Use of body composition measurements to guide the assessment of dry weight in anuric dialysis patients: improvements in blood pressure control

PurposeFluid management using a body composition monitor (BCM) based on bioimpedance spectroscopy has been found to be beneficial for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Our purpose was to provide a management procedure for the adjustment of post-dialysis overhydration (OH_post) and to evaluate whether this approach could improve blood pressure.MethodsPost-dialysis fluid status was assessed weekly using the BCM. The reference value of OH_post and the flow procedure for post-dialysis target weight (PDTW) adjustment were established via measurements of OH_post in 60 normotensive MHD patients. In the interventional study, we adjusted the PDTW of hypertensive patients to the optimal OH_post range, with a 0.2–0.5 kg change in PDTW per week.ResultsThis observational study included 130 anuric MHD patients, of whom 60 were in the pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure (sBP_pre) < 140 mmHg group. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that only OH_post was significantly associated with sBP_pre ≥ 140 mmHg (odds ratio = 2.293, p = 0.000). Patients in the OH_post < ?1.8 L group were mainly male and younger, and had higher post-dialysis diastolic blood pressure, ultrafiltration volume, levels of nutrition markers (serum albumin and creatinine), body mass index, and lean tissue index (LTI). On multiple stepwise regression analysis, only the change in LTI was found to be an independent predictor of OH_post [R² 0.208, β = ?0.196, 95% CI (?0.296, ?0.095), p < 0.001]. The reference value of OH_post was found to deviate by ? 2.5–0.5 L from that of normotensive patients. At the end of the study, the systolic blood pressure of 38 patients was less than 140 mmHg after PDTW adjustment. The changes in OH_post from the initial to last adjustment were significant (t = 5.431, p < 0.001), with a substantial decrease in the sBP_pre (t = 11.208, p < 0.001).ConclusionsAssessment of OH_post and LTI using a BCM with a patient-specific optimal PDTW adjustment flow can lead to significantly better control of hypertension in anuric MHD patients.     

基于吸虫塔（Suction Trap）的蚜虫测报预警网络的构建

吸虫塔（suction trap）是用来监测麦类蚜虫和大豆蚜Aphis glycines迁飞种群动态的大型植保测报设备,在欧洲和北美洲已经呈网络安装分布,为蚜虫的预警和防控提供重要依据。作者借鉴欧美吸虫塔的工作原理和设计,设计并生产了符合我国地域特征的吸虫塔设备,在东北、华北、华中、华东、西北等地布点安装了21台,用于监控我国麦类蚜虫和大豆蚜的迁飞动态,初步形成覆盖我国小麦主产区和大豆主产区的吸虫塔网络系统。此吸虫塔总高8.8m,由底部轴流风机运转产生的负压在塔顶部形成吸力,将迁飞经附近的小型昆虫吸入塔管,最后落入下部的样品收集瓶中,以此获得其迁飞的动态数据。吸虫塔网络的构建和完善,不仅为麦类蚜虫和大豆蚜的监控提供支撑,同时也为其它小型迁飞性昆虫监测、种群动态、生物多样性、生物信息学等研究提供数据。     

A test of Rensch's rule in varanid lizards

In a model group of giant reptiles, we explored the allometric relationships between male and female body size and compared the effects of sexual and fecundity selection, as well as some proximate causes, on macroevolutionary patterns of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Monitor lizards are a morphologically homogeneous group that has been affected by extreme changes in body size during their evolutionary history, resulting in 14‐fold differences among the body sizes of recent species. Here, we analysed data concerning the maximum and/or mean male and female snout–vent lengths in 42 species of monitor lizard from literary sources and supplemented these data with measurements made in zoos. There was a wide scale of SSD from nearly monomorphic species belonging mostly to the subgenus Odatria and Prasinus group of the Euprepriosaurus to apparently male‐larger taxa. The variable best explaining SSD was the body size itself; the larger the species, the higher the SSD. This pattern agrees with the currently discussed Rensch's rule, claiming that the relationship between male and female body size is hyperallometric, i.e. the allometric exponent of this relationship exceeds unity and thus SSD increases with body size in the case of male‐larger taxa. All our estimates of the reduced major axis regression slopes of this relationship ranged from 1.132 to 1.155. These estimates are significantly higher than unity, and thus unequivocally corroborate the validity of Rensch's rule in this reptilian group. In spite of our expectation that the variation in SSD can be alternatively explained by variables reflecting the strength of sexual selection (presence of male combat), fecundity selection (e.g. clutch size and mass) and/or proximate ecological factors (habitat type), none of these variables had consistent effects on SSD, especially when the data were adjusted to phylogenetic dependence and/or body size. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100 , 293–306.     

2009至2015年度辽宁省锦州市流感样病例和病原学特征分析

了解辽宁省锦州市2009至2015年度流感流行特征及优势毒株的分布情况,为流感的预警和防治提供依据。统计锦州市2009至2015年度流感样病例(ILI)监测数据及病原学结果,分析ILI百分比(ILI%)、病毒分离率及各亚型的变化规律。共监测ILI 51 277例,ILI%为2.28%,主要集中于0～15岁年龄段,占56.72%;采集8 254份ILI咽拭子标本,其中阳性467份,病毒分离率为5.66%,其中新甲型H1N1型192份、季节性H3型186份、B型Yamagata系37份、B 型Victoria系52份。2009年和2013年以新甲型H1N1(55.73%,83.33%)为主,2011年以BY (74.42%)为主,其他年份以季节性H3型为流感优势毒株,BV在人群中流行趋势减弱,新甲型H1N1、BY在人群中偶有检出。2010至2015年各月份ILI%均显著低于2009年,提示2009年后流感病毒活动相对稳定;ILI%与病毒分离率呈正相关(r_s＝0.347;P＝0.039),ILI%的变化能够较好地反映当地流感病毒的活动情况。新甲型H1N1型、季节性H3型、B型混合存在,季节性H1型消失。     

FISH技术及其在环境微生物监测中的应用

荧光原位杂交（FISH）被广泛应用于微生物群落结构诊断和评价。利用FISH技术在环境样品上直接原位杂交,不仅可测定不可培养微生物的形态特征及丰度,而且可原位分析它们的空间及数量分布。在环境生物监测中有着广阔的应用前景。     

A fast cell loading and high-throughput microfluidic system for long-term cell culture in zero-flow environments

We present a simple technique for cell loading, culturing, and phenotypic study in a multi-chamber microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This technique is based on the use of degassing induced aspiration of PDMS which allows loading cells into micro-cavities within 1 min. A large number of triangle cavities are patterned aside main flow channels with narrow connections so that cells can be loaded by aspirating into each cavity. In our device, high throughput and long-term monitoring can be done with minimum shear force of the flow. As a demonstration, we show a controlled loading at single cell level and the phenotypic variation of gene expression of the yeast strain w303 as a function of copper ion concentration of the medium.     

Blood glucose monitor: an alternative off-line method to measure glucose concentration during fermentations with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma reesei</Emphasis>

Two home, blood-glucose monitoring meters, OneTouch Ultra and Ascensia Contour, were used to determine the glucose concentration during fermentations of Trichoderma reesei in both flasks and bioreactors. The results, when compared to those given by the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reducing sugar assay, HPLC and YSI 2700 SELECT Biochemistry analyzer, showed that the glucose meters are a quick, reliable and economical alternative method for frequent glucose concentration measurement during fermentation. For T. reesei fermentations, the OneTouch meter was the more suitable     

Effects of vegetation and weather on trap catches of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes near Lake Victoria, Kenya

Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead was sampled in isolated thickets and forest patches near Lake Victoria, Kenya using unbaited biconical traps, between March 1992 and June 1993. Traps set at 1 m from the forest edge caught 3.3 times as many males and 5 times as many females as those set inside or 10 m away. The corresponding figures at 1 m from the edge of thicket were about 1.43 and 1.64 times, respectively. Hourly catches of males and females were positively correlated with temperature, light intensity and host (monitor lizard) prevalence, and negatively correlated with relative humidity. Light intensity and temperature were the most important variables affecting the catches of each sex. The results are discussed in relation to control and monitoring of G. f. fuscipes using traps.     

The origins and regulation of tissue tension: identification of collagen tension-fixation process in vitro

The absence of a controllable in vitro model of soft tissue remodeling is a major impediment, limiting our understanding of collagen pathologies, tissue repair and engineering. Using 3D fibroblast-collagen lattice model, we have quantified changes in matrix tension and material properties following remodeling by blockade of cell-generated tension with cytochalasin D. This demonstrated a time-dependent shortening of the collagen network, progressively stabilized into a built-in tension within the matrix. This was differentially enhanced by TGFB1 and mechanical loading to give subtle control of the new, remodeled matrix material properties. Through this model, we have been able to identify the 'tension remodeling' process, by which cells control material properties in response to environmental factors.