Delivery of growth factors using gene therapy to enhance bone healing

OBJECTIVE: To review the delivery of growth factors using gene therapy for enhancing long-bone fracture healing. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: MEDLINE and CAB Abstracts literature search (1980-2004). RESULTS: Non-union and infected non-union are relatively common complications of long-bone fractures in human and veterinary patients. Growth factors are cytokines that regulate many cell functions important in fracture healing. Exogenous growth factors can be delivered to the fracture site as recombinant proteins or using gene therapy. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and -7 (rhBMP-2 and -7), in particular, enhance fracture healing in numerous experimental and clinical studies. Some limitations with use of recombinant proteins may be overcome by use of gene therapy. Gene therapy involves delivery of the growth factor gene to cells at the fracture site using a viral or non-viral vector. The gene is then expressed (protein synthesis) by cells at the fracture site. Delivery of the BMP gene to the fracture site using gene therapy has been evaluated in laboratory animal models of non-union, with favorable results and without complications. CONCLUSION: Delivery of growth factors, particularly members of BMP family, to the fracture site using gene therapy may be a method to enhance fracture healing. Use of this technology may improve the prognosis for patients with long-bone fractures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical application of gene therapy could improve the prognosis for human and veterinary patients with long-bone fractures, but has not been evaluated clinically.     

Evaluation of single and double centrifugation tube methods for concentrating equine platelets

The aim of this study was to evaluate single and double centrifugation tube methods for concentrating equine platelets. Whole blood samples were collected from clinically normal horses and processed by use of single and double centrifugation tube methods to obtain four platelet concentrates (PCs): PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D, which were analyzed using a flow cytometry hematology system for hemogram and additional platelet parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, mean platelet component concentration, mean platelet component distribution width). Concentrations of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) were determined in all the samples. Platelet concentrations for PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D were 45%, 44%, 71%, and 21% higher, respectively, compared to the same values for citrated whole blood samples. TGF-beta(1) concentrations for PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D were 38%, 44%, 44%, and 37% higher, respectively, compared to citrated whole blood sample values. In conclusion, the single and double centrifugation tube methods are reliable methods for concentrating equine platelets and for obtaining potentially therapeutic TGF-beta(1) levels.     

河北省冬小麦生产干旱风险分析

利用河北省冬麦区49个气象站1980-2010年的气象资料及其相应的冬小麦产量资料,选取三种干旱指数,根据自然灾害风险分析的基本原理,计算了气候干旱、作物干旱、产量灾损三种风险度,并进行了相应的风险区划,根据区划结果提出了不同风险区的减灾对策.结果表明:(1)冬麦区气候干旱风险以中风险或较高风险区域为主,作物干旱风险则以较高风险区为主,产量灾损低风险区域较大.(2)气候干旱、作物干旱、产量灾损各等级风险区分布无明显相关关系,产量灾损风险与各地的灌溉条件关系密切.(3)产量灾损各风险区应采取不同的减灾对策,高风险区应以防旱为主,采取一系列保墒措施,提高自然水分利用率;较高风险区应以抗旱防旱为主,加强农田水利基本建设,改善灌溉条件;中低风险区应以发展优化灌溉制度为主,实现节水高产.     

植物疫情截获相关影响因素分析

文章从植物疫情截获途径、检验检疫工作内容和流程等方面入手,对植物疫情截获评价指标体系构建过程中应重点考虑的影响因素进行了分析与梳理,提出了影响植物疫情截获评价的直接和间接因素,并对其他可能影响评价效果的因素进行了讨论。     

四川省攀枝花市米易县大气环境质量评价

米易县大气主要大气污染物年均浓度呈均上升趋势,选用污染综合指数法对2008-2011米易县城区大气种3种主要污染物(可吸入颗粒物、二氧化硫、二氧化氮)进行评价,评价结果说明:米易县大气环境质量下降,环境污染状况总体较好.     

对影响榆林沙地樟子松造林成活因素的探讨

榆林地处毛乌素沙漠南缘,是黄河下游沉积沙粒的主要来源之一。为了寻求适宜沙地的树种和造林技术,榆林市在不同立地类型上营造樟子松示范林,并对其进行了试验研究,总结出了适应全市樟子松造林技术,解决了榆林沙区樟子松大面积造林成活率低的问题,取得了显著成效。     

基于GIS技术构建农业气象灾害监测预警系统

结合GIS的空间建模能力,空间分析能力设计了农业气象灾害灾前、灾中、灾后整个过程提供更为直观的监测预警平台,进而为提升农业气象灾害监测预警能力提供一种新思路。     

探讨新农村建设中防雷减灾的可行性方法

建设社会主义新农村,必须始终坚持以人为本,把人民群众的生命、财产安全放在第一位,实现人与自然和谐共处等发展要求。这些要求凸显出农村防雷减灾工作的重要性,做好新农村建设中防雷减灾工作具有其特殊的战略意义。     

棉花冰雹灾害风险评价——以安徽省为例

[目的]揭示安徽省棉花雹灾风险格局。[方法]基于安徽省棉花雹灾风险评价数据库,采用统计推断法和综合指标度量法,提取雹灾致灾强度指数(H)和棉花损失率(L);使用Matlab和SPSS软件,拟合棉花苗期、蕾期、铃期和吐絮期4条雹灾脆弱性曲线;基于构建的棉花雹灾年度灾害损失率计算模型Sa=∑ni=1Si-∏ni=1Si=1-∏ni=1(1-Si),开展安徽省棉花雹灾风险评价,并编绘风险评价图谱。[结果]安徽省棉花雹灾高风险区集中在东北部地区和皖西山地丘陵区,低风险区分布在长江中下游地区和皖南山区,与棉花历史雹灾空间分布吻合较好。[结论]该研究探讨了基于不完备信息数据的雹灾风险评价方法,可为其他地区雹灾风险评价提供方法和技术参考。     

三亚市土地利用变化及影响因素驱动力分析

在RS与GIS技术支持下,以三亚市1987、1999、2008年TM影像为主要数据源,研究了三亚市土地利用空间格局特征及其动态变化,利用SPSS软件对社会经济因素进行主成份分析,并对土地利用变化进行逐步回归分析,探讨三亚市土地利用驱动变化机制.结果表明:1987～ 2008年三亚市土地利用变化的基本特点是农业用地面积大幅度下降,非农用地面积快速增加;影响土地利用类型结构变动的主导驱动因子是经济社会综合因素、旅游业发展和农业生产因素;固定资产投资和非农业人口的剧增使三亚市城镇化面积增大,建设用地面积增加,人口和农机总动力变化直接导致林地和耕地的持续减少;依托自然地理优势,三亚市旅游发展迅速,生态建设投入增加,园地面积直线上升.