DCE-MRI药代动力学参数评估患癌胰腺不同区域功能状态的价值研究

目的:比较胰腺癌(pancreatic cancer,pCa)患者癌灶区、近端胰腺区、远端炎性区及正常胰腺的动态对比增强磁共振成像(dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI,DCE-MRI)药代动力学参数K~(trans)和k_(ep),无创量化患癌胰腺不同区域微血管功能状态,评估pCa近端胰腺组织是否为相对正常的胰腺组织。方法:收集病理及临床证实的pCa患者29例腿机选取正常志愿者30例。所有受试者行胰腺DCE-MRI扫描并计算每个观测区的K~(trans)和k_(ep)。根据患癌胰腺不同区域状态的差异将其分为pCa组、癌灶近端胰腺组、癌灶远端炎症组,30例正常志愿者胰腺为正常对照组。采用One-way ANOVA分别比较不同组别间K~(trans)s、k_(ep)的差异。结果源腺癌、近端胰腺区、远端炎症区及正常胰腺的K~(trans)和k_(ep)分别是0.114±0.023、0.066±0.009、0.323±0.026、0.061±0.005和0.341±0.077、0.105±0.017、0.772±0.068、0.107±0.005。pCa的K~(trans)和k_(ep)高于近端胰腺区和正常胰腺,而低于远端炎症区,远端炎症区的K~(trans)和k_(ep)高于pCa、近端胰腺区和正常胰腺,以上P均0.001;而近端胰腺和正常胰腺的K~(trans)和k_(ep)均无统计学差异(P=0.298、0.893)。结论患癌胰腺不同区域微血管功能状态有明显差异同时提示pCa近端≥1 cm的区域为相对正常的胰腺区,以上可为pCa精准治疗、手术切缘选择提供参考。     

Socioeconomic position and incidence of colorectal cancer in the Swedish population

BackgroundThe association between socioeconomic position and incidence of colorectal cancer is inconsistent and differs by global region. We aimed to clarify this association in the Swedish population.MethodsWe conducted a population-based open cohort study using data from Swedish national registers. We included all individuals, aged ≥30 years, residing in Sweden between 1993 and 2010. Socioeconomic position was indicated by (1) highest educational level (five groups), and (2) disposable income (quintiles). We used Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of colon and rectal cancer, and colon and rectal dysplasia.ResultsIn total, 97,827,817 person-years were accumulated and 82,686 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed. Compared to men with ‘higher secondary’ education, the adjusted IRRs (95% CI) of rectal cancer in men with ‘primary or less’, ‘lower secondary’, ‘lower university’ or ‘higher university’ education were: 1.06 (1.00, 1.11), 1.05 (0.99, 1.10), 0.96 (0.89, 1.03), and 0.92 (0.86, 0.98), respectively. In women, the corresponding figures were: 1.04 (0.95, 1.14), 1.03 (0.94, 1.13), 0.92 (0.82, 1.02) and 0.92 (0.82, 1.02). Disposable income was not associated with rectal cancer incidence. Adjusted IRRs of colon cancer did not differ between levels of education or disposable income overall or for specific colon sub-sites. Neither education nor disposable income was consistently associated with incidence of colon or rectal dysplasia.ConclusionsPrevention strategies for colon cancer should be applicable to individuals regardless of their socioeconomic position. However, factors conferred by education, e.g., health awareness, may be important for approaches aiming to reduce inequalities in incidence of rectal cancer. Further evaluation of cancer prevention and health promotion strategies among less educated groups is warranted.     

Do fish larvae have advantages over adults and other components for assessing estuarine ecological quality?

Using a novel approach to the assessment of ecological quality status of estuarine ecosystems, this study hypothesizes that compared to adult fishes and other components, the younger fish stages will be more sensitive and act as an early warning and will reflect more effectively the ecological status of estuaries. Larval stages of fishes were used to assess the ecological quality status (EQS) of four NW Portuguese estuaries, with different types and magnitudes of human pressures. The larval fish assemblages, together with water column characteristics and pollution indicators (faecal contamination and nutrient load) were sampled in the Lima, Cávado, Ave and Douro estuaries, during spring and autumn 2009. The four estuaries were classified in terms of human pressures by a global pressure index that identified the Cávado estuary as the least impacted estuary, followed by the Ave and Lima, both classified as moderately impacted system, while the Douro was classified as a highly impacted system. The Ave emerged as the most polluted system, carrying the highest nutrient load and sewage contamination. Larval fish assemblages included estuarine species, marine migrants, marine stragglers and the larger estuaries had higher species richness. Compared to adult fishes, three multimetric fish-based indices classified the Cávado, Ave and Douro estuaries with a lower ecological status when fish larvae were used. Similarly, the EQS assessed by macroinvertebrates were equal or higher when compared with fish larvae results. The EQS assessed by fish larvae was negatively correlated with sewage contamination and nitrogen nutrients, but did not reflect other anthropogenic pressures expressed by the global pressure index, which was only detected by adult fish. Fish larvae assessments were able to detect short-time events of hydrological manipulations observed in the Cávado estuary, as well as a seasonal decrease of water quality especially evident in the Ave estuary. The indices used denoted some limitations to the use of fish larvae data, thus emphasising the need for new indices to test the observed tendency for lower EQS given by fish larvae. The advantages and disadvantages of using fish larvae as more sensitive and accurate bioindicators of ecosystem integrity is also discussed as a means of providing strategically important information for improved estuarine management.     

In vitro comparison of egg yolk-based and soybean lecithin-based extenders for cryopreservation of ram semen

Substitution of egg yolk with soybean lecithin may reduce hygienic risks in extenders. Though a few studies have been performed on the effect of soybean lecithin in bull, to date evaluation of ram semen in vitro fertility after cryopreservation with use of soybean lecithin has not been studied. This study assessed the effect of 1% or 2% (wt/vol) soybean lecithin (L1 or L2) or 15% or 20% (vol/vol) egg yolk (E15 or E20) supplemented with 5% or 7% glycerol (G5 or G7) in a Tris-based medium for cryopreservation of ram (Oviss arries) semen. Although no significant difference was observed in pattern of capacitation, the best results in terms of sperm motility, viability postthaw, and cleavage rates were observed with L1G7 (51.9 ± 4.8%, 48.1 ± 3.5%, and 79.6 ± 3.9%, respectively) and E20G7 (51.8 ± 2.9%, 46.7 ± 4.0%, and 72.9 ± 6.4%, respectively). Our results also showed that 1% lecithin and 20% egg yolk was superior to 2% lecithin and 15% egg yolk. In terms of cleavage rate, 7% glycerol was superior to 5% glycerol. No significant difference was obtained between groups in terms of blastocysts rate per cleaved embryo. Therefore, we concluded that the optimal concentration of lecithin and egg yolk is 1% and 20%, respectively, along with 7% glycerol. In addition, our results suggest that lecithin can be used as a substitute for egg yolk.     

A multi-herd study shows that saliva is more than a reflection of serum biomarkers in pigs

This study evaluates if biomarkers of porcine health status in saliva samples is a mere reflection of serum to detect disease in pigs under field conditions. Four farms from the same commercial company were included to obtain samples from animals with different pathological conditions. A total of 10 healthy animals and 10–15 animals from each farm with clinical symptoms of the disease were sampled for paired saliva and blood during a veterinary clinical visit. The biomarker panel included acute-phase proteins (APPs), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), an inflammatory marker, adenosine deaminase (ADA), the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the levels of essential trace elements, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), and the measurement of the total protein content (TP). After detailed statistical analysis, the results showed that saliva could replace serum for APP measurements since a good agreement has been observed between the concentrations of APPs in both body fluids. For any other biomarker, no agreement between the concentrations quantified in serum and saliva samples was observed visually. However, salivary ADA and TP concentrations were statistically significantly higher in the diseased, whereas the statistical tests with serum concentrations were inconclusive. Furthermore, greater differentiation between healthy and diseased animals could be observed when the distribution of biomarkers was analysed in saliva than in other serum samples. The diagnostic power to discriminate between healthy and diseased pigs is similar in saliva and in serum samples. Preliminary regression models may offer an optimal combination of biomarkers for disease detection in saliva (Hp, CRP, and TAC) and serum (Hp, CRP, and Cu), which demands less labour, sample, and financial cost for saliva determinations. The contradictory results observed for TAC, Cu, and Zn levels between body fluids indicate a need for further studies. To sum up, saliva-based biomarkers instead of serum-based biomarkers could contribute to more efficient detection of diseased animals.     

Warming off southwestern Japan linked to distributional shifts of subtidal canopy‐forming seaweeds

To assess distributional shifts of species in response to recent warming, historical distribution records are the most requisite information. The surface seawater temperature (SST) of Kochi Prefecture, southwestern Japan on the western North Pacific, has significantly risen, being warmed by the Kuroshio Current. Past distributional records of subtidal canopy‐forming seaweeds (Laminariales and Fucales) exist at about 10‐year intervals from the 1970s, along with detailed SST datasets at several sites along Kochi's >700 km coastline. In order to provide a clear picture of distributional shifts of coastal marine organisms in response to warming SST, we observed the present distribution of seaweeds and analyzed the SST datasets to estimate spatiotemporal SST trends in this coastal region. We present a large increase of 0.3°C/decade in the annual mean SST of this area over the past 40 years. Furthermore, a comparison of the previous and present distributions clearly showed the contraction of temperate species' distributional ranges and expansion of tropical species' distributional ranges in the seaweeds. Although the main temperate kelp Ecklonia (Laminariales) had expanded their distribution during periods of cooler SST, they subsequently declined as the SST warmed. Notably, the warmest SST of the 1997–98 El Niño Southern Oscillation event was the most likely cause of a widespread destruction of the kelp populations; no recovery was found even in the present survey at the formerly habitable sites where warm SSTs have been maintained. Temperate Sargassum spp. (Fucales) that dominated widely in the 1970s also declined in accordance with recent warming SSTs. In contrast, the tropical species, S. ilicifolium, has gradually expanded its distribution to become the most conspicuously dominant among the present observations. Thermal gradients, mainly driven by the warming Kuroshio Current, are presented as an explanation for the successive changes in both temperate and tropical species' distributions.     

Gbb/BMP signaling is required to maintain energy homeostasis in Drosophila

The coordination of animal growth and development requires adequate nutrients. During times of insufficient food, developmental progression is slowed and stored energy is utilized to ensure that cell and tissue survival are maintained. Here, we report our finding that the Gbb/BMP signaling pathway, known to play an important role in many developmental processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates, is critical in the Drosophila larval fat body for regulating energy homeostasis. Animals with mutations in the Drosophila BMP-5,7 orthologue, glass bottom boat (gbb), or in its signaling components, display phenotypes similar to nutrient-deprived and Tor mutant larvae. These phenotypes include a developmental delay with reduced overall growth, a transparent appearance, and altered total lipid, glucose and trehalose levels. We find that Gbb/BMP signaling is required in the larval fat body for maintaining proper metabolism, yet interestingly, following nutrient deprivation larvae in turn show a loss of BMP signaling in fat body cells indicating that Gbb/BMP signaling is a central player in homeostasis. Finally, despite strong phenotypic similarities between nutrient-compromised animals and gbb mutants, distinct differences are observed in the expression of a group of starvation responsive genes. Overall, our results implicate Gbb/BMP signaling as a new pathway critical for positive regulation of nutrient storage and energy homeostasis during development.     

Eugomontia sacculata kornm. In Britain and North America

Eugomontia sacculata, a shell-boring marine green alga, only once recorded in the literature, is reported for the first time from several shores in Britain and Canada. British material differs in culture from the original German material in that the sporangia do not produce exit-tubes and are occasionally liberated from the filament.     

水生态保护目标制定的理论与应用

我国目前处于生态环境管理的转型期，尚未形成统领水生生物、生物栖息地、水质与水量等要素的水生态保护体系。在总结相关水生态研究成果的基础上，梳理形成了基于水生态系统时空尺度和状态梯度效应理论的水生态保护目标制定构想与方法，分析了淡水生物完整性对自然地理要素、水环境压力、栖息地质量的响应机制，提出以水生态“功能分区-状态评价-问题诊断-目标预设-可达性评估-目标确定”为主线的水生态保护目标制定技术体系，研发了生物完整性评价、水生态保护目标预设和可达性分析等技术方法。以江苏省常州市为典型水生态功能区应用案例，验证了技术体系的适用性与可行性，取得良好的应用效果。水生态保护目标制定理论和方法方面的研究探索可为全国相关工作提供参考依据。     

The question of animal immortality: changing attitudes

Abstract

Christian teaching has long held that only humans possess an immortal soul and it is commonly thought that this has had the effect of downgrading animal status. One item in each of two separate questionnaires investigated current attitudes to human and animal immortality. The first Survey (A), consisted of a 21-section questionnaire which focussed on the changing status of animals across three family-related generations. One hundred and one students, one of their parents and one of their grandparents were asked whether they believed in an afterlife for (a) humans and (b) all animals or (c) some animals (n = 303). The second survey (B) was a separate enquiry. It was sent both to principals of Christian ministerial courses (n = 22) and to those running university departments of philosophy. An extra item, asked of ministerial courses only, enquired what was the current teaching as to whether animals had the possibility of a life beyond this. Both questionnaires found that attitudes to animal immortality are changing.