山东寿光设施菜地土壤砷含量及形态

通过典型区域采样调查,系统探讨了山东寿光市设施菜地中砷的含量及其形态特征.结果表明: 设施菜地表层(0～20 cm)和亚表层(20～40 cm)土壤中总砷含量分别为8.27、7.93 mg·kg^-1,是对照土壤的1.19和1.23倍,易溶性砷(AE-As)含量分别为0.13、0.06 mg·kg^-1,是对照土壤的1.63和3.00倍; 土壤中的砷主要以残渣态砷(O-As)存在,其含量占总砷的63.0%以上,其他形态砷含量依次为铁型砷(Fe-As)>钙型砷(Ca-As)>铝型砷(Al-As)>AE-As; 随着种植年限的延长,土壤中AE-As含量显著增加,Al-As含量也有不同程度提高,种植15 a设施菜地表层和亚表层土壤中的AE-As含量分别比对照提高了75.0%和150.0%,Al-As含量分别提高了51.6%和190.4%,而Fe-As和Ca-As含量则均有不同程度的下降.     

A mitogenomic phylogeny and genetic history of sable (Martes zibellina)

We assessed phylogeny of sable (Martes zibellina, Linnaeus, 1758) by sequence analysis of nearly complete, new mitochondrial genomes in 36 specimens from different localities in northern Eurasia (Primorye, Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk regions, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands and the Urals). Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA sequences demonstrates that two clades, A and BC, radiated about 200–300 thousand years ago (kya) according to results of Bayesian molecular clock and RelTime analyses of different mitogenome alignments (nearly complete mtDNA sequences, protein-coding region, and synonymous sites), while the age estimates of clades A, B and C fall within the Late Pleistocene (~ 50–140 kya). Bayesian skyline plots (BSPs) of sable population size change based on analysis of nearly complete mtDNAs show an expansion around 40 kya in the warm Karganian time, without a decline of population size around the Last Glacial Maximum (21 kya). The BSPs based on synonymous clock rate indicate that M. zibellina experienced demographic expansions later, approximately 22 kya. The A2a clade that colonized Kamchatka ~ 23–50 kya (depending on the mutation rate used) survived the last glaciation there as demonstrated by the BSP analysis. In addition, we have found evidence of positive selection acting at ND4 and cytochrome b genes, thereby suggesting adaptive evolution of the A2a clade in Kamchatka.     

Exploring differentially expressed genes in the ovaries of uniparous and multiparous goats using the RNA-Seq (Quantification) method

Fecundity improvement is one of the most important objectives for goat breeders as it greatly increases production efficiency. To investigate the genes associated with litter sizes in the Anhui White goat (AWG), gene expression differences in the ovaries of uniparous and multiparous AWG were assessed using the RNA-Seq (Quantification) method. This analysis generated 6,027,714 and 5,884,062 clean reads in uniparous and multiparous libraries, respectively. A total of 2201 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were thereby identified (FDR ≤ 0.001, |log₂Ratio| ≥ 1). There were 1583 up-regulated and 618 down-regulated genes in the multiparous samples compared with the uniparous samples. A large number of these DEGs were related to the terms cellular process, cell & cell part and binding. Twelve genes which may be associated with the high prolificacy of AWG were identified using a bioinformatic screen. In addition, pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in 11 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, including ECM–receptor interactions, focal adhesion, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton among others. This suggested a role for these pathways in the prolificacy of AWG. These results provide a list of new candidate genes for goat prolificacy.     

Breast cancer trends in women younger than 40 years in Brazil

BackgroundA recent Brazilian populational database analysis showed a concerning increase in breast cancer mortality rates among patients under 40 years. We aimed to evaluate the trends in the proportion of new breast cancer cases and deaths occurring in patients younger than 40 years over the last decade in Brazil.MethodsWe evaluated all consecutive breast cancer patients treated from 2009 to 2020 in a Brazilian tertiary cancer center. The proportions of new cases and deaths in patients younger than 40 years was compared between two time periods (2015–2020 versus 2009–2014) using Chi-squared test. Linear regression was used to evaluate the trends in the proportion of new cases and deaths in young patients over the years.ResultsFrom 2009 to 2020, a total of 12,569 breast cancer patients started treatment at our institution; 1441 were younger than 40 years. From 2009 to 2014, 9.9% (95% CI 9.2–10.7%) were patients younger than 40 years compared to 12.9% (95% CI 12.1–13.8%) from 2015 to 2020. Similarly, the proportion of deaths among breast cancer patients younger than 40 years increased during the period (2009–2014: 9.6%, 95% CI 7.8–11.6%; 2015–2020: 12.4%, 95% CI 10.9–14%). The linear regression model showed a trend for an increasing proportion of new breast cancer cases occurring in patients under 40 years (P = 0.005). Proportion increased from 7.9% (95% CI 6.2–9.8%) in 2009 to 21.8% (95% CI 19.1–24.8%) in 2020. The trend for the increase in the proportion of deaths in this young population was also observed in the linear regression model (P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe proportion of new breast cancer cases and deaths among patients younger than 40 years has increased in a public Brazilian cancer center over the past decade. These results raise the concern for the need to reconsider primary and secondary prevention strategies for young women.     

幼儿马尔尼菲篮状菌病2例

病例1,男,1岁6个月,咳嗽半个月、发热1周;病例2,男,11个月,反复鹅口疮3个月,咳嗽20 d。2例幼儿血培养阳性,均为马尔尼菲篮状菌,同时都存在免疫缺陷,非HIV感染,影像学提示肺部有多发小结节影,伏立康唑治疗后临床病愈出院,随访12个月无复发。     

不同平茬年限人工柠条林光合特性及土壤水分的响应变化

平茬是荒漠草原老化人工柠条林营林抚育的重要措施,为系统认识柠条平茬后连续的生理与生态响应过程及其变化规律,该研究设置对比观测样地,以未平茬柠条(WPC)为对照,以平茬后连续生长1～5年(PC1～PC5)的柠条为处理,对各样地柠条净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度、水分利用效率等光合生理特征及其土壤含水量分布的影响进行测定分析。结果表明:(1)平茬处理对柠条生理特性的影响因平茬年限的增加而异,其中PC1和PC2柠条的净光合速率和蒸腾速率较WPC略有提高,PC1柠条处于补偿生长的活跃期,水分利用效率明显高于其他平茬处理,PC2柠条的水分利用效率开始下降;PC3和PC4的柠条蒸腾速率、净光合速率和气孔导度显著上升,且PC4处理下达到最大值,相应水分利用效率也逐步回升;PC5的柠条几乎不存在补偿性生长,净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率开始回落,逐渐接近WPC;平茬措施对PC1与PC5柠条胞间CO2浓度大小的影响较大。(2)PC1的土壤水分含量在0～100cm土层因受冠层截留大幅减小的影响而低于其他年限平茬处理;PC2的土壤水分略有改善,PC3、PC4的土壤含水量显著提高,PC5的土壤水分状况则逐渐接近于WPC。(3)随平茬年限的增加,柠条光合特性与土壤含水量间存在一定的动态互馈关系,其中PC1的土壤水分略有下降,柠条生长减缓;PC2土壤含水量逐步恢复;PC3土壤含水量增长幅度开始下降,柠条的各项生理指标上升;PC4柠条的光合生理指标、土壤含水量都达到了最高值;PC5柠条的各项指标开始下降。研究发现,PC4处理是柠条光合生理和土壤水分响应变化的拐点,可参考作为平茬柠条优化管理的一个时间节点。     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new long-chain squaramides as anti-chagasic agents in the BALB/c mouse model

Chagas Disease is caused by infection with the insect-transmitted protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and affects more than 10 million people. It is a paradigmatic example of a chronic disease without an effective treatment in Latin America where the current therapies, based on Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, are characterised by limited efficacy, toxic side-effects and frequent failures in the treatment. We present a series of new long-chain squaramides, identified based on their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, and their trypanocidal activity and cytotoxicity were tested in vitro through the determination of IC₅₀ values. Compounds 4 and 7 were more active and less toxic than the reference drug Benznidazole, and these results were the basis of promoting in vivo assays, where parasitaemia levels, assignment of cure, reactivation of parasitaemia and others parameters were determined in mice treated in both the acute and chronic phases. Finally, the mechanisms of action were elucidated at metabolic and mitochondrial levels and superoxide dismutase inhibition. The experiments allowed us to select compound 7 as a promising candidate for treating Chagas Disease, where the activity, stability and low cost make long-chain squaramides appropriate molecules for the development of an affordable anti-chagasic agent versus current treatments.