Canine Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Part II: Pathophysiology and therapy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs is characterized by ventricular and atrial enlargement, and systolic and diastolic dysfunction, with congestive heart failure (CHF) often developing at some stage. With greater understanding of the impact of neuroendocrine stimulation in heart disease, the understanding of the pathophysiology for CHF has changed considerably. It is no longer considered only to be a simple haemodynamic consequence of pump dysfunction, but is now characterized as a complex clinical syndrome with release of many neurohormones, which are believed to have impact on the progression of disease. This change in our understanding of the pathophysiology of CHF has important therapeutic implications. There are strong indications, although not yet proven, that drugs designed to influence the neuroendocrine activity, such as Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-receptors antagonists, are efficacious as adjunct therapy of heart failure attributable to DCM in dogs. The benefits of drugs designed to influence the myocardial contractile state (positive inotropes) have not been fully evaluated. However, evidence has emerged in recent years indicating that new types of positive inotropes may be beneficial in dogs with DCM. This review focuses on the neuroendocrine aspects of DCM and their possible therapeutic implications and the place for long-term inotropic support in dogs with DCM.     

Successful medical treatment of an orbital osteoma in a dog

A 6‐year‐old neutered male German Shepherd‐mixed breed with a 2‐month history of bilateral conjunctival hyperemia, epiphora, and a firm, slowly progressive swelling of the medial canthal region of the left eye (OS) was examined. Ophthalmic examination OS revealed a firm and smooth mass, extending from the medial canthus toward the medial orbital wall. Indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed indentation of the nasal part OS, which corresponded to the position of the orbital mass. Orbital neoplastic diseases were the main differential considerations. Computerized tomography revealed a bony smooth orbital mass without bone destructive features. Biopsy was performed, and histologic features were suggestive of osteoma. Systemic nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory (NSAID) drugs resulted in complete mass regression and absence of clinical signs for 5 years following initial diagnosis. This report describes the first case of canine orbital osteoma, which was responsive to NSAIDs.     

菠萝植株性状相关的通径分析

根据161株菲律宾品种菠萝植株的果实重量、果眼数、叶片数、叶片重和茎重等5个性状的观测数据,进行通径分析,获得关于这些性状的特征数、通径图、通径系数、决定系数;并对通径系数进行显著性检验,建立“最优”回归方程:y=242.292 2.5084x_1 8.3126x_2 0.3663x_3。它的复相关系数为R=0.9275。结果期的菠萝植株所具有的叶片重是影响果实重量的最重要性状。由于性状间均存在着显著的正相关,其他性状(x_1,x_2,x_4)对菠萝果实重量的间接影响也很大,必须同时兼顾。     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

PiggyBac转座子介导的诱导细胞永生化转基因载体的构建及其整合效率的检测

【目的】构建在小鼠水平上实现多个目的基因的表达以及标记基因安全删除的转基因载体。【方法】以载体为模板,分别扩增SV40P neo、IRES、tk-PloyA,通过overlap PCR连接,并在两端添加方向相同的LoxP序列,构建转基因基本载体PB-NIT;然后通过overlap PCR扩增获得Tet-CMV-SV40 T-T2A-p 53-PolyA基因表达盒,将其插入PB-NIT中,构建载体PB-NIT-STP;最后将转录因子激活域 rtTA 通过同尾酶连接插入PB-NIT-STP,构建载体PB-rtTA-NIT-STP。【结果】经酶切和测序等鉴定,以上载体均正确;经转座活性鉴定,共转染转座子载体PB-rtTA-NIT-STP和转座酶载体比只转染转座子载体获得的阳性克隆数提高了20倍。【结论】得到了基于PiggyBac转座子的可用于正负向筛选和诱导目的基因表达的转基因载体。     

关于Smarandache LCM函数的数论函数方程S(SL(n11,12))=φ2(n)的可解性

研究了数论函数方程S(SL(n~(11)))=φ_2(n)及S(SL(n~(12)))=φ_2(n)的可解性问题,其中S(n)为Smarandache函数,SL(n)为Smarandache LCM函数,φ_2(n)为广义欧拉函数.利用初等数论的内容方法及计算技巧得到上述两个数论函数方程的所有正整数解.     

长江中游某矿区水体和沉积物重金属来源解析及分布特征和生态风险评估

为探究长江中游沿江某矿区周边水-沉积物重金属分布特征、潜在风险及其来源,本研究以江西省北部某矿区周边水体及其沉积物中7种重金属(As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb和Zn)为研究对象,通过多点采样分析其在地表水-沉积物系统中的污染特征,并运用单因子评价指数和地累积指数(I_geo)分别对地表水和沉积物中所含重金属进行风险评价,最后通过正定矩阵因子分析(Positive definite matrix factorization,PMF)模型解析沉积物中重金属来源。结果表明：受酸性矿山废水直排影响,该地区地表水和沉积物酸化严重,pH最低分别为2.12和2.62。水体和沉积物中,以Cu、Zn和Cd超标较为严重,水体中分别为0.001～46.96、0.01～122.90、ND～64.97 mg·L^-1,沉积物中分别为21.30～1 840.61、54.20～1 487.55、0.04～18.73 mg·kg^-1,其中以Cd点位超标率最高(68.97%)。风险评价结果表明,超过50%的点位受到Cu和Cd的污染,属于重度风险等级,且多...     

牡蛎中GⅡ型诺如病毒巢式RT-PCR检测方法的优化与评价

为了解决目前巢式PCR法检测牡蛎样品中GII型诺如病毒时存在的非特异性扩增、假阴性等问题,本研究对NCBI数据库中在线获得的所有GII型诺如病毒序列进行系统分析,重新设计出针对GII型诺如病毒检测的通用型巢式PCR引物(NG2OF/NG2OR),并从基因型覆盖度、特异性、灵敏度和实际样品检测的稳定性几个方面对新设计的引物进行评估。结果显示：(1)新引物的特异性好,只对GII型诺如病毒进行有效扩增,且不受牡蛎样品本底的影响。(2)新引物灵敏度高,最低可检测至26.4个拷贝。(3)在对92个牡蛎样品进行检测时,新引物的阳性检出率为28.3%,比经典引物高出7.5%。因此,新建立的GII型诺如病毒巢式PCR检测方法在检测牡蛎样品时特异性更强,灵敏度更高,为牡蛎中诺如病毒的检测提供了一种新的、可靠的技术手段。     

辣木转录因子家族初步鉴定与分析

转录因子在转录水平上激活或抑制基因的表达,在植物生长发育、维持正常生理活动和响应内外部刺激等方面具有重要作用。随着辣木基因组组装的完成,本研究通过生物信息学的方法,对辣木中转录因子家族进行鉴定与初步分析,结果共筛选到1502个转录因子,分属86个家族。同时以拟南芥为参照,鉴定了43个受正选择作用的转录因子,这些正选择基因涉及植物生长发育的各个时期,与植物抗病、环境胁迫密切相关。对辣木HSF蛋白研究表明大部分蛋白的Hsf结构域相对保守,与拟南芥HSF家族蛋白构建系统发育树,发现辣木Hsf基因的分类与进化在一定程度上具有相关性。研究结果将为辣木的生长发育及环境胁迫应答机制提供分子基础。