Can Swimming Microalgal Cells be Vehicles for ZnO Nanoparticle Transportation and Thus Lead to Zn Diffusion?

The concentration of eco-toxic zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) in aquatic ecosystems is increasing, and an effective method for their removal is needed. We hypothesize that microalgal cells may act as nZnO vehicles—if the nZnO concentration does not affect their swimming ability—enabling Zn diffusion and sedimentation. We conducted experiments using flasks connected via a U-type vessel; the first flask contained nZnO suspensions and second flask contained artificial seawater, respectively. We added microalgae to the first flask and illuminated the second. The microalgae appeared to promote sedimentation. However, only a few microalgal cells passed via phototaxis into the second flask, so the detection of nZnO or Zn ions in the second flask was not possible. Therefore, to confirm whether the microalgae affect Zn transportation, a more accurate method to detect nZnO or Zn ions at very low concentrations is needed.

     

中国9个长寿地区65岁及以上人群血铅浓度与认知功能受损的关联研究

目的探讨65岁及以上人群血铅水平与认知功能受损的关联。方法研究对象来自2017-2018年在我国9个长寿地区开展的“老年健康生物标志物队列研究”,最终将1684名血铅和认知功能数据完整的65岁及以上人群纳入本研究。通过问卷调查和体格检测,收集调查对象的人口学特征、生活方式、健康状况及认知功能评分等信息;同时采集调查对象的静脉血以检测血铅水平。根据血铅水平的四分位数将调查对象分为4组(Q₁-Q₄组),采用多因素logistic回归模型分析血铅浓度与认知功能受损的关系,采用限制性三次样条检验血铅浓度与认知受损之间是否存在非线性关联。结果1684名研究对象年龄为(83.1±11.1)岁,其中女性843名(50.1%);认知功能受损者191名(11.3%)。调整相关混杂因素后,老年人血铅浓度每升高10μg/L,认知功能受损患病风险OR(95%CI)值为1.05(1.01~1.10);与血铅浓度Q1组老年人相比,血铅浓度较高者认知功能受损的患病风险较高,Q₂,Q₃,Q₄组的OR(95%CI)值分别为1.19(0.69~2.05)、1.45(0.84~2.51)和1.92(1.13~3.27)。结论我国9个长寿地区65岁及以上老年人血铅水平与认知功能受损患病风险存在关联。     

The prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Shanghai, China: impact of age, gender, and education

We report the prevalence rates for dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) obtained from a probability sample survey of 5,055 noninstitutionalized older persons in Shanghai, China. A two-stage procedure was used for case finding and case identification. A Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination was used to determine cases of possible dementia. Three different cutoff points on this mental status test were used depending on the respondent's level of education. Clinical evaluations, based on functional assessments and psychiatric interview, medical and neurological examinations, three standardized mental status tests, and a selected group of psychometric tests, were made in the second stage of the study to ascertain the clinical diagnosis of dementia and AD utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, edition 3 and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria, respectively. The prevalence rate of dementia in persons 65 years and older was 4.6%. Clinically diagnosed AD accounted for 65% of the subjects with dementia. These findings indicate that the prevalence of dementia in Shanghai is very much higher than figures published earlier for China and Japan, and at the lower part of the range of values reported for community residents in the United States and other Western countries, but less than half of that reported in the recently published survey of the elderly in East Boston. Increasing age, gender (female), and low education are each highly significant and independent risk factors for dementia. One hypothesis to explain the increased prevalence in elderly women who had received no formal education invokes the possibility of an effect of early deprivation, perhaps lowering brain "reserve," allowing the symptoms of dementia to appear at an earlier date during disease progression.     

中药地榆的性状及显微鉴定

研究国内来源于地榆属8个不同种、变种与变型的地榆及2种混淆品的生药性状、组织构造及其粉末的鉴别特征,并分别列出生药性状、组织构造及粉末特征的检索表。     

Ⅰ型胶原-整合素α2β1系统对成骨细胞生物学特性的调控

为进一步探讨I型胶原及其受体系统是否为成骨细胞功能活动所必需, 使用Ⅰ型胶原和整合素α2β1的一抗阻断Ⅰ型胶原整合素α2β1系统,以细胞计数法比较成骨细胞的增殖能力,流式细胞仪分析成骨细胞的凋亡情况,RTPCR技术研究I型胶原、整合素α2β1 及骨钙素的mRNA表达情况。结果发现阻断I型胶原整合素α2β1系统后,成骨细胞的增殖能力减弱,凋亡率增高,Ⅰ型胶原、整合素α2β1 及骨钙素的mRNA表达减少,其中I型胶原一抗的阻断作用大于整合素α2β1的一抗,这种阻断作用具有可复性,随抗体的去除可部分恢复,表明Ⅰ型胶原整合素α2β1系统为成骨细胞功能活动所必需,构建骨组织工程的支架材料时要考虑到骨组织的基质成份,应为成骨细胞提供相对正常的胞外基质环境。     

成都地区汉族人群ACE基因多态性与血清ACE活性的相关性

为调查中国汉族人群血管紧张素转换酶(ACE) 基因多态性分布及与血清ACE(SA CE)活性的相关性.采用比色法和PCR技术,对90例健康汉族人群进行SACE活性和ACE基因插入/缺失(I/D)多态性的检测.结果显示:中国汉族人群ACE基因DD型占18%,DI型占44%,II 型占38%, D和I等位基因频率分别为0.40和0.60.ACE基因多态性与SACE活性密切相关,提示不同种族间ACE基因分布存在着差异,中国汉族人群ACE基因多态性以II型和I等位基因占优势;SACE活性受ACE基因I/D多态性的影响.     

2型糖尿病及其血管并发症患者血清ACE活性的变化

为了解2型糖尿病及其血管并发症患者血清ACE(SACE)活性的变化, 采用比色法对1 27例2型糖尿病患者和90例正常人进行SACE活性的检测。结果显示：糖尿病患者SACE活性(45 9. 51±175.85U)明显高于正常人(321.14±121.27U);糖尿病肾病组SACE活性(548.27±166.60 U)明显高于非肾病组(383.20±139-00U),但微量蛋白尿组(528.10±190.70U)与大量蛋白 尿 组(545.83±138.60U)SACE活性比较无统计学意义(P＞005);糖尿病视网膜病变 组SACE活性(465.64±178.93 U)与无视网膜病变组(449.07±170.04U)比较也无统计学意义;糖尿病患者SACE活性与病程 、 血压、血脂和血糖无关。提示ACE可能仅参与了糖尿病和糖尿病肾病的发病,而与糖尿病肾 病进行性发展、糖尿病视网膜病变和高血压发病无关。     

京剧嗓音的声学分析及音域特征

OBJECTIVE: To get the objective acoustic parameters of the voice of Beijing Opera actors and set a foundation for the training and protection of the special professional voice. METHODS: Seventy-three (age 16-57 years) professional actors and students were asked to produce sustained comfortable vowels /a/ and /i/, and to sing two pieces of songs which were in the category of Xipi and Erhuang respectively. Dr. Speech for windows version 3.0 was used to get the acoustic parameters of the vowels and the songs. RESULTS: F0 of the vowels /a/ and /i/ of different Hangdangs were Chou (272.6 +/- 42.0) Hz (mean +/- s), (304.2 +/- 22.1) Hz; Xiaosheng (499.3 +/- 34.0) Hz, (485.4 +/- 18.7) Hz; Laosheng (335.6 +/- 60.0) Hz, (317.9 +/- 45.1) Hz; Hualian (319.0 +/- 61.3) Hz, (340.1 +/- 68.8) Hz; Laodan (427.6 +/- 47.2) Hz, (437.7 +/- 45.8) Hz; Huadan (535.8 +/- 48.8) Hz, (561.6 +/- 29.2) Hz; Qingyi (548.0 +/- 69.5) Hz, (543.5 +/- 79.3) Hz; these and other acoustic parameters of vowels such as Jitter, Shimmer and NNE were all within the normal range given by the software. The vocal range of Beijing Opera actors was from 1.7 to 2.8 oct, and most of the highest and the lowest pitches were higher than that of tenor or soprano. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may help to provide insight regarding the acoustic characteristics of the voice of Beijing Opera actors.     

Polymorphism of ACE gene and its relationship with serum ACE activity in the Hans in Chengdu region]

This study was aimed at the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism distribution in Chinese and its relationship with serum ACE activity(SACE). SACE activity and ACE gene polymorphism in 90 healthy persons in Chengdu region were investigated using a spectrophotometric assay and the PCR technique, respectively. The results showed that, in the Hans, DD genotype of ACE gene was 18%, DI genotype 44%, and II genotype 38%. Allele frequencies were 0.40 for the D allele and 0.60 for the I allele. There were significant relationships between ACE I/D polymorphism and SACE activity. The results suggest that ACE genotype distribution be different between races, that II genotype and I allele be more frequent in Chinese, and that SACE activity be under the influence of a genetic polymorphism of ACE in Chinese.