Maintenance and characterization of spontaneous contraction rhythm in cultured cardiac myocytes fused with cardiac fibroblasts

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) fuse with various cells including endothelial cells, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). In addition, recent studies have shown that stem cells fuse spontaneously with cells remaining in the damaged tissues, and restore tissue functions after myocardial infarction. In this study, we investigated whether cultured cardiomyocytes fused with proliferative cardiac fibroblasts maintained the phenotype of functional myocytes by analyzing the spontaneous contraction rhythm after fusion with CFs lacking a beating capability. CMs and CFs cultured for 4 days in vitro were used in this study. The fusion of cultured CMs and CFs was achieved with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ). Analyses of CMs fused with CFs by using either PEG or HVJ to imitate spontaneous fusion in vivo demonstrated that CMs and CFs actually fused together and fused cells expressed lineage marker proteins of both CMs and CFs. In addition, fused cells reentered the G2-M phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, fused cells retained the spontaneous contraction activity. The present study demonstrated that CMs fused with proliferative CFs showed the phenotype of both CMs and CFs and spontaneous rhythmic contraction.     

依托米酯在人工流产手术中的应用

目的探讨依托米酯在人工流产手术中应用优势及价值。方法对182例早孕妇女(观察组)自愿接受无痛人流手术的在术前1min静脉推注依托米酯0．2～0．3mg／kg和术前15min肌注阿托品0．5mg。将手术时及手术后临床观察结果加以记录,并与同期128例早孕妇女(对照组)实施常规人流术的进行比较。结果无痛人流组人流综合征发生率低于10％,无痛率达93％,明显优于对照组。结论依托米酯和阿托品联用于人工流产手术,有利于人工流产手术顺利进行,可缩短手术时间,减少受术者痛苦,预防和降低人流综合征的发生,是目前较为理想的人工流产方法。     

Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA在恒河猴药物流产胎盘中的表达

目的：通过检测重要的细胞凋亡调节因子Bax和Bcl-2的表达,探讨恒河猴胎盘细胞凋亡与药物流产的关系。方法：利用RT-PCR和原位杂交的方法检测恒河猴对照组和药物流产组(RU-486与AG诱导)胎盘中Bax和Bcl-2mRNA的表达。结果：Bax mRNA在流产胎盘中的表达量明显高于对照组胎盘。在胎盘绒毛滋养层细胞可见明显表达,基底层蜕膜细胞也有表达。Bcl-2mRNA在流产胎盘中的表达量明显低于对照组胎盘,表达部位与Bax类似。结论：RU-486和AG可能通过上调Bax mRNA和下调Bcl-2mRNA的表达,导致胎盘组织凋亡细胞的数量明显增加,从而影响胎盘的正常结构和功能,增加了流产的危险性。     

A hierarchical perspective in allocation to reproduction from whole plant to fruit and seed level

Allocation to reproduction is often examined at the whole plant level from an allometric perspective; however, investment in reproduction is a hierarchical process which represents the integration of adjustments at different hierarchical levels. This essay review presents some key issues in reproductive allocation by examining problems of allocation at different hierarchical levels within plant. At the whole plant level, the application of ‘Rensch's rule’ to plants is discussed as a mechanism that might explain size differences in relation to gender in dioecious species. At branch level, the existence of vegetative branches may be explained by hypotheses on branch specialization and costs of reproduction. However, vegetative branches might also constitute an ‘assurance’ for reproduction in variable environments. At a lower hierarchical level, fruit abortion is a process widely observed in plants that impose limits to our capacity to estimate and develop general laws about reproductive allocation in plants. The question of whether fruit abortion can be used by the parent to produce a more homogeneous progeny that limits asymmetric competition among sibs is discussed. Finally, it seems that in some cases the allocation within seeds is in accordance with some predictions of kin selection theory. Most of these topics contain open questions that deserve further research.     

损伤神经自发放电节律分岔与频率变化的非线性特征

为了研究神经放电节律回周分岔与放电频率变化之间的关系,采用大鼠坐骨神经慢性结扎模型,记录损伤区的自发放电,观察放电节律转化的动力学规律,分析相应的放电频率的变化,并用理论模型进行数值模拟。结果表明,与放电节律加周分岔相对应,放电频率的变化呈现非线性的特征,数值模拟支持实验的发现。研究提示：神经放电的频率变化与刺激强度的改变并非呈简单的线性相关,可能具有更复杂的关系。     

High levels of congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in a commercial sheep flock

Our current understanding of congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from ewe to lamb dictates that infection frequently results in abortion and the death of the developing foetus, that the birth of live infected lambs occurs rarely and that the cat is the predominant source of infection in ewes. Using direct polymerase chain reaction detection of T. gondii, we report high levels of congenital transmission occurring in a commercially managed sheep flock. We sampled foetal-derived placental tissue and tissues from aborted lambs and showed that congenital transmission was detected in these tissues from 61% of all pregnancies. Where pregnancies resulted in the death of one or more lambs, T. gondii was detected in the lamb tissue for all but one of 18 (94%) pregnancies. Of the successful pregnancies resulting in the birth of live lambs we were able to detect T. gondii in foetal-derived placental tissue from 37 of 70 (42%) pregnancies. These results show that congenital transmission is occurring in a high percentage of lambings including normal healthy lambings, at this farm, suggesting that this route of transmission from generation to generation may be much more significant than that reported previously. These results may have implications for sheep husbandry and future epidemiological studies of T. gondii.     

High levels of congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in a commercial sheep flock.

Our current understanding of congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from ewe to lamb dictates that infection frequently results in abortion and the death of the developing foetus, that the birth of live infected lambs occurs rarely and that the cat is the predominant source of infection in ewes. Using direct polymerase chain reaction detection of T. gondii, we report high levels of congenital transmission occurring in a commercially managed sheep flock. We sampled foetal-derived placental tissue and tissues from aborted lambs and showed that congenital transmission was detected in these tissues from 61% of all pregnancies. Where pregnancies resulted in the death of one or more lambs, T. gondii was detected in the lamb tissue for all but one of 18 (94%) pregnancies. Of the successful pregnancies resulting in the birth of live lambs we were able to detect T. gondii in foetal-derived placental tissue from 37 of 70 (42%) pregnancies. These results show that congenital transmission is occurring in a high percentage of lambings including normal healthy lambings, at this farm, suggesting that this route of transmission from generation to generation may be much more significant than that reported previously. These results may have implications for sheep husbandry and future epidemiological studies of T. gondii.     

Low-Temperature Stress: Implications for Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Improvement

Chickpea is the third major cool season grain legume crop in the world after dry bean and field pea. Chilling and freezing range temperatures in many of its production regions adversely affect chickpea production. This review provides a comprehensive account of the current information regarding the tolerance of chickpea to freezing and chilling range temperatures. The effect of freezing and chilling at the major phenological stages of chickpea growth are discussed, and its ability for acclimation and winter hardiness is reviewed. Response mechanisms to chilling and freezing are considered at the molecular, cellular, whole plant, and canopy levels. The genetics of tolerance to freezing in chickpea are outlined. Sources of resistance to both freezing and chilling from within the cultivated and wild Cicer genepools are compared and novel breeding technologies for the improvement of tolerance in chickpea are suggested. We also suggest future research be directed toward understanding the mechanisms involved in cold tolerance of chickpea at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular level. Further screening of both the cultivated and wild Cicer species is required in order to identify superior sources of tolerance, especially to chilling at the reproductive stages.     

实验性神经起步点自发放电的分叉和整数倍节律

在实验性神经起步点发现了放电峰峰间期序列随细胞外[Ca^2 ]变化产生的加周期分叉和整数倍节律。并用确定性Chay模型和随机Chay模型进行数值模拟。从模拟实验结果的角度看,加周期分叉过程遵从Chay模型决定的确定性机制,随机因素对其有影响但影响较小;而在相应的参数区间,整数倍节律则是在随机因素驱动下产生,是随机共振现象,是由确定性机制和随机因素共同作用的结果。这表明,实验性神经起步点放电节律的分叉和随机共振现象的出现是必然的,受确定性机制和随机因素共同影响。但在不同参数区间,随机因素对神经放电节律的作用不同。