Unexpected larval habit of Listronotus bonariensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) raises questions about population dynamics analysis and management

Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) is a pest of agriculturally important graminaceous species, with mining larvae that kill the stems of the host plants. In this study, larval populations were measured in spring and summer in irrigated dairy grassland comprising Lolium perenne L. (cv. Nui) with and without the endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii Latch, M.J. Chr. and Samuels and Poa annua L.. Larvae were extracted from tillers taken from the swards of these two grass species and extracted from turves, and L. bonariensis population densities were estimated from tiller and turf larval counts on a m⁻² basis. Over the study period, the total number of larvae and larval densities extracted from turves was on average 2× greater than indicated from tillers. In most seasons, larval densities from turves were significantly higher than those from the tillers, though there was no correlation between tiller and turf larval densities. Mean head capsule widths of larvae emerging from turf samples showed significant seasonal effects compared with tillers, while mean head capsule widths of all four instars were significantly greater when extracted from tillers compared with turves. There was a significant endophyte effect on head capsule widths of larvae collected in summer, but the effect was not consistent across instars or source. Conversely, no significant endophyte effect on head capsule width was found in spring populations from either tillers or turves. This study shows that in irrigated dairy pasture, a high proportion of L. bonariensis larvae can live externally of tillers, presumably among the organic matter around the base of grasses in irrigated dairy pasture, and that density estimates based only on tiller populations will have significantly underestimated actual numbers. Having a precise indication of larval population densities is essential when developing life tables or determining economic damage threshold levels.     

A depth-dependent model of the pericellular microenvironment of chondrocytes in articular cartilage

Experimental studies suggest that the magnitude of chondrocyte deformation is much smaller than expected based on the material properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells, and that this result could be explained by a structural unit, the chondron, that is thought to protect chondrocytes from large deformations in situ. We extended an existing numerical model of chondrocyte, ECM and pericellular matrix (PCM) to include depth-dependent structural information. Our results suggest that superficial zone chondrocytes, which lack a pericellular capsule (PC), are relatively stiff, and therefore are protected from excessive deformations, whereas middle and deep zone chondrocytes are softer but are protected by the PC that limits cell deformations in these regions. We conclude that cell deformations sensitively depend on the immediate structural environment of the PCM in a depth-dependent manner, and that the functional stiffness of chondrocytes in situ is much larger than experiments on isolated cells would suggest.     

凉血活血汤联合阿维A胶囊治疗银屑病的临床疗效及其机制研究

目的:探讨凉血活血汤联合阿维A胶囊治疗银屑病的临床疗效及其可能作用机制。方法:选择2012年7月~2015年11月于我院就诊的银屑病患者60例,按照就诊先后顺序分为实验组与对照组,每组各30例,实验组患者使用凉血活血汤联合阿维A胶囊进行治疗,对照组患者仅给予阿维A胶囊进行治疗。比较治疗前后两组患者血清白细胞介素17(IL-17)、白细胞介素22(IL-22)、白细胞介素23(IL-23)及血管内皮因子(VEGF)水平,同时比较两组患者的不良反应发生率及临床总有效率。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者血清IL-17、IL-22、IL-23及VEGF水平均降低;治疗结束后与对照组相比,实验组患者血清IL-17、IL-22、IL-23及VEGF水平较低(P0.05);且与对照组相比,实验组患者的不良反应发生率较低(P0.05);临床总有效率较高(P0.05)。结论:凉血活血汤联合阿维A胶囊能明显提高银屑病患者的临床疗效,且安全性较高,可能与其降低血清IL-17、IL-22、IL-23及VEGF水平有关。     

Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule determines disease severity in experimental pneumococcal meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can be characterized into over 90 serotypes according to the composition of their polysaccharide capsules. Some serotypes are common in nasopharyngeal carriage whereas others are associated with invasive disease, but when carriage serotypes do invade disease is often particularly severe. It is unknown whether disease severity is due directly to the capsule type or to other virulence factors. Here, we used a clinical pneumococcal isolate and its capsule-switch mutants to determine the effect of capsule, in isolation from the genetic background, on severity of meningitis in an infant rat model. We found that possession of a capsule was essential for causing meningitis. Serotype 6B caused significantly more mortality than 7F and this correlated with increased capsule thickness in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a stronger inflammatory cytokine response in the CSF and ultimately more cortical brain damage. We conclude that capsule type has a direct effect on meningitis severity. This is an important consideration in the current era of vaccination targeting a subset of capsule types that causes serotype replacement.     

哺乳期需氧菌性阴道炎患者定期补充乳杆菌的疗效

目的分析在有效抗炎基础上定期补充乳杆菌活菌胶囊对哺乳期需氧菌性阴道炎患者的疗效及对远期复发率的影响。方法选择2019年4月至2020年3月于大连市妇女儿童医疗中心(集团)行产后42 d检查时发现的需氧菌性阴道炎患者共120例,按照随机自愿原则将所选患者分为观察组及对照组,各60例。全部患者均使用红核妇洁洗液及克林霉素磷酸酯阴道凝胶抗炎治疗7 d,观察组患者于第8天开始给予阴道用乳杆菌活菌胶囊每日睡前上药1粒,治疗10 d,停药后1周对两组患者进行临床疗效评估并了解不良反应发生情况。于首次治疗结束后第3个月及第6个月进行定期随诊,了解两组患者阴道炎的复发情况。且观察组患者于治疗后第3个月随诊结束后再次给予阴道用乳杆菌活菌胶囊补充上药1疗程。记录并比较两组患者治疗前、治疗后1周、治疗后第3个月及第6个月阴道pH值及H₂O₂情况。结果两组患者治疗期间均未发生明显不良反应。治疗后1周观察组患者治愈率(66.7%)显著高于对照组(36.7%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组总有效率(95.0%)与对照组(86.7%)比较差异无统计学意义...     

鳅鮀鱼类鳔囊结构及系统发育研究(鲤形目:鲤科)

本文应用分支系统学原理对鳅(鱼它)鱼类的鳔囊、鳔及相关结构进行了特征分圻,并以(鱼句)亚科作为外类群。解剖结果表明,鳅(鱼它)鱼类的鳔分四种类型;分析结果进一步证实鳅(鱼它)鱼类是一个单源群,作为一亚科可分为异鳔鳅(鱼它)属和鳅(鱼它)属,后者又分为原鳅(鱼它)和鳅(鱼它)二个亚属。     

Interaction of the regulator proteins RcsA and RcsB with the promoter of the operon for amylovoran biosynthesis in Erwinia amylovora

The RcsA and RcsB proteins of Erwinia amylovora and Escherichia coli were expressed in E. coli and purified. Their DNA-binding activity was examined using a 1-kb DNA region containing the putative promoter of the ams operon of Ew. amylovora, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide amylovoran. Mobility shift assays indicated specific binding of RcsA and RcsB to a region of 78 bp spanning nucleotide positions −578 to −501 relative to the translational start of the first open reading frame of the operon. This region includes stretches of homology to E. coliσ ⁷⁰ promoter consensus sequences and to the E. coli cps promoter region. Binding of the Rcs proteins was not found at a JUMPstart consensus, typical for various promoters of polysaccharide gene clusters. DNA-binding activity was not detected for RcsA alone and only high concentrations of RcsB were able to interact with the ams promoter in our assay. The two proteins bind cooperatively at the indicated region of the ams promoter and further evidence is provided showing that the DNA-protein complex formed involves a heterodimer of RcsA and RcsB. The specific activity of RcsA, but not of RcsB, was enhanced when the protein was expressed in E. coli at 28° C, relative to expression at 37° C. In addition, DNA-protein complex formation is affected by temperature. The E. coli RcsA/RcsB proteins bind to the same region of the ams promoter and are able to interact with the Rcs proteins from Ew. amylovora. Received: 26 February 1997 / Accepted: 23 May 1997