Validation of a DNA-based method for identifying Chrysomyinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) used in a death investigation

Many authors have proposed DNA-based methods for identifying an insect specimen associated with human remains. However, almost no attempt has been made to validate these methods using additional observations. We tested a protocol for identifying insects in the blow fly subfamily Chrysomyinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) often found to be associated with a human corpse in Canada or the USA. This method uses phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence from a short segment of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase one (COI). Test chrysomyine COI sequences were obtained from 245 newly sequenced specimens and 51 specimens from the published literature. Published sequences from representatives of nonchrysomyine genera were also included to check for the possibility of a false positive identification. All of the chrysomyine test haplotypes were correctly identified with strong statistical support, and there were no false positives. This method appears to be an accurate and robust technique for identifying chrysomyine species from a death investigation in this geographic region. The far northern species Protophormia atriceps was not evaluated; therefore, caution is required in applying this method at very high latitudes in North America.     

Spatial learning and memory in African mole-rats: the role of sociality and sex

Spatial learning and memory is an important skill for the survival and fitness and may vary between the sexes depending on differences in space use. This is particularly true for animals that explore the subterranean niche as it is associated with high travelling costs. In subterranean rodents the complexity of burrow systems varies with differing degrees of sociality possibly posing stronger selective pressures regarding spatial abilities on species with more complex burrow structures. This could lead to superior abilities in spatial learning and memory in social compared to solitary subterranean species. We tested this hypothesis in two species of subterranean mole-rats, the eusocial Damaraland (Fukomys damarensis) and solitary Cape mole-rats (Georychus capensis) by comparing their ability to locate food in an artificial maze. Measurements of the time taken to the goal chamber, the number of wrong turns taken, and the average velocity at which animals travelled were used to compare performance between animals. We did not find marked sex-specific differences in either study species during the assessment of learning and memory retention. In accordance with our hypothesis significant differences between the species were apparent during both learning and memory trials with the social species exhibiting superior performances. However, in both species memory retention was generally high suggesting that the fossorial lifestyle poses a strong selective pressure on spatial abilities in subterranean mammals.     

A toxicogenomics-based parallelogram approach to evaluate the relevance of coumarin-induced responses in primary human hepatocytes in vitro for humans in vivo

A compound for which marked species differences have been reported in laboratory animals and humans is coumarin. In rats, metabolites of coumarin are highly toxic, whereas in humans, the compound is mainly metabolized to non-toxic metabolites. In the present study, a toxicogenomics-based parallelogram approach was used to compare effects of coumarin on gene expression in human hepatocytes relevant for the situation in vivo. To this purpose, gene expression profiling was performed on human hepatocytes treated with coumarin in a pharmacological relevant and proposed toxic concentration and results were compared to a previously performed coumarin in vivo and in vitro rat toxicogenomics study. No cytotoxicity was observed in human hepatocytes at both concentrations, whereas rats showed clear toxic effects in vitro as well as in vivo. In all three systems, coumarin affected genes involved in the blood coagulation pathway; this indicates relevant responses in cases of human exposure. However, no pathways and processes related to hepatotoxicity in rats were observed in human hepatocytes. Still, repression of energy-consuming biochemical pathways and impairment of mitochondrial function were observed in human hepatocytes treated with the highest concentration of coumarin, possibly indicating toxicity. In conclusion, although species differences in response to coumarin are evident in the present results, the toxicogenomics-based parallelogram approach enables clear discrimination between pharmacological responses at pharmacological doses and proposed toxic responses at high (toxic) doses relevant for humans in vivo.     

The efficacy of ozone therapy in experimental caustic esophageal burn

Introduction

Ozone has been proposed as an antioxidant enzyme activator, immunomodulator and cellular metabolic activator. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of ozone therapy in the prevention of esophageal damage and stricture formation developed after esophageal caustic injuries in the rat.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five rats were allocated into three groups; sham-operated, un-treatment and treatment groups. Caustic esophageal burn was created by instilling 15% NaOH in the distal esophagus. The rats were left untreated or treated with 1 mg/kg/day ozone intraperitoneally. All rats were sacrificed at 28 days. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by measuring the stenosis index (SI) and histopathologic damage score, and biochemically by determining tissue hydroxyproline content (HP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content (PCC) in esophageal homogenates.

Results

Whereas seven (47%) rats died in the un-treatment group, all rats in the sham-operated and the treatment group survived during the study. SI, the histopathologic damage score, was significantly lower in the ozone-therapy group than the un-treatment group. HP levels were significantly higher in the un-treatment group than the group treated with ozone. Caustic esophageal burn increased MDA and PCC levels and also decreased SOD and GPx enzyme activities. In contrast, ozone therapy decreased the elevated MDA and PCC levels and also increased the reduced SOD and GPx enzyme activities.

Conclusion

Ozone has a preventive effect in the development of fibrosis by decreasing tissue damage and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity in an experimental model of corrosive esophageal injury.     

香洲口岸北提货运码头鼠形动物调查报告

目的 调查掌握香洲口岸北提货运码头鼠形动物种群特征及其体表寄生病媒昆虫种类和鼠间鼠疫、流行性出血热病原是否存在，评估香洲口岸鼠间鼠疫和流行性出血热的流行现状及其对人群的潜在危害。方法 从2001年6月至2002年5月对香洲口岸北提货运码头用鼠笼捕活鼠并收集其体表寄生病媒昆虫进行分类鉴定，同时采其血、肺进行实验室检测鼠疫抗体和流行性出血热抗原。结果 共捕获鼠形动物75只，经鉴定隶属2目2科5属6种，年平均密度为6．36％，优势种为褐家鼠占42．67％，其次为臭鼩鼱占40．00％，雄雌比值为1．33：1；鼠体表寄生病媒昆虫只有蚤和螨两类，总蚤指数为O．04，总螨指数为0.77；从捕获鼠形动物采到52份血、肺样本中，经检测鼠疫抗体、流行性出血热抗原均呈阴性。结论 鼠形动物密度和总螨指数较高，应加强防治工作；虽然今次调查表明本货运码头鼠间并无鼠疫、流行性出血热病原存在，但口岸鼠疫(F1)抗体、流行性出血热(HFRS)抗原监测工作仍不能忽视。     

河南省鸡公山库蠓调查及其一新种：双翅目：蠓科

为了解豫鄂交界处鸡公山的蠓类分布情况，于1994年春进行了调查，共发现库蠓属蠓类10种，其中有一新种（幻影库蠓）。     

Differential proliferative response of human and mouse astrocytes to gamma-interferon.

We have previously shown that gamma-interferon promoted the proliferation of adult human astrocytes isolated from brain biopsy specimens. In contrast, in the present study, astrocytes derived from neonatal mouse brains and treated with recombinant murine gamma-interferon responded by a decrease (average of 50% at 100 U/ml) in proliferation. The basal rate of proliferation as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation was markedly increased in neonatal mouse astrocytes when compared to the adult human cells, suggesting that age, and the corresponding metabolic activity of cells, could be important determinants in the mitogenic response of astrocytes to cytokines. However, subsequent examinations of fetal human and adult mouse astrocytes, with comparable basal rate of proliferation to neonatal mouse and adult human cells respectively, showed gamma-interferon to promote DNA synthesis in fetal human astrocytes while inhibiting that of adult mouse astrocytes. The results suggest species differences in the proliferative response of human and mouse astrocytes to the cytokine gamma-interferon.     

河南室内蜚蠊种类及分布的调查报告

本文首次报道河南室内蜚蠊的种类与分布,共发现有3属6种,以美洲大蠊分布较广,黑胸大蠊与德国小蠊次之,日本大蠊分布在郑州,洛阳。褐斑大蠊仅在洛阳发现。本文还对各地区蜚蠊侵害状况作了报道。     

云南黄芪药用植物物种多样性研究

云南作为黄芪属植物的一个分布中心，具有丰富的药用植物资源，有正品黄芪２个种，代用品５个种和地方习用品１３个种，正品沙苑子１个种，代用品和地方用品各１种，本文从物种多样性方面对该药物植物进行讨论，并对其亚属，组的等级，特别是同且中的药用植物进行了研究，找出了一定规律。还介绍了几个兄弟民族对黄芪属药用植物的利用情况。     

A comparison of homonymous and heteronymous connectivity in the spinal monosynaptic reflex arc of the cat

Summary Multi-unit spike triggered averaging was used to determine functional connectivity between spindle afferent fibers from the medial gastrocnemius muscle and the motoneurons innervating the medial (homonymous connections) and the lateral gastrocnemius-soleus muscle (heteronymous connections). As many as 288 possible connections between 24 motoneurons and 12 afferent fibers were studied in single, acute experiments. The influences of morphological and topographical factors, as well as of motoneuron species on functional connectivity were analysed. The probability that a motoneuron would receive functional connections from a given population of afferent fibers was related to its size and its proximity to the spinal entry level of the afferent fibers. The faster the axonal conduction velocity of the motoneuron (i.e. the larger the motoneuron) and the closer its location to the entry zone of the afferent fibers, the higher was its probability of receiving functional connections. The greater the conduction velocity (i.e. diameter) of a stretch receptor afferent fiber, the higher was its probability of making functional connections with motoneurons. These relationships were qualitatively similar for homonymous and heteronymous connections. 58% (233/399) of the Ia and group II afferents (combined) had functional connections with homonymous motoneurons, 32% (75/234) with heteronymous motoneurons. However, homonymous and heteronymous motoneurons of similar sizes were equally likely to receive functional connections when located at the same craniocaudal level. Differences in the locations and mean sizes of homonymous and heteronymous motoneurons however, cannot account completely for the observed overall differences in homonymous and heteronymous connectivity.