菰适应湿地环境的解剖和屏障结构特征研究

菰(Zizania latifolia)是一种多年生挺水植物,为了探讨该植物根、茎和叶的解剖结构、组织化学及其质外体屏障的通透性生理。该文利用光学显微镜和荧光显微镜,对菰的根、茎、叶进行了解剖学和组织化学研究。结果表明:(1)菰不定根解剖结构由外而内分别为表皮、外皮层、单层细胞的厚壁机械组织层、皮层、内皮层和维管柱;茎结构由外而内分别为角质层、表皮、周缘厚壁机械组织层、皮层、具维管束的厚壁组织层和髓腔。叶鞘具有表皮和具维管束皮层,叶片具有表皮,叶肉和维管束。(2)不定根具有位于内侧的内皮层及其邻近栓质化细胞和外侧的外皮层组成的屏障结构;茎具内侧厚壁机械组织层,外侧的角质层和周缘厚壁机械组织层组成的屏障结构,屏障结构的细胞壁具凯氏带、木栓质和木质素沉积的组织化学特点,叶表面具有角质层。(3)菰通气组织包括根中通气组织,茎、叶皮层的通气组织和髓腔。(4)菰的屏障结构和解剖结构是其适应湿地环境的重要特征,但其茎周缘厚壁层和厚壁组织层较薄。由此推测,菰适应湿地环境,但在旱生环境中分布有一定的局限性。     

雄全异株植物白牛槭功能性状与碳素含量关联性研究

以雄全异株植物白牛槭为研究对象,在3个不同的花果发育期(盛花期、果实膨大期和果实成熟期)将雄全异株繁育系统和植物功能性状相结合,从功能性状与碳元素关联性角度研究植物繁殖和营养生长过程,探讨白牛槭适应环境的策略以及其两性植株在营养与繁殖之间的权衡关系。结果显示:(1)白牛槭枝叶功能性状在同一花果发育期内,除果实膨大期两性植株与雄株的叶干物质含量有显著差异外,其他2个花果发育期两性植株与雄株比叶面积(SLA)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)和枝干物质含量(BDMC)均无显著差异。不同花果发育期(盛花期、果实膨大期和成熟期)之间枝叶功能性状差异极显著,两性植株盛花期与果实膨大期的LDMC差异显著,果实膨大期和成熟期的SLA差异显著,而雄株并不存在这样的差异。(2)两性植株LDMC与BDMC具有极显著正相关关系,而雄株LDMC与BDMC之间呈显著相关关系,较两性植株弱。(3)同一花果发育期内,两性植株与雄株的叶碳含量、枝碳含量差异不显著;枝碳含量在不同花果发育期间差异极显著,大小顺序为:盛花期果实膨大期果实成熟期。(4)两性植株的枝叶碳含量与枝叶干物质含量均呈极显著正相关关系,雄树仅叶碳含量与枝干物质含量呈显著正相关关系。研究表明,白牛槭两性植株与雄株的繁殖和营养生长活动具有明显阶段性,两性植株在资源获取及养分保持能力方面显著大于雄株;在叶片与枝条之间联系紧密程度方面亦是如此,说明两性植株的养分制造及传输系统具有高度的一致性,这是两性植株面临着繁殖压力而做出的适应环境的策略之一,并且两性植株并没有因此而降低其营养生长,这可能与两性植株自身存在制造养分的补偿机制有关。     

重庆市主城区苔藓植物区系研究

对采集的1500份标本进行鉴定并查阅相关文献,共统计出重庆市主城区苔藓植物34科65属206种(含苔类13科14属25种,藓类21科51属181种,重庆市新记录80种),并整理了重庆市主城区苔藓植物名录。其中优势科有丛藓科、青藓科、真藓科、灰藓科、绢藓科和羽藓科,占总种数的62.14%;优势属有青藓属Brachythecium、真藓属Bryum、绢藓属Entodon、美喙藓属Eurhynchium、毛口藓属Trichostomum、凤尾藓属Fissidens、湿地藓属Hyophila和灰藓属Hypnum,占总种数的41.26%。区系成分以北温带和东亚成分为主,分别占32.75%和30.41%;其次是热带成分和中国特有成分。通过与临近4个地区的苔藓植物区系比较发现,重庆市主城区与同纬度的杭州市区苔藓植物区系属、种相似性系数最高;而与其地理距离较近的3个区县的属、种相似性系数较低,这主要是由于重庆市主城区与杭州市区处于同纬度,且均以城市人工生境为主。本研究丰富了重庆市苔藓植物资料,为重庆市苔藓植物区系研究奠定了基础。     

高效降解纤维素产甲烷菌群的富集及其性质研究

以获得1组高效降解纤维素的产甲烷菌群为目的,以蔬菜厌氧消化液、糖蜜厌氧消化液和池塘沉积物底泥为菌株来源,55℃条件下,以滤纸为碳源进行继代培养,检测其甲烷含量,最终获得1组有效分解纤维素的产甲烷菌群。该菌群能够有效分解滤纸,相对分解率可达67.3%,培养7 d甲烷累积产量可达46.5%(体积分数),培养第3天羧甲基纤维素酶(CMC)活性最高值为26.3 U/mL。有机酸中乙酸产量最高,7 d累积量为2.7 g/L。基于16S rRNA基因扩增子高通量测序分析结果表明,细菌的多样性高于古菌。细菌菌群主要由Lutispora、好氧芽胞杆菌属(Aeribacillus)、解硫胺素杆菌属(Aneurinibacillus)、共生小杆菌属(Symbiobacterium)、梭菌属(Clostridium)等组成,其中Lutispora为优势菌群,占细菌总丰度的11.04%。古菌菌群主要包括甲烷嗜热杆菌属(Methanothermobacter)、甲烷丝状菌属(Methanothrix)、甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium)、甲烷螺菌(Methanospirillum)等,其中甲烷嗜热杆菌属为优势古菌菌群,占古菌总丰度的99.82%。这组高效降解纤维素的产甲烷菌群可通过多种微生物协同作用实现纤维素的降解和甲烷的产生。     

八棱海棠种子超低温保存中含水量对糖代谢的影响

含水量是影响种子超低温保存效果的关键因素，而其作用机制尚不完全清楚。为探讨含水量对种子超低温保存生活力的影响途径，该研究以八棱海棠种子为材料，通过硅胶干燥法获得不同含水量的种子，测定超低温保存后种子生活力、糖含量及相关酶指标的变化并分析相关性。结果表明：(1)超低温保存15 d后，不同含水量种子生活力不同，随着种子含水量的降低，种子生活力呈现先升高后降低的趋势，含水量为9.02%的八棱海棠种子生活力最高，为53.33%;超低温保存120 d后，种子生活力随着含水量下降一直升高，含水量为6.40%生活力最高，为27.78%。这表明八棱海棠种子含水量对超低温保存后的生活力有明显影响，但受液氮保存时间影响，随着液氮保存时间的延长，最适含水量降低。(2)相关分析显示，超低温保存后种子含水量与生活力呈极显著负相关(r=-0.82);与果糖和蔗糖含量、酸性转化酶、果糖激酶呈显著负相关，而种子萌发率与这些指标呈显著正相关。这表明种子含水量通过影响酸性转化酶活性而影响蔗糖和果糖含量，进而影响蔗糖代谢，响应低温和脱水胁迫，最终导致生活力差异。种子生活力还受到介导果糖激酶的果糖代谢影响。此外，海藻糖也是种...     

抗RA33抗体与幼年特发性关节炎的诊断意义

目的：通过检测幼年特发性关节炎（JIA）患者血清中的抗RA33抗体,了解抗RA33抗体与幼年特发性关节炎的临床诊断价值。方法：采用酶联免疫固相分析检测81例JIA患儿（女19名,男62名,平均年龄8.6岁,平均病程1.4年）血清中抗RA33抗体、RF,同时以55例儿童系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）等其他关节性疾病或病毒感染患者和49例健康儿童作为对照组。阴阳性结果判断均采用试剂盒推荐的临界值。结果：81例JIA患儿中抗RA33抗体阳性率为11.11%（9/81）,RF阳性率为12.35%（10/81）,特异性均为91.35%;JIA组与正常对照组抗RA33抗体阳性率比较有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,与其他关节性疾病对照组比较差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。JIA组中抗RA33抗体的检出与RF无相关性（P〉0.05）;在JIA各亚型中抗RA33抗体主要存在于全身型和多关节型,各占33.3%和25.0%,RF则只出现于多关节型,占62.5%。两者比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。81例JIA患儿中共有18例关节出现影像学改变,其中4例抗RA33抗体阳性（22.2%）,与未发生影像学改变的JIA患儿比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论：抗RA33抗体尚不能作为JIA早期诊断的新的可靠性指标,抗RA33抗体主要见于全身型和多关节型,对JIA的分型有指导意义。     

子宫内膜癌患者P16基因甲基化和血清CA125检测的临床意义

目的：探讨子宫内膜癌患者P16基因甲基化和血清CA125检测的临床意义。方法：采用DNA甲基化特异性PCR分别对46例子宫内膜癌及12例正常内膜对照组织中抑癌基因p16甲基化进行检测;对所有病例术前均测定血清CA125水平。结果：子宫内膜癌组p16甲基化率45．6％,而12例对照组织均未检测到甲基化;子宫内膜癌组血清CA125水平明显升高。结论：子宫内膜癌患者p16基因甲基化和血清CA125水平与发病关系密切,两者结合对早期诊断及预后判断具有一定的临床指导意义。     

Seasonality of mortality: the September phenomenon in Mediterranean countries

Background

Seasonal increases in the mortality rate have been associated with excessively cold or hot weather. We evaluated monthly patterns of mortality in selected countries.

Methods

We analyzed all-cause mortality statistics from 5 European Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain), Sweden, North America (United States and Canada), Australia, New Zealand and Japan. We extracted and tabulated data on monthly all-cause mortality in the general population from the earliest to the latest year that records were available.

Results

We identified relevant data for a period of 2–57 years in each country. In the Mediterranean countries, the lowest average daily mortality was observed in September (all countries, 125/168 [74%] years). The fewest deaths were in August in Sweden (14/20 [70%] years) and North America (32/50 [64%] years). The fewest deaths in Japan occurred in July (2/2 [100%] years). In the southern hemisphere, the lowest mortality in Australia occurred in March (7/10 [70%] years) and in February for New Zealand (cumulative over 24 years).

Interpretation

Mortality in the general population declines in the late summer to early fall months in the countries evaluated. Environmental parameters may partly account for these associations, and further research is needed on the contribution of additional factors such as summer vacations.Large-scale population studies have shown seasonal variation in mortality rates from various causes in different parts of the world.^1,2 It has been observed that mortality peaks during the cold winter months.³ This observation has led to investigations of the specific causes of death that account for the excess mortality in winter and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.^4,5 Human behavioural patterns, socioeconomic factors and environmental parameters are thought to be related to seasonal variations in mortality.^1,3,6 The elucidation of such associations can aid in the organization of relevant public health services.In our practice, we have observed a consistent reduction in the number of patient visits during September for the last 10 years. We hypothesized that morbidity and subsequently mortality is decreased during September in Greece and probably in other countries with similar climatic and socioeconomic conditions.     

Efficacy and safety of telavancin in clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus have evolved, underscoring the need for novel antibiotics, particularly against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Telavancin is a bactericidal lipoglycopeptide with potent activity against Gram-positive pathogens.

Objective

To systematically review and synthesize the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating telavancin in the treatment of patients with infections due to Gram-positive organisms with the methodology of meta-analysis.

Results

Six RCTs comparing telavancin with vancomycin were included; 4 (2229 patients) referred to complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) and 2 (1503 patients) to hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Regarding cSSTIs, telavancin and vancomycin showed comparable efficacy in clinically evaluable patients (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10 [95% confidence intervals: 0.82–1.48]). Among patients with MRSA infection, telavancin showed higher eradication rates (OR = 1.71 [1.08–2.70]) and a trend towards better clinical response (OR = 1.55 [0.93–2.58]). Regarding HAP, telavancin was non-inferior to vancomycin in terms of clinical response in two Phase III RCTs; mortality rates for the pooled trials were comparable with telavancin (20%) and vancomycin (18.6%). Pooled data from cSSTIs and HAP studies on telavancin 10 mg/kg indicated higher rates of serum creatinine increases (OR = 2.22 [1.38–3.57]), serious adverse events (OR = 1.53 [1.05–2.24]), and adverse event-related withdrawals (OR = 1.49 [1.14–1.95]) among telavancin recipients.

Conclusion

Telavancin might be an alternative to vancomycin in cases of difficult-to-treat MRSA infections. The potent antistaphylococcal activity of telavancin should be weighted against the potential for nephrotoxicity.     

Late Jurassic footprints reveal walking kinematics of theropod dinosaurs

Avanzini, M., Piñuela, L. & García‐Ramos, J.C. 2011: Late Jurassic footprints reveal walking kinematics of theropod dinosaurs. Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 238–252. This study describes a set of theropod footprints collected from the Late Jurassic Lastres Formation (Asturias, N Spain). The footprints are natural casts (tracks and undertracks) grouped into three morphotypes, which are characterized by different size frequency, L/W relationship and divarication angles: ‘Grallatorid’ morphotype, ‘Kayentapus–Magnoavipes’ morphotype, ‘Hispanosauropus’ morphotype. The tracks were produced in firm, stiff and soft sediments. The infills of deep tracks, which are typically formed in soft mud, lack fine anatomical details, but they can reveal the walk kinematics of the trackmaker through the morphology of internal track fills and sinking traces. In all footprints, a horizontal outwardly directed translation movement and rotation are recognizable. The amount and geometry of digit penetration in the ground also show a pronounced difference. It can be inferred from the described sample that different theropoda‐related ichnogenera share common kinematics. □Asturias, dinosaur footprint, late jurassic, theropods, walking kinematics.