Trypanosoma cruzi: identification of specific epimastigote antigens by human immune sera

Soluble antigens from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were analyzed by western blot in terms of their reactivity with sera from patients with Chagas' disease. In addition, sera from patients with visceral (AVL) and tegumental leishmaniasis (ATL) were also tested in order to identify cross-reactivities with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Twenty eight polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 14 kDa to 113 kDa were identified with sera from Chagas' disease patients. An extensive cross-reactivity was observed when sera from human visceral leishmaniasis were used, while only a slight cross-reaction was observed with sera from tegumental leishmaniasis. On the other hand, 10 polypeptides specifically reacting with sera from Chagas' disease patients were identified. Among them, the antigens with molecular weights of 46 kDa and 25 kDa reacted with all sera tested and may be good candidates for specific immunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease.     

Prenatal diagnosis of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: evidence for an early expression of the associated transthyretin methionine 30

Summary Transthyretin methionine 30 (TTR Met 30), which is associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, originates in a single base substitution (A for G) in the second exon of the TTR gene. This autosomal dominant disease can be diagnosed by RFLP analysis of NsiI-digested DNA. The amplification of DNA by PCR improves the diagnosis method, making it suitable for prenatal diagnosis. Using PCR-amplified DNA, prenatal diagnosis of two at-risk fetuses was performed. Control Met 30 and normal DNA (either genomic or produced by site directed mutagenesis) were processed in parallel. The diagnosis was made by hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes, and later confirmed by screening of the mutant protein in the amniotic fluid and, when possible, in the sera from the newborns. TTR Met 30 was detected in the amniotic fluid of a positive fetus whose father was the carrier of the mutation. This indicates that the mutant protein is expressed very early in development.     

MSI2通过下调circRNA_001214促进急性髓系白血病细胞HL60生长

Musashi-2（MSI2）是一种RNA结合蛋白质,对维持造血干细胞功能具有重要作用。研究表明,MSI2高表达能促进急性髓系白血病（acute myelocytic leukemia, AML）进展,但其作用机制尚不明确。本研究稳定沉默HL60细胞MSI2后,第1、2、3、4 d对照组的相对细胞生长率分别为1.931 ± 0.027、3.070 ± 0.073、4.017 ± 0.092和4.215 ± 0.246;敲减组分别为1.927 ± 0.035、2.564 ± 0.090、2.825 ± 0.097和3.223 ± 0.182,两组相比具有统计学差异,P<0.001;细胞凋亡明显增加(7.967% ± 0.698% vs 3.400% ± 0.322%., P<0.01);G₀/G₁期细胞比例明显增高（67.430% ± 4.390% vs. 50.360% ± 2.160%, P<0.01）;NUMB蛋白明显上调,LEF1明显下降。环状RNA（circular RNA, circRNA）芯片筛选和荧光定量PCR验证显示,MSI2沉默组circRNA_001214表达水平是对照组3.48倍。这一结果也在NALM6细胞得到证实。进一步用生物信息学分析,显示circRNA_001214最可能与miR-1273a、miR-1273e和miR 5095结合,进而影响参与细胞凋亡相关基因（CYCS、AKT1、BAX、TNFRSF10A、TNFRSF10D）、Wnt信号基因（WNT4、WNT2B、WNT7B、 DKK2、SFRP1、CSNKE1和LEF1）以及参与细胞代谢相关基因（RPE, PGAM4, PGAM1, TAT, CBS、RPE、SUCLG2、PGAM4、PGAM1和 IDNK）。总而言之,MSI2可能通过干扰circRNA_001214生成,减少靶miRNA对凋亡、Wnt信号及细胞代谢相关基因表达的影响,促进细胞生长。     

Sex and reproduction of the alfonsino Beryx splendens (Pisces, Berycidae) from the Macaronesian archipelagos

This paper provides comparative information on the reproductive biology of the alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, species with commercial interest in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. A total of 846 individuals from Azores (14.0–42.0 cm fork length), 621 from Madeira (17.2–50.0 cm fork length) and 643 from the Canaries (18.2–38.9 cm fork length) were used for the study. The alfonsino is gonochoric with no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Females are more abundant than males; this dominance probably reflects certain differences in the spatial distribution and/or the catchability of males and females in the Macaronesian archipelagos. The spawning season was distinct for the three Macaronesian areas, with an observed North–South variation in the reproductive period: September–March in the Azores, March–June in Madeira and July–September in the Canary Islands. The size at sexual maturity estimated for Madeira and the Canary Islands is similar (32 and 30 cm fork length, respectively), while for the Azores it is reached at smaller length (23 cm fork length). The differences observed in the size at sexual maturity can be explained by the different exploitation levels in each archipelago. Life‐history parameters of the alfonsino suggest that this species has a specialistic life‐history strategy and fisheries based on this species are more susceptible to growth overfishing and population depletion.     

慢性心功能不全大鼠心脏和血淋巴细胞β-肾上腺素受体的改变

在主动脉与肾动脉缩窄造成的慢性心功能不全大鼠,血浆儿茶酚胺浓度增高;心脏β-肾上腺素受体(β-AR)数量增加,其中β_1-AR及其mRNA增加,而β_2-AR及其mRNA不变;左心房异丙基肾上腺素(ISO)浓度-收缩效应曲线右移;而心肌ISO浓度-cAMP蓄积曲线无显著改变;血淋巴细胞β-AR数量显著减少.结果提示心功能不全时心脏β_1-AR数量增多,但其介导的正性变力效应反而降低,在cAMP生成以后的信号转导过程或心肌收缩成分功能存在障碍,而血淋巴细胞β-AR的改变与心脏β-AR的功能改变平行.     

Dihydroisocoumarins and phthalide from wood samples infested by fungi

Wood samples, infested by fungi during storage, were shown to contain, besides the known 5-methyl-mellein, additional (3R)-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins substituted by 7-methyl, 5-formyl, 5-carboxy, 5-hydroxy, 5-methoxy, 6-methoxy-5-methyl and 6,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl groups, as well as 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalide. Several 2-methylchromanones were synthesized in order to show that this class of compounds can be distinguished from 3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins by MS.     

城市生态系统的模拟方法：灵敏度模型及其改进

评估城市生态系统的持续发展能力,探讨其持续发展对策是一个复杂的动态问题,需要运用动态的模拟方法进行。由德国著名生态控制论专家Ｆ．Ｖｅｓｔｅｒ和Ａ．Ｖ．Ｈｅｓｌｅｒ教授提出的“灵敏度模型”方法,将系统科学思想、生态控制论方法及城市规划融为一体,解释、模拟、评价和规划城市复杂的系统关系,是模拟城市生态系统很好的方法。本文对该方法进行了改进。改进后的“灵敏度模型”为评价城市持续发展能力、探讨其持续发展对策提供了新的思路。     

灰飞虱与褐飞虱种内和种间密度效应比较

在人工气候室内比较研究了灰飞虱和褐飞虱在汕优63和秀水11上的种内和种间密度效应对其主要生物学参数的影响,结果表明两种稻飞虱均存在显著的种内竞争,主要表现为随着密度增加,若虫发育历期延长、若虫羽化率下降、雌成虫寿命缩短、每雌产卵量下降。种内密度效应与稻飞虱种类和寄主品种有显著互作关系,灰飞虱种内竞争较褐飞虱明显,二者在适宜寄主上种内竞争更为明显。同时,两种稻飞虱存在着显著的种间密度效应,主要表现为异种存在时的促进作用,即异种共存时若虫历期缩短、若虫羽化率提高、雌虫寿命延长、每雌产卵量增加。种间密度效应也与稻飞虱种类和寄主品种有显著互作关系,两种共存对灰飞虱的有利作用显著大于对褐飞虱的有利作用,在欠适宜寄主上种间互利效应更为明显。最后,本文对稻飞虱种内和种间密度效应的机制和进化意义进行了讨论。