Antibacterial effect of the scandium and indium complexes of enterochelin on Escherichia coli

Enterochelin, the iron chelator produced by a number of pathogenic enterobacteria, appears to be an essential metabolite for multiplication within the host, where it transports iron from the host iron-binding proteins to the bacteria. Previous work showed that complexes of enterochelin containing either scandium (Sc3+) or indium (In3+) exerted a bacteriostatic effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae in serum, whilst the Sc3+ complex exerted a significant therapeutic effect on mice infected with K. pneumoniae. These observations have now been extended to a number of pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli including those carrying either the K1 antigen or the ColV plasmid. The Sc3+ and In3+ complexes each exert a bacteriostatic effect on these organisms growing in either whole serum or media containing an iron-binding protein. Evidence is presented that the Sc3+ complex may act as a competitive inhibitor of the Fe3+ complex. In contrast to their effects on K. pneumoniae, sideramines other than enterochelin fail to reverse the bacteriostatic effect of the Sc3+ complex of enterochelin in E. coli, suggesting that the complex produces a more profound derangement of metabolism in this organism. The Sc3+ complex exerts a significant therapeutic effect on E. coli infections in mice although the In3+ complex is less active.     

MR弥散加权成像对鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值研究

目的：探讨MR弥散加权成像（DWI）鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值。方法：对57例经临床或病理证实的椎体良恶性压缩性骨折患者行矢状位T1M、T2WI、T2WI／FS及DWI扫描,研究其在常规序列和DWI序列上的表现,将常规MR序列和DWI序列检出率进行比较,测量正常椎体及病变椎体的表观弥散系数（ADC）值,并进行统计学分析。结果：（1）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）表现：良性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长或等T2改变,T2WI／FS呈高信号,DWI可以呈高信号、等信号及低信号;恶性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长T2信号,大部分病灶T2WUFS及DWI呈高信号,少数变现为低信号;（2）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）病灶检出率的比较：T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率均高于T2WI序列,其间的差别有显著性意义（P〈0．01）,T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率之间无显著性差异（P〉0．01）;（3）ADC值比较：在DWI（b=500s／mm2）上,良性组ADC值为（2．03±0．83）×10^3mm^2/s,恶性组ADC值为（1．37±0．75）×10^-3mm^2/s,正常组ADC值为（0．36±0．21）×10^-3mm^2／s,成像条件相同时,良性组高于恶性组,两组间有明显的统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：DWI可较好的反映椎体的弥散特征,ADC值作为量化指标可对良恶性椎体压缩性骨折进行可靠鉴别。     

Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon,Central Africa

Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species), one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes.     

莲藕干物质和氮磷钾养分的累积与分配研究

连续2年采用盆栽试验研究了莲藕（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn）干物质和氮磷钾养分的累积与分配规律。结果表明：莲藕苗期以叶片生长并积累光合产物为主,膨大根状茎成型后,叶片、叶柄和根状茎中的干物质不断运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,以产量形成为主,干物质累积总量增长呈＂慢-快-稳定＂的变化趋势;氮磷钾累积量与干物质累积量变化趋势一致,并与之呈极显著正相关,莲藕氮磷钾养分累积总量之比为1∶0.12∶1.31。移栽后97-160 d是莲藕产量形成的关键时期,不仅叶片、叶柄和根状茎中的氮磷钾随同干物质运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,根系还从土壤中吸收更多的氮磷钾直接运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,后者分别占同期氮磷钾累积量的69.8%、79.2%和75.0%。160 d膨大根状茎中干物质、氮、磷和钾累积量分别平均占植株总累积量的81.1%、85.2%、88.8%和80.2%。     

Molecular basis of ion permeability in a voltage‐gated sodium channel

Voltage‐gated sodium channels are essential for electrical signalling across cell membranes. They exhibit strong selectivities for sodium ions over other cations, enabling the finely tuned cascade of events associated with action potentials. This paper describes the ion permeability characteristics and the crystal structure of a prokaryotic sodium channel, showing for the first time the detailed locations of sodium ions in the selectivity filter of a sodium channel. Electrostatic calculations based on the structure are consistent with the relative cation permeability ratios (Na⁺ ≈ Li⁺ ≫ K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) measured for these channels. In an E178D selectivity filter mutant constructed to have altered ion selectivities, the sodium ion binding site nearest the extracellular side is missing. Unlike potassium ions in potassium channels, the sodium ions in these channels appear to be hydrated and are associated with side chains of the selectivity filter residues, rather than polypeptide backbones.     

黑皮质素受体-4调节通路的研究进展

黑皮质素系统来自阿片-促黑素细胞皮质素原,在中枢摄食行为和能量平衡代谢中起到重要作用,此系统生理功能的发挥主要通过与下丘脑神经元细胞上特定膜受体（黑皮质素受体）结合完成。黑皮质素受体（MCR）有五种亚型（MC1R-MC5R）,其中参与体重调节的受体主要是黑皮质素受体3（MC3R）和黑皮质素受体4（MC4R）。MC4R属于G蛋白耦联受体,具有七次跨膜结构。作为一种膜受体,MC4R发挥体重调节作用,一方面受外界激动剂或拮抗剂的调节;另一方面,此受体活化后会影响到细胞内的信号调节通路。研究MC4R的功能首先要了解受体的结构,本文对G蛋白耦联受体的结构进行了较详细的叙述,MC4R经信号调节通路,激活腺苷酸环化酶,增加cAMP的浓度,最终通过影响细胞内基因的转录和翻译,来调节体重和能量的消耗。     

血液磁极化疗法对糖尿病兔胰岛功能的影响

目的观察血液磁极化疗法(简称血磁治疗)对糖尿病(DM)的治疗效果和对胰岛功能的影响。方法制备了四氧嘧啶DM兔模型20只,随机分为两组,即DM模型血磁治疗组及DM模型未治疗组,同时设立正常对照组10只,分别测定治疗前后空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素(INS)及C-肽(C-P),并于观察期结束后处死动物取胰腺组织常规石蜡包埋切片,行HE及Mallory三色法特殊染色观察3组胰岛形态学变化。结果血磁治疗显著降低DM兔的FPG(P<0.001)。DM治疗组INS及C-P水平较治疗前明显升高(P<0.01),与未治疗组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。胰岛病理改变可见治疗组β细胞数量明显多于DM未治疗组,提示血磁疗法具有促进胰岛修复,改善胰岛功能的作用。结论血磁疗法能够促进DM时受损胰岛组织的修复,改善胰岛β细胞分泌功能,降血糖作用明显。     

Distribution of Escherichia coli O157 in bovine fecal pats and its impact on estimates of the prevalence of fecal shedding

The distribution of Escherichia coli O157 in bovine feces was examined by testing multiple samples from fecal pats and determining the density of E. coli O157 in immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-positive fecal samples. The density of E. coli O157 in bovine feces was highly variable, differing by as much as 76,800 CFU g(-1) between samples from the same fecal pat. The density in most positive samples was <100 CFU g(-1), the limit of reliable detection by IMS. Testing only one 1-g sample of feces per pat with IMS may result in a sensitivity of detection as low as 20 to 50%. It is therefore probable that most surveys have greatly underestimated the prevalence of E. coli O157 shedding in cattle and the proportion of farms with shedding cattle. The sensitivity of the detection of E. coli O157 in bovine feces can be as much as doubled by testing two 1-g samples per pat rather than one 1-g sample.