An immunological study of a case of tinea capitis in an adult

We evaluated the immunological aspects of a case of tinea capitis in an adult. Tests revealed alteration of the T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio (T4 increase and T8 decrease) and a decrease in polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity.     

Larval development of Diploptera punctata reared alone and in groups

Larvae of the cockroach Diploptera punctata were reared in isolation, in pairs, or in groups of 8–10. Duration of larval development, age at each ecdysis, weights at birth and ecdyses, and adult head-capsule width were measured. Duration of larval development was longer and adult size was larger in isolated animals than in animals reared in pairs and groups. The effect of isolation on development was more pronounced in males. All females had 4 larval instars, whereas males had 3 or 4 instars. The proportion of males with 4 larval instars was higher among animals reared in isolation. There was no difference in the duration of larval development or adult size between pair- and group-reared animals. The sex of animals in the group did not affect adult size or the duration of larval development. Males which underwent 3 or 4 larval instars had different schedules of moulting. Rates of growth of males of both instar types reared in isolation and pairs were similar. Greater adult weight of isolated animals and 4-instar-type males was a result of their longer duration of larval development. Both a higher rate of growth and longer duration of larval development contribute to the larger adult size of females than males.     

Improved maintenance of adult rat hepatocytes in a new serum-free medium in the presence or absence of barbiturates

Summary For serum-free primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes, a synthetic medium DM-160 and rat-tail collagen were selected for the basal medium and for the culture substratum, respectively. Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital and 1-ethyl-5-isobutylbarbiturate, efficiently supported survival of hepatocytes and maintained their morphologic features at lower concentrations under the serum-free conditions than under the serum-supplemented conditions. However, the hepatocyte survival rates under the serum-free conditions were lower than those under the serum-supplemented conditions in the presence or absence of barbiturates. Supplementation of the basal medium with a combination of five groups of factors (5Fs), such as eight amino acids (Ala, Arg, Gly, Ile, Met, Phe, Pro, and Trp), two unsaturated fatty acids (linoleate and oleate), a protease inhibitor (aprotinin), three vitamins (A, C, and E), and five trace elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se), improved the hepatocyte survival under the serum-free conditions in the presence or absence of barbiturates. In other words, the serum could be completely substituted by the 5Fs. Hepatocyte cultures maintained in the 5Fs-suppelemented basal medium showed excellent induction of tyrosine aminotransferase activity in response to dexamethasone in the presence or absence of barbiturates. The efficiency of the 5Fs-supplemented basal medium for maintaining hepatocytes was not inferior to those of other media in common use with hepatocytes, such as Williams' medium E and Waymouth's medium MB-752/1. In conclusion, maintenance of functional hepatocytes in serum-free primary culture could be improved by use of the new medium preparation (the 5Fs-supplemented DM-160) in the presence of barbiturates. This work was supported by a grant no. 61771923 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

栗山天牛成虫羽化与温湿度的关系

栗山天牛Massicus raddei (Blessig)是危害我国东北辽东栎Quercus liaotungensis和蒙古栎Q.mongolicus天然林的重大害虫,生活周期长,3a发生1代,而且生活史整齐,在东北林区的辽宁、吉林和内蒙发育历期基本一致,因而绝大部分的成虫羽化时期出现在同一年份.为了有效防治栗山天牛,利用栗山天牛成虫具有趋光性这一特点,研究发明了诱集捕杀成虫的专用黑光灯,诱杀了大量的栗山天牛成虫,吉林省2008年共诱杀栗山天牛成虫达24.16t.根据每天晚上所诱到的栗山天牛的成虫数量(平均lkg栗山天牛成虫数量为430头,按此折合成重量kg统计),分析栗山天牛在成虫发生期其羽化数量与温湿度因子的关系.结果表明,栗山天牛成虫的羽化高峰期集中在7月下旬至8月上旬;成虫的羽化与林间气温呈显著的正相关关系,与相对湿度则呈显著负相关关系.研究对栗山天牛成虫的发生量与温湿度的关系进行了拟合.研究结果为我国东北林区栗山天牛成虫羽化年份预测预报成虫出现和发生期以及在成虫发生期开展防治提供了依据.     

Neural stem cells: involvement in adult neurogenesis and CNS repair

Recent advances in stem cell research, including the selective expansion of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro, the induction of particular neural cells from embryonic stem cells in vitro, the identification of NSCs or NSC-like cells in the adult brain and the detection of neurogenesis in the adult brain (adult neurogenesis), have laid the groundwork for the development of novel therapies aimed at inducing regeneration in the damaged central nervous system (CNS). There are two major strategies for inducing regeneration in the damaged CNS: (i) activation of the endogenous regenerative capacity and (ii) cell transplantation therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent findings from our group and others on NSCs, with respect to their role in insult-induced neurogenesis (activation of adult NSCs, proliferation of transit-amplifying cells, migration of neuroblasts and survival and maturation of the newborn neurons), and implications for therapeutic interventions, together with tactics for using cell transplantation therapy to treat the damaged CNS.     

Toxicity of Fipronil to the Predatory Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

All the developmental stages of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) were treated with fipronil using different modes of exposure under laboratory conditions. Eggs were dipped in an aqueous range of concentrations and no effects were recorded, except at the highest concentration. Pupae treated topically on the silk cocoon moulted to healthy adults, without any deleterious effects on their reproduction. In contrast, larvae and adults were killed by the compound, irrespective of the mode of treatment, even at rates below the maximum field recommended rate in Spain (30 g c.p./ha). Sublethal concentrations of fipronil did not affect the fecundity or fertility of survivors. We conclude that fipronil is very toxic under laboratory conditions to this predatory lacewing.     

Ontogenetic changes in spot configuration (numbers,circularity, size and asymmetry) and lateral line in Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Coloration in three of four species of the genus Neurergus including N. microspilotus is characterized by the presence of yellow spots on a dark skin, but there is no available information about changes in spot configuration, speed of development and degree of association between melanophore‐free region and the lateral line. In this study, spot numbers, spot circularity, spot size and spot asymmetry were studied during larval to adult growth in N. microspilotus during July 2012 to June 2015. The mean numbers of spots increased during the late larval stage till postmetamorphic period from 13.33 ± 3.77 to 22.53 ± 4.09 and reached 42.62 ± 4.06 in adults. At the same time, the extent of spots gradually decreased in size from 5.80 ± 1.00 to 3.57 ± 0.97 mm² and reached 3.55 ± 1.42 mm² in adults, but the spot circularity increased from 0.48 ± 0.23 to 0.78 ± 0.49 and reached 0.80 ± 0.15 in adults. In adults, the numbers, circularity, size and asymmetry of spots remain stable with little but non‐significant changes during the study period. Histological study shows that formation of a melanophore‐free region correlates with the development of the lateral line receptors. This study demonstrates that the effects of lateral line on chromatophores persist through middle larval stages but diminish as metamorphosis completes.     

Epigenetic gene regulation in stem cells and correlation to cancer

Through the classic study of genetics, much has been learned about the regulation and progression of human disease. Specifically, cancer has been defined as a disease driven by genetic alterations, including mutations in tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes, as well as chromosomal abnormalities. However, the study of normal human development has identified that in addition to classical genetics, regulation of gene expression is also modified by ‘epigenetic’ alterations including chromatin remodeling and histone variants, DNA methylation, the regulation of polycomb group proteins, and the epigenetic function of non-coding RNA. These changes are modifications inherited during both meiosis and mitosis, yet they do not result in alterations of the actual DNA sequence. A number of biological questions are directly influenced by epigenetics, such as how does a cell know when to divide, differentiate or remain quiescent, and more importantly, what happens when these pathways become altered? Do these alterations lead to the development and/or progression of cancer? This review will focus on summarizing the limited current literature involving epigenetic alterations in the context of human cancer stems cells (CSCs). The extent to which epigenetic changes define cell fate, identity, and phenotype are still under intense investigation, and many questions remain largely unanswered. Before discussing epigenetic gene silencing in CSCs, the different classifications of stem cells and their properties will be introduced. This will be followed by an introduction to the different epigenetic mechanisms. Finally, there will be a discussion of the current knowledge of epigenetic modifications in stem cells, specifically what is known from rodent systems and established cancer cell lines, and how they are leading us to understand human stem cells.     

Endometrial stem cell transplantation restores dopamine production in a Parkinson’s disease model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Adult human endometrial derived stem cells (HEDSC), a readily obtainable type of mesenchymal stem‐like cell, were used to generate dopaminergic cells and for transplantation. Cells expressing CD90, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)‐Rβ and CD146 but not CD45 or CD31 were differentiated in vitro into dopaminergic neurons that exhibited axon projections, pyramidal cell bodies and dendritic projections that recapitulate synapse formation; these cells also expressed the neural marker nestin and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate‐limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Whole cell patch clamp recording identified G‐protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium current 2 channels characteristic of central neurons. A 1‐methyl 4‐phenyl 1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro pyridine induced animal model of PD was used to demonstrate the ability of labelled HEDSC to engraft, migrate to the site of lesion, differentiate in vivo and significantly increase striatal dopamine and dopamine metabolite concentrations. HEDSC are a highly inducible source of allogenic stem cells that rescue dopamine concentrations in an immunocompetent PD mouse model.     

一种快速鉴别烟粉虱与温室白粉虱成虫的方法——复眼镜检法

介绍能够快速鉴别2种形态相似的重要农业害虫即烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)和温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)成虫的方法——复眼镜检法及其应用。复眼镜检法研究表明,烟粉虱成虫上部复眼、下部复眼之间有一个小眼连接,而温室白粉虱成虫上部复眼、下部复眼是完全分离的。