Sodium bicarbonate protects uranium-induced acute nephrotoxicity through uranium-decorporation by urinary alkalinization in rats

To evaluate the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate (SB) in removing uranium and protecting animals from uranium toxicity, we intramuscularly administered 1 mg/kg of uranyl nitrate to 8-wk-old male SD rats, and 20 min after administration of uranyl nitrate, the animals were given a single oral administration of SB at 0.1, 0.3 or 1 g/kg. The SB treatment at a dose of 0.3 g/kg or more raised the pH of the rats’ urine until 4 h after treatment, and it significantly reduced the uranium amounts in the kidneys at 1 day after treatment. In another experiment, rats were intramuscularly administered 1 mg/kg of uranyl nitrate, and 20 min later, the animals were treated with sodium bicarbonate (0.1 or 1 g/kg). The rats were autopsied at 1, 3 and 7 days after uranium treatment. High-dose SB resulted in a significant increase in urinary uranium excretion in the first 24 h and a reduction of uranium deposition in the kidneys and femurs, and it also significantly suppressed uranium-induced renal toxicity, as shown by both histopathology and clinical chemistry at 3 days after uranium treatment. Low-dose SB did not show such marked effects. Our findings demonstrated that the uranium decorporation effect of sodium bicarbonate was observed at the dosage showing urine alkalinization in rats and that decorporation effect of sodium bicarbonate might be beneficial if it is administered immediately after incorporation of soluble uranium.     

甘蓝型油菜含油量的遗传研究

采用7×7双列杂交设计,研究了甘蓝型油菜含油量的基因作用和其它遗传参数,以及含油量与其它农艺性状、品质性状的关系。结果表明:含油量的遗传符合加性—显性遗传模型,有关基因在亲本中呈独立分布;显性指向增效,表现超显性作用;亲本中显性基因比隐性基因多,增效基因比减效基因的频率大;控制含油量并表现显性的基因约为4组;含油量的广义和狭义遗传力分别为81.16％和30.90％。单相关和逐步回归分析一致表明,单株产量、每角粒数、主花序长度和株高对含油量有较强正向作用,但角果长度和全株总角果数的作用为负。本文还讨论了基因作用分析在探讨配合力的基因效应成分和杂种优势产生的可能原因中的意义,及其在选择中的应用。     

施氮与株丛切割对退化新麦草草地的改良效果

本文研究了施氮肥和株丛切割对退化新麦草人草地生产性能的影响,结果表明,施氮肥和株丛切割提高了新麦草草地生产性能和生产力。此外,施氮肥可改善牧草品质及土壤牮氮能力。株丛切割和施氮肥（１２０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２）相结合与单施氮肥相比,成本较低,对退化新麦草草地的改良效果良好,年均产草量２６７９．５ｋｇＤＭ／ｈｍ＾２。     

Relating tradable credits for biodiversity to sustainability criteria in a dynamic landscape

Tradable biodiversity credit systems provide flexible means to resolve conflicts between development and conservation land-use options for habitats occupied by threatened or endangered species. We describe an approach to incorporate the influence of habitat fragmentation into the conservation value of tradable credits. Habitat fragmentation decreases gene flow, increases rates of genetic drift and inbreeding, and increases probabilities of patch extinction. Importantly, tradable credit systems will change the level of fragmentation over time for small and/or declining populations. We apply landscape equivalency analysis (LEA), a generalizable, landscape-scale accounting system that assigns conservation value to habitat patches based on patch contributions to abundance and genetic variance at landscape scales. By evaluating habitat trades using two models that vary the relationship between dispersal behaviors and landscape patterns, we show that LEA provides a novel method for limiting access to habitat at the landscape-scale, recognizing that the appropriate amount of migration needed to supplement patch recruitment and to offset drift and inbreeding will vary as landscape pattern changes over time. We also found that decisions based on probabilities of persistence alone would ignore changes in migration, genetic drift, and patch extinction that result from habitat trades. The general principle of LEA is that habitat patches traded should make at least equivalent contributions to rates of recruitment and migration estimated at a landscape scale. Traditional approaches for assessing the “take” and “jeopardy” standards under the Endangered Species Act based on changes in abundance and probability of persistence may be inadequate to prevent trades that increase fragmentation.     

Physicochemical and Structural Characteristics of Flours and Starches from Waxy and Nonwaxy Wheats

A waxy spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype was fractionated into flour and starch by roller and wet‐milling, respectively. The resultant flour and starch were evaluated for end‐use properties and compared with their counterparts from hard and soft wheats and with commercial waxy and nonwaxy corn (Zea mays L.) starches. The waxy wheat flour had exceptionally high levels of water absorption and peak viscosity compared with hard or soft wheat flour. The flour formed an intermediate‐strength dough that developed rapidly and was relatively susceptible to mixing. Analysis by differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffractometry showed waxy wheat starch had higher gelatinization temperatures, a greater degree of crystallization, and an absence of an amylose‐lipid complex compared with nonwaxy wheat. Waxy wheat and corn starches showed greater refrigeration and freeze‐thaw stabilities than did nonwaxy starches as demonstrated by syneresis tests. They were also similar in pasting properties, but waxy wheat starch required lower temperature and enthalpy to gelatinize. The results show analogies between waxy wheat and waxy corn starches, but waxy wheat flour was distinct from hard or soft wheat flour in pasting and mixing properties.     

Serologic and genetic characterization of North American H3N2 swine influenza A viruses

The H3N2 subtype of influenza A viruses isolated from pigs in the United States and Canada has shown both genetic and antigenic diversity. The objective of this study was to determine the serologic and genetic characteristics of contemporary strains of these viruses. Genetic analysis of 18 reference strains and 8 selected strains demonstrated differences in 1% to 9% of the nucleotides of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed 3 genetic clusters, as well as divergence of cluster III viruses from a cluster III prototype virus (A/Swine/Illinois/21587/99). By means of 1-way cross-hemagglutination inhibition with antiserum against 5 field isolates and 3 vaccine viruses, most of 97 isolates tested could be placed in 1 of 3 serogroups. The several isolates that did not react with any antiserum were in genetic cluster III, which suggests that continuous antigenic drift in cluster III may have resulted in virus variants. The efficacy of commercial vaccines against these virus variants should be evaluated with vaccination and challenge studies.     

杨属( Populus)黑杨组(Aigeiros)种(品种)间核型比较

 对杨属黑杨组(Aigeiros) 的15个种(品种) 核型进行了分析, 结果如下: 箭杆杨( Populusnigra var. thevestina) , 2n = 38 = 3M + 29m + 5 sm + 1 st; 盖杨( P. del.cv. ×Lux ×P.×canadensis cv. Shanhaiguanensis) , 2n = 38 = 2M + 27m + 4 sm + 5 st (4SAT) ; 欧美杨107 (P1 ×euram ericana cv. ‘74 /76’) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 29m (1SAT ) + 5 sm + 3 st (3SAT) ; 欧美杨13 ( P. ×euramericana CL 13) , 2n = 38 = 3M + 23m + 6 sm + 3 st (1SAT ) + 3 t (3SAT) ; 加杨( P. ×canadensis Moench) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 27m + 6 sm + 4 st ( 4SAT) ; 辽杨×美洲黑杨(P.maximowiczii Henry ×P.deltoids Bartr. ) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 24m + 9 sm (2SAT ) + 4 st; 中尚8号( P. ×Zhongshangnensis) , 2n = 38 = 4M + 27m (1SAT ) + 2 sm + 3 st (2SAT ) + 2 t; 北京杨( P. ×beijingensis) , 2n = 38 = 3M + 28m + 3 sm + 4 st (2SAT) ; 鲁山杨( P. ×Liaoningensis) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 27m + 3 sm + 6 st (1SAT ) + 1 t (1SAT) ; 廊坊1号( P. CL ‘Langfang 1’) , 2n = 38 = 3M + 28m + 3 sm + 4 st (2SAT) ; 圣山杨(盖杨类) (P. ×gaixianesis) , 2n = 38 = 2M + 27m + 4 sm (1SAT ) + 4 st (3SAT ) + 1 t; 抗- 2 〔P. deltoids CL 2 (GMO) 〕, 2n = 38 = 26m + 7 sm (2SAT ) + 4 st (1SAT ) + 1 t (1SAT) ; 群改3号( P. ×Qungainensis 3) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 27m + 8 st (2SAT ) + 2 t (2SAT) ; 中金2号( P. ×Zhongjinnensis 2) , 2n = 38 = 1M + 18m + 13 sm (1SAT ) + 5 st (2SAT) + 1 t (1SAT) ; 辽宁杨( P. ×eur. cv. San Martino ×P. ×canadensis cv. Shanhaiguanensis) , 2n = 38 = 2M + 26m + 6 sm + 4 st。黑杨各种(品种) 核型均为2B型, 种(品种) 间核型差异主要表现在中部着丝点(M、m) 染色体数目(25～32) 和端部着丝点( st、t) 染色体数目变化(1～6) 上, 核型特征为种(品种) 鉴定提供了一定参考。     

Characterization of an avianpox virus isolated from an Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)

A novel pox virus, condorpox virus (CPV) isolated from the spleen of an Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) by inoculation of chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken embryos was compared biologically, antigenically and genetically with fowlpox virus (FPV), the type species of the genus Avipoxvirus. Susceptible chickens inoculated with CPV developed only mild localized lesions but were not protected against subsequent challenge with FPV. Based on Western blotting, in addition to the presence of cross-reacting antigens, distinct differences in antigenic profiles of CPV and FPV were observed. Sequence analysis of a 4.5 kb HindIII fragment of CPV genomic DNA revealed the presence of eight co-linear genes corresponding to FPV open reading frame (ORF)193-198, 201 and 203. Interestingly, reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) sequences present in the genome of all FPV were absent in CPV. Although, the results of a phylogenic analysis suggested that CPV is a member of the genus Avipoxvirus, its unique antigenic, biologic and genetic characteristics distinguish it from FPV to be considered as a new member of this genus.     

Risk analysis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Korea

The occurrence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, so called mad cow diseases) that was first identified in England in 1986 was considered as being limited to only European countries, including England. However, the outbreak in Asia as well as North America since 2001 has amplified the fear that there isn't any nation in the world that is a safe area. In order to assess the risk of BSE outbreak in each country, the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and EU have respectively established criteria, where OIE has set 5 levels and EU has set 4 levels. The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the European Commission conducted a Geographical BSE Risk(GBR) assessment for 64 nations, such as the United States, etc., as of April 29, 2003. However, as of July 1, 2005, the duty of GBR assessment is expected to be transferred to a newly established body called EFSA (European Food Safety Authority, located in Parma, Italy). As Korea has not undergone a GBR assessment up to now, this study analyzed the risk of BSE outbreak in Korea by reviewing BSE prevention measures, etc., that have been put in place. This study shall be a barometer for estimating the GBR assessment level of Korea.     

Pharmacokinetic profiles of the two major active metabolites of metamizole (dipyrone) in cats following three different routes of administration

This study was performed to determine pharmacokinetic profiles of the two active metabolites of the analgesic drug metamizole (dipyrone , MET), 4‐methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), and 4‐aminoantipyrine (AA), after intravenous (i.v., intramuscular (i.m.), and oral (p.o.) administration in cats. Six healthy mixed‐breed cats were administered MET (25 mg/kg) by i.v., i.m., or p.o. routes in a crossover design. Adverse clinical signs, namely salivation and vomiting, were detected in all groups (i.v. 67%, i.m. 34%, and p.o. 15%). The mean maximal plasma concentration of MAA for i.v., i.m., and p.o. administrations was 148.63 ± 106.64, 18.74 ± 4.97, and 20.59 ± 15.29 μg/ml, respectively, with about 7 hr of half‐life in all routes. Among the administration routes, the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) value was the lowest after i.m. administration and the AUC_EV/i.v. ratio was higher in p.o. than the i.m. administration without statistical significance. The plasma concentration of AA was detectable up to 24 hr, and the mean plasma concentrations were smaller than MAA. The present results suggest that MET is converted into the active metabolites in cats as in humans. Further pharmacodynamics and safety studies should be performed before any clinical use.