Asymmetry of the phospholipid bilayer of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum

The phospholipids of intact microsomal membranes were hydrolysed 50% by phospholipase C of Clostridium welchii, without loss of the secretory protein contents of the vesicle, which are therefore not permeable to the phospholipase. Phospholipids extracted from microsomes and dispersed by sonication were hydrolysed rapidly by phospholipase C-Cl. welchii with the exception of phosphatidylinositol. Assuming that only the phospholipids of the outside of the bilayer of the microsomal membrane are hydrolysed in intact vesicles, the composition of this leaflet was calculated as 84% phosphatidylcholine, 8% phosphatidylethanolamine, 9% sphingomyelin and 4% phosphatidylserine, and that of the inner leaflet 28% phosphatidylcholine, 37% phosphatidylethanolamine, 6% phosphatidylserine and 5% sphingomyelin. Microsomal vesicles were opened and their contents released in part by incubation with deoxycholate (0.098%) lysophosphatidylcholine (0.005%) or treatment with the French pressure cell. Under these conditions, hydrolysis of the phospholipids by phospholipase C-Cl. welchii was increased and this was mainly due to increased hydrolysis of those phospholipids assigned to the inner leaflet of the bilayer, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Phospholipase A₂ of bee venom and phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus caused rapid loss of vesicle contents and complete hydrolysis of the membrane phospholipids, with the exception of sphingomyelin which is not hydrolysed by the former enzyme.     

The genetic association study of TP53 polymorphisms in Saudi obese patients

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by low grade chronic inflammation. Rare and novel mutations in genes which are vital in several key pathways have been reported to alter the energy expenditure which regulates body weight. The TP53 or p53 gene plays a prominent role in regulating various metabolic activities such as glycolysis, lipolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Recent genome-wide association studies reported that tumor suppressor gene p53 variants play a critical role in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Till date, no reports are available from the Arabian population; hence the present study was intended to assess the association between p53 variants with risk of obesity development in the Saudi population. We have selected three p53 polymorphisms, rs1642785 (C > G), and rs9894946 (A > G), and rs1042522 (Pro72Arg; C > G) and assessed their association with obesity risk in the Saudi population. Phenotypic and biochemical parameters were also evaluated to check their association with p53 genotypes and obesity. Genotyping was carried out on 136 obese and 122 normal samples. We observed that there is significantly increased prevalence p52 Pro72Arg (rs1042522) polymorphism in obese persons when compared to controls at GG genotype in overall comparison (OR: 2.169, 95% CI: 1.086-4.334, p = 0.02716). Male obese subjects showed three-fold higher risk at GG genotype (OR: 3.275, 95% CI: 1.230-8.716, p = 0.01560) and two-fold risk at G allele (OR: 1.827, 95% CI: 1.128-2.958, p = 0.01388) of p53 variant Pro72Arg respectively. This variant has also shown significant influence on cholesterol, LDL level, and random insulin levels in obese subjects (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, p53 Pro72Arg variant is highly prevalent among obese individuals and may act as a genetic modifier for obesity development among Saudis.     

剖宫产瘢痕妊娠治疗方案的探讨

目的:探讨剖宫产瘢痕妊娠(CSP)的合理治疗方案。方法:回顾性分析2007年1月至2013年12月我院收治的26例CSP患者的临床资料,对其病史、临床表现、处理及结局进行总结分析,重点探讨其治疗方案与预后的关系。结果:采用的治疗方式包括口服米非司酮配伍米索前列醇后超声监测下清宫术6例、超声监测下局部甲氨蝶呤注射3例、全身甲氨蝶呤注射后清宫术2例、子宫动脉(化疗)栓塞后清宫术16例、经腹病灶切除术1例、经腹全子宫切除术1例。前三种方法尽管具有一定的成功率,但均有较高的术后大出血风险。子宫动脉(化疗)栓塞在CSP的初始及抢救治疗中均具有很高的成功率。结论:CSP治疗方案的选择需根据患者的病情、妊娠部位、生育要求等多方面进行综合考虑。在现有的治疗方案中,子宫动脉(化疗)栓塞后清宫术具有较大的优势。     

中国四川报春花属一新种

报道了中国四川报春花属(Primula L.)一新种——小繸瓣报春(P.hydrocotylifolia G.Hao,C.M.Hu&Y.Xu)。小繸瓣报春植株无毛、无粉,叶片多少呈圆形,具纤细的叶柄,开花期叶丛基部无鳞片,球形蒴果藏于宿存花萼,成熟时裂成不规则碎片,显然属于脆蒴报春组(sect.Petiolares Pax)革叶报春亚组(subsect.Chartacea W.W.Sm.&Forrest),并与该亚组的川西繸瓣报春(P.veitchiana Petitm.)最为接近,但后者植物体的各部分均远大于此新种,花序多花,花亦较大,二者之间无过渡类型。     

繁殖期雌性蓝狐性激素检测与 性器官组织学观察

为了研究繁殖期雌性蓝狐(Alopexlagopus)类固醇激素含量、发情表现与性器官组织学结构之间的关系,于2019年选取繁殖期不同发情状况的雌性蓝狐,共18只,分为典型发情、非典型发情和不发情3组。通过无损伤取样法采集粪便与尿液并通过放射免疫法(RIA)测定孕酮(P)和雌二醇(E2)的含量;每组选取1只在发情并输精的当天取卵巢和子宫,进行组织学观察。结果显示,所测定典型发情、非典型发情、不发情蓝狐类固醇激素水平,雌二醇在尿液中的含量显著高于粪便,且在不同组间差异明显,尤其在典型发情组更高,达到(11 065.17±546.76)ng/L;孕酮含量尿液与粪样差异不大,孕酮含量在典型发情雌性蓝狐粪便与尿液含量差异不显著,但在不发情雌性蓝狐中差异显著,为(16.61±0.63)μg/L。粪尿测定孕酮和雌二醇激素含量与三组不同情况的发情表现相比相关性显著。粪、尿作为类固醇激素检测样本,虽然含量有差异,但变化趋势一致,都可使用。卵巢与子宫在典型发情雌性蓝狐中体积较大,卵巢可见各级卵泡和多个黄体,子宫黏膜上皮为柱状上皮,排列紧密,固有层内可见大量腺体;非典型发情雌性蓝狐卵巢、子宫发育状况与典型发情雌性蓝狐相类似;不发情雌性蓝狐卵巢、子宫呈静息状态,卵巢中卵泡多处于闭锁状态,无卵母细胞,也无黄体,固有层间质细胞及肌层肌细胞排列更为紧密。说明检测孕酮和雌二醇激素的含量,可以准确判定蓝狐发情的状态。     

Synoptic assessment of wetland function: a planning tool for protection of wetland species biodiversity

We present a synoptic assessment intended to maximize the benefits to wetland species biodiversity gained through Clean Water Act regulatory efforts within 225 sub-basins in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7), USA. Our assessment provides a method for prioritizing sub-basins potentially critical for supporting wetland species biodiversity and may assist environmental managers and conservationists constrained by limited resources. We prioritize sub-basins based on the projected increase in the risk of wetland species extirpation across Region 7 that would be avoided by applying a unit of regulatory protection effort within a sub-basin. Because the projected increase in risk avoided per unit effort has not been directly measured, we represent this quantity with an index of indicators drawn from readily available data. A conceptual model incorporating landscape and anthropogenic factors guides index development via a series of simple benefit-cost equations. We rank and map the final index scores to show the relative priority among sub-basins for protection effort. High priority sub-basins appear to be concentrated along the major river systems within the region, where sensitive wetland species and intensive agriculture tend to coincide. Protection of wetland species biodiversity is an important, but not exclusive, attribute around which priorities should be set. Nevertheless, incorporation of our results into management strategies should allow managers to cast their local decisions in the context of regional scale maintenance of wetland species biodiversity, increasing ecological benefits for a given protection effort.     

南京某大型医院剖宫产及其影响因素的初步分析

目的:分析某医院剖宫产的现状,初步探讨其影响因素及控制策略。方法:整理分析了南京某大型医院2009年共1411名入院产妇的病历资料,按分娩方式分为自然分娩组(经阴道分娩)和剖宫产组,比较两组产妇的一般信息、身体状况、产时情况等,采用多因素Logistic回归分析了剖宫产的影响因素。结果:该医院2009年度剖宫产产妇为608人,占总产妇的43.09%。剖宫产产妇的年龄和体重明显高于自然分娩产妇(P0.01),既往身体状况相对较差。入院时多无产兆、宫口未开,且产妇宫高、腹围、胎心率明显较高(P0.05或P0.01)。B超检查也显示,羊水异常(过多或过少)、巨大儿、胎位不正(主要为臀位)以及脐带绕颈的比例也明显高于自然分娩产妇(P0.05或P0.01)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,产妇高龄(35岁)、入院产兆、胎位不正、产妇腹围过大、胎儿窘迫及新生儿超重等皆为剖宫产的独立影响因素。此外发现19.24%的剖宫产产妇无临床指征(即社会因素)。结论:该医院剖宫产的比例不低,要根据影响因素合理选择剖宫产,尤其要有效控制无指征的剖宫产选择,降低剖宫产率。     

Localization and characterization of acharan sulfate in the body of the giant African snail Achatina fulica

Acharan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG), having the structure →4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α- -glucopyranose(1→4)-2-sulfo-α- -idopyranosyluronic acid (1→, isolated from the body of the giant African snail Achatina fulica. This GAG represents 3–5% of the dry weight of this snail's soft body tissues. Frozen sections and polyester wax sections of the snail's body were stained by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff's reagent (PAS) to localize acharan sulfate. Alcian blue staining indicated that GAG was mainly secreted into the outer surface of the body from internal granules. A highly mucous material was collected and treated and the acharan sulfate was recovered by ethanol and cetyl pyridinium chloride precipitation. Crude acharan sulfate was purified by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography. Depolymerization of intact mucus and purified acharan sulfate fractions by heparin lyase II (heparitinase I) from Flavobacterium heparinum produced an unsaturated disaccharide as a major product, establishing the repeating unit of acharan sulfate. These results demonstrate that mucus in the granule and secreted to the outside of the body is composed entirely of acharan sulfate.     

Importance of thymus-derived lymphocytes in cell-mediated immunity to infection

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from ten human neonates and ten adults were studied. Many more medium and large cells were identified in neonates, and the ultrastructure of the medium-sized lymphocytes resembled guinea pig transitional cells. There were 20 times more nucleoside-incorporating lymphocytes in the newborn samples, and a neonatal high-labeling cell was identified.     

The role of subcellular organelles in hormone secretion : The interactions of calcium, vitamin A, vinblastine, and cytochalasin B in PTH secretion

To determine the role of subcellular organelles in hormone secretion, we studied the interaction of low calcium concentration (low Ca), retinol (vitamin A, vit A), vinblastine (VB), and cytochalasin B (CB) in parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Bovine parathyroid tissue pieces were incubated in media containing the above agents. Vit A stimulated PTH release to a mean of 170% of control. This effect of vit A was diminished when tissues were simultaneously stimulated with low Ca and, furthermore, absent when tissues were pre-incubated in low Ca.VB had no effect on low Ca-stimulated secretion, but did inhibit vit A-induced secretion in the presence of low Ca.CB stimulated PTH secretion to a mean of 150% of control during the second and third hours of incubation. CB had at least an additive effect with low Ca in stimulating PTH secretion, with a more prompt and greater response than seen in normal calcium. VB did not inhibit the acute effect of CB on secretion in normal calcium media, but did inhibit CB-induced secretion during the third hour of incubation.None of the agents stimulated the release of lysosomal cathepsin D, and vit A and CB did not stimulate the release of LDH.Our results suggest that; (1) vit A and low Ca stimulate PTH secretion through a common pathway involving the cell membrane; (2) CB stimulates PTH secretion through a separate effect on the cell membrane or submembrane microfilaments, which normally retards secretion of PTH; and (3) microtubular proteins may facilitate basal secretion of PTH, but are not involved in low Ca-stimulated secretion of PTH.