Neuropathological correlates of amyloid PET imaging in Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) results in an overproduction of amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptide associated with early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). DS cases have Aβ deposits detectable histologically as young as 12–30 years of age, primarily in the form of diffuse plaques, the type of early amyloid pathology also seen at pre‐clinical (i.e., pathological aging) and prodromal stages of sporadic late onset AD. In DS subjects aged >40 years, levels of cortical Aβ deposition are similar to those observed in late onset AD and in addition to diffuse plaques involve cored plaques associated with dystrophic neurites (neuritic plaques), which are of neuropathological diagnostic significance in AD. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss findings from amyloid PET imaging studies of DS in reference to postmortem amyloid‐based neuropathology. PET neuroimaging applied to subjects with DS has the potential to (a) track the natural progression of brain pathology, including the earliest stages of amyloid accumulation, and (b) determine whether amyloid PET biomarkers predict the onset of dementia. In addition, the question that is still incompletely understood and relevant to both applications is the ability of amyloid PET to detect Aβ deposits in their earliest form.     

甘露糖结合凝集素对小鼠脾脏CD11c+髓样树突状细胞表型和

目的 探讨甘露聚糖结合凝集素(Mannan-binding lectin,MBL)对CD11c+髓样树突状细胞(CD11c+mDC)表型和功能的影响.方法 应用磁珠分选技术获得BALB/c小鼠脾脏CD1 1c+ mDC和CD4+T淋巴细胞.在CD11c+mDC中加入不同浓度的MBL(2.5～20 μg/mL)刺激,以不加MBL的细胞作为对照,应用ELISA法检测细胞培养上清液中的IL-12水平,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达.用MTT法测定CD11c+mDC刺激CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖能力.ELISA法检测细胞培养液中IL-4和IFN-γ水平.结果 MBL显著增强CD11c+mDC表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达和IL-12的分泌,促进CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖和抗原递呈能力,诱导CD4+T向TH1反应分化.结论 MBL能够有效刺激CD11c+mDC的活化,诱导CD4+T淋巴细胞向TH1反应分化.     

Wind‐mediated horseweed (Conyza canadensis) gene flow: pollen emission,dispersion, and deposition

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) is a problem weed in crop production because of its evolved resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides. Although horseweed is mainly self-pollinating, glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed can pollinate glyphosate-susceptible (GS) horseweed. To the best of our knowledge, however, there are no available data on horseweed pollen production, dispersion, and deposition relative to gene flow and the evolution of resistance. To help fill this knowledge gap, a 43-day field study was performed in Champaign, Illinois, USA in 2013 to characterize horseweed atmospheric pollen emission, dispersion, and deposition. Pollen concentration and deposition, coupled with atmospheric data, were measured in a source field (180 m by 46 m) and its surrounding areas up to 1 km downwind horizontally and up to 100 m vertically. The source strength (emission rate) ranged from 0 to 140 pollen grains per plant per second (1170 to 2.1×10⁶ per plant per day). For the life of the study, the estimated number of pollen grains generated from this source field was 10.5×10¹⁰ (2.3×10⁶ per plant). The release of horseweed pollen was not strongly correlated to meteorological data and may be mainly determined by horseweed physiology. Horseweed pollen reached heights of 80 to100 m, making long-distance transport possible. Normalized (by source data) pollen deposition with distance followed a negative-power exponential curve. Normalized pollen deposition was 2.5% even at 480 m downwind from the source edge. Correlation analysis showed that close to or inside the source field at lower heights (≤3 m) vertical transport was related to vertical wind speed, while horizontal pollen transport was related to horizontal wind speed. High relative humidity prevented pollen transport at greater heights (3–100 m) and longer distances (0–1000 m) from the source. This study can contribute to the understanding of how herbicide-resistance weeds or invasive plants affect ecology through wind-mediated pollination and invasion.     

The first endocast of the extinct dodo (Raphus cucullatus) and an anatomical comparison amongst close relatives (Aves,Columbiformes)

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) became extinct only 100 years after humans first arrived on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Even though it has become an example of oddity, obsolescence, stupidity, and extinction, most aspects of its biology are still unknown. We used high‐resolution X‐ray computed tomography (CT) scanning to examine the endocranial morphology of the dodo and compare this virtual endocast to eight close relatives. Enlarged olfactory bulbs are a shared characteristic of the Raphinae and posteriorly angled semicircular canals are particular to the dodo compared with the other eight species sampled here. A regression of log endocranial volume against log body size shows that the dodo has an endocranial volume on par with other pigeons. Aspects of the dodo's biology are discussed in relation to these endocranial features.     

ATP‐dependent DNA binding,unwinding, and resection by the Mre11/Rad50 complex

ATP‐dependent DNA end recognition and nucleolytic processing are central functions of the Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex in DNA double‐strand break repair. However, it is still unclear how ATP binding and hydrolysis primes the MR function and regulates repair pathway choice in cells. Here, Methanococcus jannaschii MR‐ATPγS‐DNA structure reveals that the partly deformed DNA runs symmetrically across central groove between two ATPγS‐bound Rad50 nucleotide‐binding domains. Duplex DNA cannot access the Mre11 active site in the ATP‐free full‐length MR complex. ATP hydrolysis drives rotation of the nucleotide‐binding domain and induces the DNA melting so that the substrate DNA can access Mre11. Our findings suggest that the ATP hydrolysis‐driven conformational changes in both DNA and the MR complex coordinate the melting and endonuclease activity.     

2001-2009年中国碳排放与碳足迹时空格局

碳排放引发的全球变暖给自然环境及人类社会都带来了显著影响,而碳足迹可以衡量自然生态系统对人类活动碳排放的响应。为研究自然-社会二元系统碳动态,基于MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)数据和统计资料计算2001—2009年中国陆地植被净初级生产力、能源消费碳排放、碳足迹和碳赤字;在GIS(Geographic Information System)技术支持下,运用空间自相关分析方法讨论其时空格局;据此划分生态经济区。结果表明:(1)2001—2009年全国植被净初级生产力(Net Primary Production,NPP)平均值为3.32 Pg C/a(1 Pg=1015g),呈西南地区东南沿海华中、华东地区东北、华北地区西北地区的空间格局;(2)2001—2009年全国能源消费碳排放逐年增加,年均增长率16.7%,多年平均值2.53 Pg C/a,呈东部中部西部的空间格局;(3)2001—2009年全国碳足迹逐年增加,年均增长率14.7%,多年平均值6.98×106km2;具有正碳赤字(即碳源)的省份为山西、环渤海地区各省、长三角地区各省、广东;相邻省份碳赤字的相对大小由于互相影响而改变;(4)全国分为中东部、南部、北部、西部四个生态经济大区。研究结果直观揭示了中国碳排放和碳足迹的时空动态,为实现自然-社会二元系统的可持续发展提供科学依据。     

Vascular-homing peptides for targeted drug delivery and molecular imaging: Meeting the clinical challenges

The vasculature of each organ expresses distinct molecular signatures critically influenced by the pathological status. The heterogeneous profile of the vascular beds has been successfully unveiled by the in vivo phage display, a high-throughput tool for mapping normal, diseased, and tumor vasculature. Specific challenges of this growing field are targeted therapies against cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as novel bioimaging diagnostic tools. Tumor vasculature-homing peptides have been extensively evaluated in several preclinical and clinical studies both as targeted-therapy and diagnosis. To date, results from several Phase I and II trials have been reported and many other trials are currently ongoing or recruiting patients. In this review, advances in the identification of novel peptide ligands and their corresponding receptors on tumor endothelium through the in vivo phage display technology are discussed. Emphasis is given to recent findings in the clinical setting of vascular-homing peptides selected by in vivo phage display for the treatment of advanced malignancies and their altered vascular beds.     

Contents of macro-, microelements and long-lived radionuclides in the medicinal plants belonging to the wetland community of Siberian region,Russia

Studied contents of macro-, microelements and long-lived radionuclides in the following medicinal plants belonging to the wetland community of Siberian region, Russia: Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr., Sphagnum balticum (Russ.) Russ. ex С. Jens., Polytrichum strictum Brid., Pinus sylvestris L., Pinus sibirica Du Tour, Betula pubescens Ehrh., Andromeda polifolia L., Ledum palustre L., Oxycoccus palustris Pers., Rubus chamaemorus L., Vaccinium uliginosum L., Comarum palustre L., Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench. Samples were collected in the sphagnum wetlands of Tomsk region and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. For the purpose of research, we used roots, shoots and bark of the plants in the Pinophyta and Magnoliophyta species and turf of the Bryophyta species. The content of macro-, microelements in the plants was determined by an atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma “iCAP 6300 Duo” of the “Thermo Scientific” company. The specific activities of the long-lived radionuclides Th-232, K-40, Ra-226, Cs-137 were measured by a gamma-ray spectrometric complex with a high purity germanium semiconductor detector by “ORTEC” (AMETEK) and a digital analyser “ORTEC DSPEC LF”. The obtained results of the element content are useful when selecting a medicinal plant species (or part thereof) which may be used in preparation of new medicinal drugs.