Focused high risk--population screening for carotid stenosis and retinal microangiopathia after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is one of the major complications of external irradiation (radiotherapy, RT) for laryngeal carcinoma. Considering amaurosis fugax is often one of the first signs of significant CAS our focus was to determine weather patients with post-irradiation CAS also develop ocular microangiopathy as a result of insufficient ophthalmic circulation. In our study Carotid Duplex ultrasound scans revealed that 33.33% of patients had significant radiation-induced CAS. The majority (over 85.71%) of radiation-induced CAS had more than one atherosclerotic plaque including any degree of stenosis in the RT group, and had significantly more than that of the control group. Microangiopathic changes were documented only with the patients that have had an increased cerebrovascular risk (diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension).     

The role of salicylic acid and carrot embryogenic callus extracts in somatic embryogenesis of naked oat (Avena nuda)

Enhanced somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration have been obtained using young leaf bases of naked oat (Avena nuda) as explants by including salicylic acid (SA) and carrot embryogenic callus extracts (CECE) in media. A 5- and 4-fold improvement was achieved in somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration on the corresponding media supplemented with 0.5 mM SA and CECE as compared to control, respectively. Some physiological and biochemical changes were assayed in both embryogenic callus (EC) and non-embryogenic callus (NEC). The results indicated that superoxide dismutase activity was stimulated and catalases and ascorbate peroxidase activities were inhibited, while the O₂ ^- (superoxide anion) content was reduced and the hydrogen peroxide level was promoted in EC compared with NEC. Reduced malondialdehyde content and relative electrolyte leakage were also detected in EC.     

Outbreak of Trichophyton verrucosum in China Transmitted from Cows to Humans

Twenty percent of 1000 dairy cows were infected with Trichophyton verrucosum in a newly established dairy farm in western China. The disease was transmitted to 30 of 100 animal workers. The source of the outbreak is unknown but it is suspected that naïve cattle which were transported from Holland to China became infected after they arrived in Xinjiang province (West China) where the fungus is endemic in nature, prepuberty school children and various livestock.     

A nitrogen budget of mainland China with spatial and temporal variation

The present study evaluated nitrogen (N) input and output in mainland China using updated data of temporally and spatially-based land use maps and statistical data at national and provincial scales. The total N inputs increased from 3,081 kg km^?2 in 1985 to 5,426 kg km^?2 in 2007. Chemical fertilizer dominated the N input and showed an increasing trend. Biological N fixation was the second important N input till 1990 and atmospheric deposition became the second most important source after that, accounting for 24.0% in 2007. There was no net N input through food/feed import in 1985, but it accounted for 3.5% of the total N input in 2007. According to a mass balance model, we assumed total N input equal to output. The results showed that more than half of the total N was denitrified or stored in the system. Ammonia volatilization accounted for 18.9–22.9% of the total N input, and N export to water bodies accounted for 17.9–20.7%. About 5.1–7.7% of the N input was emitted to the atmosphere through biomass burning. When calculated per unit area, total N input, N export to water bodies, denitrification and storage could be very well explained by human population density. Nitrogen input and major outputs were also positively related to per capita gross domestic product and the percentage of total land area used as cropland. The N budget is compared to that of some other countries and the environmental impacts of the N cycle is discussed.     

Age,growth and mortality of scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna Walbaum, 1792) from the Adriatic Sea

The population dynamics parameters of scaldfish, Arnoglossus laterna, from the Adriatic Sea were studied. Specimens ranging from 4.5 to 17.1 cm in total length were collected from commercial bottom‐trawl catches (2000–2006). Spawning from April through the end of August with a peak in May, A. laterna is one of the non‐target species usually present in mixed bottom trawl catches. The overall male to female ratio was 1.00 : 0.61. The oldest individual was 6 years of age. Length–weight relationships showed positive allometric growth (b = 3.36 for males and b = 3.39 for females). Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were: L_∞ = 17.3 cm; K = 0.258 per year; t₀ = ?1.0026 year; R² = 0.925. The relatively low value of total mortality (Z = 0.90) and relatively high value of constant rate of natural mortality (M = 0.64) was estimated. Presumed calculated fishing mortality (F = 0.26) and the consequently estimated exploitation ratio (E = 0.29) indicated no danger of an over‐exploitation of this species in the study area at the current level of fishing pressure. The low T max and correspondingly high M suggest that this small benthic predator plays an important role in the Adriatic ecosystem as a prey species for large benthic predators. However, the estimates include uncertainties and require further confirmation, especially with regard to natural mortality.     

Reconstruction of associative protein networks connected with processes of sodium exchange' regulation and sodium deposition in healthy volunteers by urine proteome analysis

The study was conducted during the experiment with 105-day isolation in experimental complex. In the present investigation we collected urine samples from 6 healthy volunteers. The physical activity, diurnal rhythm, temperature parameters and level of oxygen and carbon dioxide were controlled during the experiment. According to the program, food intake (electrolytes, water, calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, etc.) on each stage of experiment was normalized. All samples were analyzed using mass spectrometer of an ionic cyclotron resonance with transformation of Fure LTQ FT MS (Thermo) on the basis of the AMT-tags (accurate mass and time tags) approach. Among more than 20 000 we found out 690 proteotypical proteins and we identified about 600 urine proteins. For physiological interpretation of the proteome data we used computer systems ANDCell and ANDVisio. Clustering of proteins and application of these systems revealed proteins that are most closely associated with the regime of sodium intake, as well as build the network of their interactions.     

Ubiquitination in NB-LRR-mediated immunity

As a common protein modification, ubiquitination is used for regulating the fate of protein targets, notably in terms of stability. In recent years, it has emerged to play key roles in the regulation of plant defense responses. Given its flexibility and critical roles in signaling, primarily in the control of protein turnover, ubiquitination is probably targeting many major immune regulators for modification or degradation. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on how different components of the ubiquitination pathway are involved in NB-LRR R protein-mediated immunity.     

门静脉高压脾功能亢进对大鼠肝癌发生率的影响

目的:通过对门静脉高压脾功能亢进大鼠药物诱导肝癌过程中进行脾脏切除,探讨门静脉高压脾功能亢进对大鼠肝癌发生率的影响。方法:将雌雄SD大鼠性别内分别分为对照组、脾亢组、脾亢切脾组,脾功能亢进大鼠模型采用门静脉缩窄术联合脾静脉结扎术进行制备,各组均予以DEN(二乙基亚硝胺)腹腔注射,按体重20mg/kg给药,每周3次,12周停药,14周处死。其中,脾亢脾切除组于给药第四周进行脾切除术,手术恢复期间持续给药。观察各组实验动物的肝脏大体变化及病理改变,计算成瘤率。结果:实际成瘤率显示脾亢组较对照组明显升高,而雄性脾亢切脾组的成瘤率较脾亢组有所降低。雌性脾亢切脾组成瘤率同脾亢组差异不明显。结论:门静脉高压脾功能亢进状态下进行脾切除,对于雄性能减低肝癌发生的风险,对于雌性的意义不大,给临床实际工作提供了新的思路。     

内质网应激预处理对人正常肝细胞缺氧再复氧损伤的保护作用

目的:研究内质网应激预处理对人肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤的保护作用。方法:将培养的人肝细胞分为4组:正常对照(C)组、细胞缺氧复氧损伤(H/R)组、内质网应激(ER)组、内质网应激预处理(ERP+H/R)组。收集各组细胞,以流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,Western-bloting及RT-PCR检测内质网应激特异蛋白GRP78表达水平,并通过透射电镜观察各组细胞超微结构改变。结果:ERP+H/R组细胞凋亡率明显低于H/R组(P<0.05),ER及ERP+H/R组GRP78蛋白表达明显高于H/R组(P<0.05)。结论:内质网应激预处理对肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤具有明显的保护作用,内质网应激特异性蛋白GRP78可能在肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤中作为一种关键性的保护蛋白出现。