Impact of short‐term exposure to low subzero temperatures on egg hatch in the hemlock looper,Lambdina fiscellaria

The frequency of extreme events, such as cold spells, is expected to increase under global warming. Therefore, the ability of insects to survive rapid changes in temperature is an important aspect to investigate in current population ecology. The hemlock looper (HL), Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a defoliator of boreal balsam fir forests in eastern Canada, overwinters at the egg stage on tree trunks and branches where eggs can be exposed to very low subzero air temperatures. Using eggs from the island of Newfoundland (NL) and Quebec mainland (QC), we undertook field and laboratory experiments to determine: (1) their supercooling point (SCP) in mid‐January and mid‐February; (2) overwintering mortality; (3) cold tolerance to various combinations of subzero temperatures (?25, ?30, ?33, ?35, or ?37 °C) and exposure durations (2, 4, 8, 12, or 16 h); and (4) potential causes of death at subzero temperatures above the SCP. Regardless of population or sampling date, eggs supercooled on average at ?40.1 °C. In the field, 59% of eggs from either population that overwintered in Sainte‐Foy (QC) and Corner Brook (NL) hatched successfully, whereas none did in Armagh (QC) or Epaule (QC). In the laboratory, 50% of eggs survived after 4 h at ?34.4 °C or after 14 h at ?32.9 °C. In contrast, regardless of exposure duration, >50% of eggs hatched at temperatures ≥?33 °C, but <50% did so at ≤?35 °C, suggesting high pre‐freeze mortality. However, when eggs were attached to thermocouples and exposed to temperatures ranging from ?25 to ?37 °C for 16 h, 69% froze at temperatures of ?35 to ?37 °C, but only 2% did at ?25 or ?30 °C. Time to freeze decreased as subzero temperatures declined, and this was more evident in island eggs than in mainland eggs. Overall, eggs can freeze after a brief exposure to subzero temperatures higher than the standard SCP, and are thus highly vulnerable to cold spells.     

Autophagy-mediated degradation is necessary for regression of cardiac hypertrophy during ventricular unloading

Cardiac hypertrophy occurs in response to a variety of stresses as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output and normalize wall stress. Prevention or regression of cardiac hypertrophy can be a major therapeutic target. Although regression of cardiac hypertrophy occurs after control of etiological factors, the molecular mechanisms remain to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated the role of autophagy in regression of cardiac hypertrophy. Wild-type mice showed cardiac hypertrophy after continuous infusion of angiotensin II for 14 days using osmotic minipumps, and regression of cardiac hypertrophy was observed 7 days after removal of the minipumps. Autophagy was induced during regression of cardiac hypertrophy, as evidenced by an increase in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II protein level. Then, we subjected cardiac-specific Atg5-deficient (CKO) and control mice (CTL) to angiotensin II infusion for 14 days. CKO and CTL developed cardiac hypertrophy to a similar degree without contractile dysfunction. Seven days after removal of the minipumps, CKO showed significantly less regression of cardiac hypertrophy compared with CTL. Regression of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy after unloading was also attenuated in CKO. These results suggest that autophagy is necessary for regression of cardiac hypertrophy during unloading of neurohumoral and hemodynamic stress.     

The Impact of Rest Breaks on Temporal Trends in Injury Risk

This study examined the impact of rest breaks on temporal trends in industrial accident risks in an attempt to replicate earlier findings of a linear increase in risk as a function of elapsed time on task. In two separate studies, the trend in work‐related injuries were studied in relation to the timing of rest breaks. In study one, comparisons were made between on‐ and off‐track workers on weekly rotating three‐shift systems operating in a large engineering company. Records of on‐duty injuries that occurred over 12 months were examined (N=4645 incidents). Study two involved interviewing patients who had suffered work‐related hand injuries in a variety of occupational settings (N=407 patients). Hierarchical log linear analysis was used in both studies. In study one, risk increased from the first to the second half‐hour of continuous work following a break, but then remained relatively constant in subsequent half‐hour periods, although there was a fall in the third half‐hour for on‐track workers. In some of the data, there was also a decrease in risk in the period leading up to the end of a work period. There was a sharp decline in reported injuries toward the very end of a shift, but otherwise the observed trends did not differ between successive periods of continuous work or between morning, afternoon, and night shifts. In study two, risk increased from the first to the second half‐hour of continuous work and then remained relatively constant in the third half‐hour. The contrast between the current and previous findings may be due to the relatively unique work environment of the previous study. It is suggested that the current trends reflect the effects of working in a relatively unconstrained task environment, and that causes other than fatigue may underlie the trends observed in both the previous and current studies.     

Effect of intercostal muscle and costovertebral joint material properties on human ribcage stiffness and kinematics

Current finite element (FE) models of the human thorax are limited by the lack of local-level validation, especially in the ribcage. This study exercised an existing FE ribcage model for a 50th percentile male under quasi-static point loading and dynamic sternal loading. Both force-displacement and kinematic responses of the ribcage were compared against experimental data. The sensitivity of the model response to changes in the material properties of the costovertebral (CV) joints and intercostal muscles was assessed. The simulations found that adjustments to the CV joints tended to change the amount of rib rotation in the sagittal plane, while changes to the elastic modulus and thickness of the intercostal muscles tended to alter both the stiffness and the direction and magnitude of rib motions. This study can lend insight into the role that the material properties of these two thoracic structures play in the dynamics of the ribcage during a frontal loading condition.     

Modelling human eye under blast loading

Primary blast injury (PBI) is the general term that refers to injuries resulting from the mere interaction of a blast wave with the body. Although few instances of primary ocular blast injury, without a concomitant secondary blast injury from debris, are documented, some experimental studies demonstrate its occurrence. In order to investigate PBI to the eye, a finite element model of the human eye using simple constitutive models was developed. The material parameters were calibrated by a multi-objective optimisation performed on available eye impact test data. The behaviour of the human eye and the dynamics of mechanisms occurring under PBI loading conditions were modelled. For the generation of the blast waves, different combinations of explosive (trinitrotoluene) mass charge and distance from the eye were analysed. An interpretation of the resulting pressure, based on the propagation and reflection of the waves inside the eye bulb and orbit, is proposed. The peculiar geometry of the bony orbit (similar to a frustum cone) can induce a resonance cavity effect and generate a pressure standing wave potentially hurtful for eye tissues.     

Divergent enhancer haplotype of ebony on inversion In(3R)Payne associated with pigmentation variation in a tropical population of Drosophila melanogaster

The pattern and intensity of pigmentation have direct impact on individual fitness through various ecological factors. In a Drosophila melanogaster population from southern Japan, thoracic trident pigmentation intensity of most of the strains could be classified into Dark or Light‐type. The expression level variation of the ebony gene correlated well with this phenotype and the allelic differences in expression indicated that the variation is partly due to cis‐regulatory changes. In the ～13 kb gene region, we identified 17 nucleotide sites and 2 indels that were in complete association with the thoracic trident pigmentation intensity. Interestingly, 11 out of 19 sites located within ～0.5 kb of the core epidermis enhancer. These sites had no obvious association with the abdominal pigmentation intensity in the previously analysed African populations from Uganda and Kenya, which suggested that multiple potential mutational pathways in the cis‐regulatory control region of a single gene could lead to similar phenotypic variation within this species. We also found that the Light‐type enhancer haplotype is strongly linked to a cosmopolitan inversion, In(3R)Payne, which is predominant in warmer climatic regions in both hemispheres. The sequence pattern suggested that the strong linkage may be due to selective forces related to thermal adaptation. The inferred selection for lighter pigmentation in the Japanese population is in the opposite direction of the previously reported case of selection for darker individuals in African populations. Nevertheless, both adaptive changes involved cis‐regulatory changes of ebony, which shows that this gene is likely to be a common target of natural selection.     

New emerging developments of platelets in transfusion medicine

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or platelet gel (PG) has been widely used in clinical treatment. Allogeneic PRP or PG may also become a safe and effective alternative method. In this study, two cases with giant thoracic aortic aneurysm were reported where massive doses of allogeneic PG were used to spray the thoracic aortic aneurysm wall suture wrapped in artificial blood vessels, tumors blood vessel wall anastomotic site, and incision site of surgical operation. The volumes of 220 mL and 250 mL PG were applied on two patients respectively, to clot bleeding and decrease the mediastinal and pericardial drainage days after operation. The drainage tubes were pulled out on the 4^th day after operation. The patients were transferred from ICU to a cardiothoracic surgery ward on the 4^th and 5^th day respectively. This study suggests that allogeneic platelet concentrate, as a source of PRP to prepare PG, may be used to promote and help the clotting and wound healing on surgical operation.     

Thoracic Vagal Efferent Nerve Stimulation Evokes Substance P-Induced Early Airway Bronchonstriction and Late Proinflammatory and Oxidative Injury in the Rat Respiratory Tract

Summary Electrical stimulation of efferent thoracic vagus nerve (TVN) evoked neurogenic inflammation in respiratory tract of atropine-treated rats by an undefined mechanism. We explored whether efferent TVN stimulation via substance P facilitates neurogenic inflammation via action of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Our results showed that increased frequency of TVN stimulation concomitantly increased substance P-enhanced hypotension, and bronchoconstriction (increases in smooth muscle electromyographic activity and total pulmonary resistance). The enhanced SP release evoked the appearance of endothelial gap in silver-stained leaky venules, India-ink labeled extravasation, and accumulations of inflammatory cells in the respiratory tract, contributing to trachea plasma extravasation as well as increases in blood O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ ROS amount. L-732138 (NK₁ receptor antagonist), SR-48968 (NK₂ receptor antagonist), dimethylthiourea (H₂O₂ scavenger) or catechins (O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ scavenger) pretreatment reduced efferent TVN stimulation-enhanced hypotension, bronchoconstriction, and plasma extravasation. Increased frequency of TVN stimulation significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in nuclear protein and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in total protein of the lower respiratory tract tissue. The upregulation of NF-κB and ICAM-1 was attenuated by NK receptor antagonist and antioxidants. In conclusion, TVN efferent stimulation increases substance P release to trigger NF-κB mediated ICAM-1 expression and O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ ROS production in the respiratory tract.     

褪黑素改善内毒素血症大鼠血管反应性

观察褪黑素(melatonin,MT)对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的体循环和肺循环血管反应性失调的影响,并探讨可能的作用机制。实验分为溶剂对照组、LPS组、LPS+MT组和MT组。制备离体胸主动脉环和肺动脉环,应用血管张力检测技术检测各组血管环对苯肾上腺素(phenylephrine,PE)和乙酰胆碱(acetylcholine,ACh)的反应性并绘制累积剂量反应曲线;制备各组血管组织匀浆,测定丙二醛(malondialhyde,MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxidedismutes,SOD)含量变化。结果显示:与对照组相比,LPS6h后胸主动脉对PE的收缩反应减弱(P<0.01),对PE(1×10–8~1×10–5mol/L)累积剂量反应曲线下移;而肺动脉对ACh的舒张反应显著下降(P<0.01),对ACh(1×10–8~1×10–5mol/L)累积剂量反应曲线下移。加用MT可显著改善LPS诱导的胸主动脉对缩血管剂PE的低反应性,同时可逆转LPS对肺动脉舒张反应的抑制,LPS+MT组胸主动脉对PE的累积剂量反应曲线和肺动脉对ACh的累积剂量反应曲线位于对照组和LPS组之间;MT还可对抗LPS导致的脂质过氧化,使MDA含量减少,提高抗氧化酶SOD的活性。上述结果提示,MT可改善内毒素血症大鼠的血管反应性失调,抗氧化途径可能是其发挥保护作用的机制之一。     

Coronary three-vessel disease with occlusion of the right coronary artery: What are the most important factors that determine the right territory perfusion?

With progressive occlusion of a coronary main artery, some anastomotic vessels are recruited in order to supply blood to the ischemic region. This collateral circulation is an important factor in the preservation of the myocardium until reperfusion of the area at risk. An accurate estimation of collateral flow is crucial in surgical bypass planning as it alters the blood flow distribution in the coronary network and can influence the outcome of a given treatment for a given patient. The evaluation of collateral flow is frequently achieved using an index based on pressure measurements. It is named collateral flow index (CFI) and defined as: (P_w − P_v)/(P_ao − P_v), where P_w is the pressure distal to the thrombosis, P_ao the aortic pressure and P_v the central venous pressure. In the present work, we study patients with severe coronary disease (stenoses on the left branches and total occlusion of the right coronary artery). Using a mathematical model that describes the coronary hemodynamics in that situation, we demonstrate that the dependence of the collateral circulation to the pressure values is not as simple as it is commonly believed: using pressures alone as an index of collateral flow is likely to result in misinterpretation of the collateral flow contribution, because collateral flow depends on many other factors related to the status of the native stenosed arteries and to the microvascular resistances (capillary and collateral resistances, and the proportion between them).