Steroid Avoidance or Withdrawal Regimens in Paediatric Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Background

We combined the outcomes of all randomised controlled trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of steroid avoidance or withdrawal (SAW) regimens in paediatric kidney transplantation compared with steroid-based (SB) regimens.

Methods

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the trials registry and BIOSIS previews was performed. A change in the height standardised Z-score from baseline (ΔHSDS) and acute rejection were the primary endpoints.

Results

Eight reports from 5 randomised controlled trials were included, with a total of 528 patients. Sufficient evidence of a significant increase in the ΔHSDS was observed in the SAW group (mean difference (MD) = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07–0.68, P = 0.01), particularly within the first year post-withdrawal (MD = 0.22, 95% CI 0.10–0.35, P = 0.0003) and in the prepubertal recipients (MD = 0.60, 95% CI 0.21–0.98, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the risk of acute rejection between the groups (relative risk = 1.04, 95% CI 0.80–1.36, P = 0.77).

Conclusions

The SAW regimen is justified in select paediatric renal allograft recipients because it provides significant benefits in post-transplant growth within the first year post-withdrawal with minimal effects on the risk of acute rejection, graft function, and graft and patient survival within 3 years post-withdrawal. These select paediatric recipients should have the following characteristics: prepubertal; Caucasian; with primary disease not related to immunological factors; de novo kidney transplant recipient; with low panel reactive antibody.     

Mornings with Art, lessons learned: feedback regulation, restriction threshold biology, and redundancy govern molecular stress responses

Work from the laboratory of Dr. Arthur B. Pardee has highlighted basic principles that govern cellular and molecular biological processes in living cells. Among the most important governing principles in cellular and molecular responses are: (i) threshold "restriction" responses, wherein a level of response is reached and a "point of no return" is achieved; (ii) feedback regulation; and (iii) redundancy. Lessons learned from the molecular biology of cellular stress responses in mammalian cancer versus normal cells after ionizing radiation (IR) or chemotherapeutic agent exposures reveal similar instances of these guiding principles in mammalian cells. Among these are the: (i) induction of cell death responses by beta-lapachone (beta-lap), a naphthoquinone anti-tumor agent that kills cancer cells via an NQO1 (i.e., X-ray-inducible protein-3, xip3)-dependent mechanism; (ii) induction of secretory clusterin (sCLU) in response to TGF-beta1 exposure, and the ability of induced sCLU protein to down-regulate TGF-beta1 signaling; and (iii) induction of DNA mismatch repair-dependent G(2) cell cycle checkpoint responses after exposure to alkylating agents. We have learned these lessons and now adopted strategies to exploit them for improved therapy. These examples will be discussed and compared to the pioneering findings of researchers in the Pardee laboratory over the years.     

5种湿地植物对土壤重金属的富集转运特征

选择芦苇、水葱、千屈菜、扁秆藨草、长苞香蒲5种湿地植物进行盆栽实验,比较它们对土壤中的5种重金属镉、铬、汞、铅、锌的富集特性,分析重金属在各植物体和土壤中的动态分布,以评价所测植物对土壤中重金属的综合富集能力,为利用植物修复金属污染土壤提供理论依据和技术支持。结果表明:(1)种植湿地植物对土壤重金属的富集效果显著高于无植物对照,且随着处理时间的延长,土壤中重金属镉、铬、汞、铅、锌的含量均呈下降趋势。(2)湿地植物对重金属镉、铬、汞、铅、锌的富集效果差异显著,其中水葱根部对重金属镉的富集系数最大,芦苇根部对重金属铬、汞、铅、锌的富集系数均最大,千屈菜、扁秆藨草和长苞香蒲根部对5种重金属的富集系数均较小;芦苇地上部分对金属镉的富集系数最大,千屈菜地上部分对金属铬、汞、铅的富集系数均最大,水葱地上部分对金属锌的富集系数最大。(3)5种湿地植物对重金属镉、铬、汞、铅、锌的转移系数差异显著,其中扁秆藨草对土壤中镉、铬、铅、锌的转移系数均为最大,对铬和锌的转移系数均大于1,长苞香蒲对铬的转移系数大于1,仅次于扁秆藨草。其他3种植物对5种重金属的转移系数均小于1。研究表明,5种湿地植物对重金属Cd、Cr、Hg、Pb、Zn都有富集和转移的能力,但不同植物对不同重金属的富集效果不同。     

福建三都澳游泳动物种类组成及群落结构稳定性

利用2012-2013年三都澳渔业资源的定置张网调查资料, 应用物种多样性指数、数量生物量比较曲线(ABC曲线)及鱼类分类多样性指数等方法分析三都澳游泳动物种类组成特征和群落结构的稳定性。调查中共出现游泳动物195种, 隶属于17目64科125属, 其中鱼类143种, 甲壳类47种, 头足类5种。大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)在三都澳4个航次的调查中都是最主要的优势种类, 其他优势种类还包括叫姑鱼(Johnius belengerii)、白姑鱼(Argyrosomus argentatus)、虾虎鱼类和一些甲壳类。大黄鱼多为养殖群体, 其他优势种类的共同特征是个体小, 繁殖周期短, 生物量季节或年际间波动剧烈。物种多样性分析表明, 三都澳游泳动物群落平均Shannon-Wiener多样性指数为2.61, 9、10月高, 1、5月低。ABC曲线分析表明, 4次调查中群落结构存在明显的变化, 繁殖群体的补充、个体生长、捕捞、伏季休渔等是影响群落结构稳定性的因素。本次研究表明, 大黄鱼生物量的比例与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数呈极显著负相关(P < 0.01, R = -0.890), 与种类数呈显著负相关(P < 0.05, R = -0.563)。结合近年来的调查数据, 统计得到三都澳的现存鱼类约224种, 其平均分类差异指数(△⁺)为59.5, 分类差异变异指数(∧⁺)为260.8。相对于中国沿海其他海域, 三都澳鱼类群落分类学范围较小, 且群落间的分类地位关系极不均匀, 群落抗干扰的能力较差。     

台湾海峡夏秋季游泳动物资源分布及群落结构

根据夏季和秋季在台湾海峡进行的底拖网调查数据,分析了台湾海峡游泳动物资源密度指数分布及群落结构.结果表明,台湾海峡夏季平均资源密度指数高于秋季,分别为8.50和6.94kg·h^-1;夏秋季出现游泳动物种类分别为80种和91种,秋季丰富度、多样性、均匀度均高于夏季,夏秋季平均多样性指数分别为2.0466和2.3964;相对重要性指数IRI大于200的优势种夏季有5种,为带鱼、发光鲷、短尾大眼鲷、花斑蛇鲻、中国枪乌贼,秋季有6种,为带鱼、七星底灯鱼、刺鲳、中国枪乌贼、蓝圆_鲹、鹿斑鲾;夏季优势种的聚集强度比秋季强.     

南沙群岛西南部和北部湾口海域鱼类物种多样性

根据2012-2013年在南沙群岛西南部和北部湾口海域春秋两个航次的调查资料, 分析了该海域鱼类种类组成、相对重要性指数和物种多样性等特征。结果表明, 两个航次调查共鉴定鱼类504种, 隶属于2纲31目129科294属; 其中北部湾口海域出现鱼类301种, 南沙群岛西南部海域出现鱼类357种。优势种数量较少, 多以中小型鱼类为主, 且季节间变化较大。春季多样性指数高于秋季, 这主要是因为春季出现的大量鱼类为补充群体, 而许多种类在秋季有向较深海区移动的趋势; 南沙群岛西南部海域多样性指数高于北部湾口海域, 这主要是由于南沙群岛西南部海域受水温和洋流的影响较大造成的。更替指数和迁移指数显示, 秋季鱼类群落结构稳定性要低于春季, 而且两个季节的鱼类群落结构都偏离平衡状态, 主要是由鱼类的洄游和不同适温性鱼类的迁入迁出造成的。综合来看, 南沙群岛西南部海域鱼类物种多样性和群落结构稳定性均高于北部湾口海域, 在努力控制资源可捕量范围的同时, 可合理开发南海中南部海域的渔业资源。     

Length‐weight relationships of three fish species from Beibu Gulf in China

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) were analyzed for three fish species collected from Beibu Gulf between October 2012 and March 2013. The study used bottom trawl with 40 mm mesh size. The values of parameter b varied from 2.8495 to 3.0277.     

Complex genetic structures of Sardinella zunasi in the Northwest Pacific detected by AFLP markers

Seventy-one Sardinella zunasi individuals collected from 5 locations in the Northwest Pacific were used in an AFLP analysis to examine the population genetic structure of S. zunasi. Using 4 selective primer combinations, 414 putative loci were detected, including 340 polymorphic loci (82.13%). Both AMOVA and pairwise F_ST analysis detected significant population genetic structure between Chinese and Japanese populations, supporting separate stocks in this species. The UPGMA trees also detected significant spatial structure within S. zunasi. Pleistocene glaciations are hypothesized to be responsible for the genetic differentiation. The significant genetic differentiation found among S. zunasi populations might also be due to geographic isolation, because a pattern of isolation-by-distance was observed. The weaker but significant structures between the Japanese Aichi and Kagawa populations might be impacted by the semi-enclosed coastal topography there. No significant genetic structure was detected among the Chinese populations, perhaps because of S. zunasi’s migratory behavior and ocean current patterns.     

Determination of Trantinterol Enantiomers in Human Plasma by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using Vancomycin Chiral Stationary Phase and Solid Phase Extraction and Stereoselective Pharmacokinetic Application

A sensitive and enantioselective vancomycin chiral stationary phase high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of trantinterol enantiomers in human plasma. Baseline resolution was achieved using the vancomycin chiral stationary phase known as Chirobiotic V with polar ionic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–methanol (60:40, v/v) containing 0.01% ammonia and 0.02% acetic acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Waters Oasis HLB C18 solid phase extraction cartridges were used in the sample preparation of trantinterol samples from plasma. The detection was performed on a triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization. The calibration curve was linear in a concentration range from 0.0606 to 30.3 ng/mL in plasma, with the lower limit of quantification of 0.0606 ng/mL. The intra‐ and interday precision (relative standard deviation) values were within 9.7% and the accuracy (relative error) was from ?6.6 to 7.2% at all quality control levels. The method was successfully applied to a study of stereoselective pharmacokinetics in human. Chirality 27:327–331, 2015.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Climate change impacts on China’s marine ecosystems

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries - Globally, climate change impacts on marine ecosystems are evident in physical, chemical, and biological processes, and are generally more extensive in faster...