[Ecosystem structure and function of Sanmen Bay based on Ecopath model.] / 基于Ecopath模型的三门湾生态系统结构与功能.

Ecosystem structure determines material circulation, energy flow, and system function. Based on field investigation data in the Sanmen Bay, East China Sea from 2017 to 2018, ecological channel model was constructed by Ecopath, describing energy flow routes and functional characteristics of the Sanmen Bay ecosystem. Results showed that grazing food chain was the main energy circulation channel, and the trophic level of each functional group ranged from 1 to 3.80. Energy flow of the system was mainly concentrated in the first five levels, with an average energy conversion efficiency of 13.0%. Energy conversion efficiency was 12.8% and 14.5% from primary producers and debris, respectively. Connectance index (CI) and system omnivory index (SOI) were 0.40 and 0.24 respectively. Finn's cycling index (FIC) was 0.40, and Finn's mean path length (MPL) was 2.06. The ratio of total primary productivity to total respiration was 13.59. In conclusion, Sanmen Bay ecosystem was immature in material circulation and energy flow. This work is helpful to understand the structural and functional traits of coastal ecosystems in China.

Increased DNA methylation of scavenger receptor class B type I contributes to inhibitory effects of prenatal caffeine ingestion on cholesterol uptake and steroidogenesis in fetal adrenals.

Steroid hormones synthesized from cholesterol in the fetal adrenal are crucial for fetal development. We have observed the inhibited fetal adrenal corticosterone synthesis and increased intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) rate in rats under prenatal caffeine ingestion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of prenatal caffeine ingestion on cholesterol supply in fetal adrenal steroidogenesis in rats and explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with 60 mg/kg · d caffeine from gestational day (GD) 7 to GD17. Histological changes of fetal adrenals and increased IUGR rates were observed in the caffeine group. There were significantly decreased steroid hormone contents and cholesterol supply in caffeine-treated fetal adrenals. Data from the gene expression array suggested that prenatal caffeine ingestion caused increased expression of genes related to DNA methylation and decreased expression of genes related to cholesterol uptake. The following conjoint analysis of DNA methylation array with these differentially expressed genes suggested that scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) may play an important role in caffeine-induced cholesterol supply deficiency. Moreover, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical detection certified the inhibitory effects of caffeine on both mRNA expression and protein expression of SR-BI in the fetal adrenal. And the increased DNA methylation frequency in the proximal promoter of SR-BI was confirmed by bisulfite-sequencing PCR. In conclusion, prenatal caffeine ingestion can induce DNA hypermethylation of the SR-BI promoter in the rat fetal adrenal. These effects may lead to decreased SR-BI expression and cholesterol uptake, which inhibits steroidogenesis in the fetal adrenal.

[Massage of transrectal heat rotating magnetic field in the treatment of obstinate hemospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transrectal heat rotating magnetic field in the treatment of obstinate hemospermia. METHODS: Sixty-eight cases of obstinate hemospermia were selected and treated by routine ways and massage by transrectal heat rotating magnetic field. The device of transrectal heat rotating magnetic field was used, 45 min/section/day, 10 sections as one sequence. The morphology of prostate and seminal vesicle by ultrasonic and red blood cells in sperm were observed and compared before and after the treatment, and then all the cases were followed. RESULTS: After one to four sequences, among 64 cases, which were caused by prostatitis and spermatocystitis, the cure rate was 81.25% (52 cases) and availability rate was 18.75% (12 cases). Sixty-two cases were followed for one to ten years, in which 6 cases intercurrently relapsed because of drinking, fatigue and frequent sexual intercourse, and then the symptom was controlled after restarting the treatment. Among 68 cases, 4 cases were verumontanum polyps and the symptom was disappeared after electrocautery. CONCLUSION: Routine treatment with massage by transrectal heat rotating magnetic field have remarkable therapeutic effects on obstinate hemospermia.