Fine structure of aphid stylet routes in plant tissues in correlation with EPG signals

Abstract. Plant penetration by Aphis fabae (Scopoli) was recorded by the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique and followed by stylectomy during wave-forms that were suspected of indicating sieve element punctures. The severed stylets in the plant tissue were subsequently processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and sectioned either transverse or longitudinal to the stylets. Two completely serially sectioned probes from the epidermis to the phloem were reconstructed.
In one probe the stylet pathway went to a sieve element and showed many empty branches of salivary sheath material. Breaks in cell walls filled with sheath material demonstrated that the majority of cells bordering the track had been punctured, which supports earlier evidence from EPGs. All types of cells showed punctures and the highest number was found inside the vascular bundle. Very few cells died, which would appear to be important for virus transmission, and in others cellular reactions remained limited to some callose formation. The route of the stylets was intercellular and passed through the secondary wall material. The role of pectinase in intercellular penetration, and previous evidence for intracellular tracks are discussed. Most sieve elements had been punctured but only one was eventually accepted. Thus, reaching a sieve element in a host plant does not automatically imply its acceptance though the reason remains unclear. Gelation of phloem proteins was shown in the stylet canal.
In a second probe, plant cytological and morphological correlations with the EPG were emphasized. Probes by other aphid-plant combinations showed great similarity.     

经皮穿刺抽取大鼠脑脊液方法的改良

目的: 改进传统经皮穿刺抽取脑脊液的方法,提高采集大鼠脑脊液动物存活率。方法: 90只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、传统穿刺组和改良穿刺组(每组30只)。对照组不进行穿刺。传统穿刺组按反握抓持法进行穿刺取样。改良穿刺组采用左手固定大鼠头部,将其抬高至约135°,右手正握改良1 ml注射器,以枕骨隆突和第一颈椎为标志定位枕骨大孔,在枕骨大孔中心偏下平行进针,抽取脑脊液。分别于第1、4、7日抽取大鼠脑脊液,每次抽取记录取样时间、采集量、脑脊液性状,抽取后3 d观察大鼠存活情况,选取存活大鼠进行重复采样。结果: 传统经皮穿刺取样法采样成功率为63.33%,三次重复采样动物存活率为10%;改良经皮穿刺取样法采样成功率为86.67%,三次重复采样动物存活率为50%,相比传统采样有显著升高(P＜0.01)。结论: 改良经皮穿刺取样法操作简单,耗时少,成功率高。操作无需定位设备,单人可以完成。动物反复取样存活率高,方便进行脑脊液重复采样。     

Technical Aspects of the Mouse Aortocaval Fistula

Technical aspects of creating an arteriovenous fistula in the mouse are discussed. Under general anesthesia, an abdominal incision is made, and the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) are exposed. The proximal infrarenal aorta and the distal aorta are dissected for clamp placement and needle puncture, respectively. Special attention is paid to avoid dissection between the aorta and the IVC. After clamping the aorta, a 25 G needle is used to puncture both walls of the aorta into the IVC. The surrounding connective tissue is used for hemostatic compression. Successful creation of the AVF will show pulsatile arterial blood flow in the IVC. Further confirmation of successful AVF can be achieved by post-operative Doppler ultrasound.     

可视化多镜联合治疗复杂鹿角结石的对比研究

摘要 目的：研究不同组合方式治疗复杂鹿角样结石的疗效对比。方法：选取 80例我院治疗的复杂鹿角样结石患者,将患者随机分成两组,A组以经皮肾镜 +针状肾镜 （needle-perc） 的方式清理结石,B组以经皮肾镜 +输尿管软镜（flexibleureteroscope,F-URS）的方式清理结石,术后收集患者相关数据包括穿刺时间,单次穿刺成功率,单位结石量手术时间,清石效率,术中出血量,术后并发症,完全清石率等参数评估手术效果。结果：80例患者一期完成,主通道穿刺时间 A组（6± 1.62）min小于 B组（10±3.25）min（P<0.001）。单次穿刺成功率 A组（38/40）优于 B组（32/40）（P<0.05）。主通道清石时间 A组（40.94± 8.09）min和 B组（37.29± 4.19）min相比较无统计学意义（P>0.05）。残石处理时间 A组（34.37± 6.68）min小于 B组（49.55± 11.62）min（P<0.05）,主通道结石清石效率 A组（0.27± 0.05）cm3/min和 B组（0.26± 0.06）cm3/min相比较无统计学意义（P>0.05）,残石清石效率 A组（0.05± 0.01）cm3/min高于 B组（0.03± 0.01）cm3/min（P<0.05）。术后并发症及完全清石率两组无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：作为标准通道的辅助手段,needle-perc和输尿管软镜能很好的完成残石的处理,同超声定位穿刺相比较,可视穿刺花费时间更短,穿刺单次穿刺成功率更高,相对于软镜处理残石,needle-perc有更高的清石效率。两种方法的术中及术后并发症发生率,完全清石率无差别。     

Potential roles and targeted therapy of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis in cancer and inflammatory diseases

The chemokine receptor CXCR2 and its ligands are implicated in the progression of tumours and various inflammatory diseases. Activation of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis activates multiple signalling pathways, including the PI3K, p38/ERK, and JAK pathways, and regulates cell survival and migration. The CXCLs/CXCR2 axis plays a vital role in the tumour microenvironment and in recruiting neutrophils to inflammatory sites. Extensive infiltration of neutrophils during chronic inflammation is one of the most important pathogenic factors in various inflammatory diseases. Chronic inflammation is considered to be closely correlated with initiation of cancer. In addition, immunosuppressive effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) against T cells attenuate the anti-tumour effects of T cells and promote tumour invasion and metastasis. Over the last several decades, many therapeutic strategies targeting CXCR2 have shown promising results and entered clinical trials. In this review, we focus on the features and functions of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis and highlight its role in cancer and inflammatory diseases. We also discuss its potential use in targeted therapies.     

The role of mitochondria in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Myocardial dysfunction, often termed sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, is a frequent complication and is associated with worse outcomes. Numerous mechanisms contribute to sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy and a growing body of evidence suggests that bioenergetic and metabolic derangements play a central role in its development; however, there are significant discrepancies in the literature, perhaps reflecting variability in the experimental models employed or in the host response to sepsis. The condition is characterised by lack of significant cell death, normal tissue oxygen levels and, in survivors, reversibility of organ dysfunction. The functional changes observed in cardiac tissue may represent an adaptive response to prolonged stress that limits cell death, improving the potential for recovery. In this review, we describe our current understanding of the pathophysiology underlying myocardial dysfunction in sepsis, with a focus on disrupted mitochondrial processes.     

Ulinastatin attenuates liver injury and inflammation in a cecal ligation and puncture induced sepsis mouse model

Sepsis is a syndrome of life-threatening multiorgan dysfunction caused by host response dysregulation to infection. Ulinastatin (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, possesses anti-inflammatory properties and has been suggested to modulate lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying its effects on sepsis. In the current study, we investigated the protective effect of UTI on liver injury in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis of C57BL/6 mouse model and explored the possible mechanisms. Mice underwent CLP as sepsis models and were randomized into five groups including the sham group, UTI group, CLP group, UTI-L group, and UTI-H group. UTI was intraperitoneally administered at doses of UTI 1500 U/100 g (UTI-L group) or 3000 U/100 g (UTI-H group), before CLP. The mice were killed, and immunohistochemical changes, cytokine levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities were detected. Our results showed that UTI ameliorated CLP-mediated increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, histological activity index, degenerative region ratio, and infiltrated inflammatory cell numbers. Moreover, UTI also decreased nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal, activated caspase-3, and activated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) levels and inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation in liver tissues. Our results indicated that UTI could inhibit CLP-induced liver injury by suppressing inflammation and oxidation. Our results indicated that UTI may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for sepsis.     

高血压基底节区脑出血患者血清CXCL1、CXCL10与神经损伤指标和微创穿刺引流术后预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨高血压基底节区脑出血（HBGH）患者血清CXC趋化因子配体1（CXCL1）、CXC趋化因子配体10（CXCL10）与神经损伤指标和微创穿刺引流术后预后的关系。方法：选取2020年2月~2023年4月聊城市人民医院东院区收治的行微创穿刺引流术治疗的HBGH患者162例纳入研究组，选取体检健康的志愿者110例纳入对照组。检测对比两组血清CXCL1、CXCL10和神经损伤指标[神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）、S100β蛋白]水平。采用Pearson检验分析血清CXCL1、CXCL10与神经损伤指标的相关性。所有患者均随访3个月，根据改良Rankin量表（mRS）评分分为预后良好组和预后不良组。采用多因素Logistic回归模型分析HBGH患者微创穿刺引流术后预后的影响因素。结果：研究组的血清CXCL1、CXCL10水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组的血清NSE、GFAP、S100β蛋白水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。Pearson检验分析结果显示，血清CXCL1、CXCL10与NSE、GFAP、S100β蛋白均呈正相关（P<0.05）。单因素分析结果显示，预后不良与年龄、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）、凝血酶原时间（PT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、血肿破入脑室、血肿体积、术后24 h内血肿清除率、尿激酶冲管次数、术后颅内出血再发、CXCL1、CXCL10有关（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，年龄偏大、LDL偏高、血肿体积偏大、术后24 h内血肿清除率偏低、尿激酶冲管次数偏多、CXCL1偏高、CXCL10偏高是HBGH患者微创穿刺引流术后预后不良的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：HBGH患者血清CXCL1、CXCL10水平升高可能导致神经损伤和不良预后。年龄、LDL、血肿体积、术后24 h内血肿清除率、尿激酶冲管次数、CXCL1、CXCL10是HBGH患者术后预后不良的危险因素，值得引起重视。     

Brief communication: a preliminary study on the influence of physical fruit traits on fruit handling and seed fate by white-handed Titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens)

Callicebus and the pitheciins are closely related; however, differences in their diets and dental morphology suggest that they differ in the use of mechanically protected food. We describe physical traits of fruits consumed by white-handed titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens) and determine their influence on fruit part selection and immediate seed fate after fruit handling. We tested two hypotheses about the effects of mechanical fruit traits on fruit part selection and seed fate: (1) fruits selected for seed consumption are harder than fruits selected for their fleshy parts and (2) consumed seeds are softer than seeds with other fates. In addition, we analyzed the influence of other physical fruit traits on fruit part selection and seed fate. C. lugens included 69 species in its diet, from which it mainly consumed their fleshy parts. It also consumed seeds, alone or with fleshy fruit parts, but most of them ended up close to parent trees after being dropped or spat out. The first hypothesis was supported while the second was rejected, indicating that C. lugens tends to rely on hard fruits for obtaining seeds, while seed hardness had no influence on fruit part selection and seed fate, contrasting with the pattern reported for Pithecia and Chiropotes in other studies. Ripeness was the most influential factor for fruit part and seed fate discrimination. Results suggest a tendency to sclerocarpic foraging in C. lugens when feeding on seeds.     

Blood puncture as a nondestructive sampling tool to obtain DNA in frogs: comparison of protocols and survival analysis

In molecular biology studies of Anura, nondestructive methods to obtain genetic material are needed as alternatives to toe clipping. This work evaluates a nondestructive method for sampling DNA from blood puncture, comparing the performance of three different extraction protocols (Qiagen Kit, Salting-out and Chelex). We collected 134 individuals of Eleutherodactylus johnstonei, extracting blood via puncture of the medial vein using commercial-grade glucometer lancets. We extracted 100-1880 ng DNA, finding no differences between the extraction protocols. We compared the quality of the resulting DNA through amplification and sequencing of the 16S mitochondrial gene. Amplification was successful for the three extraction protocols, although Chelex showed better performance, making it the most recommendable protocol for extraction of DNA from blood. The resulting sequences corresponded to those registered in the GenBank for this species. Additionally, we found no significant differences in survival or weight change between the individuals that were manipulated and a control group (mean survival 66.7% treated, 62.9% untreated). Data reveal that blood samples obtained by puncture are a convenient alternative to other tissues (phalange, buccal swab, liver) that have traditionally been used as DNA sources for anurans. The technique is applicable to small and large species, covering most anuran diversity, provides enough DNA for many genetic applications and produces no noticeable effect on the survival or performance, given that it does not affect the motor parts or the dexterity of the animals.