An analytical comparison of cobalt cardiomyopathy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Toxic cardiomyopathy (TC) has a rapid clinical course and morphologically resembles idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). To further characterize TC, we used light microscopy to compare lesions caused by cobalt (Co) to those of IDC. Cobalt levels were also measured as a chemical marker to differentiate TC from IDC. We reviewed cases with TC and IDC and excluded all cases with chemotherapy-induced myopathy and catecholamine toxicity as well as cases with possible infectious, ischemic, or hypersensitivity-induced myopathies. We compared the light microscopic findings of 12 TC cases to 12 cases of IDC, and measured trace Co levels on digested heart tissue samples. The TC cases had prominent myofibrillar loss and atrophy; no cases had neutrophil infiltration or frank myocyte necrosis. In contrast, IDC had minimal myofibril loss and atrophy. Cobalt levels in the range of 0.6 to 5.45 μg/g of dry tissue were obtained for the TC cases, while IDC demonstrated Co levels of 0.01–0.2 μg/g. Distinction between TC and IDC is predominantly a function of myocyte change, with TC showing myofibrillar loss and atrophy in the absence of inflammatory infiltrates and fibrosis; IDC is predominantly associated with myocyte hypertrophy, atrophy, and fibrosis. The opinions or assertions expressed herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as representing the views of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.     

Two-dimensional grey cloud clustering-fuzzy entropy comprehensive assessment model for river health evaluation

Abstract

The river health evaluation is typically complex non-linear system with characteristics of fuzziness and randomness. However, conventional gray clustering method has difficult to effectively describe fuzzy and random information simultaneously. For this purpose, the cloud model and fuzzy entropy theory are introduced to establish 2D gray cloud clustering-fuzzy entropy comprehensive evaluation model. Different with health level models, it reflects river health situation from aspects of health level and corresponding water body complexity simultaneously. The health level is obtained by gray cloud whitened weight function (first sub-system) and fuzzy entropy represents complexity and fuzziness of river health situation (second sub-system). Moreover, multi-level river health evaluation indicator system is constructed with dividing indicators into common and distinct sections according to differences on river characteristics. Meanwhile, indicator weights are determined by renewed combined weighting method based on minimum deviation principle. Finally, we conduct health evaluation work for rivers in the Taihu basin. The evaluation health levels and fuzzy entropy for river A–G are H3 (0.4888, relatively significant); H2 (0.5476, relatively fuzzy); H2 (0.7526, fuzzy); H2 (0.4731, relatively significant); H2 (05138, relatively fuzzy); H3 (0.5822, relatively fuzzy), and H2 (0.4064, relatively significant), respectively. Results are consistent with current river health situation and more intuitive than compared models. Furthermore, evaluation results with four different weighting methods are compared to further demonstrate rationality of the weighting method and evaluation model. Hence, the model proposed is demonstrated to provide new insight for solving river health assessment problem effectively.     

Qualitative analysis of phospholipids isolated from nonviable plasmodium antigen

Plasmodium berghei infected mouse blood, and Plasmodium knowlesi infected monkey blood were processed by the French Press to prepare Antigen “A,” a parasitic fraction known to impart immunity, and Antigen “B,” a byproduct of Antigen “A” production. Normal mouse erythrocyte material was also prepared.The lipoidal material from these preparations was extracted using chloroform: methanol (1:1) and concentrated under nitrogen. This material was resuspended in chloroform and thin-layer chromatography was used to separate and identify the phospholipids therein. Antigen “A” contained sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatydylinositol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Antigen “B,” and uninfected mouse erythrocytic material, contained sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and possibly phosphatidylinositol. The absence of phosphatidylserine in Antigen “A” its presence in Antigen “B,” and in normal mouse material indicates that the protective Antigen “A” is free of host erythrocytic membrane fragments.     

The novel combinations of CTB,CpG, and aluminum hydroxide significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of clumping factor A 221-550 of Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT

Here, we prepared the novel combined adjuvants, CTB as intra-molecular adjuvant, CpG and aluminum hydroxide (Alum) to strengthen the immunogenicity of clumping factor A_221-550 of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The protein-immunoactive results showed CTB-ClfA_221-550 elicited the strong immune responses to serum from mice immunized with CTB and ClfA_221-550, respectively. The mice immunized with CTB-ClfA_221-550 plus CpG and Alum adjuvant exhibited significantly stronger CD4⁺ T cell responses for IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17 and displayed the higher proliferation response of splenic lymphocytes than the control groups, in addition, these mice generated the strongest humoral immune response against ClfA_221-550 among all groups. Our results also showed CTB-ClfA_221-550 plus CpG and Alum adjuvant obviously increased the survival percentage of the mice challenged by S. aureus. These data suggested that the novel combined adjuvants, CTB, CpG, and Alum, significantly enhance the immune responses triggered with ClfA_221-550, and could provide a new approach against infection of S. aureus.     

减磷配施有机肥对丛枝菌根真菌群落的复杂度和稳定性的短期效应

【目的】探究减磷配施有机肥条件下土壤中丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhiza，AM）真菌群落特性、网络复杂性及群落的稳定性之间的关系，揭示有机肥替代背景下，土壤理化性质与AM真菌的群落结构对网络特征和群落稳定性的短期效应。【方法】在2012年开始的无机磷肥长期定位试验的基础上，于2018年实施减磷配施有机肥裂区试验，共设6个处理：施无机磷0、75、150 kg/hm²；无机磷肥施用量减少30%，即0、52.5、105 kg/hm²，并配施有机肥（猪粪）3 187 kg/hm²，每个处理重复3次。通过高通量测序和生物信息学分析，探究减磷配施有机肥对土壤中AM真菌群落的网络特征及稳定性的短期效应。【结果】相比于无机磷施用，减磷配施有机肥整体上降低了AM真菌群落的α多样性，各处理中的AM真菌优势类群均为球囊霉属（Glomus）和类球囊霉属（Paraglomus）。网络的平均度、平均加权度在无机磷肥及减磷配施有机肥处理中均在适量施磷下达到最大值，且无机磷肥处理大于减磷配施有机肥处理；网络负相关连接线数在无机磷肥处理中随施磷量增加而增加，而在减磷配施有机肥处理中随施磷量增加而减少。减磷配施有机肥通过抑制AM真菌群落间正相互作用来提高负正凝聚力比值，从而促进群落稳定性。相比于AM真菌的指示物种（indicator species）和关键类群（keystone taxa），优势类群（dominant taxa）与AM真菌群落的稳定性密切相关。【结论】在酸性紫色土中，短期减磷配施有机肥通过改变土壤pH、速效磷和有机质，调控AM真菌群落的α多样性和优势类群，进而影响AM真菌群落的网络复杂度和群落稳定性。     

The Use of SCID Mice in Biotechnology and as a Model for Human Disease

Abstract

The use of SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice in medical research and biotechnology has increased tremendously in recent years. This review outlines the major characteristics of these animals and the impediments that they pose to the engraftment of human cells and tissues. The development of our SCID mice pretreatment protocol (anti-asialo GM1 antisera and radiation) is described, and the results of xenotransplantation studies of human cells and tissues in these pretreated animals are outlined. Wherever possible, data from transplantation studies (of human tissues and cells) in pretreated and nonpretreated animals are compared. The potential of our pretreated SCID mice for medical research and biotechnology is discussed.     

Stellatopollis花粉之发现及其意义

本文描述了首次发现于我国早白圣世的原始被子植物花粉Ｓｔｅｌｌａｔｏｐｏｌｌｉｓ。这一发现进一步表明，这类花粉在早白垩世期间分布广泛，是早期被子植物花粉组合的重要组成部分，对大范围内的地层对比和早期被子植物演化的研究具有重要的价值。本文还介绍了我们所使用的对同一粒花粉进行光镜和扫描电镜联合观察照相的一种既简单又经济的方法．     

Effect of substrate nitrogen on the performance ofin vitro propagatedAlnus glutinosa clones inoculated with Sp+ and Sp− Frankia strains

The addition of combined nitrogen to substrate at an appropriate rate can stimulate N₂-fixation thus inreasing the efficiency of the Alnus-Frankia symbiosis. To examine how nitrogen additions can effect the peformance of different pairs of symbionts, growth and time course of N₂-fixation were studied in plants supplied with NH₄NO₃. Two cloned ofAlnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., propagatedin vitro, were inoculated with two strains ofFrankia (AVP3d and ACN14a) and grown in a greenhouse. Calcined montmorillonite (Totfaice^R) was used as growth substrate. Six N treatments were made up of varied amounts of NH₄NO₃ supplied in one single addition shortly before inoculation. Weekly measurements of shoot height and repeated measurements of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) performed on intact root systems were used to monitor the development of the symbioses. Nitrogen treatments containing from 0.10 to 0.68 mg N g⁻¹ dry substrate stimulated N₂-fixation as well as growth. The relative performance of the two clones was different according to N treatment; one clone showed a greater benefit from the nitrogen input. Our results support the recommendation that selection of symbionts according to performance should be carried out with an input of combined nitrogen. This can provide optimum conditions for the development of each pair of symbionts.     

Laboratory characterization of residual sludge from natural gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing in the Burgos Basin,Mexico

Abstract

Pollutants and microbiota present in the residual sludge of hydraulic fracturing were determined and characterized physicochemically. Analyses included determination of pH, electric conductivity, organic matter percentage, as well as total carbonates, inorganic nitrogen and extractable phosphorous. In addition, presence of hydrocarbons by gas chromatography, potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by atomic absorption and presence of radioactive isotopes by gamma spectrometry were determined. Moreover, fungi and bacteria present in the residual sludge were classified taxonomically to the level of genus. Medium and heavy hydrocarbon fractions were found in concentrations above the maximum limits permitted (MLP) by Mexican environmental norms. Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mg, however, were below the MLP. Likewise, gamma spectrometry analysis revealed naturally occurring Ac²²⁸, Ra²²⁶ and K⁴⁰. The microbiological analysis found presence of the bacteria Bacillus spp., Micrococcus sp., Diplococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. and the fungi Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium spp.