The mycorrhizal status of the woody Mediterranean shrub Myrtus communis L.

  Myrtus communis L. (myrtle), a typical Mediterranean plant species belonging to the family Myrtaceae, was shown to form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses in nature. Many different spore types were isolated from its rhizosphere and grown in pot cultures; six of them were identified as Glomus species. In the laboratory, the myrtle root system was colonized by indigenous endophytes as well as by an Italian isolate of Glomus intraradices. In greenhouse experiments, mycorrhizal inoculation reduced transplant stress in 60-day-old myrtle seedlings; their growth was renewed immediately after transplanting, whereas non-mycorrhizal plants stopped development. Significantly larger growth responses were obtained using indigenous fungi than the Italian isolate of Glomus intraradices. Accepted: 16 January 1997     

The demography of trout lily (Erythronium americanum Ker.) in Nova Scotia

The age structures of both native and transplanted populations of the perennial herb, trout lily (Erythronium americanum), were analysed and found to have age-independent mortality rates. Cohort survival was greatest in populations growing on hardwood forested flood plains (60%), less in populations from gently sloping terraces with pit-and-mound microrelief (53%) and smallest (45%) for colonies on slopes steeper than 15°. The former habitat-type is the optimum for trout lily in Nova Scotia and in it the proportion of flowering bulbs can reach 35%. The second named habitat is widespread and characterised by fewer flowering bulbs (5–10%). In the latter habitat flowering bulbs are uniformly rare. Trout lily bulbs tend to be sterile until at least their eighth year. The high mortality rates of populations on steeply sloping, hardwood forested ground ensure minimal survival of bulbs beyond their sixth year. In the other two named habitats sufficient numbers of bulbs reach ages of 8 or 9 years for some to make the translation from the sterile to the flowering form. In all the habitats studied in Nova Scotia, propagation is typically by either runners or, less importantly, daughter bulbs, with the peak of activity in the bulbs third and fourth years. The plants of flood plains showed the greatest rates of vegetative propagation, by cohort, but many of the bulbs from colonies growing on steep slopes lacked runners or daughter bulbs. As all bulbs for the transplant experiments came from a single clone it can be concluded that trout lily plants in Nova Scotia have a sufficiently large genetic endowment for them to behave in the same manner as native populations of the species in the several habitats represented in the province.The figures were drafted in the cartography section of the University of Canterbury. The National Research Council of Canada supported the research with a series of grants.     

牙鲆淋巴细胞转化和细胞免疫

利用淋巴转化实验测试了抗原和有丝分裂原对牙鲆T淋巴细胞的影响。结果显示在适宜的生长温度范围内,低温延缓或阻止牙鲆细胞免疫应答的发生,导致淋转水平下降。外周血和脾淋巴细胞非特异性淋转水平较前肾高,外周血和脾淋巴细胞的淋转水平没有显著差异。这可能和外周血、脾和前肾中T细胞占淋巴细胞的比例有关。外周血较脾和前肾特异性淋转水平高,而前肾的淋巴细胞转化水平较脾高,注射引起牙鲆应激反应导致淋转水平升高。     

Survival of priceless cells: active and passive protection of embryonic stem cells against immune destruction

This review focuses on our current knowledge of the mechanisms employed by embryonic stem (ES) cells to avoid destruction by cell-mediated immune responses. Recently, ES cells have been found to shield themselves against cytotoxic effector cells by expressing CD95L and serine protease inhibitor SPI-6 mediating apoptosis of the cytotoxic cells and inactivation of granzyme B, respectively. These findings are discussed in view of their implications for using ES cell-derived transplants in regenerative medicine as well as for our understanding of early embryonic stages during invasion and implantation.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of 4,6-diaminonicotinamide derivatives as novel and potent immunomodulators targeting JAK3

In organ transplantation, T cell-mediated immune responses play a key role in the rejection of allografts. Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells and associated with regulation of T cell development via interleukin-2 signaling pathway. Here, we designed novel 4,6-diaminonicotinamide derivatives as immunomodulators targeting JAK3 for prevention of transplant rejection. Our optimization of C4- and C6-substituents and docking calculations to JAK3 protein confirmed that the 4,6-diaminonicotinamide scaffold resulted in potent inhibition of JAK3. We also investigated avoidance of human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) inhibitory activity. Selected compound 28 in combination with tacrolimus prevented allograft rejection in a rat heterotopic cardiac transplantation model.     

The Evolution of Quality Systems in Human Bone Banking: The U.S. Experience

This paper illustrates the evolutionary changes that have taken place in human bone banking in the United States since the 1970s to the present, with an emphasis on quality control systems. Specific examples of quality controls are outlined, along with their intended purposes. Particular importance is placed on the gradual change in emphasis from bacteriological concerns to viral concerns and quality control systems.     

Technique of Porcine Liver Procurement and Orthotopic Transplantation using an Active Porto-Caval Shunt

The success of liver transplantation has resulted in a dramatic organ shortage. Each year, a considerable number of patients on the liver transplantation waiting list die without receiving an organ transplant or are delisted due to disease progression. Even after a successful transplantation, rejection and side effects of immunosuppression remain major concerns for graft survival and patient morbidity. Experimental animal research has been essential to the success of liver transplantation and still plays a pivotal role in the development of clinical transplantation practice. In particular, the porcine orthotopic liver transplantation model (OLTx) is optimal for clinically oriented research for its close resemblance to human size, anatomy, and physiology. Decompression of intestinal congestion during the anhepatic phase of porcine OLTx is important to guarantee reliable animal survival. The use of an active porto-caval-jugular shunt achieves excellent intestinal decompression. The system can be used for short-term as well as long-term survival experiments. The following protocol contains all technical information for a stable and reproducible liver transplantation model in pigs including post-operative animal care.     

Lipid and fatty acid biomarkers as proxies for environmental contamination in caged mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were transplanted from a reference site (Syracuse harbour) to an impacted site (Augusta Bay) from January to July 2013 to assess the biochemical response of caged mussels to high trace element and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination, using lipid and fatty acid (FA) biomarkers. Sediment and mussels were analysed to assess contaminant bioavailability in the study sites and bioaccumulation in mussel tissue. Trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) and PAHs were significantly higher in mussels from Augusta than in those from Syracuse, mirroring the different environmental contamination. The biological impact quotient (BIQs), which indicates the potential biological impact of mussel-accumulated contaminants, reflected the highest contaminant concentrations found in Augusta and their temporal trend, which increased from the start of the experiment to 3–4 months after transplanting, followed by a decrease, as indication of mussel detoxification processes. Lower condition index (CI) and phospholipids (PL), as well as higher total (TL) and neutral lipids (NL) in mussels from Augusta, indicated the occurrence of a physiological and biochemical stress response to pollutant exposure and accumulation. Differences in FA composition, especially polyunsaturated (PUFA), essential (EFA) and non-methylene interrupted dienoic (NMID) FAs between the study sites revealed the occurrence of stress-induced lipid peroxidation, followed by compensatory/adaptive processes in Augusta mussels. The marked increase in bacterial biomarkers, mainly cyclopropyl (CY) FAs, reflecting the greater bioaccumulation of chemicals in the Augusta mussels, may be the result of bacterial infections or symbiosis with bacteria involved in detoxification processes.     

可逆性肺动脉高压的治疗在心脏移植围术期的应用

目的：通过早期判断并治疗心脏移植围术期可逆性肺动脉高压,降低移植手术后右心功能衰竭的发生率。方法：20例接受心脏移植手术的病人,术前放置肺动脉导管,测定肺动脉压、肺循环阻力。对肺动脉高压的病人在肺动脉端泵入硝酸甘油、前列腺素E1以确定可逆性。并在术后早期抗排异治疗的基础上应用增强心肌收缩力、降低肺动脉压力、强化氧疗和呼吸管理等综合措施。结果：20例病人中6例出现急性右心功能衰竭,其中4例经治疗后症状改善、出院,2例死亡。结论：术前早期判断并治疗可逆性肺动脉高压,可以有效预防并减少心脏移植术后右心功能衰竭的发生,提高手术成功率。