Analysis of CLDN14 gene in deaf Moroccan patients with non-syndromic hearing loss

Mutations in the CLDN14 gene, encoding the tight junction claudin 14 protein has been reported to date in an autosomal recessive form of isolated hearing loss DFNB29. In order to identify the contribution of CLDN14 to inherited deafness in Moroccan population, we performed a genetic analysis of this gene in 80 Moroccan familial cases. Our results show the presence of 7 mutations: 6 being conservative and one leading to a missense mutation (C11T) which was found at heterozygous and homozygous states, with a general frequency of 6.87%. The pathogenicity of the resulting T4M substitution is under discussion.     

Reconstruction of the cranial musculature and masticatory function of the Pleistocene panamerican ground sloth Eremotherium laurillardi (Mammalia,Xenarthra, Megatheriidae)

Cranial musculature, dental function and mandibular movement patterns in Eremotherium laurillardi were reconstructed from the examination of crania and dentitions. Size, shape and pattern of muscle divisions were reconstructed from the examination of bony rugosities indicating muscle attachments. Details of masticatory muscle structure and function were based on dissections of the tree sloths Bradypus and Choloepus. Among sloths, masticatory muscles in E. laurillardi demonstrate a different synergist–antagonist pattern, reflecting greater emphasis on mediolateral mandibular movements. Eight cranial character complexes (anterior facial, zygomatic arch, superficial masseter, deep masseter–zygomaticomandibularis, pterygoid, temporal, occipital and occlusal) determined by interrelated contributions of each component made to group functions were identified. An elongate anterior face and predental spout in E. laurillardi allowed protrusion of a long narrow tongue at small degrees of gape, reflecting a probably ancestral xenarthran condition. Gape minimisation, in conjunction with the mediolaterally directed masticatory stroke in E. laurillardi, was a unique solution to increase masticatory efficiency by permitting molariform tooth shearing surfaces to remain in or near occlusion for a greater percentage of each chewing cycle.     

鞘翅目形态结构的三维重建与功能之间关系探讨的有效方法评估

本文简要介绍了计算机三维重建技术在鞘翅目形态学研究中的应用,并对所涉及到的成像设备及相关技术做了简要的介绍和评估。同时,本文也对计算机三维重建技术的未来发展方向做了初步的展望。     

Intraguild predation between spawning smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and nest‐raiding crayfish (Orconectes rusticus): implications for bass nesting success

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Structure of native oligomeric Sprouty2 by electron microscopy and its property of electroconductivity

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulate many cellular processes, and Sprouty2 (Spry2) is known as an important regulator of RTK signaling pathways. Therefore, it is worth investigating the properties of Spry2 in more detail. In this study, we found that Spry2 is able to self-assemble into oligomers with a high-affinity KD value of approximately 16 nM, as determined through BIAcore surface plasmon resonance analysis. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of Spry2 was resolved using an electron microscopy (EM) single-particle reconstruction approach, which revealed that Spry2 is donut-shaped with two lip-cover domains. Furthermore, the method of energy dispersive spectrum obtained through EM was analyzed to determine the elements carried by Spry2, and the results demonstrated that Spry2 is a silicon- and iron-containing protein. The silicon may contribute to the electroconductivity of Spry2, and this property exhibits a concentration-dependent feature. This study provides the first report of a silicon- and iron-containing protein, and its 3D structure may allow us (1) to study the potential mechanism through the signal transduction is controlled by switching the electronic transfer on or off and (2) to develop a new type of conductor or even semiconductor using biological or half-biological hybrid materials in the future.     

Using pedigree reconstruction to estimate population size: genotypes are more than individually unique marks

Estimates of population size are critical for conservation and management, but accurate estimates are difficult to obtain for many species. Noninvasive genetic methods are increasingly used to estimate population size, particularly in elusive species such as large carnivores, which are difficult to count by most other methods. In most such studies, genotypes are treated simply as unique individual identifiers. Here, we develop a new estimator of population size based on pedigree reconstruction. The estimator accounts for individuals that were directly sampled, individuals that were not sampled but whose genotype could be inferred by pedigree reconstruction, and individuals that were not detected by either of these methods. Monte Carlo simulations show that the population estimate is unbiased and precise if sampling is of sufficient intensity and duration. Simulations also identified sampling conditions that can cause the method to overestimate or underestimate true population size; we present and discuss methods to correct these potential biases. The method detected 2–21% more individuals than were directly sampled across a broad range of simulated sampling schemes. Genotypes are more than unique identifiers, and the information about relationships in a set of genotypes can improve estimates of population size.     

植物叶片化石气孔参数与古海拔定量重建: 方法与进展

古海拔的定量重建在推演地球动力学模型、大气循环模式、古气候变化以及地球化学循环过程方面都具有十分重要的作用,但是迄今为止在古植物学和古环境研究领域中古海拔的定量重建仍然存在许多难点。本文在介绍目前古海拔定量重建领域几种方法的基础上,重点对植物叶片化石气孔参数及其应用与进展进行了讨论,着重介绍:(1)如何利用植物叶片化石气孔参数法恢复古海拔;(2)方法实践过程中的误差来源与分析;(3)应用实例及展望。     

管状胃代食管术与全胃代食管术治疗食管癌的安全性与有效性对比

目的:对比管状胃代食管术与全胃代食管术治疗食管癌的安全性与有效性。方法:2005年1月到2015年2月选择我院收治的100例食管癌患者,根据随机数字表法分为治疗组与对照组各50例,所有患者都行食管癌切除术,同时对照组给予全胃代食管手术,治疗组给予管状胃代食管术,对两组患者围手术指标、并发症及生活质量状况进行观察比较。结果:所有患者完成手术,治疗组的手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间、术后胃肠减压时间及术后闭式引流时间都明显少于对照组(P0.05)。治疗组术后3个月反流性食管炎、胃排空障碍、胸胃综合征、吻合口狭窄、吻合口瘘等并发症发生情况明显少于对照组(P0.05),日常生活、一般状况、治疗相关症状、社会影响、情感活动评分都明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:相对于全胃代食管术,管状胃代食管术在治疗食管癌患者中的应用具有更好的安全性与有效性,值得进一步临床研究与推广。     

住院耳聋患者临床流行病学特征及疗效分析

目的:描述住院耳聋患者的临床流行病学特征及治疗效果。方法:采用描述流行病学方法,收集哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院耳鼻喉科2010年1月-2012年12月收治的748例耳聋患者的临床资料进行统计学分析。结果:748例耳聋患者中,男性394例(52.67%),女性354例(47.33%),P=0.7391,不同年龄段性别构成无统计学差异;单耳发病占75.40%,双耳发病占24.60%,10岁以下及70岁以上的患者双侧耳聋较多;听力损失程度构成由高到低依次为:极重度199例(30.99%)、重度139例(21.65%)、中重度100例(15.58%)、轻度95例(14.80%)、中度80例(12.46%)及语频正常29例(4.52%),10岁以下较其他各年龄段发生极重度听力损失较多;伴发高血压者93例(12.43%)、糖尿病者56例(7.49%)、冠心病者48例(6.42%)、脑血管疾病者31例(4.14%);治愈145例(19.38%),好转547例(73.13%),未治愈45例(6.02%),总有效率为92.51%。结论:耳聋发病以突发性耳聋为主,年龄30-69岁居多,单侧耳聋较双侧耳聋发病多,而儿童双耳发病较多,年龄小、听力损失程度轻者预后较好,听力损失严重且预后较差。