Functional design and prey capture dynamics in an ecologically generalized surfperch (Embiotocidae)

Kinematic and electromyographic analyses of prey capture in two species of surfperch (Embiotocidae) reveal differing abilities to modulate strike activity in response to different prey types. Both the black perch, Embiotoca jacksoni, and the shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata, demonstrate stereotyped and conserved neuromuscular and kinematic activity in suction feeding. A distinguishing anatomical trait in this family, the interopercular shelf, enhances the coupling of hyoid movement with mandibular depression. Analyses of variance suggest a preprogrammed motor output that is ballistically launched for suction generation, with the possibility of more plasticity in latter phases of the strike. While the trophically limited shiner perch displays a stereotyped repertoire of this one strike pattern, very small prey, larger conglomerates of these, and large distinct prey elicit three modulated patterns in the black perch. Functional characteristics that enable the ecologically generalized black perch to exploit a variety of prey types include energy–conserving modulatory ability, behavioural flexibility in utilizing a conserved suction–generating programme, and the addition of specialized winnowing and spitting activity.     

诱导神经再生治疗阿尔茨海默病的机制研究进展

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是一种以进行性认知障碍和记忆减退为主要特征的中枢神经退行性疾病,已经成为老年医学中最棘手的、亟待解决的问题之一. AD的病理机制仍不清楚,尚无特效治疗药物.目前,探索AD神经再生逐渐成为研究的热点领域,通过诱导神经再生可以有效地改善AD的症状.研究表明,运用药物、物理刺激或干细胞移植方法,可以提高大脑成体神经再生,是延缓AD的病理症状和认知障碍的有效治疗策略.本文综述诱导神经再生的方法及其治疗AD的作用机制,为神经再生治疗实施提供理论依据.     

反毒为药：精准控制河鲀毒素用作局部麻醉药的新进展

钠离子通道阻断剂河鲀毒素(TTX)是致命的毒素之一,却是极具价值的神经生物学和生理学等生命科学研究领域的工具药.近年来,越来越多的研究指出,TTX具有强大的局部麻醉潜能,有望成为替代氨基酯类和氨基酰胺类局部麻醉药、避免阿片类药物滥用的新型麻醉药物.本文综述TTX局部麻醉应用的辅助药物、TTX缓释及控释给药系统等相关研究,旨在为局部麻醉新药研发提供参考并探讨新的思路.     

Computational and Experimental Study of Performance of an Artificial Ligament: DacronTM yarn

Abstract

The success rate of reconstructing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) with prosthetic ligaments is currently low both in humans and animals. The stress distribution in prosthetic ligaments that causes failure is very complex and not yet understood. Therefore, we have begun to develop a Finite Element Model of a prosthetic ACL. Here we describe the normal and contact stresses in Dacron^TM yarn (a multi-fibrillar structure) using input data based on experimental measurements of the load and strain of six designed yarns.

The results show that the normal and contact stresses in the fibres of the ACL yarn are directly proportional to the yam strains. Increasing the twisting length (transverse deformation) of the yarn increases the normal stress in the fibres and the yarn modulus, but decreases the contact stresses between the fibres. The structural properties of a yarn are dependent on the specific arrangement of various filament types. Increasing the distance between the longitudinal (symmetry) axes of the filaments and the axis of symmetry of the yarn decreases the stresses.     

Synthesis and Activity Evaluation of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Inhibitors Based on 6‐(Pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole

Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common head and neck malignancy with high incidence in Southeast Asia and Southern China. It is necessary to develop safe, effective and inexpensive anticancer agents to improve the therapeutics of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A series of small molecular compounds based on 6‐(pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activities against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines SUNE1. Compounds 6b , 6c , 6e and 6l showed potent antiproliferative activities similar to positive control drug cisplatin in vitro with lower nephrotoxicity than it. N‐[4‐(1H‐Indazol‐6‐yl)pyrimidin‐2‐yl]benzene‐1,3‐diamine ( 6l ) was selected for further study. It was found that 6l induced mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis and G₂/M phase arrest in SUNE1 cells. Furthermore, compound 6l at 10 mg/kg can suppress the growth of an implanted SUNE1 xenograft with a TGI% (tumor growth inhibition) value of 50 % and did not cause serious side effects in BALB/c nude mice. This study suggests that 6‐(pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole derivatives are a series of small molecule compounds with anti‐nasopharyngeal carcinoma activities.