Appearance of lymphocyte surface markers and functional responses in neonatal and young rabbit spleens

We examined spleen cells from newborn to 1-month-old rabbits for easily detectable surface immunoglobulin, complement receptors, and for in vitro proliferative responsiveness to anti-immunoglobulin antisera and several mitogens. From birth through the first month of life about 15% of the cells from rabbit spleens had easily detectable surface immunoglobulin while about 45% had C3 receptors. In adults as many as 77% of the spleen cells had easily detectable surface Ig but the proportion with C3 receptors remained about 45%. The proliferative response to anti-allotype antisera was present at birth, and was at adult levels by 1 month of age. The proliferative response to pokeweed mitogen was low when cells were obtained during the first week of life but was comparable in magnitude to the response of adult cells by 2 weeks of age. In vitro responsiveness to concanavalin A was present at low levels at birth and increased sharply during the first week. We did not observe significant stimulation of spleen cells from neonatal to 4-week-old rabbits by lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhosa. Our data suggest that lymphocyte surface markers and functional responses appear asynchronously in spleen cells of developing rabbits.     

Studies on plasma membranes. XXIII. Hormone-like action of concanavalin A on liver plasma membranes: inhibition of (Na+-K+)ATPase.

Concanavalin A inhibits the (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity of isolated rat-liver plasma membranes, while leaving the Mg2+-ATPase unaffected. Glucagon and cyclic AMP act supplementary to the lectin in the inhibition. The lectin effect is counteracted by insulin and L-epinephrine, and is completely abolished by the beta-adrenergic blocking agent propranolol. Results are discussed on the basis of the known interactions of concanavalin A with plasma membrane components, including its hormone-like action.     

A new method for determination of elastolytic activity using (14C) labeled elastin and its application to leukocytic elastase.

A new, highly sensitive and specific assay for elastolytic activity is described which employs insoluble elastin randomly labeled with [¹⁴C]. The substrate was prepared by labeling amino groups of the protein in vitro with [¹⁴C] methyl groups by reductive alkylation. The substrate was used to quantitate elastolytic activity from human leukocytes and to compare leukocytic elastase with pancreatic elastase. Purified human leukocytic elastase was approximately one-fourth as active as pancreatic elastase. Similar difference between leukocytic elastase and pancreatic elastase activities was found when the enzymes were tested against succinyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine-p-nitroanilide, but not when t-BOC-L-alanine-p-nitrophenyl ester was used.     

磺酰脲类除草剂残留的微生物降解研究进展

磺酰脲类除草剂是一类高效、低毒和高选择性的除草剂, 此类除草剂能有效地防除阔叶杂草, 其中有些品种对禾本科杂草也有抑制作用。由于该类除草剂易残留药害及容易对地表水造成污染, 因而其在环境中的持久性和环境安全性备受人们关注。本文综述了磺酰脲类除草剂的应用概况及其作用机理、降解磺酰脲类除草剂的常见微生物种类及影响微生物降解效率的因素, 最后展望了微生物修复技术与抗除草剂的转基因作物是解决除草剂残留药害的最佳途径。     

Pfcrt genotypes and related microsatellite DNA polymorphisms on Plasmodium falciparum differed among populations in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Malaria morbidity and mortality have decreased gradually in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Presently, WHO sets a goal to eliminate malaria by 2030 in the GMS. However, drug-resistant malaria has been reported from several endemic areas. To achieve the goal of elimination, the status of the emergence and spread of drug resistance should be monitored. In this study, the genotype of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ) resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) and 6 microsatellite DNA loci flanking the gene were examined. P. falciparum isolates (n?=?136) was collected from malaria patients in Thailand (n?=?50, 2002–2005), Vietnam (n?=?39, 2004), Laos (n?=?15, 2007) and Cambodia (n?=?32, 2009). Amino acid sequences at codons 72–76 on the gene were determined. All of the isolates from Thailand were CQ-resistant (CVIET), as were all of the isolates from Cambodia (CVIET, CVIDT). Thirteen of the 15 isolates (87%) from Laos were CQ-resistant (CVIET, CVIDT), whereas the other 2 (13%) were CQ-susceptible (CVMNK). In contrast, 27 of the 39 isolates (69%) from Vietnam were CQ-susceptible (CVMNK), whereas the other 12 (31%) were CQ-resistant (CVIET, CVIDT, CVMDT) or mixed (CVMNK/CVIDT). The mean of expected heterozygosity of the microsatellite loci was 0.444 in the Thai population, 0.482 in the Cambodian population, and 0.734 in the Vietnamese population. Genetic diversity in the Thai population was significantly lower than that in the Vietnamese population. These results suggested that chloroquine selective pressure on P. falciparum populations is heterogeneous in the GMS. Therefore, further examination to understand the mechanisms behind the emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria are needed.     

Dawn of a new day: The role of children in the assimilation of new technologies throughout the Lower Paleolithic

In this paper, I contend that children had a unique position in prehistoric social systems, functioning as primary assimilators of new technologies. Their role is especially crucial at significant turning points in history, due to a number of childhood-cognitive mechanisms that are activated in learning and playing while engaging in innovative activity. I suggest that these mechanisms developed as part of an evolutionary process that has enabled humans to better adapt to change and prosper. This line of thinking is demonstrated through a synthesis of evolutionary, cognitive-psychological models and a case study from the archaeological record of the Levantine late Lower Paleolithic. In this time, humans developed a set of creative innovations which had to be learned and assimilated, such as the innovative production of blades. I argue that these cultural changes were successfully assimilated by groups inhabiting the Levant due to the enhancement of well-established learning mechanisms, in which children played a significant role. This role might have given them a unique status in their group – as preserving old traditions practiced by their ancestors but also as active agents, part of a collective group effort of tackling present and future challenges.     

Different Effects of Homocysteine and Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein on Methylation Status in the Promoter Region of the Estrogen Receptor α Gene

We investigated the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on DNA methylation in the promoter region of the estrogen receptor α (ERos) gene,and its potentialmechanism in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.Cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of humans weretreated by Hcy and ox-LDL with different concentrations for different periods of time.The DNA methylationstatus was assayed by nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction,the lipids that accumulated inthe SMCs and foam cell formations were examined with Oil red O staining.The proliferation of SMCs wasassayed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.The results showedthat ox-LDL in moderate concentrations (10-40 mg/L) induced de novo methylation in the promoter regionof the ERα gene of SMCs.However,high concentrations (50 mg/L) of ox-LDL,resulted in demethylation ofERα.The Hcy treatment resulted in de novo methylation in the promoter region of the ERα gene with aconcentration- and treating time-dependent manner,and a dose-dependent promoting effect on SMCproliferation.These data indicated that the two risk factors for atherosclerosis had the function of inducingde novo methylation in the promoter region of the ERα gene of SMCs. However,high concentrations (50rag/L) of ox-LDL induced demethylation,indicating that different risk factors of atherosclerosis with differentpotency might cause different aberrant methylation patterns in the promoter region of the ERα gene.Theatherogenic mechanism of Hcy might involve the hypermethylation of the ERα gene,leading to the proliferationof SMCs in atherosclerotic lesions.     

Joint evolution of predator body size and prey-size preference

We studied the joint evolution of predator body size and prey-size preference based on dynamic energy budget theory. The predators’ demography and their functional response are based on general eco-physiological principles involving the size of both predator and prey. While our model can account for qualitatively different predator types by adjusting parameter values, we mainly focused on ‘true’ predators that kill their prey. The resulting model explains various empirical observations, such as the triangular distribution of predator–prey size combinations, the island rule, and the difference in predator–prey size ratios between filter feeders and raptorial feeders. The model also reveals key factors for the evolution of predator–prey size ratios. Capture mechanisms turned out to have a large effect on this ratio, while prey-size availability and competition for resources only help explain variation in predator size, not variation in predator–prey size ratio. Predation among predators is identified as an important factor for deviations from the optimal predator–prey size ratio.     

c-erbB-2单克隆抗体A18在乳腺癌中表达特性的研究

目的：研究一株自制的c-erbB-2单克隆抗体A18在乳腺癌中表达的特性。方法：应用免疫组织化学SP法、蛋白质印迹分析法和荧光激活的流式细胞分选检测技术检测A18在635例乳腺癌组织、100例癌旁乳腺组织、不表达c-erbB-2的NIH／3T3（鼠成纤维细胞）和NE91（转表皮生长因子受体基因的NR6鼠成纤维面积）细胞株及高表达c-erbB-2的T6－17（转c-erbB-2－基因的NIH／3T3细胞）和SKBR3（人乳腺癌细胞）细胞株中的表达状况,并与市售进口c-erbB-2抗体（MaximBiotech产品）进行了平行对照研究。A18系采用细胞表面区域表位包埋法免疫小鼠制备而成,,结果：A18阳性染色定位于细胞膜,部分伴微弱的细胞浆着色,无明显非特异性染色,A18和进口抗体对NIH／3T3、NE91细胞均呈阴性,T6－17、SKBR3细胞均呈阳性,在乳腺癌组织中,A18的阳性率为60．3％,明显高于癌旁乳腺组织的5．0％,A18与进口同类单抗的阴性、阳性及总符合率分别为84．0％、82．8％及83．2％,与进口同类多抗的阴性,阳性及总符合率分别为88．0％、90．2％和89．5％。A1和进口同类单抗与乳腺癌临床病理特征的关系一致。经反复冻融7次或4℃保存10个月A18效价仍保持在3μg/ml。结论：A18特异性强,定位准确,效价高而稳定、可用于临床乳腺癌的检测。