Myocardial mechanical dysfunction and calcium overload following rewarming from experimental hypothermia in vivo

Rewarming patients from accidental hypothermia are regularly complicated with cardiovascular instability ranging from minor depression of cardiac output to fatal circulatory collapse also termed “rewarming shock”. Since altered Ca²⁺ handling may play a role in hypothermia-induced heart failure, we studied changes in Ca²⁺ homeostasis in in situ hearts following hypothermia and rewarming. A rat model designed for studies of the intact heart in a non-arrested state during hypothermia and rewarming was used. Rats were core cooled to 15 °C, maintained at 15 °C for 4 h and thereafter rewarmed. As time-matched controls, one group of animals was kept at 37 °C for 5 h. Total intracellular myocardial Ca²⁺ content ([Ca²⁺]_i) was measured using ⁴⁵Ca²⁺. Following rewarming we found a significant reduction of stroke volume and cardiac output compared to prehypothermic control values as well as to time-matched controls. Likewise, we found that hypothermia and rewarming resulted in a more than six-fold increase in [Ca²⁺]_i to 3.01 ± 0.43 μmol/g dry weight compared to 0.44 ± 0.05 μmol/g dry weight in normothemia control. These findings indicate that hypothermia-induced alterations in the Ca²⁺-handling result in Ca²⁺ overload during hypothermia, which may contribute to myocardial failure during and after rewarming.     

镉污染对烟草叶片超微结构及部分元素含量的影响

采用水培试验,利用电感耦合等离子体、透射电镜、扫描电镜等技术研究了镉污染对烟草(N icotiana tabacum)叶绿素含量及叶绿素a/b值、叶下表皮气孔器密度、腺毛密度、叶片细胞超微结构和P、K、C a等元素含量的影响,以及叶片细胞、腺毛对镉污染的反应。结果表明随着营养液中镉浓度的增高,烟草叶绿素含量及叶绿素a/b值降低;叶下表皮气孔器的密度及腺毛的密度增加;叶绿体中组成基粒的类囊体层数减少、分布不均、或粘连成索状,叶绿体膜系统崩溃,内外膜均解体,类囊体消失;但烟草可通过将镉隔离于细胞壁中或排出表皮细胞或通过腺毛分泌作用来减少其毒害。随着营养液中镉浓度的增高,腺毛分泌物中S i、K、A l、C a、M g、F e的含量增加;浓度为3m g/L的镉污染可增加叶片中P、C a、M g、F e、Cu、Zn、A l元素的含量,但浓度为30m g/L的镉污染造成叶片中P、C a、M g、F e、Cu、Zn、A l元素含量的减少;镉污染可引起叶片中N a含量增加,且随着营养液中镉浓度的增高N a含量增加;镉污染造成K、M n在叶片中的含量下降,而且随着营养液中镉浓度的增高,K、M n含量下降幅度增加。     

茂兰喀斯特地区常见蕨类植物的钙含量特征及高钙适应方式分析

为了探讨喀斯特地区常见蕨类植物种对石灰土高钙环境的适应方式, 以茂兰国家级自然保护区及其附近区域的11种常见蕨类植物为研究对象, 通过对比其根际土及植株钙素的含量特征, 分析了这11种植物对土壤钙素的吸收情况, 以及钙素在植株各器官间的运转和分配情况。研究显示, 在酸性土区, 肾蕨(Nephrolepis auriculata)根际土的钙有效度显著高于其他10种蕨类植物; 受酸性土钙含量低的影响, 厌钙植物种的植株钙含量显著低于专性钙生植物种; 除肾蕨和金星蕨(Parathe- lypteris glanduligera)外, 酸性土区各植物种的植株各器官中钙含量为成熟叶>根>幼叶, 石灰土区植株各器官的钙含量为根>成熟叶>幼叶, 广布种凤尾蕨(Pteris cretica var. nervosa)的植株器官钙含量特征在石灰土和酸性土间存在差异; 各专性钙生植物种的植株钙含量有显著的种间差异。以上结果表明, (1)肾蕨可通过富集、活化根际土钙素的方式来满足自身的需求; (2)土壤供钙条件会影响植株钙含量, 且在不同土壤钙环境下, 植株各器官钙含量特征的差异与其对土壤钙含量变化的适应行为有关; (3) 5种专性钙生植物种对钙素的需求有差异, 且其面对高钙环境起主导作用的适应方式也有所不同, 柳叶蕨(Cyrtogonellum fraxinellum)、贯众(Cyrtomium fortune)、蜈蚣草(Pteris vittata)具有嗜钙或喜钙的特性, 而铁线蕨(Adiantum capillus-veneris)属于低钙植物种。     

The concentration of selected elements in the placenta according to selected sociodemographic factors and their effect on birth mass and birth length of newborns

Background and aimsThe placenta is a remarkable organ which provides critical transport functions between the maternal and fetal circulations during pregnancy. The demand for mineral components increases during the gestational period, therefore, an appropriate intake of minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese, determines the correct growth and development of a fetus. The aim of the study was to assess the concentration of selected elements in the placenta, and to assess the impact of their concentrations on the birth weight and birth length of newborns. The second aim of the study was to assess the influence of selected sociodemographic factors on the concentration of elements in the placenta.ResultsThe study demonstrated that the age of mothers affected the concentration of Ca and Mn in the placenta, and their habit of tobacco smoking during the gestational period was associated with higher concentrations of Ca, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Cd in the placental tissue. The results also showed that concentrations of K, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the placental tissue affected birth length. Furthermore, the association was demonstrated between a higher Cd concentration in the placenta (≥ 0.0503 μg/g) and the birth anthropometric parameters of neonates.ConclusionsSmoking during pregnancy and environment pollution are the factors that affects the concentration of elements in the placenta and contributes to their high accumulation in the placenta. Smoking during pregnancy causes an increased concentration of cadmium in the placenta which has negative health effects for the newborn. Women living in a big city or village had a higher concentration of cadmium in their placentas compared to women living in smaller cities. The significant influence of some elements (K, Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd) on the newborn’s birth parameters was also demonstrated. The results of our research indicate the importance of the mother’s lifestyle in providing the placenta with elements, which affects the growth of the fetus.

• •The placenta is an organ that is responsible for the proper course of pregnancy and fetal development.
• •The demand for mineral components increases during the gestational period, therefore, an appropriate intake of minerals determines the correct growth and development of a fetus
• •Increased exposure to arsenic, cadmium and lead during the gestational period can induce miscarriage, premature delivery, risk of fetal death, inhibition of intrauterine growth and development of the fetus, and low birth parameters.

     

介质中不同Ca~(2+)浓度对五种榕树幼苗钙含量的影响

选择高榕(Ficusaltissima)、木瓜榕(F.auriculata)、聚果榕(F.racemosa)、鸡嗉子榕(F.semicorda ta)以及对叶榕(F.hispida)5种榕树,对其幼苗进行不同Ca2+(CaCl2)浓度下的水培实验,结果表明,5种幼苗钙含量随介质Ca2+浓度的增加而增加,增加趋势大致相同。高Ca2+浓度下(10mmol/L)幼苗地上部的钙含量为低Ca2+浓度下(0.05mmol/L)的1.51～1.63倍。5种榕树幼苗钙含量随培养液Ca2+浓度变化的Yadj值的多重比较结果显示,对叶榕钙含量显著高于其他四种(P<0 01),高榕则显著低于其他四种(P<0 01),木瓜榕、聚果榕、鸡嗉子榕之间的差异不显著。不同榕树幼苗地上部分钙含量受介质钙浓度影响,但可能主要决定于基因型的差异,表明榕属植物富钙基因的存在,这为高钙榕树植物资源开发提供初步的理论依据。     

Preliminary study on the distribution of selected elements in cancerous and non-cancerous kidney tissues

In this study special interest was given to trace elements recognized as to be carcinogenic to humans. The kidney tissue sections were analyzed in order to determine the concentrations of elements present in the sample. The Synchrotron Radiation Induced X-ray Emission (SRIXE) technique was applied using a white photon microbeam. The results from cancerous parts of the kidney tissues were compared to non-cancerous parts and to the control group. In addition the iron concentration level was determined in the serum of those patients. Two-dimensional scans are presented to illustrate the differences between perfused and not-perfused tissues. According to this study there is no significant difference in the Mn concentration between cancerous and non-cancerous parts of the kidney, but the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ti, V, Cu, Se, and Zn are at a lower concentration level in the cancerous parts than in the non-cancerous parts. A converse observation has been made for Fe. This may be associated with different metabolism and dynamics of the cancer process and both higher vascularization and need of higher blood supply in the cancerous tissue. The two-dimensional scanning of thin kidney sections showed differences in the trace element distributions depending on the analyzed samples: perfused and non-perfused. Perfusion removed blood mostly from the peritubular capillaries while in the glomerulus some capillaries had a relatively high Fe content. A low Fe concentration was observed in nephron tubules while a converse observation has been made for Cd. This may indicate that Cd is localized in the cells but not in the blood.     

Calcium content of crustacean zooplankton and its potential role in species distribution

SUMMARY 1. The occurrence and species composition of crustacean zooplankton in Norwegian lakes was related to ambient Ca concentrations, pH, total phosphorus and chlorophyll a , and to the presence/absence of other zooplankters and a planktivorous fish (roach: Rutilus rutilus ).
2. Ambient Ca concentrations appeared to influence the distribution of Daphnia species: Daphnia longispina often occurred in Ca-rich lakes with low fish-predation pressure while the smaller Daphnia cristata often occurred in opposite conditions.
3. Body Ca contents were measured in zooplankters from a wide range of localities, to examine Ca requirements and thus the potential for Ca-limitation of common species.
4. All Daphnia species had relatively high specific Ca contents [ranging from 0.8 to 4.4% Ca dry weight (DW)⁻¹] compared with other cladocerans and also copepods (ranging from 0.1 to 0.4% Ca DW⁻¹). Within the Daphnia genus, the specific Ca content increased with increasing body size of the species, and thus the large-bodied species had especially high Ca demands.
5. Because of their high Ca demands, species of Daphnia could be competitively disadvantaged in softwater lakes relative to less Ca-demanding species.     

Sequential thoracentesis: minor change of zinc compared to other selected essential trace elements in the serum

This study first indicates that the serum trace element Zn tends to decrease in the course of sequential thoracenteses. Other selected essential elements such as copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and cobalt (Co) do not reveal loss changes in their serum levels. Therefore, Zn should be monitored in patients who undergo repeated thoracentesis. To measure the magnitude of changes in serum trace elements and the clinical relevance of potential imbalances, concentrations of the essential elements are analyzed in 57 serum/effusion pairs obtained from 5 patients (4 male, 1 female; age 28–78 yr) who underwent repeated thoracenteses as a result of recurrent pleural effusion. All patients declined other therapeutic options such as chemical pleurodesis and /or chest tube placement. The total volumes of fluid removed ranged from 2.3 to 19.3 L and the frequency of thoracentesis ranged from 6 to 15 within a period of 102–174 days. Two patients had benign pleural disease and three had malignancies. Three patients suffered from pleural effusions resulting from exudates (total protein content >3.0 g/dL, LDH >200 U/L), and two resulting from transudates (total protein <3.0 g/dL, LDH <200 U/L). All trace elements were simultaneously determined by inductively coupled argon plasma-mass spectrometry. In addition, the concentrations of the following clinically relevant parameters were analyzed by standard methods: total protein, pH, leukocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucose.     

Contents and the biogeochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in wheat seeds

Contents of fifteen rare earth elements (REEs) in the seeds ofsixty breeds of wheat collected from seed bank were measured byinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The distributionpatterns of contents of REEs in wheat seeds (n = 58) wereobserved and compared with their average level in soils (n =364). Differences among regions and between spring and winter wheat weretested. Comparison with literature data was also made. The results showthat the content of REEs in wheat seed ranges between10^–11 g · g^–1 and10^–8 g · g^–1, 3–4 orderof magnitudes lower than that in soils. The distribution patterns arethat light REEs enriched and the Eu-anomaly is weak, similar to the soilcase. No obvious differences were found among different regions andbreeds. The data obtained in this study represent the contents of thefifteen REEs in wheat seeds.     

Evaluation of five elements in lenses and aqueous humour of experimental rabbits after induced opacity

We evaluated the presence of Ca, Na, K, Cu and Zn in the lenses and aqueous humour of rabbits treated with an Nd:YAG laser to induce opacity of the crystalline. The mean concentrations of the elements found in control lenses were: Ca: 15.8+/-5.2 mg/kg; Na: 1.2+/-0.6 g/kg; K: 10.3+/-3.3 g/kg; Cu: 0.19+/-0.06 mg/kg; Zn: 20.6+/-3.0 mg/kg. With the exception of K and Zn, the values found in the lenses of treated eyes (Ca: 135+/-24 mg/kg; Na: 4.3+/-1.5 g/kg; K: 10.1 +/- 3.2 g/kg; Cu: 0.47+/-0.17 mg/kg; Zn: 21.8+/-4.2 mg/kg) were significantly higher than in the controls. On the other hand, the concentrations found in the aqueous humour of treated eyes (Ca: 21.7+/-4.5 mg/l; Na: 0.66+/-0.21 g/l; K: 0.29+/-0.10 g/l; Cu: 0.035+/-0.009 mg/l; Zn: 0.079+/-0.01 mg/l) were significantly lower than those of the controls. The greatest difference was observed for Na (-68.6%) and Cu (-52.7%), followed by Ca and Zn (-35.0% and -35.2%, respectively). A positive correlation was found between Ca and Na in treated lenses (r2 = 0.9226, p < 0.0001) whereas inverse correlations were found for both Ca (r2 = 0.9788, p<0.0001) and Na (r2 = 0.9491, p<0.0001) between the concentrations found in the lenses and in the aqueous humour of treated eyes.     

青蒿素含量与土壤、植株养分含量关系的研究

调查和分析测定同一产区不同土壤类型的黄花蒿土壤和植株不同部位的养分含量及青蒿素含量,并对其进行相关分析和因子分析,结果表明,青蒿素含量与土壤Ca的含量有显著的正相关关系,与根N、茎N素含量以及植株地下部和地上部的N素含量比有显著的负相关关系,与茎部和叶部的N素含量比有极显著负相关关系;黄花蒿植株叶片的N含量与土壤P含量有显著的正相关关系;影响青蒿素含量的主要因子是黄花蒿植株体内的养分含量,其次是土壤的养分含量以及土壤和植株等综合因子。通过施肥、适当补充土壤中的Ca和P素营养,改善土壤养分状况等各种途径来调节植株体内的养分,降低地下部和地上部的N素含量比值,茎叶部N素含量比值,提高青蒿素的含量,增施K肥,有利于黄花蒿的生长。     

气象因子和矿质元素对虎杖根茎白藜芦醇含量的影响

对全年各月虎杖材料中白藜芦醇含量,及其Ca、Cu、Fe、K、Mg、Na、Zn 8种矿质元素积累进行检测,结合气象因子动态变化,采用主成分分析法,研究了不同季节虎杖白藜芦醇含量动态变化与其矿质元素、气象因子动态变化的关系．结果表明,Cu与Fe,Mg与K、Zn,Ca与月日照时数,K与Zn相关系数分别为0．812、0．871、0．793、0．602、0．729,呈极显著正相关;Cu、Mn与月平均气温,Fe与K相关系数分别为-0．738、-0．712、-0．766,呈极显著负相关;Cu与白藜芦醇含量呈显著负相关．找出了影响虎杖白藜芦醇含量动态变化的5个主成分,其中“酶促反应促进性矿质营养因子”,“高温、强照射气象因子”的贡献率分别为35．539％、33．358％,合计为68．897％,二者对不同季节虎杖白藜芦醇的变异贡献率最大．同时进行白藜芦醇含量的动态变化与主成分的多元相关、回归分析,建立了回归方程。     

Concentrations of selected trace elements in human milk and in infant formulas determined by magnetic sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Magnetic sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to the reliable determination of the 8 essential trace elements cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and vanadium (V) as well as the 7 nonessential and toxic elements silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), scandium (Sc), and titanum (Ti) in 27 transitory and mature human milk samples and in 4 selected infant formulas. This advanced instrumentation can separate spectral overlaps from the analyte signal hampering significantly the determination of many trace elements by conventional ICP-MS. Moreover, superior detection limits in the picogram per liter range can be obtained with such magnetic sector field instruments. Therefore, this is the first study to report the concentrations of the elements Ag, Au, Pt, Sc, Ti, and V in human milk and in infant formulas. Concentrations of Ag (median: 0.41 μg/L; range: <0.13–42 μg/L) and Au (median: 0.29 μg/L; range 0.10–2.06 μg/L) showed large variations in human milk that might be associated with dental fillings and jewelry. Pt concentrations were very low with most of the samples below the method detection limit of 0.01 μg/L. Human milk concentrations of Co (median: 0.19 μg/L), Fe (380 μg/L), Mn (6.3 μg/L), Ni (0.79 μg/L), and Se (17 μg/L) were at the low end of the corresponding reference ranges. Concentrations of Cr (24.3 μg/L) in human milk were five times higher than the high end of the reference range. For Al (67 μg/L), As (6.7 μg/L), and V (0.18 μg/L), most of the samples had concentrations well within the reference ranges. All elemental concentrations in infant formulas (except for Cr) were approximately one order of magnitude higher than in human milk.     

Calcium content of liming material and its effect on sulphur release in a coniferous forest soil

Soil columns with O + A (Experiment I) or Ohorizons (Experiment II) from a Haplic Podsol wereincubated at 15 °C for 368 and 29 + 106 days,respectively. Three types of liming material differingin Ca²⁺ content, i.e. calcium carbonate(CaCO₃), dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) andmagnesium carbonate (MgCO₃), were mixed into theO horizons in equimolar amounts corresponding to 6000kg of CaCO₃ per ha. In the limed treatments ofExperiment I, the leaching of dissolved organic carbon(DOC) and the net sulphur mineralization (estimated asaccumulated SO ₄ ^2– leaching corrected forchanges in the soil pools of adsorbed and waterextractable SO ₄ ^2– ) increased with decreasingCa²⁺ content of the lime and increasing degree oflime dissolution. In relation to the controltreatment, only the MgCO₃ treatment resulted ina significantly higher net sulphur mineralization. InExperiment I the net sulphur mineralization was 4.06,1.68, 0.57, and 2.14 mg S in the MgCO₃,CaMg(CO₃)₂, CaCO₃ and control treatment,respectively. The accumulated SO ₄ ^2– leachingin Experiment II during the first 29 days was 1.70,0.74 and 0.48 mg S in the MgCO₃,CaMg(CO₃)₂ and control treatment,respectively. In the two experiments there wereconsistently significant positive correlations betweenleached amounts of SO ₄ ^2– and DOC. It wasconcluded that net sulphur mineralization was stronglyconnected to the solubilization of the organic matter(DOC formation) and that pH and/or Ca²⁺ ionsaffected the net sulphur mineralization through theireffects on organic matter solubility.     

The impact of transposable elements in environmental adaptation

Transposable elements (TEs) play an important role in the responsive capacity of their hosts in the face of environmental challenges. The variety of mechanisms by which TEs influence the capacity of adaptation of the host is as large as the variety of TEs and host genomes. For example, TEs might directly affect the function of individual genes, provide a mechanism for rapidly acquiring new genetic material and disseminate regulatory elements that can lead to the creation of stress‐inducible regulatory networks. In this review, we summarize recent examples that are part of an increasing body of evidence suggesting a significant role of TEs in the host response to an ever‐changing environment, both in prokaryote and in eukaryote organisms. We argue that in the near future, the increasing availability of genome sequences and the development of new tools to discover and analyse TE insertions will further show the relevant role of TEs in environmental adaptation.     

南极地区苔藓剖面中地球化学元素的营养运移特征

对采自南极的苔藓剖面上各层苔藓的地球化学元素含量进行分析,得到以下的初步结论：地球化学元素在苔藓剖面上的分布具有很强的继承性;不同地球化学元素在苔藓剖面上的分布特征不同,这与元素在苔藓中的营养特征有关,研究发现元素Ca在苔藓体内,异常活跃,它极易被累积在新鲜苔藓体内,Zn也是苔藓易吸收的元素;地球化学元素在老新苔藓中的转移能力不同;底层苔藓的元素转移能力很低,中层苔藓中元素维持在基本平衡的状态,上层苔藓中元素的转移系数较大。     

温室茄子茎直径微变化与作物水分状况的关系

在温室条件下,采用盆栽土培和小区试验相结合的方法,以茄子(Solanummelongena,品种新乡糙青茄)为材料进行了植株茎直径微变化(膨胀或收缩)与作物体内水分状况的关系试验研究,旨在为利用茎直径微变化无损快速诊断作物水分状况提供理论依据。盆栽和小区试验均采用两因素(土壤水分梯度和作物不同生育阶段)随机区组设计,土壤水分控制下限分别取田间持水量的80%FC(Fieldwatercapacity),70%FC,60%FC和50%FC;生育阶段分别为苗期、花果期和采收期;共有4×3=12个处理组合,重复3次。结果表明:无论是在较高土壤含水量或在较低土壤含水量条件下,在晴好的天气里,茄子茎直径都是在白天收缩,傍晚、夜间复原或膨胀,而且这种微变化动态与植株体内的水分状况密切相关,不同土壤含水量条件下植株茎胀缩的幅度存在明显差异。高水分条件下,植株茎收缩幅度小,复原能力强;低水分条件下,植株茎收缩幅度大,恢复能力差。茎直径变化对环境因子水汽压差(VPD)的响应比较敏感,二者呈正相关关系,相关系数R2为0·8938。茎直径变化量(ΔSd)与叶水势(ψL)、叶片相对含水量(LRWC)呈极显著正相关关系,相关系数R2分别为0·867和0·965。这些结果显示,茎直径变化量能灵敏、实时、准确地反映植株体内的水分状况;与其它作物水分诊断方法(叶水势法,叶片相对含水量法,细胞液浓度法等)相比,茎直径微变化法可能具有简便、稳定、无损、连续监测和自动记录的优势。