Effect of micellar lipids on rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane phospholipid bilayer integrity studied by31P NMR

Summary The effect of biliary salts and fatty acids on the bilayer structure of rabbit intestinal brush-border membranes was studied using the nonperturbing probe³¹P NMR. The broad. asymmetric lineshape of the³¹P NMR spectrum of isolated brush-border vesicles demostrates that their component phospholipids are organized in extended bilayers. These membranes are not significantly perturbed by incubation with physiological concentrations of biliary salts (3, 9, 18mm), demonstrating that the vesicles are highly stable, corresponding to their biological function. However, the emergence of a narrow peak superimposed on the broad lineshape indicates that a small proportion of the membrane phospholipids has reached isotropic motion, which may correspond to external or internal micellar structures. Incubation with mixed micelles of fatty acids and taurochlorate show that long-chain fatty acids enhance the membrane-perturbing effect of taurocholate while short-chain, watersoluble fatty acids do not, suggesting a difference in the absorption mechanisms.     

Immuno-isolation and culture of biliary epithelial cells from normal human liver

Summary Biliary epithelial cells (BEC) lining the intra-hepatic biliary ducts are the site of damage in several immunologically mediated liver diseases. BEC are difficult to isolate since they represent only 5% of the total cell number in normal liver. In this communication, a novel method for their isolation from normal liver is presented using a monoclonal antibody (HEA125) with specificity for an epithelial cell surface glyco-protein reported to be expressed in liver only by biliary epithelium. By combining differential density centrifugation and immuno-magnetic separation using HEA125 pure BEC (10⁵ cells/g fresh tissue) were prepared routinely. These cells were maintained in culture for up to 4 weeks with significant increases in cell numbers. The ability to prepare BEC from human liver offers an opportunity to develop In Vitro models to investigate the aetiology of diseases in intra-hepatic biliary epithelium. EDITOR’S STATEMENT This is a novel application to purification of specific liver cell types directly from tissue. It is well-suited for rapid communication because of its novelty and potential utility to investigators.     

Mathematical modelling of runoff and material transport from drainage areas into recipient water bodies

This paper describes a set of mathematical models to calculate runoff, soil erosion and chemical substance yields for drainage areas. The models represent different degrees of complexity and details of describing hydrological and hydrochemical processes. The availability of initial information and the requirements of the task determine the choice of a model for each particular case. These models have been written as PC/AT programs, to enable their use by a wide range of specialists. The models have been tested in different physical and geographical conditions, e.g. in some small watersheds on the Karelian Isthmus, west of Lake Ladoga, and in experimental catchment areas located in the Valdai Hills area in the southern part of Lake Ladoga drainage area. In further applications the drainage area models have been combined with models of the recipient water body, to obtain a single model of a watershed-lake system. The results of tests have proved that the models can be used for evaluation, simulation and forecasting of the processes of rainfall and snowmelt runoff, infiltration, evaporation, water erosion and pollutant wash-off from drainage areas.     

Four fish species new to the Omo-Turkana basin,with comments on the distribution ofNemacheilus abyssinicus (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) in Ethiopia

Four fish species,Pollimyrus isidori (Mormyridae),Barbus paludinosus, Labeo forskalii (Cyprinidae), andNemacheilus abyssinicus (Balitoridae), new to the Omo-Turkana basin, were recorded from the Gojeb River, a tributary of the Omo River (south-western Ethiopia). Occurrence of the latter species in the upper reaches of the Blue Nile and of the Omo drainage substantiates the belonging of the upper parts of these water systems to the Abyssinian highlands ichthyofaunal province.     

Estimating regional carbon stocks and spatially covarying edaphic factors using soil maps at three scales

Most estimates of regional and global soil carbon stocks are based on extrapolations of mean soil C contents for broad categories of soil or vegetation types. Uncertainties exist in both the estimates of mean soil C contents and the area over which each mean should be extrapolated. Geographic information systems now permit spatially referenced estimates of soil C at finer scales of resolution than were previously practical. We compared estimates of total soil C stocks of the state of Maine using three methods: (1) multiplying the area of the state by published means of soil C for temperate forests and for Spodosols; (2) calculating areas of inclusions of soil taxa in the 1:5,000,000 FAO/UNESCO Soils Map of the World and multiplying those areas by selected mean carbon contents; and (3) calculating soil C for each soil series and map unit in the 1:250,000 State Soil Geographic Data Base (STATSGO) and summing these estimates for the entire state. The STATSGO estimate of total soil C was between 23% and 49% higher than the common coarse scale extrapolations, primarily because STATSGO included data on Histosols, which cover less than 5% of the area of the state, but which constitute over one-third of the soil C. Spodosols cover about 65% of the state, but contribute less than 39% of the soil C. Estimates of total soil C in Maine based on the FAO map agreed within 8% of the STATSGO estimate for one possible matching of FAO soil taxa with data on soil C, but another plausible matching overestimated soil C stocks. We also compared estimates from the 1:250,000 STATSGO database and from the 1:20,000 Soil Survey Geographic Data Base (SSURGO) for a 7.5 minute quadrangle within the state. SSURGO indicated 13% less total soil C than did STATSGO, largely because the attribute data on depths of soil horizons in SSURGO are more specific for this locality. Despite localized differences, the STATSGO database offers promise of scaling up county soil survey data to regional scales because it includes attribute data and estimates of areal coverage of C-rich inclusions within map units. The spatially referenced data also permit examination of covariation of soil C stocks with soil properties thought to affect stabilization of soil C. Clay content was a poor predictor of soil C in Maine, but drainage class covaried significantly with soil C across the state.     

Quantitative Detection of 15 Serum Bile Acid Metabolic Products by LC/MS/MS in the Diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

To determine 15 bile acid metabolic products in human serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and value their diagnostic outcome in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Serum from 20 healthy controls and 26 patients with PBC were collected and went LC/MS/MS analysis of 15 bile acid metabolic products. The test results were analyzed by bile acid metabolomics, and the potential biomarkers were screened and their diagnostic performance was judged by statistical methods such as principal component and partial least squares discriminant analysis and area under curve (AUC). 8 differential metabolites can be screened out: Deoxycholic acid (DCA), Glycine deoxycholic acid (GDCA), Lithocholic acid (LCA), Glycine ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), Taurolithocholic acid (TLCA), Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), Taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), Glycine chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA). The performance of the biomarkers was evaluated by the AUC, specificity and sensitivity. In conclusion, DCA, GDCA, LCA, GUDCA, TLCA, TUDCA, TDCA and GCDCA were identified as eight potential biomarkers to distinguish between healthy people and PBC patients by multivariate statistical analysis, which provided reliable experimental basis for clinical practice.     

经皮椎间孔镜手术不同入路治疗单节段腰椎间盘突出症疗效对比的回顾性研究

摘要 目的：对比经皮椎间孔镜手术不同入路治疗单节段腰椎间盘突出症（LDH）的疗效。方法：回顾性分析2018年5月至2020年5月我院收治的80例单节段LDH患者的临床资料。患者均接受经皮椎间孔镜手术,根据手术入路的不同,分为经椎间孔入路（PETD）组和经椎板间入路（PEID）组,每组均40例。比较两组的手术相关指标、术后恢复指标、手术前后的Oswestry功能障碍指数（ODI）和视觉模拟评分法（VAS）评分,以及术后并发症情况。结果：PEID组的手术时间短于PETD组,X线透视次数少于PETD组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组的术中出血量相比,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。PETD组的术后卧床时间短于PEID组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组的术后1 d直腿抬高试验角度、住院时间、复发率相比,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。两组患者术后1 d、术后3个月、术后12个月的ODI评分、VAS评分均低于术前,且呈降低趋势（P<0.05）;同一时间点两组间ODI评分、VAS评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。两组的并发症发生率相比,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：PETD和PEID经皮椎间孔镜手术治疗单节段LDH总体疗效和安全性接近,PETD可缩短术后卧床时间,PEID的操作难度更低、可减少手术时间和X线透视次数。临床中应视患者实际情况选择合适的入路。     

右美托咪定联合经皮穴位电刺激对混合痔剥扎术后患者肠胃功能及术后疼痛的影响

摘要 目的：探讨右美托咪定联合经皮穴位电刺激对混合痔剥扎术后患者肠胃功能及术后疼痛的影响。方法：选择2022年3月-2022年7月我院行混合痔剥扎术的患者60例,将60例患者随机分为对照组（30例）与观察组（30例）,对照组患者给予右美托咪定镇痛,观察组给予术前经皮穴位电刺激,时间为手术开始前2 min至手术结束,右美托咪定使用方法、剂量同对照组。对比两组患者术前、术后0.5 h、1 h、2 h、3 h的疼痛评分,对比两组患者的术后疼痛疗效,对比两组创面愈合时间、腐肉完全脱落时间、住院时间及胃肠功能恢复情况,对比两组术前、术后的血管活性肠肽、胃动素及胃泌素水平。结果：术前及术后3 h时,两组的疼痛评分对比无统计学意义（P>0.05）;术后0.5 h、1 h、2 h时,观察组的疼痛评分明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的术后疼痛有效率明显较对照组高,P<0.05。观察组的创面愈合时间、腐肉完全脱落时间及住院时间明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的肠鸣音恢复时间、术后恶心呕吐发生率及排气时间明显较对照组短（P<0.05）。术前,两组的血管活性肠肽、胃动素及胃泌素水平对比无统计学意义（P>0.05）;术后,两组血管活性肠肽、胃泌素水平升高,胃动素水平降低,且观察组变化幅度明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。结论：右美托咪定联合经皮穴位电刺激可改善混合痔剥扎术后患者肠胃功能及术后疼痛情况。     

Reducing acidic discharges from coastal wetlands in eastern Australia

Much of eastern Australia's coastal lowlands are underlain by Holocene sulfidic sediments. Large areas have been drained for agriculture. Drained, sulfidic sediments oxidize and produce highly acidic discharge (pH<4) with significant impacts on estuarine ecosystems. The rate of production of acid from drained floodplains is between 100 to 300 kg H₂SO₄ /ha/y and hundreds of tonnes of H₂SO₄ can be discharged in a single flood from the floodplain. Generation and export of acidity is controlled by the water balance of the floodplain, the characteristics of the drainage system and the distribution of sulfides. Evapotranspiration by native plants and crops plays a dominant role in the oxidation of sediments in dry periods. In wet periods, upland discharges to floodplains dominate the water balance. Drain spacing and drain depth are critical factors in the export of acidity into coastal streams. Amelioration of acidic outflows requires an understanding of the interaction between chemical and hydrological processes in sulfidic landscapes. Redesign of drainage systems to manage surface waters and reduce drain density with the treatment of drains with lime offer promise for treating acidic discharge and reducing impacts. Reflooding of drained, partially oxidized floodplains with freshwater may not be a panacea because of the large volumes of acid stored in the soil, a lack of labile organic matter in the sediments needed to reduce sulfate and irreversible changes to the soil due to oxidation. Tidal brackish water reflooding of unproductive acidified lowlands offers promise for rehabilitating wetlands. Sulfidic wetlands which are still undrained should remain so unless all acidic discharge can be treated.     

Mucin-associated T antigens in benign and malignant epithelium of the gall bladder,extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla of Vater

The mucin-associated antigens Tn, sialosyl-Tn (STn), T and sialosyl-T (STAg) antigens accumulate through aberrant and incomplete glycosylation in malignant epithelial cells. Their diagnostic and prognostic significance in tumours of the colon and cervix has been described, and a possible role for Tn antigen in cell-to-cell adhesion has been suggested. These antigens have been demonstrated through peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectin binding and more recently using specific monoclonal antisera. Differences between the two methods have been described, which may be due to fixation schedules and/or specificity. We have investigated the effect of fixation on the binding of biotinylated PNA lectin and compared its reactivity with the immunoreactivity of monoclonal antisera to Tn, STn, T and STAg antigens in benign and malignant epithelium of the gall bladder, extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla of Vater. We found that short-term fixation in formol sublimate resulted in poor PNA binding. All other tested fixation schedules showed strong perinuclear binding, similar to that found on cryostat sections. When compared with monoclonal antisera, PNA binding demonstrated the lowest specificity in benign epithelium. In both benign and malignant epithelium, the two methods cannot substitute for each other. STn and STAg antigens were found to be oncodevelopmental throughout the extrahepatic biliary tract. When used in a panel, they are useful as diagnostic markers of malignancy in gall bladder epithelium.