Myoblast fusion in Drosophila melanogaster is mediated through a fusion-restricted myogenic-adhesive structure (FuRMAS).

During myogenesis in Drosophila embryos, a prominent adhesive structure is formed between precursor cells and fusion-competent myoblasts (fcms). Here, we show that Duf/Kirre and its interaction partners Rols7 (found in founder myoblasts and growing myotubes) and Sns (found in fcms) are organized in a ring-structure at the contact points of fcms with precursor cells, while cytoskeletal components like F-actin and Titin are centered in this ring in both cell types. The cytoplasmic protein Blow colocalizes with the actin plugs in fcms after cell adhesion. Furthermore, the requirement of additional as yet unidentified components was demonstrated by using mammalian C2C12 myoblasts. In this study, we propose that the fusion-restricted myogenic-adhesive structure (FuRMAS) is pivotal in linking cell adhesion as well as local F-actin assembly and dynamics to downstream events that ultimately lead to plasma membrane fusion. Moreover, we suggest that the FuRMAS may restrict the area of membrane breakdown.     

稀释氧合血停跳液灌注在心内直视手术中的应用

目的以68例复杂性心内直视手术的病人为研究对象,比较4∶1含血停跳液和冷晶体停跳液在心内直视手术中的心肌保护作用,评价体外循环期间含血停跳液间断灌注的心肌保护价值。方法在68例心内直视手术中分别采用含血停跳液灌注(Ⅰ组)和冷晶体停跳液灌注(Ⅱ组),每组各34例进行心肌保护临床观察。Ⅰ组先用高钾4∶1混血停跳液灌注心脏停跳,以后每隔20～30min用低钾含血停跳液灌注一次。Ⅱ组为应用4℃冷晶体心脏停跳液灌注,每隔20min灌注一次。结果Ⅰ组心脏自动复跳率(94%)明显高于Ⅱ组(76.4%)。术后心低排发生率,Ⅰ组(8.8%)明显低于Ⅱ组(17.6%)。结论4∶1含血心脏停跳液较晶体停跳液具有更好的心肌保护作用。     

Search for coloured objects in natural surroundings by people with abnormal colour vision

Background: People with abnormal colour vision often report difficulty seeing coloured berries and flowers in foliage, which suggests they will have a diminished capacity for visual search when target objects are marked out by colour. There is very little experimental evidence of the effect of abnormal colour vision on visual search and none relating to search for objects in natural foliage. Method: We showed 79 subjects with abnormal colour vision (seven protanopes, 10 deuteranopes, 16 protanomals and 46 deuteranomals) and 20 subjects with normal colour vision photographs of natural scenes and asked them to locate clumps of red berries, to trace the length of a red string on grass and to name the season depicted in a photograph taken in the Autumn and the same scene photographed in the Summer. Colour vision was assessed using the Ishihara, the Medmont C100, the Farnsworth D15, the Richmond HRR and the Nagel anomaloscope. Results: All the subjects with abnormal colour vision located fewer clumps of red berries than those with normal colour vision. The subjects who failed the Farnsworth D15 performed significantly worse than those who passed but the distribution of scores in the two groups overlaps. The majority of subjects with abnormal colour vision could not trace the full length of the string: only 38 per cent of anomalous trichromats who passed the Farnsworth D15 test and three per cent of those who failed it were able to trace the full length of the string. Fifty‐five per cent of those classed as having a mild deficiency by the HRR test could trace the whole string. Most dichromats were unable to identify the Autumn season and those who did may have been assisted by guessing. Most (94 per cent) of those who passed the Farnsworth D15 test and all those classified as having a ‘mild’ deficiency by the HRR test could identify the season. Conclusions: All people with abnormal colour vision, even those with a very mild deficiency, have some degree of impairment of their ability to see coloured objects in natural surroundings. A pass at the Farnsworth D15 test or a ‘mild’ classification with the Richmond HRR test identifies those likely to have the least problems with visual search and identification tasks. The results have practical implications for the selection of personnel in occupations that involve visual search in natural terrain.     

Fluorescence immunohistochemistry and confocal scanning laser microscopy

We have developed a reliable technique for labeling and examining neural structures in soft tissues associated with articular joints and have tested it in human wrist joints under various specimen-related conditions. The labeling protocol employs an immunohistochemical process with a panneuronal marker (PGP 9.5) as the primary antibody and Alexa Fluor 488 as the fluorescing secondary antibody. Imaging was done using a confocal laser scanning microscope, which produced exceptionally detailed three-dimensional images of nerve endings and transiting nerve fibers from thick sections of wrist joint ligaments obtained from human cadavers. The protocol provided a practical postmortem window for specimen acquisition and processing without significant apparent worsening of image quality. The images produced are resistant to fading with repeated exposure to a fluorescent light source, which gives many opportunities for observation. Background staining is minimal, producing high contrast labeling of target tissues, which, in turn, enhances image analysis.     

Increased apoptosis in third-trimester placental tissue from gestations complicated by PIH

Objective: To investigate a possible role of apoptosis in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of PIH ( pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome). Methods: In this study, placental samples were obtained from 16 uncomplicated third-trimester pregnancies and from 16 cases of PIH. We used light microscopy, electron microscopy to identify apoptosis. Light microscopy was used to quantify their incidence of apoptosis. Electron microscopy was used to confirm the occurrence of apoptosis. Results: Apoptosis has been conclusively demonstrated within human third-trimester placental tissue. Medians and interquartile ranges of normal placenta (n = 16) was 0. 12% (0. 08% -0. 19% ) ; Medians and interquartile ranges of PIH group (n = 16) was 0. 37% (0. 15% -0.49% ). Compared to normal placentas, the incidence of apoptosis was higher in placentas from gestations complicated by PIH ( P < 0. 05 , T'-test). Conclusion: Placental apoptosis increases significantly in PIH, and it may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms     

大鼠脊髓损伤后白细胞介素-1β、肿瘤坏死因子-α基因表达的变化

目的 探讨大鼠脊髓损伤后白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)mRNA表达的变化规律。方法SD大鼠42只,随机分为7组,采用改良Allen's脊髓损伤打击模型,以逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法测定伤段脊髓组织IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA的表达情况。结果 正常脊髓组织内存在IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA的表达,脊髓损伤后IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA表达迅速增强,在伤后1h达到高峰。结论 IL-1β、TNF-α存在于正常的脊髓组织内,脊髓损伤后IL-1β、TNF-α表达迅速增强,提示协同参与了继发性脊髓损伤过程,并可能是损伤性因素。