Phenol-oxidase (laccase) activity in strains of the hyphomycete Chalara paradoxa isolated from olive mill wastewater disposal ponds

Production of laccase activity by nine strains of Chalara paradoxa isolated from olive mill wastewater disposal ponds were studied. Enzyme extracts obtained from cultured broths by adsorption on hydroxyapatite showed a single band of laccase activity on ABTS after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). They showed small mobility differences, with molecular masses of 67 to 68 kDa. Enzymes from the different strains oxidized a variety of phenolic and non-phenolic substances, and they could be divided into two groups according to their relative activities on substrates. All laccases showed a dual pH dependence of activity, with a maximum in the range of pH 3.0 to 4.5 for ABTS, o-dianisidine and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, and pH 6.0 (Group 1) or pH 6.5 (Group 2) for syringaldazine and other substrates. Optimal temperatures were in the range of 10 to 28 degrees C for two strains (maximum at 10 degrees C) and 10 to 37 degrees C for the rest. The different enzymes were partially inactivated by heating at 60 degrees C and totally inactivated at 70 degrees C. Laccases were stable in a pH range of 3.0 to 9.0 (except for strain 36A, which was partially inactivated at pH 3.0), but became inactivated at pH 2.0. Altogether these data suggest that Ch. paradoxa strains produce different laccase isoenzymes.     

儿童过敏性紫癜早期肾损伤中VCAM-1的临床意义

目的：探讨血管细胞粘附分子-1（VCAM-1）的检测在儿童过敏性紫癜（AP）早期肾损伤中的临床意义。方法：选择明确诊断为AP 患儿85 例,均为早期无肾损害的AP病儿。根据第七版诸福棠实用儿科学有关章节的诊断标准和随访结果,进一步将研究对象分为有肾损害AP 为APN 组,无肾损害AP为AP 组,于同时间、同群体中选择健康儿童35 名为对照组。应用ELISA 法分别检测三组患儿早期无肾损害时血VCAM-1 的含量,分析血VCAM-1在儿童过敏性紫癜早期肾损伤中的临床意义。结果：APN 组血VCAM-1 水平均高于AP组和正常对照组;AP 组亦高于正常对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论：对早期无肾损害的AP病儿,检测血浆VCAM-1 对AP发生APN 的预后诊断有重要的临床意义。     

血清胆红素水平与缺血性卒中的相关性研究

目的：脑卒中是威胁人类健康三大疾病之一,是我国成人致残的首要原因,其中80％是缺血性卒中。本文意在研究血清胆红素水平与缺血性卒中严重程度、发病机理以及颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的关系,以进一步为防治缺血性卒中的发生、发展提供新的途径。方法：选择缺血性脑卒中患者（观察组）150例和同期健康体检者（对照组）150例,分别测定两组的血清总胆红素水平（TBIL）、间接胆红素（DBIL）、直接胆红素（IBIL）,并对病例组进行TOAST分型、NIHSS评分及颈部血管超声检查。比较两组间血清胆红素,及观察组内不同分型组间血清胆红素的差异。结果：缺血性卒中患者TBIL、DBIL水平显著高于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。缺血性卒中患者按TOAST分型各亚型间血清TBIL、DBIL、IBIL水平差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。中重型脑梗死组与轻型脑梗死组比较,血清TBIL、DBIL、IBIL浓度均明显升高,差别具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。缺血性卒中患者中有动脉粥样硬化斑块形成组血清TBIL、DBIL水平低于颈部动脉内膜光滑、完整者组,差别有统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：缺血性卒中患者血清胆红素升高,参与急性应激反应,可能作为衡量缺血性卒中严重程度的指标之一;高水平血清胆红素可能预防颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成,从而预防缺血性卒中的发生。     

Prevalence of keds on city dogs in central Poland

The aim of this study was to identify the species of ked infesting dogs in the cities of central Poland. A total of 510 dogs were observed between June and September 2015. The presence of keds was noted in 182 (35.7%) animals. Keds were more prevalent in female (38.0%) than in male (33.2%) dogs, and were more frequently found in animals younger than 1 year (46.2%) and in long‐haired dogs (36.6%). The body areas most heavily colonized by keds were the groin (35.4%) and neck (21.4%). A total of 904 keds were isolated from dogs, including Hippobosca equina (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) (17.2%), Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) (32.0%), and two species not previously encountered in Poland: Hippobosca longipennis (45.0%) and Lipoptena fortisetosa (5.9%). Hippoboscidae may act as vectors of pathogens and any shifts in their geographic range may lead to the spread of new diseases affecting animals.     

Spermatogenesis in the archaic hydrothermal vent bivalve,Bathypecten vulcani,and comparison of spermatozoon ultrastructure with littoral pectinids

Summary

Bathypecten vulcani is considered a relict species from the Paleozoic, based on shell characteristics such as the presence of calcite prisms. To date, it is the only pectinid species reported from hydrothermal ecosystems. Histological and ultrastructural studies show that spermatogenesis is identical to that of littoral pectinids. The spermatozoon has a 2.7 μm long pyriform head and a 40 μm flagellum. The four mitochondria of the mid-piece are about 1.2 μm in diameter. The nucleus contains dense chromatin fibres and possesses a wide, shallow (0.1 μm) anterior fossa and a narrow, deeper (0.2 μm) posterior nuclear fossa. Comparison of the ultrastructural characteristics of the spermatozoon of B. vulcani with those of littoral pectinids shows that they can be used as a diagnostic feature of this species. In particular, its acrosome characters will be a useful complement to the shell characters in the study of the phylogenetic position of this species in relation to other pectinids.