ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Characters of stem epidermis, leaf epidermis and stoma could be used as important microcosmic morphological characteristic when inheritance trend is studied in Ephedra breeding and identification.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The stomatic density, stoma major axis and mimor axis, stomatic morphylogy, characters of leaf and stem epidermis of 6 Ephedra plants' stems were examined by SEM.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The stomatic density and characteristic of leaf epidermis and stem epidermis in six Ephedra species was differenc, there were no obvious morphological differences in stoma shape and size. The guard cells were covered with heavy cuticle and sunken stomata, which were the typical characteristics of xerophytes. The stomas of leaf lower epidermis were oblong or hexagon, but the stomas of steam epidermis were narrowed-oblong or dumbbell-shape, they all belonged to anomalous type.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The stoma type and characters of Ephedra plants is stable and conservative, there was no obvious morphological differences in stoma shape and size between species, so it is difficult to distinguish different species by the variance of stomas, but that can be applyed to distinguish Ephedra from others at plant taxonomy.</p>
Subject(s)
Ephedra , Classification , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Plant Epidermis , Plant Leaves , Plant Stems , Plant Stomata , Plants, Medicinal , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
@#ObjectiveTo explore the methods of low temperature preservation for alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules.MethodsAPA microcapsules were prepared with static electricity, and underwent hypothermal treatment respectively through methods of program control, gradient by icebox and put in liquid nitrogen directly, finally preserved in liquid nitrogen. The form and permeability of APA microcapsules were checked after rewarming.ResultsThe rates of integrity, crenation and damage were (91.2±1.57)%, (3.1±0.81)% and (5.7± 2.62 )% in the program control group; (85.3±1.42)%, (5.2±0.74)% and (9.5± 3.81 )% in the gradient by icebox group; (14.5±1.57)%, (84.1±3.47)% and (1.4±2.62)% in the directly put in liquid nitrogen group. The membrane permeability of full APA microcapsules after frozen and reworming was not changed obviously.ConclusionThe program control method can preferably preserve APA microcapsules at low temperature and keep them having normal form and permeability.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the patterns of spasmodic dysphonia and the outcome treated with botulinum toxin A injections.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All subjects were studied with acoustic analysis, laryngostroboscopy and laryngeal electromyography (EMG) including motor unit potential measure (MUP), recruitment pattern analysis and evoked electromyography. All the patients with spasmodic dysphonia were received botulinum toxin A (BOTOX) injections in each affected muscles and mostly under electromyographic guidance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 22 cases of spasmodic dysphonia, 18 cases of adductor dysphonic patients have strained, strangled voice with intermittent breaks in speech as a consequence of hyperadduction and spasm of the vocal folds during phonation. Two patients had synchronous pharyngeal, lingual and velar tremor. Amplitudes of MUP of thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) were greater in patients group than in normal group (P < 0.01); The recruitment activity was increased and the amplitudes were greater than normal group (700-2500 microV) and the duration of activity of the TA during phonation was also notably greater in patients group than in normal group. Four cases of abductor dysphonic patients have a breathy, effortful hypophonic voice with abrupt termination of voicing. Amplitudes of MUP of posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) in patients group were increased up to 374 to 538 microV. The recruitment activity was increased and the amplitude was greater than normal(3000-5000 microV). In the adductor dysphonic group, patients who were treated with unilateral toxin injection had good results with 2.5 U or more. The average onset of toxin effect in all adductor dysphonic patients was at 6 hours to 2 days (1.4+/-0. 8) days (x +/- s), with a peak effect at 2 weeks and the follow-up EMG showed fibrillation potentials or electric silence in injected muscle. Duration of benefit was 8 to 24 weeks (15.2 +/- 4.9) weeks. The side-effect of toxin injection were including breathy voice or occasional dysphagia and aspiration. The patients with abductor spasms were less well controlled after PCA injections.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Spasmodic dysphonia was regarded as a neuromuscular diseases, so its diagnosis, classification, treatment and follow-up should depend on not only clinical manifestation but also EMG. Presently, for controlling the dystonic symptoms, the most effective therapy for most of those patients is local BOTOX injections. Repeated injections are required to have a stable results.</p>