丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石复合物对磷酸钙骨水泥性能的影响

目的：磷酸钙骨水泥（Calcium phosphate cement,CPC）以其诸多优点正得到了越来越多的应用,但其较差的力学性能表现也限制了它的使用范围。本研究目的在于改善磷酸钙骨水泥的力学性能,同时评估改性后的磷酸钙骨水泥的其他性能。方法：通过丝素蛋白（Silk fibroin,SF）的矿化自组装方法制备丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石复合物（silk fibroin/hydroxyapitite composite, SF/HA）。按照1％、2％、3％、4％的质量分数加入磷酸钙骨水泥中,与磷酸钙骨水泥组对比。比较内容包括力学强度、抗渍散性能及细胞毒性。结果：以丝素蛋白溶液为液相组的磷酸钙骨水泥强度大约为35MPa。随后随着添加丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石复合物的质量分数从1％增至3％,磷酸钙骨水泥的强度逐渐增加（P〈0．05）,最高约至45MPa。而当丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石的质量分数达到4％时,磷酸钙骨水泥的强度较质量分数3％组小幅度下降至43MPa（P〈0．05）。以丝素蛋白溶液作为液相时,磷酸钙骨水泥的抗溃散能力也得到了加强。在MTT法测定细胞活力的对照实验中,无论是加入丝素蛋白溶液或丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石复合物,都未观察到细胞毒性。结论：在磷酸钙骨水泥中加入3％质量分数的丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石复合物,能显著提高磷酸钙骨水泥的抗压强度。而丝素蛋白溶液作为液相可改善磷酸钙骨水泥的抗溃散能力。同时,丝素蛋白和丝素蛋白／羟基磷灰石复合物都不表现出细胞毒性。更理想的力学强度和更强的抗溃散能力,大大扩展了磷酸钙骨水泥的应用范围。     

Spatial prediction of malaria prevalence in an endemic area of Bangladesh

Background

Malaria is a major public health burden in Southeastern Bangladesh, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. Malaria is endemic in 13 districts of Bangladesh and the highest prevalence occurs in Khagrachari (15.47%).

Methods

A risk map was developed and geographic risk factors identified using a Bayesian approach. The Bayesian geostatistical model was developed from previously identified individual and environmental covariates (p < 0.2; age, different forest types, elevation and economic status) for malaria prevalence using WinBUGS 1.4. Spatial correlation was estimated within a Bayesian framework based on a geostatistical model. The infection status (positives and negatives) was modeled using a Bernoulli distribution. Maps of the posterior distributions of predicted prevalence were developed in geographic information system (GIS).

Results

Predicted high prevalence areas were located along the north-eastern areas, and central part of the study area. Low to moderate prevalence areas were predicted in the southwestern, southeastern and central regions. Individual age and nearness to fragmented forest were associated with malaria prevalence after adjusting the spatial auto-correlation.

Conclusion

A Bayesian analytical approach using multiple enabling technologies (geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and remote sensing) provide a strategy to characterize spatial heterogeneity in malaria risk at a fine scale. Even in the most hyper endemic region of Bangladesh there is substantial spatial heterogeneity in risk. Areas that are predicted to be at high risk, based on the environment but that have not been reached by surveys are identified.

     

Chronic stress and its effects on adrenal cortex apoptosis in pregnant rats

The model of chronic intermittent stress by immobilization during pregnancy may produce alterations in the mechanisms that maintain adrenal gland homeostasis. In earlier investigations using this model, significant variations in plasma prolactin and corticosterone levels, and adrenal gland weights were observed. We hypothesized that chronic stress causes changes in apoptosis in the adrenal glands of pregnant rats. We identified and quantified apoptotic cells in the adrenal cortex and examined their ultrastructural characteristics using transmission electron microscopy. Adrenal glands of pregnant rats at gestation days 12, 17 and 21 were studied for control and experimental (stressed) rats. Immunolabelling techniques, stereological analysis and image quantification of adrenal gland sections were combined to determine differences in apoptosis in the different cell populations of the adrenal cortex. The apoptotic index of the experimental rats showed a significant reduction at gestation day 17, while at days 12 and 21 there were no differences from controls. Moreover, the apoptotic index of the reticular zones in control and experimental animals showed a significant increase compared to the glomerular and fascicular zones at the three gestation times studied. Chronic stress by immobilization reduced the caspase-dependent apoptotic index at gestation day 17, which may be related to variations in plasma concentrations of estrogens and prolactin.     

盐生植物角果碱蓬种子二型性对环境的适应策略

角果碱蓬(Suaeda corniculata)是藜科一年生盐生植物, 在我国分布于北方盐碱滩涂和盐碱荒漠地区。角果碱蓬具有棕色和黑色两种异型体种子(简称棕色和黑色种子)。对采自内蒙古鄂托克前旗盐渍化生境的角果碱蓬二型种子的形态、休眠和萌发特性开展对比研究, 测定了二型种子休眠和萌发行为对温度、光照和盐分(NaCl)的响应, 以揭示盐生植物异型种子对温带盐漠生境的适应对策。结果表明: (1)二型性种子在大小、种皮特性和结实比例方面有显著差异。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子个体较大, 种皮透水性强。黑色种子与棕色种子的结实比例约为5.6 : 1。(2)新成熟的棕色种子的萌发对各温度梯度和光照条件不敏感, 萌发率较高(84%-100%); 而新成熟的黑色种子萌发率较低(8%-78%), 萌发对光照敏感。(3)黑色种子具有浅度生理休眠, 种皮划破、赤霉素处理和低温层积均可有效地提高种子的萌发率。(4)二型种子萌发对土壤盐分的胁迫具有不同的响应。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子对盐分胁迫不敏感, 在较高的盐分浓度下仍有较高的萌发率, 低温层积处理能够降低黑色种子对盐胁迫的敏感性, 有效地提高种子的初始萌发率、萌发恢复率和最终萌发率。角果碱蓬二型种子不同的形态、休眠和萌发特性, 提高了该物种在高度异质性生境中的适合度, 对种群成功地适应温带盐漠环境具有重要的意义。     

Graft-versus-host induced immunosuppression: depressed T cell helper function in vitro.

The cause of graft-versus-host (GVH) induced suppression of the plaque forming cell (PFC) response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) was investigated by in vitro restoration experiments employing a double compartment culture vessel. The two culture compartments were separated by a cell impermeable membrane. Restoring cells were placed in one chamber and responding GVH spleen cells plus SRBC were placed in the other chamber. It was demonstrated that thymus, lymph node, and spleen cells restored the PFC response whereas bone marrow cells did not. Treatment of the restoring cells with anti-theta serum plus complement abrogated restoration. Supernatants obtained from antigen free cell cultures restored nearly as well as whole cell suspensions. The degree of restoration was not increased by allogeneic or xenogeneic antigenic stimulation of the restoring cells. Thymus and lymphoid cells obtained from animals experiencing a GVH reaction restored as well as normal cells, however spleen cells were unable to restore by day 5 post-GVH induction. The results suggest that GVH induced immunosuppression of the PFC response is due, at least in part, to a depressed T cell factor production by splenic T cells.     

Tempo and mode of concerted evolution in the L1 repeat family of mice

A 300-bp DNA sequence has been determined for 30 (10 from each of three species of mice) random isolates of a subset of the long interspersed repeat family L1. From these data we conclude that members of the L1 family are evolving in concert at the DNA sequence level in Mus domesticus, Mus caroli, and Mus platythrix. The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon may be either duplicative transposition, gene conversion, or a combination of the two. The amount of intraspecies divergence averages 4.4%, although between species base substitutions accumulate at the rate of approximately 0.85%/Myr to a maximum divergence of 9.1% between M. platythrix and both M. domesticus and M. caroli. Parsimony analysis reveals that the M. platythrix L1 family has evolved into a distinct clade in the 10-12 Myr since M. platythrix last shared a common ancestor with M. domesticus and M. caroli. The parsimony tree also provides a means to derive the average half-life of L1 sequences in the genome. The rates of gain and loss of individual copies of L1 were estimated to be approximately equal, such that approximately one-half of them turn over every 3.3 Myr.      

单链胰岛素前体在酵母中的分泌表达及其转变成人胰岛素

将化学合成的单链猪胰岛素前体(PIP)基因和用聚合酶链反应得到的α交配因子前导顺序(αMFL)基因插入质粒pVT102-U的醇脱氢酶基因ADH1的启动子和3’终止顺序之间而生成质粒pVT102-U/αMFL-PIP.被pVT102-U/αMFL-PIP转化的酵母(Saccharomyces cerevistae)可表达单链前体并分泌到培养基中.前体在纯化后可通过胰蛋白酶的转肽作用转变成人胰岛素.纯化的人胰岛素具有全部活力并可结晶.人胰岛素的总收率为每升培养液25mg.     

玉米叶片生长部位渗透调节和生长的生物物理参数变化

玉米叶片生长部位随着水分胁迫加剧ψ_w降低、LER减慢。LER从最大到零,快速干旱处理的ψw从-0.55降至-0.85 MPa;缓慢干旱处理ψ_w从-0.88降至-1.13 MPa。在任何一种LER下,缓慢干旱处理的ψ_s比快速干旱处理更低,生长停止时,前者为-1.57 MPa,而后者为-1.30MPa。缓慢干旱叶片尽管在更低ψ_w下,仍能维持一定膨压,保持一定的生长速率。经历长时间水分胁迫会改变细胞延伸生长的生物物理参数,增大临界膨压(0.08～0.09 MPa)。这是水分胁迫植株,在一定ψ_p下生长速率减慢的原因。