Dietary protein requirement for captive juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Head-starting programs are extremely important for restoring the population of sea turtles in wild whereas husbandry conditions and feeding regimens of captive turtles are still limited. In the current study, the optimal dietary protein requirement for green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was investigated to support rearing in head-starting programs. Twenty-five-day-old turtles (44.5–46.2 g body weight, n = 45) were randomly distributed into 15 experimental plastic tanks, comprising three treatment replications of 3 turtles each. They were fed fishmeal-based feeds containing different levels of protein (30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50%) for 8 weeks. At the end of feeding trial, growth performance (specific growth rate = 1.86% body weight/day) and feed utilization (protein efficiency ratio = 3.30 g gain/g protein) were highest in turtles fed with 40% protein in feed (p < .05). These nutritional responses were significantly supported by specific activities of fecal digestive enzymes, especially trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase, and the amylase/trypsin ratio. Also, this dietary level improved the deposition of calcium and phosphorus in carapace, supporting a hard carapace and strong healthy bones. There were no negative effects in general health status of reared turtles, as indicated by hematological parameters. Based on a broken-line analysis between dietary protein levels and specific growth rate, the optimal protein level for green turtles was estimated as 40.6%. Findings from the current study support the use of artificial diets of specific protein levels to rear captive green turtle before release to natural habitats.     

Influences of sea level changes and volcanic eruptions on Holocene vegetation in Tonga

Here, we investigate Mid- to Late-Holocene vegetation changes in low-lying coastal areas in Tonga and how changing sea levels and recurrent volcanic eruptions have influenced vegetation dynamics on four islands of the Tongan archipelago (South Pacific). To investigate past vegetation and environmental change at Ngofe Marsh (‘Uta Vava’u), we examined palynomorphs (pollen and spores), charcoal (fire), and sediment characteristics (volcanic activity) from a 6.7-m-long sediment core. Radiocarbon dating indicated the sediments were deposited over the last 7700 years. We integrated the Ngofe Marsh data with similar previously published data from Avai’o’vuna Swamp on Pangaimotu Island, Lotofoa Swamp on Foa Island, and Finemui Swamp on Ha’afeva Island. Plant taxa were categorized as littoral, mangrove, rainforest, successional/ disturbance, and wetland groups, and linear models were used to examine relationships between vegetation, relative sea level change, and volcanic eruptions (tephra). We found that relative sea level change has impacted vegetation on three of the four islands investigated. Volcanic eruptions were not identified as a driver of vegetation change. Rainforest decline does not appear to be driven by sea level changes or volcanic eruptions. From all sites analyzed, vegetation at Finemui Swamp was most sensitive to changes in relative sea level. While vegetation on low-lying Pacific islands is sensitive to changing sea levels, island characteristics, such as area and elevation, are also likely to be important factors that mediate specific island responses to drivers of change.     

Elevated serum α-fetoprotein level of nude mice bearing hepatoma cells by treatment with monoclonal antibodies to α-fetoprotein

This study was carried out to clarify the reason for elevation of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level of nude mice bearing hepatoma cells after treatment with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to AFP. MoAbs to AFP showed no effect on the cumulative amounts of AFP secreted from human hepatoma cell line, HuH-7, in vitro. However, the treatment of nude mice bearing HuH-7N cells (HuH-7 xenograft) with MoAbs to AFP led to elevation of the serum AFP level in spite of the fact that the growth curve of HuH-7N cells was similar to that for PBS treatment. This apparent elevation of the serum AFP level is thought to be due to the slow elimination of AFP-MoAb immune complexes with little lattice structure from circulation, but not the enhancement of AFP secretion of HuH-7N cells. Thus, when using a MoAb alone or MoAb-drug conjugate, the serum AFP level should only be cautiously used as a tumor marker for evaluating the targeting immunotherapy.     

免疫反应动力学的几个数学模型

免疫系统对抗原刺激的应答过程非常复杂,由抗原刺激导致抗体产生的现象,可借助数学模型的研究获得有意义的结果。本文讨论有关抗体产生与免疫反应的动力学的问题,介绍有关的数学模型,并根据近斯免疫学研究的进展分析了若干模型。     

肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵对支气管哮喘患儿肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵对支气管哮喘患儿肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能的影响。方法：选择2021年2月~2022年3月期间我院小儿内科接收的76例支气管哮喘患儿。根据信封抽签法将患儿分为对照组（n=38,布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗）和研究组（n=38,肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗）。对比两组患儿疗效、肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能,同时记录两组治疗期间的用药安全性状况。结果：研究组的临床总有效率较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）、用力呼气流量（PEF）、用力肺活量（FVC）高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、C反应蛋白（CRP）低于对照组,干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组CD8⁺低于对照组,CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺较对照组高（P<0.05）。不良反应发生率组间对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗支气管哮喘患儿,可有效改善患儿的肺功能和免疫功能,降低炎症介质水平,疗效可靠。     

普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎的疗效及对疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的影响

摘要 目的：探讨普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎的疗效及对疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的影响。方法：选取我院2020年1月至2021年7月确诊的100例肛窦炎患者。按随机数字表法分为对照组（普济痔疮栓治疗,50例）和实验组（普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗,50例）。对比两组疗效、中医证候积分、疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的变化情况。结果：实验组的临床总有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗2个疗程后肛门坠胀及隐痛、排便不尽感、肛门潮湿评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗2个疗程后CD8⁺低于对照组;CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗2个疗程后前列腺素E2（PGE2）、P物质（SP）、多巴胺（DA）、五羟色胺（5-HT）低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗后4个月、6个月的复发率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎,可促进临床症状改善,降低复发率,可能与降低疼痛介质水平和调节机体免疫功能有关。     

Expression of wild-type GBSS transgenes in the off-spring of partially and fully complementedamylose-free transformants of potato

Theamylose-free (amf) potato mutant can easily be complemented through introduction of the wild-type gene coding for granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS). After iodine staining the starch of theamf mutant is red whereas that of the wild type and the complementedamf mutant is blue. The level of complementation of selected transformants and their sexual off-spring after backcrossing withamf was investigated using sporophytic tuber cells and gametophytic microspore cells. Two diploid and two tetraploid transformants with full complementation demonstrated the expected segregation patterns of 1:1 (one active insert) or 3:1 (two independently segregating active inserts) in the microspores and in the F1 offspring based on staining of tubers. All expected genotypes in the F1 generation were found, based on microspore segregation patterns of the individual F1 plants. Two transformants with partial complementation (mixed phenotypes) were investigated. One of them, B1, was tetraploid and duplex for the GBSS insert, which had originated through mitotic doubling of the transformed diploid cells. In the F1 generation three phenotypic classes were found:amf, fully complemented and partially complemented. The latter two classes exist independently of a simplex or duplex gene status. The second transformant with partial complementation, B10, appeared to have a complex molecular composition. One cluster of five transgenes caused the partial complementation. Fully and partially complemented phenotypic classes were found after crossing B10 with theamf mutant. Indications were found that the ploidy level of the tissue in which the genes were introduced and expressed played an important role. Firstly, partial complementation was found after transformation of the diploid and not of the tetraploidamf genotypes. Secondly, the level of complementation was higher in tissue with lower ploidy levels, as illustrated by the colour of the starch inin vitro tubers (2x–4x cells) versus field-grown tubers (16x–64x).     

日粮水平对鲇鱼日总代谢,特殊动力作用和活动代谢的影响

在２５℃不同日粮水平（饥饿─４％体重／ｄ）条件下,采用封闭式呼吸仪测定了３１尾鲇鱼（体重７２．９─１３３．３ｇ）的日总代谢率,然后,将鱼限制在呼吸室中的限动笼内测定了其中２０尾鲇鱼的静止日总代谢率,并计算出了鲇鱼的特殊动力作用（ＳＤＡ）和活动代谢率。日总代谢率和活动代谢率都随日粮水平的升高呈“Ｖ”形变化,分别在约１％和２％体重／ｄ的日粮水平时最低,ＳＤＡ的能量支出占摄入能量的２２．１４％。     

不同密度及施肥条件下水平沟耕作的生态效应

研究了水平沟耕作条件下密度、施肥对谷子产量的影响,寻找最佳施肥和密度以获得最高产量和纯收入,并对株高、叶面积、叶面积系数、蒸腾强度、耗水量等指标作了研究,认为水平沟耕作有良好的经济和生态效益。     

不同生长期蛋鸡的体脂水平和肝脏脂肪酸合成酶活性的关系

 不同生长期蛋鸡的体脂水平和肝脏脂肪酸合成酶活性的关系田维熙,董妍,权晖,陈文峰（中国科学院研究生院生物教学部,北京１０００３９）动物体脂的控制是一个复杂过程．不同种类不同年龄的动物体脂水平有很大差异,控制机制是什么,哪些是关键的控制因素？不久前我们曾...