Distribution of commensal rodents in rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan / Distribuição de roedores comensais em áreas irrigadas e chuvosas do distrito de Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.

O padrão de distribuição e a abundância relativa de pragas de roedores agrícolas nas áreas irrigadas e irrigadas do distrito Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão foram registrados de abril de 2011 a novembro de 2013 usando armadilhas vivas de malha de arame. Um total de 350 roedores (269 Rattus rattus e 81 Mus musculus) foram capturados em 2268 noites de armadilha (sucesso da armadilha: 0,15). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 350 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 21,8 roedores por campo agrícola. Os ratos domésticos (R. rattus; 76,8% das capturas) foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de campos agrícolas e foram significativamente diferentes dos camundongos (Mus musculus; 23,1% das capturas). Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em alguns campos. A proporção de sexo revelou que os machos superaram as fêmeas em ambas as espécies relatadas.

Distribution of commensal rodents in some shops of three districts in Malakand region, Pakistan / Distribuição de roedores comensais em algumas lojas de três distritos na região de Malakand, Paquistão

Using wire mesh live traps distribution pattern of the Rattus rattus and Mus musculus in different shops of three districts of Malakand region, Pakistan were recorded from September 2014 to October 2015. Over all 103 rodents (Rattus rattus 86 and Mus musculus 17) were caught during in 0.04 trap success (2448 trap nights). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 103 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 3.55 rodents per shop. R. rattus; 83.4% of captures were numerically dominant in almost all types of shops sampled, and were significantly different than Mus musculus; 16.5% of captures. Both species were found together in some shops while they were mostly trapped from the separate shops. Male rodents outnumbered the females.

Usando o padrão de distribuição de armadilhas vivas de malha de arame do Rattus rattus e Mus musculus em diferentes lojas de três distritos da região de Malakand, o Paquistão foi registrado de setembro de 2014 a outubro de 2015. No total, 103 roedores (Rattus rattus 86 e Mus musculus 17) foram pegos durante em 0,04 armadilha de sucesso (2448 noites de armadilha). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 103 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 3,55 roedores por loja. R. rattus; 83,4% das capturas foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de lojas da amostra e foram significativamente diferentes do Mus musculus; 16,5% das capturas. Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em algumas lojas, enquanto estavam na maior parte presas em lojas separadas. Os roedores machos eram mais numerosos do que as fêmeas.

Distribution of commensal rodents in rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan / Distribuição de roedores comensais em áreas irrigadas e chuvosas do distrito de Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.

O padrão de distribuição e a abundância relativa de pragas de roedores agrícolas nas áreas irrigadas e irrigadas do distrito Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão foram registrados de abril de 2011 a novembro de 2013 usando armadilhas vivas de malha de arame. Um total de 350 roedores (269 Rattus rattus e 81 Mus musculus) foram capturados em 2268 noites de armadilha (sucesso da armadilha: 0,15). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 350 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 21,8 roedores por campo agrícola. Os ratos domésticos (R. rattus; 76,8% das capturas) foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de campos agrícolas e foram significativamente diferentes dos camundongos (Mus musculus; 23,1% das capturas). Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em alguns campos. A proporção de sexo revelou que os machos superaram as fêmeas em ambas as espécies relatadas.

Distribution of commensal rodents insome shops of three districts in Malakand region, Pakistan / Distribuição de roedores comensais em algumas lojas de três distritos na região de Malakand, Paquistão

Using wire mesh live traps distribution pattern of the Rattus rattus and Mus musculus in different shops of three districts of Malakand region, Pakistan were recorded from September 2014 to October 2015. Over all 103 rodents (Rattus rattus 86 and Mus musculus 17) were caught during in 0.04 trap success (2448 trap nights). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 103 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 3.55 rodents per shop. R. rattus; 83.4% of captures were numerically dominant in almost all types of shops sampled, and were significantly different than Mus musculus; 16.5% of captures. Both species were found together in some shops while they were mostly trapped from the separate shops. Male rodents outnumbered the females.

Usando o padrão de distribuição de armadilhas vivas de malha de arame do Rattus rattus e Mus musculus em diferentes lojas de três distritos da região de Malakand, o Paquistão foi registrado de setembro de 2014 a outubro de 2015. No total, 103 roedores (Rattus rattus 86 e Mus musculus 17) foram pegos durante em 0,04 armadilha de sucesso (2448 noites de armadilha). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 103 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 3,55 roedores por loja. R. rattus; 83,4% das capturas foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de lojas da amostra e foram significativamente diferentes do Mus musculus; 16,5% das capturas. Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em algumas lojas, enquanto estavam na maior parte presas em lojas separadas. Os roedores machos eram mais numerosos do que as fêmeas.

Distribution of commensal rodents in rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.

Resumo O padrão de distribuição e a abundância relativa de pragas de roedores agrícolas nas áreas irrigadas e irrigadas do distrito Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão foram registrados de abril de 2011 a novembro de 2013 usando armadilhas vivas de malha de arame. Um total de 350 roedores (269 Rattus rattus e 81 Mus musculus) foram capturados em 2268 noites de armadilha (sucesso da armadilha: 0,15). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 350 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 21,8 roedores por campo agrícola. Os ratos domésticos (R. rattus; 76,8% das capturas) foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de campos agrícolas e foram significativamente diferentes dos camundongos (Mus musculus; 23,1% das capturas). Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em alguns campos. A proporção de sexo revelou que os machos superaram as fêmeas em ambas as espécies relatadas.

Distribution of commensal rodents in some shops of three districts in Malakand region, Pakistan

Abstract Using wire mesh live traps distribution pattern of the Rattus rattus and Mus musculus in different shops of three districts of Malakand region, Pakistan were recorded from September 2014 to October 2015. Over all 103 rodents (Rattus rattus 86 and Mus musculus 17) were caught during in 0.04 trap success (2448 trap nights). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 103 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 3.55 rodents per shop. R. rattus; 83.4% of captures were numerically dominant in almost all types of shops sampled, and were significantly different than Mus musculus; 16.5% of captures. Both species were found together in some shops while they were mostly trapped from the separate shops. Male rodents outnumbered the females.

Resumo Usando o padrão de distribuição de armadilhas vivas de malha de arame do Rattus rattus e Mus musculus em diferentes lojas de três distritos da região de Malakand, o Paquistão foi registrado de setembro de 2014 a outubro de 2015. No total, 103 roedores (Rattus rattus 86 e Mus musculus 17) foram pegos durante em 0,04 armadilha de sucesso (2448 noites de armadilha). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 103 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 3,55 roedores por loja. R. rattus; 83,4% das capturas foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de lojas da amostra e foram significativamente diferentes do Mus musculus; 16,5% das capturas. Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em algumas lojas, enquanto estavam na maior parte presas em lojas separadas. Os roedores machos eram mais numerosos do que as fêmeas.

Interactome of vertebrate GAF/ThPOK reveals its diverse functions in gene regulation and DNA repair

GAGA associated factor (GAF) is a sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor that is evolutionarilyconserved from flies to humans. Emerging evidence shows a context-dependent function of vertebrate GAF(vGAF, a.k.a. ThPOK) in multiple processes like gene activation, repression, and enhancer-blocking. Wehypothesize that context-dependent interaction of vGAF with a diverse set of proteins forms the basis for themultifunctional nature of vGAF. To this end, we deciphered the protein–protein interactome of vGAF andshow that vGAF interacts with chromatin remodelers, RNA metabolic machinery, transcriptional activators/repressors, and components of DNA repair machinery. We further validated the biological significance of ourprotein–protein interaction data with functional studies and established a novel role of vGAF in DNA repairand cell-survival after UV-induced DNA damage. One of the major risk factors for skin cutaneous melanoma isprolonged exposure of UV and subsequent DNA damage. vGAF is highly expressed in normal skin tissue.Interestingly, our analysis of high-throughput RNA-sequencing data shows that vGAF is heavily downregulated across all major stages of skin cutaneous melanoma suggesting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker.Taken together, our study provides a plausible explanation for the diverse gene regulatory functions of vGAFand unravels its novel role in DNA repair.

Surgical treatment of thoracolumbar fracture with incomplete lower limb paralysis in a patient with COVID-19 / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Since December 2019, COVID-19, an acute infectious disease, has gradually become a global threat. We report a case of thoracolumbar fractures (T and L) and incomplete lower limb paralysis in a patient with COVID-19. After a series of conservative treatment which did not work at all, posterior open reduction and pedicle screw internal fixation of the thoracolumbar fracture were performed in Wuhan Union Hospital. Three weeks later, the patient could stand up and the pneumonia is almost cured. We successfully performed a surgery in a COVID-19 patient, and to our knowledge it is the first operation for a COVID-19 patient ever reported.

SOCS3 Attenuates GM-CSF/IFN-γ-Mediated Inflammation During Spontaneous Spinal Cord Regeneration / 神经科学通报·英文版

SOCS3, a feedback inhibitor of the JAK/STAT signal pathway, negatively regulates axonal regrowth and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we demonstrated a distinct role of SOCS3 in the injured spinal cord of the gecko following tail amputation. Severing the gecko spinal cord did not evoke an inflammatory cascade except for an injury-stimulated elevation of the granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines. Simultaneously, the expression of SOCS3 was upregulated in microglia, and unexpectedly not in neurons. Enforced expression of SOCS3 was sufficient to suppress the GM-CSF/IFN-γ-driven inflammatory responses through its KIR domain by attenuating the activities of JAK1 and JAK2. SOCS3 was also linked to GM-CSF/IFN-γ-induced cross-tolerance. Transfection of adenovirus overexpressing SOCS3 in the injured cord resulted in a significant decrease of inflammatory cytokines. These results reveal a distinct role of SOCS3 in the regenerating spinal cord, and provide new hints for CNS repair in mammals.

Differential susceptibility & replication potential of Vero E6, BHK-21, RD, A-549, C6/36 cells & Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to three strains of chikungunya virus

Background & objectives: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne arthritogenic virus causes infections ranging from febrile illness to debilitating polyarthralgia in humans. Re-emergence of the virus has affected millions of people in Africa and Asia since 2004. During the outbreak, a new lineage of the virus has evolved as an adaptation for enhanced replication and transmission by Aedes albopictus mosquito. A study was designed to compare the susceptibility of four vertebrate cell lines, namely Vero E6 (African green monkey kidney), BHK-21 (Baby hamster kidney), RD (human rhabdomyosarcoma), A-549 (human alveolar basal epithelial cell) and C6/36 (Ae. albopictus) to Asian genotype and two lineages of East, Central and South African (E1:A226 and E1:A226V) of CHIKV. Methods: One-step growth kinetics of different CHIKV strains was carried out in the above five cell lines to determine the growth kinetics and virus yield. Virus titre was determined by 50 per cent tissue culture infectious dose assay and titres were calculated by the Reed and Muench formula. Growth and virus yield of the three strains in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes was studied by intrathoracic inoculation and virus titration in Vero E6 cell line. Results: Virus titration showed Vero E6, C6/36 and BHK-21 cell lines are high virus yielding with all the three lineages while RD and A-549 yielded low virus titres. C6/36 cell line was the most sensitive and yielded the maximum titre. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, when inoculated with high titre virus, yielded an almost equal growth with the three strains while rapid growth of E1:A226V and Asian strain was observed with 1 log virus. Interpretation & conclusions: C6/36 cell line was found to be the most sensitive and high yielding for CHIKV irrespective of lineages while Vero E6 and BHK-21 cell lines yielded high titres and may find application for vaccine/diagnostic development. Infection of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes with the three CHIKV strains gave almost identical pattern of growth.

A Review of the Application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in Wild Terrestrial Vertebrate Research

In era of sequencing revolution, scientists seek for knowledge about the ever-expanding field of technology, Next Generation Sequence (NGS) to be applied in their research due to its high reliability and rate of discovery. What is NGS? To obtain a detailed understanding about NGS, it is required to look back the history of sequencing and how the NGS stepped into life science. This review paper gives an overview of NGS projects in wild terrestrial vertebrate including applications such as whole genome sequencing and metagenomics.

Detection and clearance of a mosquito densovirus contaminant from laboratory stocks of Zika virus

BACKGROUND The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemics that affected South America in 2016 raised several research questions and prompted an increase in studies in the field. The transient and low viraemia observed in the course of ZIKV infection is a challenge for viral isolation from patient serum, which leads to many laboratories around the world sharing viral strains for their studies. C6/36 cells derived from Aedes albopictus larvae are commonly used for arbovirus isolation from clinical samples and for the preparation of viral stocks. OBJECTIVES Here, we report the contamination of two widely used ZIKV strains by Brevidensovirus, here designated as mosquito densovirus (MDV). METHODS Molecular and immunological techniques were used to analyse the MDV contamination of ZIKV stocks. Also, virus passages in mammalian cell line and infecting susceptible mice were used to MDV clearance from ZIKV stocks. FINDINGS MDV contamination was confirmed by molecular and immunological techniques and likely originated from C6/36 cultures commonly used to grow viral stocks. We applied two protocols that successfully eliminated MDV contamination from ZIKV stocks, and these protocols can be widely applied in the field. As MDV does not infect vertebrate cells, we performed serial passages of contaminated stocks using a mammalian cell line and infecting susceptible mice prior to re-isolating ZIKV from the animals' blood serum. MDV elimination was confirmed with immunostaining, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and analysis of the mosquitoes that were allowed to feed on the infected mice. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Since the putative impact of viral contaminants in ZIKV strains generally used for research purposes is unknown, researchers working in the field must be aware of potential contaminants and test viral stocks to certify sample purity.

Road kills in tropical ecosystems: a review with recommendations for mitigation and for new research

Resumen Si bien los caminos son indispensables para la civilización moderna y benefician a muchas especies de vida silvestre, han estado causando mortalidad por atropello desde que se inventaron los carruajes de alta velocidad hace 4 000 años. La mayoría de trabajos científicos en el tema se han realizado en ecosistemas templados, pero algunos autores han sospechado que hay diferencias en ecosistemas tropicales. En esta revisión, resumo publicaciones que se centran en muertes en carretera en países tropicales de África, América, Asia y Oceanía. Encontré 73 estudios pertinentes. El número de artículos aumentó después del 2011 y los países más productivos, en artículos per capita son Costa Rica, Colombia y Brasil. En muchos estudios, los mamíferos aparecen como víctimas más frecuentes, pero los anfibios sufren mortalidad masiva durante la época reproductiva y la mortalidad de aves es unas 20 veces mayor de lo que se creía. Cada víctima es un pequeño ecosistema en sí, lleno de especies microscópicas, pero la microbiología de fauna atropellada aún no se desarrolla como rama nueva de la ciencia. No se puede generalizar sobre el papel de la temporada o el hábitat en la mortalidad en carreteras porque los datos mezclados ocultan patrones individuales. Para evitar conclusiones erróneas, hay que mantener registros separados por año, sexo, especie, hora del día, época y lugar. Muchas víctimas son movidas por los carroñeros, mueren fuera de la carretera, o son demasiado pequeñas para ser notadas, por lo que no hay un solo estudio, tropical o templado, que pueda responder con certeza y precisión cuántos animales mueren, dónde o cuándo: sólo tenemos aproximaciones. Las contribuciones importantes de los estudios tropicales incluyen el énfasis ético en aprovechar los especímenes atropellados para investigación, la inclusión de especies que no son de vida silvestre, el estudio de aspectos poco entendidos (como el efecto de la hora del día y tasas de éxito y fracaso al cruzar la carretera, así como la eficacia comprobada de reducir la velocidad para mitigar el problema). La llamada "ciencia ciudadana" puede identificar las especies más afectadas, pero aporta datos muy diferentes de los generados por científicos profesionales en cuanto a proporción de grupos afectados. La reducción de velocidad es la medida de mitigación más simple y efectiva. Respetando directrices éticas, los científicos tropicales deberían concentrarse en el monitoreo conservacionista, y en el trabajo experimental para entender mejor la ecología de los atropellos y hacer un aporte que compita con el de los países ricos.

Abstract While roads are indispensable for modern civilization and beneficial for many wildlife species, they have been causing mortality from collisions since high speed chariots were invented 4 000 years ago. Most scientific work about road kill has been done in temperate ecosystems, but some authors have suspected that they have different characteristics in tropical ecosystems. In this review, I summarize publications that focus on road kills in tropical countries from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. I found 73 studies that focus on tropical road kills. Output increased after 2011 and the most productive countries, in articles per capita, are Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil. Most studies report that mammals are the main victims, but bird deaths are severely underestimated and amphibians suffer mass mortality in reproductive concentrations. Every road victim is itself a small ecosystem that contains thousands of microscopic species, but "Road Kill Microbiology" is yet to be developed as a new branch of research. No generalization can be made about the role of season or habitat in road kills because pooled data hide individual trends: researchers should keep separate records by age, sex, species, time of day, season and place; otherwise important patterns will be missed. There is not a single study, tropical or temperate, that can completely answer how many animals are killed, where, or when, because many victims are removed by scavengers, end outside the road or are too small to be noticed. Significant contributions from the tropics include emphasis on the ethical use of road kill for research, inclusion of species other than wild vertebrates, study of often overlooked phenomena like hour of day and failed versus successful crossing attempts, and the value of speed control in mitigation. The so-called "citizen science" can identify the most affected species but produces data that are very different from those generated by professional scientists in terms of the proportion of affected groups. Real speed limitation is the simplest effective mitigation measure. Tropical scientists should concentrate on monitoring and experimental studies to fully understand the ecology of road kills and to make a contribution that matches what rich countries do. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 722-738. Epub 2018 June 01.

Self-Medication Practices And Attitude Among Dental Students of A Metro City of North India

Background: Self-medication is a common practice across the world and its consequences e.g. misdiagnosis, wrong diagnosis, irrational use of drug, adverse drug reaction, and antimicrobial resistant are cause of concern. The students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, paramedical courses are among the most vulnerable class for its practice. The study was to assess the extent and factors influencing self-medication among undergraduate dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, that included 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students of dental college in Delhi. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic questions and questions on knowledge, attitude and practices of self-medication in the last six months was prepared and distributed among students. Questions on food supplements were also asked. Results: Of a total of 154 students, 39 % reported at least one minor episode of illness, (61%) of them practiced self-medication and 30.1% of the students also advised medicines to other. Most common source of advice was family and friends (45.3%) followed by chemists and books. Most common self-medicated drugs were paracetamol followed by cetirizine. Most Common reported illness for self-medication were fever (41.5%) followed by cough and common cold (24.4%). A significant number has used food supplements and drugs of alternative medicines. Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication among dental students is high that needs to be intervened at different stratas. Academician and health professionals need to educate students about the rational use of drug and impact of irrational prescribing.

Radiological Diagnosis of Adult Cases Presenting with Symptomatic Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: The term spondylolisthesis is derived from two Greek word : Spondo (Vertebrate) and disthenein (to slip)  .The first  written description is given by Herbiniaur, a Belgian obstetneiae. Aim:- To Radiological diagnosis of Symptomatic Lumbar Spondylolisthesis in adults . Methods: 422 patients each of spondylolisthesis in age group 18 – 60 year were included in this study. This study conducted in department of orthopedics over a period of one year. Results: In this present study , patients were included who have back ache. 422 (8.3%) were with spondylolisthesis and 4698 (91.7%) cases were without spondylolisthesis. From the 422 patients 24 were male and 174 were female. From the 422 patients with spondylolisthesis, (24.6% ) most of the cases were belong to 46-52 age group in male and 39-45 in case of female. Conclusion: Both Surgical and conservative management have benefit of cases showing with symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis. In most of the cases treat by non-operative.

Comparison of Biomechanical Effects on n-HA/PA66 Vertebral Body Cage and Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Treating Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures / 医用生物力学

Objective To compare the biomechanical effects of n-HA/PA66 vertebral body cage and percutaneous vertebroplasty for treating osteoporotic vertebral fracture, so as to provide theoretical foundations for clinically choosing operative approach and numbers of n-HA/PA66 cage. Methods Based on finite element models of normal vertebral T11-L3, four finite element models of vertebral T11-L3 with n-HA/PA66 cage implanted by different approaches (transversus approach A, B and psoas major muscle approach A, B) were established. Two controlled models without intertransverse ligaments were also built. Besides, two finite element models of osteoporotic vertebral T11-L3 with injection of 1.8 mL or 3.6 mL bone cement were built, respectively. The loads of 500 N and force torque of 7 N·m from different directions were applied on nine models, to calculate and analyze the displacement and stress of the osteoporotic vertebrae during standing, extension, anteflexion, lateral bending, and rotation, and to investigate the biomechanical effects from two kinds of osteoporotic vertebral fracture treatment on vertebral body. Results Under the same loading, bone cement could lead to a larger stress increase while a smaller displacement decrease in vertebral body compared with n-HA/PA66 cage. The model with n-HA/PA66 cage implanted by psoas major muscle approach A (namely, a cage was implanted through psoas major muscle) had the minimal increase in vertebral stress while the maximum decrease in displacement. Conclusions In order to reduce the risk of the additional fracture due to stress increment and recover the stiffness of osteoporotic vertebrae, clinicians are suggested to implant one n-HA/PA66 cage through psoas major to treat the osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

The effects of Crumbs proteins on zebrafish photoreceptors / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To observe the effects of Crumbs (Crb) proteins on different types ofzebrafish photoreceptors.Methods The retinal cell population dynamics of adult wild-type zebrafish and Tg (RH22:Crb2b-sfEX/RH2-2:GFP)pt108b transgenic zebrafish (called pt108b zebrafish for short) were evaluated by monitoring the densities of three categories of retinal photoreceptors (rod cells,UV cone cells and RGB cone cells) in different retinal regions,which were visualized by Feulgen nuclear staining histology technique.Results The wild-type zebrafish retinal photoreceptor cell densities are generally higher in the central region than the peripheral regions.Compared with wild-type zebrafish,pt108b zebrafish had much less RGB cone cells at the top of outer nuclear layer,and no RGB cone ceils at the central and intermediate regions of retina.While pt108b zebrafish had normal density of UV cone cells at the top of rods and the bottom of outer limiting membrane,they had much higher density of rods.Conclusions Crb proteins may affect the zebrafish retinal cell densities of different photoreceptor types.

A detailed description of an economical setup for electroporation of chick embryos in ovo

One of the challenges of the postgenomic era is characterizing the function and regulation of specific genes. For various reasons, the early chick embryo can easily be adopted as an in vivo assay of gene function and regulation. The embryos are robust, accessible, easily manipulated, and maintained in the laboratory. Genomic resources centered on vertebrate organisms increase daily. As a consequence of optimization of gene transfer protocols by electroporation, the chick embryo will probably become increasingly popular for reverse genetic analysis. The challenge of establishing chick embryonic electroporation might seem insurmountable to those who are unfamiliar with experimental embryological methods. To minimize the cost, time, and effort required to establish a chick electroporation assay method, we describe and illustrate in great detail the procedures involved in building a low-cost electroporation setup and the basic steps of electroporation.

Establishment of a molecular tool for blood meal identification in Malaysia

Objective: To establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique based on cytochrome b (cytb) gene of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) for blood meal identification. Methods: The PCR technique was established based on published information and validated using blood sample of laboratory animals of which their whole gene sequences are available in GenBank. PCR was next performed to compile gene sequences of different species of wild rodents. The primers used were complementary to the conserved region of the cytb gene of vertebrate’s mtDNA. A total of 100 blood samples, both from laboratory animals and wild rodents were collected and analyzed. The obtained unknown sequences were compared with those in the GenBank database using BLAST program to identify the vertebrate animal species. Results: Gene sequences of 11 species of wild animals caught in 9 localities of Peninsular Malaysia were compiled using the established PCR. The animals involved were Rattus (rattus) tanezumi, Rattus tiomanicus, Leopoldamys sabanus,Tupaia glis, Tupaia minor, Niviventor cremoriventor, Rhinosciurus laticaudatus, Callosciurus caniseps, Sundamys muelleri, Rattus rajah and Maxomys whiteheadi. The BLAST results confirmed the host with exact or nearly exact matches (>89% identity). Ten new gene sequences have been deposited in GenBank database since September 2010. Conclusions: This study indicates that the PCR direct sequencing system using universal primer sets for vertebrate cytb gene is a promising technique for blood meal identification.

A contribuição de Francisco de Barros Jr. ao conhecimento da fauna de vertebrados da Região Sul do Brasil / Francisco de Barros Jr. 's contribution to the knowledge of the vertebrate fauna in the South Region of Brasil / La contribución de francisco de barros jr. Al conocimiento de la fauna de vertebrados de la región sur de brasil

Na primeira metade do século XX, Francisco de Barros Jr. percorreu parte do Brasil em viagens que tinham o objetivo de divulgar e comercializar munições para armas de fogo. Conhecido e afamado no país como caçador e pescador, ele praticava intensamente tais atividades. Apesar de suas viagens nada terem de expedições científicas, foi nelas que Barros Jr. reuniu informações para publicação dos três volumes do livro Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil. O primeiro volume relata viagens realizadas nas décadas de 30 e 40 do século XX, aos estados de Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo e Mato Grosso (atuais estados de Mato Grosso do Sul e Mato Grosso). Este artigo traz os resultados da análise crítica das citações de animais vertebrados (peixes, anfíbios, répteis, aves e mamíferos) nos estados da Região Sul do Brasil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná). O texto foi avaliado com relação à qualidade da informação apresentada pelo autor, nível de detalhamento da descrição e situação que gerou a citação. Para os estados da Região Sul, o livro cita 10 espécies de peixes ósseos (Classe Osteichthyes), 2 espécies de anfíbios (Classe Amphibia), 5 espécies de répteis (Classe Reptilia), 24 espécies de aves (Classe Aves) e 21 espécies de mamíferos (Classe Mammalia). A importância dos dados coligidos por Barros Jr. se evidencia na descrição da abundância de várias espécies que atualmente se encontram ameaçadas de extinção e especialmente na citação, para o Estado do Paraná, de 2 espécies de mamífero que até recentemente ainda apresentavam problemas de confirmação de ocorrência – a ariranha (Pteronura brasiliensis) e o cangambá (Conepatus chinga).

ABSTRACT: In the fi rst half of the 20th century, Francisco de Barros Jr. traveled around great part of Brazil in journeys that aimed at commercializing fi re gun ammunition. Well-known and famous in the country as a hunter and fi sherman, he practiced such activities intensely. Although his trips were not scientifi c expeditions, they gave him information for the publication of three volumes of the book "Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil" ("Hunting and fi shing all over Brasil"). The book fi rst volume reports trips taken in the decades of 1930-40 of the 20th century, to the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, and Mato Grosso (current states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul). This article brings the results of the critical analysis of the mention of vertebrate animals (fi sh, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) in the states of southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná). The quality of the information presented by the author was evaluated, based on the level of details of the description and situations which have generated the quotes. For the southern states of Brasil, the book mentions ten species of bony fi sh (Osteichthyes group), two species of amphibians (Amphibia group), fi ve species of reptiles (Reptilia group), 24 species of birds (Aves group), and 21 species of mammals (Mammalia group). The importance of the data recorded by Barros Jr. is emphasized in the description of the abundance of several species that are now threatened with extinction, and especially in the quote, for the State of Paraná, of two mammal species which present problems of occurrence confi rmation so far - the giant-otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga).

RESUMEN: En la primera mitad del siglo XX, Francisco de Barros Jr. viajó por gran parte de Brasil en jornadas que tenían el objetivo para divulgar y comercializar munición para armas. Muy conocido y afamado en el país como cazador y pescador, él practicó tales actividades intensamente. Sus viajes no eran expediciones científi cas, pero le dieron información para la publicación del libro "Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil" ("Cazando y pescando por todo el Brasil"). El primer volumen del libro relata viajes ocurridas en las décadas de 30 y 40 del siglo XX a los estados de Río Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo y Mato Grosso (actuales estados de Mato Grosso y Mato Grosso do Sul). Este artículo trae los resultados del análisis crítico de las citaciones de animales vertebrados (peces, anfi bios, reptiles, aves y mamíferos) en los estados del sur de Brasil (Río Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina y Paraná). La calidad de la información presentada por el autor fue evaluada con base en el nivel de detalle de la descripción y situaciones que generaron las citaciones. Para los estados del sur de Brasil, el libro menciona diez especies de peces óseos (Clase Osteichthyes), dos especies de anfi bios (Clase Amphibia), cinco especies de reptiles (Clase Reptilia), 24 especies de aves (Clase Aves) y 21 especies de mamíferos (Clase Mammalia). La importancia de los datos registrados por Barros Jr. se evidencia en la descripción de la abundancia de varias especies que actualmente se encuentran amenazadas de extinción, y sobre todo en las citaciones, para el Estado de Paraná, de dos especies de mamíferos que hasta recientemente presentaban problemas de confi rmación de ocurrencia ­ el lobo de río grande o arirai (Pteronura brasiliensis) y el zorrino (Conepatus chinga).