On humans and wildlife in Mediterranean islands

Aim To investigate the effects of human‐induced landscape changes in Mediterranean islands on the ecological and evolutionary responses of bird communities and populations. The combination of mass extinction of large mammals and massive deforestation by humans was hypothesized to produce new selection regimes to which organisms were likely to respond. Habitat selection and niche breadth have been investigated at the scale of species, and phenotypic variation at the scale of local populations. Location The study was carried out along habitat gradients and in habitat mosaics at different spatial scales on the island of Corsica and in areas of similar size and structure in continental France. Methods Two sets of gradients have been used for investigating habitat selection and niche breadth: gradients of altitude, and gradients of vegetation structure. Population studies focused on the blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus. Large samples of breeding attempts by this species in 10 habitats provided detailed data on phenotypic variation of fitness‐related traits both on Corsica and on the mainland. Results The extent of niche space used by birds differed substantially depending on which habitat gradient was considered. Many species have been found to contract their habitat niche along the elevation gradient on Corsica compared with the mainland, whereas all species in the vegetation gradient broadened their niche on the island. Breeding patterns of the blue tit differed considerably depending on whether they settle in deciduous oaks (Quercus humilis) or in evergreen sclerophyllous oaks (Quercus ilex). Phenotypic variation of breeding traits was much higher on the island, where more populations were correctly timed for the best breeding period than on the mainland, a pattern that is likely to result from lower dispersal of organisms on the island. Main conclusions The differences in observed niche breadth between the two series of habitat gradients is explained both by the species‐specific ecology of the species and the human‐induced environmental history of Corsica. Large‐scale landscape changes provided new opportunities for island colonization by non‐forest species, which are isolated as small, ‘fugitive’ local populations. In both gradients, forest species that are typical components of the Corsican bird fauna definitely expanded their niche and occupied a wider range of habitats on Corsica than on the mainland. At the population scale, landscapes included habitat patches with contrasted selection regimes, which resulted in high phenotypic variation for many fitness‐related traits. Reduced dispersal of birds on the island resulted in a much higher degree of local differentiation on Corsica than on the mainland.     

依托米酯在人工流产手术中的应用

目的探讨依托米酯在人工流产手术中应用优势及价值。方法对182例早孕妇女(观察组)自愿接受无痛人流手术的在术前1min静脉推注依托米酯0．2～0．3mg／kg和术前15min肌注阿托品0．5mg。将手术时及手术后临床观察结果加以记录,并与同期128例早孕妇女(对照组)实施常规人流术的进行比较。结果无痛人流组人流综合征发生率低于10％,无痛率达93％,明显优于对照组。结论依托米酯和阿托品联用于人工流产手术,有利于人工流产手术顺利进行,可缩短手术时间,减少受术者痛苦,预防和降低人流综合征的发生,是目前较为理想的人工流产方法。     

RT—PCR法检测我国东南沿海凡纳滨对虾的桃拉综合征病毒

桃拉综合征病毒（Taura syndrome virus,TSV）引致养殖及野生对虾急性传染病,14d至40d的幼虾极易感。该病毒属微RNA病毒科（Picornaviridae）,近年来研究者认为应归类为类蟋蟀麻痹病毒属（Cricket paralysis—like viruses）,因其基因组特征更接近于前所未分类的昆虫单股RNA病毒,如丙型果蝇病毒。     

严重急性呼吸综合征动物模型中血清因子的检测

严重急性呼吸综合征是一种新近出现的严重传染性疾病,病原体为一种新的冠状病毒。但其免疫病理的发病机制尚未阐明,我们用SARS病毒感染了恒河猴和leiws大鼠,经PCR和抗体检测,证明病毒在动物体内有复制。用酶连免疫吸附试验测量动物血清中白介素(IL)-6,白介素(IL)-10,γ-干扰素(INF),肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α的含量。结果显示,血清中IL-10和INF-γ的含量在感染前后无显著性差异。感染后动物体内IL-6显著升高,其含量与肺部病变程度呈正相关。TNF-α的含量降低。动物模型中血清免疫因子的测定避免了临床病人由于使用抗病毒药物和激素造成的干扰,对于我们了解免疫因子在SARS免疫病理发病机制的作用有一定帮助。     

KCNQ1基因及其编码钾通道的研究概况

本文介绍了KCNQ1基因和其编码的通道蛋白的结构、生理学功能及电生理特点。归纳了围绕KCNQ1基因的热点研究方向和成果,并展望了未来的研究趋势。对基础医学上关心的KCNQ1基因突变与疾病的关系,及相关的病理药理学研究做了较为详细的介绍。     

Dynamic management of genetic resources: maintenance of outcrossing in experimental metapopulations of a predominantly inbreeding species

Dynamic management of genetic resources inpredominantly inbreeding species requiresincreased levels of outcrossing to limit theloss of genetic variation due to smallereffective sizes and to favour the emergence ofnew genetic combinations. Here, we show thatoutcrossing rates can artificially bepermanently increased in experimental evolvingplant metapopulations, using Arabidopsisthaliana as a model. We introducedmale-sterility genes and used an adequatemanagement of the resulting female plants tomodify the outcrossing rates. As expected, theincrease in outcrossing resulted in lowerlevels of heterozygote deficiency (F _is) than observed in natural populationsof A. thaliana and therefore in themaintenance of potentially higher levels ofgenetic variation. An additional selectiveadvantage for females' offspring, due to theproduction of larger seeds by females and apossible heterosis effect, furthermore led tosmaller F _is than expected from therealized outcrossing rate. This selectiveadvantage also resulted in an increase infemale frequency, especially in metapopulationswith large population sizes, creating anon-causal negative correlation between femalefrequency and heterozygote deficiency.     

Recombinant human lactoferrin treatment for global health issues: iron deficiency and acute diarrhea

Iron deficiency and diarrhea are two of the most significant issues for global health. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting nearly 25% of the world population (UNICEF/WHO 1999). The prevalence of iron deficiency in developing countries is illustrated by comparison with other deficiencies: iron deficiency affects 3.5 billion people, while vitamin A and iodine deficiency affect 0.3 billion people and 0.8 billion people, respectively. The prevalence is highest among young children and women of childbearing age (particularly pregnant women). It is estimated that national productivity levels could be raised as much as 20% by correcting iron deficiency in developing countries. Recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF), expressed and extracted from rice seed, is being evaluated by Ventria Bioscience for use as a dietary supplement to treat iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anemia. Diarrhea is also a major world health issue. Sixty percent of children who die under age five die of pneumonia, diarrhea or measles. World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS) is one of the major medical advances in the past 50 years, saving the lives of 1 to 2 million children annually. Many studies have demonstrated similar efficacy of rice-based ORS. There are studies documenting the reduced frequency of diarrhea in breast-fed children and this health improvement is attributed to the antimicrobial action of the human milk proteins lactoferrin and lysozyme. In vitro data document the growth inhibition of the diarrheal associated organisms: rotavirus, ETEC, cholera, salmonella, and shigella by human lactoferrin (hLF) and human lysozyme. Using Ventria's ExpressTec system, we have expressed human lactoferrin and human lysozyme in rice. In a rice-based ORS formulation, these proteins have the potential to provide not only the benefits of reduced stool volume and improved weight gain, but also shorten the course of diarrheal episodes via antimicrobial activity against the causative agent.