Segregation analysis of fat mass and other body composition measures derived from underwater weighing.

Segregation patterns of three body composition measures which were derived from underwater weighing were evaluated in a random sample of 176 French-Canadian families. Two of the variables can be considered as primary partitions of weight (fat mass [FM] and fat-free mass [FFM]), while the remaining variable (percent body fat [%BF]) is a derived index combining the measures of both fat and fat-free weight. This study represents the first report investigating major gene effects for these measures. Segregation analyses revealed that a major locus hypothesis could not be rejected for two of the three phenotypes. The single exception was FFM, for which nearly 60% of the variance was accounted for by a non-Mendelian major effect, which may reflect environmentally based commingling or may be in part a function of gene-environment interactions or correlations. In contrast to the results for FFM, the results for each of FM and %BF were similar and suggested a major locus which accounted for 45% of the variance, with an additional 22%-26% due to a multifactorial component. Given the similarity of the major gene characteristics for these two phenotypes, the possibility that the same gene underlies both measures warrants investigation. A reasonable hypothesis is to consider genes that may influence nutrient partitioning, as the family of candidate genes to receive the major attention.     

Geographic differences in Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) echolocation clicks

Aim

Understanding cetacean species' distributions and population structure over space and time is necessary for effective conservation and management. Geographic differences in acoustic signals may provide a line of evidence for population-level discrimination in some cetacean species. We use acoustic recordings collected over broad spatial and temporal scales to investigate whether global variability in echolocation click peak frequency could elucidate population structure in Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), a cryptic species well-studied acoustically.

Location

North Pacific, Western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Time period

2004–2021.

Major taxa studied

Blainville's beaked whale.

Methods

Passive acoustic data were collected at 76 sites and 150 cumulative years of data were analysed to extract beaked whale echolocation clicks. Using an automated detector and subsequent weighted network clustering on spectral content and interclick interval of clicks, we determined the properties of a primary cluster of clicks with similar characteristics per site. These were compared within regions and across ocean basins and evaluated for suitability as population-level indicators.

Results

Spectral averages obtained from primary clusters of echolocation clicks identified at each site were similar in overall shape but varied in peak frequency by up to 8 kHz. We identified a latitudinal cline, with higher peak frequencies occurring in lower latitudes.

Main conclusions

It may be possible to acoustically delineate populations of Blainville's beaked whales. The documented negative correlation between signal peak frequency and latitude could relate to body size. Body size has been shown to influence signal frequency, with lower frequencies produced by larger animals, which are subsequently more common in higher latitudes for some species, although data are lacking to adequately investigate this for beaked whales. Prey size and depth may shape frequency content of echolocation signals, and larger prey items may occur in higher latitudes, resulting in lower signal frequencies of their predators.     

Biofeedback treatments of generalized anxiety disorder: Preliminary results

Forty-five individuals with generalized anxiety (38 with GAD as defined by DSM-III) were randomized to 4 treatment conditions or a waiting list control. Patients received 8 sessions of either frontal EMG biofeedback, biofeedback to increase EEG alpha, biofeedback to decrease EEG alpha, or a pseudomeditation control condition. All treated subjects showed significant reductions in STAI-Trait Anxiety and psychophysiologic symptoms on the Psychosomatic Symptom Checklist. Only alpha-increase biofeedback subjects showed significant reductions in heart rate reactivity to stressors at a separate psychophysiological testing session. Decreased self-report of anxiety was maintained at 6 weeks posttreatment.     

益生菌辅助治疗牙周病的研究进展

牙周病是累及牙周支持组织的慢性感染性疾病。牙菌斑生物膜中的微生物及其代谢产物是其必不可少的始动因素,可导致口腔微生态失衡和宿主免疫反应,最终引起牙周病的发生发展。目前,牙周病的基础治疗主要是机械清除牙菌斑生物膜和牙石,但治疗效果具有局限性。益生菌通过产生抑菌物质、刺激局部免疫反应、与致病菌争夺黏膜受体和营养物质,从而改善口腔微生态平衡,促进牙周病的治疗。本文就近年来益生菌在牙周病治疗上的实验和临床研究、作用机制、安全性等进行综述,为将来益生菌辅助治疗牙周病的应用提供参考。     

新型免疫抑制剂brasilicardin A的研究进展

Brasilicardin A (BraA)是从致病性放线菌巴西诺卡菌(Nocardia brasiliensis) IFM 0406中发现的具有显著免疫抑制作用(IC50=0.057μg/mL)的二萜糖苷类化合物。BraA发挥免疫抑制活性的作用机制与现有临床常用的免疫抑制剂不同,BraA通过抑制氨基酸转运体L系统的转运进而影响T-淋巴细胞对氨基酸的摄入而发挥免疫抑制作用。相比目前已知的免疫抑制剂环孢菌素A、子囊霉素和他克莫司等,BraA在小鼠混合淋巴细胞反应中显示低毒、高效的优势。因此,BraA作为新型的免疫抑制剂,极具开发潜力,已成为全球免疫抑制剂发现新领域。但其结构复杂、合成困难,原菌种产率低且具有致病性,BraA及其类似物的获得已成为此类新型免疫抑制剂研究的瓶颈。本文综述了BraA的分子特征、药理活性、作用机制、目前获得的BraA类似物和衍生化方面的研究进展,以期为BraA及其类似物的高效生产提供参考。     

蛇足石杉内生真菌产黄青霉菌MT-40中xanthocillin类似物生物合成基因簇的挖掘及鉴定

Xanthocillin具有显著的抗菌活性,结构中含有独特的异腈基。本文通过对蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrata)内生真菌产黄青霉菌(Penicillium chrysogenum)MT-40基因组的测序分析,利用本地BLAST等生物信息学分析工具挖掘具有合成xanthocillin类似物潜力的基因簇,结合米曲霉(Aspergillus oryzae)NSAR1异源表达技术实现基因簇中关键基因的功能鉴定。结果成功从内生真菌P.chrysogenum MT-40中发现一个合成xanthocillin类似物的生物合成基因簇(命名为for),for基因簇中的关键生物合成基因forB编码的异腈基合成酶可以催化合成2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid,基因forG编码的P450酶可以催化2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid的二聚化生成xanthocillin类似物N,N′-(1,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene-2,3-diyl)diformamide。本文研究结果为进一步从真菌中发现xanthocillin类似物提供参考。     

Spontaneous allelic variant in deafness–blindness gene Ush1g resulting in an expanded phenotype

Relationships between novel phenotypic behaviors and specific genetic alterations are often discovered using target-specific, directed mutagenesis or phenotypic selection following chemical mutagenesis. An alternative approach is to exploit deficiencies in DNA repair pathways that maintain genetic integrity in response to spontaneously induced damage. Mice deficient in the DNA glycosylase NEIL1 show elevated spontaneous mutations, which arise from translesion DNA synthesis past oxidatively induced base damage. Several litters of Neil1 knockout mice included animals that were distinguished by their backwards-walking behavior in open-field environments, while maintaining frantic forward movements in their home cage environment. Other phenotypic manifestations included swim test failures, head tilting and circling. Mapping of the mutation that conferred these behaviors showed the introduction of a stop codon at amino acid 4 of the Ush1g gene. Ush1g^bw/bw null mice displayed auditory and vestibular defects that are commonly seen with mutations affecting inner-ear hair-cell function, including a complete lack of auditory brainstem responses and vestibular-evoked potentials. As in other Usher syndrome type I mutant mouse lines, hair cell phenotypes included disorganized and split hair bundles, as well as altered distribution of proteins for stereocilia that localize to the tips of row 1 or row 2. Disruption to the bundle and kinocilium displacement suggested that USH1G is essential for forming the hair cell's kinocilial links. Consistent with other Usher type 1 models, Ush1g^bw/bw mice had no substantial retinal degeneration compared with Ush1g^bw/+ controls. In contrast to previously described Ush1g alleles, this new allele provides the first knockout model for this gene.     

The Effect of Unheated Bovine Serum on the Complement-Fixing Activity of Heat-Inactivated Bovine Antiserum with Homologous Antigen. IV. Chromatographic Studies

Unheated, non-dialyzed, normal bovine sera were fractionated by column chromatography on the cross-linked dextran, Sephadex G-25, and the fraction tested for "supplementing" properties, that is for complement-fixation augmenting activities when added to mixtures of heated bovine antiserum and homologous antigen. Supplementing activity was shown by precipitated fractions from earlier eluates with pH values below 7.2 and also by both supernatant and precipitated fractions of the later eluates with pH values from 7.6 to 8.1. The possibility is briefly discussed that certain alkaline protein substances of relatively lower molecular weight may be involved in the supplementing activities of the later fractions. Heating at 56 degrees C. for 30 min. destroyed the supplementing activity of each of these fractions. Some of the supplementing fractions proved to be anti-complementary, others were not or only slightly so. First component of complement, C(1)1, was detected in the precipitated fractions of certain of the earlier eluates with pH values below 6.5; second component of complement, C(1)2, was found exclusively in supernatant fractions of earlier eluates with pH values less than 6.2. Conglutinin was not separated from C(1)1 by this method.