黑龙江五大连池的生态价值分析

黑龙江五大连池处于大小兴安岭和松嫩平原的交错地带,在过去210万年间经历了7次大规模的火山喷发,是中国保存最为完好的内陆火山遗迹,2010年被我国政府遴选为世界自然遗产提名地.为了科学、准确地阐述五大连池生态方面的突出普遍价值,本文在<实施世界遗产公约操作指南>的框架下,整合野外调查数据和文献资料,在与其他相关世界遗产地充分比较的基础上,较为全面地分析了五大连池的生态价值.五大连池植物地理特征交错,区系来源广泛;物种组成相对丰富;发育在熔岩台地上的矮曲林反映了植物的特殊适应过程:特有成因形成了陆生和水生两个完整的植被演替序列;陆生植被演替同时存在普通演替和斑块动态演替两种模式,在熔岩地貌上斑块动态演替模式更为随机而高效.上述生态特征充分展示了五大连池正在进行的生物生态过程,体现了五大连池独特的生态价值,为后续有效保护和深入科学研究提供了支撑.     

Is Fetal Growth Restriction Associated with a More Severe Maternal Phenotype in the Setting of Early Onset Pre-Eclampsia? A Retrospective Study

Background

Both pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction are thought to result from abnormal placental implantation in early pregnancy. Consistent with this shared pathophysiology, it is not uncommon to see growth restriction further confound the course of pre-eclampsia and vice versa. It has been previously suggested that superimposed growth restriction is associated with a more severe pre-eclamptic phenotype, however this has not been a consistent finding. Therefore, we set out to determine whether the presence of fetal growth restriction among women with severe early-onset pre-eclampsia was associated with more severe maternal disease compared to those without a growth-restricted fetus.

Methods and Findings

We undertook a retrospective cohort study of women presenting to a tertiary hospital with severe early-onset pre-eclampsia (<34 weeks'' gestation) between 2005–2009. We collected clinical data, including severity of pre-eclampsia, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Of 176 cases of severe pre-eclampsia, 39% (n = 68) were further complicated by fetal growth restriction. However, no significant difference was seen in relation to the severity of pre-eclampsia between those with or without a growth-restricted baby. The presence of concomitant growth restriction was however associated with a significantly increased risk of stillbirth (p = 0.003) and total perinatal mortality (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

The presence of fetal growth restriction among women with severe early-onset pre-eclampsia is not associated with increased severity of maternal disease. However the incidence of stillbirth and perinatal death is significantly increased in this sub-population.     

BMI-1 autoantibody as a new potential biomarker for cervical carcinoma

BMI-1 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, which can elicit an immune response leading to the induction of autoantibodies. However, BMI-1 autoantibody as a biomarker has seldom been studied with the exception of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Whether BMI-1 autoantibodies can be used as a biomarker for cervical carcinoma is unclear. In this study,BMI-1 proteins were isolated by screening of a T7 phage cDNA library from mixed cervical carcinoma tissues. We analyzed BMI-1 autoantibody levels in serum samples from 67 patients with cervical carcinoma and 65 controls using ELISA and immunoblot. BMI-1 mRNA or protein levels were over-expressed in cervical carcinoma cell lines. Immunoblot results exhibited increased BMI-1 autoantibody levels in patient sera compared to normal sera. Additionally, the results for antibody affinity assay showed that there was no difference between cervical polyps and normal sera of BMI-1 autoantibody levels, but it was significantly greater in patient sera than that in normal controls (patient 0.827±0.043 and normal 0.445±0.023; P<0.001). What''s more, the levels of BMI-1 autoantibody increased significantly at stage I (0.672±0.019) compared to normal sera (P<0.001), and levels of BMI-1 autoantibodies were increased gradually during the tumor progression (stage I 0.672±0.019; stage II 0.775 ±0.019; stage III 0.890 ±0.027; stage IV 1.043±0.041), which were significantly correlated with disease progression of cervical carcer (P<0.001). Statistical analyses using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves indicated that the BMI-1 autoantibody level can be used as a biomarker for cervical carcinoma (sensitivity 0.78 and specificity 0.76; AUC = 0.922). In conclusion, measuring BMI-1 autoantibody levels of patients with cervical cancer could have clinical prognostic value as well as a non-tissue specific biomarker for neoplasms expressing BMI-1.     

Randomised controlled trial of computer assisted management of hypertension in primary care.

The hypothesis that general practitioners would obtain better outcomes for patients with hypertension using a computer than doctors not using a computer was tested. Sixty family physicians were randomised to two treatment strategies. "Test" physicians completed a data collection form after each visit from a patient with hypertension and mailed the forms to the test centre for processing. Computer feedback on management was mailed to the doctors. This encouraged doctors to apply the "stepped care" protocol, supplied charts of diastolic blood pressure v time, and ranked patients'' diastolic blood pressures by percentile. Letters were mailed to patients to remind them of appointments. "Control" doctors filled out the same data collection forms as test physicians, but neither doctors nor patients received computer feedback. Physicians who used the computer saw more patients per practice than control doctors (test 50 patients, control 40). For all patients the length of follow up was significantly longer in test practices (test 199 days, control 167), and a smaller percentage dropped out of active treatment in test practices (test 37.5%, control 42.1%). For patients with "moderate" hypertension of a baseline diastolic pressure of greater than 104 mm Hg the mean score of the last recorded pressure was below the goal of 90 mm Hg in test practices (88.5 mm Hg), but it failed to reach this goal in control practices (93.3 mm Hg). A greater average reduction of diastolic pressure was achieved in test practices (test 21.7 mm Hg, control 16.7 mm Hg). Though patients with "moderate" hypertension were better controlled in test practices than in control practices, the patients in test practices visited their doctors less often (test 13.3 visits per patient-year, control 17.4 visits). Among patients with newly detected hypertension test practices achieved a greater reduction in diastolic pressure than control practices (test 15.1 mm Hg v control 11.3 mm Hg) and more sustained control of hypertension (test 323 days per patient-year with a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or less v control 259 days).     

The 1973 WHO Classification Is More Suitable than the 2004 WHO Classification for Predicting Prognosis in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background

Predicting the recurrence and progression of Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC) is critical for urologist. Histological grade provides significant prognostic information, especially for prediction of progression. Currently, the 1973 and the 2004 WHO classification co-exist. Which system is better for predicting rumor recurrence and progression still a matter for debate.

Methodology/Principal Findings

348 patients diagnosed with Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in our retrospective study. Paraffin sections were assessed by an experienced urological pathologist according to both the 1973 and 2004 WHO classifications. Tumor recurrence and progression was followed-up in all patients. During follow-up, corresponding 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of G1, G2 and G3 were 82.1%, 55.9%, 32.1% and the 5-year progression-free survival rates were 95.9%, 84.4% and 43.3%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma(LGPUC) and high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (HGPUC) were 69.8%, 67.1% and 42.0% respectively and the 5-year progression-free survival rates were 100%, 90.9% and 54.8% respectively. In multivariate analysis, the 1973 WHO classification significantly associated with both tumor recurrence and progression(p = 0.010 and p = 0.022, respectively); the 2004 WHO classification correlated with tumor progression(p = 0.019), while was not proved to be a variable that can predict the risk of recurrence(p = 0.547). Kaplan-Meier plots showed that both the 1973 WHO and the 2004 WHO classifications were significantly associated with progression-free survival (p<0.0001, log-rank test). For prediction of recurrence, significant differences were observed between the tumor grades classified using the 1973 WHO grading system (p<0.0001, log-rank test), while a significant overlap was observed between PUNLMP and LG plots using the 2004 WHO grading system(p = 0.616, log-rank test).

Conclusion/Significance

Both the 1973 WHO and the 2004 WHO Classifications are effective in predicting tumor progression in Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, while the 1973 WHO Classification is more suitable for predicting tumor recurrence.     

Different Roles for Contracture and Calpain in Calcium Paradox-Induced Heart Injury

The Ca²⁺ paradox represents a good model to study Ca²⁺ overload injury in ischemic heart diseases. We and others have demonstrated that contracture and calpain are involved in the Ca²⁺ paradox-induced injury. This study aimed to elucidate their roles in this model. The Ca²⁺ paradox was elicited by perfusing isolated rat hearts with Ca²⁺-free KH media for 3 min or 5 min followed by 30 min of Ca²⁺ repletion. The LVDP was measured to reflect contractile function, and the LVEDP was measured to indicate contracture. TTC staining and the quantification of LDH release were used to define cell death. Calpain activity and troponin I release were measured after Ca²⁺ repletion. Ca²⁺ repletion of the once 3-min Ca²⁺ depleted hearts resulted in almost no viable tissues and the disappearance of contractile function. Compared to the effects of the calpain inhibitor MDL28170, KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, reduced the LVEDP level to a greater extent, which was well correlated with improved contractile function recovery and tissue survival. The depletion of Ca²⁺ for 5 min had the same effects on injury as the 3-min Ca²⁺ depletion, except that the LVEDP in the 5-min Ca²⁺ depletion group was lower than the level in the 3-min Ca²⁺ depletion group. KB-R7943 failed to reduce the level of LVEDP, with no improvement in the LVDP recovery in the hearts subjected to the 5-min Ca²⁺ depletion treatment; however, KB-R7943 preserved its protective effects in surviving tissue. Both KB-R7943 and MDL28170 attenuated the Ca²⁺ repletion-induced increase in calpain activity in 3 min or 5 min Ca²⁺ depleted hearts. However, only KB-R7943 reduced the release of troponin I from the Ca²⁺ paradoxic heart. These results provide evidence suggesting that contracture is the main cause for contractile dysfunction, while activation of calpain mediates cell death in the Ca²⁺ paradox.     

不同苹果砧穗组合的生长及光合特性

以‘垂丝海棠’（Malus halliana）和‘平邑甜茶’（Malus hupehensis）为基砧,分别嫁接品种‘烟富6号’和‘长富2号’接穗,测定4种砧穗组合的嫁接亲和性、接穗生长量、光合与荧光参数及叶绿素含量（SPAD）,并用主成分分析法综合评价砧穗组合的优劣,探讨不同苹果砧穗组合嫁接苗的生长及光合特性,为西北盐碱地选择适宜的苹果砧木提供理论依据。结果表明：（1）4种砧穗组合中‘垂丝海棠/烟富6号’的上下口粗度比最接近1,嫁接亲和性最好。（2）整个生长期内,以‘垂丝海棠’为基砧的2个组合嫁接苗的生长量、净光合速率（P_n）、最大荧光（F_m）、PSⅡ最大光能转化率（F_v/F_m）均显著大于‘平邑甜茶’为基砧的组合,但其胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）及初始荧光（F₀）显著低于‘平邑甜茶’为基砧的组合;光化学猝灭系数（qP）在4种砧穗组合中无显著差异。（3）在8月份光照强度较高时,‘垂丝海棠/烟富6号’ 嫁接苗的气孔导度（G_s）高于其他砧穗组合;以‘垂丝海棠’为基砧的2个组合嫁接苗叶片的蒸腾速率（T_r）和相对叶绿素含量（SPAD）显著高于‘平邑甜茶’ 基砧组合。（4）根据主成分分析对各项指标进行综合评价,按照4个砧穗组合的综合得分由高到低依次为：‘垂丝海棠/烟富6号’、‘垂丝海棠/长富2号’、‘平邑甜茶/长富2号’、‘平邑甜茶/烟富6号’。研究发现,基砧‘垂丝海棠’的适应性优于‘平邑甜茶’,且‘垂丝海棠/烟富6号’砧穗组合的嫁接亲和性高,长势强,光合能力优,为甘肃中部地区适宜的砧穗组合。     

双依他尼酸乙醇胺对谷胱甘肽S-转硫酶mu的选择性抑制作用

谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)的同工酶mu(GSTM)高表达与卵巢癌顺铂耐药有关.以GST非选择性抑制剂依他尼酸设计二价潜抑制剂双依他尼酸乙醇胺(aminoethanol di-ethacrynic acid,ADEA),测定ADEA及其与还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)加合物对GST同工酶亚型A1、P1...     

Cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases are used by the fungus Podospora anserina to repel nematodes

Oxylipins are secondary messengers used universally in the living world for communication and defense. The paradigm is that they are produced enzymatically for the eicosanoids and non-enzymatically for the isoprostanoids. They are supposed to be degraded into volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to participate in aroma production. Some such chemicals composed of eight carbons are also envisoned as alternatives to fossil fuels. In fungi, oxylipins have been mostly studied in Aspergilli and shown to be involved in signalling asexual versus sexual development, mycotoxin production and interaction with the host for pathogenic species. Through targeted gene deletions of genes encoding oxylipin-producing enzymes and chemical analysis of oxylipins and volatile organic compounds, we show that in the distantly-related ascomycete Podospora anserina, isoprostanoids are likely produced enzymatically. We show the disappearance in the mutants lacking lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases of the production of 10-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acid and that of 1-octen-3-ol, a common volatile compound. Importantly, this was correlated with the inability of the mutants to repel nematodes as efficiently as the wild type. Overall, our data show that in this fungus, oxylipins are not involved in signalling development but may rather be used directly or as precursors in the production of odors against potential agressors.