The making of symbiont capsule in the plataspid stinkbug Megacopta punctatissima

In stinkbugs of the family Plataspidae, adult females deposit small brownish particles, containing specific symbiotic bacteria inside, on the underside of their egg mass. Newborn nymphs ingest the content of the unique structure, called "symbiont capsule", whereby vertical transmission of the symbiont occurs. We investigated the fine structure and the formation process of the symbiont capsule in the Japanese common plataspid stinkbug, Megacopta punctatissima, by using light and electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that (i) the capsule consists of three structural components, namely "symbionts", "matrix" and "envelope"; (ii) the posterior midgut of adult females is characterized by several specific sections with peculiar anatomical traits, including "thin crypt-bearing midgut (TCM) section", "swollen crypt-bearing midgut (SCM) section" and "brownish enlarged midgut (BEM) end section"; (iii) the different capsule components, symbionts, matrix and envelope, are produced and/or supplied by the specialized midgut sections, TCM, SCM and BEM, respectively; and (iv) the capsule components are stored in BEM and excreted during oviposition to produce the symbiont capsules. These results strongly suggested that the host insect incurs a substantial cost for the symbiont transmission. Ecological and evolutionary implications of the highly developed, female-specific system for symbiont transmission were discussed.     

Larval morphology and development of Coptera occidentalis

The morphology and development of immature stages of the solitary internal parasitoid Coptera occidentalis were studied within the pupae of their factitious host, Ceratitis capitata. Parasitoid eggs are of the hymenopteriform type. Three larval instars are described. The first instar is of the mandibulate type bearing prominent submandibular appendages and a pair of terminal lobes on the last abdominal segment. The terminal lobes are covered with cuticular spines. The integument also bears cuticular spines arranged in paired dorsal welts on each of body segments V--IX. The second and third instar larvae are hymenopteriform with simple mandibles, reduced submandibular appendages and smooth integument. The third instar has an open tracheal system with three pairs of spiracles on segments II--IV. Considerable variation in development rates of parasitoid immature stages and high percentage of superparasitism were observed. Parasitoid eggs nearly doubled in size during the 96-h incubation. Development from egg to pupa took minimum 25 days and emergence of imagines started on day 42 after parasitization. Superparasitism was recorded in 56% of the examined hosts. The average number of eggs/host was 5.04 (range 1--22). Supernumerary occurrence of successive larval instars per one host was also observed.     

扶正化瘀胶囊联合微生态制剂和恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎病毒感染失代偿期肝硬化的临床研究

目的:探讨扶正化瘀胶囊联合微生态制剂和恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染失代偿期肝硬化的临床效果。方法:选取2015年6月～2019年6月期间我院收治的HBV感染失代偿期肝硬化患者73例,根据随机数字表法分为对照组(n=36)和研究组(n=37),对照组患者予以微生态制剂和恩替卡韦治疗,研究组则在对照组的基础上联合扶正化瘀胶囊治疗,比较两组患者疗效、T淋巴细胞亚群、肝功能[天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)]以及肝纤维化指标[透明质酸(HA)、层黏连蛋白(LN)],记录两组乙肝表面e抗原(HBeAg)、乙肝病毒基因(HBV-DNA)转阴情况,记录两组不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组治疗6个月后的临床总有效率为91.89%(34/37),高于对照组的72.22%(26/36)(P0.05)。两组治疗6个月后AST、TBIL、HA、LN、CD8+~均下降,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组治疗6个月后CD4+~、CD4+~/CD8+~升高,且研究组高于对照组(P0.05)。两组治疗6个月后HBeAg、HBV-DNA转阴率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率对比未见统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:扶正化瘀胶囊联合微生态制剂和恩替卡韦治疗HBV感染失代偿期肝硬化疗效显著,虽在HbeAg、HBV-DNA转阴率方面未见明显改善,但可有效改善肝功能,减轻肝纤维化,提高机体免疫功能,且不增加不良反应发生率,安全性较好。     

桂枝茯苓胶囊对卵巢囊肿剥除术患者卵巢储备功能的影响

目的:探究桂枝茯苓胶囊对卵巢囊肿患者囊肿剥除术后卵巢储备功能的影响。方法:选择我院收治的卵巢囊肿已行囊肿剥除术的患者59例,将其随机分为实验组及对照组。实验组31例予桂枝茯苓胶囊治疗,对照组予孕三烯酮治疗。对比两组患者治疗前及治疗后12周血清雌激素、抗苗勒氏管激素(AMH)、血清脂质结合唾液酸(LSA)、促卵泡激素(FSH)及基础窦卵泡数(AFC)水平及临床疗效。结果:实验组的有效率(96.8%)显著高于对照组(71.4%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗12周后,两组患者血清雌激素、AMH、AFC水平均较治疗前显著升高,而血清FSH、LSA水平均明显降低(P0.05),差异存在有统计学意义;与对照组比较,实验组患者的血清雌激素、血清AMH及AFC水平较高,血清FSH、LSA水平较低(P0.05),差异有统计学意义。结论:桂枝茯苓胶囊可以改善卵巢囊肿剥除术后患者的卵巢的储备功能,提高临床疗效。     

六味能消胶囊联合复方消化酶对功能性消化不良患者临床症状及脑-肠轴相关因子水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨六味能消胶囊联合复方消化酶对功能性消化不良（FD）患者临床症状及脑-肠轴相关因子水平的影响。方法：选取2018年7月~2019年12月期间攀枝花市中心医院收治的80例FD患者,以随机数字表法分为研究组（n=40）和对照组（n=40）。对照组给予复方消化酶治疗,研究组给予复方消化酶联合六味能消胶囊治疗,对比两组的脑-肠轴相关因子水平,疗效,症状改善时间及不良反应。结果：治疗4周后研究组的临床总有效率为92.50%（37/40）,高于对照组的72.50%（29/40）（P<0.05）。研究组食量恢复时间（4.62±0.74）d、食欲恢复时间（3.61±0.57）d、恶心呕吐消失时间（1.59±0.36）d分别较对照组的（7.68±1.71）d、（5.71±0.86）d、（3.87±0.52）d缩短（P<0.05）。研究组治疗4周后胃泌素（149.77±13.89）ng/L、胃动素（159.18±12.86）ng/L、神经肽S 受体 1（NPSR1）（164.10±15.88）pg/mL均高于对照组的（93.34±8.92）ng/L、（123.23±10.97）ng/L、（130.23±12.64）pg/mL（P<0.05）,研究组治疗4周后降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）（49.52±6.49）pg/mL、血管活性肠钛（VIP）（22.69±3.61）ng/L、生长抑素（SS）（32.13±3.36）pg/mL低于对照组的（63.19±8.38）pg/mL、（27.83±3.73）ng/L、（41.85±4.38）pg/mL（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比无明显差异（P>0.05）。结论：复方消化酶联合六味能消胶囊治疗FD患者疗效显著,可有效缓解临床症状,改善脑-肠轴相关因子水平,且不增加不良反应发生率。     

Comparative in vivo and in vitro analyses of putative virulence factors of Burkholderia pseudomallei using lipopolysaccharide, capsule and flagellin mutants

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram-negative bacillus that is the causative agent of melioidosis. We evaluated host–pathogen interaction at different levels using three separate B. pseudomallei mutants generated by insertional inactivation. One of these mutants is defective in the production of the polysaccharide side chains associated with lipopolysaccharide; one does not produce the capsular polysaccharide with the structure -3)-2- O -acetyl-6-deoxy-β- d - manno -heptopyranose-(1-; and the third mutant does not produce flagellin. We compared the in vivo virulence in BALB/c mice, the in vitro fate of intracellular survival inside human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and macrophages (Mφs) and the susceptibility to killing by 30% normal human serum, reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediates and antimicrobial peptides with that of their wild-type counterpart. The lipopolysaccharide and capsule mutants demonstrated a marked reduction in virulence for BALB/c mice, but the flagellin mutant was only slightly less virulent than the parent strain. The results from the BALB/c mice experiments correlated with survival in Mφs. The lipopolysaccharide and capsule mutants were also more susceptible to killing by antimicrobial agents. All bacteria were equally susceptible to killing by PMNs. Altogether, the data suggest that lipopolysaccharide and capsule and, to a much lesser extent, flagella, are most likely associated with the virulence of this bacterium and highlight the importance of intracellular killing by PMNs and Mφs in disease pathogenesis.     

Fine structure of the mammalian renal capsule: The atypical smooth muscle cell and its functional meaning

Summary The present electron microscopic study on the fine structure of the renal capsule of some mammals (mouse, rat, mole, guinea pig and rabbit) shows that, although there are some variations in the structure, the general morphology is the same.The renal capsule of these animals consists of two layers, a connective tissue layer and an atypical smooth muscle cell layer, and is bound to the renal parenchyma by a thin peritubular loose connective tissue. The atypical smooth muscle cell is characterized by the existence of fine cytoplasmic filaments usually arranged along the long axis of the cell, and the cells also show a complicated interlocking among adjacent cells. The atypical smooth muscle cells gradually undergo a transition to fibroblasts of the upper connective tissue layer, losing their similarities to smooth muscle cells.When intrarenal pressure is elevated and the renal capsule is distended, the intercellular space among interdigitating or overlapping atypical smooth muscle cells is extensively dilated.Tracers such as horseradish peroxidase and ferritin injected intravenously or intraperitoneally can transverse the renal capsule.From the present study, it is concluded that the renal capsule of mammals possesses common structures, and contains atypical smooth muscle cells. These morphological characteristics suggest that the renal capsule could play a certain role related to the renal function.The author wishes to acknowledge the helpful advices of Prof. T. Yamamoto