骨软骨复合支架的研究进展

软骨的修复是当前医学界十分棘手的难题,人们采取若干手段均收效甚微。由于软骨缺损时,其下的软骨下骨常出现硬化、退变,而新生软骨是无法与病变的软骨下骨进行整合的,所以在修复软骨的同时,必须重视软骨下骨的修复。近十几年来,人们开始发明和利用各种骨软骨复合支架,进行同时修复软骨与软骨下骨的动物实验研究。在正常骨软骨组织中,软骨与软骨下骨被钙化层所相连,此外钙化层也将软骨与软骨下骨分隔在不同的生存环境中。根据仿生学原理,人们又设计出一种带有隔离层的新型骨软骨复合支架,并取得了较为理想的实验结果。本文就国内外骨软骨复合支架的研完进展作一综述。     

“三生”空间视角下土地利用转型的生态环境效应及驱动力——以甘肃省为例

中国社会经济快速转型背景下土地利用变化所引发的环境问题被广泛关注。以土地利用现状遥感监测数据和统计资料为数据源,借助ArcGIS和SIMCA-P软件平台,基于"三生"空间视角,通过生态环境质量指数测度了1980—2018年甘肃省土地利用转型的生态环境效应,并运用偏最小二乘法揭示生态环境质量演变的驱动机制。研究发现:(1)"三生"空间结构演化和地域分异显著。生产、生活空间集中分布于河西走廊、陇中和陇东黄土高原并呈扩张态势;生态空间主要分布于陇南山地、甘南高原、祁连山地和河西走廊以北地带且整体呈缩减趋势;生产、生活空间的增长源于对生态空间的侵占。(2)生态环境质量改善和恶化趋势并存,整体上经历了先下降后上升的"U"形演化过程;空间上呈"东南高-西北低"的分布特征,空间格局演化具有明显的集聚性。(3)生态建设、科技进步等对生态环境改善具有明显的促进作用;而人口增加、社会消费水平提升在一定程度上加剧了生态环境压力;对外贸易对生态环境的影响具有双面性。     

Algal and bacterial pigments in non-laminated lacustrine sediment: Studies of their sedimentation, degradation and stratigraphy

Abstract Natural phyto- and bacterioplankton populations of Lake Vechten (the Netherlands) were subjected to darkness under oxic and anoxic conditions at in situ temperatures in order to test the stability in time of their photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, sedimentary fluxes and concentrations of pigments were estimated in (respectively) sediment trap catches and at the sediment-water interphase in order to measure the pigment breakdown upon burial into the sediment. The chlorophylls and most of the xanthophylls showed substantial losses of 20% to 60% in the incubation experiments as well as in the surficial sediment. β-Carotene, okenone and echinenone were most stable (2–10% losses); fucoxanthin and peridinin were degraded extensively; alloxanthin and zeaxanthin held an intermediate position as did the bacteriochlorophylls. Trends in sediment profiles of pigments were compared with limnological data obtained during the enhanced eutrophication of the lake. Evidence was provided that the β-carotene profile closely followed the increase of phytoplankton biomass. Although susceptible to substantial degradation, several profiles of pigments and of pigment ratios could be related in a qualitative way to biomass and to shifts in species composition which occurred as a result of the changing ecological conditions in the lake.     

Cloning and expression of the gene for Escherichia coli thermostable enterotoxin]

Gene estA coding for thermostable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli has been cloned. It is shown that in the E. coli strain SA162 this gene is located on the chromosome. Using polymerase chain reaction a site-directed mutagenesis of the cloned gene has been carried out, resulted in a recombinant strain--producer of the thermostable enterotoxin.     

Indoor and outdoor winter activity of Culicoides biting midges,vectors of bluetongue virus,in Italy

Indoor and outdoor winter activity of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in central Italy was investigated in order to evaluate whether indoor activity might account for the overwintering of bluetongue virus, as has been hypothesized by some authors. Weekly Culicoides collections were performed at three farms over three consecutive winter seasons. At each farm, two black‐light traps were operated simultaneously, indoors and outdoors. Culicoides were identified using both morphological and molecular means. The Culicoides obsoletus group accounted for 98.2% of sampled specimens. Within this group, C. obsoletus s.s. accounted for 56.8% and Culicoides scoticus for 43.2% of samples. Nulliparous, parous and engorged females were caught throughout the entire winter, both indoors and outdoors. At times, indoor catch sizes outnumbered outdoor collections. A significant inverse correlation was found between minimum temperature and the proportion of indoor Culicoides of the total midge catch, thus indicating that lower outdoor temperatures drive Culicoides midges indoors. High rates of engorged females were recorded indoors, possibly as the result of the propensity of C. obsoletus females to feed indoors. Higher proportions of parous females were found in indoor than in outdoor catches, indicating higher survival rates indoors and, consequently, higher vectorial capacities of midges sheltering indoors compared with those remaining outdoors.     

Short-Term In Vitro Culture and Molecular Analysis of the Microsporidian, Enterocytozoon bieneusi

ABSTRACT. The microsporidium, Enterocytozoon bieneusi , causes a severe, debilitating, chronic diarrhea in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Specific diagnosis of intestinal microsporidiosis, especially due to Enterocytozoon , is difficult and there is no known therapy that can completely eradicate this parasite. Preliminary studies indicate that a short term (about 6 months) in vitro culture of this parasite yielding low numbers of spores, may be established by inoculating human lung fibroblasts and/or monkey kidney cell cultures with duodenal aspirates and or biopsy from infected patients. The cultures may subsequently be used for the isolation and molecular analysis of parasite DNA.     

Gram-Chromotrope: a New Technique that Enhances Detection of Microsporidial Spores in Clinical Samples

We have developed a new staining procedure that combines the traditional Gram staining for bacteria and the Weber's chromotrope staining method, the standard technique for the detection of microsporidia spores in clinical Specimens. This “Gram-chromotrope” staining technique enhances the staining characteristics of microsporidia spores and facilitates the easy detection and differentiation of spores from other microorganisms that are found in clinical specimens, especially stool samples. This new technique is fast, reliable, and simple to perform, and can be easily adapted for use in clinical laboratories.     

Hierarchical genetic structure and gene flow in three sympatric species of Amazonian rodents

The population genetic structure of three species of Amazonian rodents ( Oligoryzomys microtis, Oryzomys capito , and Mesomys hispidus ) is examined for mtDNA sequence haplotypes of the cytochrome b gene by hierarchical analysis of variance and gene flow estimates based on fixation indices ( N _ST) and coalescence methods. Species samples are from the same localities along 1000 km of the Rio Juruá in western Amazonian Brazil, but each species differs in important life history traits such as population size and reproductive rate. Average haplotype differentiation, hierarchical haplotype apportionment, and gene flow estimates are contrasted in discussing the current and past population structure. Two species exhibit isolation by distance patterns wherein gene flow is largely limited to geographically adjacent localities. Mesomys exhibits this pattern throughout its range along the river. More than 75% of haplotype variation is apportioned among localities and regions, and estimates of Nm for pair-wise comparisons are nearly always less than 1. Oligoryzomys shows weak isolation by distance, but only over the largest geographical distances. Nm values for this species are nearly always above 1 and most (about 80%) of haplotype variation is contained within local populations. In contrast, Oryzomys exhibits no genetic structure throughout its entire distribution; Nm values average 17 and nearly 90% of the total haplotype variance is contained within local populations. Although gene flow estimates are high, the pattern of Nm as a function of geographical distance suggests that this species experienced a more recent invasion of the region and is still in genetic disequilibrium under its current demographic conditions.