12种短命植物叶解剖结构及其对荒漠环境的适应性

以分布于新疆北部古尔班通古特沙漠南缘的12种短命植物为研究材料,采用常规石蜡切片法,对其叶的解剖结构进行了观察分析,探讨12种短命植物的叶解剖结构对荒漠生态环境的适应性关系。结果显示:(1)12种短命植物中,有8种植物的叶肉栅栏组织发达,表现出等面叶特征;有7种植物侧脉维管束具有花环状结构,表现出C4植物特点。(2)12种植物叶片均具有气孔下室,其中,小花荆芥等7种植物叶片具有发达的气孔下室。(3)12种植物叶肉及叶脉中常有晶体存在,晶体数量及大小在不同植物中有差异。研究认为,12种短命植物从总体上呈现出旱生结构特征,从个体角度看这些特征是不同类群的植物以不同方式适应沙漠干旱环境的结果,但不足以改变该类植物的中生性质。     

Splicing mutation of the prostacyclin synthase gene in a family associated with hypertension

Prostacyclin inhibits platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and vasoconstriction. The prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) gene is a candidate gene for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to locate possible mutations in the PGIS gene related to hypertension and cerebral infarction. Using the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method, we discovered a T to C transition at the +2 position of the splicing donor site of intron 9 in patients with essential hypertension (EH). In vitro expression analysis of an allelic minigene consisting of exons 8-10 revealed that the nucleotide transition causes skipping of exon 9. This in turn alters the translational reading frame of exon 10 and introduces a premature stop codon (TGA). A three-dimensional model shows that the splice site mutation produces a truncated protein with a deletion in the heme-binding region. This splice site mutation was found in only one subject in 200 EH patients and 200 healthy controls. Analysis of the patient's family members revealed the mutation in two of the three siblings. The urinary excretion of prostacyclin metabolites in subjects with the mutation was significantly decreased. All subjects displaying the splice site mutation in the PGIS gene were hypertensive. In this study, we report a novel splicing mutation in the PGIS gene, which is associated with hypertension in a family. It is thought that this mechanism may involve in the pathophysiology of their hypertension.     

Molecular Identification and In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Aspergillus Isolates Recovered from Otomycosis Patients in Western China

Mycopathologia - Aspergillus species are the most common causative agents involved in otomycosis. In this study, 45 Aspergillus isolates were obtained from patients with otomycosis in western China...