蕲州地区的蕲艾、青蒿、黄花蒿与茵陈的考订

<正> 蕲州是我国中药材主要产地之一,是湖北省蕲春县的一个集镇,,是我国中医药大师李时珍的家乡。该地区生长的菊科蒿属植物Artemisia Linn。颇多,其中入药的有十余种,并在李时珍《本草纲目》中曾有记载。这里仅对该地区常见入药的蕲艾、青蒿、黄花蒿与茵陈结合《本草纲目》记载的材料作初步的考订。     

Comment on "Sloppy models, parameter uncertainty, and the role of experimental design"

We explain that part of the reduction in the parameter uncertainties in the computations of Apgar et al. (Mol. Biosyst. 2010, 6, 1890-900) is due to a greatly increased number of effective data points.     

Notes on the Chironomid (Diptera, Chironomidae) "Ocelli"

Clear spots present on the imaginal head of many Chironomidae have previously been interpreted as vestigial ocelli. Scanning electron microscopy of clear spots in Diamesa tonsa (Haliday) and Protanypus caudatus Edwards indicates, however, that these structures are proprioceptive sensilla.     

The ESF meeting on "The proteomics, epigenetics and pharmacogenetics of pendrin"

Human pendrin (SCL26A4, PDS) is a 780 amino acid integral membrane protein with transport function. It acts as an electroneutral, sodium-independent anion exchanger for a wide range of anions, such as iodide, chloride, formate, bicarbonate, hydroxide and thiocyanate. Pendrin expression was originally described in the thyroid gland, kidney and inner ear. Accordingly, pendrin mutations with reduction or loss of transport function result in thyroid and inner ear abnormalities, manifested as syndromic (Pendred syndrome) and non-syndromic hearing loss with an enlarged vestibular aqueduct (ns-EVA). Pendred syndrome, the most common form of syndromic deafness, is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by sensorineural deafness due to inner ear malformations and a partial iodide organification defect that may lead to thyroid goiter. Later, it became evident that not only pendrin loss of function, but also up-regulation could participate in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Indeed, despite the absence of kidney dysfunction in Pendred syndrome patients, evidence exists that pendrin also plays a crucial role in this organ, with a potential involvement in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In addition, recent data underscore the role of pendrin in exacerbations of respiratory distresses including bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pendrin expression in other organs such as mammary gland, testis, placenta, endometrium and liver point to new, underscored pendrin functions that deserve to be further investigated.