determine the properties that confer AgNPs at lower toxicity,since their use has proved helpful in several industrial and biomedical contexts.     

几种高硅质矿物细颗粒的A549细胞毒性对比

以大气颗粒物成分中主要矿物相:石英、绢云母、钠长石和蒙脱石这4种高硅质矿物细颗粒为研究对象,检测其对A549细胞存活率、膜损伤及炎性因子释放的影响,旨在对比分析几种高硅质矿物细颗粒的毒性大小,并从颗粒物物理化学性质角度阐述其细胞毒性作用机制.结果表明,几种硅质细颗粒对A549细胞存活率的影响:蒙脱石绢云母≥石英钠长石.细胞存活率与矿物颗粒样品的SiO_2含量之间相关性较差,与Fe_2O_3含量存在较好相关性,Fe_2O_3含量越高毒性越大.高硅质矿物颗粒共培养环境中H_2O_2释放量与样品中Fe_2O_3含量呈正相关关系.蒙脱石组细胞受H_2O_2影响最大,石英和钠长石组细胞受粉体释放H_2O_2影响较小.所检测的几种高硅质矿物颗粒不同程度地造成细胞膜损伤,且均可触发A549细胞释放TNF-α或IL-6,进一步激发免疫反应的产生,但不同类型的高硅质矿物颗粒促发炎性反应不同.高硅质矿物细颗粒的成分结构并不是影响其生物活性的唯一因素,粉体的外在形态、表面活性基团、溶解性、吸附和离子交换特性等对细胞的存活率、细胞膜损伤、液相自由基的释放及炎性反应的影响同样不容忽视.     

Cobalt induced changes in immune response and adenosine triphosphatase activities in rats

Abstract

The immuno‐biochemical effects of cobaltous chloride in rats receiving iron‐sufficient and deficient diets were investigated. Rats receiving 100 ppm or more cobalt showed a significant reduction in thymus and body weights along with a marked decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, sheep agglutinins and plaque forming cells. These effects were more pronounced in rats receiving cobalt mixed with iron‐deficient diet than those fed on iron‐sufficient diet. The Na⁺‐K⁺ and mitochondrial (Oligomycin‐sensitive) Mg²+ATPase activities in brain and liver of rats fed with iron‐deficient diets were decreased significantly. However, the ATPase activities in these tissues from rats fed with cobalt mixed with iron‐sufficient diets were not altered.