Morphological and biochemical characteristics associated with autophagy in gastrointestinal diseases

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process characterized by the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes.Transmission electron microscopy is the most rigorous method to clearly visualize autophagic engulfment and degradation.A large number of studies have shown that autophagy is closely related to the digestion,secretion,and regeneration of gastrointestinal(GI)cells.However,the role of autophagy in GI diseases remains controversial.This article focuses on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of autophagy in GI diseases,in order to provide new ideas for their diagnosis and treatment.

Effects of Accelerated Aging on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Waxy and Non-waxy Wheat Seeds

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the physiological and the biochemical characteristics of waxy wheat seeds under accelerated aging conditions. Five waxy wheat lines, which were Waxy 1, Waxy 4, Waxy 8, Waxy 9, and Waxy 15; and five non-waxy wheat lines： S-39, 04J89, Jan-81, III42-4, and II110 were studied. The seeds were subjected to accelerated aging at 40℃, 45℃, 50℃, 55℃, and 60℃, and 90% relative humidity for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days, respectively. The results showed a gradual increase in conductivity and decrease in germination rate during accelerated aging. SOD, POD and CAT activities increased at lowgrade treatment, but decreased at severe treatment. On the other hand, the soluble protein content decreased at 45 ℃, but successively increased, then decreased 50℃. From the above study, it showed that 90% RH at 55℃ was the best accelerated aging condition for optimum efficiency in a shorter period.

Effect of leachate recycling and inoculation on the biochemical characteristics of municipal refuse in landfill bioreactors

Activity development of key groups of enzymes involved in municipal refuse decomposition was measured in laboratory landfill bioreactors with and without leachate recycling and inoculation for about 210 days. The results showed that the enzymes (amylase, protease, cellulase, lipase and pectinase) were present in fresh refuse but at low values and positively affected by leachate recycling and refuse inoculation. The total average of cellulase activity in digesters D3 operated with leachate recycling but no inoculation, D4 and D5 operated with leachate recycling and inoculation was much higher than that in digesters D1 and D2 without leachate recycling and inoculation by 88%—127%, 117%—162% and 64%—98%. The total average of protease activity was higher in digester D4 than that in digesters D1, D2, D3 and D5 by 63%, 39%, 24% and 24%, respectively, and the positive effect of leachate recycling and inoculation on protease activity of landfilled refuse mainly was at the first two months. The total average of amylase activity was higher in digesters D3, D4 and D5 than that in digesters D1 and D2 by 83%—132%, 96%—148% and 81%—129%. During the early phase of incubation, the stimulatory effect of inoculation on lipase activity was measured, but refuse moisture was the main factor affecting lipase activity of landfilled refuse. The inoculation, initial and continuous inoculation of microorganisms existing in leachate, was the mainly stimulatory factor affecting pectinase activity of landfilled refuse.

Effects of pesticides on soil biochemical characteristics of a paddy soil

The impact of triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone on soil biochemical characteristics in a paddy soil under controlled moisture(flooded soil) and temperature(25℃) condition was studied. The electron transport system(ETS)/dehydrogenase activity displayed a negative correlation with triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone concentrations, and the activity decreased as the concentration of the pesticides increased. The higher doses, 5 and 10 field rates, of triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone significantly inhibited ETS activity, while lower rates failed to produce any significant reducing effect against the control. The relative toxicity of triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone in decreasing the ETS activity was in the order: triazophos > chlobenthiazone > bensulfuron-methyl, irrespective of the rates of application. Triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone caused an improvement in the soil phenol content and it increased with increasing concentration of triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone. Triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone incorporation did not produce any significant change in soil protein content. The response of biomass phospholipid content was nearly similar to ETS activity. The phospholipid content was decreased with the addition of triazophos, bensulfuron-methyl, chlobenthiazone in the order of triazophos > chlobenthiazone > bensulfuron-methyl; and the toxicity of applied amount was in the order: 10 FR(field rate) > 5 FR > 1 0 FR > 0 5 FR > control.

Comparative studies on the biochemical characteristics of natural actomyosin isolated from PSE and normal pork

Biochemical changes of natural actomyosin from fresh pale, soft, exudative (PSE) and normal pork were studied,and the effects of different storage temperatures and different incubation temperature and times on sample superprecipitation,total sulfhydryl (-SH) content, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) sensitivity were investigated. The results demonstrated that ATPase activity and thermal stability of PSE actomyosin were lower than those of normal pork; and that PSE actomyosin had higher -SH content than that of normal pork at all incubation temperatures and times tested.

Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics in Flag Leaves of the C Liangyou Series of Hybrid Rice Combinations at Late Growth Stages

The contents of chlorophyll, soluble sugars, soluble proteins and thiobarbitudc acid reaction substance （TBARS）, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, net photosynthetic rate as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and peroxidase （POD） of flag leaves at the late growth stages were studied by using C Liangyou series of hybrid rice combinitions as material and Shanyou 63 as control. The C Liangyou series of hybrid rice combinations used in the experiment included C Liangyou 396, C Liangyou 87, C Liangyou 755 and C Liangyou 34, which all used C815S as male sterile line. The contents of chlorophyll, soluble sugars and soluble proteins in flag leaves of the C Liangyou series combinations at the late growth stages were higher than those of the control, whereas the TBARS content was lower than that of the control. The activities of SOD and POD were significantly higher than those of the control on the 7th day after heading, and then decreased slowly. ~bps, value and qp value of flag leaves decreased at the late growth stages, and these two parameters in flag leaves of the C Liangyou series combinations were higher than those of the control, while the qN value increased at the late growth stages and was lower than that of the control. The net photosynthetic rate of flag leaves at the late growth stage was higher compared with the control. These results suggest that slow senescence and strong photosynthetic capability in flag leaves at the late growth stages are the physiological basis of the C Liangyou series combinations.

Changes in Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Floral Organ Development in a Soybean Cytoplasmic-nuclear Male Sterile Line

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the mechanism of soybean cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility.[Methods]With soybean cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterile line JLCMS9 A and its homotype maintainer line JLCMS9 B as experimental materials,the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and catalase(CAT),malondialdehyde(MDA)content,starch content,soluble protein content,soluble sugar content and free proline content in flower buds,alabastrums and mature flowers were determined,and the contents and changes of auxin(IAA),gibberellin(GA3),isopentenyl adenosine(iPA)and abscisic acid(ABA)at the three stages were analyzed.[Results]The activity of SOD and CAT and the contents of MDA and free proline in the sterile line at the flower bud stage were lower than those of the maintainer line,but the opposite was true at the alabastrum stage and the flowering stage,and their values were higher than those of the maintainer line;the POD activity of the sterile line was significantly lower than that of the maintainer line at the flower bud stage,and the opposite was true at the alabastrum stage and the flowering stage,and its values were higher than those of the maintainer line;and the starch content and soluble sugar content of sterile line 9 A showed an overall upward trend,and were significantly lower than those of the maintainer line 9 B at the alabastrum stage and the flowering stage.During the whole development process of floral organs,the content of IAA in sterile line 9 A showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing,and the content of iPA increased gradually.The contents of hormones in the sterile line were lower than those in the maintainer line.The ratios of IAA/ABA,IAA/GA3,IAA/iPA and ABA/GA3 in the sterile line were significantly different from those in the maintainer line.It is inferred that the abnormal physiological characteristics of floral organ development are related to the cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility of soybean.The alabastrum stage may be a critical period for the occurrence of abnormal physiological and biochemical indexes in the floral organs of soybean cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterile lines.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the breeding of fine sterile lines of soybean and the research on the mechanism of sterility.

Effect of La-Gly on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Glycine max Seedling under Pb Stress

The physiological and biochemical characteristics of Glycine max seedlings were changed under the high concentration of Pb stress, in which the malony dialdehyde (MDA) content, plasmalemma, activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were increased drastically. The damage effects of Pb were reduced when 15 mg . L-1 La-Gly was used to spray Glycine max seedlings. The results of La-Gly treatment show that the effects are related to the decrease of Pb content in plants, the increase of photosynthetic rate and nitrate reductase (NR) activity, decrease of MDA content and cell membrane permeability, and maintenance of activities of CAT and POD.

The study of fluorescence characteristics and biochemical composition of a marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana 3H in light and dark cyclesI. The effects of nutrients

The effects of nutrients on the fluorescence characteristics and biochemical composition of marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana 3H in light and dark cycles were investigated with continuous culture. The results show that with the increase of nutrient deficiency, the ratio of enhanced fluorescence to fluorescence (Fd/F), cellular chloropyll-a and protein content of the algae decline, but the fluorescence yield (F/Chl) , DCMU enhanced fluorescence yield (Fd/Chl) , cellular carbohydrate content, carbohydrate/Chl, protein/Chl, carbohydrate/protein increase. The changing amplitude of each parameter is different at different nutrition status, sampling time and different light intensity.

Physiological and Biochemical Characteristic of a Stripe Mutant with Abnormal Flower Organs in Rice

[Objective] The experiment aimed to explore physiological and biochemical changes of leaves after plants were mutated. [Method] A rice double mutant with stripes on stems, leaves and spikelets were taken as experimental materials to study the enzyme activity changes in different growth stages and amino acid variation in rice. [ Result] The SOD activity in mutant was higher than that in wild plant at tillering metaphase, but lower than that in wild type before heading stage and late flowering; the POD activity in three stages increased firstly then declined and the activity showed highest maximal activity at before heading stage. However, the POD activity in wild type showed the opposite change trend; the CAT activity presented degression at three stages, especially high at tillering metaphase, but reverse changes in wild type; the MDA activity decreased at three stages, but it was still higher than that in wild type, besides, the soluble sugar content of mutant was lower, but total amino acid content was increased. [ Conclusion] The expression of mutant characteristics was correlated with SOD, POD, CAT and MDA activity Changes and these changes made the mutant survive and rice quality change at last.

Rice canopy temperature is affected by nitrogen fertilizer

Canopy temperature strongly influences crop yield formation and is closely related to plant physiological traits.However, the effects of nitrogen treatment on canopy temperature and rice growth have yet to be comprehensively examined. We conducted a two-year field experiment with three rice varieties(HD-5, NJ-9108, and YJ-805) and three nitrogen treatments(zero-N control(CK), 200 kg ha~(–1)(MN), and 300 kg ha~(–1)(HN)). We measured canopy temperature using a drone equipped with a high-precision camera at the six stages of the growth period. Generally,canopy temperature was significantly higher for CK than for MN and HN during the tillering, jointing, booting, and heading stages. The temperature was not significantly different among the nitrogen treatments between the milky and waxy stages. The canopy temperature of different rice varieties was found to follow the order: HD-5>NJ-9108>YJ-805, but the difference was not significant. The canopy temperature of rice was mainly related to plant traits, such as shoot fresh weight(correlation coefficient r=–0.895), plant water content(–0.912), net photosynthesis(–0.84), stomatal conductance(–0.91), transpiration rate(–0.90), and leaf stomatal area(–0.83). A structural equation model(SEM) showed that nitrogen fertilizer was an important factor affecting the rice canopy temperature.Our study revealed:(1) A suite of plant traits was associated with the nitrogen effects on canopy temperature,(2) the heading stage was the best time to observe rice canopy temperature, and(3) at that stage, canopy temperature was negatively correlated with rice yield, panicle number, and grain number per panicle. This study suggests that canopy temperature can be a convenient and accurate indicator of rice growth and yield prediction.

Effect of High Temperature on Outcrossing Characteristics at the Fertility Sensitive Period of Photo-thermo Sensitive Genic Male Sterile (PTGMS) Rice Lines

Four sterile lines （Peiai64S, Y58S, Guangzhan 63-2S and H638S） and the restoring line R527 were used as materials. Five temperature gradients （24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 ℃ in artificial climate chamber） and the natural temperature （as control） were treated to the four sterile lines for 6 d in the fertility sensitive period of heading to flowering stage, respectively, to study the effects of temperature on physiological biochemical characteristics of young panicles and outcrossing characteristics. The results showed that the percentages of exerted stigma of Peiai 64S and Y58S were the highest at 27 ℃, which were 86.81% and 86.06%, respectively, while the percentages of exerted stigma of Guangzhan 63-2S and H638S were the highest at 24 ℃, which were 76.24% and 81.76%, respectively; the stigma viability of Peiai 64S, Y58S, Guangzhan 63-2S and H638S were the best at 24 ℃, which were 1.96, 2.12, 1.74 and 1.94, respectively; the outcrossing rates of Peiai 64S, Guangzhan 63-2S and H638S were the highest at 24 ℃, which were 58.87%, 54.22% and 50.50%, respectively, while the outcrossing rate of Y58S was the highest at 27 ℃, which was 58.96%; and the contents of peroxidase （POD） of the four sterile lines increased significantly at 33 ℃ compared with the control, while the contents of malondialdehyde （MDA） and proline increased significantly at 36 ℃ compared with the control. There were differences in temperature sensitivity between the male sterile lines, and the 24 ℃ treatment during the sensitive period was the best for the fertility sensitive period of Peiai 64S, while 27 ℃ was the best temperature for Y58S, Gangzhan 63-2S and H638S.

Characteristics of the tertiary egg membrane of cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune

We separated tertiary egg membrane （TGM） from 2- and 25-day-old eggs of cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune, and revealed its ultrastructure, physical （solubility, barrier property） and biochemical （histology, histochemistry, nutritional components, bacteriostasis） characteristics. The results show that TGM could not be dissolved with natural seawater, alcohol, ether or hydrochloric acid （HC1）, but it could be dissolved with 2-chloroethanol, diethylamine, and sodium hydroxide （NaOH）. The black TGM was more effective in blocking off mud particulates, microorganisms （Chlorella vulgaris, Vibrio alginolyticus） and lighter than the white TGM. The elasticity of black and white TGMs was 1.8 N and 1.5 N, respectively. There were some ink particulates and rod-shaped bacteria in the black TGM. The nutritional components were different between black and white TGMs： Lipid content was lower and protein content was higher in the black TGM. TGM could also inhibit the growth of Vibrio alginolyticus.

Effects of silver nanoparticles on resistance characteristics of the wetland plant Typha orientalis in a hydroponic system

To probe the influence and the adverse-resistance characteristics of wetland plants in presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the changes in the physiological and biochemical characteristics (including the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, soluble protein content, and chlorophyll content) of Typha orientalis exposed to different concentrations of AgNPs solutions (0, 0.1, 1, 20 and 40 mg/L) were explored. Meantime, the accumulation of silver content in these plants was revealed. The results show that under low concentrations of AgNPs, the SOD and POD activities in the leaves of Typha orientalis are strengthened to different degrees. However, high concentrations of AgNPs inhibit the activities of SOD and POD. Under the stress of different concentrations of AgNPs, the CAT activities are inhibited initially and later recovered to some extent. Under the stress of low concentrations of AgNPs, the soluble protein content in the leaves of Typha orientalis increases significantly, but decreases more significantly with increasing concentrations of AgNPs. Low concentrations of AgNPs promote chlorophyll synthesis in the leaves of Typha orientalis , but the chlorophyll content subsequently falls to pre-stress levels. In contrast, high concentrations of AgNPs cause a certain inhibition to generate chlorophyll. Meanwhile, the results show that the silver concentrations of plant tissues increase with the exposure of concentrations of AgNPs and they have a positive relationship with the exposure of concentrations of AgNPs.

Effects on Zinc Stress on Stress-Resistance Physiological and Biochemical Indexes of Jatropha curcas seedlings

Jatropha curcas seedlings were cultured for 21 d under 6 zinc concentrations of 0,25,50,100,200,400 mg/l to study the effects of ZnS O4 stress on the mechanism of resistance to heavy metal stress of J. curcas seedlings. The results showed that with the increase of stress concentration,the content of chlorophyll-a decreased and the activity of POD first increased and then maintained at a certain level or decreased slowly. The contents of soluble sugar,malondialdehyde,soluble protein and free proline increased,and the root activity increased first and then decreased. The relative conductivity of J. curcas seedlings decreased first and then increased,which indicated that the leaves of J. curcas seedlings had some adaptability and self-repairing capability under zinc toxicity stress,but the adaptability and self-repair ability were limited.

Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Induced by HBV Infection and Combined with Mild Alcohol Intake

Objective To investigate the differences of clinical and biochemical characteristics between patients with liver cirrhosis induced by HBV infection combined with and without mild alcohol intake.Methods Data of patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized in the First Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: patients with liver cirrhosis induced by HBV infection and combined with mild alcohol intake, patients with HBV-related cirrhosis, and patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis. Biochemical detections including liver function, fasting lipid profiles, lipoprotein, kidney function, glucose, uric acid and regular blood tests were carried out and results were compared among three groups. Data were analyzed through STATA software and co-variant analysis. Results Total of 2 350 patients with liver cirrhosis were included, 732 patients had cirrhosis induced by HBV infection combined with mild alcohol intake, 1 316 patients had HBV-related liver cirrhosis, 302 patients had alcohol-related cirrhosis. The highest mean level of white cell count, mean corpuscular volume, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase and uric acid were observed in HBV infection combined with mild alcohol intake group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that HBV infection, excessive alcohol intake, male and age were risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Conclusions HBV infection combined with mild alcoholic-related liver cirrhosis group showed the highest oxidative stress compared with alcoholic liver cirrhosis group, which suggested that mild alcohol intake may increase the incidence of liver cirrhosis in HBV infected patients and may not increase the incidence of HCC.

Regulation of Nitrogen on Potato under NaCl Stress

The effects of nitrogen on physiological and biochemical characteristics of potato cultivar Zihuabai under NaCl stress were studied in culture condition.The results show that,under NaCl stress,the contents of proline,chlorophyll and protein and root system vitality first increase and then decrease with the increase of nitrogen level,and reach the top under 4.17 mmol/L NH4NO3 level.Wherein,the contents of chlorophyll,protein and root system vitality are respectively 69.88%,13.07% and 59.29% higher than that of the control under 4.17 mmol/L NH4NO3 level;the activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD）and peroxidase（POD）increase generally under NaCl stress with the increase of nitrogen level,and reach the peaks [111.83 U/g and 25.467 U/（g·min）],which are 37.73% and 35.46% higher than that of control,at 6.25 mmol/L NH4NO3 level.

Isolation and Identification of a Flocculant Producing Strain TS-1

[Objective] The purpose was to select out and identify a flocculant producing strain which could produce high active flocculant.[Method] The strain producing high active flocculant was isolated out and purified through medium culture and the selected strain was identified through observing its culture characters and determining its physiological and biochemical property.[Result] Fourteen strains of bacteria with flocculant producing function were isolated from tested soil samples through isolation,purification and preliminary screening using dilution-spread plate method and plate streaking method.Five strains of flocculant producing bacteria showing higher flocculation activity were selected out after second screening and their flocculation rates were higher than 70%;the flocculation activity of one strain among them was still stable after multiple subculturings,its flocculation rate was always above 90% and it was marked as TS-1.TS-1 was encapsulated Gram-positive bacillus and there was no lipid in it,such as poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid.TS-1 was Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,so it was named Bacillus TS-1.[Conclusion] The strain selected out in this experiment could be used in the flocculation and biochemical treatment of wastewater from starch industry.

Acclimation and Tolerance Strategies of Rice under Drought Stress

Rice （Oryza sativa L.） is an important food crop and requires larger amount of water throughout its life cycle as compared to other crops. Hence, water related stress cause severe threat to rice production. Drought is a major challenge limiting rice production. It affects rice at morphological （reduced germination, plant height, plant biomass, number of tillers, various root and leaf traits）, physiological （reduced photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, relative water content, chlorophyll content, photosystem II activity, membrane stability, carbon isotope discrimination and abscisic acid content）, biochemical （accumulation of osmoprotectant like proline, sugars, polyamines and antioxidants） and molecular （altered expression of genes which encode transcription factors and defence related proteins） levels and thereby affects its yield. To facilitate the selection or development of drought tolerant rice varieties, a thorough understanding of the various mechanisms that govern the yield of rice under water stress condition is a prerequisite. Thus, this review is focused mainly on recent information about the effects of drought on rice, rice responses as well as adaptation mechanisms to drought stress.

Clinical Features and Genetic Analysis of Pediatric Patients with Alagille Syndrome Presenting Initially with Liver Function Abnormalities

Alagille syndrome （AGS） is a multisystem disorder and caused by mutations in JAG1 or NOTCH2 gene. The diagnosis of AGS is hampered by its highly variable clinical manifestations. We performed a retrospective analysis on 16 children diagnosed as having AGS in recent five years in our hospital. Cholestasis was seen in 15 patients （93.8%）, heart disease in 12 （75%）, characteristic facies in 7 （43.8%）, and butterfly vertebrae in 7 （43.8%）. Ophthalmology examination was not performed on all the patients. Further, serum biochemical parameters were compared between AGS and 16 biliary atresia （BA） patients who were confirmed by surgery. Elevated liver enzymes were seen in all the patients. Serum total cholesterol （TC） （P=0.0007）, alanine aminotransferase （ALT） （P=0.0056）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST） （P=0.0114）, gamma-glutamyl transferase （GGT） （P=0.035） and total bile acid （TBA） levels （P=0.042） were significantly elevated in AGS patients compared to those in BA cases. However, there were no significant differences in serum total bilirubin （TB）, conjugated bilirubin （CB） and albumin （ALB） between the two groups. We identified 14 different JAG1 gene variations and 1 NOTCH2 gene mutation in 16 Chinese AGS patients. Our study suggested clinical features of AGS are highly variable and not all patients meet the classical diagnostic criteria. It was suggested that hypercholesterolaemia and significantly elevated GGT, TBA and ALT may be helpful to diagnose AGS. Genetic testing is integral in the diagnosis of AGS.