Water cytotoxicity and dioxins bioaccumulation in an Egyptian delta wetland ecosystem

Manzala Lake, as one of the main Egyptian wetland ecosystems, is facing risks of pollution. An in vitro cytotoxicity test using a mammalian cell line was employed to determine the toxicity of multiple pollutants in the water and Tilapia zillii fish sampled from the lake. The concentrations of seven polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and ten polychlorinated dibenzofurans were investigated in water and muscle of the fish in 2014. Cytotoxicity testing showed that the percentage inhibition of cell viability in the studied sites ranged between 56.16% and 83.22%. Dioxin analysis indicated that the average concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzofuran were higher than the toxic equivalence quotients (TEQs) set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in all water and fish muscle samples; however, the average concentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran was higher only in fish muscle samples. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) ranged dramatically between 2 and 58.5 for the detected dioxins. Adverse human health effects through the consumption of fish are not expected, because dioxin levels in fish muscle are deemed safe for human consumption. Implementation of a strategic multidisciplinary action plan is strongly recommended to sustain this delta wetland ecosystem.     

Distribution of N<Superscript>6</Superscript>-Methyladenine in DNA of T2 Phage and its Host <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> B

N⁶-METHYLADENINE (6-MeAde) and 5-methylcytosine occur as minor bases in bacterial and phage DNA^1–7 and seem to result from the selective methylation of adenine and cytosine residues by specific DNA methylases⁸. Methylation is the final stage in DNA synthesis and is essential for the phenomenon of host modification of phages^9–11; it is one of the mechanisms controlling DNA replication in the cell^{12, 13}. A study of the distribution of minor bases in DNA is therefore important not only for the elucidation of the specificity and mechanism of action of DNA methylases but also for an understanding of the purpose of this methylation. We believe that in Escherichia coli, DNA methylase exerts its action on adenine residues in chain terminating triplets: 6-MeAde may serve as a signal for gene termination in this system.     

环渤海红条毛肤石鳖种群遗传多样性研究

以线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶亚基Ⅰ(COⅠ)为遗传标记分析了环渤海红条毛肤石鳖Acanthochiton rubrolineatus 9个种群的遗传多样性及遗传结构。126只个体经PCR扩增测序获得654 bp的COⅠ基因序列,41个多态位点产生29种单倍型,单倍型多样性为0. 899±0. 013,核苷酸多样性为0. 013 3±0. 006 8。种群遗传多样性与纬度(r=-0. 808,P <0. 05)及年平均温度变异系数(r=-0. 795,P <0. 05)呈显著负相关,表明红条毛肤石鳖适应低纬度及温度稳定的海洋环境。分子方差分析表明,遗传变异主要发生在种群内(83. 26%,P <0. 001)。系统发生树与单倍型网络图没有呈现明显的谱系地理结构。种群历史动态结果显示,红条毛肤石鳖在早更新世晚期(第二温暖期)间冰期经历了种群扩张。     

西藏飞蝗九个地理种群群居型形态特征的数量分析

为探讨群居型西藏飞蝗Locusta migratoria tibetensis Chen地理种群数量性状关系,从青藏高原9个地区采集到不同地理种群,以数值分析对形态指标及其比值进行了分析。结果表明,前翅长度(E)、后足股节长度(F)、头宽(C)形态指标和E/F、F/C两个比值可以作为分析种群关系的参数。聚类分析和主成分分析结果相似,能够较好地说明青藏高原9个种群的地理变异和种群相互关系,9个地理种群可以分三个类群,即第Ⅰ类群包括百巴(BB)与八美(BM)种群;第Ⅱ类群包括普兰(PL)、扎囊(ZN)、洛须(LX)种群;第Ⅲ类群包括噶尔(GE)、香孜(XZ)、日土(RT)、那嘎(NG)种群。     

Genealogy and palaeodrainage basins in Yunnan Province: phylogeography of the Yunnan spiny frog,Nanorana yunnanensis (Dicroglossidae)

Historical drainage patterns adjacent to the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau differed markedly from those of today. We examined the relationship between drainage history and geographic patterns of genetic variation in the Yunnan spiny frog, Nanorana yunnanensis, using approximately 981 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA partial sequences from protein‐coding genes ND1 and ND2, and intervening areas including complete tRNA^Ile, tRNA^Gln and tRNA^Met. Two null hypotheses were tested: (i) that genetic patterns do not correspond to the development of drainage systems and (ii) that populations had been stable and not experienced population expansion, bottlenecking and selection. Genealogical analyses identified three, major, well‐supported maternal lineages, each of which had two sublineages. These divergent lineages were completely concordant with six geographical regions. Genetic structure and divergence were strongly congruent with historical rather than contemporary drainage patterns. Most lineages and sublineages were formed via population fragmentation during the rearrangement of paleodrainage basins in the Early Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Sympatric lineages occurred only in localities at the boundaries of major drainages, likely reflecting secondary contact of previously allopatric populations. Extensive population expansion probably occurred early in the Middle Pleistocene accompanying dramatic climatic oscillations.     

Fat liquefaction: effect of low-level laser energy on adipose tissue

Low-level laser energy has been increasingly used in the treatment of a broad range of conditions and has improved wound healing, reduced edema, and relieved pain of various etiologies. This study examined whether 635-nm low-level lasers had an effect on adipose tissue in vivo and the procedural implementation of lipoplasty/liposuction techniques. The experiment investigated the effect of 635-nm, 10-mW diode laser radiation with exclusive energy dispersing optics. Total energy values of 1.2 J/cm(2), 2.4 J/cm(2), and 3.6 J/cm(2) were applied on human adipose tissue taken from lipectomy samples of 12 healthy women. The tissue samples were irradiated for 0, 2, 4, and 6 minutes with and without tumescent solution and were studied using the protocols of transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Nonirradiated tissue samples were taken for reference. More than 180 images were recorded and professionally evaluated. All microscopic results showed that without laser exposure the normal adipose tissue appeared as a grape-shaped node. After 4 minutes of laser exposure, 80 percent of the fat was released from the adipose cells; at 6 minutes of laser exposure, 99 percent of the fat was released from the adipocyte. The released fat was collected in the interstitial space. Transmission electron microscopic images of the adipose tissue taken at x60,000 showed a transitory pore and complete deflation of the adipocytes. The low-level laser energy affected the adipose cell by causing a transitory pore in the cell membrane to open, which permitted the fat content to go from inside to outside the cell. The cells in the interstitial space and the capillaries remained intact. Low-level laser-assisted lipoplasty has a significant impact on the procedural implementation of lipoplasty techniques.     

Botanical origin and geographic differentiation of bee-pollen produced in high mountains from the Colombian eastern Andes

In the high mountains of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera (~2000–3000 m above sea level), at the Altiplano Cundiboyacense region and surroundings, beekeepers have specialised in pollen production with substantial harvests all year round. Despite this productive advantage, the knowledge about plants used by honeybees as pollen resources is still limited. Hence, the aim of this work was to identify the botanical origin of bee pollen from this region and to examine differences between five distinguished sub-regions: Sabana de Bogotá, Fúquene, Márquez, Tundama and Norte-Gutiérrez. By means of palynological analyses of 86 pollen samples produced between 2008 and 2010, we found a total amount of 126 pollen types, most of them belonging to the families Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Major pollen types correspond to the exotic taxa Hypochaeris radicata, Brassicaceae, Eucalyptus globulus, Trifolium repens, Trifolium pratense and the native taxa Quercus humboldtii and Weinmannia sp. Differences between sample groups from the five sub-regions were mainly associated to variations in pollen abundance and frequency of native plant species. This result highlights the potential for commercialising bee-pollen from the Colombian Eastern Cordillera with geographical origin differentiation, as well as the importance for beekeeping in promoting the conservation of the natural ecosystems from the region.     

创伤患者急性肾功能损伤诊断与治疗

目的:探讨患者创伤后发生急性肾损伤的患者发病率、临床特点以及发病危险因素,以便有效预防和及早治疗。方法:回顾性分析我院重症监护室2004年1月至2010年12月收治的创伤患者相关临床资料,分析创伤后急性肾损伤的发病率以及发病危险因素。结果:共有106例患者纳入我们的研究,其中47例患者创伤后并发急性肾损伤。在发生急性肾损伤患者中,平均年龄为31±19岁,84.6%为男性;其中25例为脓毒血症引起,18例是因为低血压导致急性肾功能损伤。所有患者中,24例患者出现了少尿的症状,19例患者进行了透析治疗。腹部外伤[(OR)=3.66,P=0.027]和应用呋塞米[(OR=4.10,P=0.026)]是发生急性肾损伤的危险因素。结论:急性肾损伤时创伤后的严重并发症之一,死亡率高。只有找到创伤后发生急性肾损伤的危险因素,才能有效预防和及早治疗。