Comparison of N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and three cardiac biomarkers for discriminatory ability of clinical stage in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Plasma N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) concentration increases with progression of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. This multicentre, prospective study compared plasma NT-proANP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), ANP, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with MMVD for their characteristics and discriminatory ability to detect cardiac dilatation and congestive heart failure (CHF). Thirty-six healthy dogs and 69 dogs with MMVD were included. Clinical variables were obtained via physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The discriminatory ability of each cardiac biomarker (CB) to determine the presence or absence of cardiac dilatation (event 1) and CHF (event 2) was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curves. Plasma NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, and ANP concentrations showed a significant association with the left atrium/aorta ratio (P<0.01). The area under the curve of plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations were 0.72 and 0.75, respectively in event1 and 0.72 and 0.76, respectively in event2. Plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations showed sensitivity 80.0 and 80.0%; specificity 67.6 and 64.7% in event1 (cutoff value; 8,497.81 pg/ml and 1,453.00 pmol/l, respectively) and sensitivity 85.7 and 81.0%; specificity 60.4 and 64.6% in event2 (cutoff value; 8,684.33 pg/ml and 1,772.00 pmol/l, respectively). In dogs with MMVD, plasma NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, and ANP concentrations increase with left atrial enlargement. Particularly, plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations appeared to be equally useful in the discriminatory ability to detect cardiac dilatation and CHF.     

干旱区小麦多功能高分子植物生长调节剂增产和品质改善试验研究

以观测记录和拍照方式研究多功能高分子植物生长调节剂对小麦生长和繁殖、品质的影响,分别用土壤含水量为试剂保水指标,小麦生长、结实和产量指标、小麦品质指标以及经济效益指标与对照比较以评定试验效果。结果显示,施用试剂能够提高土壤保水率,有利于小麦的营养和结实生长,使小麦产量提高12.30%。小麦粗蛋白、赖氨酸和湿面筋含量均有显著提升,不利于人体健康的灰分和粗脂肪含量显著降低;经济效益有所提高,仅仅考虑增产就净增产值734.25￣794.85元/hm2。     

A scoping review of autoantibodies as biomarkers for canine autoimmune disease

BackgroundAutoantibody biomarkers are valuable tools used to diagnose and manage autoimmune diseases in dogs. However, prior publications have raised concerns over a lack of standardization and sufficient validation for the use of biomarkers in veterinary medicine.ObjectivesSystematically compile primary research on autoantibody biomarkers for autoimmune disease in dogs, summarize their methodological features, and evaluate their quality; synthesize data supporting their use into a resource for veterinarians and researchers.AnimalsNot used.MethodsFive indices were searched to identify studies for evaluation: PubMed, CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, Agricola, and SCOPUS. Two independent reviewers (AET and ELC) screened titles and abstracts for exclusion criteria followed by full‐text review of remaining articles. Relevant studies were classified based on study objectives (biomarker, epitope, technique). Data on study characteristics and outcomes were synthesized in independent data tables for each classification.ResultsNinety‐two studies qualified for final analysis (n = 49 biomarker, n = 9 epitope, and n = 34 technique studies). A high degree of heterogeneity in study characteristics and outcomes reporting was observed. Opportunities to strengthen future studies could include: (1) routine use of negative controls, (2) power analyses to inform sample sizes, (3) statistical analyses when appropriate, and (4) multiple detection techniques to confirm results.ConclusionsThese findings provide a resource that will allow veterinary clinicians to efficiently evaluate the evidence supporting the use of autoantibody biomarkers, along with the varied methodological approaches used in their development.     

土壤微生物多样性研究方法的进展

对土壤微生物的4类研究方法即:传统微生物培养法、微生物标记物法、BIOLOGGN微平板法和微生物分子生物技术方法及其应用特点进行了简要的评述和分析,旨在通过比较寻求能够揭示土壤微生物群落结构的最佳方法。分子生物技术方法与传统研究方法等相结合将是大力推动土壤微生物研究的有效方式。     

不同土地利用模式下土壤侵蚀空间演化模拟

高分子聚合物具有改善土壤结构,增加降雨入渗,调控坡面径流的作用。为探索适合于黄土区应用的高效低廉降雨径流调控新材料,选择聚丙烯酸、聚乙烯醇、脲醛树脂3种高分子聚合物,以不同浓度施入土壤,研究其对土壤物理性质的影响。实验表明：(1)土壤经3种高分子聚合物处理后平均水稳性团粒含量增加17．27％,渗透性能提高41．81％,容重减少11．18％,土壤持水能力较对照提高2．8倍。这说明此3种高分子聚合物均是较好的土壤结构改良剂,尤其是聚丙烯酸效果最为显。(2)根据3种聚合物不同浓度处理后的综合效果,确定了聚丙烯酸、聚乙烯酵、脲醛树脂的适宜浓度分别为4．8％—6．0％,1．6％,10．0％。     

镉胁迫对拟南芥幼苗形态生理和错配修复相关基因表达的影响研究

以拟南芥为供试材料,从形态指标、生理指标、分子指标3个层次研究了镉（Cd）的毒理效应,筛选Cd敏感生物标记物。分子指标的研究以18S rRNA为看家基因, 错配修复基因MutS 2 homolog（atMSH2）, atMSH3,atMSH7,细胞增殖核抗原1 和2（atPCNA1和atPCNA2）为检测目的基因,采用半定量反转录-聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）技术研究Cd胁迫对上述错配修复相关基因表达的影响。结果表明,不同浓度（0、0.125、0.25、1.0、3.0 mg·L^-1）Cd 处理7 d后,根长随Cd胁迫强度的增加而降低; 0.125 mg·L^-1 Cd处理下,地上部可溶性蛋白含量显著增加,而在0.25、1.0和3.0 mg·L^-1 Cd时降低,但仍高于对照;幼苗叶片数、地上部鲜重、叶绿素含量变化与对照相比差异均不显著。地上部atMSH2,atPCNA1,atPCNA2基因表达量的变化与Cd胁迫浓度呈明显的倒U字型关系,分别在0.125,0.25和0.125 mg·L^-1 Cd时达到最大值。以上结果表明,地上部可溶性蛋白含量变化与上述3个错配修复相关基因表达量的改变趋势相符,且均对Cd污染胁迫较敏感,可以作为检测Cd污染及其相关生物学效应的潜在生物标记物。     

低浓度Zn对幼龄鲫鱼肝脏组织应激蛋白HSP70诱导的影响

选择鲫鱼(Carassiusauratus)作为受试生物,经过40dZn2+不同浓度的暴露后,运用SDS-PAGE和WesternBlot-ting方法检测了鱼肝脏组织内应激蛋白HSP70的诱导表达情况。结果表明,在各试验浓度下,与对照组相比,Zn2+对鱼肝脏内HSP70有显著的诱导(P<0.05)。试验中还发现,在试验浓度低于国家渔业用水标准时,HSP70相对于对照组仍然表现为明显诱导(P<0.05),充分说明分子生物学指标要比传统的环境检测指标敏感,对污染物早期具有预警的作用。