Antitumor Lipopolysaccharide from Heptoseless Mutant of Proteus mirabilis

Studies on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the cells of Proteus mirabilis RMS-203 were focused upon reduction of lethal toxicity and of pyrogenicity by biological and chemical modification. A heptoseless mutant, strain N-434, was isolated by the use of phage resistancy as a tool. LPS from that heptoseless mutant was completely deficient in neutral sugars and mainly composed of 2-keto-deoxy-octonic acid (KDO), glucosamine and fatty acids. It revealed almost the same antitumor activity as LPS of the wild type but it was less toxic and less pyrogenic.

Hydroxylaminolysis and reduction with LiAlH₄ resulted in removal of fatty acids from LPS accompanied with decrease in lethal toxicity and antitumor acitivity but not in pyrogenicity.

Lipid A fractions showed almost the same antitumor activity as intact LPS but less lethality and less pyrogenicity.     

Caudal Brainstem Raphe Nuclei: Neural Substrate for their Involvement in the Expression of Some Biological Rhythms

Nucleus raphe pallidus (RPa) lies ventrally in the caudal brainstem, where it is coextensive rostrally with the nucleus raphe magnus (RMg) and caudally with the nucleus raphe obscurus (ROb). Retrograde neuronal tracing studies of our laboratory, carried out in rats and presented elsewhere, with fluorogold, true-blue or fast-blue, iontophoretically injected or by crystalline deposit, along the RPa extent, displayed many labeled pericaria at the preoptic area (POA), as well as lateral (LH) and dorsomedial (DMH) hypothalamus; paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and dorsal (DR) and median (MnR) raphe nuclei among others structures. In addition, RPa, which projects to the intermediolateral column, has been demonstrated to bear relation to many of the somatic-visceral functions also reported for POA. Iontophoretic injections of PHA-L, an anterograde tracer, in the POA subnuclei, presented terminal and varicose labeled fibers in RPa, as well as in the RMg, ROb, paraventricular thalamic (PVA), PVN and supraoptic nucleus (SO), LH, subparaventricular zone (sPVZ) and locus coeruleus (LC). Interestingly, POA, PVA, PVN, LH and SO have been described as retino- and suprachiasmatic-recipients. Taken together, these neuronal connections between brainstem raphe nuclei and POA, the similarity of functions to which they are related, as well as connections with other retino-suprachiasmatic-recipient structures, suggest that these caudal brainstem raphe nuclei could be part of the output system for the expression of some biological rhythms.     

四种重楼属植物光合作用特征

Species of Paris (Trilliaceae) have often been used as medicinal plants. Because of excessive exploitation,in this regard the wild resource of Paris is almost exhausted. Some species of Paris were transplanted for use in photosynthesis research and for conservation purposes. In the present study, light and CO2 photosynthetic response curves were investigated in four Paris taxa: P.polyphylla var. yunnanensis and var. alba, P.mairei, and P.marmorata. Our results showed that P.marmorata had the highest maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax; 8.6μmol·m-2·s-1), light saturation point (LSP; 827μmol·m-2·s-1), maximum electron transport rate (Jmax; 39.9mol·m-2·s-1), a relatively high maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax; 28.9μmol·m-2·s-1) and carbon dioxide saturation point (Cisat; 726μmol·mol-1), but a lower light compensation point (LCP; 6.23μmol·m-2·s-1) and the lowest carbon dioxide compensation point (Г*; 20.7μmol·mol-1). This suggests that P.marmorata is well adapted to light and CO2; however it has a low ability to acclimate to environmental stress as indicated by low water use efficiency (WUE) in high light conditions. P.polyphylla var. yunnanensis had the highest light compensation point (LCP; 10.1μmol·m-2·s-1), carbon dioxide compensation point (Г*; 35.3μmol·mol-1), carbon dioxide saturation point (Cisat; 727μmol·mol-1), relatively high maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax; 7.5μmol·m-2·s-1) and light saturation point (LSP; 728μmol·m-2·s-1), maximum light saturated electron transfer rate (Jmax; 37.7μmol·m-2·s-1), suggesting that it is suitable for conditions of higher light and CO2 concentration. This taxon can adapt to adverse conditions, as suggested by high WUE under increased CO2 concentration. In contrast, P.polyphylla var. alba exhibited a relatively lower apparent quantum yield (AQY; 0.037μmol·mol-1) and poorer growth performance than the other taxa. We suggest from our results that different light and water conditions are suitable for the growth of the different taxa. Photosynthesis assimilation efficiency and production can be increased by raising humidity for P.polyphylla var. yunnanensis and P.marmorata. To protect plants of P.polyphylla var. alba from strong sunshine, they should be shaded from March to mid June.     

Farm and management characteristics associated with boar taint

Pig farms in the Netherlands producing boars have different levels of boar taint prevalence, as assessed by sensory evaluation with the human nose at the slaughter line. With a questionnaire to 152 Dutch pig producers (response rate 59%), farm and management characteristics were identified that are potentially associated with farm-level boar taint prevalence. Lower farm-level boar taint prevalence was associated with a smaller group size, a smaller pen surface per boar, newer housing equipment, not practicing restricted feeding in the last period before delivery, a longer fasting period before slaughter, a higher stocking weight and a lower fraction of boars from purebred dam line sows or from Pietrain terminal boars. These characteristics can be used to develop farm-level intervention strategies to control boar taint. More research effort is needed to establish causal relationships.     

Erythropoietin non-viral gene therapy does not affect motility,viability, morphology or concentration of rabbit sperm

Erythropoietin (EPO) gene therapy can be used for several purposes; however, its effects on reproductive performance are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of non-viral (EPO) gene transfer on sperm motility, viability, morphology and concentration. Rabbit EPO cDNA was cloned into a pTarget mammalian expression vector. Rabbits were administered with: (1) pTarget/EPO vector, (2) recombinant human EPO (rHuEpo) and (3) saline (control). Both pTarget/EPO and rHuEpo significantly increased (P < 0.05) hematocrit levels 1 week after injection and they remained significantly higher than the control for up to 5 weeks (P < 0.05), showing that both EPO treatments were effective in stimulating the production of red blood cells in rabbits. The EPO gene transfer or rHuEPO administration had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on sperm motility, vigor, viability, concentration or morphology in the testis.     

山西省重点保护野生植物资源及区系特征研究

以《国家重点保护野生植物名录(第一批)》和《山西省重点保护野生植物名录(第一批)》为依据,建立山西省重点保护野生植物名录。共记录57种保护植物,隶属于38科45属（其中国家Ⅰ级保护2种,国家Ⅱ级保护6种,省级保护49种）。分析结果得出,山西省重点保护野生植物在全省的分布不集中,零散分布于全省61个县区境内,且绝大多数物种的分布范围很狭窄。山西省重点保护野生植物区系具有复杂多样、起源古老、孑遗植物和单种属多等特点,科、属植物区系成分以温带分布型占优势,同时也有较明显的热带性质,过渡性特征比较明显,有其独特的地理优势和保护价值。本研究旨在对山西省重点保护野生植物资源现状及区系特征进行初步研究,从而为野生植物资源的保护和合理有效地利用提供科学的理论依据与参考。     

新生儿肺炎的临床表现及x线特征的探讨

目的：探讨新生儿肺炎（neonatal pneumonia,NP）的临床表现及x线特征,以提高对NP的临床认识。方法：选择2011年6月至2012年10月在我院确诊为NP的新生儿73例,均经x线检查,回顾性分析患儿的临床资料,总结并分析患儿的临床表现及x线特征。结果：NP患儿的临床症状主要表现为呼吸急促、发绀、咳嗽、吐沫、呛奶和三凹征,部分患儿体温正常;NP的x线影像表现具有多样性,以不同程度的支气管肺炎多见,主要表现为肺纹理增多增密,局部肺野透光度降低或透光度增强。结论：NP患儿的临床症状以呼吸急促、发绀、咳嗽、吐沫、呛奶和三凹征为主,x线检查可为NP的早期诊断提供重要的临床信息,临床医师应根据NP患儿的x线影像的多样性,密切结合患儿的临床症状,做出综合分析。     

yeaI基因对奶牛源大肠杆菌NJ17生物学特性的影响

c-di-GMP是细菌中广泛存在的第二信使,可通过效应蛋白参与调控细菌的生物被膜形成、运动性和毒力等生物学特性。YeaI因含有能结合c-di-GMP分子的EGEVF基序,可能作为c-di-GMP效应蛋白发挥作用。[目的] 研究yeaI基因缺失对奶牛源大肠杆菌临床分离株NJ17生物学特性的影响。[方法] 构建NJ17的yeaI缺失株（NJ17ΔyeaI）及回复株cNJ17ΔyeaI,分析yeaI对NJ17生物学特性（如生长特性、生物被膜形成能力和对小鼠乳腺上皮细胞（EpH₄-Ev）的黏附）的影响。[结果] 成功构建NJ17的yeaI缺失株（NJ17ΔyeaI）及其回复株（cNJ17ΔyeaI）;与野生株NJ17相比,缺失株NJ17ΔyeaI生长特性及耐药性无显著变化,生物被膜形成能力显著下降,运动性显著升高（P<0.05）;透射电镜检测结果表明,yeaI缺失影响NJ17菌毛和鞭毛的形成;实时定量PCR（qPCR）结果显示,yeaI基因显著抑制NJ17鞭毛基因filG和motB的转录水平（P<0.05）;血清杀菌实验表明,yeaI缺失能显著增强其抵抗血清杀菌作用（P<0.05）;对EpH₄-Ev细胞黏附实验表明,yeaI缺失对NJ17黏附性无显著影响（P>0.05）。[结论] yeaI对奶牛源大肠杆菌NJ17的生物学特性具有重要的调控作用。     

Subtidal macrozoobenthic community resilience to change following natural mouth breaching of the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary,South Africa

The East Kleinemonde Estuary, on the south-east coast of South Africa, typically opens for only short periods, usually <10 days. During a nine-month study in 2006, marine influence persisted for a near-continuous period of three months. This provided an opportunity to explore potential changes in the structure and pattern of the subtidal estuarine macrozoobenthic community. Salinity changes were minimal after mouth opening, decreasing by c. 4 and 8 in the lower and upper estuary, respectively. Salinity decrease was due to river dominance over tidal influence. Two biotic assemblages, structured by sediment characteristics, typified the community throughout the study: a sand-associated group near the mouth and a mud-associated group upstream. Amphipods were proportionally the most abundant group within each assemblage and on each sampling occasion. At the species level, high variability typified the community, with no trends or patterns observed. However, species richness declined from 27–30 to 23 after mouth opening. The number of species returned to former levels at the time of the final survey and just before final mouth closure. An analysis of the subtidal macrozoobenthos in the East Kleinemonde and other temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCEs) of similar size in the bioregion indicated that communities were typically composed of relatively few, broadly tolerant euryhaline species with no species unique to TOCEs.     

开放性骨折患者发生医院感染的临床特征及危险因素分析

目的:研究开放性骨折患者发生医院感染的临床特征及危险因素,为降低院内感染提供临床参考。方法:回顾性分析于2013年3月-2015年3月间院内收治的1860例开放性骨折患者临床资料,对存在院内感染患者的感染类型、病原菌类型及相关危险因素进行分析,应用SPSS19.0统计软件对数据进行研究。结果:1860例患者中共计65例出现医院感染情况,发生率为3.49%,感染类型主要为骨髓炎占35.38%,肺部感染伴血气胸占23.08%,颌面部创伤后发生颅内感染占18.46%;65株病原菌中包括38株革兰氏阴性菌,占58.46%,23株革兰氏阳性菌,占35.38%,4株真菌,占6.15%;病程、骨折部位、损伤程度及住院时间为开放性骨折医院感染的独立危险因素,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:通过分析开放性骨折患者医院感染的临床特征及危险因素,有利于医院防治工作的开展,为医院感染防治提供理论支持,具有重要指导意义。