Circadian Blood Pressure Rhythm in Primary and Secondary Hypertension

Circadian blood pressure variability was recorded in patients with primary hypertension and with different forms of secondary hypertension using ambulatory 24-h blood pressure measurement. A group of 20 patients with different forms of secondary hypertension was compared with a matched group of patients with primary hypertension. Although the mean 24-h blood pressure was not different between the two groups, the patients with secondary hypertension had significantly higher systolic blood pressure during sleep and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the early morning, compared with the primary hypertension group. This nocturnal blood pressure fall was then investigated in various groups of patients with different forms of secondary hypertension and compared with normotensives and patients with primary hypertension. Patients with mild primary hypertension (n = 152) and with severe primary hypertension (n = 30) had the same blood pressure fall (14–16 mm Hg systolic and diastolic) during the night (23:OO–05:OO h) as normotensives (n = 20). However, in patients with renoparenchymal hypertension (n = 29), renovascular hypertension (n = 20), hyperaldosteronism (n = 6), and hyperthyroidism (n = 14), the nocturnal blood pressure fall was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced. One patient with coarctation ofthe aorta and nine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and elevated blood pressure had a normal circadian blood pressure profile with a normal nocturnal blood pressure fall. The heart rate decrease during the night was equal in all patient groups. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement allows blood pressure recording under everyday conditions, including nighttime. In primary hypertension the blood pressure variability exhibits the same circadian variation as in normotension, showing a marked nocturnal fall. However, in different forms of secondary hypertension, blood pressure shows a blunted circadian curve. This could have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.     

长爪沙鼠IgG的纯化及抗血清的制备

目的 纯化长爪沙鼠血清IgG,制备兔抗长爪沙鼠IgG抗血清。方法 采用Hitrap Protein G亲和层析预装柱来纯化长爪沙鼠血清IgG;通过SDS-PAGE电泳和Western-Blotting免疫印迹法对长爪沙鼠血清IgG进行纯度鉴定,免疫兔子制备抗血清。结果 7 mL长爪沙鼠血清纯化得到11 mg IgG;电泳和免疫印迹测定,IgG纯度大于95%;用纯化的IgG作抗原制备了兔抗血清,免疫双扩散测定效价达1∶32。结论 建立了长爪沙鼠血清IgG的纯化方法,制备了长爪沙鼠IgG抗血清,证实长爪沙鼠血清IgG和Protein G具有较高的亲和性。     

Fusarium infection in maize: volatile induction of infected and neighboring uninfected plants has the potential to attract a pest cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus

Fusarium infection of maize leaves and/or roots through the soil can stimulate the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is also well known that VOC emission from maize plants can repel or attract pests. In our experiments, we studied VOC induction responses of Zea mays L. ssp. mays cv. ‘Prosna’ having Fusarium infection (mix of four species) in leaves or roots, then tested for VOC induction of uninfected neighboring plants, and finally examined wind-tunnel behavioral responses of the adult cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus L. (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) behavior to four induced VOCs. In the first part of our experiment, we confirmed that several green leaf volatiles (GLVs; (Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, 1-hexyl acetate), terpenes (β-pinene, β-myrcene, Z-ocimene, linalool, β-caryophyllene), and shikimic acid pathway derivatives (benzyl acetate, methyl salicylate, indole) were positively induced from maize plants infected by Fusarium spp. The quantities of induced VOCs were higher at 7 d than 3 d post-infection and greater when plants were infected with Fusarium on leaves rather than through soil. In the second part of our experiment, uninfected maize plants also showed significantly positive induction of several VOCs when neighboring an infected plant where the degree of induction was negatively related to the distance from the infected plant. In the third part of our experiment, a Y-tube bioassay was used to evaluate upwind orientation of adult cereal leaf beetles to four individual VOCs. Female and male O. melanopus were significantly attracted to the GLVs (Z)-3-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and the terpenes linalool and β-caryophyllene. Our results indicate that a pathogen can induce several VOCs in maize plants that also induce VOCs in neighboring uninfected plants, though VOC induction could increase the range at which an insect pest species is attracted to VOC inducing plants.     

ITS-2 and 18S rRNA Gene Phylogeny of Aplysinidae (Verongida, Demospongiae)

18S ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) full-length sequences, each of which was sequenced three times, were used to construct phylogenetic trees with alignments based on secondary structures, in order to elucidate genealogical relationships within the Aplysinidae (Verongida). The first poriferan ITS-2 secondary structures are reported. Altogether 11 Aplysina sponges and 3 additional sponges (Verongula gigantea, Aiolochroia crassa, Smenospongia aurea) from tropical and subtropical oceans were analyzed. Based on these molecular studies, S. aurea, which is currently affiliated with the Dictyoceratida, should be reclassified to the Verongida. Aplysina appears as monophyletic. A soft form of Aplysina lacunosa was separated from other Aplysina and stands at a basal position in both 18S and ITS-2 trees. Based on ITS-2 sequence information, the Aplysina sponges could be distinguished into a single Caribbean–Eastern Pacific cluster and a Mediterranean cluster. The species concept for Aplysina sponges as well as a phylogenetic history with a possibly Tethyan origin is discussed.Reviewing Editor: Dr. Martin Kreitman     

Transformable mutants of a biopesticide strainStreptomyces griseoviridis K61

Summary The aim of this work was to isolate transformable mutants ofStreptomyces griseoviridis K61 without affecting the secondary metabolism of this strain.S. griseoviridis K61 produces an antifungal aromatic heptaene polyene antibiotic, and is used as a biological control agent. In protoplast transformation experiments using plasmid pIJ702 DNA, the few spontaneous transformants were phenotypically bald and their secondary metabolism was pleiotropically affected. By mutagenizing K61 withN-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) a highly transformable variant K61-42 was obtained. Protoplasts ofS. griseoviridis K61-42 could be transformed by several model plasmids producing 10⁴–10⁵ transformants/g plasmid DNA. The polyene synthesis of K61-42 was normal, making this strain a useful tool in genetic studies on the mechanism of biopesticide action.     

11例恶性肿瘤继发性骨髓增生异常综合征病例分析

目的:分析恶性肿瘤继发骨髓增生异常综合征(Myelodysplastic Syndrome,MDS)病例资料,寻找肿瘤继发MDS关键致病因素,并为原发病治疗风险评估提供参考依据。方法:采用回顾性研究方法,查阅北京中医药大学东直门医院肿瘤血液科2007年1月-2012年4月MDS患者住院病例,区分原发、继发两种类型,并对继发性MDS病例资料进行综合分析。结果:按照MDS诊断标准,在明确诊断的75例患者中,原发性64例,肿瘤继发11例,占14.67%。11例患者均为中老年人群,其中,65岁以上老龄患者7例,占63.6%;70岁以上老龄患者5例,占45.45%。肿瘤继发MDS,尤其是老龄患者特征为严重合并症多,生存质量差,生存期短。致病原因有多方面因素,其中,放化疗联合应用可增加肿瘤继发MDS的风险性。结论:恶性肿瘤及其相关治疗易继发MDS,放化疗联合应用可增加其风险性;老龄患者继发MDS的机会明显增加,且预后不良。因此,对于老龄肿瘤患者要认真评估治疗受益和相关风险。     

桑氏链霉菌KJ40全基因组测序及分析

【背景】桑氏链霉菌(Streptomyces sampsonii)KJ40是一株具有防病、促生多重功能的放线菌,有作为生物农药的潜力。目前还没有相关研究报道S.sampsonii全基因组序列,这限制了其功能基因、代谢产物合成途径及比较基因组学等研究。【目的】解析S.sampsonii KJ40的基因组序列信息,以深入研究该菌株防病促生机制及挖掘次级代谢产物基因资源。【方法】利用Illumina HiSeq高通量测序平台对KJ40菌株进行全基因组测序,使用相关软件对测序数据进行基因组组装、基因预测和功能注释、预测次级代谢产物合成基因簇、共线性分析等。【结果】基因组最后得到9个Scaffolds和578个Contigs,总长度为7 261 502 bp,G+C%含量平均为73.41%,预测到6 605个基因、1 260个串联重复序列、804个小卫星序列、67个微卫星序列、90个tRNA、9个rRNA和19个sRNA。其中,2 429、3 765、2 890、6 063和1 911个基因分别能够在COG、GO、KEGG、NR和Swiss-Prot数据库提取到注释信息。同时,还预测得到21个次级代谢产物合成基因簇。基因组测序数据提交至NCBI获得Gen Bank登录号:LORI00000000。S.sampsonii KJ40与Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)、Streptomyces griseus subsp.griseus NBRC 13350三株链霉菌基因组存在翻转、易位等基因组重排,3个基因组共有1 711个蛋白聚类簇。【结论】研究为从基因组层面上解析KJ40菌株具有良好促生防病效果的内在原因提供基础数据,为深入了解链霉菌次级代谢合成途径提供参考信息,对S.sampsonii后续相关研究具有重要意义。     

外来植物黄顶菊（Flaveria bidentis）的研究进展

黄顶菊(Flaveria bidentis)是近年来新发现的一种外来植物,隶属菊科黄菊属,为一年牛草本,是较为少见的双子叶C4植物.黄顶菊异常强大的繁殖能力和牛存能力已使其成为一种潜在的入侵植物.对黄顶菊的译名、生物及生态学特性、遗传学及次生代谢产物的研究状况进行了概述;重点对黄菊属植物的系统进化史、光合生理特性与C4途径演化的关系,以及黄顶菊体内碳酸酐酶、NADP-苹果酸酶、苹果酸脱氢酶Rubisco及其活化酶等C4光合重要酶的分子及基因工程研究进行了综述;并对今后的研究提出了展望.     

Study on the isomerism in meso-amavadin and an amavadin analogue

An X-ray crystallographic study of 'meso-amavadin' revealed that in the crystal the negatively charged anionic species of the title compound join into infinite hydrogen-bonded chains, counterbalanced by cationic hydronium species. Along with water of crystallization a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network is formed. Based on NMR- and X-ray data of amavadin and 'meso-amavadin', a model was developed that accounts for the structure of amavadin-type complexes, i.e. vanadium(IV) non-oxo complexes that contain two ligands with a tridentate N-hydroxyiminodiacetate backbone. The model describes the different arrangements of the two ligands around the vanadium and it accounts for eventual symmetry in the complex. The model was used for the interpretation of NMR-data of an amavadin analogue with a benzyl group at the ligand backbone.     

Early expression of aflatoxin-like dothistromin genes in the forest pathogen Dothistroma septosporum

The forest pathogen Dothistroma septosporum produces the polyketide dothistromin, a mycotoxin very similar in structure to versicolorin B, a precursor of aflatoxin (AF). Dothistromin is a broad-range toxin and possibly involved in red-band needle blight disease. As the role of dothistromin in the disease is unknown the expression of dothistromin genes was studied to reveal clues to its function. Although the genes of AF and dothistromin biosynthesis are very similar, this study revealed remarkable differences in the timing of their expression. Secondary metabolites, like AF, are usually produced during late exponential phase. Previously identified dothistromin genes, as well as a newly reported versicolorin B synthase gene, vbsA, showed high levels of expression during the onset of exponential growth. This unusual early expression was also seen in transformants containing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene regulated by a dothistromin gene promoter, where the highest GFP expression occurred in young mycelium. Two hypotheses for the biological role of dothistromin are proposed based on these results. The study of dothistromin genes will improve current knowledge about secondary metabolite genes, their putative biological roles, and their regulation.