Influences of the reproductive cycle on condition of marine catfishes (Siluriformes,Ariidae) in a coastal area at southeastern Brazil

Marine catfishes use estuaries and bays as part of their life cycle for spawning and feeding purposes, respectively. We compared three species of the family Ariidae in two different environmental conditionsa relatively stable bay site and an estuarine site, which differ in their magnitudes of environmental fluctuation to investigate effects of spawning on condition. We found differences in the parameter b (slope) and in they-intercept (a) among species and sexes. The parameter a varied inversely with b, and thus is not a good indicator to express fish condition. Condition factor did not differ between the two sites for species and sexes when we consider the pooled data. Overall condition was associated with reproductive process, and was high before the reproductive season, decreasing during the spawning period in the estuary, then increasing when fish move to the bay (April–August). Temporal segregation in the reproductive period and small-scale movements between the estuary and the bay are the probable mechanisms to optimize the use of the area by the three species.     

Precopulation Sexual Selection in Nysius huttoni White (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) in Relation to Morphometric Traits

Nysius huttoni White is a polygamous bug, endemic to New Zealand, and an important pest of wheat and brassicas. This bug has a female-biased sexual size dimorphism but relative to body length, males have longer antennae, suggesting that the allometric scales of antennal–body relationships may be highly selective in sexual selection. Body weight and most morphometric traits measured have no effect on mating success of either sex. Males significantly preferred mating with females having thicker abdomens, more mature eggs, and longer ovipositors. This result suggests that males may select their mates on the basis of immediate reproductive benefit: fertilizing more eggs and ensuring better survival of these eggs. Males with large genital structures have mating advantages over those with small ones, suggesting that precopulation sexual selection in this species act on male genital traits rather than body weight and nonsexual traits. Finally, females significantly preferred males with greater slopes for the antennal-body relationship for mating. The allometry in the male antennal length may be an indicator of male reproductive fitness.     

重组人核苷二磷酸激酶A的理化性质

对重组人核苷二磷酸激酶A（rhNDPK-A）进行纯化,并对重组产物的理化性质及在溶液中的聚合状态进行鉴定。NDPK-A工程菌发酵后的菌体高压匀浆,然后微孔过滤、超滤浓缩,所得样品经DEAE阴离子交换、Cibacron Blue亲和层析、分子筛层析三步纯化后,以SDS-PAGE和RP-HPLC分析纯化产物的纯度,RP-HPLC测定酶活性。合格制品以基质辅助激光解析飞行时间质谱测定相对分子质量（MW）;Edman降解法测定N末端序列;多角度激光散射法测定重组产物在溶液中的表观分子量。结果表明,rhNDPK-A纯化产物的SDS-PAGE纯度为97.3%,RP-HPLC纯度为99.2%;比活性为（900±100）u/mg;单体相对分子质量为17017,与NDPKA分子量理论值相差132。测序结果表明,rhNDPK-A N末端缺失Met残基,其理论分子量为17017,与飞行质谱测定结果完全一致。表观分子量测定结果表明,rhNDPK-A在溶液中形成六聚体,表观分子量为102kD。上述结果说明, NDPK-A重组产物具与天然产物相同的自发形成六聚体性质,这为NDPK-A新药开发和机理研究打下了良好基础。     

两种HMW-GS基因启动子片段的克隆及分析

利用聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术从小偃6号中获得400bp左右的扩增产物,将其与pGEM-T Easy载体连接后转入大肠杆菌,经过筛选获得HMW-8-P和HMW-38-P两种类型克隆。序列分析表明：HMW-38-P包括了HMW-GS14基因上游启动子及信号肽对应编码区,而另一段(HMW-8-P)为一未知HMW-GS基因启动子区及信号肽对应的编码区。将两序列和GenBank中已知的35种HWM-GS基因启动子区序列进行多序列比对,最后获得HMW-GS启动子的系统发生树。通过系统发生树可以清晰地看出位于不同染色体上的不同亚基类型的HMW-GS基因的进化关系,并可确定HMW-8-P为Glu-D-1类型HMW-GS的启动子区,小偃6号中Glu-D-1类型的亚基为2亚基,所以HMW-6-P为2亚基启动子区序列。     

重组姊妹系中14+15和5+10亚基聚合对小麦品质的影响

采用常规杂交和生化鉴定方法将小麦品系 94 34的高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基 14 +15与 92 5 7的 5 +10优质亚基聚合 ,获得 8个重组姊妹系 .高分子量麦谷蛋白组成为 1、14 +15、2 +12与亚基组成为 1、14 +15、5 +10的姊妹系相比较 :硬度、Zeleny沉降值、干面筋和湿面筋没有差别 P>0 .1 ,出粉率略有差别但不显著 P>0 .0 5 ,蛋白质含量低 3.5 %～ 11.6 % P<0 .0 1 ;粉质仪各参数指标有显著差异或极显著差异 ,吸水率低 1.2 %～ 3.2 % P<0 .0 5 ,形成时间平均差 1m in P<0 .0 5 ,稳定时间相差 0 .5～ 1.5 min P<0 .0 1 ;弱化度高 5 0～ 5 FU P<0 .0 5 ,评价值平均低 7.6左右 P<0 .0 5 ,FQN值低 3～ 15 P<0 .0 5 .高分子量麦谷蛋白组成为 1、7+8、5 +10与亚基组成为1、14 +15、5 +10的姊妹系的单样本平均数测验表明 :后者在湿面筋、出粉率和形成时间显著高于前者 ,其他指标无显著差异     

伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗在小鼠中的免疫原性研究

以伤寒Vi多糖疫苗及结合物含量分别为20％、40％、60％的伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗经皮下免疫小鼠后眼眶采血分离血清,用ELISA法测血清抗体浓度。血清抗体分析表明,伤寒Vi多糖疫苗和伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗均有良好的免疫原性,但伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗的免疫原性优于伤寒Vi多糖疫苗;伤寒Vi多糖疫苗无加强免疫应答效应,而伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗有加强免疫应答效应;不同高分子结合物含量的伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗免疫小鼠,其结合物含量为40％、60％的伤寒Vi-rEPA结合疫苗比结合物含量为20％的结合疫苗具有更好的免疫原性,而前二者的免疫原性无显著性差异。     

七种蒿属植物种子重量形状及萌发特性的比较研究

在实验室条件下 ,对 7种蒿属植物种子 (差巴嘎蒿、乌丹蒿、万年蒿、大籽蒿、黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿 )进行重量、形状及萌发特性的比较研究。沙生先锋植物乌丹蒿和差巴嘎蒿的种子重量较大、形状扁平 ,这些特征是植物对流沙环境进化的适应机制之一。黄蒿种子小且呈圆形 ,具有持久土壤种子库 ,因此黄蒿抗干扰能力较强。 7种蒿属植物有 3种萌发格局 :大籽蒿、万年蒿、差巴嘎蒿和冷蒿的萌发前期快 ,后期平缓 ;野艾蒿和黄蒿整个萌发过程平缓 ;乌丹蒿早期和后期萌发平缓 ,中间快。乌丹蒿推迟萌发高峰是它比差巴嘎蒿更适应流沙环境的机制之一。从种子萌发格局分析 ,黄蒿种子具有生理后熟或休眠机制 ,大籽蒿种子萌发是典型的机会主义。黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿种子具有风险分摊的萌发机制。种子重量和形状与发芽率之间无相关性 ,重量和形状则显著相关。     

Adipogenic and Antiapoptotic Protein Levels in Human Adipose Stromal Cells after Weight Loss

Objective: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, current strategies to achieve sustained weight loss are often unsuccessful. Fat reaccumulation might be favored by enhanced adipose cell differentiation or survival in the postreduced state. Research Methods and Procedures: We measured adipogenic and apoptotic protein expression in subcutaneous abdominal adipose stromal‐vascular cells from 10 obese patients (7 women and 3 men) that were obtained before and after a 16% weight loss in a medically supervised weight loss program. Results: After weight loss, protein expression was 2.4‐fold higher (p < 0.005) for p42 C/CAAT enhancer binding protein α, but there was no change for peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ1; both of these are adipogenic regulators. For neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein, a protein associated with adipose cell apoptotic resistance, there was a rise of 1.7‐fold (p < 0.02). Discussion: Alterations in C/CAAT enhancer binding protein α and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein expression occurred in human adipose stromal‐vascular cells after weight loss in a pilot study of 10 patients. It will be important for future studies to directly examine whether the adipogenic and antiapoptotic capacity of these cells is changed after weight loss.     

Calcium and Magnesium ATPase Activities in Women with Varying BMIs

Objective: Intracellular calcium (Ca) is increased in obese humans, and magnesium (Mg)‐ATPase activity is increased in monosodium glutamate‐induced obese rats. The aims of this study were to test the hypotheses that Ca‐ATPase activity is negatively correlated with BMI, and that Mg‐ATPase activity is positively correlated with BMI and Ca‐ATPase activity in obese women. Research Methods and Procedures: Thirty healthy adult women, with BMIs of 20 to 40, donated a single sample of whole blood and were interviewed as to medical history and family history of obesity. Erythrocyte membranes were isolated and assayed for Ca‐ATPase and Mg‐ATPase. Weight and height were self‐reported. Regression analysis was used to determine relationship between BMI and enzyme activity. Family history of obesity served as a covariant. Results: Ca‐ATPase was negatively correlated with increasing BMI (r = ? 0.38, p = 0.02). The relationship between BMI and Ca‐ATPase remained valid after controlling for family history of obesity (r = ?0.36, p = 0.03). There was a positive correlation between Mg‐ATPase activity and Ca‐ATPase (r = 0.42, p = 0.024), and this relationship remained valid after controlling for BMI and family history of obesity (r = 0.41, p = 0.03). Discussion: Ca‐ATPase activity decreases as BMI increases. Decreased ATPase activity may contribute to increased intracellular calcium, previously reported in obese persons. Further studies are needed to determine whether a drop in Ca‐ATPase activity can serve as a marker for the development of obesity.     

Combined Dietary and Pharmacological Weight Management in Obese Hypopituitary Patients

Objective: The high prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in hypopituitarism affirms the need for effective weight loss intervention. In this study, we investigated the combined effect of sibutramine, diet, and exercise in obese hypopituitary patients (HPs). Research Methods and Procedures: In an open‐label prospective intervention trial, 14 obese well‐substituted nondiabetic HPs and 14 matched simple obese controls were allocated to 11‐month treatment with sibutramine (10 to 15 mg), diet (600 kcal/d deficit), and exercise. Anthropometric indices and body composition (obtained from DXA scan) were assessed monthly for the first 5 months and thereafter every second month for the next 6 months. Results: Mean (±SD) weight loss at 11 months was 11.3 ± 4.8 kg in patients vs. 10.7 ± 4.7 kg in controls. The HPs exhibited the same improvements in body composition, waist circumference, blood lipids, and fasting glucose as the simple obese. In a multivariate model, baseline weight, duration of growth hormone replacement therapy, and duration of pituitary disease explained 79% (p = 0.001) of the variation in weight loss at 4 months in the HPs. Only baseline weight and waist circumference could predict weight loss at 11 months. Discussion: HPs are not resistant to weight loss therapy. Almost all will achieve at least 5% weight loss, and 60% can lose >10% weight within 11 months. However, the long‐term effect on risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as on mortality needs to be established.