Cortisol stress response and histopathological alteration index in Clarias gariepinus exposed to sublethal concentrations of Qua Iboe crude oil and rig wash

The histological effect on and stress response of post juvenile Clarias gariepinus exposed to Qua Iboe crude oil and rig wash were investigated. Fish weighing 60–90 g and measuring 16–18 cm were exposed for 7–28 days to 8.00 ml^?1 Qua Iboe crude oil and 0.0018 ml^–1 rig wash, both being 0.1 of the 96 hr LC₅₀. Blood samples of C. gariepinus were collected every seven days and evaluated for stress by measuring cortisol concentration. The gills and liver were studied and scored for Gill Alteration Index (GAI) and Hepatic Alteration Index (HAI), respectively. There was an increase in cortisol level up to the 7th and 14th day among the group exposed to Qua Iboe crude oil, with a decrease on the 21st and 28th day. The rig wash group increased in cortisol level up to the 7th day and decreased slightly on the 14th day, after which the trend became irregular. The toxic effects of the Qua Iboe crude oil and rig wash were time dependent, as shown by the histopathological alteration index (HAI) of gill and liver. After 28 days of exposure, the gills had irreparable damage due to high frequency of cellular necrosis and degeneration, whereas the liver had from moderate to severe damage due to the high frequency of cellular degeneration and inflammation. Qua Iboe crude oil and rig wash are both toxic to C. gariepinus, therefore their indiscriminate discharge to the environment must be discouraged.     

非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠PPARα基因表达及脂代谢和胰岛素水平的变化

目的观察非酒精性脂肪肝（NAFLD）大鼠肝组织中PPARα基因的表达,并用PPARct激动剂进行干预,探讨其与胰岛素抵抗、脂代谢紊乱的关系。方法大鼠随机分为①正常对照组、②高脂模型组、③PPARα激动剂干预组,利用高脂饮食建立大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝模型。12周后,检测大鼠血脂、肝功能、血糖、胰岛素水平及胰岛素抵抗指数;RT-PCR法分析PPARα基因的表达;观察肝脏的形态学改变。结果PPARa激动剂可降低NAFLD大鼠转氨酶、血脂水平及胰岛素抵抗指数,可促进NAFLD大鼠中PPARa基因的表达;肝脏形态学明显改善。结论PPARα激动剂能改善NAFLD大鼠脂质代谢紊乱,有明显的保肝降酶作用,具有适度的胰岛素增敏作用。PPARα及其配体在NAFLD发病机制及治疗中的进一步深入研究,将为临床防治NAFLD提供新的思路。     

SD雌性大鼠性发育早期性器官等脏器和性激素的动态变化

目的探讨正常SD雌性大鼠性成熟前不同日龄段的脏器与促黄体生成素（LH）、促卵泡素（FSH）、雌二醇（E2）等性激素的变化及其关系。方法从生产群中取出60窝密度状态一致的SD大鼠,在不同日龄随机选取雌性大鼠,检测15、25、32、40日龄时大鼠体重、主要脏器指数,子宫、卵巢组织变化和15、25、32、40、60日龄大鼠血清LH、FSH、E2水平。结果记录了SD雌性大鼠性成熟前各脏器指数和卵巢、子宫组织变化,结果显示大鼠卵巢、子宫的增长速度大于体重的增长,而其他脏器增速大都小于体重的增长。本研究还记录了血清LH、FSH、E2水平在不同日龄段的变化规律,表明血清LH、E2浓度在32日龄时出现较为明显升高。结论不同日龄大鼠脏器指数的动态变化提示大鼠性器官在性发育早期得到机体的优先发育。血清LH、E2水平在32日龄时有了明显升高,提示性腺轴功能已经激活。60日龄大鼠血清性激素水平的波动类似于动情周期的规律性变化,推测大鼠在60日龄前即已进入性成熟,这些结果将为大鼠性发育的相关研究提供重要的参考数据。     

Developing human laboratory models of smoking lapse behavior for medication screening

Use of human laboratory analogues of smoking behavior can provide an efficient, cost-effective mechanistic evaluation of a medication signal on smoking behavior, with the result of facilitating translational work in medications development. Although a number of human laboratory models exist to investigate various aspects of smoking behavior and nicotine dependence phenomena, none have yet modeled smoking lapse behavior. The first instance of smoking during a quit attempt (i.e. smoking lapse) is highly predictive of relapse and represents an important target for medications development. Focusing on an abstinence outcome is critical for medication screening as the US Food and Drug Administration approval for cessation medications is contingent on demonstrating effects on smoking abstinence. This paper outlines a three-stage process for the development of a smoking lapse model for the purpose of medication screening. The smoking lapse paradigm models two critical features of lapse behavior: the ability to resist the first cigarette and subsequent ad libitum smoking. Within the context of the model, smokers are first exposed to known precipitants of smoking relapse (e.g. nicotine deprivation, alcohol, stress), and then presented their preferred brand of cigarettes. Their ability to resist smoking is then modeled and once smokers 'give in' and decide to smoke, they participate in a tobacco self-administration session. Ongoing and completed work developing and validating these models for the purpose of medication screening is discussed.     

Harmonised Australian Reference Intervals for Serum PINP and CTX in Adults

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) are classified as either formation or resorption markers. Their concentrations in blood or urine of adults are considered to reflect the rate of bone remodelling and may be of use in the management of patients with bone disease. Major inter-method differences exist for BTMs, and harmonisation of methods is currently being pursued at an international level. Based on published data, this article describes age- and sex-specific Australian consensus reference intervals for adults for serum procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (s-PINP) and serum β-isomerised carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (s-CTX).     

中国内蒙古缨齿藓属(紫萼藓科)1新变种——缨齿藓菱形变种

报道了内蒙古清水河黄土丘陵地区发现的紫萼藓科1新变种——缨齿藓菱形变种[Jaffueliobryum wrightii(Sull.)Thér.var.rhombicumX.L.BaiSarula],该变种与干旱山地岩面生境中的原变种缨齿藓[Jaffueliobryum wrightii(Sull.)Thér.]相似,生境的变化导致其形态发生变化,主要表现在上部细胞菱形和细胞壁背部强烈加厚,未分化的叶上部边缘细胞、中肋横切面细胞不分化,叶片长0.7~0.8mm,毛尖长0.8~1.3mm。文中对缨齿藓及其新变种的形态学特征,分布和生境进行了描述,并提供了显微照片,另外,列出了缨齿藓属5个种的检索表。     

长爪沙鼠发情周期规律与判定方法

目的研究长爪沙鼠发情周期,揭示发情规律,优化判定方法。方法连续18 d采集50只长爪沙鼠阴道上皮脱落细胞涂片,采用角化细胞计数法研究长爪沙鼠发情周期规律。比较瑞氏染色、HE染色和直接镜检判定发情周期4个时相的优缺点。结果长爪沙鼠的发情周期有稳定型、不稳定型、假孕三种类型。其中稳定型占68.6%,发情周期为(106.3±35.0)h,可分为4个时相。4个时相角化细胞的比例分别为发情前期(13.5±7.8)%、发情期(86.7±9.9)%、发情后期(27.9±12.8)%和发情间期(3.3±2.8)%。结论角化细胞计数能准确地判定长爪沙鼠的发情周期及各个时相。直接镜检法能快速反映阴道脱落细胞的形态。     

人TRAIL基因cDNA的克隆及其在COS—7细胞中的表达

ＴＲＡＩＬ(ＴＮＦｒｅｌａｔｅｄａｐｏｐｔｏｓｉｓｉｎｄｕｃｉｎｇｌｉｇａｎｄ)是最近克隆的肿瘤坏死因子(ＴＮＦ)家族的新成员,由于它的蛋白质结构和生物学效应类似于ＦＡＳ/ＡＰＯ1Ｌ,因此,也被称为ＡＰＯ2Ｌ。在低浓度下,ＴＲＡＩＬ能迅速地诱导多种肿瘤细胞系的?..