Drinking good quality water is essential for better health. It is therefore essential to assess the radiological quality of all water consumed in the District of Abidjan in order to prevent related hazards. Thus, the ...Drinking good quality water is essential for better health. It is therefore essential to assess the radiological quality of all water consumed in the District of Abidjan in order to prevent related hazards. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the risk of cancer due to the ingestion of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in the different types of water consumed in the region. A total of 63 water samples with 43 tap water samples, 5 bottled mineral water and 15 sachet water samples was collected and taken to GAEC laboratory for analysis. The low background Gas-less Automatic Alpha/Beta counting system (Canberra iMatic<sup>TM</sup>) was used to determine alpha and beta activity concentrations. Activity concentrations of both gross alpha and gross beta obtained in water sample were respectively lower than the WHO recommended limits of 0.1 Bq/l and 1 Bq/l. Also, the annual effective dose and total equivalent effective dose found in mineral bottled water samples were higher than in other types of water. The assessment of radiological lifetime risk has shown values of cancer risk due to ingestion alpha and beta emitters lower than recommended limit. These results indicate that there is no health hazard associated to consumption of water in the District of Abidjan.展开更多
Analyses of astrophysics and electrostatic separation data were illustrated with the Asymptotic Curve Based and Proportionality Oriented (ACP) nonlinear math for relating two physical variables. The fundamental physic...Analyses of astrophysics and electrostatic separation data were illustrated with the Asymptotic Curve Based and Proportionality Oriented (ACP) nonlinear math for relating two physical variables. The fundamental physical law asserts that the nonlinear change of continuous variable Y is proportional to the nonlinear change in continuous variable X. Mathematically, this is expressed as dα{Y, Yu, Yb} = −Kdβ{X, Xu, Xb}, with Yu, Yb, Xu, and Xb representing the upper and baseline asymptotes of Y and X. Y is the continuous cumulative numbers of the elementary y and X is the continuous cumulative numbers of elementary x. K is the proportionality constant or equally is the rate constant.展开更多
Recent work suggests a link betweenα-synuclein(α-syn)and mitochondrial dysfunction;however,the mechanisms of howα-syn influences mitochondrial function are still unclear.Most notably,whetherα-syn plays a direct ro...Recent work suggests a link betweenα-synuclein(α-syn)and mitochondrial dysfunction;however,the mechanisms of howα-syn influences mitochondrial function are still unclear.Most notably,whetherα-syn plays a direct role during mitochondrial function and/or whether diseasedα-syn-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is a potential modifiable risk factor in Parkinson’s disease(PD)is unknown.To date,mutations in more than eight genes cause familial PD(fPD)and have functions in diverse pathways including synaptic homeostasis,mitochondria maintenance,autophagy/lysosome,and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways.展开更多
Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interfe...Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUID),MEG based on optically pump magnetometer(OPM)has the advantages of higher sensitivity,better spatial resolution and lower cost.However,most of the current studies are clinical studies,and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology.Pain,a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon,induces intricate alterations in brain activity,exhibiting notable sex differences.Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG,specific properties remain elusive,and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain(induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant(CFA))on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique,to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception,and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling.Methods This study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA(100μl,50%in saline)in the left hind paw,with control groups receiving saline.Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection.For MEG recording,anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield,undergoing two 15-minute sessions:a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase.Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms,generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range.Results MEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared,before and after saline/CFA injections.Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre-and post-saline/CFA injections.Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states.Remarkably,female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states.Furthermore,despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment,female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection.Conclusion These results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts.Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection,highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state.Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals.In addition,the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.展开更多
Beta thalassemia(β-thalassemia)syndromes are a heterogeneous group of inherited hemoglobinopathies caused by molecular defects in the beta-globin gene that lead to the impaired synthesis of beta-globin chains of the ...Beta thalassemia(β-thalassemia)syndromes are a heterogeneous group of inherited hemoglobinopathies caused by molecular defects in the beta-globin gene that lead to the impaired synthesis of beta-globin chains of the hemoglobin.The hallmarks of the disease include ineffective erythropoiesis,chronic hemolytic anemia,and iron overload.Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic carriers to severe anemia requiring lifelong blood transfusions with subsequent devastating complications.The management of patients with severeβ-thalassemia represents a global health problem,particularly in low-income countries.Until recently,management strategies were limited to regular transfusions and iron chelation therapy,with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation available only for a subset of patients.Better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms ofβ-thalassemia syndromes and associated clinical phenotypes has paved the way for novel therapeutic options,including pharmacologic enhancers of effective erythropoiesis and gene therapy.展开更多
Ambient light has profound effects on early seedling de-etiolation through red and far-red light-absorbing phytochromes and blue and UV-A light-absorbing cryptochromes. Subsequent integration of various light signal t...Ambient light has profound effects on early seedling de-etiolation through red and far-red light-absorbing phytochromes and blue and UV-A light-absorbing cryptochromes. Subsequent integration of various light signal trans- duction pathways leads to changes in gene expression and morphogenic responses. Here, we report the isolation of a new Arabidopsis light-signaling component, HYPOSENSITIVE TO LIGHT or HTL. Both htl-1 and htl-2 alleles displayed a long hypocotyl phenotype under red, far-red, and blue light, whereas overexpression of HTL caused a short hypocotyl pheno- type under similar light conditions. The mutants also showed other photomorphogenic defects such as elongated petioles, retarded cotyledon and leaf expansion, reduced accumulation of chlorophyll and anthocyanin pigments, and attenuated expression of light-responsive CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN 3 and CHALCONE SYNTHASE genes. HTL belongs to an alpha/beta fold protein family and is localized strongly in the nucleus and weakly in the cytosol. The expression of HTL was strongly induced by light of various wavelengths and this light induction was impaired in elongated hypocotyl 5. HY5 directly bound to both a C/G-box and a G-box in the HTL promoter but with a greater affinity toward the C/G-box. HTL, therefore, represents a new signaling step downstream of HY5 in phy- and cry-mediated de-etiolation responses.展开更多
Objective： To investigate the impact of beta-elemene injection on the growth and alpha-tubule of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods： Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was ...Objective： To investigate the impact of beta-elemene injection on the growth and alpha-tubule of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods： Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry （FCM）. The mRNA expression of alpha-tubulin was measured by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was used to determine protein expression of alpha-tubulin and the polymerization of tubulin. Results： Beta-elemene injection inhibited HepG2 cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner; FCM analysis indicated beta-elemene injection induced cell cycle arrested at S phase. RT-PCR and western- blot analysis showed that beta-elemene injection down-regulated alpha-tublin at both mRNA and protein levels, presenting a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, beta-elemene injection reduced the polymerization of microtubules in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions： Beta-elemene injection can inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma HepG2 cells and induce cell apoptosis, the mechanism might be partly related to the down-regulation of alpha-tubulin and inhibition of microtubular polymerization.展开更多
文摘Drinking good quality water is essential for better health. It is therefore essential to assess the radiological quality of all water consumed in the District of Abidjan in order to prevent related hazards. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the risk of cancer due to the ingestion of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in the different types of water consumed in the region. A total of 63 water samples with 43 tap water samples, 5 bottled mineral water and 15 sachet water samples was collected and taken to GAEC laboratory for analysis. The low background Gas-less Automatic Alpha/Beta counting system (Canberra iMatic<sup>TM</sup>) was used to determine alpha and beta activity concentrations. Activity concentrations of both gross alpha and gross beta obtained in water sample were respectively lower than the WHO recommended limits of 0.1 Bq/l and 1 Bq/l. Also, the annual effective dose and total equivalent effective dose found in mineral bottled water samples were higher than in other types of water. The assessment of radiological lifetime risk has shown values of cancer risk due to ingestion alpha and beta emitters lower than recommended limit. These results indicate that there is no health hazard associated to consumption of water in the District of Abidjan.
文摘Analyses of astrophysics and electrostatic separation data were illustrated with the Asymptotic Curve Based and Proportionality Oriented (ACP) nonlinear math for relating two physical variables. The fundamental physical law asserts that the nonlinear change of continuous variable Y is proportional to the nonlinear change in continuous variable X. Mathematically, this is expressed as dα{Y, Yu, Yb} = −Kdβ{X, Xu, Xb}, with Yu, Yb, Xu, and Xb representing the upper and baseline asymptotes of Y and X. Y is the continuous cumulative numbers of the elementary y and X is the continuous cumulative numbers of elementary x. K is the proportionality constant or equally is the rate constant.
文摘Recent work suggests a link betweenα-synuclein(α-syn)and mitochondrial dysfunction;however,the mechanisms of howα-syn influences mitochondrial function are still unclear.Most notably,whetherα-syn plays a direct role during mitochondrial function and/or whether diseasedα-syn-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is a potential modifiable risk factor in Parkinson’s disease(PD)is unknown.To date,mutations in more than eight genes cause familial PD(fPD)and have functions in diverse pathways including synaptic homeostasis,mitochondria maintenance,autophagy/lysosome,and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways.
文摘Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUID),MEG based on optically pump magnetometer(OPM)has the advantages of higher sensitivity,better spatial resolution and lower cost.However,most of the current studies are clinical studies,and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology.Pain,a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon,induces intricate alterations in brain activity,exhibiting notable sex differences.Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG,specific properties remain elusive,and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain(induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant(CFA))on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique,to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception,and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling.Methods This study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA(100μl,50%in saline)in the left hind paw,with control groups receiving saline.Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection.For MEG recording,anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield,undergoing two 15-minute sessions:a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase.Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms,generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range.Results MEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared,before and after saline/CFA injections.Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre-and post-saline/CFA injections.Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states.Remarkably,female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states.Furthermore,despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment,female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection.Conclusion These results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts.Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection,highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state.Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals.In addition,the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
文摘Beta thalassemia(β-thalassemia)syndromes are a heterogeneous group of inherited hemoglobinopathies caused by molecular defects in the beta-globin gene that lead to the impaired synthesis of beta-globin chains of the hemoglobin.The hallmarks of the disease include ineffective erythropoiesis,chronic hemolytic anemia,and iron overload.Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic carriers to severe anemia requiring lifelong blood transfusions with subsequent devastating complications.The management of patients with severeβ-thalassemia represents a global health problem,particularly in low-income countries.Until recently,management strategies were limited to regular transfusions and iron chelation therapy,with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation available only for a subset of patients.Better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms ofβ-thalassemia syndromes and associated clinical phenotypes has paved the way for novel therapeutic options,including pharmacologic enhancers of effective erythropoiesis and gene therapy.
基金This work was supported by the National Science Foundation，by the Plant Biological Sciences Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship and Summer Fellowship from the University of Minnesota
文摘Ambient light has profound effects on early seedling de-etiolation through red and far-red light-absorbing phytochromes and blue and UV-A light-absorbing cryptochromes. Subsequent integration of various light signal trans- duction pathways leads to changes in gene expression and morphogenic responses. Here, we report the isolation of a new Arabidopsis light-signaling component, HYPOSENSITIVE TO LIGHT or HTL. Both htl-1 and htl-2 alleles displayed a long hypocotyl phenotype under red, far-red, and blue light, whereas overexpression of HTL caused a short hypocotyl pheno- type under similar light conditions. The mutants also showed other photomorphogenic defects such as elongated petioles, retarded cotyledon and leaf expansion, reduced accumulation of chlorophyll and anthocyanin pigments, and attenuated expression of light-responsive CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN 3 and CHALCONE SYNTHASE genes. HTL belongs to an alpha/beta fold protein family and is localized strongly in the nucleus and weakly in the cytosol. The expression of HTL was strongly induced by light of various wavelengths and this light induction was impaired in elongated hypocotyl 5. HY5 directly bound to both a C/G-box and a G-box in the HTL promoter but with a greater affinity toward the C/G-box. HTL, therefore, represents a new signaling step downstream of HY5 in phy- and cry-mediated de-etiolation responses.
基金The General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China:Research Fund for the mechanism of Arenobufagin space isomer inhibits lymphatic metastasis of mouse hepatocarcinomaThe Project Sponsored by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars,State Education MinistrySpecialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(NO.20102105120002)
文摘Objective： To investigate the impact of beta-elemene injection on the growth and alpha-tubule of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods： Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry （FCM）. The mRNA expression of alpha-tubulin was measured by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was used to determine protein expression of alpha-tubulin and the polymerization of tubulin. Results： Beta-elemene injection inhibited HepG2 cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner; FCM analysis indicated beta-elemene injection induced cell cycle arrested at S phase. RT-PCR and western- blot analysis showed that beta-elemene injection down-regulated alpha-tublin at both mRNA and protein levels, presenting a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, beta-elemene injection reduced the polymerization of microtubules in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions： Beta-elemene injection can inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma HepG2 cells and induce cell apoptosis, the mechanism might be partly related to the down-regulation of alpha-tubulin and inhibition of microtubular polymerization.
