The dynamic structure underlying subthreshold oscillatory activity and the onset of spikes in a model of medial entorhinal cortex stellate cells

Medial entorhinal cortex layer II stellate cells display subthreshold oscillations (STOs). We study a single compartment biophysical model of such cells which qualitatively reproduces these STOs. We argue that in the subthreshold interval (STI) the seven-dimensional model can be reduced to a three-dimensional system of equations with well differentiated times scales. Using dynamical systems arguments we provide a mechanism for generations of STOs. This mechanism is based on the “canard structure,” in which relevant trajectories stay close to repelling manifolds for a significant interval of time. We also show that the transition from subthreshold oscillatory activity to spiking (“canard explosion”) is controlled in the STI by the same structure. A similar mechanism is invoked to explain why noise increases the robustness of the STO regime. Taking advantage of the reduction of the dimensionality of the full stellate cell system, we propose a nonlinear artificially spiking (NAS) model in which the STI reduced system is supplemented with a threshold for spiking and a reset voltage. We show that the synchronization properties in networks made up of the NAS cells are similar to those of networks using the full stellate cell models. In memory of Angel A. Alonso     

Characterization of human DHRS6, an orphan short chain dehydrogenase/reductase enzyme: a novel, cytosolic type 2 R-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase

Human DHRS6 is a previously uncharacterized member of the short chain dehydrogenases/reductase family and displays significant homologies to bacterial hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenases. Substrate screening reveals sole NAD(+)-dependent conversion of (R)-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate with K(m) values of about 10 mm, consistent with plasma levels of circulating ketone bodies in situations of starvation or ketoacidosis. The structure of human DHRS6 was determined at a resolution of 1.8 A in complex with NAD(H) and reveals a tetrameric organization with a short chain dehydrogenases/reductase-typical folding pattern. A highly conserved triad of Arg residues ("triple R" motif consisting of Arg(144), Arg(188), and Arg(205)) was found to bind a sulfate molecule at the active site. Docking analysis of R-beta-hydroxybutyrate into the active site reveals an experimentally consistent model of substrate carboxylate binding and catalytically competent orientation. GFP reporter gene analysis reveals a cytosolic localization upon transfection into mammalian cells. These data establish DHRS6 as a novel, cytosolic type 2 (R)-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, distinct from its well characterized mitochondrial type 1 counterpart. The properties determined for DHRS6 suggest a possible physiological role in cytosolic ketone body utilization, either as a secondary system for energy supply in starvation or to generate precursors for lipid and sterol synthesis.     

Biosynthesis of hopanoids by sulfate-reducing bacteria (genus Desulfovibrio)

Sulfate reduction accounts for about a half of the remineralization of organic carbon in anoxic marine shelf regions. Moreover, it was already a major microbial process in the very early ocean at least 2.4 billion years before the present. Here we demonstrate for the first time the capability of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to biosynthesize hopanoids, compounds that are quantitatively important and widely distributed biomarkers in recent and fossil sediments dating back to the late Archean. We found high concentrations (9.8-12.3 mg per gram of dry cells) of non-extended and extended bacteriohopanoids (bacteriohopanetetrol, aminobacteriohopanetriol, aminobacteriohopanetetrol) in pure cultures of SRB belonging to the widely distributed genus Desulfovibrio. Biohopanoids were found--considered as membrane rigidifiers--in more than 50% of bacterial species analysed so far. However, their biosynthesis appeared to be restricted to aerobes or facultative anaerobes with a very few recently described exceptions. Consequently, findings of sedimentary hopanoids are often used as indication for oxygenated settings. Nevertheless, our findings shed new light on the presence of hopanoids in specific anoxic settings and suggests that SRB are substantial sources of this quantitatively important lipid class in recent but also past anoxic environments.     

张家界山区角倍蚜两虫态过冷却点比较及人工植藓保蚜越冬技术

为了解张家界地区所产角倍蚜Schlechtendalia chinensis(Bell)秋迁蚜及越冬若蚜的耐寒性及两虫态间在耐寒性方面的差异,应用过冷却点测定仪,抽样测定了上述两虫态个体的过冷却点和体液结冰点,结果表明:秋迁角倍蚜过冷却点和体液结冰点的平均值、最低值和最高值分别依次为-13.32±0.77,-15.69,-11.12℃和-13.00±0.72,-14.54,-10.80℃;而无翅若蚜过冷却点和体液结冰点的平均值、最低值和最高值分别依次为-18.95±0.82,-20.24,-17.02℃和-18.70±0.82,-20.07,-16.95℃。方差分析表明,越冬若蚜的过冷却点和体液结冰点都明显低于秋迁蚜的过冷却点和体液结冰点,进而推测,越冬若蚜的耐寒能力要显著强于秋迁蚜的耐寒能力。试验还表明,张家界地区角倍蚜的次生寄主苔藓(侧枝匐灯藓Plagiomnium maximoiczii)通过人工植藓可在小型聚酯瓶(polyester bottle)内正常生长,接种后的秋迁蚜可顺利生产若蚜,若蚜也能顺利产织蜡球进而度过寒冷的冬天直至下一年春迁蚜产生。     

蝰蛇咬伤治疗期间肾功能指标动态变化分析

目的分析蝰蛇咬伤治疗期间患者肾功能指标的变化情况。方法对近10年来我院收住院治疗的219例蝰蛇咬伤患者的临床资料进行收集整理,将符合本文动态观察要求的28例患者的资料进行分析。结果 28例患者的3项肾功能指标在第2、3次检测时均为快速上升,在第3次检测时均值达到高峰,第4次检测时均开始下降,到第6、7次检测时均基本降至正常水平。结论蝰蛇咬伤患者治疗期间肾功能损害呈动态变化,且3项肾功能指标均值升高和降低均有较好的相关性。     

肝硬化患者外周血IL-8,IL-8 mRNA表达及其与血清ALT、AST水平相关性

目的 探讨肝硬化患者血清IL-8含量及外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)中IL-8 mRNA表达,及其与ALT、AST相关性.方法 以ELISA法检测血清IL-8含量,定量PCR检测65例肝硬化患者(代偿期36例,失代偿期29例)外周血IL-8 mRNA水平,设GAPDH为参照,以logcDNA/logGAPDH比值代表其最终mRNA水平.结果 肝硬化患者外周血IL-8及其mRNA表达量分别为(448.41±59.46)pg/mL、(1.4850±0.1801)logcDNA/logGAPDH,较正常组显著增高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).其中,ALT异常组IL-8及其mRNA表达量分别为(465.73±48.88)pg/mL、(1.5207±0.1684)logcDNA/logGAPDH,与ALT正常组相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).AST异常组IL-8及其mRNA表达量分别为(467.39±48.48)pg/mL、(1.5419±0.1650)logcDNA/logGAPDH,与AST正常组相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).肝硬化外周血IL-8及其mRNA与ALT(r =0.764,r =0.612,P＜0.01)及AST(r =0.711,r=0.579,P＜0.01)显著相关.结论 肝硬化外周血IL-8及其mRNA表达升高,并与血清ALT、AST水平密切相关,提示IL-8可能参与了肝硬化的致炎分子病理过程,似可作为反映肝脏炎症变化的新型辅助指标.     

一种高效的单质粒模式四环素诱导表达系统的构建

现有的四环素诱导调控系统基于两个单独的质粒分别表达反式结合蛋白和外源基因.其缺点是在建立转基因定量表达动物模型时,需要制备和维持两个动物品系,再进行杂交才有可能获得双转基因后代,步骤繁琐,难度较大.针对上述缺陷,本研究尝试将反式蛋白rtTA表达框和低背景响应元件Ptight组装到同一个载体上,构建为严谨型单载体模式的诱导表达系统pTRE-Tight-rtTA,并通过两种报告基因的表达对其调控活性进行了研究.含有荧光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白的pTRE-Tight-rtTA-Luc和pTRE-Tight-rtTA-EGFP报告载体分别转染猪肾PK15细胞并经强力霉素处理,均可成功诱导报告基因的定量表达.在等摩尔转染条件下,单载体系统的诱导效率明显高于双载体系统（Dox-1 000 ng,10 倍;Dox-10 000 ng,8 倍）.该诱导型单载体系统的成功构建为外源基因的定量表达提供了新手段,为转基因定量表达动物模型的研究提供了新策略.     

乙型肝炎患者凝血功能与胱抑素C 联合检测的临床意义

目的:探讨乙型肝炎患者凝血功能与血清胱抑素C联合检测的临床诊断价值。方法:收集260例乙型肝炎患者为实验组及健康者70例为对照组,采用全自动凝血分析仪进行活化部分凝血酶时间(APTT)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)的测定,采用全自动生化分析仪进行血清胱抑素C、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、血清γ谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)的检测。结果:除急性肝炎组外,其他各组乙型肝炎患者的APTT、PT值均高于对照组(P<0.05)。重型肝炎和肝炎肝硬化组FIB值均低于对照组(P<0.05);对于血清胱抑素C水平,除急性肝炎组外,其他各组值均明显高于健康对照组(P<0.05),且肝炎肝硬化组依次高于重型肝炎组和慢性肝炎组。各实验组ALT和AST水平均明显高于对照组(P<0.05),而对于GGT水平,重型肝炎组和肝炎肝硬化组明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:联合检测APTT、PT、FIB凝血功能指标与血清胱抑素C水平,对临床判断乙型肝炎患者病变程度及预后具有重要意义。