联合检测血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr可有效提高慢性肾病分期诊断

为了探讨中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白(neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL)和肾损伤分子-1 (kidney injury molecule-1, KIM-1)以及血肌酐(serum creatinine, SCr)联合检测对慢性肾病(chronic kidney disease, CKD)的早期诊断价值,本研究收集260例肾病患者和85例健康体检者,检测其血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr水平。依据肾功能分级标准,CKD患者分为CKD 1期(53例),CKD 2期(68例),CKD 3期(71例),CKD 4期(46例)和CKD 5期(22例),并分析以上指标在各组间的含量差异,及其联合测定对CKD早期的敏感性。与健康对照组相比较,CKD 1期、CKD 2期、3期、4期和5期患者的NGAL、KIM-1水平均明显升高(p<0.001)。血清SCr含量在CKD 3期、4期和5期组较健康对照组显著增加(p<0.001)。以上3项指标均随着CKD严重程度增加而升高。各组指标阳性率分析显示,3项联合检测阳性率高于单项检测阳性率。ROC曲线分析NGAL、KIM-1、SCr对CKD诊断的AUC值F分别是为0.824、0.805、0.856。相关性分析结果显示,GFR和NGAL、KIM-1、SCr相关系数分别是r=-0.784、-0.756、-0.728 (p<0.05)。NGAL与KIM-1、SCr的相关系数分别是r=0.932、0.764 (p<0.05);KIM-1与SCr的相关系数r分别是0.791 (p<0.05)。本研究初步得出结论:血清NGAL、Kim-1可作为CKD早期诊断的重要指标,联合检测血清NGAL、Kim-1、SCr可有效提高CKD早期肾损伤诊断的敏感度,对CKD的分期诊断和治疗具有极其重要的临床价值。     

Flow injection–chemiluminescence determination of acyclovir

The chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of acyclovir (ACV)–potassium permanganate, with formaldehyde as an enhancer, was investigated by the flow‐injection system, and a new method is reported for the determination of ACV on the basis of the reaction. The method is rapid, effective and simple for the determination of acyclovir in the range 0.2–80 mg/L, with a limit of detection of 0.06 mg/L (3 S:N), a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.7% for the determination of 1.0 mg/L acyclovir solution in 11 repeated measurements. The method has been applied to the determination of acyclovir in pharmaceuticals, with satisfactory results. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed briefly. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global Assessment of Genomic Regions Required for Growth in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Identifying genomic elements required for viability is central to our understanding of the basic physiology of bacterial pathogens. Recently, the combination of high-density mutagenesis and deep sequencing has allowed for the identification of required and conditionally required genes in many bacteria. Genes, however, make up only a part of the complex genomes of important bacterial pathogens. Here, we use an unbiased analysis to comprehensively identify genomic regions, including genes, domains, and intergenic elements, required for the optimal growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a major global health pathogen. We found that several proteins jointly contain both domains required for optimal growth and domains that are dispensable. In addition, many non-coding regions, including regulatory elements and non-coding RNAs, are critical for mycobacterial growth. Our analysis shows that the genetic requirements for growth are more complex than can be appreciated using gene-centric analysis.     

Laser-raman spectroscopic study of carbohydrates: 1-thio-β-d-hexopyranosides

Some β-d-hexopyranosides of 1-thio-d-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-d-glucose, and 1-thio-d-galactose were examined by laser-Raman spectroscopy. An anomeric CH bending vibration was found at 891 ± 7 cm^-1 for all compounds investigated; thus, the anomers of these sugars can be differentiated by Raman spectroscopy. The N-acetyl group and carboxyl group can also be detected by Raman spectroscopy. Unlike protein samples, the carbohydrates in aqueous solution yield less useful information from Raman spectra than in the solid state; this is due to the extensive overlapping of carbohydrate OH bands with water OH bands.     

Phylogeny of Prokaryotes and Chloroplasts Revealed by a Simple Composition Approach on All Protein Sequences from Complete Genomes Without Sequence Alignment

The complete genomes of living organisms have provided much information on their phylogenetic relationships. Similarly, the complete genomes of chloroplasts have helped to resolve the evolution of this organelle in photosynthetic eukaryotes. In this paper we propose an alternative method of phylogenetic analysis using compositional statistics for all protein sequences from complete genomes. This new method is conceptually simpler than and computationally as fast as the one proposed by Qi et al. (2004b) and Chu et al. (2004). The same data sets used in Qi et al. (2004b) and Chu et al. (2004) are analyzed using the new method. Our distance-based phylogenic tree of the 109 prokaryotes and eukaryotes agrees with the biologists tree of life based on 16S rRNA comparison in a predominant majority of basic branching and most lower taxa. Our phylogenetic analysis also shows that the chloroplast genomes are separated to two major clades corresponding to chlorophytes s.l. and rhodophytes s.l. The interrelationships among the chloroplasts are largely in agreement with the current understanding on chloroplast evolution.Reviewing Editor: Dr. John Oakeshott     

An Ultralong Lifespan and Low‐Temperature Workable Sodium‐Ion Full Battery for Stationary Energy Storage

Presently, commercialization of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) is still hindered by the relatively poor energy‐storage performance. In addition, low‐temperature (low‐T) Na storage is another principal concern for the wide application of SIBs. Unfortunately, the Na‐transfer kinetics is extremely sluggish at low‐T, as a result, there are few reports on low‐T SIBs. Here, an advanced low‐T sodium‐ion full battery (SIFB) assembled by an anode of 3D Se/graphene composite and a high‐voltage cathode (Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂O₂F) is developed, exhibiting ultralong lifespan (over even 15 000 cycles, the capacity retention is still up to 86.3% at 1 A g^?1), outstanding low‐T energy storage performance (e.g., all values of capacity retention are >75% after 1000 cycles at temperatures from 25 to ?25 °C at 0.4 A g^?1), and high‐energy/power properties. Such ultralong lifespan signifies that the developed sodium‐ion full battery can be used for longer than 60 years, if batteries charge/discharge once a day and 80% capacity retention is the standard of battery life. As a result, the present study not only promotes the practicability and commercialization of SIBs but also points out the new developing directions of next‐generation energy storage for wider range applications.     

Complete Genome Sequence of an Avian-Origin H3N2 Canine Influenza A Virus Isolated in Farmed Dogs in Southern China

We report here the complete genomic sequence of an avian-origin H3N2 canine influenza A virus containing multiple mutations in farmed dogs in southern China. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of all eight viral RNA segments demonstrated that these are wholly avian influenza viruses of the Asia lineage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of interspecies transmission of an avian H3N2 influenza virus to domestic farm dogs under natural conditions in Southern China. The amino acid information provided herein suggests that continued study is required to determine if this virus could be established in the farm dog population and pose potential threats to public health.     

根霉超氧化物歧化酶同工酶类型的鉴别

利用ＫＣＮ、Ｈ_２Ｏ２和ＳＤＳ的选择性反应引起的ＳＯＤ同工酶谱带变化即可鉴别粗抽提液中的ＳＯＤ同工酶类型;用这种方法对五株不同种根霉的鉴别实验表明,它们均不同程度地含有Ｃｕ,Ｚｎ型和Ｍｎ型两种ＳＯＤ,前者约占８０％左右,后者只占２０％左右。用邻苯三酚自氧化法对样品中ＳＯＤ活性测定结果与在同工酶谱上的鉴别结果基本一致。