核酸诊断技术规范化的研究

针对PCR技术应用中的一些问题,从下述几方面开展了核酸诊断技术标准化的研究:①探讨了设计引物的影响因素,发现根据同一基因设计的不同引物对PCR敏感性影响较大,可相差20倍,进一步研究表明,引物的自由能,尤其是引物3'端6个碱基的自由能可能决定着PCR的敏感性;②研制成功室温稳定的PCR试剂,将所有PCR成分(加入一种酶保护剂)配制并分装于微量离心管中,并干燥,试剂室温放置8个月,37℃破坏2周对检测结果无任何影响;③因尿嘧啶糖基化酶(UDG)可特异降解DNA双链中的尿密啶核苷,PCR体系中以dUTP代替dTTP,并在PCR扩增前用UDG消化15 min,就可以特异防止PCR产物的污染.对炭疽杆菌、鼠疫杆菌、土拉杆菌和布鲁氏菌扩增结果表明,0.1 U的UDG可完全消化103～108个产物分子的污染;④建立了微孔板杂交技术代替电泳方法检测扩增产物,将PCR产物克隆作为捕获探针包被聚乙烯微孔板,PCR引物5'末端生物素标记,扩增后作为待检测探针杂交,通过比较影响微孔板杂交的包被、杂交和显色等因素,建立了PCR-EIA技术.通过比较包被缓冲液发现镁离子及其离子强度是影响DNA包被的重要因素,包被的DNA以线型质粒最佳,每孔包被300ng左右的DNA 杂交效果最好;杂交液中加和不加甲酰胺对杂交影响不大;用链霉亲和素化的辣根过氧化物酶或碱性磷酸酶酶联显色均能达到检测杂交体的目的,但前者显色较快,更为实用.确定了PCR-EIA技术的最佳的包被、杂交和显色的条件,比常规的PCR-电泳检测敏感性高10倍;⑤比较了不同标本处理方法,确定了各种临床标本和动物组织的较为理想的处理方法.通过上述不同方面的研究,确定了从引物设计、试剂配制、标本处理、UDG防污染和产物微孔板杂交-酶联显色检测等方面的优化条件,建立起敏感性高、特异性强、操作简便和检测客观的核酸检测技术,为临床实验室的常规应用和反生物战病原微生物的核酸诊断奠定了基础.     

Effect of digitalis on the diaphragm in anesthetized dogs

We examined the effect of digitalis on diaphragmatic contractility and fatigability in 19 anesthetized mechanically ventilated dogs. The diaphragmatic force was assessed from transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) developed at functional residual capacity against an occluded airway during cervical phrenic nerve stimulation. In a first group of five dogs, Pdi-stimulus frequency relationships were compared before and after administration of ouabain in doses of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 mg/kg. In a second group, diaphragmatic fatigue was produced by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation at 30 Hz. Ten seconds of stimulation and 15 s of mechanical ventilation were repeated for 30 min. The rates of decrease in Pdi were compared between two groups, one of 0.05 mg/kg deslanoside-treated dogs (n = 7) and one of nontreated dogs (n = 7). After ouabain administration Pdi was significantly greater at each frequency in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the rate of decrease in Pdi in the deslanoside group was significantly smaller than that in the nontreated group, whereas deslanoside did not greatly change the Pdi-frequency curves in fresh diaphragm. We conclude that ouabain improves contractility of the fresh diaphragm and that deslanoside has a protective effect against fatigability.     

Orientation of anosmatic pigeons

Summary Test releases performed at five symmetrically arranged sites around the loft, at a distance of 78–99 km from it, showed that 1) anosmatic birds transported without alteration of the earth's magnetic field were completely random-oriented, 2) anosmatic birds transported in a container inside which the intensity of the magnetic field was strongly reduced were unable to orientate homewards and mostly departed according to a preferred compass direction, 3) control birds, which could smell, and were transported without alteration of the magnetic field, were homeward oriented and performed better in homing than both experimental groups. The conclusion is that anosmatic birds are unable to detect home direction at unfamiliar sites and that magnetic stimuli perceived during the outward journey are unable to substitute olfactory cues.Abbreviation PCD preferred compass direction Supported by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche