Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr (thymopentin) accelerates the cholinergic-induced inactivation (desensitization) of reconstituted nicotinic receptor

1. The thymic hormone thymopoietin blocks neuromuscular transmission and was proposed (Goldstein, 1974) as a modulator of synaptic conductivity. 2. The cholinergic-induced inactivation of nicotinic receptor reconstituted into asolectin lipid vesicles was studied in the presence and in the absence of thymopentin, a synthetic pentapeptide corresponding to positions 32-36 of thymopoietin. 3. The present data show that thymopentin accelerates desensitization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, supporting the aforementioned physiological role proposed for thymopoietin. 4. They also suggest that the hormone itself and/or a yet unidentified hormine-derived peptide fragment may act as an endogenous ligand for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor desensitization.     

Functional and biochemical features of alcohol dehydrogenase in four species of the obscura group of Drosophila

The biochemical features of ADH of four Drosophila species of the obscura group have been studied. The relationship between ethanol tolerance and ADH activity has been investigated. Propan-2-ol and acetone concentrations have been determined in propan-2-ol treated flies and ADH activity has been followed during 96 h of propan-2-ol treatment. Data on the ADH system confirm constructed phylogenies based on electrophoretic variation and chromosome homologies.     

The youngest sauropod evidence in Europe

Titanosaur sauropods constituted one of the major dinosaur faunal components in Europe along the latest Cretaceous. Although they were abundant in the late Campanian–early Maastrichtian, titanosaurs apparently demised in terms of diversity and abundance in the late Maastrichtian Ibero-Armorican domain. Thus, any finding in this crucial period provides new clues to understand the biodiversity trend of the group prior to the K–Pg boundary. Here, we report the occurrence of a vertebral element attributed to a titanosaur in fluvial deposits dated as uppermost Maastrichtian (C29r chrone). The specimen corresponds to the right posterior part of a posterior cervical vertebra. CT-scan and histological analyses revealed high pneumatisation with laminar structures composed of compact bone, strongly remodelled with at least three generations of secondary osteons. These evidences suggest a relatively advanced age for the individual at death. Given that the partial vertebra was recovered from the uppermost portion of the late Maastrichtian, it might represent the youngest evidence for titanosaur sauropods in Europe discovered so far. Further, alongside to other remains (i.e. eggshells and footprints), the studied partial vertebra provides evidence for the persistence of this taxonomic group at the very end of the Cretaceous in southwestern Europe.     

Selection of efficient VA mycorrhizal fungi

Summary A procedure is described for selection and screening of VA mycorrhizal fungi in pot and field trials. The VA mycorrhizal fungi from 20 farm paddocks with unexpectedly high pasture production were compared withGlomus fasciculatus for ability to stimulate plant growth. The fungi from three soils (F4, F11, and F20) which were 84–142% more effective thanG. fasciculatus at stimulating growth in sterilised soils were then tested for ability to stimulate clover growth in unsterilised soils in pots, and in the field. F4, F11 and F20 were more efficient thanG. fasciculatus and the indigenous mycorrhizal fungi in all except one field soil.     

Control of the biosynthetic pathway of Sesamia nonagrioides sex pheromone by the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide

(Z)-11-Hexadecenyl acetate, the main pheromone component of Sesamia nonagrioides sex pheromone, is biosynthesized from palmitic acid by Delta(11)-desaturation followed by reduction and acetylation. Production of (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate is regulated by the Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN). Transformation of (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol into the corresponding acetate is a target step for PBAN in the regulation of this biosynthetic sequence, thus being the first example of a PBAN-activated acetylation. The production of the minor component (Z)-11-hexadecenal is also stimulated by PBAN. The usefulness of pentafluorobenzyloxime-derivatives for the analysis of aldehyde pheromone constituents by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is also reported.     

右美托咪定联合七氟烷对心脑血管介入患者血液动力学及苏醒影响

目的:探究右美托咪定联合七氟烷对心脑血管介入治疗患者血液动力学影响,并分析药物对患者苏醒干预效果。方法:选择2015年3月至2019年3月于我院均接受介入治疗的心脑血管系统疾病92例,按照随机数字表法将其均分为研究组与对照组(各46例),对照组采用七氟烷麻醉并以生理盐水进行连续泵注,研究组采用七氟烷联合右美托咪定的方式实施麻醉,对比两组T_0(麻醉诱导前)、T_1(气管插管后)、T_2(手术结束时)、S_1(苏醒即刻)、S_2(指令配合)、S_3(气管拔除)时的心率(Heart rate,HR)、平均动脉压(Mean arterial pressure,MAP),对比两组苏醒时Riker镇静和躁动评分(Riker sedation and agitation score,SAS)及拔管时间。结果:(1)对比显示,T_0时,两组患者HR与MAP对比差异不具有统计学意义(P0.05),T_1及T_2时刻研究组HR及MAP均明显低于对照组(P0.05);(2)S_1时刻两组HR及MAP对比差异不具有统计学意义(P0.05),S_2及S_3时刻研究组HR及MAP均明显低于对照组(P0.05);(3)研究组苏醒时其SAS评分低于对照组,拔管时间短于对照组(P0.05);(4)观察组随访期间心脑血管事件的发生率为10.87%,显著低于对照组的28.26%(P0.05)。同时,两组随访期间各死亡1例。结论:心脑血管疾病行介入治疗患者应用右美托咪定联合七氟烷干预能够显著稳定患者血液动力学,同时还能够改善患者苏醒状态,缓解患者随麻醉作用减弱而出现的应激反应,减少心脑血管事件的发生,改善预后。     

Presence of an extra chromosome alters meiotic double-stranded break repair dynamics and MLH1 foci distribution in human oocytes

Studies performed on human trisomic 21 oocytes have revealed that during meiosis, the three homologues 21 synapse and, in some cases, achieve what looks like a trivalent. This implies that meiotic recombination takes place among the three homologous chromosomes 21, and to some extent, crossovers form between them. To see how meiotic recombination is in the presence of an extra chromosome 21, we analyzed the distribution of three recombination markers (γH2AX, RPA, and MLH1) on trisomic 21 oocytes at pachynema and, in particular, on chromosomes 21. Results clearly show how the presence of an extra chromosome 21 alters meiotic recombination progression, leading to the presence of a higher number of early recombination markers at pachynema. Moreover, the distribution on these chromosomes 21 of some of these markers is different in aneuploid oocytes. Finally, there is a substantial increase in the number of MLH1 foci, a marker of most crossovers in mammals, which is related to the number of synapsed chromosomes in pachynema. Thus, bivalents 21 had fewer MLH1 foci than partial or total trivalents, suggesting a close relationship between synapsis and crossover designation. All of the data presented suggest that the presence of an extra chromosome alters meiotic recombination globally in aneuploid human oocytes.     

Identification and mapping of a locus conferring plum pox virus resistance in two apricot-improved linkage maps

Sharka disease, caused by the plum pox virus (PPV), is one of the major limiting factors for stone fruit crops in Europe and America. In particular, apricot is severely affected suffering significant fruit losses. Thus, PPV resistance is a trait of great interest for the apricot breeding programs currently in progress. In this work, two apricot maps, earlier constructed with the F₁ ‘Goldrich × Currot’ (G×C) and the F₂ ‘Lito × Lito’-98 (L×L-98) populations, have been improved including 43 and 37 new simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, respectively, to facilitate PPV resistance trait mapping. Screening of PPV resistance on the segregating populations classified seedling phenotypes into resistant or susceptible. A non-parametric mapping method, based on the Kruskal–Wallis (KW) rank sum test, was initially used to score marker–trait association, and results were confirmed by interval mapping. Contrary to the putative digenic model inferred from the phenotypic segregations, all significant markers for the KW statistic (P < 0.005) mapped in a unique region of ~21.0 and ~20.3 cM located on the upper part of the G1 linkage group in ‘G×C’ and ‘L×L-98’ maps, respectively. According to the data, PPV resistance is suggested to be controlled by at least one major dominant locus. The association between three SSRs distributed within this region and the PPV resistance was tested in two additional populations (‘Goldrich × Canino’ and ‘Lito × Lito’-00) and breeding program parents. The marker ssrPaCITA5 showed the highest KW value (P < 0.005) in all cases, pointing out its usefulness in marker-assisted selection. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.