Changes of Sleep Adaptation in Hospitalized Patients with Depression

Sleep adaptation in an unfamiliar environment, the so-called “first-night effect”, is known to occur in healthy individuals. To avoid the confounding effects of the “first-night effect”, the first-night sleep data are not used in most of sleep studies. In the present study, we examined changes of sleep adaptation in hospitalized patients with depression. Polysomnographic recordings were obtained for two consecutive nights from 14 patients, and sleep parameters were compared between both nights. Total sleep time, sleep latency, awakening times, movement awakening time, sleep efficiency, sleep architecture, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency, REM intensity, REM density, REM time, REM cycles, and other indicators showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the first and second nights. To conclude, hospitalized patients with depression have relatively less change in sleep adaptation, thus, the data from their first night do not need to be discarded.     

Factors restraining parasitism of the invasive vine Mikania micrantha by the holoparasitic plant Cuscuta campestris

Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae) is one of the 10 most invasive weeds in the world and has caused tremendous economic and environmental losses in southern China. The dodder Cuscuta campestris (Convolvulaceae) is a native holoparasite that can parasitize and suppress M. micrantha, and thus is recommended as an effective control agent. However, the natural growth of dodder lags behind that of M. micrantha and fails to exert direct year-round suppression. To verify the effective parasitic distance, we placed a dodder seedling at a designated distance from the stem of M. micrantha and monitored coiling, haustorium formation, and survival. To verify suitable host stems for the parasite, we grew M. micrantha for more than 6 months to form stems of different sizes, taped dodder seedlings to the stems, and monitored. We used various temperatures to determine the effect on dodder seed germination and M. micrantha sprouting. The results showed that a dodder–host distance of 4 cm decreased the probability of successful parasitism to 0; dodder seedlings cannot parasitize M. micrantha stem diameters ≥0.3 cm; and the temperatures for the highest dodder seed germination and M. micrantha sprouting are 26 and 30 °C, respectively. We conclude that the lack of suitable M. micrantha parts within the dodder’s effective parasitism distance is the major cause of restricted dodder parasitism and that the lower temperature for the highest dodder germination compared to that for the highest M. micrantha sprouting may decrease the possibility of parasitism. To acquire aggressive parasitism, dodder should be manually assisted by dispersing its vegetative form.     

Genetic and physical fine mapping of a multilocular gene Bjln1 in Brassica juncea to a 208-kb region

Most of the germplasm resources in Brassica juncea produce silique with only two locules, whereas a few varieties can produce silique with three or four locules. The increase in locule number in B. juncea has been shown to cause an increase in the number of seeds per silique, resulting in an increase in the yield per plant. Thus, the development of high-locule-number varieties may be an effective way of improving the yield of B. juncea. Duoshi, a B. juncea landrace originating from the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau, produces silique with 3–4 locules. Genetic analysis has shown that the high-locule-number trait in Duoshi is determined by two recessive genes, tentatively designated as Bjln1 and Bjln2. For fine mapping of the Bjln1 gene, a BC3 population was developed from the cross between Duoshi (multilocular parent) and Xinjie (bilocular parent). Using a combination of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and bulked segregant analysis, only two AFLP markers linked to Bjln1 were identified. Preliminary linkage analysis showed that the two AFLP markers were located on the same side of Bjln1. Blast analysis revealed that the sequences of the two AFLP markers had homologues on Scaffold000019 at the bottom of B. rapa A7. Using the results of linkage analysis and BlastN searches, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were subsequently developed based on the sequence information from B. rapa A7. Seven SSR markers were eventually identified, of which ln 8 was co-segregated with Bjln1. ln 7 and ln 9, the closest flanking markers, were mapped at 2.0 and 0.4 cM distant from the Bjln1 gene, respectively. The SSR markers were cloned, sequenced and mapped on A7 of B. rapa (corresponding to J7 in the A genome of B. juncea). The two closest flanking markers, ln 7 and ln 9, were mapped within a 208-kb genomic region on B. rapa A7, in which the Bjln1 gene might be included. The present study may facilitate cloning of the Bjln1 gene as well as the selection process for developing multilocular varieties in B. juncea by marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering.     

The Neuroprotective Effects of Coccomyxa Gloeobotrydiformis on the Ischemic Stroke in a Rat Model

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and the leading cause of permanent disability. In this study, we adopted the classic middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) stroke model to observe the therapeutic effects of coccomyxa gloeobotrydiformis(CGD) on ischemic stroke, and discuss the underlying mechanisms. Low dose (50 mg/kg.day) and high dose (100 mg/kg.day) concentrations of the drug CGD were intragastrically administrated separately for 8 weeks. Infarct volumes, neurologic deficits and degree of stroke-induced brain edema were measured 24 hours after reperfusion. Furthermore, oxidative stress related factors (SOD and MDA), mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis regulatory factors (mitochondrial Cyt-C, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3) were all investigated in this research. We found that CGD attenuated cerebral infarction, brain edema and neurologic deficits; CGD maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased mitochondrial swelling. It also prevented oxidative damage by reducing MDA and increasing SOD. In addition, CGD could effectively attenuate apoptosis by restoring the level of mitochondrial Cyt C and regulating the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase 3. These results revealed that CGD has a therapeutic effect on ischemic stroke, possibly by inducing mitochondrial protection and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.     

Commensal bacteria‐dependent select expression of CXCL2 contributes to periodontal tissue homeostasis

The oral and intestinal host tissues both carry a heavy microbial burden. Although commensal bacteria contribute to healthy intestinal tissue structure and function, their contribution to oral health is poorly understood. A crucial component of periodontal health is the recruitment of neutrophils to periodontal tissue. To elucidate this process, gingival tissues of specific‐pathogen‐free and germ‐free wild‐type mice and CXCR2KO and MyD88KO mice were examined for quantitative analysis of neutrophils and CXCR2 chemoattractants (CXCL1, CXCL2). We show that the recruitment ofneutrophils to the gingival tissue does not require commensal bacterial colonization but is entirely dependent on CXCR2 expression. Strikingly, however, commensal bacteria selectively upregulate the expression of CXCL2, but not CXCL1, in a MyD88‐dependent way that correlates with increased neutrophil recruitment as compared with germ‐free conditions. This is the first evidence that the selective use of chemokine receptor ligands contributes to neutrophil homing to healthy periodontal tissue.