A Comparison of the Effects of Unilateral Thyroarytenoid Lateralization Versus Cricoarytenoid Laryngoplasty on the Area of the Rima Glottidis and Clinical Outcome in Dogs with Laryngeal Paralysis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of unilateral thyroarytenoid lateralization versus unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty for the treatment of canine laryngeal paralysis. Study Design-A prospective, clinical trial. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs admitted to Glasgow University Veterinary Hospital (GUVH) between 1997 and 1999 with a diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis. METHODS: A thorough evaluation of each dog was undertaken that included history, physical and neurologic examinations, complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, serum thyroxine (T4) level, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay. The exercise tolerance of each dog was investigated by assessing respiratory rate and arterial blood gas analysis at rest and after 5 minutes of mild exercise. Animals were included in the study on the basis of a definitive diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis made by endoscopic observation of the larynx in the lightly anesthetized patient. The animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: unilateral thyroarytenoid lateralization or unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty, with all procedures being performed by the same surgeon. Video images of the rima glottidis were recorded pre- and postoperatively using video endoscopy. Video images were digitized and the area of the rima glottidis measured using image-analysis software. An increase in the area of the rima glottidis was expressed as a percentage of the preoperative area. All animals were reassessed 6 weeks' postoperatively, and exercise tolerance tests were repeated. RESULTS: The mean increase in the area of the rima glottidis postoperatively when compared with the preoperative area was 140% for those animals undergoing unilateral thyroarytenoid lateralization (range, 120%-158%) and 207% for those animals undergoing unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty (range, 183%-228%). This difference was statistically significant (P < .0001). At the 6-week postoperative examination, there was no significant difference in improvement between the 2 groups when compared on either a clinical basis or exercise tolerance tests. The mean surgical time in the 2 groups was 25 minutes for thyroarytenoid lateralization and 43 minutes for cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty. This was a statistically significant difference (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Although increase in area of the rima glottidis was significantly greater after unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty compared with unilateral thyroarytenoid lateralization, no difference in clinical outcome could be detected. However, the cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty procedure required significantly more surgical time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both unilateral cricoarytenoid laryngoplasty and unilateral thyroarytenoid lateralization are successful methods for the treatment of laryngeal paralysis; however, thyroarytenoid lateralization requires less surgical time to perform.     

西藏巴松错（湖）夏季浮游植物优势种生态位及其种间联结性

为了解青藏高原高寒湖泊不同空间维度浮游植物群落优势种的生态位及种间联结性,本文选取青藏高原东南部最大的高寒冰山堰塞湖之一的巴松错为研究地点,于2020年7月对巴松错浮游植物进行了定性和定量采集,采集了水平和垂直维度浮游植物的水样275个,结合生态位宽度、生态位重叠值、生态响应速率、总体联结性、x2 检验、联结系数( AC) 、共同出现百分比( PC) 以及点相关系数(φ) 等方法,分析优势种的生态位及种间联结性。结果表明：1）共鉴定浮游植物优势种5属8种,均属于硅藻门;2）生态位宽度值差异较大,可分为三大生态位类群,且水平-垂直二维生态位宽度的变化幅度受水平维度生态位宽度影响比较明显;3）在水平维度上,生态位重叠度达到有意义的种对比例较高,具有明显的同质性;在垂直维度和水平-垂直维度上,生态位重叠度达到有意义的种对比例较低,具有明显的异质性;4）巴松错夏季浮游植物群落优势种生态响应速率在水平维度上形成正反馈,在垂直和水平-垂直维度维度上形成负反馈,表明巴松错夏季浮游植物群落存在群落多稳态,垂直和水平-垂直维度上群落较水平维度更稳定;5）巴松错夏季浮游植物群落总体处于演替的初期阶段且存在正向演替的趋势,物种间联结性不强,种间关系较为松散。本研究结果为进一步研究高寒湖泊优势种生态位和群落多稳态提供了基础资料。     

MicroPNA-21 promotes proliferation of rat Schwann cells following nerve injury

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the regulation of Schwann cell proliferation following nerve injury. METHODS: The expression of miR-2l was detected by real-time PCR. Synthetic miR-21 mimic and its control were transfected into rat Schwann cells. CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate the influence of miR-21 on the proliferation of Schwann cells. The cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of transforming growth factor β-induced protein (TGFBI) and cyclin D1 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of miR-21 in model group was 7.87±0.75 and 7.75±0.80 times higher than that in sham operation group and blank group respectively. After transfected with miR-21 mimic, the expression of miR-21 in experimental group was 2.21±0.14 and 2.29±0.21 times higher than that in negative control group and blank group respectively. Moreover, the A₄₅₀ value of CCK-8 assay in experimental group at 48 h was higher than that in negative control group and blank group. The proliferation index in experimental group was higher than that in negative control group and blank group. At the same time, the expression of TGFBI obviously decreased and the cyclin D1 increased in the Schwann cells 48 h after transfection with miR-21. CONCLUSION: miR-21 promotes the proliferation activity of Schwann cells by down-regulating TGFBI expression.     

玉米杂种优势类群划分高多态SSR引物筛选

【目的】 研究玉米杂种优势类群划分高多态SSR引物筛选。【方法】 遴选均匀分布在玉米10个连锁群上160对SSR引物,在104份玉米自交系DNA中扩增,根据引物的染色体分布和PIC值,分别取40、30、20和10对高多态引物建立4套新引物体系,检测104份自交系的分类效果。【结果】 (1)160对引物中的63对引物带型稳定,多态性高,最高PIC值0.762 3,高于过去常用核心SSR引物,63对引物中过去常用核心SSR引物仅保留40%左右;(2)4套引物体系中,40和30对引物体系的分类结果与已知自交系类群高度吻合,20对体系与40对体系比较具90.5%一致性,10对体系与40对体系比较的一致性81.0%;(3)40对体系分类104份材料为5大类群,分别是瑞德、改良瑞德、兰卡斯特、黄改和和旅大红骨,与目前国内利用的优势群划分结果一致,也能鉴别出每个群中亲缘关系最远的亚群是相近群间二环系来源的混合基因型;(4) 各群的代表自交系是单一遗传结构成分,亚群是多遗传结构成分。【结论】 部分SSR引物的多态性在新自交系中会出现下降,建立的新的40对引物体系有精确的分类功能,可应用于类群划分,20对体系的分类精确性稍低,但检测工作量减半,在批量材料分类中有利用价值。     

A comparison of predictions made by three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease

AIMS: To describe results of a relative validation exercise using the three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in use by the quadrilateral countries (QUADS; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and United States of America; USA).

METHODS: A hypothetical population of farms was constructed and, following the introduction of an FMD-like disease into a single farm, spread of disease was simulated using each of the three FMD simulation models used by the QUADS countries. A series of 11 scenarios was developed to systematically evaluate the key processes of disease transmission and control used by each of the three models. The predicted number of infected units and the size of predicted outbreak areas for each scenario and each model were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Agreement among the three models in terms of geographical areas predicted to become infected were quantified using Fleiss' Kappa statistic.

RESULTS: Although there were statistically significant differences in model outputs in terms of the numbers of units predicted to become infected, the temporal onset of infection throughout the simulation period, and the spatial distribution of infected units, these differences were generally small and would have resulted in the same (or similar) management decisions being adopted in each case.

CONCLUSIONS: Agreement among the three models in terms of the numbers of premises predicted to become infected, the temporal onset of infection throughout the simulation period, and the spatial distribution of infected premises provides evidence that each of the model developers are consistent in their approach to simulating the spread of disease throughout a population of susceptible individuals. This consistency implies that the assumptions taken by each development team are appropriate, which in turn serves to increase end-user confidence in model predictions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Relative validation is one of a number of steps that can be undertaken to increase end-user confidence in predictions made by infectious disease models.     

Surface-active phospholipid (surfactant) in equine tendon and tendon sheath fluid

AIM: To investigate the presence of surface-active phospholipid (SAPL, or surfactant) in equine tendon and tendon sheath fluid.

METHODS: The left front flexor tendon and sheath were removed from five Thoroughbred horses. Phospholipid was extracted from tendon sheath fluid using Folch reagent and quantifi ed using spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the tendon surfaces.

RESULTS: The presence of phospholipid (90.6 (SD 4.3) μg/ml) in tendon sheath fluid, plus the appearance of oligolamellar layers and lamellar bodies on the tendon surface were indicative of SAPL.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of SAPL was found in equine tendon, and may have a similar lubricating function as reported for synovial joints.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings may have important implications for normal tendon function and possible therapeutic adjuncts for tendon and tendon sheath injuries.     

长江宜昌至城陵矶江段鱼类资源现状及物种多样性研究

2010—2011年分别于3月、7月和10月在宜昌、荆州和城陵矶江段对长江中游鱼类资源进行了调查,共采集到鱼类58种,隶属于7目14科,其中鲤科鱼类最多,有36种,占总种类数的62.1%。鲢(Hypophthalmich-thys molitrix)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio)、草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)和南方鲇(Silurus meridionalis)依次占了渔获总量的前4位。但青鱼(Mylopharyngodon piceus)、草鱼、鲢、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)等的数量比重却低于野杂鱼(Hemiculter leucisclus)。宜昌、荆州、城陵矶江段,生物多样性指数和物种丰富度指数依次下降,3个江段的物种优势度指数存在一定差异。主要鱼类生物学统计表明,城陵矶江段部分鱼类平均体长和体重,草鱼分别下降了60%和95%,鲢下降了50%和80%。长江中游鱼类资源呈现出低龄化和小型化的趋势,其中铜鱼变化最为明显,资源衰退情况非常严重。