甲状腺术中喉返神经显露对暂时性喉返神经损伤发生率的影响

目的:探究甲状腺术中喉返神经显露对暂时性喉返神经损伤发生率的影响。方法:选择我院2016年10月-2018年10月收治的行甲状腺切除术的115例患者为研究对象,按照其入院顺序经随机数字表法分为两组,两组患者均行常规甲状腺切除术。其中,对照组58例患者未显露喉返神经;研究组57例患者常规显露喉返神经,记录并比较两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、切口长度和住院时间等围术期手术指标,术后1d、4d、7d的甲状旁腺激素(PTH)水平、钙离子(Ca2+)水平,术后暂时性喉返神经损伤、术后声音嘶哑、低钙血症等并发症的发生情况。结果:研究组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量均短于(少于)对照组(P0.05),但两组患者的切口长度和住院时间无显著性差异(P0.05);研究组患者术后1d、4d、7d的血清PTH、Ca2+水平均高于对照组(P0.05),暂时性喉返神经损伤、术后声音嘶哑、低钙血症发生率均低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:甲状腺术中喉返神经显露可有效预防暂时性喉返神经和甲状腺功能的损伤,降低术后并发症的发生率,且患者的围术期指标均显著改善。     

急性高容量血液稀释联合控制性低中心静脉压对脊柱后路手术患者炎症免疫调节及血液保护作用研究

摘要 目的：探讨急性高容量血液稀释（AHH）联合控制性低中心静脉压（CLCVP）对脊柱后路手术患者炎症、免疫调节、血液保护的作用。方法：选择2020年1月至2022年12月于南京鼓楼医院行脊柱后路手术的120例患者作为研究对象,根据随机数字表法分为对照组、AHH组、AHH+CLCVP组,每组各40例。对照组给予乳酸钠林格氏液血液稀释,AHH组给予AHH血液管理,AHH+ CLCVP组给予AHH联合CLCVP血液管理。比较三组围术期指标、血流动力学指标、炎症因子指标、免疫功能指标的变化情况。结果： AHH+CLCVP组术中出血量、悬浮红细胞输注量低于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,AHH组术中出血量、悬浮红细胞输注量低于对照组（P＜0.05）。与T1时间点相比,三组心率（HR）于手术开始后60 min（T2）~术毕（T3）先升高后降低（P＜0.05）,平均动脉压（MAP）先降低后升高（P＜0.05）,对照组和AHH组中心静脉压（CVP）于T2~T3先升高后降低（P＜0.05）,AHH+CLCVP组T0~T3 CVP保持稳定水平（P＞0.05）。AHH+CLCVP组T2~T3 HR低于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,MAP高于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,CVP低于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,AHH组T2~T3 HR低于对照组（P＜0.05）,MAP高于对照组（P＜0.05）。与T1时间相比,三组血清降钙素原（PCT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）水平、外周血CD8⁺于T2~术后24 h（T4）先升高后降低（P＜0.05）,外周血CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺于T2~T4先降低后升高（P＜0.05）。AHH+CLCVP组T2~T4血清PCT、CRP、IL-6水平、外周血CD8⁺低于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,外周血CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于AHH组和对照组（P＜0.05）,AHH组T2~T4血清PCT、CRP、IL-6水平、外周血CD8⁺低于对照组（P＜0.05）,外周血CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：AHH联合CLCVP可稳定脊柱后路手术患者血流动力学,减少术中出血量和输血量,降低炎症反应,提高免疫功能。     

不同病理类型的原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进临床特征及生化指标的相关性分析

摘要 目的：分析不同病理类型的良性原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进（primary hyperparathyroidism,PHPT）患者临床特征和术前术后生化指标变化的不同,探讨其相关性,为该病的诊断与治疗提供思路。方法：收集行手术治疗的良性PHPT患者56 例,回顾性分析其临床资料及术前术后生化指标的变化,并按术后病理结果对其进行分组,比较其临床特征及生化指标的差异。结果：按病理类型将患者分为4组：甲状旁腺腺瘤（PA组）21 例（37.5%）,甲状旁腺腺瘤样增生（PAH组）28 例（50.0%）,甲状旁腺非典型腺瘤样增生（PAAH组）5例（8.93%）,甲状旁腺腺瘤合并甲状旁腺腺瘤样增生（PA+PAH组）2例（3.57%）。PHPT患者中女性明显高发,男女比例为1：5.22,且在PAH组所占比重明显高于PA组（P>0.05）。各组临床表现无明显差异。术前PTH在PAAH组明显高于PAH组,而术前血钙、血磷、25-羟基维生素D3在各组间比较无显著性差异。多处病灶有66.67%发生在PAH组,组间比较有显著性差异（x²=20.160a, P=0.000）。术后病理标本最大直径在PA组明显大于PAH组（P<0.05）,而在其余各组间比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）。PTH在术中标本切除后数值迅速下降,在术后第一天略有上升;血钙在术后呈持续下降趋势。PTH及血钙的下降幅度在各组间比较无显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：良性原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症中老年女性高发,尤其在PAH组明显高发。各种病理类型临床表现无差异。多处病灶主要集中在PAH组,PA组术后病理标本最大直径最大,PAAH组术前PTH水平最高,应对PAAH组患者加强术后PTH随访。     

银杏叶提取物注射液联合地塞米松对突发性耳聋患者血液流变学、内皮功能及外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

摘要 目的：探讨银杏叶提取物注射液联合地塞米松对突发性耳聋患者内皮功能、血液流变学及外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法：选取2018年1月到2019年12月我院收治的100例突发性耳聋患者,将纳入病例依照随机数字表法分为对照组（n=50,给予鼓室注射地塞米松治疗）和观察组（n=50,对照组基础上静脉滴注银杏叶提取物注射液）,两组疗程均为10 d。对比两组疗效、血液流变学、内皮功能、外周血T淋巴细胞亚群、纯音听阈值及不良反应。结果：观察组治疗10 d后的临床总有效率为96.00%,高于对照组的82.00%（P<0.05）。观察组治疗10 d后纯音听阈值明显较对照组小（P<0.05）。观察组治疗10 d后纤维蛋白原、全血高切黏度、全血低切黏度低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组治疗10 d后可溶性血管细胞间黏附分子-1 (sVCAM-1)、内皮素-1（ET-1）低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组10 d后CD8⁺较对照组低,CD3⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺、CD4⁺较对照组高（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率比较无差异（P>0.05）。结论：采用银杏叶提取物注射液联合地塞米松治疗突发性耳聋患者,可有效改善内皮功能和血液流变学,提高机体免疫功能,效果确切,安全性佳。     

术前DSA损伤分级在外伤性脾破裂行脾动脉栓塞治疗中的价值分析

摘要 目的：分析术前DSA损伤分级在外伤性脾破裂行脾动脉栓塞治疗中的价值。方法：选取2020年1月～2022年12月本院收治的95例外伤性脾破裂患者进行研究,根据随机数字表法将其分为常规手术组（45例）和DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组（50例）,常规手术组行开腹脾全切术,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组在DSA引导下行脾动脉栓塞术,分析两组与DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组不同DSA分级的手术相关指标、T淋巴细胞（CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺）、免疫球蛋白（IgG、IgA、IgM）、白细胞（WBC）和血小板（PLT）含量及血清白介素6（IL-6）、血清白介素10（IL-10）、促吞噬素因子（Tuftsin）水平。结果：与常规手术组比较,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组手术时间、下床时间、住院时间较短,术中出血量较少（P＜0.05）。术后14 d,与常规手术组比较,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平较高,CD8⁺水平较低（P＜0.05）。术后14 d,与常规手术组比较,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组IgG、IgA、IgM水平较高（P＜0.05）。术后14 d,与常规手术组比较,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组PLT含量较低;与DSA Ⅲ级比较,DSA Ⅰ～Ⅱ级PLT含量较低（P＜0.05）。术后14 d,与常规手术组比较,DSA引导下脾动脉栓塞组血清IL-6水平较低,血清IL-10、Tuftsin水平较高（P＜0.05）。结论：于DSA损伤分级指导下对外伤性脾破裂患者开展脾动脉栓塞术,对机体免疫功能造成的影响较小,且术中不会出现大量出血的情况,不仅能降低患者的血小板含量,还能促使患者尽快恢复。     

雷火灸五脏背俞穴对气虚型非小细胞肺癌患者化疗后癌因性疲乏的临床疗效评价

摘要 目的：探讨雷火灸五脏背俞穴对气虚型非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者化疗后癌因性疲乏的临床疗效。方法：选取2020年3月~2022年5月期间我院收治的NSCLC患者93例,采用随机数字表法分为对照组（n=46,接受常规治疗）和观察组（n=47,在对照组的基础上接受雷火灸五脏背俞穴治疗）。对比两组简明疲乏量表（BFI）评分、中医证候积分、血液流变学指标、T淋巴细胞亚群指标、生活质量评分。结果：观察组治疗7 d后及治疗14 d后BFI评分均低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。观察组治疗14 d后腹胀纳呆、胸闷气短、神疲乏力、久嗽痰稀、浮肿便溏评分低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。观察组治疗14 d后高切全血黏度、低切全血黏度、红细胞压积、血浆黏度低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。观察组治疗14 d后CD8⁺低于对照组同期,CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。观察组治疗14 d后功能、肺癌附加症状、生理、社会/家庭、情感评分高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。结论：雷火灸五脏背俞穴可有效减轻气虚型NSCLC患者化疗后癌因性疲乏症状,调节血液流变学水平和免疫功能,改善患者的生活质量。     

术前合理准备对老年下肢骨折全麻手术患者营养状态、糖代谢、应激反应及机体免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨术前合理准备对老年下肢骨折全麻手术患者营养状态、糖代谢、应激反应及机体免疫功能的影响。方法：将2017年6月至2019年6月我院收治的120例下肢骨折老年患者随机分为对照组和观察组,各60例。对照组采取常规准备及麻醉管理,观察组采取术前合理准备及麻醉管理,统计两组患者术后反流误吸、恶心、呕吐、口渴、饥饿发生率,对比两组术前12小时 (T0)、术后即刻(T1)、术后24小时(T2) 的营养状态指标（血清前白蛋白、白蛋白、转铁蛋）水平,糖代谢指标[空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数(IRI)]、应激反应指标[皮质醇 (Cor)、肾素(Rn)、促肾上腺皮质激素 (ACTH)]及免疫功能指标[免疫球蛋白（IgA、IgM、IgG）和T淋巴亚群（CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/ CD8⁺）]水平。结果：观察组术后反流误吸、口渴、饥饿发生率显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。T1、T2时点两组患者血清前白蛋白、白蛋白、转铁蛋白水平均较T0时点显著降低,观察组T1、T2时点血清前白蛋白、白蛋白、转铁蛋白水平显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。T1、T2时点两组患者血清空腹血糖、IRI、Cor、Rn、ACTH水平均较T0时点显著升高,观察组T1、T2时点血清空腹血糖、IRI、Cor、Rn、ACTH水平显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。T1、T2时点两组患者IgA、IgM、IgG、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/ CD8⁺水平均较T0时点显著降低,CD8⁺ 较T0时点显著升高,观察组IgA、IgM、IgG、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/ CD8⁺水平显著高于对照组,CD8⁺显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：术前合理准备能够降低老年下肢骨折全麻手术患者应激反应,减少全麻手术对患者术后营养状态、糖代谢机体免疫功能的影响,值得临床推广应用。     

脾氨肽辅助抗结核药物治疗肺结核的临床疗效观察

摘要 目的：观察脾氨肽辅助抗结核药物治疗肺结核的临床疗效。方法：随机数值表法将2016年6月～2021年6月本院收治的120例肺结核患者分为观察组、对照组。对照组予常规抗结核药物治疗,观察组予脾氨肽辅助抗结核药物治疗。评价两组肺部病灶变化情况、肺部空洞变化情况;检测两组治疗2、4、6个月时痰培养转阴率;检测两组治疗前后外周血T淋巴细胞亚群CD3⁺、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值。结果：观察组肺部病灶变化、肺部空洞变化疗效的总有效率分别为95.00%、93.33%,明显高于对照组的83.33%、80.00%（P＜0.05）。两组在治疗6个月时的痰培养转阴率无显著差异（P＞0.05）,但观察组在治疗2、4个月时的痰培养转阴率均显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组治疗前及对照组治疗前后的CD3⁺、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值比较无明显差异（P＞0.05）,但观察组治疗后的CD3⁺、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值均显著高于本组治疗前及对照组治疗后（P＜0.05）。结论：脾氨肽辅助抗结核药物治疗肺结核有助于提升临床疗效,可能与提升患者的免疫功能水平有关,值得临床进一步研究。     

萝卜硫素通过Nrf2信号通路对大鼠草酸钙肾结石形成的作用和机制研究

摘要 目的：探究萝卜硫素通过Nrf2信号通路对大鼠草酸钙肾结石形成的作用和机制。方法：选取7~8周龄Wistar健康雄性大鼠30只,随机分为空白对照组、模型组和药物干预组。空白对照组给予正常饮用水,标准饲料;模型组给予1%乙二醇饮用水+2%氯化铵2 mL/d灌胃,标准饲料;药物干预组给予1%乙二醇饮用水+2%氯化铵2 mL/d灌胃+0.2 mg萝卜硫素腹腔注射,标准饲料。灌胃给药均连续28天。于第29天收分别集各组大鼠24 h尿液及肾脏标本,使用全自动生化分析仪检测尿液中K⁺、Na⁺、Cl⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、P⁵⁺、Fe²⁺含量,使用ELISA法测定尿液中丙二醛( malondialdehyde,MDA)与草酸水平,使用HE染色分析大鼠肾脏标本病理损伤情况,Von Kossa染色比较各组大鼠钙盐沉积情况,免疫组化法测定谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)、核因子E₂相关因子2(nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2,Nrf2)、8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine,8-OHDG)蛋白表达水平。结果：模型组大鼠尿液P⁵⁺、Ca²⁺、草酸、MDA含量显著高于空白对照组,HE染色示模型组肾小管较空白对照组变性严重,Von Kossa染色结果显示模型组钙盐沉积较空白对照组明显增多,模型组GSH、Nrf2免疫组化评分显著低于空白对照组,8-OHdG显著高于空白对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;药物干预组大鼠尿液P⁵⁺、Ca²⁺、草酸、MDA含量显著低于模型组,HE染色、Von Kossa染色显示肾小管较模型组损伤减轻,钙盐沉积较模型组减轻,免疫组化显示GSH、Nrf2蛋白表达显著高于模型组,8-OHdG显著低于空白对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：萝卜硫素对大鼠肾小管具有抗氧化损伤作用,可降低草酸钙晶体的释放,抑制草酸钙结石的形成,该作用可能是通过激活Nrf2蛋白及其下游信号通路实现的。     

认知行为疗法对腹腔镜肾癌根治术患者应激反应、心理弹性及免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨认知行为疗法对腹腔镜肾癌根治术患者给应激反应、心理弹性及免疫功能的影响,为改善腹腔镜肾癌根治术患者康复效果提供参考依据。方法：按抛掷硬币法将2019年1月-2022年12月南京鼓楼医院收治的80例腹腔镜肾癌根治术患者随机分为对照组和观察组,对照组40例患者行常规干预,观察组40例患者行认知行为疗法干预。比较两组患者临床基本指标、应激反应、心理弹性、免疫功能及生活质量等指标变化情况。结果：干预后,观察组排气时间、尿管留置时间、下床活动时间以住院时间均短于于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组干预后皮质醇、肾上腺素水平与心理弹性评分均较干预前升高（P＜0.05）,且观察组皮质醇、肾上腺素水平低于对照组,心理弹性评分高于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组干预后CD3⁺、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平较干预前升高,CD8⁺水平较干预前降低（P＜0.05）;且观察组CD3⁺、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平高于对照组,CD8⁺水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组干预后生活质量各项评分均高于干预前（P＜0.05）,且观察组高于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：认知行为疗法干预腹腔镜肾癌根治术患者不仅可有效改善患者负性情绪,提升其心里弹性,还可降低患者应激反应,提高机体免疫功能,加快其术后康复进程,值得临床借鉴应用。     

Phyllocarida and the origin of the Malacostraca

Tentative homologies with Decapoda are proposed for grooves on the carapace of Echinocaris and Montecaris. Together with F.R. Schram's hoploid trend, reinforced by the discovery of a raptorial limb in Sairocaris, this may strengthen a phyllocarid origin for Eumalacostraca. Both these trends, however, may be parallelisms, and phylogenetic analysis is required. Pleopods are here proved to have been present in additional Archaeostraca, which improves their ancestral condition. E. Dahl's view of the phyllocarids as an evolutionary dead end is falsified from fossils, and the phyllocarids are supported as a stem group of the Malacostraca.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the influenza A/PR/8/34 virus NS gene and comparison with the NS genes of the A/Udorn/72 and A/FPV/Rostock/34 strains.

The nucleotide sequence of the NS gene of the human influenza virus A/PR/8/34 was determined and found to be the same length (890 nucleotides) as the NS gene of another human influenza virus A/Udorn/72 and of the avian isolate A/FPV/Rostock/34. Comparison of the sequences of the NS genes of the two human influenza viruses shows an 8.9% difference whereas the NS gene of the avian isolate differs by only 8% from that of the human strain A/PR/8/34. The extensive sequence similarity among these three genes does not support the notion of species specific homology groups among NS genes of avian and human influenza virus strains. The primary sequence of the A/PR/8/34 NS gene is consistent with the findings that the influenza virus NS gene may code for two overlapping polypeptides. In addition, an open reading frame potentially coding for a polypeptide 167 amino acids in length was found in the negative strand RNA of the A/PR/8/34 virus NS gene.     

The effect of the rcation/ranion ratio on the structural and chemical properties of N-chloroarenesulfonamidates

A comparative structural study on sodium and potassium N-chloroarenesulfonamidates has been carried out using X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy as experimental techniques. As shown by crystallographic studies, the sodium ions tend to incorporate more water oxygen atoms in their coordination spheres than the potassium ions, while the potassium congeners prefer the interaction with sulfonamidate moieties. The marked dissimilarity between the compositions of the coordination spheres as well as the different tendency of the sodium and potassium salts to absorb moisture from the air have been attributed to the different sizes of the sodium and potassium ions. The opposite shifts of the ν_as(SO₂) and ν(SN) bands upon dehydration have been ascribed to an increased polarization of the sulfonyl group by the metal centers. Based on IR spectroscopic observations, a weakening of the N-Cl bonds is suspected in the water-free compounds, which may contribute to the known thermal instability of the dehydrated salts of N-chloroarenesulfonamides. Various sections of IR spectra as well as X-ray powder diffraction patterns have proved to be suitable to identify the water-free and hydrated samples.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the all-trans- and the trans-cis-isomers of dichlorodimethyltin complexes of phosphoric triamides

Four new phosphoramidates with formula 4-RC₆H₄C(O)NHP(O)(NH(CH(CH₃)₂)₂, R = H (1), OCH₃ (2), CH₃ (3), Cl (4) and their diorganotin(IV) complexes with formula SnCl₂(CH₃)₂(X)₂, X = 1 (5), 2 (6), 3 (7) and 4 (8) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The spectroscopic properties of complexes were compared with those corresponding ligands. The molecular structures for 5, 5·CH₃CN, 6·CH₃CN, 7 and 8 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis and shown that the tin atoms have a distorted octahedral coordination with trans-methyl groups. Two different all-trans and cis-trans isomers were obtained by changing the crystallization solvent system. The existence of CH₃CN in molecular packing of trans-cis isomers might be a packing factor governing the orientation of the ligands. Due to the presence of several hydrogen bond donors and acceptors on compounds, extended hydrogen-bonded networks were observed. The structure of 2 was also determined and possesses two crystallographically independent molecules in asymmetric unit. On forming complex 6·CH₃CN, the ligand 2 shows shortening of CO and P-N bond distances and increasing of PO bond length. Pseudopolymorphism of diorganotins in 5 and 5·CH₃CN is reported for the first time.     

Lgl/aPKC and Crb regulate the Salvador/Warts/Hippo pathway

A key goal of developmental biology is to understand the mechanisms that coordinate organ growth. It has long been recognized that the genes that control apico-basal cell polarity also regulate tissue growth. How loss of cell polarity contributes to tissue overgrowth has been the subject of much speculation. Do loss-of-function mutations in cell polarity regulators result in secondary effects that globally deregulate cell proliferation, or do these genes specifically control growth pathways? Three recent papers have shown that the apico-basal polarity determinants Lgl/aPKC and Crb regulate tissue growth independently of their roles in cell polarity and coordinately regulate cell proliferation and cell death via the Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) pathway. Lgl/aPKC are required for the correct localization of Hippo (Hpo)/Ras associated factor (RASSF), whilst Crb regulates the levels and localization of Expanded (Ex), indicating that cell polarity determinants modify SWH pathway activity by distinct mechanisms. Here, we review the key data that support these conclusions, highlight remaining questions and speculate on the underlying mechanisms by which the cell polarity complexes interact with the SWH pathway. Understanding the interactions between cell polarity regulators and the SWH pathway will improve our knowledge of how epithelial organization and tissue growth are coordinated during development and perturbed in disease states such as cancer.     

Evidence that a mustard seedling responds to the amount of Pfr and not to the Pfr/Ptotratio

Abstract Phytochrome-mediated anthocyanin synthesis of the mustard seedling (Sinapis alba L.) was investigated. Light pre-treated and dark-grown seedlings differing in responsiveness and level of phytochrome (P_tot) were compared. The data obtained support the traditional view that a seedling measures the amount of P_fr. The alternative view that a plant measures the P_fr/P_tot ratio does not seem to be compatible with the data obtained with the mustard seedling.     

Distribution and Pharmacological Properties of the GABAA/ Benzodiazepine/Chloride Ionophore Receptor Complex in the Brain of the Fish Anguilla anguilla

In the present study, we characterized the distribution and the pharmacological properties of the different components of the GABAA receptor complex in the brain of the eel (Anguilla anguilla). Benzodiazepine recognition sites labeled "in vitro" with [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FNT) were present in highest concentration in the optic lobe and in lowest concentration in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord. A similar distribution was observed in the density of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) binding sites. GABA increased the binding of [3H]FNT in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximal enhancement of 45% above the control value, and, vice versa, diazepam stimulated the binding of [3H]GABA to eel brain membrane preparations. The density of benzodiazepine and GABA recognition sites and their reciprocal regulation were similar to those observed in the rat brain. In contrast, the binding of the specific ligand for the Cl- ionophore, t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS), to eel brain membranes was lower than that found in the rat brain. In addition, [35S]TBPS binding in eel brain was less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of GABA and muscimol and much more sensitive to the stimulatory effect of bicuculline, when compared with [35S]TBPS binding in the rat brain. Moreover, the uptake of 36Cl- into eel brain membrane vesicles was only marginally stimulated by concentrations of GABA or muscimol that significantly enhanced the 36Cl- uptake into rat brain membrane vesicles. Finally, intravenous administration of the beta-carboline inverse agonist 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (20 mg/kg) and of the chloride channel blocker pentylenetetrazole (80 mg/kg) produced convulsions in eels that were antagonized by diazepam at doses five to 20 times higher than those required to produce similar effects in rats. The results may indicate a different functional activity of the GABA-coupled chloride ionophore in the fish brain as compared with the mammalian brain.     

Sequence analysis and functional characterization of the promoter of the PiceaglaucaCinnamylAlcoholDehydrogenase gene in transgenic white spruce plants

The enzyme Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyses the last step of lignin monomer synthesis, and is considered as a molecular marker of cell wall lignification in different plants species. Here, we report the isolation and analysis of 5′ flanking genomic DNA regions upstream to the CAD gene, from two conifers, i.e. white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Sequence comparisons with available CAD gene promoters from angiosperms highlighted the conservation of cis-elements matching MYB, WRKY and bHLH binding sites. Functional characterization of the P. glauca CAD promoter used P. glauca seedlings stably transformed with a DNA fragment of 1,163 base pairs (PgCAD) fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Histochemical observations of different vegetative organs of the transgenic trees showed that this sequence was sufficient to drive GUS expression in lignifying tissues, and more specifically in differentiating xylem cells. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments also indicated that the native CAD gene was preferentially expressed in differentiating xylem both in stems and roots. In addition, GUS expression driven by the PgCAD promoter was wound-inducible which was consistent with the accumulation of CAD mRNA in response to jasmonate application and mechanical wounding. The spruce CAD promoter represents a valuable tool for research and biotechnology applications related to xylem and wood. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Feeding and survival rates of the copepods Euterpina acutifrons Dana and Acartia grani Sars on the dinoflagellates Alexandrium minutum Balech and Gyrodinium corsicum Paulmier and the Chryptophyta Rhodomonas baltica Karsten

Here we studied the feeding performances and survival rates of the copepods Euterpina acutifrons and Acartia grani exposed to cultures of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium minutum and Gyrodinium corsicum and the nontoxic Chryptophyta Rhodomonas baltica. The presence of hemolysins in G. corsicum was also analysed. For both copepod species, high ingestion rates on A. minutum and lower but similar rates on G. corsicum and R. baltica were found. After 120 h, only the E. acutifrons that grazed on G. corsicum or R. baltica showed 100% survival, whereas survival of the copepods that grazed on A. minutum was significantly lower. A. grani was more sensitive to the dinoflagellates, and at 120 h showed survival rates of 70% on G. corsicum and 60% on A. minutum. These results support the hypothesis that the feeding interactions between copepods and toxic dinoflagellates are highly species-specific. Long-term observations indicated that E. acutifrons can graze on G. corsicum without impairing their feeding or growth performances. Both copepod species consumed A. minutum in the short-term, but their long-term impact on this and other toxic marine dinoflagellates would be limited by the toxic effects of these flagellates. We did not find any evidence of haemolytic activity in extracts of G. corsicum. Toxins other than haemolysins may be responsible for the deleterious effects observed on A. grani.