Late Miocene lagomorphs from the Republic of Moldova

The aim of this paper is to enlarge knowledge about still poorly documented and understood record of Lagomorpha (Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Moldova. The lagomorph material from two new Late Miocene localities, Razeni (MN11/12), Gradishte (MN12), and re-sampling locality Chimislyia (MN12), of Southern Moldova, is described in detail here. The localities yielded small vertebrate fauna including five lagomorph taxa: Prolagus cf. oeningensis, “Proochotona” cf. eximia, Alilepus laskarewi, “Proochotona” sp., and Alilepus sp. P. cf. oeningensis is described for the first time in the studied area. A short review of the lagomorph record from the Republic of Moldova is provided. This contribution outlines the importance of the lagomorphs for biostratigraphic purposes, and highlighs the gaps in our knowledge related to the faunal succession in this area.     

Standardized,systemic phenotypic analysis of Slc12a1I299F mutant mice

Background

Type I Bartter syndrome is a recessive human nephropathy caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SLC12A1 gene coding for the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransporter NKCC2. We recently established the mutant mouse line Slc12a1^I299F exhibiting kidney defects highly similar to the late-onset manifestation of this hereditary human disease. Besides the kidney defects, low blood pressure and osteopenia were revealed in the homozygous mutant mice which were also described in humans. Beside its strong expression in the kidney, NKCC2 has been also shown to be expressed in other tissues in rodents i.e. the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic beta cells, and specific compartments of the ear, nasal tissue and eye.

Results

To examine if, besides kidney defects, further organ systems and/or metabolic pathways are affected by the Slc12a1^I299F mutation as primary or secondary effects, we describe a standardized, systemic phenotypic analysis of the mutant mouse line Slc12a1^I299F in the German Mouse Clinic. Slc12a1^I299F homozygous mutant mice and Slc12a1^I299F heterozygous mutant littermates as controls were tested at the age of 4–6 months. Beside the already published changes in blood pressure and bone metabolism, a significantly lower body weight and fat content were found as new phenotypes for Slc12a1^I299F homozygous mutant mice. Small additional effects included a mild erythropenic anemia in homozygous mutant males as well as a slight hyperalgesia in homozygous mutant females. For other functions, such as immunology, lung function and neurology, no distinct alterations were observed.

Conclusions

In this systemic analysis no clear primary effects of the Slc12a1^I299F mutation appeared for the organs other than the kidneys where Slc12a1 expression has been described. On the other hand, long-term effects additional and/or secondary to the kidney lesions might also appear in humans harboring SLC12A1 mutations.     

柃属植物种子微形态特征及其系统学意义

利用扫描电镜对35种1变种柃属(Eurya)植物种子的微形态特征进行了研究,并采用相对大小(长×宽)RS值和种皮表面纹饰作为种子形态比较的特征参数。结果显示,柃属种子根据相对大小RS值可划分为小型(RS<1.0),中型(1.03.0)三个等级,最小的种子相对大小不足0.5,最大的种子相对大小超过10;种皮表面纹饰分为负网纹和网纹两种类型,网纹类型在网眼的方向性、网眼形状、网眼深度、网脊特点等方面呈现出种间多样性,可用于类群的比较和鉴别。文中同时还探讨了种子大小及种皮微形态在属内的系统发育关系,推测了种皮表面纹饰的演化路线,研究结果表明种子的微形态特征对本属植物系统分类及进化研究具有重要意义,可为属内一些关键种系统位置的分析提供重要佐证。     

系统化护理对防治腰椎骨折患者腹胀的临床效果分析

目的:研究早期系统的护理模式对减少腰椎骨折患者腹胀发生的临床效果。方法:将2009年1月至2011年6月期间在我院骨科进行住院治疗的腰椎骨折患者62例,分为两组,对照组按照骨科护理常规进行护理,实验组在骨科护理常规的基础上增加系统化护理,并观察两组患者腹胀及腹胀引起的相关症状的发生情况。结果:入院时两组患者腹胀比例差异无明显的统计学意义(X2=0.08,P>0.05),而入院5天后实验组腹胀患者明显下降(X2=9.18,P<0.01),入院到10天发生腹胀引起的相关症状恶性呕吐(X2=7.12,P<0.01)、胸闷(X2=4.31,P<0.01)、胃灼热(X2=4.31,P<0.01)实验组明显少于对照组差异有显著的统计学意义;呼吸困难(X2=2.82,P>0.05)两组差异无统计学意义。结论:早期的系统化的护理模式可以有效的减少和缓解腰椎骨折患者腹胀的发生,并且进一步避免了因腹胀导致的腹痛,恶心,呕吐,胸闷,胃灼热,呼吸困难的临床症状,值得临床广泛推广应用。     

Elucidating the protein cold-adaptation: Investigation of the parameters enhancing protein psychrophilicity

To investigate the role of the critical parameters in adaptation of proteins to low temperatures, a comparative systematic analysis was performed. Several parameters were proposed to have contribution to cold adaptation of proteins. Among proposed parameters, total values of residual structure states, secondary structure states and oligomeric states were alike in both psychrophilic and mesophilic proteins. In addition, our results provided new quantitative information about the trends in the substitution preference of Ile, Phe, Tyr, Lys, Arg, His, Glu and Leu with most of amino acids and substitution avoidance of Gly, Thr and Ala with most of amino acids. These findings would help future efforts propose a strategy for designing psychrophilic proteins.     

湖北省纽荷尔脐橙果实品质状况的研究

以纽荷尔脐橙为试材,分析了湖北省13个产地果实的常规品质和果皮色差值。结果显示,不同产地纽荷尔脐橙果实品质差异明显。系统聚类结果表明,秭归县、巴东县和兴山县的常规品质聚为第一类,长阳县、郧县、公安县、枝江市和宜都市聚为第二类,而丹江口市、阳新县、通城县、天门市和京山县聚为第三类;就果皮色差值来看,长阳县、郧县、兴山县和宜都市聚为第一类,巴东县、京山县、枝江市、丹江口市、阳新县、公安县、秭归县聚为第二类,天门市和通城县聚为第三类。综合分析常规品质和果皮色差值可以看出,三峡库区的兴山县、秭归县、巴东县纽荷尔脐橙综合品质最好,邻近三峡库区的长阳县、宜都市、枝江市,丹江库区的郧县和卷桥库区的公安县次之,丹江口市、阳新县、京山县,尤其是天门市和通城县的品质表现不如上述各个产地。因此湖北省纽荷尔脐橙应重点集中在三峡库区这一优势区域内优先发展,同时向其邻近的适宜地区辐射,而在其它产地宜选择小气候适宜地区适当发展。     

锦葵目蚬木属和柄翅果属的木材解剖学研究及其系统学意义

蚬木属(Excentrodendron H.T.Chang & R.H.Miau)与柄翅果属(Burretiodendron Rehder)的分离一直未得到广泛认同,二者在锦葵目中的系统地位也还不十分清楚.本文研究了柄翅果、元江柄翅果、滇桐和火绳树的木材解剖.柄翅果和元江柄翅果在木材解剖特征上非常相似,2～3个管孔组成径列复管孔,单管孔较多,导管分子无螺纹加厚,穿孔板单一,轴向薄壁组织稀少,射线异型IIB,单列射线少,多列射线常2～3列,具翅子树属型瓦形细胞;蚬木属单列射线罕见,瓦形细胞榴莲型,单列射线较高,木材解剖特征支持蚬木属和柄翅果属的分离;蚬木属和柄翅果属与滇桐属在木材解剖特征上差异显著,与火绳树属的差异也较明显,但与梧桐科翅子树属比较接近,与其它有关类群,如一担柴属、Luehea、Entelea以及Dombeyeae族等都有明显差异.     

An alternative model for bivariate random-effects meta-analysis when the within-study correlations are unknown

Multivariate meta-analysis models can be used to synthesize multiple, correlated endpoints such as overall and disease-free survival. A hierarchical framework for multivariate random-effects meta-analysis includes both within-study and between-study correlation. The within-study correlations are assumed known, but they are usually unavailable, which limits the multivariate approach in practice. In this paper, we consider synthesis of 2 correlated endpoints and propose an alternative model for bivariate random-effects meta-analysis (BRMA). This model maintains the individual weighting of each study in the analysis but includes only one overall correlation parameter, rho, which removes the need to know the within-study correlations. Further, the only data needed to fit the model are those required for a separate univariate random-effects meta-analysis (URMA) of each endpoint, currently the common approach in practice. This makes the alternative model immediately applicable to a wide variety of evidence synthesis situations, including studies of prognosis and surrogate outcomes. We examine the performance of the alternative model through analytic assessment, a realistic simulation study, and application to data sets from the literature. Our results show that, unless rho is very close to 1 or -1, the alternative model produces appropriate pooled estimates with little bias that (i) are very similar to those from a fully hierarchical BRMA model where the within-study correlations are known and (ii) have better statistical properties than those from separate URMAs, especially given missing data. The alternative model is also less prone to estimation at parameter space boundaries than the fully hierarchical model and thus may be preferred even when the within-study correlations are known. It also suitably estimates a function of the pooled estimates and their correlation; however, it only provides an approximate indication of the between-study variation. The alternative model greatly facilitates the utilization of correlation in meta-analysis and should allow an increased application of BRMA in practice.     

口腔微生物与全身健康研究进展

口腔微生物是定植于人体口腔的微生物集合。众多研究证实,口腔微生物与多种口腔感染性疾病及系统性疾病紧密相关。随着“人类微生物组计划”及其他微生物宏基因组学相关项目的开展,人们对口腔微生物群落的认识不断深入。本文基于最新研究进展,就口腔微生物的组成、演替特点、与口腔和全身系统性疾病的关系及与肠道微生物的交互作用进行综述。     

Development of HBsAg-binding aptamers that bind HepG2.2.15 cells via HBV surface antigen

Hepatitis B virus surface antigen(HBsAg),a specific antigen on the membrane of Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected cells,provides a perfect target for therapeutic drugs.The development of reagents with high affinity and specificity to the HBsAg is of great significance to the early-stage diagnosis and treatment of HBV infection.Herein,we report the selection of RNA aptamers that can specifically bind to HBsAg protein and HBsAg-positive hepatocytes.One high affinity aptamer,HBs-A22,was isolated from an initial 115 mer library of ~1.1×10 15 random-sequence RNA molecules using the SELEX procedure.The selected aptamer HBs-A22 bound specifically to hepatoma cell line HepG2.2.15 that expresses HBsAg but did not bind to HBsAg-devoid HepG2 cells.This is the first reported RNA aptamer which could bind to a HBV specific antigen.This newly isolated aptamer could be modified to deliver imaging,diagnostic,and therapeutic agents targeted at HBV-infected cells.