We present the case of a 33-year-old nonatopic woman with multiple episodes of anaphylaxis after ingestion of different fruits. The fruits implicated were apple, banana and lychee: all of which belong to different and...We present the case of a 33-year-old nonatopic woman with multiple episodes of anaphylaxis after ingestion of different fruits. The fruits implicated were apple, banana and lychee: all of which belong to different and botanically disparate plant families. The reaction to apple and banana was confirmed by prick testing. There was no history of allergy to other agents that are known to have cross reactions with fruits, viz. latex or pollen. As such patients often do not present to dermatologists, we wish to highlight the rare but potentially fatal clinical entity of type I allergy to fruits without concomitant allergy to other common airborne/contact allergens. We also discuss the possible explanation of type I reaction to apparently unrelated fruits and the allergens involved in such reactions.展开更多
To understand mercury （Hg） toxicity in marine fish, we measured Hg accumulation in juvenile Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus） and assessed the effects on growth and antioxidant responses. After Hg exposu...To understand mercury （Hg） toxicity in marine fish, we measured Hg accumulation in juvenile Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus） and assessed the effects on growth and antioxidant responses. After Hg exposure （control, 5, 40, and 160 gg/L Hg） for 28 d, fish growth was significantly reduced. The accumulation of Hg in fish was dose-dependent and tissue-specific, with the maximum accumulation in kidney and liver, followed by gills, hone, and muscle. Different antioxidants responded differently to Hg exposure to cope with the induction of lipid peroxidation （LPO）, which was also tissue-specific and dose- dependent. As Hg concentration increased, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and catalase （CAT） activities increased significantly, whereas glutathione S-transferase （GST） activity and glutathione （GSH） levels decreased significantly in the gills. SOD and glutathione peroxidase （GPx） activities and the GSH level increased significantly in the liver. SOD activity and GSH levels increased significantly, but CAT activity decreased significantly with an increase in Hg concentration in the kidney. LPO was induced significantly by elevated Hg in the gills and kidney but was least affected in the liver. Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers in gills were more sensitive than those in the liver and kidney to Hg exposure. Thus, the gills have potential as bioindicators for evaluating Hg toxicity in juvenile flounder.展开更多
Objective:Pseudolaric acid B(PB)is a newly identified diterpenoid isolated from Tujinpi(Cortex Pseudolaricis).In the present study,we aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of PB on atopic dermatitis(AD),as we...Objective:Pseudolaric acid B(PB)is a newly identified diterpenoid isolated from Tujinpi(Cortex Pseudolaricis).In the present study,we aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of PB on atopic dermatitis(AD),as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects.Methods:BALB/c mice treated with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene were orally administered with PB(10 mg?kg-1?d-1).After evaluating the AD score,serum levels of IgE and the mRNA expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1βwere measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR respectively.Results:The results showed that PB treatment significantly ameliorated the development of AD-like clinical symptoms and effectively suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells.Furthermore,PB inhibited the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1βin skin lesions,and downregulated serum IgE levels.Conclusion:The anti-inflammatory properties of PB were demonstrated using the 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced mouse model of AD-like skin lesions.Our study highlighted the potential use of PB as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated skin diseases.展开更多
The hydrogenation reaction characteristics and the properties of its hydrides for the magnetic regenerative material HoCu_2(CeCu_2-type) of a cryocooler were investigated. The XRD testing reveals that the hydrides of ...The hydrogenation reaction characteristics and the properties of its hydrides for the magnetic regenerative material HoCu_2(CeCu_2-type) of a cryocooler were investigated. The XRD testing reveals that the hydrides of HoCu_2 were a mixture of Cu, unknown hydride Ⅰ, and unknown hydride Ⅱ. Based on the PCT(pressure-concentration-temperature) curves under different reaction temperatures, the relationships among reaction temperature, equilibrium pressure, and maximum hydrogen absorption capacity were analyzed and discussed. The enthalpy change ΔH and entropy change ΔS as a result of the whole hydrogenation process were also calculated from the PCT curves. The magnetization and volumetric specific heat capacity of the hydride were also measured by SQUID magnetometer and PPMS, respectively.展开更多
Mimicry is widely used to exemplify natural selection＇s power in promoting adaptation. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly clear that mimicry is frequently imprecise. Indeed, the phenotypic match is often poor be...Mimicry is widely used to exemplify natural selection＇s power in promoting adaptation. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly clear that mimicry is frequently imprecise. Indeed, the phenotypic match is often poor between mimics and models in many Batesian mimicry complexes and among co-mimics in many Mtillerian mimicry complexes. Here, we consider whether such imperfect mimicry represents an evolutionary compromise between predator-mediated selection favoring mimetic conver- gence on the one hand and competitively mediated selection favoring divergence on the other hand. Specifically, for mimicry to be effective, mimics and their models/co-mimics should occur together. Yet, co-occurring species that are phenotypically similar often compete for resources, successful reproduction, or both. As an adaptive response to minimize such costly interactions, in-teracting species may diverge phenotypically through an evolutionary process known as character displacement. Such divergence between mimics and their models/co-mimics may thereby result in imperfect mimicry. We review the various ways in which character displacement could promote imprecise mimicry, describe the conditions under which this process may be especially likely to produce imperfect mimicry, examine a possible case study, and discuss avenues for future research. Generally, character displacement may play an underappreciated role in fostering inexact mimicry .展开更多
文摘We present the case of a 33-year-old nonatopic woman with multiple episodes of anaphylaxis after ingestion of different fruits. The fruits implicated were apple, banana and lychee: all of which belong to different and botanically disparate plant families. The reaction to apple and banana was confirmed by prick testing. There was no history of allergy to other agents that are known to have cross reactions with fruits, viz. latex or pollen. As such patients often do not present to dermatologists, we wish to highlight the rare but potentially fatal clinical entity of type I allergy to fruits without concomitant allergy to other common airborne/contact allergens. We also discuss the possible explanation of type I reaction to apparently unrelated fruits and the allergens involved in such reactions.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Creative Research Groups (No. 41121064)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No.2009AA09Z401)+1 种基金the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-Q07-02)the Public Interest Research Program in Marine Industry from the State Oceanic Administration of China (No. 200905019)
文摘To understand mercury （Hg） toxicity in marine fish, we measured Hg accumulation in juvenile Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus） and assessed the effects on growth and antioxidant responses. After Hg exposure （control, 5, 40, and 160 gg/L Hg） for 28 d, fish growth was significantly reduced. The accumulation of Hg in fish was dose-dependent and tissue-specific, with the maximum accumulation in kidney and liver, followed by gills, hone, and muscle. Different antioxidants responded differently to Hg exposure to cope with the induction of lipid peroxidation （LPO）, which was also tissue-specific and dose- dependent. As Hg concentration increased, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and catalase （CAT） activities increased significantly, whereas glutathione S-transferase （GST） activity and glutathione （GSH） levels decreased significantly in the gills. SOD and glutathione peroxidase （GPx） activities and the GSH level increased significantly in the liver. SOD activity and GSH levels increased significantly, but CAT activity decreased significantly with an increase in Hg concentration in the kidney. LPO was induced significantly by elevated Hg in the gills and kidney but was least affected in the liver. Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers in gills were more sensitive than those in the liver and kidney to Hg exposure. Thus, the gills have potential as bioindicators for evaluating Hg toxicity in juvenile flounder.
基金grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China(81202843)Science Foundation of Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force(WHJ2016013).
文摘Objective:Pseudolaric acid B(PB)is a newly identified diterpenoid isolated from Tujinpi(Cortex Pseudolaricis).In the present study,we aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of PB on atopic dermatitis(AD),as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects.Methods:BALB/c mice treated with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene were orally administered with PB(10 mg?kg-1?d-1).After evaluating the AD score,serum levels of IgE and the mRNA expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1βwere measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR respectively.Results:The results showed that PB treatment significantly ameliorated the development of AD-like clinical symptoms and effectively suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells.Furthermore,PB inhibited the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1βin skin lesions,and downregulated serum IgE levels.Conclusion:The anti-inflammatory properties of PB were demonstrated using the 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced mouse model of AD-like skin lesions.Our study highlighted the potential use of PB as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated skin diseases.
基金Project(51276154)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2012010111014)supported by the University Doctoral Subject Special Foundation of China
文摘The hydrogenation reaction characteristics and the properties of its hydrides for the magnetic regenerative material HoCu_2(CeCu_2-type) of a cryocooler were investigated. The XRD testing reveals that the hydrides of HoCu_2 were a mixture of Cu, unknown hydride Ⅰ, and unknown hydride Ⅱ. Based on the PCT(pressure-concentration-temperature) curves under different reaction temperatures, the relationships among reaction temperature, equilibrium pressure, and maximum hydrogen absorption capacity were analyzed and discussed. The enthalpy change ΔH and entropy change ΔS as a result of the whole hydrogenation process were also calculated from the PCT curves. The magnetization and volumetric specific heat capacity of the hydride were also measured by SQUID magnetometer and PPMS, respectively.
基金We thank Karin Pfennig, the members of the Pfennig lab, and two anonymous referees for helpful comments. We also thank Zhi-Yun Jia for inviting us to submit this paper and the U.S. National Science Foundation for fund-ing our research on mimicry and character displacement.
文摘Mimicry is widely used to exemplify natural selection＇s power in promoting adaptation. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly clear that mimicry is frequently imprecise. Indeed, the phenotypic match is often poor between mimics and models in many Batesian mimicry complexes and among co-mimics in many Mtillerian mimicry complexes. Here, we consider whether such imperfect mimicry represents an evolutionary compromise between predator-mediated selection favoring mimetic conver- gence on the one hand and competitively mediated selection favoring divergence on the other hand. Specifically, for mimicry to be effective, mimics and their models/co-mimics should occur together. Yet, co-occurring species that are phenotypically similar often compete for resources, successful reproduction, or both. As an adaptive response to minimize such costly interactions, in-teracting species may diverge phenotypically through an evolutionary process known as character displacement. Such divergence between mimics and their models/co-mimics may thereby result in imperfect mimicry. We review the various ways in which character displacement could promote imprecise mimicry, describe the conditions under which this process may be especially likely to produce imperfect mimicry, examine a possible case study, and discuss avenues for future research. Generally, character displacement may play an underappreciated role in fostering inexact mimicry .
