慢性阻塞性肺疾病不同表型患者CAT评分与肺功能及预后的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病（chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD）不同表型评估测试问卷（COPD assessment test,CAT）评分与肺功能及预后的关系。方法：收集361例COPD患者临床资料、CAT评分、肺功能检查结果及肺外合并症、肺内并发症等情况,按临床表型分为肺气肿组（n=200）和支气管炎组（n=161）,分析肺气肿组200例和支气管炎组161例COPD患者CAT评分与肺功能及预后的关系。结果：肺气肿组CAT评分高于支气管炎组（P<0.05）,一秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）占预计值百分比（FEV₁%）、FEV₁/用力肺活量（FVC）低于支气管炎组（P<0.05）,吸气分数（IC/TLC）低于支气管炎组,残总比（RV/TLC）高于支气管炎组（P<0.05）;肺气肿组肺间质性病变、肺动脉高压发生率均高于支气管炎组（P<0.05）;支气管炎、肺气肿组CAT评分均与FEV₁%、FEV₁/FVC、IC/TLC呈负相关（P<0.05）,与RV/TLC呈正相关（P<0.05）,肺气肿各参数相关度更高（P<0.05）;肺气肿组不同CAT评分患者肺间质性病变、肺动脉高压发生率比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,支气管炎组不同CAT评分肺动脉高压发生率比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,随CAT评分的升高,肺气肿组肺间质性病变、肺动脉高压发生率上升,支气管炎组肺动脉高压发生率上升。结论： COPD肺气肿表型CAT评分较支气管炎表型高,肺功能降低更明显,呈现肺过度通气,气流受限特点,更易并发肺间质纤维化、肺动脉高压,且与CAT评分变化密切相关。     

Molecular typing of Pasteurella pneumotropica isolated from rodents by amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

A total of 52 isolates of Pasteurella pneumotropica obtained from rodents were examined for their genetic heterogeneity. On the basis of DNA restriction analysis, including amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), differences were identified among the isolates. ARDRA typing with Hae III revealed 4 different banding patterns of the P. pneumotropica isolates. Eighty-two percent of the 23 isolates identified as a-1 were derived from mice, whereas all the isolates identified as a-3 were derived from rats. Most of the isolates, which showed hemolytic activity on blood agar, obtained from mice and rats, were identified as a-2 and a-4, respectively. By restriction analysis of genomic DNA, Apa I and Not I digestion differentiated 9 variants and an undiscriminating group. However, no close relation with regard to the phenotypic characteristics was observed among the variants. The isolates identified as a-2 and a-4 could not be distinguished by PFGE analysis. DNA restriction analysis revealed that the genetic diversity of the P. pneumotropica isolates was more complex than the phenotypic characteristics among the species, and that at least the P. pneumotropica isolates were clearly differentiated into 4 groups by ARDRA typing with Hae III.     

Application of ultra-high magnetic field for saccharide molecules: 1H NMR spectra of 6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-cyclomaltoheptaose and -cyclomaltohexaose

1H NMR spectra of G1-alpha-CD and G1-beta-CD were recorded using a spectrometer equipped with a 21.6 T magnet. An ultra-high magnetic field was effective for detecting 1H NMR signals with a small difference in chemical shifts. Introducing a glucosyl group onto CDs as a branch caused deformation of equilibrated 1H signals of cyclodextrin. Particularly, 1H signals in branched glucose were shifted greatly.     

Overexpression of an Arabidopsis thaliana galactinol synthase gene improves drought tolerance in transgenic rice and increased grain yield in the field

Drought stress has often caused significant decreases in crop production which could be associated with global warming. Enhancing drought tolerance without a grain yield penalty has been a great challenge in crop improvement. Here, we report the Arabidopsis thaliana galactinol synthase 2 gene (AtGolS2) was able to confer drought tolerance and increase grain yield in two different rice (Oryza sativa) genotypes under dry field conditions. The developed transgenic lines expressing AtGolS2 under the control of the constitutive maize ubiquitin promoter (Ubi:AtGolS2) also had higher levels of galactinol than the non‐transgenic control. The increased grain yield of the transgenic rice under drought conditions was related to a higher number of panicles, grain fertility and biomass. Extensive confined field trials using Ubi:AtGolS2 transgenic lines in Curinga, tropical japonica and NERICA4, interspecific hybrid across two different seasons and environments revealed the verified lines have the proven field drought tolerance of the Ubi:AtGolS2 transgenic rice. The amended drought tolerance was associated with higher relative water content of leaves, higher photosynthesis activity, lesser reduction in plant growth and faster recovering ability. Collectively, our results provide strong evidence that AtGolS2 is a useful biotechnological tool to reduce grain yield losses in rice beyond genetic differences under field drought stress.     

Design and effectiveness of a novel trap for capturing nesting songbirds

ABSTRACT Capturing songbirds at their nests can be challenging and time consuming. Although traps designed for capturing songbirds at their nests have been described in the literature, few are effective for capturing species with open‐cup nests. We describe a cylindrical trap designed to capture songbirds at nests up to 2 m above ground in grasses, forbs, shrubs, and small saplings. The nest trap is constructed using a rigid hoop, two pieces of mist net, three stakes, and twist ties. We used this trap to capture female Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and female Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) at their nests, with success rates of 85% (N= 196) and 60–73% (N= 16), respectively. Trapping success was comparable to that using other passerine nest trap designs. Nest abandonment after trapping attempts was rare and similar to that reported in previous studies. Our nest trap is lightweight, easy to make, versatile enough to use in a variety of grassland and shrub habitats, and easily carried and deployed in the field.     

Assessing population size and structure for Andean Condor Vultur gryphus in Bolivia using a photographic ‘capture‐recapture’ method

The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is a globally threatened and declining species. Problems of surveying Andean Condor populations using traditional survey methods are particularly acute in Bolivia, largely because only few roosts are known there. However, similar to other vulture species, Andean Condors aggregate at animal carcasses, and are individually recognizable due to unique morphological characteristics (size and shape of male crests and pattern of wing coloration). This provided us with an opportunity to use a capture‐recapture (‘sighting‐resighting’) modelling framework to estimate the size and structure of an Andean Condor population in Bolivia using photographs of individuals taken at observer‐established feeding stations. Between July and December 2014, 28 feeding stations were established in five different zones throughout the eastern Andean region of Bolivia, where perched and flying Andean Condors were photographed. Between one and 57 (mean = 20.2 ± 14.6 sd) Andean Condors were recorded visiting each feeding station and we were able to identify 456 different individuals, comprising 134 adult males, 40 sub‐adult males, 79 juvenile males, 80 adult females, 30 sub‐adult females and 93 juvenile females. Open population capture‐recapture models produced population estimates ranging from 52 ± 14 (se) individuals to 678 ± 269 individuals across the five zones, giving a total of 1388 ± 413 sd individuals, which is roughly 20% of the estimated Andean Condor global population. Future trials of this method need to consider explicitly knowledge of Andean Condor movements and home‐ranges, habitat preferences when selecting suitable sites as feeding stations, juvenile movements and other behaviours. Sighting‐resighting methods have considerable potential to increase the accuracy of surveys of Andean Condors and other bird species with unique individual morphological characteristics.     

Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test: A Reliable Screen for Cushing's Syndrome in the Obese

Objective: Reevaluation of the validity of the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ODST) as a screening test for Cushing's syndrome in obese patients. Research Methods and Procedures: Eighty-six obese patients (body mass index, 30 to 53 kg/m²) that were referred to a general endocrine outpatient clinic for evaluation of simple obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic ovary disease, or pituitary tumor. One milligram dexamethasone was administered orally at 11:00 pm , and serum cortisol levels were measured the following morning between 8:00 am and 9:00 am . Suppression of serum cortisol to <80 nM (3 μg/dL) was chosen as the cut-off point for normal suppression. Patients with serum cortisol levels ≥80 nM were evaluated for Cushing's syndrome. Results: Suppression of morning cortisol levels to <80 nM occurred in 79 of the 86 obese patients. Seven patients had serum cortisol levels higher than 80 nM; five were eventually diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome and two were considered false positive results in view of normal 24-hour free urinary cortisol and normal suppression on a low dose dexamethasone suppression test (0.5 mg of dexamethasone every 6 hours for 2 days). We found a false positive rate of 2.3% for the ODST using a cut-off serum cortisol of 80 nM. Discussion: The ODST is a valid screening test for Cushing's syndrome in the obese population. The false positive rate was 2.3%, even when using a strict cut-off serum cortisol of 80 nM. Abnormal cortisol suppression in obese patients should be investigated and not be considered false positive results.