A method of human serum folic acid dectetion by non-equilibrium competitive immunoassay using FITC detecting system / 重庆医学

Objective To prepare anti-folic acid (FA) polyclonal antibody and develop a new non-balanced competing chemiluminescence analysis for clinical detection of FA.Methods Established the detection method by added FITC-FA-analogs and FAHRP-antibody in the light emitting plate,which coated with anti-FITC antibody,to form the immune response complex of FITC/antibody-FITC-FA-analogs/FA-antibody-HRP.Then methodology evaluation was performed to evaluate the method performance;and further compared the detecting results with non-FITC system detection system and Electrochemiluminescence system (Roche Elecsys 2010).Results The ELISA results showed that the prepared anti-FA antibodies can recognize serum FA specificly.The methodology evaluation indicated that the linear correlation coefficient of the standard curve was 0.990 0;the analytical sensitivity was 1.21 ng/mL;the range of linear detection was 1.21～ 38.80 ng/mL;The coefficient variability of intra-assay was ＜5 ％,which was better than the results of non-FITC detection system;and the correlation coefficient was 0.908 1 compared with the Elecsys-2010 detection system.Conclusion The established chemiluminescence immunoassay for human serum FA has a good sensitivity and specificity,and suitable for clinical serum FA quantitativedetecting.

Changes in body size spectra of benthic caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) and snails (Gastropoda) as response to seasonal variability

AbstractEcologists have been largely interested in the description and understanding of the power scaling relationships between body size and abundance of organisms. Many studies have focused on estimating the exponents of these functions across taxonomic groups and spatial scales, to draw inferences about the processes underlying this pattern. The exponents of these functions usually approximate -3/4 at geographical scales, but they deviate from this value when smaller spatial extensions are considered. This has led to propose that body size-abundance relationships at small spatial scales may reflect the impact of environmental changes. This study tests this hypothesis by examining body size spectra of benthic shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) and snails (Gastropoda) in the Tamiahua lagoon, a brackish body water located in the Eastern coast of Mexico. We measured water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, water temperature, sediment organic matter and chemical oxygen demand) and sampled benthic macrofauna during three different climatic conditions of the year (cold, dry and rainy season). Given the small size of most individuals in the benthic macrofaunal samples, we used body volume, instead of weight, to estimate their body size. Body size-abundance relationships of both taxonomic groups were described by tabulating data from each season into base-2 logarithmic body size bins. In both taxonomic groups, observed frequencies per body size class in each season were standardized to yield densities (i.e., individuals/m3). Nonlinear regression analyses were separately performed for each taxonomic group at each season to assess whether body size spectra followed power scaling functions. Additionally, for each taxonomic group, multiple regression analyses were used to determine whether these relationships varied among seasons. Our results indicated that, while body size-abundance relationships in both taxonomic groups followed power functions, the parameters defining the shape of these relationships varied among seasons. These variations in the parameters of the body size-abundance relationships seems to be related to changes in the abundance of individuals within the different body size classes, which seems to follow the seasonal changes that occur in the environmental conditions of the lagoon. Thus, we propose that these body size-abundance relationships are influenced by the frequency and intensity of environmental changes affecting this ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 33-44. Epub 2016 March 01.

ResumenLos ecólogos han estado muy interesados en describir y comprender las relaciones escalares de potencia entre el tamaño corporal y la abundancia de los organismos. Muchos estudios se han centrado en la estimación de los exponentes de estas funciones a través de grupos taxonómicos y escalas espaciales, para sacar conclusiones acerca de los procesos que subyacen a este patrón. Los exponentes de estas funciones generalmente se aproximan -3/4 a escalas geográficas, pero se apartan de este valor cuando se consideran extensiones espaciales más pequeñas. Esto ha llevado a proponer que las relaciones tamaño corporal-abundancia en pequeñas escalas espaciales puede reflejar el impacto de cambios ambientales. Este estudio pone a prueba esta hipótesis mediante el examen de los espectros de tamaño corporal de camarones bentónicos (Decapoda: Caridea) y caracoles (Gastropoda) en la laguna de Tamiahua, un cuerpo de agua salobre situado en la costa oriental de México. Medimos parámetros de calidad del agua (oxígeno disuelto, salinidad, pH, temperatura del agua, materia orgánica en los sedimentos y demanda química de oxígeno) y muestreamos la macrofauna bentónica en tres momentos del año que difieren en sus condiciones climáticas (estaciones fría, seca y de lluvias). Dado el pequeño tamaño de la mayoría de los individuos en las muestras de macrofauna bentónica, se utilizó el volumen del cuerpo, en lugar de peso, para estimar su tamaño corporal. Las relaciones tamaño corporalabundancia de ambos grupos taxonómicos fueron descritas ordenando los datos de cada estación en clases de tamaño corporal cuya amplitud estaba establecida por una escala logarítmica de base 2. En ambos grupos taxonómicos, las frecuencias observadas por clase de tamaño corporal en cada estación se estandarizaron a densidades de captura (es decir, individuos/m3). Análisis de regresión no-lineal se realizaron separadamente para cada grupo taxonómico en cada estación del año para evaluar si los espectros de tamaño corporal seguían funciones escalares de potencia. Además, para cada grupo taxonómico, se utilizaron análisis de regresión múltiple para determinar si estas relaciones variaban entre estaciones. Nuestros resultados indicaron que, mientras las relaciones tamaño corporal-abundancia en ambos grupos taxonómicos siguieron funciones potenciales, los parámetros que definen la forma de estas relaciones variaron entre estaciones. Estas variaciones en los parámetros de las relaciones tamaño corporal-abundancia parecen estar relacionadas con cambios en la abundancia de los individuos dentro de las diferentes clases de tamaño corporal, que parece seguir los cambios estacionales que se producen en las condiciones ambientales de la laguna. Por lo tanto, proponemos que estas relaciones tamaño corporalabundancia se ven influidas por la frecuencia e intensidad de los cambios ambientales que afectan este ecosistema.

Cytotoxicity of modified nonequilibrium plasma with chlorhexidine digluconate on primary cultured human gingival fibroblasts / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of modified nonequilibrium plasma with chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and to evaluate the biosecurity of modified nonequilibrium plasma with 2% CHX as a new method of root canal treatment. Tissue samples taken from human gingiva were primarily cultured and passaged. Cells from passages 3-7 were used. HGFs were treated by modified nonequilibrium plasma with 2% CHX for 0 min (control group), 30 s, 1 min, 1.5 min, 3 min, 5 min, and 10 min, respectively, and then they were incubated for 0, 24, and 48 h. After that, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was applied to analyze the cytotoxicity of modified nonequilibrium plasma with 2% CHX on HGFs. There was no significant difference between the 0 h group treated with the modified nonequilibrium plasma for 1 min and the control group (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences between all the other treated groups and the control group (P<0.05). When treated for 1.5 min or shorter, the cell viability was obviously increased; while treated for 3 min or longer, it was obviously reduced. Moreover, when successively cultured for 0, 24, and 48 h, cell viability was decreased at first and then increased in the 3-min-treated and 5-min-treated groups. The modified nonequilibrium plasma with 2% CHX was of no influence on cell viability in 1.5 min treatment, and it could be safely used on root canal treatment.

Metabolic regulation during sport events: factual interpretations and inadequate allegations

Different fuels are available to generate ATP for muscle activities during sport events. Glycogen from striated muscles and liver stores may be converted to lactic acid or almost completely oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2), triacylglycerol within the muscle itself and fatty acids from adipose tissue could be converted to CO2 in acting muscles, some free amino acids can be released within the muscle itself and from intestinal stores to sustain the amount of ATP generation indispensable for muscle contraction. All single biochemical reactions, but one, need one or several enzymes to activate the conversion of a substrate into a product. The energy transformation in biochemical reactions is led by application of so-called free energy. Reversible and non-reversible reactions within a metabolic pathway are dependent on specific enzymes near or far from equilibrium. Allosteric enzymes are regulatory enzymes that provide the direction in the pathway. A regulatory enzyme is either activated or inhibited by small regulators (ligands). A reversible substrate cycle between A and B is catalyzed by two enzymes with different fluxes. The need of ATP production for muscle contraction is under the leadership of regulatory enzymes and available substrate stores. The improvement of adapted metabolic reactions under sport training depends on the appropriate increase of regulatory enzymes within the glycolytic and oxidative pathways. The amount of some specific enzymes is increased by training in order to improve the maximum activity of the metabolic pathway. Unfortunately, several publications do not precisely implicate the appropriate enzyme(s) to explain or reject the adaptation induced by the training schedule. A few examples will illustrate the factual interpretation and the inadequate allegation...

Dinâmica não-linear e psiquiatria: a natureza dinâmica das doenças mentais / Dinámica no linear y psiquiatría: la naturaleza dinámica de las enfermedades mentales / La dynamique non linéaire et la psychiatrie: la nature dynamique des maladies mentales / Nonlinear dynamics and psychiatry: the dynamic nature of mental disorders

A psiquiatria moderna adotou a postura reducionista de associar psicopatologia à fisiologia sináptica. Isto produziu avanços importantes na farmacoterapia dos transtornos mentais. Entretanto, a introdução de princípios da dinâmica não-linear promoveu uma mudança do enfoque sináptico para o enfoque das vias específicas patologicamente autônomas envolvidas nos fenômenos psicopatológicos. Esta tendência teve início nos anos 1990 e trouxe um conceito mais sistêmico de fisiopatologia e tratamento em psiquiatria.

La psiquiatría moderna adopto la postura reduccionista de asociar psicopatología a la fisiología sináptica. Ese hecho produjo avances importantes en la farmacoterapia de los trastornos mentales. De todos modos, la introducción de principios de la dinámica no linear promovió un cambio del enfoque sináptico para el enfoque de las vías específicas patológicamente autónomas envueltas en los fenómenos psicopatológicos. Esta tendencia tuvo inicio en los años 90 y trajo un concepto más sistémico de fisiología y de tratamiento en psiquiatría.

La psychiatrie moderne a adopté une position réductionniste qui associe la psychopathologie à la physiologie synaptique, ce qui se trouve à l'origine d'importants progrès en pharmacothérapie des troubles mentaux. Cependant, l'introduction de principes de la dynamique non linéaire a provoqué un déplacement de l'accent synaptique vers l'accent sur les voies spécifiques pathologiquement autonomes impliquées dans les phénomènes psychopathologiques. Cette tendance a surgit au début des années 90 et a apporté un concept plus systémique de la physiopathologie et du traitement en psychiatrie.

Modern psychiatry was built on the association between psychopathology and synaptic physiology. This brought about important advances in the pharmacotherapy of mental illness. However, the introduction of the principles of nonlinear dynamics changed the focus on synaptic aspects into a focus on specific and pathologically autonomous approaches involved in psychopathologal phenomena. This trend began in the 1990s and brought in more systemic concepts of physiopathology and psychiatric treatment.

Discussion on five-zang's nonequilibrium from 'lung being a delicate viscus' / 中华中医药杂志

Five-zang is the nucleus of viscera state doctrine. The nonequilibrium of Five-zang's different properties guides syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM. This article discusses five-zang's nonequilibrium from lung being a delicate viscus,correlation between lung and five-zang,physiology and pathology of lung and so on. It attaches the importance to five-zang's nonequilibrium and clinical level of syndrome differentiation.

Air Cavity Effects on the Absorbed Dose for 4-, 6- and 10-MV X-ray Beams: Larynx Model / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: When an x-ray beam of small field size is irradiated to target area containing an air cavity, such as larynx, the underdosing effect is observed in the region near the interfaces of air and soft tissue. With a larynx model, air cavity embedded in tissue-equivalent material, this study is intended for examining parameters, such as beam quality, field size, and cavity size, to affect the dose distribution near the air cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three x-ray beams, 4-, 6- and 10-MV, were employed to perform a measurement using a 2cm (width)xL (length in cm, one side of x-ray field used)x2cm (height) air cavity in the simulated larynx. A thin window parallel-plate chamber connected to an electrometer was used for a dosimetry system. A ratio of the dose at various distances from the cavity-tissue interface to the dose at the same points in a homogeneous phantom (observed/expected ratio, O/E), normalized buildup curves, and ratio of distal surface dose to dose at the maximum buildup depth were examined for various field sizes. Measurement for cavity size effect was performed by varying the height (Z) of the air cavity with the width kept constant for several field sizes. RESULTS: No underdosing effect for 4-MV beam for fields larger than 5cmx5cm was found. For both 6- and 10-MV beams, the underdosing portion of the larynx at the distal surface was seen to occur for small fields, 4cmx4cm and 5cmx5cm. The underdosed tissue was increased in its volume with beam energy even for similar surface doses. The relative distal surface dose to maximum dose was changed to 0.99 from 0.95, 0.92, and 0.91 for 4-, 6-, and 10-MV, respectively, with increasing field size, 4cmx4cm to 8cmx8cm. For 6- and 10-MV beams, the dose at the surface of the cavity ismeasured less than the predicted by about two and three percent, respectively, but decrease was found for 4-MV beam for 5cmx5cm field. For the 4cm x L x Z (height in cm), varying depth from 0.6 to 4.8cm, cavity, O/E > 1.0 was observed regardless of the cavity size for any field larger than about 8cmx8cm. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of underdosing depends on beam energy, field size, and cavity size for the larynx model. Based on the result of the study, caution must be used when a small field of a high quality x-ray beam is irradiated to regions including air cavities, and especially the region where the tumor extends to the surface. Low quality beam, such as, 4-MV x-ray, and larger fields can be used preferably to reduce the risk of underdosing, local failure. In the case of high quality beams such as 6- and 10-MV x-rays, however, an additional boost field is recommended to add for the compensation of the underdosing region when a typically used treatment field, 5cmx5cm, is employed.