Comprehensive screening of tick-borne microorganisms indicates that a great variety of pathogens are circulating between hard ticks (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) and domestic ruminants in natural foci of Anatolia

Grazing domestic ruminants serve as important reservoirs and/or amplificatory hosts in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and tick vectors in the natural foci; however, many enzootic life cycles including ruminants and ticks are still unknown. This study investigated a wide range of TBPs circulating among ticks and grazing ruminants in the natural foci of Anatolia, Turkey. Tick specimens (n = 1815) were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in three ecologically distinct areas (wooded, transitional, and semi-arid zones) of Anatolia and identified by species: Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense, Haemaphysalis inermis, Haemaphysalis parva, Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Rhipicephalus turanicus. PCR-sequencing analyses revealed TBPs of great diversity, with 32 different agents identified in the ticks: six Babesia spp. (Babesia occultans, Babesia crassa, Babesia microti, Babesia rossi, Babesia sp. tavsan1, and Babesia sp. Ucbas); four Theileria spp., including one putative novel species (Theileria annulata, Theileria orientalis, Theileria ovis, and Theileria sp.); one Hepatozoon sp.; four Anaplasma spp., including one novel genotype (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma ovis, and Anaplasma sp.); six unnamed Ehrlichia spp. genotypes; Neoehrlichia mikurensis; nine spotted fever group rickettsiae, including one putative novel species (Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia hoogstraalii, Rickettsia monacensis with strain IRS3, Rickettsia mongolitimonae, Rickettsia raoultii, Candidatus Rickettsia goldwasserii, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae, and Rickettsia sp.); and Borrelia valaisiana. Detailed phylogenetic analyses showed that some of the detected pathogens represent more than one haplotype, potentially relating to the tick species or the host. Additionally, the presence of Neoehrlichia mikurensis, an emerging pathogen for humans, was reported for the first time in Turkey, expanding its geographical distribution. Consequently, this study describes some previously unknown tick-borne protozoan and bacterial species/genotypes and provides informative epidemiological data on TBPs, which are related to animal and human health, serving the one health concept.     

Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Dermacentor albipictus suggests a species complex

Dermacentor albipictus is a one-host tick broadly distributed across North America. There are two easily recognizable color variants – ornate and inornate/brown – that have been taxonomically synonymized. Based on mt-cox1 and mt-16S data, there is also evidence for two genetic lineages which do not match the color variants. We present for the first time the complete mitochondrial genomes of the two color variants of D. albipictus including representatives of each lineage. The AT-rich genomes are 14,822 bp – 14,865 bp in length and contain 13 protein coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes, arranged in the conserved type 3 metastriate mitochondrial genome order. The overall differences were 10.66% between the mitochondrial genomes of D. albipictus ornate variant lineage 1 and lineage 2, 10.51% between lineage 1 and inornate/brown variant and 5.87% between lineage 2 and inornate/brown variant. The inornate/brown variant did not form a separate lineage and all inornate isolates were found to belong to lineage 2. Ornate variant isolates occurred in both lineage 1 and 2. The high divergence of the mitochondrial genome suggests that D. albipictus may represent a species complex. Other barcoding genes that may help capture the genetic differences between color and lineage variants include nad1, nad2, nad5, cox1 and atp8 loci. The mtDNA data generated in this study are available in GenBank (Accession numbers: OM678457 - OM678459 and ON032564 - ON032573) for future studies on tick taxonomy, phylogenetics and molecular epidemiology.     

地塞米松诱发大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎实验研究

目的 在地塞米松磷酸钠诱导下建立大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎的动物模型。方法 将40只雌性SD大鼠随机分为实验组和对照组,前者皮下注射地塞米松磷酸钠,1mg/次,2次/w;后者不做任何处理。观察两组大鼠的发病情况,并每隔3周两组各取5只动物进行病原学检查。结果 实验组大鼠第6周开始发病,肺印片、支气管肺泡灌洗液沉渣中查到卡氏肺孢子虫包囊及滋养体;对照组大鼠无异常表现,病原学检查阴性。结论 在地塞米松磷酸钠诱导下可成功建立大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎动物模型。     

河北汉族人群D7S21位点DNA多态性研究

目的探讨D7S2 1位点在河北汉族人群分布的多态性 ,为DNA指纹数据库的构建及其法医学应用提供基础资料。方法应用MVR PCR方法和聚丙烯酰胺梯度凝胶电泳银染法对 12 4名河北汉族人群无关个体D7S2 1位点进行了快速检测 ,并进行数字编码。结果每一个体平均得到 3 6个数字编码 ,未发现任何两个无关个体所有编码相同 ,两无关个体 3 6个编码相同的机率为 3 .4 8× 10 -18。三种重复单位a 型、t 型和o 型出现的机率分别为 4 8.5 %、4 9.5 %和 2 .1%。该位点杂合度为 0 .9876,非父排除率为 0 .974 6,多态性信息含量为 0 .9872。结论D7S2 1位点在河北汉族人群中具有高度的多态性 ,聚丙烯酰胺梯度凝胶电泳银染法简便、快速 ,具有一定的实用价值     

大鼠肝微粒体中的脂肪酸分析

用双-2-乙基己基酚酞酸酯(DEHP)诱导大鼠肝过氧化物酶体增殖,然后用蔗糖密度梯度离心法分离大鼠肝微粒体,用毛细管气相色谱法测定肝微粒体中的脂肪酸含量.结果不饱和脂肪酸占所测14种脂肪酸总量的比例,青年诱导组小于青年正常组(P＜0.01),老年诱导组大于老年正常组(P＜0.05).青年正常组大于老年正常组(P＜0.01).所测14种脂肪酸的总量及长链脂肪酸占总量的比例,各实验组之间均无明显差异.说明DEHP对大鼠肝微粒体脂肪酸的组成,进而对微粒体膜结构的影响,青年鼠与老年鼠不同.结论青年鼠与老年鼠对药物代谢的能力不同.     

Effect of different treatments on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: laser versus medication

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common disease with ulcers in oral cavity which may trigger chewing, speaking, and swallowing difficulties to patients. Treatment of RAS is primarily aimed at pain relief and the promotion of wound healing. However, few agents have been found to have definite effect in the management of RAS and most of the medicinal products may cause adverse reactions or other disadvantages, which makes their clinical usage questionable. The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was to assess the clinical effect of diode laser and traditional medication treatment on RAS. In this study, 56 patients were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 28). Laser group was treated using diode laser (810 nm, 1.0 W, CW, irradiation time 20 s for 3 applications) once daily for continuous 3 days. Medication group was treated with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% three times a day until the lesion was healed. Spontaneous and functional pain level on the third day of treatment was significantly less in the laser group. Significant difference was observed with respect to healing time; however, the order of difference is small albeit of statistical significance. Diode laser with the chosen parameters had better effects on pain relief and no distinct advantage on wound healing comparing with medication. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2000030298; date of registration: 26 February 2020 (retrospectively registered)

     

新愿景下毒性测试方法的发展与变革

随着全球化学品产量增加, 人群暴露及健康风险加重, 对化学品毒性测试和安全性评价提出更高的要求。21世纪毒性测试愿景和策略的提出大力推动了毒性测试的变革。新时代毒性测试通过运用新模型、新方法和新策略, 结合交叉学科和高新技术优势, 得到了长足发展。提高化学物毒性测试效率的同时, 也实现了更全面、多层次、高质量的数据获取和毒性评价, 为毒作用模式、毒作用机制和毒性通路的探索提供有力支持。本期重点号围绕当前毒性测试替代新方法, 邀请多位学者对高内涵分析、3D细胞培养技术、Ex vivo试验、单细胞测序、斑马鱼实验方法进行介绍和阐述, 以期为推动我国化学物毒性测试评估实现跨越发展开拓崭新思路。     

可穿戴设备在慢性非传染性疾病中的研究进展

慢性非传染性疾病主要会造成对心、脑、肺等重要器官的损害,其中心脑血管疾病、恶性肿瘤、糖尿病等慢性疾病已成为目前导致患者死亡的主要因素,防控形势严峻。随着科学技术的发展与实践应用,可穿戴设备在医疗监测领域的探索取得了重要进展。该研究着重介绍可穿戴设备在几种常见慢性非传染性疾病中的最新研究进展,展望可穿戴设备在慢性非传染性疾病领域的应用前景与挑战。     

应用二甲基亚砜体外诱导P19细胞分化为心肌细胞

目的观察P19细胞经二甲基亚砜（DMSO）诱导及不同培养方法,培养形成细胞聚集体并向心肌分化的过程.方法将P19细胞接种于Petri塑料培养皿或铺有0.5%软琼脂的培养皿中,DMSO诱导悬浮培养7 d形成细胞聚集体,将聚集体用生长培养基黏附培养至19 d.观察细胞跳动情况,用α-sarcomeric actin、cardiac Troponin T（cTnT）抗体进行免疫组织化学染色,鉴定细胞分化.结果经DMSO诱导7d,将形成的细胞聚集体用生长培养基黏附培养至15 d,在聚集体周围的生长晕中出现自发性节律跳动的细胞团片,α-sarcomeric actin及cTnT染色阳性,至19d,阳性率分别可达26%和15%.结论 DMSO诱导结合聚集体形成培养方法可诱导P19细胞向心肌细胞分化,并出现自发性有节律跳动.     

JAK/STAT信号途径参与高糖诱导的肾小管上皮细胞转分化

目的：观察Janus激酶/信号转导和转录活化因子(JAK/STAT) 信号的激活对高糖诱导肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响。方法:体外培养人肾近曲小管上皮细胞株（HKCs）,分别给予高糖和JAK拮抗剂AG490干预,采用免疫沉淀和Western印迹检测JAK2的磷酸化;Western印迹检测平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、E-钙黏素(E-cadherin)及信号蛋白STAT1、STAT3、磷酸化STAT1 (phospho-STAT1, p-STAT1) 和p-STAT3的水平; 酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定细胞上清液中转化生长因子β₁(TGF-β₁)和I型胶原的分泌,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测TGF-β₁mRNA表达。结果:与低糖对照组比较,高糖培养的HKCs中α-SMA 的水平及p-JAK2 、p-STAT1 和p-STAT3 比例明显上调；E-cadherin表达明显下调；TGF-β₁ mRNA 表达增加；细胞培养上清液中TGF-β₁、Ⅰ型胶原分泌增加。AG490明显抑制JAK2磷酸化、下调p－STAT1 和p-STAT3的同时,明显抑制高糖刺激HKCs中α-SMA表达的升高，减轻E-cadherin表达下降程度；降低TGF-β₁ mRNA 表达及TGF-β₁、Ⅰ型胶原的分泌。结论:JAK/STAT信号途径参与高糖诱导的HKCs转分化，并刺激TGF-β₁和细胞外基质的分泌。