Clinical application of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin purified by a simple procedure for patients with urinary incontinence caused by refractory destrusor overactivity

Type A neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum was purified by a simple procedure using a lactose gel column. This procedure was previously reported for type B neurotoxin. Hemagglutinin-positive toxins (19S and 16S) were bound to the column under acid conditions, and the neurotoxin alone was dissociated from these hemagglutinin-positive toxins by changing the pH of the column to an alkaline condition. The toxicity of this purified toxin preparation was retained for at least 1 year at -30 degrees C by supplementing it with either 0.1% albumin or 0.05% albumin plus 1% trehalose. This preparation was used to treat 18 patients with urinary incontinence caused by refractory idiopathic and neurogenic detrusor overactivity; 16 of the patients showed excellent improvement. Improvements started within 1 week after injection in most cases and lasted 3-12 months [corrected]     

Comparison of methods for deploying female gypsy moths to evaluate mating disruption treatments

1 Mating disruption is the primary tactic used to reduce rates of gypsy moth population spread in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Slow‐the‐Spread of the gypsy moth programme (STS). Because STS targets very low‐density gypsy moth populations within which it is extremely difficult to collect females or egg masses, mating success in native populations cannot be determined. Therefore, the evaluation of mating disruption treatments in field experiments such as those designed to test new formulations and application methods requires deploying and recovering laboratory‐reared female moths to determine mating success. 2 Five methods of deploying females were evaluated for cost, rates of female and egg mass recovery, and female mating success. The deployment methods tested were: modified delta trap, square barrier, single and double trunk bands, and tethered females. 3 Deployment of tethered females had the highest cost and mating success rate, but it did not yield the highest rates of female and egg mass recovery. Deployment of females in delta traps produced the lowest cost and mating success rate, but yielded the highest recovery rate. Neither of these deployment methods is recommended because of unacceptably high cost (tethered female) or low mating success (delta trap). 4 There were no significant differences in cost or mating success among the other three deployment methods. 5 The differences among the square barrier, single trunk band, and double trunk band methods in cost, female and egg mass recovery, and mating success are too small to recommend any one over the others.     

Biochar amendment to soils impairs developmental and reproductive performances of a major rice pest Nilaparvata lugens (Homopera: Delphacidae)

Biochar amendments to soils had aroused much interest for having potential for greenhouse gas mitigation, soil improvement and increased crop productivity. However, little attention had been focused on the influence of biochar amendments on herbivorous insect pests. This study investigated whether a biochar amendment affected developmental and reproductive performances of the rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) feeding on rice plants. The biochar from the pyrolysis of wheat straw was used for treatments of soils (from a fallow rice field), and the treated soils were applied to grow rice seedlings in small vials, in which N. lugens life history was observed. The nymphal development time was delayed and nymph‐to‐adult survival decreased with a high level of 200 g/kg biochar application. Herbivore lifetime fecundity decreased with increasing amounts of biochar, from 256 eggs under the control down to 69 eggs under the high level (200 g/kg) of biochar application. Egg‐hatching rate significantly decreased at the highest biochar level (200 g/kg), compared to the other lower biochar levels. Our results suggest that biochar amendment to rice fields may have negative impacts on the rice brown planthoppers when applied at level of 200 g/kg of soil.     

南方稻田活性氮损失途径及其影响因素

基于文献数据,研究了南方不同稻区水稻生长期氧化亚氮排放(N₂O排放)、硝态氮或铵态氮淋洗(N淋洗)、硝态氮或铵态氮径流(N径流)、氨挥发(NH₃挥发)的差异及其影响因素.结果表明: N₂O排放、N淋洗和N径流主要发生在长江流域单季稻区,损失量分别为1.89、6.4和10.4 kg N·hm^-2,损失率分别为0.8%、3.8%和5.3%,较高施氮量和稻田土壤干湿交替可能是主要原因;NH₃挥发主要发生在华南晚稻,损失量和损失率分别为54.9 kg N·hm^-2和35.2%,晚稻生长期较高的温度可能是NH₃挥发较大的主要原因.田间优化管理措施减少某一途径氮损失的同时可能会增加另一种途径氮素损失,实际生产中应综合考虑田间管理措施对各种活性氮损失的影响,活性氮损失量随着水稻产量水平的提高而增加,主要是因为施氮量也在逐渐增加.随着氮肥偏生产力的增加,N₂O排放、N淋洗和N径流损失率逐渐下降,因此,努力减小单位产量的氮损失,是协同提高作物产量和氮肥利用效率的重要途径.     

酶催化糖基转移反应在改善罗汉果苦味皂苷口味中的应用

罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ是罗汉果嫩果的主要皂苷成分,味道极苦,在罗汉果生产季节的末期大量滞长果(苦果)因为天气原因而产生,这些滞长果因体内的苦味皂苷尚未转化为甜味皂苷而被丢弃;另外,在罗汉果甜苷提取行业中,脱苦工艺同样会产生大量的苦味罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ。但在化学结构上,罗汉果苦味皂苷与甜味皂苷拥有完全相同的苷元部分,仅存在葡萄糖残基数目和位置的差别。该研究通过酶催化糖基转移反应将新的葡萄糖基团引入苦味的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ中,可以延长其糖链,从而达到改善其口味的目的。该研究从原料选择、糖源选择以及反应温度等多方面考察了反应条件,最终确定的反应最佳条件为纯度在50%以上的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ、2倍于皂苷重量的淀粉、60 U·g-1罗汉果苦味皂苷的酶、60~65℃反应24 h。经实际罗汉果苦果样品验证了方法的可行性,所获得的产品可以完全消除苦味,并且带有淡淡的甜味,经HPLC-MS确定了所获得的微甜产物为3~6个糖的皂苷混合物。该方法对于目前罗汉果生产中大量出现并被遗弃的嫩果、苦果以及脱苦工艺中产生的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ而言,是一种潜在的实现废物利用的方法。     

壳聚糖对蝴蝶兰幼苗耐热性的诱导作用

为了评价壳聚糖对蝴蝶兰幼苗耐热性的诱导效应,分别采用0(以无壳聚糖为对照)、25、50、100、200和400 mg·L~(-1)壳聚糖溶液处理蝴蝶兰幼苗,并置于42℃下胁迫3 d,测定了蝴蝶兰幼苗的生理指标变化。结果表明:当壳聚糖浓度由25 mg·L~(-1)增大到100mg·L~(-1)时,蝴蝶兰幼苗叶片的SOD、POD、CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量不断增加,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量不断下降,但可溶性蛋白含量没有显著变化;特别是在100 mg·L~(-1)时,SOD、POD和CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量增加到最大值且极显著高于对照,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量下降至最小值且极显著低于对照,蝴蝶兰幼苗遭受了轻微的高温伤害;随着壳聚糖浓度由200 mg·L~(-1)增大至400mg·L~(-1),SOD、POD和CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量极显著下降,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量极显著上升,蝴蝶兰幼苗的受害趋于加重;由此可见,100 mg·L~(-1)壳聚糖处理能显著提高蝴蝶兰幼苗的耐热性。     

Towards soil management with Zn and Mn: estimates of fertilisation efficacy of Citrus trees

Nutrient management recommendations for fruit crops lack the understanding of the efficiency of soil fertilisation with manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), which could substitute, in part, the traditional foliar applications. Fruit yield of trees in response to Zn and Mn supply via soil may be limited either by sorption reactions with soil colloids or low solubility of fertilisers. We investigated the effects of fertiliser sources and rates of Mn and Zn applied to soils with different sorption capacities on nutrient uptake, biochemical responses and biomass of Citrus. Two experiments were carried out with 2‐year‐old sweet orange trees that received applications of Mn or Zn. The first experiment evaluated the application of Mn fertilisers (MnCO₃ and MnSO₄) at three levels of the nutrient (0, 0.7 and 3.5 g plant^?1 of Mn) in two types of soil (18.1% and 64.4% of clay, referred to as sandy loam and clay soils, respectively). The second experiment, likewise, evaluated Zn fertilisers (ZnO and ZnSO₄) and nutrient levels (0, 1.0 and 5.0 g plant^?1 of Zn). Application of Mn and Zn increased nutrient availability in the soils as well as leaf nutrient concentrations in the trees. The lowest rates, 0.7 g plant^?1 of Mn and 1.0 g plant^?1 of Zn, both as sulphate, were sufficient to supply these micronutrients to sufficient levels in leaves, flowers and fruits. Metal toxicity to plants occurred with higher doses of both nutrients and to a large extent in the sandy soil. In this case, protein bands lower than 25 kDa were observed as well a decrease on leaf chlorophyll content. In the clay soil, despite increased micronutrient concentrations in the plant, responses were less pronounced because of higher adsorption of metals in the soil. Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) isoenzyme activity was determined by non‐denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The Cu/Zn‐SOD isoenzymes increased with increased Zn rates, but in contrast, when Mn was applied at the highest rate, the activity of Cu/Zn‐SODs decreased. The SOD activity pattern observed indicated increased production of superoxide and consequently an oxidative stress condition at the highest rates of Zn and Mn applied. The results demonstrated that the soil application of Mn and Zn can supply nutrient demands of orange trees, however the low solubility of fertilisers and the high sorption capacity of soils limit fertilisation efficiency. On the contrary, application of sulphate source in sandy soils may cause excess uptake of Mn and Zn and oxidative stress, which impairs the photosynthetic apparatus and consequently tree growth.     

Efficacy of Fluensulfone in a Tomato–Cucumber Double Cropping System

Vegetable crops in the southeastern United States are commonly grown on plastic mulch with two crop cycles produced on a single mulch application. Field trials were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in two locations to evaluate the efficacy of fluensulfone for controlling Meloidogyne spp. when applied through drip irrigation to cucumber in a tomato–cucumber double-cropping system. In the spring tomato crop, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), fluensulfone, and a resistant cultivar significantly decreased root galling by 91%, 73%, and 97%, respectively, compared to the untreated control. Tomato plots from the spring were divided into split plots for the fall where the main plots were the spring treatment and the subplots were cucumber either treated with fluensulfone (3.0 kg a.i./ha. via drip irrigation) or left untreated. The fall application of fluensulfone improved cucumber vigor and reduced gall ratings compared to untreated subplots. Fluensulfone reduced damage from root-knot nematodes when applied to the first crop as well as provided additional protection to the second crop when it was applied through a drip system.     

荒漠甲虫小胸鳖甲抗冻蛋白的酵母表达及应用

昆虫抗冻蛋白(Antifreeze protein,AFP)的抗冻活性很高,可应用于生物组织和细胞的低温保存。为了在酵母中表达荒漠甲虫小胸鳖甲Microdera punctipennis抗冻蛋白Mp AFP698,并确定其在低温下的保护作用,本文通过构建真核表达载体p PIC9K-Mpafp698,转化巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115,诱导表达小胸鳖甲抗冻蛋白Mp AFP698。利用免疫印迹(Western blotting)分析Mp AFP698蛋白的特异性表达,结果显示Mpafp698基因可整合到酵母基因组中并分泌表达,且酵母自身蛋白很少分泌表达。检测抗冻蛋白的低温保护作用,结果发现,小胸鳖甲抗冻蛋白可显著改善冷冻小鼠肝脏等器官的细胞形态,降低血细胞在4℃的溶血率,提高SF9细胞冻融后的存活率。本研究表明,小胸鳖甲AFP可以在毕赤酵母中分泌表达,便于纯化,有良好的低温保护效果。     

单抗药物专题报告——走过孕育期，收获正当时（Ⅰ）

单抗药物以靶向性强、特异性高、副反应小等优势在癌症、自身免疫性疾病等治疗领域取得了快速发展,成为医药行业增速最快的 细分领域。报告采用文献调研、数据库检索、数据统计与分析等定性定量研究方法,从竞争优势、应用领域、给药剂型、产业现状、成长 路径等角度对国内外单抗药物领域进行多角度、多层次的分析,旨在为相关医药企业明确发展方向、确定产品研发思路及制定市场策略提 供参考。