Can occupancy patterns be used to predict distributions in widely separated geographic regions?

Occupancy models, that describe the presence and absence patterns of a species in a given area, are increasingly being used to predict the occurrence of the species in unsurveyed sites, as an aid to conservation planning. In this paper, we consider whether conclusions about local distributions derived from one landscape can be extrapolated to others. We found that habitat patchiness influenced the distribution and abundance of the host-specific moth Wheeleria spilodactylus in a similar way in two landscapes widely separated geographically. In both geographic regions, the spatial location (positive effect of connectivity), and quantity of resource (positive effect of host plant density) increased the likelihood that the moth would be present, consistent with the expectations of metapopulation dynamics. Though some biological attributes of the species appeared to be slightly different, including population density and the timing of the life cycle (phenology), occupancy patterns in one landscape accurately predict occupancy in the other landscape. Our results suggest that it maybe possible to make predictions from one landscape to another, even when the landscapes are widely separated.     

Species richness changes lag behind climate change

Species-energy theory indicates that recent climate warming should have driven increases in species richness in cool and species-poor parts of the Northern Hemisphere. We confirm that the average species richness of British butterflies has increased since 1970-82, but much more slowly than predicted from changes of climate: on average, only one-third of the predicted increase has taken place. The resultant species assemblages are increasingly dominated by generalist species that were able to respond quickly. The time lag is confirmed by the successful introduction of many species to climatically suitable areas beyond their ranges. Our results imply that it may be decades or centuries before the species richness and composition of biological communities adjusts to the current climate.     

他克莫司对HaCaT细胞NF-κB表达的影响

目的：探讨他克莫司对HaCaT细胞中NF-κB分子表达的影响。方法：培养人HaCaT细胞,分别与10μmol·1^-1和50μmol·1^-1他克莫司溶液共孵育后,通过RT-PCR和Western-blot方法,分别从基因和蛋白水平,观察NF-κB分子表达的变化。结果：经10μmol·1^-1和50μmol·1^-1的他克莫司（FK506）溶液孵育后,HaCaT细胞中NF-κB分子表达明显低于对照组,同时体现一定的剂量效应,50μmol·1^-1组的表达水平更低。结论：他克莫司可以剂量依赖性地抑制HaCaT细胞中NF-κB的分子表达。     

Comparison of three ELISA protocols to measure antibody responses elicited against serogroup C meningococcal polysaccharide in mouse, monkey and human sera

In this study we compared the following ELISA protocols to measure antibody levels against serogroup C meningococcal polysaccharide: a traditional protocol using poly-L-Lysine mixed with the polysaccharide as coating antigen, a second protocol coating with a mixture of methylated human serum albumin with the C polysaccharide, a modified protocol coating with derivatized polysaccharide and a modification to the last one, specifically without adding ammonium thiocyanate to the sample buffer. Serum bactericidal activity of mouse, monkey and human sera were measured and correlation coefficients were calculated. For all serum types the modified ELISA protocol showed the highest correlation coefficients while the traditional protocol showed the lower ones. We demonstrated that the traditional protocol measures non-specific antibodies to the C polysaccharide, because no differences were detected between pre-immune and post-immune human sera (P>0.05), while the modified protocol detected the highest difference (P<0.01).     

The aureolic acid family of antitumor compounds: structure, mode of action, biosynthesis, and novel derivatives

Members of the aureolic acid family are tricyclic polyketides with antitumor activity which are produced by different streptomycete species. These members are glycosylated compounds with two oligosaccharide chains of variable sugar length. They interact with the DNA minor groove in high-GC-content regions in a nonintercalative way and with a requirement for magnesium ions. Mithramycin and chromomycins are the most representative members of the family, mithramycin being used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of several cancer diseases. For chromomycin and durhamycin A, antiviral activity has also been reported. The biosynthesis gene clusters for mithramycin and chromomycin A₃ have been studied in detail by gene sequencing, insertional inactivation, and gene expression. Most of the biosynthetic intermediates in these pathways have been isolated and characterized. Some of these compounds showed an increase in antitumor activity in comparison with the parent compounds. A common step in the biosynthesis of all members of the family is the formation of the tetracyclic intermediate premithramycinone. Further biosynthetic steps (glycosylation, methylations, acylations) proceed through tetracyclic intermediates which are finally converted into tricyclic compounds by the action of a monooxygenase, a key event for the biological activity. Heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes from other aromatic polyketide pathways in the mithramycin producer (or some mutants) led to the isolation of novel hybrid compounds.Felipe Lombó and Nuria Menéndez have equally contribute to this work.     

缺血预处理对肢体缺血/再灌注大鼠胃粘膜损伤的保护效应

目的：观察肢体缺血再灌注（LI／R）对胃粘膜的损伤作用及缺血预处理对其影响,探讨胃粘膜损伤的机制及缺血预处理（IPC）的作用机理。方法：观察并测定肢体缺血4h再灌注4h后以及应用肢体缺血预处理干预后各组胃粘膜损伤指数,胃结合粘液量;检测胃粘膜中髓过氧化物酶（MPO）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、黄嘌呤氧化酶（XOD）含量的变化以及血浆中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的含量变化。结果：大鼠LI／R后胃粘膜损伤指数增加;胃结合粘液量较对照组显著下降;胃粘膜中MPO、MDA、XOD的值均较对照组增加,血浆中LDH的含量亦较对照组显著增加,胃粘膜组织中SOD的酶活力下降;IPC组与LIR组对比,胃结合粘液量较LIR组显著增加：胃粘膜损伤指数、胃粘膜中MPO的含量、以及胃粘膜中MDA、XOD、LDH均较LI／R组明显降低;胃粘膜中SOD酶活力增强。结论：LI／R作为应激原可引起胃粘膜损伤,导致应激性溃疡的发生;自由基在肢体缺血再／灌注后继发胃粘膜损伤过程中发挥作用。缺血预处理可减轻肢体缺血再灌注后的胃粘膜损伤,其作用机制可能是通过减少自由基的产生而发挥其保护作用。     

川芎嗪对脑缺血/再灌注后所致肺损伤的影响

目的：观察川芎嗪对脑缺血／再灌注后肺损伤的影响。方法：采用Pulsinelli等的方法建立大鼠急性全脑缺血／再灌注模型。将Wistar大鼠随机分为三组,即：对照组（Control）、缺血／再灌注组（I／R）、川芎嗪＋缺血／再灌注组（TEP＋I／R）,分别测定各组肺功能（PaO2、PaCO2）,肺系数（LI％）、血浆和肺组织中与自由基有关物质的含量。结果：川芎嗪可有效改善脑缺血／再灌注后肺功能,减轻肺水肿,减少胞浆酶的漏出,增加自由基清除醇的活性,抑制组织脂质过氧化的发生。结论：川芎嗪对脑缺血／再灌注后肺损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与其抗氧自由基和膜保护作用有关。     

Angioimmunoblastic lymphoma in a 73-year-old woman

We describe the case of a 73-year-old woman with constitutional disorder and pain in the lower limbs, leading to initial suspicion of multiple myeloma. During the diagnostic process, there were discrepancies between the clinical course and findings of complementary tests. After a fulminant clinical course for a few days, the patient died, and a postmortem diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic lymphoma was established. We review the main aspects of this highly infrequent disease, the pathogenesis of which remains uncertain.