A heuristic test for homogeneity in species populations

Summary This paper elaborates on the notion of homogeneity in plant populations and its quantification. It describes a method for testing homogeneity without the need to make assumptions about generalized distributions. The implementation of the method is illustrated through actual numerical examples.This paper presents results from a study of plant populations for which a National Research Council of Canade grant has been received (L. Orlóci).     

Cell sheet technology: a promising strategy in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is a burgeoning field that is important to combat challenging diseases and functional impairments. Compared with traditional cell therapies with evident shortcomings (e.g., cell suspension injection or tissue engineering with scaffolds), scaffold-free cell sheet technology enables transplanted cells to be grafted and fully maintain their viability on target sites. Clinical and experimental studies have advanced the application of cell sheet technology to numerous tissues and organs (e.g., liver, cornea and bone). However, previous reviews have failed to discuss vital aspects of this rapidly developing technology, and many new challenges are gradually emerging. This review aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to cell sheet technology from cell selection to the ultimate applications of cell sheets, and challenges and future visions are also described.     

Kinetics and dynamics of annealing during sub-gel phase formation in phospholipid bilayers: A saturation transfer electron spin resonance study

The saturation transfer electron spin resonance (STESR) spectra of spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine have been used to follow the kinetics of conversion from the gel phase to the sub-gel phase in aqueous bilayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. This is a simple, well-defined model system for lipid domain formation in membranes. The integrated intensity of the STESR spectrum from the chain-labeled lipid first increases and then decreases with time of incubation in the gel phase at 0°C. The first, more rapid phase of the kinetics is attributed to the conversion of germ nuclei to growth nuclei of the sub-gel phase. The increase in STESR intensity corresponds to the reduction in chain mobility of spin labels located in the gel phase at the boundaries of the growth nuclei and correlates with the increase in the diagnostic STESR line height ratios over this time range. The second, slower phase of the kinetics is attributed to growth of the domains of the sub-gel phase. The decrease in STESR intensity over this time regime corresponds to exclusion of the spin-labeled lipids from the tightly packed sub-gel phase and correlates quantitatively with calibrations of the spin label concentration dependence of the STESR intensity in the gel phase. The kinetics of formation of the sub-gel phase are consistent with the classical model for domain formation and growth. At 0°C, the half-time for conversion of germ nuclei to growth nuclei is ∼7.7 h and domain growth of the sub-gel phase is characterized by a rate constant of 0.025 h^-1. The temperature dependence of the STESR spectra from samples annealed at 0°C suggests that the subtransition takes place via dissolution of sub-gel phase domains, possibly accompanied by domain fission.     

Neuronal and Astroglial Correlates Underlying Spatiotemporal Intrinsic Optical Signal in the Rat Hippocampal Slice

Widely used for mapping afferent activated brain areas in vivo, the label-free intrinsic optical signal (IOS) is mainly ascribed to blood volume changes subsequent to glial glutamate uptake. By contrast, IOS imaged in vitro is generally attributed to neuronal and glial cell swelling, however the relative contribution of different cell types and molecular players remained largely unknown. We characterized IOS to Schaffer collateral stimulation in the rat hippocampal slice using a 464-element photodiode-array device that enables IOS monitoring at 0.6 ms time-resolution in combination with simultaneous field potential recordings. We used brief half-maximal stimuli by applying a medium intensity 50 Volt-stimulus train within 50 ms (20 Hz). IOS was primarily observed in the str. pyramidale and proximal region of the str. radiatum of the hippocampus. It was eliminated by tetrodotoxin blockade of voltage-gated Na⁺ channels and was significantly enhanced by suppressing inhibitory signaling with gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor antagonist picrotoxin. We found that IOS was predominantly initiated by postsynaptic Glu receptor activation and progressed by the activation of astroglial Glu transporters and Mg²⁺-independent astroglial N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Under control conditions, role for neuronal K⁺/Cl⁻ cotransporter KCC2, but not for glial Na⁺/K⁺/Cl⁻ cotransporter NKCC1 was observed. Slight enhancement and inhibition of IOS through non-specific Cl⁻ and volume-regulated anion channels, respectively, were also depicted. High-frequency IOS imaging, evoked by brief afferent stimulation in brain slices provide a new paradigm for studying mechanisms underlying IOS genesis. Major players disclosed this way imply that spatiotemporal IOS reflects glutamatergic neuronal activation and astroglial response, as observed within the hippocampus. Our model may help to better interpret in vivo IOS and support diagnosis in the future.     

奶油栓孔菌子实体多糖的理化性质、抗氧化活性与保肝作用

本研究旨在探讨奶油栓孔菌子实体多糖（TLFPS）的化学性质和酒精性肝损伤的保护作用。首先用水提醇沉法提取得到多糖,通过化学组成分析、紫外吸收光谱法、傅里叶红外光谱法和刚果红染色法对多糖结构进行初步表征,以DPPH、ABTS、超氧阴离子自由基的清除能力和铁离子还原能力为指标评价了多糖体外抗氧化能力,在小鼠急性肝损伤之前连续灌喂多糖8d,比较各组小鼠血清和肝的相关生化指标以及组织病理切片来确定多糖对酒精性肝损伤小鼠的保护作用。结果显示：多糖具有β-吡喃糖环结构,含有较高含量的糖醛酸和硫酸根基团,空间构型不具备三股螺旋结构。在体外抗氧化活性方面,多糖对DPPH、ABTS和超氧阴离子自由基均有良好的清除活性,铁离子还原能力也呈良好的剂量依赖性。在小鼠保肝实验中,与模型组相比,多糖能够显著延长小鼠的醉酒时间和缩短醒酒时间,降低了酒精性肝损伤小鼠的肝指数,并且显著降低血清中谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）、谷草转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AST）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）和肝脏中丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）的含量,同时明显提高了肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）和过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）的活性。结果证实奶油栓孔菌子实体多糖具有良好的抗氧化能力,可以减轻由酒精引起的急性肝细胞损伤,而且对机体的毒害作用很小。肝组织病理切片也进一步证实了奶油栓孔菌多糖的保肝活性。研究结果不仅丰富了奶油栓孔菌的药用价值,而且对多糖在功能食品领域的应用提供了药效基础。     

Correction to: Application of a multiphase microreactor chemostat for the determination of reaction kinetics of Staphylococcus carnosus

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Unfortunately, in the “How to Cite as” section, the given and the family name of the author was incorrectly published, the correct name is...     

喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉在小儿先天性心脏病介入手术的临床麻醉效果

目的:探讨喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉在小儿先天性心脏病介入手术的临床麻醉效果。方法:选取2017年4月～2019年5月期间我院收治的行先天性心脏病介入手术患儿98例,根据随机数字表法将其分为对照组(n=49)和研究组(n=49)。对照组给予氯胺酮诱导,全凭丙泊酚维持,面罩吸氧;研究组给予全凭七氟醚诱导、维持,喉罩通气。比较两组患儿麻醉前(T0)、切皮前(T1)、切皮后1 min(T2)、切皮后30 min(T3)、术后(T4)的血流动力学指标[平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)]及应激反应指标[血糖、皮质醇],记录两组患儿手术时间、麻醉诱导时间、术后苏醒时间等围术期指标情况。记录两组围术期不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组手术时间、麻醉诱导时间、术后苏醒时间均短于对照组(P0.05)。两组T0时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);对照组T1～T4时间点MAP、血糖、皮质醇、HR均较T0升高(P0.05);研究组T1～T4时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR与T0时间点比较无差异(P0.05);研究组T1～T4时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR低于对照组(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率比较无差异(P0.05)。结论:小儿先天性心脏病介入手术中应用喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉,诱导迅速且安全、术后苏醒快、手术时间短,可有效维持血流动力学稳定,减少应激反应。