Higher frequency of septic shock in septic patients with the 47C allele (rs4880) of the SOD2 gene

Aim

To analyze the effect of the two different versions of the manganese superoxide dismutase gene (SOD2) on sepsis. The SOD2 gene presents the 47C > T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; ID: rs4880) which produces MnSOD with different activities. The − 9Val MnSOD (47T allele) is less efficient than the − 9Ala version (47C allele). During sepsis there are abundance of ROS, high SOD2 expression and excess of H₂O₂ synthesis. High concentrations of H₂O₂ could affect the sepsis scenario and/or the sepsis outcome.

Methods

We determined the 47C > T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies in 529 critically ill patients with or without sepsis, facing outcome. To collect information on population frequencies, we obtained a pilot 47C > T genotypic and allelic frequencies in a random group of 139 healthy subjects.

Results

We compared the 47C allele carriers (47CC + 47CT genotypes) with 47TT homozygotes and noticed a significant association between 47C allele carriers and septic shock in septic patients (P = 0.025). With an adjusted binary multivariate logistic regression, incorporating 47C > T SNP and the main clinical predictors, we showed high SOFA scores [P < 0.001, OR = 9.107 (95% CI = 5.319–15.592)] and 47C allele [P = 0.011, OR = 2.125 (95% CI = 1.190–3.794)] were significantly associated with septic shock outcome. With this information we presented a hypothesis suggesting that this negative outcome from sepsis is possibly explained by effects on cellular stress caused by 47C allele.

Conclusion

In our population there was a significant higher frequency of septic shock in septic patients with the 47C allele of the SOD2 gene. This higher 47C allele frequency in septic patients with negative outcome could be explained by effects of higher activity MnSOD on cellular stress during the sepsis.     

Applications of a universal thermal index: physiological equivalent temperature

The physiological equivalent temperature, PET, is a thermal index derived from the human energy balance. It is well suited to the evaluation of the thermal component of different climates. As well as having a detailed physiological basis, PET is preferable to other thermal indexes like the predicted mean vote because of its unit (°C), which makes results more comprehensible to urban or regional planners, for example, who are not so familiar with modern human-biometeorological terminology. PET results can be presented graphically or as bioclimatic maps. Graphs mostly display the temporal behaviour of PET, whereas spatial distribution is specified in bioclimatic maps. In this article, some applications of PET are discussed. They relate to the evaluation of the urban heat island in cities in both temperate climates and warm climates at high altitude. The thermal component of the microclimate in the trunk space of a deciduous forest is also evaluated by PET. As an example of the spatial distribution of PET, a bioclimatic map for Greece in July (Mediterranean climate) is presented. Received: 7 April 1999 / Accepted: 26 May 1999     

中国主要森林生态系统公益的评估

 为生态系统管理提供科学的量化指标，以我国森林为研究对象，根据全国第3次森林资源清查资料(1984～1988)及Costanza等(1997)的森林生态系统公益资料计算了我国38种主要森林类型生态系统公益的总价值约为117.401亿美元，其中以森林营养循环的贡献最大(约占40％)，而原材料(包括木材、燃料、饲料)的贡献仅占15％，反映出森林生态系统公益的显著性。 研究发现，各森林类型的生态系统公益(Va)与其总生产力(Tp)具有良好的相关关系：Ln(Va)＝108.21(Tp)0.93，R2＝0.844。这对于简化生态系统公益的评估具有重要意义。本研究为合理保护和可持续利用森林资源提供了科学的量化依据。     

Assessing understanding in biology

This paper discusses several new assessment strategies that encourage meaningful learning and conceptual understanding in the biological sciences. Our purpose is to introduce a handful of evaluation and measurement techniques that help students assimilate well-integrated, strongly cohesive frameworks of interrelated concepts as a way of facilitating ‘real understanding’ of natural phenomena. Among these methods are concept maps, V diagrams, SemNet software, image-based test items, clinical interviews, portfolios, written products, performance measures, and conceptual diagnostic tests. Evidence suggests that these methods are most useful at highlighting ‘alternative conceptions’ and assisting students who wish to ‘learn how to learn’.     

野生杜鹃花迁地保护适应性评价

通过半定量评价法 ,对四川都江堰中国杜鹃园内引种的来自各地的、分属杜鹃属 7亚属、 35组 (或亚组 )的 131种杜鹃花的适应能力和对各生态因子的耐性进行了研究。结果表明 :很适应的占 2 5 % ,适应的占 5 2 % ,欠适应的占 15 % ,不适应的占 8%。常绿杜鹃亚属、杜鹃亚属的多数种类或主要分布于常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、寒温性针叶林中的杜鹃类群 ,很适应或适应中国杜鹃园的生境 ;而主要分布于高山灌丛、高山草甸上和低海拔松 -栎林中的杜鹃类群 ,表现为欠适应或不适应当地的生境条件。从上述证据中我们认为中国杜鹃园地址的选择基本上满足了杜鹃花的迁地保护需要。     

水稻耐冷性鉴定评价方法

水稻耐冷性是我国东北和西南高海拔地区、日本、韩国和朝鲜等国水稻育种的重要研究目标,至今许多学者对水稻耐冷性进行了广泛的研究,并且目前所采用的耐冷性鉴定评价方法已基本成熟,但国内还没有对其进行技术规范化.本文汇总了国内外至今所采用的水稻耐冷性鉴定方法和耐冷指标及分级标准等,将为水稻耐冷性种质资源鉴定和育种以及我国水稻耐冷性鉴定评价技术规范的制定提供参考依据.     

吉林省生态系统服务价值评估

吉林省生态系统效益总价值为1.74×1010USD·a-1,占全国总价值的3.6%。其中,森林生态系统效益的总价值占全省的15%,草原生态系统、沼泽湿地生态系统、河流湖泊生态系统以及耕地生态系统分别占1.6%、51.3%、29%和3.1%。其中,面积比重占到90%以上的的森林、草地和耕地生态系统效益价值占全省的20%左右,面积比重仅占6.2%的河流湖泊及沼泽湿地则占全省的80%之多;沼泽湿地的生态系统效益价值所占比例最高,草地最低;十七种生态系统效益中,生态系统的生态效益价值为1.55×1010USD·a-1,占总价值的88.9%,远高于其经济效益和社会效益的价值;在地区分布上,吉林省各地区生态系统效益价值排序为白城﹥延边州﹥松源﹥长春﹥吉林﹥通化﹥四平﹥白山﹥辽源。     

黄淮海北部地区大豆育成品种对黄淮海主要SMV流行株系的抗性评价

采用人工接种方法研究了166份黄淮海北部地区近年来生产上种植品种及近期育成品种(系)对SMV的抗性,利用黄淮海地区SMV流行株系SC3、SC6、SC7、SC11以及混合4个株系进行了抗性鉴定,从客观上评价了上述品种(系)的抗性。结果显示:对4个株系均表现抗病(中抗、高抗和免疫)的共82份,占49.4%;其中对3个株系表现高抗或免疫的32份,占19.3%;对4个株系表现高抗或免疫的23份,占13.9%。对混合株系表现抗病的108份,占65.1%。其中表现免疫的45份,占27.1%,表现高抗的29份,占17.5%。对4个株系和混合株系均表现抗病的62份,占37.3%;表现免疫和高抗的14份,占8.4%。近年育成品种对SC3、SC7株系较早期育成品种的抗性显著增强;来自河北、北京、山西的品种抗性较好,病情指数整体较低。鉴定筛选出对接种的4个株系及混合株系均表现免疫的品种冀豆9号和石豆6号,可作为抗病育种的重要抗源。本研究还发现部分品种对接种的4个株系和混合株系表现出抗性差异,表明SMV株系间存在着明显的互作。     

作物种质资源品质性状鉴定评价现状与展望

作物种质资源品质性状鉴定评价是作物种质资源研究的重要方面,是深入挖掘、广泛利用作物种质资源的基础。本文对近年来作物种质资源品质性状鉴定评价情况进行了回顾,总结了鉴定评价工作取得的主要进展:完成了近20万份的作物种质资源(约占保存总数的50%)主要营养品质性状的初步鉴定评价;作物种质资源品质鉴定评价内容涉及面广、鉴定的品质性状变异性大、多样性丰富;提高了作物种质资源品质性状鉴定评价标准化程度。此外还介绍了国际上有关品质性状鉴定的发展趋势,并对未来国内作物种质资源品质性状鉴定评价提出了意见和建议。     

海军指战员心理健康状况研究现状

我国军人的心理健康状况从80年代后期开始有了较为系统的研究。海军指战员是社会的特殊群体,健康的心理素质可以使海军指战员保持战斗力,更好的适应国防现代化的需要。海军指战员在一段较长的时间内,整日面对单一枯燥的环境,承受巨大工作压力,加之其他一些影响因素,难免产生诸多心理问题。因此,探讨职业特殊环境对海军指战员心理健康造成的影响,对海军指战员人格结构及心理健康状况进行评价,用以指导海军官兵在特殊环境中提高心理素质,避免不良影响,最终提高部队战斗力具有十分重要的意义。通过查阅文献了解海军特殊职业环境对士兵心理健康影响的研究现状,总结当前应用的各种评价工具、异常心理状况、影响因素及其危害,分析海军心理健康研究方面存在的不足与亟待解决的问题,为今后的研究提供参考。