Using microwave irradiation in Marchi's method for demonstrating degenerated myelin

Conventional methods for histological preparation of degenerated myelin are time-consuming and difficult. The purpose of our study was to shorten the time required for the procedure and to obtain better quality results for light microscopic demonstration of degenerated myelin in the central and peripheral nervous systems by using microwave irradiation. Rat brain and sciatic nerve were used for the study. The middle cerebral artery was occluded and the sciatic nerve was cut to produce myelin degeneration. Marchi's method was used for staining degenerated myelin. Fixation for light microscopy that would take two days using the conventional procedure was completed in 16.5–18.5 min using microwave irradiation. While staining of degenerated myelin requires 10 days for the conventional Marchi method, we decreased it to 7 h for brain tissue and 1 h for sciatic nerve by using the microwave oven. Moreover, a better quality preparation was achieved in the groups stained under microwave irradiation than those prepared by the conventional method.     

动态分析沙鼠非酒精性脂肪肝病形成及生化影响

目的分析高脂饮食导致的沙鼠NAFLD疾病进展中脂质代谢、肝功能、抗氧化等方面的变化,探讨沙鼠NAFLD的形成机理。方法雄性沙鼠120只,随机分为对照组和模型组。对照组给予普通饲料,模型组高脂饮食建立NAFLD模型。分别于1、2、4、6、8、16周每组各处死10只动物,观察肝脏病理变化,计算肝指数,检测血清CHO、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C、GOP、GPT及肝组织的SOD、GSH-PX、CAT活性和FFA含量。结果模型组病理观察2周形成单纯性脂肪肝,6周动物门管区有轻度炎症,8周出现腺泡Ⅲ带局灶性窦周/细胞周纤维化,16周肝脏中度纤维化;模型组第1、2、4、6、8、16周时CHO、HDL-C、LDL-C及FAA波动性升高,但均高于同期对照组（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,TG在1、2、4周高于同期对照组（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）;16周末GOT、GPT出现了显著性升高（P〈0.01）。抗氧化酶GSH-PX、CAT、SOD活性模型组在第8～16周显著性降低（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。结论高脂饮食使沙鼠2周形成单纯性脂肪肝模型后,随饲喂时间延长,16周末可发展为中度肝纤维化。脂质代谢紊乱与氧化应激在沙鼠NAFLD进展中的发挥了不同的作用。     

Effects of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and its inhibitor,Noggin, on <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>maturation and culture of bovine preimplantation embryos

Background  

BMP4 is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily and Noggin is a potent BMP inhibitor that exerts its function by binding to BMPs preventing interactions with its receptors. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BMP4 and Noggin, on oocytes in vitro maturation (m experiments) and embryos in vitro development (c experiments) of bovine.     

The accuracy of the electrocardiogram during exercise stress test based on heart size

Background

Multiple studies have shown that the exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) is less accurate for predicting ischemia, especially in women, and there is additional evidence to suggest that heart size may affect its diagnostic accuracy.

Hypothesis

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the exercise ECG based on heart size.

Methods

We evaluated 1,011 consecutive patients who were referred for an exercise nuclear stress test. Patients were divided into two groups: small heart size defined as left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) <65 mL (Group A) and normal heart size defined as LVEDV ≥65 mL (Group B) and associations between ECG outcome (false positive vs. no false positive) and heart size (small vs. normal) were analyzed using the Chi square test for independence, with a Yates continuity correction. LVEDV calculations were performed via a computer-processing algorithm. SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging was used as the gold standard for the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Results

Small heart size was found in 142 patients, 123 female and 19 male patients. There was a significant association between ECG outcome and heart size (χ² = 4.7, p = 0.03), where smaller hearts were associated with a significantly greater number of false positives.

Conclusions

This study suggests a possible explanation for the poor diagnostic accuracy of exercise stress testing, especially in women, as the overwhelming majority of patients with small heart size were women.     

海藻酸微囊在细胞冷冻保存中的研究现状及应用

细胞的冷冻保存是细胞生物学实验中重要的实验技术.长期以来,人们使用冷冻保存液重悬细胞后进行冷冻储存,但是近年来,众多研究者发现传统冷冻方案往往会导致细胞活率大幅下降和细胞功能方面受损,从而很难满足生物医学、组织再生工程、细胞移植技术等高新技术的要求.所以研究者提出利用三维海藻酸微囊包埋细胞后再进行冷冻保存,从而在保证较高细胞活率的同时维持细胞的原有功能,有效的提高细胞的冷冻保存效率.本文概述了海藻酸微囊在细胞冷冻保存过程中的研究现状,同时对其应用进行了展望,以期为后续研究工作提供参考.     

海藻酸微囊替代DMSO和FBS的STO细胞冷冻保存研穷

目的：改进现有的细胞冷冻保存方法,建立一个不舍二甲基亚砜（DMSO）和血清（FBS）的高效冷冻保存方法,为细胞治疗等临床实践提供优质细胞。方法：海藻酸微囊包埋鼠胚成纤维细胞（STO细胞）后用不含DMSO和FBS的冷冻保存液进行冷冻保存。,设四个对照组：添加10％DMSO和20％FBS的组、仅添加10％DMSO的组、仅添加20％FBS、DMSO和FBS均不添加组。在冷冻前后对各实验组细胞用台盼兰染色,进行细胞计数,计算细胞存活率,同时利用溴乙锭的二聚物（EthD）、钙黄绿素-AM（Calcein—AM）进行染色观察细胞的形态,且进一步验证细胞存活率;解冻复苏后用MTT法评估细胞的增殖速度和生长活力。结果：冷冻保存30天后对各组的细胞数量、细胞存活率、细胞形态和解冻复苏后细胞的生长活力进行比较发现,海藻酸微囊包埋冷冻组的细胞数、细胞存活率、细胞形态和生长活力均与添加DMSO和FBS的组之间无显著性差异,而与其它三个对照组呈显著性差异。结论：使用海藻酸微囊替代DMSO和FBS保存STO细胞,能有效的维持细胞形态、数量、存活率,同时不影响细胞的生长活力,从而建立了一个不含DMS0和FBS的高效冷冻保存方法。     

Myrmecophilous butterflies utilise ant–treehopper associations as visual cues for oviposition

1. Selection of a safe oviposition site is important for herbivorous insects whose immature stages have limited mobility. Female herbivores rely on environmental cues for this choice, and presence of natural enemies or mutualistic partners may be important in this process. 2. Some butterflies have mutualistic interactions with ants (myrmecophily), in which caterpillars offer a nutritional liquid and gain protection against natural enemies. Participants in butterfly–ant mutualisms may utilise signals to initiate interactions, but the use of visual cues by ovipositing myrmecophilous butterflies remains uncertain. 3. Larvae of facultatively myrmecophilous Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae) feed on Schefflera vinosa, and females prefer to oviposit near aggregations of the ant‐tended treehopper Guayaquila xiphias, where caterpillars survive better due to increased ant attendance. Given the conspicuousness of ant–treehopper associations, it was investigated whether butterflies use them as visual cues for oviposition and, if so, which participants of the association are used as cues: ants, treehoppers, or both. 4. Experiments using dried insects on paired branches revealed that females visually recognise ants and ant–treehopper associations, using them for egg‐laying decisions. However, presence of a treehopper aggregation alone had no effect on oviposition choices. 5. This is a first insight into the importance of visual discrimination for ovipositing myrmecophilous butterflies. The results show that facultative mutualisms can be important enough to promote a behavioural adaptation (visual detection of ants) reinforcing the interaction. Our research highlights the importance of the behavioural interface within complex multispecies systems.