Cell morphology and life history of Dictyocha octonaria (Dictyochophyceae,Ochrophyta) from Wellington Harbour,New Zealand

Even though many aspects of Dictyocha fibula and D. speculum have long been studied, very little is known about D. octonaria. For the first time a clonal culture derived from a single cell of D. octonaria from Wellington Harbour was studied in detail. In the skeleton‐bearing stage three morphotypes were observed – skeleton bearing, mucocyst‐bearing and amoeboid, while in the naked stage only the naked form was studied. In this study the mucocyst‐bearing form was described as a new morphotype. Vegetative reproduction of the skeleton‐bearing form in the exponential growth phase was by both direct binary fission and by first forming a doublet and then two separate daughter cells, while that of naked form was by simple binary fission. Occasionally double skeletons were observed as end products of both the vegetative and sexual reproductions. In sexual reproduction all three forms in the skeleton‐bearing stage exhibited the same polymorphic life history involving a multinucleate stage. The newly formed daughter cells of all three forms developed individual siliceous skeletons prior to being released from the parent cell. The naked form in the naked stage, however, exhibited a separate polymorphic life history that produced only skeleton‐free daughter cells. For the first time both vegetative and sexual reproduction of D. octonaria were documented.     

Short‐term hybridisation activates Tnt1 and Tto1 Copia retrotransposons in wild tuber‐bearing Solanum species

Interspecific hybridisation in tuber‐bearing species of Solanum is a common phenomenon and represents an important source of variability, crucial for adaptation and speciation of potato species. In this regard, the effects of interspecific hybridisation on retrotransposon families present in the genomes, and their consequent effects on generation of genetic variability in wild tuber‐bearing Solanum species, are poorly characterised. The aim of this study was to analyse the activity of retrotransposons in inter‐ and intraspecific hybrids between S. kurtzianum and S. microdontum, obtained by controlled crosses, and the effects on morphological, genetic and epigenetic variability. For genetic and epigenetic analysis, S‐SAP (sequence‐specific amplification polymorphism) and TMD (transposon methylation display) techniques were used, respectively, with specific primers for Tnt1 and Tto1 retrotransposon families (Order LTR, Superfamily Copia). The results indicate that at morphological level, interspecific hybrid genotypes differ from their parental species, whereas derived intraspecific hybrids do not. In both cases, we observed significant reductions in pollen grain viability, and a negative correlation with Tnt1 mobility. Both retrotransposons, Tto1 and Tnt1, were mobilised in the genotypes analysed, with mobility ranging from 0 to 7.8%. Furthermore, at the epigenetic level, demethylation was detected in the vicinity of Tnt1 and Tto1 in the hybrids compared with the parental genotypes. These patterns were positively correlated with the activity of the retrotransposons. The results suggest a possible mechanism through which hybridisation events generate genetic variability in tuber‐bearing species of Solanum through retrotranposon activation.     

Nanogel-based delivery system enhances PGE2 effects on bone formation

Recovery of bone loss is one of the active research issues in bone medicine due to the need for efficient measures for bone gain. We examined here a novel drug delivery system using a nanogel of cholesterol-bearing pullulan (CHP) in combination with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PGE2 or PGE2/CHP, vehicle (saline containing 0.06% ethanol and 0.02% Tween 80) or CHP were injected on to the calvariae of mice once every day for 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Low dosage of PGE2 (0.6 microg) alone or CHP alone did not induce new bone formation in this system. In contrast, PGE2 (0.6 microg)/CHP induced new bone formation. Bone formation activities of PGE2 was enhanced by CHP nanogels only at the site of injection (calvaria) but not in the distant sites of the skeleton, showing that PGE2/CHP could avoid systemic effects. In spite of the fact that previously reported animal models of bone formation by PGE2 were associated with loss of body weight, bone formation based on PGE2/CHP did not associate with loss of body weight. Furthermore, only a single application of PGE2 in combination with nanogel cross-linking hydrogel sphere (PGE2/CHP-PEO) induced new bone formation. Thus, nanogel-based delivery system is an efficient delivery system of bone anabolic agent, PGE2.     

再论2πω2的最优性

证明了用角2πω~2/(1 ω~2)、2π(3 ω~2)和2π/(2 ω~2)在圆周上作插分得到任意n个分点并将圆周分为11个角时,其最小角与最大角之比也至少是ω~2．根据叶序的基本功能,用模糊数学的综合评判理论证明了角2πω~2优于角2πω~2/(1 ω~2)、2π/(3 ω~2)和2π/(2 ω~2),从而从理论上说明了2πω~2作为互生植物的叶序分数所对应的极限角是合理的．     

不同剂量朱砂七总蒽醌对H22荷瘤小鼠免疫功能及抗氧化能力的影响

目的:探讨不同剂量朱砂七总蒽醌对H22荷瘤小鼠免疫功能及抗氧化能力的影响。方法:选取清洁级昆明小鼠60只,按照随机数字表法分为正常对照组、H22荷瘤组、环磷酰胺组、低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组,每组各10只。除正常对照组外,其余5组小鼠建立H22荷瘤小鼠模型。低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组分别给予0.3 g/kg、0.6 g/kg、1.2 g/kg的朱砂七总蒽醌悬浊液干预,环磷酰胺组给予0.02 g/kg的环磷酰胺干预,正常对照组和H22荷瘤组给予等剂量的1%的羧甲基纤维素钠干预。比较各组小鼠的肿瘤体质量、抑瘤率、T淋巴细胞亚群以及血清超氧化歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、丙二醛(MDA)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平。结果:环磷酰胺组、高剂量组的肿瘤体质量低于低剂量组,抑瘤率高于低剂量组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。高剂量组的CD4+、CD4+/CD8+均高于环磷酰胺组、低剂量组、中剂量组,CD8+低于环磷酰胺组、低剂量组、中剂量组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。高剂量组血清SOD、GSH-Px水平高于其他5组,MDA、LDH水平低于H22荷瘤组、低剂量组、中剂量组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:朱砂七总蒽醌具有明显的抗肿瘤作用,可增强小鼠的免疫功能和抗氧化能力,且具有剂量效应。     

Systematic and palaeoecological significance of the first record of Pygocephalomorpha females bearing oöstegites (Malacostraca,Peracarida) from the lower Permian of southern Brazil

Malacostracan crustaceans of the fossil order Pygocephalomorpha are conspicuous elements in brackish to freshwater faunas in the upper Carboniferous of Laurentia and lower Permian of Gondwana. A pronounced sexual dimorphism is recognizable within its members, with Pygocephalomorpha females bearing oöstegites: modified epipodites that hold a brood pouch where the eggs develop until juvenile stage, with no planktonic dispersal of larvae. The preservation of oöstegites is quite rare and is described here for the first time from the American continents. The specimens, ventrally preserved Liocaris huenei females bearing oöstegites, come from the Irati Formation, a lower Permian sequence of the Paraná Basin, from an outcrop in southern Brazil. The oöstegites are similar to those previously described for Pygocephalomorpha, displaying seven pairs of overlapping epipodites that cover the whole cephalothorax. The scarcity of these structures in the fossil record may be explained by taphonomic bias (it requires ventrally preserved crustaceans) but more likely by palaeobiological aspects, such as preservation of an ovigerous moult. The record from the Irati Formation suggests that pygocephalomorphs had seasonal reproduction, with females maturing at the same time and acquiring oöstegites that would be lost after the release of juveniles. This record confirms the relationship of the Brazilian Liocaris Beurlen to the English Pygocephalus Huxley and South African Notocaris Broom pygocephalomorphs and provides an insight into its palaeoecological significance.     

旋转平台与后稳定固定平台假体在人工膝关节置换术后的临床疗效

目的:探讨旋转平台与后稳定固定平台假体在人工膝关节置换术(TKA)后的临床治疗效果。方法:选择2008年8月到2014年8月在我院接收人工膝关节置换术的218例患者,随机分为对照组和实验组,分别采用后稳定固定平台假体和旋转平台假体行TKA。观察并记录两组患者治疗前和治疗后6个月世界膝关节学会(KSS)评分、美国膝关节学会(HSS)评分和膝关节的屈曲度(ROM),以及治疗后6个月并发症的发生情况。结果:治疗后,两组患者KSS评分、HSS评分及ROM评分均明显高于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者KSS评分、HSS评分及ROM评分相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组患者并发症发生率(9.17%)和对照组患者并发症发生率(10.09%)相比,无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:旋转平台与后稳定固定平台假体在TKA中均能有效改善膝关节的功能,两者疗效相近,均值得在临床推广应用。