我国部分小麦种质资源主要品质性状鉴定评价

"九五"期间,测定了来自10省(市、自治区)的1589份小麦种质资源的主要品质性状,了解了其籽粒的硬度、沉降值和蛋白质含量状况.筛选出一批高蛋白质、高硬度、高沉降值的优质资源,为小麦生产和品质育种提供种质基础.     

Association of interleukin-13 SNP rs1800925 with allergic rhinitis risk: A meta-analysis based on 1,411 cases and 3169 controls

Studies investigating the association between interleukin-13 (IL-13) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1800925 and allergic rhinitis risk have reported conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis assessing the possible association of IL-13 SNP rs1800925 with allergic rhinitis risk. The relevant studies were identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure until December 2011 and selected on the basis of the established inclusion criteria for publications. Five studies were included in the present meta-analysis (1411 cases and 3169 controls). The combined results based on all studies showed that IL-13 SNP rs1800925 was not associated with increased allergic rhinitis risk (T versus C: odds ratio (OR)=1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.94-1.20; C/T versus C/C: OR=1.12, 95% CI=0.97-1.29; T/T versus C/C: OR=1.00, 95% CI=0.69-1.44; C/T+T/T versus CC: OR=1.10, 95% CI=0.96-1.27; T/T versus C/C+C/T: OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.64-1.31). This meta-analysis supported that IL-13 SNP rs1800925 was not associated with allergic rhinitis.     

Production of rebaudioside D from stevioside using a UGTSL2 Asn358Phe mutant in a multi-enzyme system

Rebaudioside D is a sweetener from Stevia rebaudiana with superior sweetness and organoleptic properties, but its production is limited by its minute abundance in S. rebaudiana leaves. In this study, we established a multi-enzyme reaction system with S. rebaudiana UDP-glycosyltransferases UGT76G1, Solanum lycopersicum UGTSL2 and Solanum tuberosum sucrose synthase StSUS1, achieving a two-step glycosylation of stevioside to produce rebaudioside D. However, an increase in the accumulation of rebaudioside D required the optimization of UGTSL2 catalytic activity towards glucosylation of rebaudioside A and reducing the formation of the side-product rebaudioside M2. On the basis of homology modelling and structural analysis, Asn358 in UGTSL2 was subjected to saturating mutagenesis, and the Asn358Phe mutant was used instead of wild-type UGTSL2 for bioconversion. The established multi-enzyme reaction system employing the Asn358Phe mutant produced 14.4 g l⁻¹ (1.6 times of wild-type UGTSL2) rebaudioside D from 20 g l⁻¹ stevioside after reaction for 24 h. This system is useful for large-scale rebaudioside D production and expands our understanding of the pathways involved in its synthesis.     

Polyparasite Helminth Infections and Their Association to Anaemia and Undernutrition in Northern Rwanda

Background

Intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections constitute major public health problems in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study we examined the functional significance of such polyparasite infections in anemia and undernutrition in Rwandan individuals.

Methods

Three polyparasite infection profiles were defined, in addition to a reference profile that consisted of either no infections or low-intensity infection with only one of the focal parasite species. Logistic regression models were applied to data of 1,605 individuals from 6 schools in 2 districts of the Northern Province before chemotherapeutic treatment in order to correctly identify individuals who were at higher odds of being anaemic and/or undernourished.

Findings

Stunted relative to nonstunted, and males compared to females, were found to be at higher odds of being anaemic independently of polyparasite infection profile. The odds of being wasted were 2-fold greater for children with concurrent infection of at least 2 parasites at M+ intensity compared to those children with the reference profile. Males compared to females and anaemic compared to nonanaemic children were significantly more likely to be stunted. None of the three polyparasite infection profiles were found to have significant effects on stunting.

Conclusion

The present data suggest that the levels of polyparasitism, and infection intensities in the Rwandan individuals examined here may be lower as compared to other recent similar epidemiological studies in different regions across sub-Saharan Africa. Neither the odds of anaemia nor the odds of stunting were found to be significantly different in the three-polyparasite infection profiles. However, the odds of wasting were higher in those children with at least two parasites at M+ intensity compared to those children with the reference profile. Nevertheless, despite the low morbidity levels indicated in the population under study here, we recommend sustainable efforts for the deworming of affected populations to be continued in order to support the economic development of the country.     

蓝色花的形成机制

由中国科学院院士工作局、中国工程院学部工作局和科学时报社共同主办，在院士、科技人员、科技新闻工作者推荐候选新闻的基础上。565名中国科学院院士、中国工程院院士投票评选的2006年中国十大科技进展新闻和世界十大科技进展新闻，1月22日在京揭晓。     

Protective effects of dihydromyricetin on primary hippocampal astrocytes from cytotoxicity induced by comorbid diabetic neuropathic pain and depression

Activated astrocytes play a key role in diabetic neuropathic pain and depression. We aimed to assess the protective effects of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on primary hippocampal astrocytes cultured with high glucose (HG), substance P (SP), and corticosterone (CORT). Culturing with HG + SP + CORT resulted in damage to primary hippocampal astrocytes, which simulates the clinical damage caused by comorbidity of diabetic neuropathic pain and depression. Western blot, qPCR, and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that HG + SP + CORT increased P2X₇ receptor expression in primary hippocampal astrocytes, which was reversed by DHM treatment. Further, HG + SP + CORT elevated TNF-α, IL-1β, free Ca²⁺, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels, which was inhibited by DHM or P2X₇ shRNA treatment. Moreover, DHM significantly reduced the P2X₇ agonist-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with the P2X₇ receptor. These findings suggest that DHM can protect primary hippocampal astrocytes cultured with HG + SP + CORT from P2X₇ receptor-mediated damage. Culturing cells with HG + SP + CORT might be a viable cell model for cellular injury exploration of diabetic comorbid pain and depression.

     

Calcium near the release site is essential for basal ACh release in Xenopus

Extracellular calcium is essential for neurotransmitter release, but the detailed mechanism by which Ca(2+) regulates basal synaptic release has not yet been fully explored. In this study, calcium imaging and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique were used to investigate the role of Ca(2+) in basal acetylcholine (ACh) release in the Xenopus neuromuscular junction and in isolated myocytes exogenously loaded with ACh. Carried out in normal and Ca(2+)-free extracellular solution, the results indicate that Ca(2+) near the release site is essential for basal neurotransmitter release.     

青岛出土颅骨某些径的测量

对国人颅骨径的测量已不少见,但多为依据骨骼人类学性别特征进行性别鉴定、或未经性别鉴定的材料,而对已知生前性别者的测量并不甚多,为了积累国人体质材料,并为人类学、解剖学及法医学等研究提供参考依据,我们按《人体骨骼测量方法》（吴汝康等,1965）和《人体测量手册》（邵象清,1985）等所列标准为主要依据,对青岛出土、已知性别（据墓碑记载）、多为汉族、较完整的312例（男154,女158）成人颅骨进行了十四项径的直线测量,对所测数据进行了统计学处理和性别差异检验。现将主要结果列于上页表。