草地贪夜蛾幼虫头部感受器种类、分布和数量特征

为了解草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(Smith)幼虫头部感受器的种类、形态、分布和数量,利用FlexSEM-1000型扫描电镜观察了草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫头部、触角和口器,明确了头部超微形态特征及感受器种类、分布及数量。该虫5龄幼虫头部共有4种类型感受器,分别为毛形感受器(ST)、刺形感受器(SC)、锥形感受器(SB)和栓锥形感受器(SS),其中触角上着生2个锥形感受器、1个刺形感受器、1个毛形感受器和1个栓锥形感受器;左上颚和右上颚各分布有1对刺形感受器;下颚及下颚须上共分布有2个毛形感受器、2个刺形感受器和2个栓锥形感受器;下唇须上有2个刺形感受器;在吐丝器前方两侧有1对刺形感受器。     

经左心温度稀释法测定心排血量新型导管的应用研究

目的：介绍一种新型经左心使用温度稀释法测量心排血量（CO）的导管和方法。方法：健康杂种犬8只,采用自身对照,经右心使用肺动脉气囊漂浮导管,经动脉使用自制的左心测定管,其放置部位分两种情况：前端在左心室内和在主动脉根部。在控制呼吸、停呼吸、控制性降压中、控制性降压后5min四种情况下同时测量心排血量。结果：肺动脉导管与左心导管在两种不同部位情况下测得CO呈正相关,γ分别为0.986和0.989,心脏指数（CI）也呈正相关,γ分别为0.983和0.985 左心导管在两种不同部位情况下所测CO之间与CI之间也显著相关,γ分别为0.992、0.988。结论：制作的左心测定管所测心排血量与肺动脉气囊漂浮导管所测值之间有良好相关性,且设计简单,操作方便。     

日本血吸虫毛蚴对钉螺的钻穿及在螺体内的分布和移行

采自安徽省池的钉螺每粒感染５０只湖南株日本血吸虫毛后的组织学观察说明：毛蚴钻穿钉螺有从螺鳃部、头足总后有皮以及实质组织（外套膜、触角和阴茎）等三方面途径,其中以前二者尤为重要;毛蚴进入螺鳃丝后直接进入血液循环系统,从头足表皮进入的毛蚴,除了少数在钻穿部位附近滞留外,多数继续向头足部深层的肌肉和窦状组织间隙移行,以前头足窦、直肠和消化道外的组织间隙以及肾脏为主要的移行部位;从外套膜、触角、阴茎等部位     

Identification of novel susceptibility Loci for kawasaki disease in a Han chinese population by a genome-wide association study

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis syndrome that primarily affects infants and young children. Its etiology is unknown; however, epidemiological findings suggest that genetic predisposition underlies disease susceptibility. Taiwan has the third-highest incidence of KD in the world, after Japan and Korea. To investigate novel mechanisms that might predispose individuals to KD, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 250 KD patients and 446 controls in a Han Chinese population residing in Taiwan, and further validated our findings in an independent Han Chinese cohort of 208 cases and 366 controls. The most strongly associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the joint analysis corresponded to three novel loci. Among these KD-associated SNPs three were close to the COPB2 (coatomer protein complex beta-2 subunit) gene: rs1873668 (p = 9.52×10⁻⁵), rs4243399 (p = 9.93×10⁻⁵), and rs16849083 (p = 9.93×10⁻⁵). We also identified a SNP in the intronic region of the ERAP1 (endoplasmic reticulum amino peptidase 1) gene (rs149481, p_best = 4.61×10⁻⁵). Six SNPs (rs17113284, rs8005468, rs10129255, rs2007467, rs10150241, and rs12590667) clustered in an area containing immunoglobulin heavy chain variable regions genes, with p_best-values between 2.08×10⁻⁵ and 8.93×10⁻⁶, were also identified. This is the first KD GWAS performed in a Han Chinese population. The novel KD candidates we identified have been implicated in T cell receptor signaling, regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as antibody-mediated immune responses. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the underlying molecular pathogenesis of KD.     

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection among Swine Farmers and the General Population in Rural Taiwan

Objectives

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HEV infection among swine farmers and the general population in Taiwan, a nonendemic country.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study in rural Taiwan in 2012 and 2013. The study included swine farmers, health examination attendees, pregnant women, and students. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM against HEV. Pertinent information was collected using a questionnaire.

Results

In total, 660 participants were enrolled in the study, including 156 swine farmers, 314 health examination attendees, 100 pregnant women, and 90 students. IgG anti-HEV was detected in 29.5% of swine farmers, 11.5% of health examination attendees, 2% of pregnant women, and 1.1% of students. Two subjects were positive for IgM anti-HEV. Logistic regression analysis revealed that swine farmers had an approximately 3.5-fold increased risk (odds ratio [OR], 3.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.91–6.27; p<0.0001) for being seropositive for IgG anti-HEV as compared to the general population. Age was positively associated with seropositive rate (OR, 1.07 per year; 95% CI, 1.05–1.09; p<0.0001).

Conclusion

HEV infection is prevalent in Taiwan. The seroprevalence of HEV infection is high in swine farmers and in the elderly population.     

Polymorphisms of transforming growth factor beta 1 (RS#1800468 and RS#1800471) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma among Zhuangese population,China

Epidemiological evidence has shown two polymorphisms (namely RS#1800468G > A and RS#1800471G > C) of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene may be involved in the cancer development. However, their role in the carcinogenic process of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been less well elaborated. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study including 391 ESCC cases and 508 controls without any evidence of tumors to evaluate the association between these two polymorphisms and ESCC risk and prognosis for Zhuangese population by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR techniques. We found that individuals with the genotypes with RS#1800471 C allele (namely RS#1800471-GC or -CC) had an increased risk of ESCC than those without above genotypes (namely RS#1800471-GG, adjusted odds ratio 3.26 and 5.65, respectively). Further stratification analysis showed that this polymorphism was correlated with tumor histological grades and TNM (tumor, node, and metastasis) stage, and modified the serum levels of TGF-β1. Additionally, RS#1800471 polymorphism affected ESCC prognosis (hazard ratio, 3.40), especially under high serum levels of TGF-β1 conditions. However, RS#1800468 polymorphism was not significantly related to ESCC risk. These findings indicated that TGF-β1 RS#1800471G > C polymorphism may be a genetic modifier for developing ESCC in Zhuangese population.     

The dimerization interface of the glycoprotein Ibβ transmembrane domain corresponds to polar residues within a leucine zipper motif

Experiments with the transmembrane (TM) domains of the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex have indicated that the associations between the TM domains of these subunits play an important role in the proper assembly of the complex. As a first step toward understanding these associations, we previously found that the Ibβ TM domain dimerized strongly in Escherichia coli cell membranes and led to Ibβ TM-CYTO (cytoplasmic domain) dimerization in the SDS-PAGE assay, while neither Ibα nor IX TM-CYTO was able to dimerize. In this study, we used the TOXCAT assay to probe the Ibβ TM domain dimerization interface by Ala- and Leu-scanning mutagenesis. Our results show that this interface is based on a leucine zipper-like heptad repeat pattern of amino acids. Mutating either one of polar residues Gln129 or His139 to Leu or Ala disrupted Ibβ TM dimerization dramatically, indicating that polar residues might form part of the leucine zipper-based dimerization interface. Furthermore, these specific mutational effects in the TOXCAT assay were confirmed in the thiol-disulfide exchange and SDS-PAGE assays. The computational modeling studies further revealed that the most likely leucine zipper interface involves hydrogen bonding of Gln129 and electrostatic interaction of the His139 side chain. Correlation of computer modeling results with experimental mutagenesis studies on the Ibβ TM domain may provide insights for understanding the role of the association of TM domains on the assembly of GP Ib-IX complex.     

Chimeras Reveal a Single Lipid-Interface Residue that Controls MscL Channel Kinetics as well as Mechanosensitivity

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Highlights? MscL from E. coli and S. aureus are functionally distinct mechanosensitive channels ? MscL chimeras allow correlation of structural differences with functional variance ? Residue hydropathy at one site influences gating and state stabilization of MscL ? One residue can vary MscL activity similarly to adjusting a spring of a clasp knife     

半红树植物黄槿的生态生物学特性研究

黄槿是一种具有重要生态、药用和观赏价值的半红树植物,在海岸生态系统中发挥重要作用。对其生态及生物学特性进行研究表明:黄槿属典型阳生性植物,具有较高的光合潜能,适于在热带亚热带地区光照充足的环境中生长。其叶绿素荧光的光合电子传递速率-光响应曲线(RLC)显示,黄槿的相对电子传递速率(rETR)随光合有效辐射(PAR)的升高而逐渐增加,并在PAR 2 751μmol.m-2.s-1时达到最大值,说明其光合系统II在强光照下也能保持较高的电子传递效率。黄槿叶绿素荧光参数显示其具有较高的能量利用效率,叶绿素a/b值(2.44∶1)略低于理论值(3∶1)。黄槿对营养元素的利用率较高,植株体内N、P、K、Ca、Na、Mg的加权平均养分含量分别为1.23%、0.23%、1.34%、0.42%、0.24%、0.41%。P含量偏低,在其栽培过程中应及时补充P元素。该研究结果将对黄槿的引种、栽培及开发利用提供重要的理论依据。