Seasonal shifts in the contributions of the Changjiang River and the Kuroshio Current to nitrate dynamics in the continental shelf of the northern East China Sea based on a nitrate dual isotopic composition approach

The northern East China Sea (ECS) serves as a spawning and nursery ground for many species of fish and squid. To clarify the basis of the food web in the northern ECS, we examined the nitrate (NO3) dynamics along four latitudinal transects based on stable nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of NO 3 (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and temperature-salinity dynamics in both winter (February 2009) and summer (July 2009 and July 2011). The δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3, which were distinctly different among the potential NO3 sources, were useful for clarifying NO3 sources and its actual usage by phytoplankton. In winter, Kuroshio Subsurface Water (KSSW) and the Yellow Sea Mixed Water (YSMW) predominantly contributed to NO3 distributed in the shelf water. In the surface water of the Okinawa Trough, NO3 from the KSSW, along with a temperature increase caused by an intrusion of Kuroshio Surface Water (KSW), seemed to stimulate phytoplankton growth. In summer, Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW), Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM), and KSSW affected the distribution and abundance of NO 3 in the northern ECS, depending on precipitation in the Changjiang drainage basin and the development of the YSCWM in the shelf bottom water. Although isotopic fractionation during NO3 uptake by phytoplankton seemed to drastically increase δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 in summer, relatively light nitrate with δ15NNO3 lower than expected from this fractionation effect might be explained by contribution of atmospheric nitrogen and/or nitrification to NO3 dynamics in the surface and subsurface layers. If the latter were a dominant process, this would imply a tightly coupled nitrogen cycle in the shelf water of the northern ECS

Studies on preparation and characterization of novel MRI contrast agents for targeting organs and blood vessels

peer reviewedTo improve the poor properties of currently clinically used MRI contrast agent of Gd-DTPA (Gadolinium-Diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N',N'-pentaacetic acid) complex, sugar dendritic derivatives which contains Gd-DTPA as the core part and four or twelve sugars as the terminal part, dendrimer 8(Gd-DTPA-D1Glc(OAc)) or dendrimer 10(Gd-DTPA-D2Glc(OAc)), respectively, were prepared. From the result of relaxivity profile of these Gd complexes depending on temperature and magnitude of magnetic field, the smaller size MRI contrast agent of Gd-DTPA, 8(Gd-DTPA-D1Glc(OAc)), showed similar behavior to that of Gd-DTPA and the dendrimer constructs DDS of Gd-DTPA and was proven to have the improved properties for MR imaging of blood vessel (MRA) as well as for targeting specific organs

Pain as a First Manifestation of Paraneoplastic Neuropathies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) consist of a heterogeneous group of neurological disorders triggered by cancer. The aim of this systematic review is to estimate the reported prevalence of pain in patients with paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy (PPN). METHODS: A systematic computer-based literature search was conducted on PubMed database. RESULTS: Our search strategy resulted in the identification of 126 articles. After the eligibility assessment, 45 papers met the inclusion criteria. Full clinical and neurophysiological data were further extracted and involved 92 patients with PPN (54.5% males, mean age 60.0 ± 12.2 years). The commonest first manifestation of PPN is sensory loss (67.4%), followed by pain (41.3%), weakness (22.8%), and sensory ataxia (20.7%). In 13.0% of the cases, pain was the sole first manifestation of the PPN. During the course of the PPN, 57.6% of the patients may experience pain secondary to the neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is very prevalent within PPN. Pain specialists should be aware of this. Detailed history-taking, full clinical examination, and requesting nerve conduction studies might lead to an earlier diagnosis of an underlying malignancy

Effects of a single intraperitoneal administration of cadmium on femoral bone structure in male rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to cadmium (Cd) is considered a risk factor for various bone diseases in humans and experimental animals. This study investigated the acute effects of Cd on femoral bone structure of adult male rats after a single intraperitoneal administration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten 4-month-old male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 2 mg CdCl₂/kg body weight and killed 36 h after the Cd had been injected. Ten 4-month-old males served as a control group. Differences in body weight, femoral weight, femoral length and histological structure of the femur were evaluated between the two groups of rats. The unpaired Student's t-test was used for establishment of statistical significance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A single intraperitoneal administration of Cd had no significant effect on the body weight, femoral weight or femoral length. On the other hand, histological changes were significant. Rats exposed to Cd had significantly higher values of area, perimeter, maximum and minimum diameters of the primary osteons' vascular canals and Haversian canals. In contrast, a significant decrease in all variables of the secondary osteons was observed in these rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate that, as expected, a single intraperitoneal administration of 2 mg CdCl₂/kg body weight had no impact on macroscopic structure of rat's femora; however, it affected the size of vascular canals of primary osteons, Haversian canals, and secondary osteons.</p

The X-Ray Crystal Structure of Escherichia coli Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase; Structural Insights into NADP+/Enzyme Interactions

In mammals succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) plays an essential role in the metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to succinic acid (SA). Deficiency of SSADH in humans results in elevated levels of GABA and gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), which leads to psychomotor retardation, muscular hypotonia, non-progressive ataxia and seizures. In Escherichia coli, two genetically distinct forms of SSADHs had been described that are essential for preventing accumulation of toxic levels of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) in cells.Here we structurally characterise SSADH encoded by the E coli gabD gene by X-ray crystallographic studies and compare these data with the structure of human SSADH. In the E. coli SSADH structure, electron density for the complete NADP+ cofactor in the binding sites is clearly evident; these data in particular revealing how the nicotinamide ring of the cofactor is positioned in each active site.Our structural data suggest that a deletion of three amino acids in E. coli SSADH permits this enzyme to use NADP+, whereas in contrast the human enzyme utilises NAD+. Furthermore, the structure of E. coli SSADH gives additional insight into human mutations that result in disease

Preparation and Evaluation of Novel Sugar Dendritic Gd-DTPA Complexes for MRI Contrast Agents and Phospha Sugars for Anti-tumour Agents

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