The ascidian Ciona intestinalis is a model organism of developmental and evolutionary biology and may provide crucial clues concerning two fundamental matters, namely, how chordates originated from the putative deuterostome ancestor and how advanced chordates originated from the simplest chordates. In this paper, a whole-life-span culture of C. intestinalis was conducted. Fed with the diet combination of dry Spirulina, egg yolk, Dicrateria sp., edible yeast and weaning diet for shrimp, C. intestinalis grew up to average 59 mm and matured after 60 d cultivation. This culture process could be repeated using the artificially cultured mature ascidians as material. When the fertilized eggs were maintained under 10, 15, 20, 25 degrees C, they hatched within 30 h, 22 h, 16 h and 12 h 50 min respectively experiencing cleavage, blastulation, gastrulation, neurulation, tailbud stage and tadpole stage. The tadpole larvae were characterized as typical but simplified chordates because of their dorsal nerve cord, notochord and primordial brain. After 8 - 24 h freely swimming, the tadpole larvae settled on the substrates and metamorphosized within 1- 2 d into filter feeding sessile juvenile ascidians. In addition, unfertilized eggs were successfully dechorionated in filtered seawater containing 1% Tripsin, 0.25% EDTA at pH of 10.5 within 40 min. After fertilization, the dechorionated eggs developed well and hatched at normal hatching rate. In conclusion, this paper presented feasible methodology for rearing the tadpole larvae of C. intestinalis into sexual maturity under controlled conditions and detailed observations on the embryogenesis of the laboratory cultured ascidians, which will facilitate developmental and genetic research using this model system.
Animals ; Ciona intestinalis ; growth & development ; Embryonic Development ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; physiology ; Zygote ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo report a case of blastic natural killer cell leukemia with an aggressive clinical course.

METHODSThe characteristics of blastic NK cell leukemia and its treatment were discussed with review of literatures.

RESULTSAfter combination chemotherapy and spinal cord segmental radiotherapy, the patient entered hematological remission, but the extramedullary lesion remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONBlastic NK cell leukemia has an aggressive clinical course with poor response to treatment and unfavorable prognosis.

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; pathology ; therapy ; Leukemic Infiltration ; Male

Interactions among the nervous, the endocrine and the immune systems enable the gut to respond to the dietary products, pathogens and microbiota, which maintains the homeostasis of the body. However, dysbiosis may induce or aggravate the gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-GI diseases through changing the activities of enteric nervous system (ENS), enteroendocrine cells and enteric immune cells. Here we review recent advances in the understandings on how intestinal flora may impact the enteric neuro-endocrine-immune system in the gut, thereby contributing to the regulation of pathophysiological processes.
Enteric Nervous System ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune System