The role of body mass in thermoregulation

Inbred Fisher and Buffalo rats were raised in small and in large litters and by such litter manipulation, large- and small-bodied animals were obtained within the same strain. When the rats were exposed to extreme cold and heat, it appeared that large-bodied rats in both strains survived longer in cold and small-bodied rats survived longer in heat. The two trends were clearly evident, and individual correlations between survival time and body mass were generally significant. However, there were also irregularities in such correlations. It is concluded that this is due to the fact that body mass is only one factor determining temperature tolerance in addition to hypothalamic, endocrine, and possibly neurochemical factors not known to be correlated to body mass.     

Physical anthropological approaches to aging

The field of gerontology is remarkably diverse; yet there has been relatively little investigation of physical anthropological issues in aging research. This review explores gerontologic topics of actual and/or potential interest to physical anthropologists. The evolution of aging presents a theoretical dilemma in that postreproductively expressed traits may be outside the influence of natural selection. The physiological changes of aging comprise a diversified mosaic of physical deterioration as would be expected from an evolutionary model. Studies of prehistoric aging are limited to estimating lifespan, which may not be indicative of rate of aging. Considerable attention has been devoted to body composition and aging, and notable findings include a loss of lean tissue with age and relatively constant (though redistributing) fat mass. Osteoporosis is a major problem of aging in females, as is tooth loss in both sexes. The study of variation in rates of aging is only beginning, and a number of approaches to measuring biological age in adulthood are presented. Determining the associations of lifestyle, economic, and nutritional status with biological age may reveal sources of variation in rates of aging and may be of practical importance.     

Tracing the toxic ions of an endodontic tricalcium silicate-based sealer in local tissues and body organs

BackgroundThis study aimed to track the toxic ions released by MTA Fillapex, BioRoot RCS, and an experimental tricalcium silicate-based sealer (CEO) into local and distant tissues as well as to investigate their potential adverse effects. In addition, the chemical constituents of the sealers were also evaluated. The main components of the dry powders, pastes, and mixed sealers were characterized.Material and methodsDry powder and sealer discs were each set for 72 h and their main components were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Polyethylene tubes filled with sealers were used to measure silicon and calcium ions. Polyethylene tubes filled with sealers or empty tubes were implanted into the dorsal connective tissue of Wistar rats. On days 7, 15, 30, and 45, the animals were euthanized and their brains, livers, kidneys, and subcutaneous tissues were removed and processed to determine the concentrations of chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, iron, magnesium and nickel using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer.ResultsThe main compounds in all sealers were carbon, oxygen, silicon, and calcium. MTA Fillapex release more Si while highest levels of Si were found in presence of BioRoot. The release of Si and Ca ions promoted by MTA Fillapex raise by time. No traces of cobalt, chromium, or magnesium were detected in any tissue. Irrespective of the sealer, no traces of copper and lead were found in the subcutaneous tissue; however, they were observed in the organs. The highest concentration of iron was identified in the liver. All sealers exhibited similar nickel traces in the brain, kidney, and liver except for MTA Fillapex, which demonstrated levels higher than CEO in the subcutaneous tissue on day 7. Tracing nickel ions over time revealed that lowest concentrations were found in subcutaneous tissue.ConclusionTaken together, our data demonstrate that CEOs have chemical compositions similar to those of other commercial sealers. Furthermore, none of them exhibited a threat to systemic health. Moreover, the minimal amounts of iron and nickel detected were not related to the sealers.     

Forest-edge utilization by carnivores in relation to local and landscape habitat characteristics in central European farmland

Rapid changes in agricultural landscape structure and composition affect many different farmland biotas, including carnivores, which are a key element of ecosystem stability, yet little is known about their distribution and habitat use. In this study, we evaluated how habitat characteristics on two different spatial scales (local and landscape scale) affected the forest-edge utilization by small and medium-sized carnivores in fragmented central European farmland. Based on an indirect method for detecting carnivores (scent stations), we sampled 212 forest fragments of different sizes (1–7864 ha) during April to May from 2006 to 2009. Our results indicate that carnivore utilization of forest-edge habitats was driven by landscape rather than local characteristics even though the overall extent of explained variation was small. The most important factors that determined response of the carnivore community were the area of farmland and that of urban land on a landscape scale. The corridor connectivity between small forest fragments and other spatial elements played a crucial role in the occurrence of red fox. Our results suggest that comprehensive studies on multi-species carnivore assemblage using scent station might be useful in evaluating species-specific response to habitat characteristics, especially if large numbers of stations visited by carnivores are available.     

采自祁连山的冷杉侧耳生物学特性及栽培条件探索

以采自甘肃省祁连山国家级自然保护区菌物保育区的野生侧耳作为试验材料,通过形态学及系统发育分析方法将其鉴定为冷杉侧耳Pleurotus abieticola。对该菌株生物学特性及栽培条件进行初步研究,结果表明：菌丝体最适生长温度为25℃;最适pH为7.0;最适碳源为玉米粉;最适氮源为豆粉;在以棉籽壳、木屑和麸皮为栽培料时,可获得子实体。     

合并慢性气道疾病的ARDS临床特征及预后影响因素研究

目的:探讨急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)合并慢性气道疾病患者的临床特征及影响预后的因素。方法:167例ARDS患者根据并发症发生情况分为对照组(单纯性ARDS组,A组,n=39)及观察组(ARDS合并慢性气道疾,B组,n=49,C组,n=41,D组,n=38),比较各组患者一般情况、临床特征、生化指标、治疗方式及预后状况,通过logistic回归分析ARDS合并慢性气道疾病患者预后的影响因素。结果:观察组(B、C、D组)年龄、中性粒细胞、IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α、白蛋白、pro-BNP、乳酸、氧合指数、住院时间、住院费用与对照组(A组)比较差异有统计学意义,P0.05;128例ARDS合并慢性气道疾病患者中死亡76例,好转52例,病死率59.38%;单因素分析结果显示,观察组(B、C、D组)患者中临床结局好转患者与死亡患者比较,白细胞、淋巴细胞、CRP、TNF-α、IL-8、降钙素、肌酐、pro-BNP、氧合指数、住院费用、机械通气时间、抗生素数量差异有统计学意义,P0.05;通过多因素logistic回归分析发现肌酐是影响ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的潜在危险因素,氧合指数为保护因素,P0.05。结论:ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的能量代谢紊乱程度可能较单纯ARDS加重,且两者炎性特征不同。肌酐、氧合指数是影响ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的重要影响因素。     

1-6岁儿童维生素D与年龄、性别、季节及体质量指数的关系研究

目的:探讨1-6岁儿童维生素D与年龄、性别、季节及体质量指数(BMI)的关系,为临床有效指导维生素D的补充提供参考依据。方法:选取2000年1月～2019年1月于我院接受体检的1～6岁儿童816例作为研究对象。采用电化学发光法检测所有研究对象的血清25-羟维生素D[25(OH)D]水平,并分析血清25(OH)D水平与儿童年龄、性别、BMI以及季节的关系。结果:816例儿童维生素D营养不足和缺乏人数占比为14.83%。1～3岁儿童血清25(OH)D水平高于3～6岁儿童(P0.05)。男童血清25(OH)D水平高于女童(P0.05)。肥胖儿童血清25(OH)D水平低于正常与超重儿童,且超重儿童血清25(OH)D水平低于正常儿童(均P0.05)。春、夏季儿童血清25(OH)D水平均高于秋、冬季儿童(均P0.05)。结论:1～6岁儿童的维生素D营养状况不容乐观,随着年龄的增长儿童血清25(OH)D水平显著降低,且男童高于女童,春、夏季高于秋、冬季。临床工作可通过增加其户外活动,继而达到改善维生素D营养状况的目的。     

胃癌组织长链非编码RNA ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与临床病理特征及预后的关系研究

目的:探讨胃癌组织长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)DHHC型锌指蛋白8假基因1(ZDHHC8P1)、母系表达基因3(MEG3)、牛磺酸上调基因1(TUG1)表达与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法:选取2013年1月至2016年1月我院病理科收集的83例胃癌患者经手术切除或胃镜活检的癌组织及癌旁组织石蜡标本,检测胃癌和癌旁组织中ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达。分析ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与胃癌临床病理特征的关系。随访所有患者,分析ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与患者预后的关系。结果:胃癌组织中ZDHHC8P1、TUG1表达量均高于癌旁组织(P0.05),MEG3表达量低于癌旁组织(P0.05)。ZDHHC8P1表达与肿瘤直径、分化程度、浸润深度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移、远处转移有关(P0.05),MEG3、TUG1表达与分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析结果显示ZDHHC8P1、TUG1高表达患者无疾病进展生存(PFS)率、总生存(OS)率低于ZDHHC8P1、TUG1低表达患者(P0.05),MEG3低表达患者PFS、OS率低于MEG3高表达患者(P0.05)。Cox风险回归分析结果显示淋巴结转移、ZDHHC8P1高表达、TUG1高表达、MEG3低表达是胃癌患者不良预后的危险因素(HR=1.613、1.956、2.512、-0.824,P0.05)。结论:胃癌组织中ZDHHC8P1、TUG1呈高表达,MEG3呈低表达,ZDHHC8P1、TUG1、MEG3表达均与胃癌临床病理特征和预后有关,可作为胃癌患者预后评估的辅助指标。     

亏缺灌溉对板蓝根叶片光合生理特性及产量的影响

以北板蓝根(Isatis tinctoria)为研究对象, 于2018年在河西走廊中部干旱绿洲开展水分控制试验, 设轻、中、重度亏水及充分供水4个控水水平, 通过大田试验探究膜下滴灌条件下亏缺灌溉对板蓝根叶片生理指标、灌水量及产量的影响, 为河西地区板蓝根灌溉策略的制定提供理论依据。结果表明, 板蓝根叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(G_s)因营养和肉质根生长期受到亏缺灌溉影响而显著下降, 降幅随亏水程度的加剧而增大, 轻度亏水处理对叶片光合能力的影响不显著, 且在复水之后存在一定的补偿响应; 轻度亏水处理的产量与对照(8 348.91 kg·hm^-2)相比无显著差异, 而其它处理的产量均有不同程度的下降; 灌水量与产量的拟合关系呈二次抛物线, 即产量不随灌水量的增加而升高。因此, 综合分析表明膜下滴灌调亏降低了板蓝根叶片的光合能力, 而营养生长期轻度亏缺灌溉可以节水并提高产量和灌溉效率。     

Aphid population abundance and pestiferous effect on various bean plant species

The population abundance, infestation, and harmful effects of the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were studied on four bean plant species, namely the country bean (Lablab purpureus var. BARI Seem 1), the yard‐long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis var. BARI Borboti 1), the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab var. BARI Seem 6), and the bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. BARI Jar Seem 3). Aphid abundance and infestation on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and pods differed significantly among the bean plant species, with P. vulgaris and V. sesquipedalis having the lowest and highest results, respectively. Aphid severity grade and the number of trichomes of the bean plant species were negatively correlated. The duration of the growth stages among the bean plant species were significantly different, with V. sesquipedalis having the shortest durations. Aphid abundance and infestation significantly affected the physical and phytochemical characteristics of the bean plant species. The highest reduction of number of leaves, flower inflorescences, and pod inflorescences per plant, and moisture and chlorophyll content in the leaves was found in L. purpureus. The results for V. sesquipedalis revealed the highest reduction in plant height, seed weight, and pH, while those of D. lablab showed the highest reduction in leaf area.