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.     

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.     

Development of two loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] linkage maps based on AFLPs and SSR markers from different Rosaceae species

Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] is a Rosaceae fruit species of growing interest as an alternative to the main fruit crops. However, only a few genetic studies have been carried out on this species. This paper reports the construction of the first genetic maps of two loquat cultivars based on AFLP and microsatellite markers from Malus, Eriobotrya, Pyrus and Prunus genera. An F₁ population consisting of 81 individuals, derived from the cross between ‘Algerie’ and ‘Zaozhong-6’ cultivars, was used to construct both maps. A total of 111 scorable simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci resulted from the testing of 440 SSR primer pairs in the analyzed progeny and the SSR transferability to Eriobotrya was found to be 74% from apple, 58% from pear and 49% from Prunus spp. In addition, 183 AFLP polymorphic bands were produced using 42 primer combinations. The ‘Algerie’ map was organized in 17 linkage groups covering a distance of 900 cM and comprising 177 loci (83 SSRs and 94 AFLPs) with an average marker distance of 5.1 cM. Self-incompatibility trait was mapped at the distal part of the LG17 linkage group, as previously reported in Malus and Pyrus. The ‘Zaozhong-6’ map covered 870 cM comprising 146 loci (64 SSRs and 82 AFLPs) with an average marker distance of 5.9 cM. The 44 SSRs and the 48 AFLPs share in common by both maps were essentially collinear and, moreover, the order of the 75% of apple and pear SSRs mapped in Eriobotrya was shown to be consistent across the Maloideae subfamily. As a whole, these maps represent a useful tool to facilitate loquat breeding and an interesting framework for map comparison in the Rosaceae.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema carpocapsae</Emphasis> in a chitosan formulation against the red palm weevil, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</Emphasis>, in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoenix canariensis</Emphasis>

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is an important pest of palms. It has recently colonized the Mediterranean Basin, where it is a serious problem on ornamental Phoenix canariensis (Chabaud) palms. The efficacy of Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in a chitosan formulation (Biorend R^®) against this weevil in a semi-field trial including both preventative and curative assays has been studied. Our results prove the potential of this nematode to control R. ferrugineus. Efficacies around 80% were obtained in the curative assay, and up to 98% in the preventative treatment. Applications repeated every 2–3 weeks during the critical flight periods could prove effective to protect palms from this weevil in the Mediterranean Basin.     

Bacterial biodiversity and dynamics during malolactic fermentation of Tempranillo wines as determined by a culture-independent method (PCR-DGGE)

The bacterial population during malolactic fermentation of Tempranillo wine was studied using the polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, a culture-independent method successfully used for identification and monitoring of bacterial population in different habitats included food fermentations. The results showed that Oenococcus oeni was the predominant species in the malolactic fermentation of Tempranillo wines, although the presence of Gluconobacter oxydans, Asaia siamensis, Serratia sp., and Enterobacter sp. was also observed. These results were partly coincidental with those obtained from a culture-dependent method, using a selective medium. Therefore, it may be concluded that for a more complete knowledge of the bacterial community present during malolactic fermentation of Tempranillo wine, an approach that combines a culture-independent method and a culture-dependent method would be advisable.     

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。