Meteorological factors are associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Jiaonan County,China, 2006–2011

This study examined the effect of meteorological factors on the occurrence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) using a generalized additive model with penalized smoothing splines in Jiaonan, China, from 2006 to 2011. The dose–response relationship was first examined, and then the association between daily meteorological variables and HFRS occurrence was investigated according to the dose–response curves. There were two linear segments in the temperature–HFRS relationship curve. When daily temperature was lower than 17 °C, a positive association was found [with excessive risk (ER) for 1 °C increase on the current day being 2.56 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.36 % to 4.80 %]. An inverse association was found when daily temperature was higher than 17 °C [ER for 1 °C increase on the current day was ?12.82 % (95 % CI: ?17.51 % to ?7.85 %)]. Inverse associations were observed for relative humidity [ER for 1 % increase on lag day 4 was ?1.21 % (95 % CI: ?1.63 % to ?0.79 %)] and rainfall [ER for 1 mm increase on lag day 1 was ?2.20 % (95 % CI: ?3.56 % to ?0.82 %)]. Meteorological factors might be important predictor of HFRS epidemics in Jiaonan County.     

Alteration of Striatal Dopamine Levels Under Various Partial Pressure of Oxygen in Pre-convulsive and Convulsive Phases in Freely-Moving rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in the striatal dopamine (DA) level in freely-moving rat exposed to different partial pressure of oxygen (from 1 to 5 ATA). Some works have suggested that DA release by the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons in the striatum could be disturbed by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure, altering therefore the basal ganglia activity. Such changes could result in a change in glutamatergic and GABAergic control of the dopaminergic neurons into the SNc. Such alterations could provide more information about the oxygen-induced seizures observed at 5 ATA in rat. DA-sensitive electrodes were implanted into the striatum under general anesthesia. After 1 week rest, awaked rats were exposed to oxygen–nitrogen mixture at a partial pressure of oxygen of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ATA. DA level was monitored continuously (every 3 min) by in vivo voltammetry before and during HBO exposure. HBO induced a decrease in DA level in relationship to the increase in partial pressure of oxygen from 1 ATA to 4 ATA (?15 % at 1 ATA, ?30 % at 2 ATA, ?40 % at 3 ATA, ?45 % at 4 ATA), without signs of oxygen toxicity. At 5 ATA, DA level strongly decreases (?75 %) before seizure which occurred after 27 min ± 7 HBO exposure. After the epileptic seizure the decrease in DA level disappeared. These changes and the biphasic effect of HBO were discussed in function of HBO action on neurochemical regulations of the nigro striatal pathway.     

北京市大气细颗粒污染物与老年呼吸系统疾病急诊就医关系的病例交叉研究

目的:探讨北京市大气细颗粒污染物对呼吸系统疾病急诊的影响。方法:收集2013年3月-2014年3月解放军305医院以及西三环的总参军训部北京第八干休所门诊部的临床病例急诊数据、北京市环境监测中心的大气细颗粒污染物和气象条件数据资料,应用病例交叉设计研究方法进行数据分析。结果:在控制气温、相对湿度的影响后,单向回顾性1:1配对病例交叉分析结果显示,滞后0天细颗粒物污染对慢性支气管炎、哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病急诊影响的OR值最大,细颗粒物日平均浓度每升高10μg/m3,对应的OR值分别为1.032、1.033、1.035。结论:该研究区域内大气细颗粒物污染物浓度升高可以导致呼吸系统疾病相关的慢性支气管炎、哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病疾病的急诊增加。     

Variation in mortality of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in relation to high temperature

Outdoor temperature has been reported to have a significant influence on the seasonal variations of stroke mortality, but few studies have investigated the effect of high temperature on the mortality of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The main study goal was to examine the effect of temperature, particularly high temperature, on ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We investigated the association between outdoor temperature and stroke mortality in four metropolitan cities in Korea during 1992–2007. We used time series analysis of the age-adjusted mortality rate for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke deaths by using generalized additive and generalized linear models, and estimated the percentage change of mortality rate associated with a 1°C increase of mean temperature. The temperature-responses for the hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke mortality differed, particularly in the range of high temperature. The estimated percentage change of ischemic stroke mortality above a threshold temperature was 5.4 % (95 % CI, 3.9–6.9 %) in Seoul, 4.1 % (95 % CI, 1.6–6.6 %) in Incheon, 2.3 % (?0.2 to 5.0 %) in Daegu and 3.6 % (0.7–6.6 %) in Busan, after controlling for daily mean humidity, mean air pressure, day of the week, season, and year. Additional adjustment of air pollution concentrations in the model did not change the effects. Hemorrhagic stroke mortality risk significantly decreased with increasing temperature without a threshold in the four cities after adjusting for confounders. These findings suggest that the mortality of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes show different patterns in relation to outdoor temperature. High temperature was harmful for ischemic stroke but not for hemorrhagic stroke. The risk of high temperature to ischemic stroke did not differ by age or gender.     

Temperature preferences of the mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus, and the collembolan, Cryptopygus antarcticus from the maritime Antarctic

Abstract. The thermal preferences of Alaskozetes antarcticus (Acari, Cryptostigmata) and Cryptopygus antarcticus (Collembola, Isotomidae) were investigated over 6 h within a temperature gradient (?3 to +13 °C), under 100% relative humidity (RH) conditions. After 10 days of acclimation at ?2 or +11 °C, individual supercooling points (SCP) and thermopreferences were assessed, and compared with animals maintained for 10 days under fluctuating field conditions (?6 to +7 °C). Acclimation at ?2 °C lowered the mean SCP of both A. antarcticus (?24.2 ± 9.1) and C. antarcticus (?14.7 ± 7.7) compared to field samples (?19.0 ± 9.0 and ?10.7 ± 5.2, respectively). Acclimation at +11 °C increased A. antarcticus mean SCP values (?13.0 ± 8.5) relative to field samples, whereas those of C. antarcticus again decreased (?16.7 ± 9.1). Mites acclimated under field conditions or at +11 °C selected temperatures between ?3 and +1 °C. After acclimation at ?2 °C, both species preferred +1 to +5 °C. Cryptopygus antarcticus maintained under field conditions preferred +5 to +9 °C, whereas individuals acclimated at +11 °C selected +9 to +13 °C. For A. antarcticus, thermopreference was not influenced by its cold hardened state. The distribution of field specimens was further assessed within two combined temperature and humidity gradient systems: (i) 0–3 °C/12% RH, 3–6 °C/33% RH, 6–9 °C/75% RH and 9–12 °C/100% RH and (ii) 0–3 °C/100% RH, 3–6 °C/75% RH, 6–9 °C/33% RH and 9–12 °C/12% RH. In gradient (i), C. antarcticus distributed homogeneously, but, in gradient (ii), C. antarcticus preferred 0–3 °C/100% RH. Alaskozetes antarcticus selected temperatures between 0 and +6 °C regardless of RH conditions. Cryptopygus antarcticus appears better able than A. antarcticus to opportunistically utilize developmentally favourable thermal microclimates, when moisture availability is not restricted. The distribution of A. antarcticus appears more influenced by temperature, especially during regular freeze‐thaw transitions, when this species may select low temperature microhabitats to maintain a cold‐hardened state.     

Improvement of expression level of keratinase Sfp2 from Streptomyces fradiae by site-directed mutagenesis of its N-terminal pro-sequence

The keratinase Sfp2, produced by Streptomyces fradiae var. k11, is a serine alkaline protease first synthesized as pre-pro-mature precursor, of which the N-terminal propeptide must be autocatalytically cleaved on the C-terminal of P1 amino acid to produce mature enzyme. Single amino acid substitutions were introduced at positions ?1 and ?2 to improve the expression level of mature Sfp2. The specific activity of L(?1)F mutant (48935 U/mg) was nine times that of wild-type Sfp2, whereas the mutants L(?1)D, L(?1)G, L(?1)H, K(?2)E, and K(?2)L had 2–52 % of the specific activity of wild-type. The yield of mature Sfp2 of L(?1)F mutant was estimated to be 800 μg/mg total protein and 112 mg/l culture supernatant, nine and twice that of wild-type, respectively. The L(?1)F mutant exhibited similar enzymatic properties to wild-type.     

Effects of isotonic and isometric exercises with mist sauna bathing on cardiovascular,thermoregulatory, and metabolic functions

To clarify the effects of isometric and isotonic exercise during mist sauna bathing on the cardiovascular function, thermoregulatory function, and metabolism, six healthy young men (22?±?1 years old, height 173?±?4 cm, weight 65.0?±?5.0 kg) were exposed to a mist sauna for 10 min at a temperature of 40 °C, and relative humidity of 100 % while performing or not performing ～30 W of isometric or isotonic exercise. The effect of the exercise was assessed by measuring tympanic temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, chest sweat rate, chest skin blood flow, and plasma catecholamine and cortisol, glucose, lactate, and free fatty acid levels. Repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant differences in blood pressure, skin blood flow, sweat rate, and total amount of sweating. Tympanic temperature increased more during isotonic exercise, and heart rate increase was more marked during isotonic exercise. The changes in lactate indicated that fatigue was not very great during isometric exercise. The glucose level indicated greater energy expenditure during isometric exercise. The free fatty acid and catecholamine levels indicated that isometric exercise did not result in very great energy expenditure and stress, respectively. The results for isotonic exercise of a decrease in lactate level and an increase in plasma free fatty acid level indicated that fatigue and energy expenditure were rather large while the perceived stress was comparatively low. We concluded that isotonic exercise may be a more desirable form of exercise during mist sauna bathing given the changes in glucose and free fatty acid levels.     

Estrogen rescues heart failure through estrogen receptor Beta activation

Background

Recently, we showed that exogenous treatment with estrogen (E2) rescues pre-existing advanced heart failure (HF) in mice. Since most of the biological actions of E2 are mediated through the classical estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and/or beta (ERβ), and both these receptors are present in the heart, we examined the role of ERα and ERβ in the rescue action of E2 against HF.

Methods

Severe HF was induced in male mice by transverse aortic constriction-induced pressure overload. Once the ejection fraction (EF) reached ~?35%, mice were treated with selective agonists for ERα (PPT, 850 μg/kg/day), ERβ (DPN, 850 μg/kg/day), or E2 (30 μg/kg/day) together with an ERβ-antagonist (PHTPP, 850 μg/kg/day) for 10 days.

Results

EF of HF mice was significantly improved to 45.3?±?2.1% with diarylpropionitrile (DPN) treatment, but not with PPT (31.1?±?2.3%). E2 failed to rescue HF in the presence of PHTPP, as there was no significant improvement in the EF at the end of the 10-day treatment (32.5?±?5.2%). The improvement of heart function in HF mice treated with ERβ agonist DPN was also associated with reduced cardiac fibrosis and increased cardiac angiogenesis, while the ERα agonist PPT had no significant effect on either cardiac fibrosis or angiogenesis. Furthermore, DPN improved hemodynamic parameters in HF mice, whereas PPT had no significant effect.

Conclusions

E2 treatment rescues pre-existing severe HF mainly through ERβ. Rescue of HF by ERβ activation is also associated with stimulation of cardiac angiogenesis, suppression of fibrosis, and restoration of hemodynamic parameters.

     

Antioxidant and hypolipidaemic properties of red seaweed,Gracilaria changii

The edible red seaweed, Gracilaria changii, was collected from the coastal area of Sarawak, Malaysia, and evaluated for its hypolipidaemic properties using high cholesterol/high fat (HF) induced male Sprague–Dawley rats. In the in vivo study, the HF diet group showed significantly higher total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), atherogenic index (AI) and body weight gain as compared to other treatment groups. At the end of treatment period, rats fed with a HF diet supplemented with 5 % freeze-dried G. changii powder had significantly reduced plasma TC (?39.19 %), LDL-C (?36.36 %), and triglycerides (TG) content (? 25.45 %). Meanwhile, 10 % seaweed powder significantly lowered the plasma TC, LDL-C and TG content by ?40.34, ?35.95 and ?30.91 % respectively, compared to the HF group. The AI of rats supplemented with 10 % seaweed powder was the lowest among the treatment groups and indicates a lowered risk for cardiovascular diseases. The plasma lipid peroxidation of the seaweed powder-fed groups was also significantly lower than the HF group, while the erythrocyte enzyme antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase of the treatment groups were also improved. Diets supplemented with seaweed powder also decreased plasma aspartate aminotransferase and the alanine aminotransferase levels.     

Assessment of daytime outdoor comfort levels in and outside the urban area of Glasgow,UK

To understand thermal preferences and to define a preliminary outdoor comfort range for the local population of Glasgow, UK, an extensive series of measurements and surveys was carried out during 19 monitoring campaigns from winter through summer 2011 at six different monitoring points in pedestrian areas of downtown Glasgow. For data collection, a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, cup anemometer with wind vane, silicon pyranometer and globe thermometer was employed. Predictions of the outdoor thermal index PET (physiologically equivalent temperature) correlated closely to the actual thermal votes of respondents. Using concurrent measurements from a second Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station placed in a rural setting approximately 15 km from the urban area, comparisons were drawn with regard to daytime thermal comfort levels and urban–rural temperature differences (?T_u-r) for the various sites. The urban sites exhibited a consistent lower level of thermal discomfort during daytime. No discernible effect of urban form attributes in terms of the sky-view factor were observed on ?T_u-r or on the relative difference of the adjusted predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD*).     

Pneumococcal and chlamydial infections in a closed community

An epidemic outbreak of acute respiratory infection (295 patients) in an organized group of young people was observed in December-May 1997-1998. Pneumococcal etiology was established by means of indirect immunofluorescence reaction in cases of outpatient pneumonia (81.9%), acute bronchitis (80%) and acute respiratory diseases (92.5%). Respiratory chlamydiosis caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected in enzyme immunoassay with the use of immunoComb Chlamydia Bivalent IgG in patients with pneumonia (66.7%), acute bronchitis (60%) and acute respiratory diseases (50%). Synergic relationship between pneumococcal and chlamydial infections was noted.     

When is pneumonia not pneumonia: a clinicopathologic study of the utility of lung tissue biopsies in determining the suitability of cadaveric tissue for donation

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) represents a major diagnostic challenge because of the relatively low sensitivity and specificity of clinical criteria, radiological findings, and microbiologic culture results. It is often difficult to distinguish between pneumonia, underlying pulmonary disease, or conditions with pulmonary complications; this is compounded by the often-subjective clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. We conducted this study to determine the utility of post-mortem lung biopsies for diagnosing pneumonia in tissue donors diagnosed with pneumonia prior to death. Subjects were deceased patients who had been hospitalized at death and diagnosed with pneumonia. Post-mortem lung biopsies were obtained from the anatomic portion of the cadaveric lung corresponding to chest radiograph abnormalities. Specimens were fixed, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and read by a single board-certified pathologist. Histological criteria for acute pneumonia included intense neutrophilic infiltration, fibrinous exudates, cellular debris, necrosis, or bacteria in the interstitium and intra-alveolar spaces. Of 143 subjects with a diagnosis of pneumonia at time of death, 14 (9.8 %) had histological evidence consistent with acute pneumonia. The most common histological diagnoses were emphysema (53 %), interstitial fibrosis (40 %), chronic atelectasis (36 %), acute and chronic passive congestion consistent with underlying cardiomyopathy (25 %), fibro-bullous disease (12 %), and acute bronchitis (11 %). HCAP represents a major diagnostic challenge because of the relatively low sensitivity and specificity of clinical criteria, radiological findings, and microbiologic testing. We found that attending physician-diagnosed pneumonia did not correlate with post-mortem pathological diagnosis. We conclude that histological examination of cadaveric lung tissue biopsies enables ascertainment or rule out of underlying pneumonia and prevents erroneous donor deferrals.     

Impact of Temperature on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Lanzhou Based on the Distributed Lag Model

The study mainly analyzed the relationship between temperature and the upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in Lanzhou. We collected the daily URI and meteorological data from 2010 to 2015. A distributed lag non-linear model was used to examine the relationship and potential effects of different temperatures and different lag days on the morbidity of URI. The results showed that the morbidity of URI was significantly related to the meteorological factors, and the peak of the onset of the disease usually occurred between November and February the next year. The correlation analysis was carried out between meteorological factors and URI cases, and the result revealed that the daily morbidity of URI in Lanzhou was related to air temperature, air pressure, and wind speed. The exposure effect curve of average daily temperature to different sex and different age groups in Lanzhou displayed an M-shaped. Temperature had a certain lag effect on the daily morbidity of URI. For low temperature, it appeared on the present day, and the maximum impact appeared at lag 2 days and persisted for 12 days. The female was more vulnerable than the male, and the impact was obvious in teenagers and the elderly and not obvious in adult. Meteorological factors play an important role in the occurrence of URI in Lanzhou, but the main factor is low temperature. Temperature can trigger the morbidity of URI directly; it can induce various symptoms of URI (such as cold, sore throat and rhinitis) and directly affect the distribution of URI in the population.     

Separation of root and heterotrophic respiration within soil respiration by trenching, root biomass regression, and root excising methods in a cool-temperate deciduous forest in Japan

Trenching (Tr), root biomass regression (RR), and root excising (RE) methods were used to estimate the contribution of root (RR) and heterotrophic (HR) respiration to soil respiration (SR) in a cool-temperate deciduous forest in central Japan. The contribution ratios of RR to SR were 23 % (?16 to 46 %), 11 % (?19 to 61 %), and 115 % (20 to 393 %), as estimated by the Tr, RR, and RE methods, respectively. The contribution ratio showed clear seasonal variation with high values in summer for the Tr method, while they were undetectable for the RR and RE methods because of some methodological problems. These results suggest the Tr method is the best of the three methods used to estimate the contribution ratio of RR and HR to SR in the forest. Annual SR, RR, and HR rates, estimated by the Tr method, were 479, 369, 110 gC m^?2 year^?1, respectively. The seasonal variation of SR was mainly influenced by HR (77 %) throughout the year, while the influence of RR on SR was strongest in summer (46 %). This effect occurred because RR (Q ₁₀ = 7.5) is more sensitive to temperature than HR (Q ₁₀ = 3.2). Also, the contribution of fine RR to total RR was higher than that of coarse RR because of high respiratory activity (Q ₁₀ and R ₁₀) as well as the large biomass of fine roots. These results suggest that each component of SR responds differently to the same environmental factors and their relative influence on SR changes across the seasons.     

An in vitro evaluation of the effects of a Yucca schidigera extract and chestnut tannins on composition and metabolic profiles of canine and feline faecal microbiota

The in vitro effect of a Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) and tannins from chestnut wood on composition and metabolic activity of canine and feline faecal microbiota was evaluated. Four treatments were carried out: control diet, chestnut tannins (CT), YSE and CT + YSE. The YSE was added to canine and feline faecal cultures at 0.1 g/l, while CT were added at 0.3 g/l for a 24-h incubation. A total of 130 volatile compounds were detected by means of headspace-solid phase microextraction gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. Several changes in the metabolite profiles of fermentation fluids were found, including a decrease of alcohols (?19%) and esters (?42%) in feline and canine inoculum, respectively, which was due to the antibacterial properties of tannins. In canine inoculum, after 6 h, YSE + CT caused lower cadaverine concentrations (?37%), while ammonia (?4%) and quinolone (?27%) were reduced by addition of CT. After 24 h, the presence of CT resulted in a decrease of sulphur compounds, such as dimethyl sulphide (?69%) and dimethyl disulphide (?20%). In feline faecal cultures, after 6 h, CT lowered the amount of indole (?48%), whereas YSE tended to decrease trimethylamine levels (?16%). Both in canine and feline inoculum, addition of CT and, to a minor extent, YSE affected volatile fatty acids patterns. In canine faecal cultures, CT exerted a marginal inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli population (?0.45 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml), while enterococci were increased (+2.06 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml) by YSE. The results from the present study show that YSE and tannins from chestnut wood exert different effects on the composition and metabolism of canine and feline faecal microbiota. In particular, the supplementation of YSE and tannins to diets for dogs and cats may be beneficial due to the reduction of the presence of some potentially toxic volatile metabolites in the animals’ intestine.     

Hydrological Variation and Fish Assemblage Structure in the Middle Wabash River

We assessed the effect of a severe drought in 1999 upon stream morphology and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in seven headwater streams in the Greenbrier and Potomac River watersheds, West Virginia. During the drought, stream discharge was 96% lower than in years of normal precipitation. As a result, habitat availability and quality over all study streams was significantly lower. Riffle area was greatly reduced (?54%) relative to available pool area (?2%). Fine sediment levels (<0.063 mm) significantly increased within spawning substrate (p=0.01). Water temperature and dissolved oxygen were adequate (mean 15.8?°C, >6.0 mg l^?1, respectively) for brook trout survival in all streams during the drought. Brook trout populations were significantly reduced (adult 60%, Young-of-the-year 67%), and individual fish had significantly lower body condition during the drought relative to the post-drought period. Reductions in brook trout density and population condition during, and in the-post drought period, were related to spatially-limited food resources and/or increased fine sediment levels, but not to degraded water quality. Fisheries managers should consider the effect of periodic drought on brook trout populations and consider short-term harvest restrictions to abet recovery after such stochastic events.     

Response of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) to varying temperature and relative humidity under laboratory conditions

The effect of temperature and relative humidity were determined on the development of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on stored bean (Vigna unguiculata) seeds exposed to five temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) and six relative humidity levels (40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90%). Oviposition and total adult progeny responded in a curvilinear pattern to temperature and relative humidity while developmental period presented a linear response. Egg laying (117.33 ± 3.21) and adult emergence (35.00 ± 1.70) were least at 20 °C and 90% R.H. but those showed the optimal values at 30 °C and 70% R.H. The implication of these findings is that the growth attributes of C. maculatus relate with the weather variables studied in a curvilinear manner and thus quadratic equations generated could be used for the prediction of optimum temperature and relative humidity in a given area for the management of C. maculatus in stored beans.