Advanced sub social behaviour in the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes Brunner (Arachnida)

Scorpions arc generally non-social, solitary animals that interact with conspecifics at birth, courtship or predation only. The present study reports the presence of advanced sub social behaviour inHeterometrus fulvipes Brunner and evaluates the importance of its burrowing as a cause for such social behaviour.Heterometrus fulvipes constructed deep angular burrows at the base of plants. Burrows provided (i) protection against predation, (ii) increased availability of food and (iii) ideal microclimate for year round activity of the scorpions. No cannibalism was observed in laboratory maintained colonies. The risk of predation and the difficult by immatures to dig tunnels during dry soil conditions may have forced the mother and offspring to live together in the burrow for longer durations. The cohabitation of relative offsprings transforms the burrow into a nest. The members of a colony exhibits division of labour for nest expansion and in foraging. The mother communicates with the immatures through “Buzz” sound and may provide premasticated food. There is food sharing also among colony members. All these behaviours indicate the presence of advanced sub social behaviour inHeterometrus fulvipes.     

The ultrastructure of hemocytopoietic organs in the desert scorpion, Paruroctonus

The light and electron microscopes were used to examine possible hemocytopoietic tissue in the desert scorpion, Paruroctonus mesaensis. Results agree with earlier light microscopic studies that cells are released into the blood from the two lateral lymphoid organs and the supraneural gland. The former are sacciform structures attached by their anterior ends to the diaphragm. The supraneural gland forms the thickened wall of the supraneural artery in the mesosoma from the first to the third abdominal ganglia. The lateral lymphoid glands have an acellular stroma in which are embedded granular and agranular cells. The stroma is apparently formed by specialized cells which release membranous cell fragments that become the matrix of the gland. Cells are released into the body cavity from the periphery of the two organs. The supraneural gland has a fibrous stroma in which are embedded a variety of cell types. The cells appear to be released in greatest abundance into the blood in the lumen of the gland. The gland has cells with opaque granules (0.9-1.4 micron diameter) and agranular cells of variable shape. The most abundant cell, possibly the stem-cell for the others, is about 10 micron diameter and often has processes of variable length. In addition, muscle cells at various stages of differentiation are found at the inner margin of the gland. These cells have thick and thin myofilaments (24-32 and 5-8 nm diameter) and dense bodies which sometimes become organized into sarcomeres with Z-bands before the cells are released into the gland lumen. The function of these muscle cells is unknown, but possibly they contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure and the release of cells into the blood from the inner margin of the gland.     

Neurosecretory cells in the circadian-clock system of the scorpion,Androctonus australis

Summary The somata of the efferent neurosecretory fibers that control the circadian sensitivity rhythm in the median eyes of the scorpion, Androctonus australis, were detected in the brain by retrograde labeling with Lucifer Yellow CH. A total of 20–40 neurons are arranged in two groups displaying a bilaterally symmetrical, marginal position near the circumesophageal connectives. Half the cells in each group send fibers into the ipsilateral optic nerve; the fibers from the other half enter the contralateral optic nerve.     

象皮生肌膏对肛瘘术后创面修复及PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路的影响

摘要 目的：探究象皮生肌膏对肛瘘切除术后大鼠创面的治疗作用及其与PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路的相关性。方法：将SD雄性大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、象皮生肌膏组、湿润烧伤膏组,共4组,每组10只。4组均采用0号钢丝制造肛瘘模型,造模成功后,除假手术组外,均在麻醉下行肛瘘切除术,创面保持开放,使之形成"开放、渗血、渗液、有脓性分泌物"的感染性肛瘘术后创面,假手术组保留瘘管,不予换药,模型组予以生理盐水冲洗、络合碘消毒后不予换药,治疗组分别予以相应药物进行创面换药,共10天。10天后采用常规面积检测法比较模型组、象皮生肌膏组、湿润烧伤膏组大鼠肛瘘术后创面的创面愈合率及创面肉芽组织覆盖率;HE染色观察各组大鼠肛周组织病理情况;ELISA检测各组大鼠血清中bFGF、EGF、VEGF的表达水平,WB检测比较各组大鼠肛周肉芽组织中PI3K、Akt、mTOR、p70 S6K、p-PI3K（S473）、p-AKT（S473）、p-mTOR（Ser2448）、p-p70 S6K的蛋白表达水平。结果：与模型组比较,治疗第3、7、10天象皮生肌膏组和湿润烧伤膏组的创面愈合率及创面肉芽组织填充率显著升高（P＜0.01）。病理切片显示,假手术组炎性细胞浸润较少,其余各组均可见不同程度的炎性细胞浸润,且创面区可见不同程度炎性修复型肉芽组织增生、胶原纤维新生及血管扩张;其中模型组病理切片显示大量炎性细胞浸润,血管扩张明显,并有明显的血管出血;象皮生肌膏组病理切片显示炎性细胞较少,成纤维细胞成熟且分布整齐,真皮层内胶原纤维丰富且排列整齐,可见血管新生,无明显血管扩张及出血;湿润烧伤膏组病理切片显示少量炎性细胞浸润及血管扩张,真皮层内可见成纤维细胞生成。ELISA检测结果显示,与假手术组比较,模型组血清中bFGF、EGF、VEGF的含量显著降低（P＜0.01）;与模型组比较,象皮生肌膏组血清中bFGF、EGF、VEGF的含量显著升高（P＜0.01）,湿润烧伤膏组大鼠血清中EGF、VEGF的含量显著升高（P＜0.01）。WB检测结果显示,与假手术组比较,模型组肛周组织中p-PI3K、p-Akt 、p-mTOR、p-p70 S6K蛋白表达显著降低（P<0.01）;与模型组比较,象皮生肌膏组肛周组织中p-PI3K、p-Akt 、p-mTOR、p-p70 S6K蛋白表达显著升高（P<0.05）。结论：象皮生肌膏能有效促进肛瘘术后创面修复,减轻肛瘘术后创面炎症反应,促进创面肉芽生长,其促愈机制可能与PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路相关蛋白表达有关,其通过上调PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路相关蛋白激活PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路,进而加快创面修复进程。     

盐酸米诺环素软膏辅助龈下刮治术及根面平整术对慢性牙周炎患者龈下牙周致病菌和龈沟液炎性因子的影响

目的:探讨盐酸米诺环素软膏辅助龈下刮治术及根面平整术(FM-SRP)对慢性牙周炎(CP)患者龈下牙周致病菌和龈沟液炎性因子的影响。方法:选择2015年10月到2019年10月期间我院收治的82例CP患者,根据随机数字表法分为对照组(n=41)和观察组(n=41),对照组给予FM-SRP,观察组在对照组基础上联合盐酸米诺环素软膏辅助治疗,比较两组疗效、牙周指标、龈下牙周致病菌和龈沟液炎性因子情况,统计两组不良反应情况。结果:与对照组总有效率70.73%(29/41)相比,观察组治疗后的总有效率90.24%(37/41)更高(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组龈沟出血指数(SBI)、附着水平(AL)、菌斑指数(PLI)、牙周袋深度(PD)均下降,且观察组低于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)、白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)均下降,且观察组低于对照组(P<0.05)。对比两组不良反应无差异(P>0.05)。治疗后,两组伴防线杆菌、牙龈卟啉单胞菌比例均下降,且观察组低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:盐酸米诺环素软膏辅助FM-SRP治疗CP患者,可有效消除致病菌,缓解炎性反应,恢复牙周生态平衡,且不增加不良反应发生率,疗效确切。     

[des-Arg1]-Proctolin: A novel NEP-like enzyme inhibitor identified in Tityus serrulatus venom

The scorpion Tityus serrulatus venom comprises a complex mixture of molecules that paralyzes and kills preys, especially insects. However, venom components also interact with molecules in humans, causing clinic envenomation. This cross-interaction may result from homologous molecular targets in mammalians and insects, such as (NEP)-like enzymes. In face of these similarities, we searched for peptides in Tityus serrulatus venom using human NEP as a screening tool. We found a NEP-inhibiting peptide with the primary sequence YLPT, which is very similar to that of the insect neuropeptide proctolin (RYLPT). Thus, we named the new peptide [des-Arg¹]-proctolin. Comparative NEP activity assays using natural substrates demonstrated that [des-Arg¹]-proctolin has high specificity for NEP and better inhibitory activity than proctolin. To test the initial hypothesis that molecular homologies allow Tityus serrulatus venom to act on both mammal and insect targets, we investigated the presence of a NEP-like in cockroaches, the main scorpion prey, that could be likewise inhibited by [des-Arg¹]-proctolin. Indeed, we detected a possible NEP-like in a homogenate of cockroach heads whose activity was blocked by thiorphan and also by [des-Arg¹]-proctolin. Western blot analysis using a human NEP monoclonal antibody suggested a NEP-like enzyme in the homogenate of cockroach heads. Our study describes for the first time a proctolin-like peptide, named [des-Arg¹]-proctolin, isolated from Tityus serrulatus venom. The tetrapeptide inhibits human NEP activity and a NEP-like activity in a cockroach head homogenate, thus it may play a role in human envenomation as well as in the paralysis and death of scorpion preys.     

长脉冲1064nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效观察

目的观察长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效。方法 将73例甲真菌病门诊患者随机分为两组:联合组(37例,病甲75个)采用长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗;对照组(36例,病甲87个)单纯使用激光治疗。每周1次,连续治疗8周,治疗6个月后随访评估。比较两种方法治疗甲真菌病的临床有效率,观察1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病患者的临床疗效。结果 联合组治疗甲真菌病的总的临床有效率(74.67%)高于对照组(63.22%),3种临床类型在联合组的临床有效率均高于对照组,尤其近端甲下型(PSO)的临床有效率明显提高,但差异无统计学意义;当9≤SCIO≤15时,联合组治疗甲真菌病的临床有效率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义。结论 对于9≤SCIO≤15的甲真菌病患者,长脉冲1064 nm激光联合酮康唑软膏封包病甲治疗甲真菌病的临床疗效显著高于单纯激光治疗。     

Acclimatory responses in enzymatic activity and metabolite concentrations in the tropical scorpion Heterometrus fulvipes

1. 1.|Changes in tissue metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities in the pedipalpal (PM) and heart (HM) muscles of the tropical scorpion Heterometrus fulvipes show that the metabolism in PM and HM is fundamentally reorganized following low (18°C) and high (38°C) temperature acclimation.

2. 2.|Changes in metabolite concentrations show that metabolite biosynthesis showed increases after cold acclimation but decreases after warm acclimation.

3. 3.|Similarly, changes in enzyme activities show a preponderance of glycolysis and HMP shunt activity after cold acclimation, while after warm acclimation glycogenolysis, oxidative metabolism and gluconeogenesis predominated.

4. 4.|Higher metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities both before and after thermal acclimation in HM reflect its greater compensatory abilities.

具有中等毒性的马氏钳蝎神经毒素的纯化和初步晶体学研究

运用柱层析技术对产自淅川和常德的马氏钳蝎毒素进行分离纯化,得到８种哺乳动物神经毒素。运用制备型等电聚焦电泳技术,对常德样品中具有中等毒性的蝎神经毒素（ＢｍＫ５）进一步纯化,获得了高纯度样品。两个产地的蝎毒素ＢｍＫ５均已经成功地获得了大晶体。空间群均为Ｐ２１２１２１,晶胞参数分别为：ａ＝３８．４６埃,ｂ＝３７．２８埃,ｃ＝３６．９７埃（淅川）;ａ＝３８．４４埃,ｂ＝３７．５５埃,ｃ＝３６．８３埃（常德）。对两个产地的晶体分别收集了２．１埃（淅川）和１．６２埃（常德）分辨率的衍射数据。