Haemoglobin variants and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children under five years of age living in a high and seasonal malaria transmission area of Burkina Faso

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Genetic factors play a key role in determining resistance/susceptibility to infectious disease. Susceptibility of the human host to malaria infection has been reported to be influenced by genetic factors, which could be confounders if not taken into account in the assessment of the efficacy of interventions against malaria. This study aimed to assess the relationship between haemoglobin genotypes and malaria in children under five years in a site being characterized for future malaria vaccine trials. METHODS: The study population consisted of 452 children living in four rural villages. Hb genotype was determined at enrolment. Clinical malaria incidence was evaluated over a one-year period using combined active and passive surveillance. Prevalence of infection was evaluated via bi-annual cross-sectional surveys. At each follow-up visit, children received a brief clinical examination and thick and thin blood films were prepared for malaria diagnosis. A clinical malaria was defined as Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia >2,500 parasites/ul and axillary temperature [greater than or equal to]37.5degreesC or reported fever over the previous 24 hours. RESULTS: Frequencies of Hb genotypes were 73.2% AA; 15.0% AC; 8.2% AS; 2.2% CC; 1.1% CS and 0.2% SS. Prevalence of infection at enrolment ranged from 61.9%-54.1% among AA, AC and AS children. After one year follow-up, clinical malaria incidence (95% CI) (episodes per person-year) was 1.9 (1.7-2.0) in AA, 1.6 (1.4-2.1) in AC, and 1.7 (1.4-2.0) in AS children. AC genotype was associated with lower incidence of clinical malaria relative to AA genotype among children aged 1-2 years [rate ratio (95% CI) 0.66 (0.42-1.05)] and 2-3 years [rate ratio (95% CI) 0.37 (0.18-0.75)]; an association of opposite direction was however apparent among children aged 3-4 years. AS genotype was associated with lower incidence of clinical malaria relative to AA genotype among children aged 2-3 years [rate ratio (95% CI) 0.63 (0.40-1.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of children, AC or AS genotype was associated with lower risk of clinical malaria relative to AA genotype only among children aged one to three years. It would be advisable for clinical studies of malaria in endemic regions to consider haemoglobin gene differences as a potentially important confounder, particularly among younger children.     

烟气脱硫石膏对滨海农耕土壤磷素形态组成的影响

为探明不同烟气脱硫石膏施用量对滨海农耕土壤中的全磷、有效磷、无机磷组分等的影响,通过田间试验的方式,分别在试验区土壤中施加0t/hm~2、15t/hm~2、30t/hm~2、45t/hm~2烟气脱硫石膏。研究结果表明:与对照组相比,各处理组的土壤全磷含量无显著差异,而土壤中的有效磷和渗滤液中的可溶性磷含量则随着烟气脱硫石膏施入量的增加而降低;施入烟气脱硫石膏后农耕土壤中无机磷含量显著增加,其中又以磷酸钙盐含量的增加为主,磷酸钙盐中的Ca2-P、Ca_8-P和Ca_10-P含量分别增加了30.8%—68.9%、35.2%—66.3%和7.3%—17.8%。烟气脱硫石膏的施用促进了植物的生长发育,有效磷的降低和无机磷组分中磷酸钙盐的增加并未影响到植物对磷素的吸收。因此,烟气脱硫石膏能有效地固定滨海农耕土壤中的溶解态磷,控制土壤过量磷素向水体迁移,降低附近水体富营养化发生的机率,保障区域水体生态系统环境安全。     

多发性骨髓瘤细胞中一个表达上调基因的克隆与分析

根据GenBank收录的多发性骨髓瘤细胞株 (ARH 77)表达上调ESTAF4 2 5 30 0设计引物 ,运用RT PCR检测了 5例多发性骨髓瘤患者及 4例正常人骨髓细胞中该EST的表达水平 .Northern印迹杂交分析该EST在多种组织中的表达 .进一步利用该EST作探针 ,筛选ARH 77cDNA文库 ,获得全长cDNA克隆 ,对该序列进行了分析 .结果显示 ,该EST在多发性骨髓瘤患者骨髓细胞中亦有较高的表达 ,而在正常人骨髓细胞中低表达 .经测序证实 ,该cDNA全长为 4 5 2bp(GenBank收录号 :AF4 87338) .预测其编码一个 5 7个氨基酸的小分子量蛋白质 ,属于与DNA复制有关的解旋酶 引物酶基因家族的新成员 .该基因在多发性骨髓瘤细胞中表达上调 ,其表达水平的改变可能与多发性骨髓瘤的发生与发展有关     

表油菜素内酯喷施时期对宽幅播种小麦产量和氮素利用率的影响

为明确协同提高宽幅播种小麦产量和氮素利用率的表油菜素内酯喷施时期,研究了不同生育时期喷施表油菜素内酯对小麦产量和氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明: 与喷施清水对照相比,喷施表油菜素内酯可通过提高小麦穗粒数或(和)千粒重提高产量,通过促进地上部氮素积累提高氮素吸收效率,进而提高氮素利用率,但不同时期喷施效果存在差异。起身期+灌浆期、拔节期+灌浆期、起身期+拔节期+灌浆期、起身期+开花期+灌浆期喷施处理在所有处理中穗粒数和千粒重增幅最大,产量增幅最高(12.8%～14.0%);同时地上部氮素积累量增幅最大,氮素吸收效率增幅最高(16.4%～18.8%),从而氮素利用率增幅最高。综合施用成本等因素,生产上可采用起身期+灌浆期或拔节期+灌浆期2次间隔喷施模式,实现宽幅播种小麦高产高效栽培。     

Influence of nest box design on internal microclimate: Comparisons of plastic prototypes

Hollow-dependent fauna are declining worldwide, due primarily to the widespread clearing of hollow-bearing trees. Artificial cavities such as timber and plywood boxes are commonly used to increase hollow availability, yet there is increasing evidence that they are poor facsimiles of natural cavities, characterized by lower insulative properties and a shorter field life. We evaluated whether plastic materials could create a nest box with a stable thermal profile that more closely resembles the complex shapes and textures of natural tree hollows while containing fewer mechanical joins that represent potential failure points when installed. We developed three sets of prototype nest boxes comprising various combinations of plastic density (10%, 25% and 50%), insulation (single vs. double wall with or without sawdust between them), nesting chamber (with or without timber inserts) and bedding (with or without decomposed heartwood) and compared their thermal performance in a temperature-controlled laboratory to compare internal temperature and relative humidity. We found double-walled plastic nest box with an internal timber-lined chamber was best able to buffer ambient temperature fluctuations, consistently recording internal temperatures of 6⁺°C below maximum ambient temperature, maintaining high levels of relative humidity (76%–92%) when furnished with decomposed timber heartwood. This design also performed better during a simulated hot day; internal temperatures exhibiting twice the lag time of single-walled designs, noting that plastic density had little influence on internal conditions. While the recruitment and protection of hollow-bearing trees must be a priority, this work shows significant potential in improving the design and functionality of artificial hollows that are critical to the conservation of hollow-dependent species.     

一种城市生态系统现状评价方法及其应用

生态城市建设是未来城市发展的最终趋势。从结构、功能、活动、发展演化规律等方面来看,城市生态系统都可以被看作一个动态变化的系统。将可持续发展理论引入到城市生态系统现状评价中,提出和解释了城市生态系统可持续发展概念;从可持续发展的角度,评价城市生态系统的现状,建立城市生态系统可持续发展评价指标体系。在此基础上,利用集对分析方法,将评价城市生态系统可持续发展水平的多个指标系统合成一个与最优评价集的相对贴近度,用来描述城市生态系统可持续发展水平,并将该方法应用于兰州市城市生态系统现状评价。结果表明,在2004—2010年间,兰州市城市生态系统可持续发展水平呈现折线型关系,而且有明显的陡降现象。具体变化趋势是从2004年的0.5081平缓上升到2005年的0.5581、然后陡降到2006年的0.4073、接着平缓上升直到2009年的0.5010、最后平缓下降到2010年的0.4706。尽管不同时期城市生态系统可持续发展水平有所变化,但是总体来说,一直处在基本可持续发展的水平,协调程度一般;该评价方法能够很好的反映城市生态系统的发展现状,为建设生态城市提供科学依据。     

Linear order of new and established DNA markers around the fragile site at Xq27.3

We have used recombinant clones derived from microdissection of the fragile X region to characterize breakpoints around the fragile site at Xq27.3. So far, no microdissection markers derived from Xq28 material have been found, thus allowing a rapid screening for clones surrounding the fragile site by their presence in a somatic cell hybrid containing Xq27.2-Xqter. A total of 43 new DNA markers from Xq27 have been sublocalized within this chromosome band. Of these new DNA markers, 5 lie in an interval defined as containing the fragile X region. The saturation of Xq27 with DNA markers by microdissection demonstrates the power of this technique and provides the resources for generating a complete physical map of the region.     

卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱研究初探

目的:探究拉曼光谱技术应用于卵巢癌研究的可能性。方法:收集卵巢癌患者血清及健康人血清各20例,用激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱仪进行检测。结果:两组血清的平均拉曼光谱形态和谱峰基本相似,但在约1010、1158、1283、1520、1646、2307和2661cm-17个拉曼频移附近,卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱谱峰强度明显低于健康对照组,而在其余大部分波段,卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱强度均高于健康对照组。结论:拉曼光谱技术可以初步区分卵巢癌及健康人血清,值得进一步研究和探讨其临床应用价值。     

入睡K-综合波产生的生理机制模型仿真研究

在确定人类睡眠脑电客观分期的国际标准中,有两类脑电特征波可以用来确定入睡状态（睡眠第二期）,即纺锤波和K－综合波。在前文中已提出了产生纺锤波的生理机制模型。按照1998年后对K－综合波形成的生理机制的看法,建立了微观神经元环路模型,其放电节律与实验中入睡时神经元放电的振荡节律相一致。而由大量这种相同环路组成的网络模型则在皮层处可产生符合K－综合波的波形。这一结果再次启示了脑信息处理中如何由微观神经元群放电特征整合为脑的宏观功能状态的过程。