聚群与环境温度对黄毛鼠耗氧量的影响

黄毛鼠(Rattus losea)是我国长江以南分布极广的一种农林业重要害兽,也是南方恙虫病立克次体及钩端螺旋体的主要贮存宿主之一。林浩然等(1961)对黄毛鼠的某些生态研究中发现,该鼠在广东地区,秋冬季常有数只成鼠(6—7)同穴群居习性。1979—1980年,我们在浙江北部对黄毛鼠的生态作四季调查时,也发现此鼠于冬季有集群现象。但由于对黄毛鼠的生理生态还研究得很少,例如环境温度对黄毛鼠的影响怎样?聚群有何生理生态学方面的意义?因此本文试图着重探讨一下聚群与环境温度对黄毛鼠的能量代谢影响。     

Association of TLR2 and TLR4 Polymorphisms with Risk of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Backgrounds

The activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may be an important event in the immune evasion of tumor cell. Recently, numerous studies have investigated the associations between TLR2 −196 to −174 del and two SNPs of TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) and the susceptibility to different types of cancer; however, the results remain conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the association between TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms and cancer risk in a meta-analysis with eligible published studies.

Methodology/Principle Findings

A dataset composed of 14627 cases and 17438 controls from 34 publications were included in a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between overall cancer risk or cancer-specific risk and three SNPs of TLRs (TLR2 −196 to −174 del, TLR4 rs4986790 and rs4986791). The results showed that all of these three polymorphisms were significantly associated with the increased cancer risk (dominant model: OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.04–2.60 for TLR2 −196 to −174 del; OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01–1.41 for TLR4 rs4986790; and OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.120–1.80 for TLR4 rs4986791; respectively). In stratified analysis, we found the effect of TLR2 −196 to −174 del on cancer risk remained significant in the subgroup of Caucasians and South Asians, but not in East Asians. However, the association between rs4986791 and cancer risk was significant in both South Asians and East Asians, but not in Caucasians. Furthermore, the association between rs4986790 and cancer risk was statistically significant in digestive cancers (dominant model: OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.13–2.73) and female-specific cancers (dominant model: OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16–1.94). However, no significant association with risk of digestive system cancers was observed for TLR2 −196 to −174 del and TLR4 rs4986791.

Conclusions/Significance

This meta-analysis presented additional evidence for the association between TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Further well-designed investigations with large sample sizes are required to confirm this conclusion.     

Identification and characterization of Mini1, a gene regulating rice shoot development

The aerial parts of higher plants are generated from the shoot apical meristem(SAM). In this study, we isolated a small rice(Oryza sativa L.) mutant that showed premature termination of shoot development and was named mini rice 1(mini1). The mutant was first isolated from a japonica cultivar Zhonghua11(ZH11) subjected to ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS)treatment. With bulked segregant analysis(BSA) and map-based cloning method, Mini1 gene was finally fine-mapped to an interval of 48.6 kb on chromosome 9. Sequence analyses revealed a single base substitution from G to A was found in the region, which resulted in an amino acid change from Gly to Asp.The candidate gene Os09g0363900 was predicted to encode a putative adhesion of calyx edges protein ACE(putative HOTHEAD precursor) and genetic complementation experiment confirmed the identity of Mini1. Os09g0363900 contains glucose-methanol-choline(GMC) oxidoreductase and NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-like domain, and exhibits high similarity to Arabidopsis HOTHEAD(HTH). Expression analysis indicated Mini1 was highly expressed in young shoots but lowly in roots and the expression level of most genes involved in auxin biosynthesis and signal transduction were reduced in mutant.We conclude that Mini1 plays an important role in maintaining SAM activity and promoting shoot development in rice.     

Different Levels in Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption in Head and Neck Cancer Patients from 1957 to 2013

Objective

To provide a precise quantification of the association between alcohol and tobacco consumption trends in head and neck cancer patients over the past 45 years.

Methods

We combined findings from all studies published until March 2014 and evaluated the association between different levels in alcohol and tobacco consumption and head and neck cancers through a meta-analytic approach.

Results

We included 28 studies involving 13830 patients with head and neck cancer. In patients with alcohol consumption, the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.29(1.06-1.57), 2.67(2.05-3.48) and 6.63(5.02-8.74) for light drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers, respectively. In patients with tobacco consumption, the pooled OR and 95% CI were 2.33(1.84-2.95), 4.97(3.67-6.71) and 6.77(4.81-9.53) for light smokers, moderate smokers and heavy smokers, respectively.

Conclusion

The increased alcohol and tobacco consumption trends increased the risk of head and neck cancer over the past 45 years. Tobacco consumption was found to be a stronger risk factor for head and neck cancer than alcohol consumption. Thus, the control should be considered to limit the intake of alcohol and tobacco.     

Identification and characterization of NARROW AND ROLLED LEAF 1, a novel gene regulating leaf morphology and plant architecture in rice

Leaf morphology is an important agronomic trait in rice breeding. We isolated three allelic mutants of NARROW AND ROLLED LEAF 1 (nrl1) which showed phenotypes of reduced leaf width and semi-rolled leaves and different degrees of dwarfism. Microscopic analysis indicated that the nrl1-1 mutant had fewer longitudinal veins and smaller adaxial bulliform cells compared with the wild-type. The NRL1 gene was mapped to the chromosome 12 and encodes the cellulose synthase-like protein D4 (OsCslD4). Sequence analyses revealed single base substitutions in the three allelic mutants. Genetic complementation and over-expression of the OsCslD4 gene confirmed the identity of NRL1. The gene was expressed in all tested organs of rice at the heading stage and expression level was higher in vigorously growing organs, such as roots, sheaths and panicles than in elsewhere. In the mutant leaves, however, the expression level was lower than that in the wild-type. We conclude that OsCslD4 encoded by NRL1 plays a critical role in leaf morphogenesis and vegetative development in rice.     

水稻大粒种质资源和遗传分析

谷粒重量是构成产量的三要素之一, 对提高水稻产量具有重要意义。本文概述了国内外水稻大粒种质资源的现状, 同时对粒重基因遗传分析的研究进展进行了综述。粒重是一个受多基因控制的数量性状, 目前定位的粒重数量性状位点至少达89个、精细定位1个粒重基因gw3.1和１个长粒基因Lk-4(t)以及克隆1个粒重基因GS3, 并在此基础上讨论了粒重在育种上的应用。