To determine the genetic origin of individual sturgeon that are morphologically intermediate to pallid (Scaphirhynchus albus) and shovelnose (Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus) sturgeon, we combined previously published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite data with additional microsatellite data. Two sympatric populations of pallid and shovelnose sturgeon from the upper Missouri River and a sympatric population containing pallid, shovelnose, and putative pallid-shovelnose hybrids from the Atchafalaya River were analyzed using an index of hybridization and a principle components analysis of individual relatedness scores. The addition of new microsatellite data improved our ability to genetically differentiate individual pallid and shovelnose sturgeon collected in both areas. Our methods distinguished morphologically intermediate Atchafalaya River sturgeon, which appear to be genetically intermediate between pallid and shovelnose sturgeon. The results support a hybrid origin for morphologically intermediate individuals, although it is unclear whether they are all first-generation hybrids or if some are the result of subsequent backcrossing with the more common shovelnose sturgeon.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pseudolinkage of the duplicate loci for supernatant aspartate aminotransferase in brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis.

Electrophoretic variation involving three alleles is described for the duplicated loci for supernatant aspartate aminotransferase (AAT-1,2), from muscle extracts of brook trout. Both loci exhibit largely disomic inheritance. Exceptional progeny types are proposed to be the result of a form of tetrasomic inheritance. Nonrandom segregation was found among the progeny of males doubly heterozygous for AAT markers; where so-called linkage phase was known, this nonrandom assortment was shown to be pseudolinkage (78.9 percent recombination). Analyses of joint segregation of triply heterozygous males for the AAT-(1,2) loci and for the single alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase locus (AGP-1) revealed true linkage of AGP-1 with one AAT locus (mean r = 11 percent), but pseudolinkage with the other AAT locus (r = 74 percent). Intraindividual variation for homoeologous multivalent pairing of two acrocentric with two metacentric chromosomes in males, but with bivalent pairing in females, is proposed to account for pseudolinkage and for the tetrasomically inherited types.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor by intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding glycoprotein with potent angiogenic, mitogenic and vascular permeability-enhancing activities specific for endothelial cells. Recent studies have shown significantly increased VEGF serum levels in patients with active Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The origin of the circulating VEGF is not yet completely described. The present investigation examines the VEGF production of colonic mucosa in consideration of mucosal disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODOLOGY: Fifteen patients with inflammatory bowel disease were studied, 9 patients with Crohn's disease and 6 patients with ulcerative colitis. Biopsies were taken from endoscopically inflamed and non-inflamed colonic mucosa. Therefore, an analysis of the spontaneous VEGF production of cultured biopsies without stimulus and of the histological grade of inflammation scored on a scale of 0-3 (normal mucosa--severe chronic colitis) were performed. Eight patients with irritable bowel syndrome served as controls. VEGF levels in the supernatant of cultured mucosal biopsies were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: VEGF production is expressed as pg/mg wet weight of the biopsies. Inflamed mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis (16.27 +/- 10.39, p = 0.003, n = 6) and active Crohn's disease (9.88 +/- 5.98, p < 0.012, n = 9) showed a significantly higher spontaneous production of VEGF by colonic mucosa than normal mucosa of controls (3.16 +/- 1.63, n = 8). In addition, there was an increased unstimulated VEGF production by cultured inflamed mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease compared with non-inflamed mucosa (3.88 +/- 3.66, p < 0.015, n = 9). In both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, there was no significant difference between VEGF production by non-inflamed mucosa and normal mucosa of controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identifies the intestinal mucosa as one of the origins of the elevated VEGF serum levels in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease and verifies the findings of recent studies about the importance of VEGF in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Oral mesalazine for the treatment of Crohn's disease: clinical efficacy with respect to pharmacokinetic properties.

The release of 5-ASA from various preparations depends on the presence of bacterial azoreductases (sulphasalazine, olsalazine, balsalazide) or the pharmacokinetic properties of the mesalazine-containing pharmaceutical preparations. The differences of the 5-ASA release from the various preparations account for the different anatomic sites of actions. In this regard, a close relationship between the regional intraluminal concentrations of 5-ASA and the clinical response can be assumed. The aim of the present paper is to survey clinical trials in Crohn's disease with special respect to the pharmacokinetic properties of the used mesalazine containing preparations. There are clear differences between the different coated 5-ASA formulas in respect to 5-ASA release and in respect to their pharmacokinetic properties leading to a different therapeutic efficacy in Crohn's disease. The detailed analysis indicates that higher doses of 5-ASA (> 3 g/d) are required for the acute phase treatment. 4.5 g Eudragit-L-coated 5-ASA tablets are almost equally as potent as glucocorticosteroids for the treatment of active Crohn's disease. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated for Eudragit-L-coated tablets even at a low dose of 1-1.5 g 5-ASA/day in the maintenance treatment of remission of Crohn's disease. This has also been shown for Eudragit-S-coated tablets at a dose of 2.4 g 5-ASA/day, while even 3 g 5-ASA of an Eudragit-L/S formula as well as the ethylcellulose-coated formulas up to 4 g 5-ASA/day were ineffective, except for a high risk group. On the basis of the published trials, there is clear evidence that post-operative prophylaxis with 5-ASA requires daily doses higher than 1.5 g. Ethylcellulose-coated 5-ASA has only been effective in Crohn's disease limited to the small bowel and should not be given to patients with ileo-colonic or colonic disease. Moreover, Eudragit-L-coated 5-ASA preparations have shown to be effective in both ileal and colonic disease concerning their clinical efficacy in post-operative prophylaxis. In contrast, endoscopic efficacy has been demonstrated for ethylcellulose as well as Eudragit-S-coated formulas. Treatment of Crohn's disease with orally administered 5-ASA can generally be regarded as an effective and well-tolerated therapy. However, the distinct therapeutic goal (acute phase treatment, maintenance therapy or post-operative prophylaxis), the involved areas of the gut and the specific release of the drug administered have to be considered.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Orthograde whole gut irrigation with mannite versus paromomycine + lactulose as prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding: results of a controlled randomized trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with liver cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding development of hepatic encephalopathy is a major problem. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the mannite lavage in a controlled randomized trial with respect to the Child-Pugh classification. METHODOLOGY: After initial gastroscopy (+/- sclerotherapy) 39 patients with cirrhosis (18 F, 21 M; age: 57.5 +/- 11.9 yr; Child A: 6, Child B: 16, Child C: 17) and upper gastrointestinal-bleeding were classified according to the Child-Pugh-criteria (A,B,C) and randomized in 2 groups (A,B) for each Child-Pugh level. Patients in group A (n = 18) were initially treated with 2000 mL mannite solution (10%) during the first 2 hours using a naso-gastric tube. Treatment was continued using 2000 mL mannite solution (10%) per day until no rectal blood could be observed. Patients in group B (n = 21) were treated with paromomycine ter in die (1 g tid) and lactulose (10 mL tid). There were no statistical differences between both groups concerning age, sex, Child-Pugh-scores, severity or source of bleeding, initial hemoglobin-levels, number of given blood-transfusions or number of patients with sclerotherapy. RESULTS: Patients in group A were treated with a total of 3325 +/- 1897 mL mannite solution. The application was well tolerated. In addition, kinetics of serum creatinine, potassium and sodium levels did not show any significant changes. No significant differences between both groups could be shown with respect to clinical criteria of encephalopathy according to O'Grady and the length of intensive care unit treatment. Moreover, kinetic of ammonia-levels showed a pronounced decrease (P = 0.05) on day 2 versus day 1 in group A (110.0 +/- 24.2 vs. 156.4 +/- 98 mg/dL) as compared to group B (210.0 +/- 52.7 vs. 162.0 +/- 45 mg/dL). In group A, 6 patients (33.3%) died during the study as compared to 3 patients (14.3%) in group B (P > 0.05). The lethality rate was strongly associated with the larger proportion of Child-C-patients in group A. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that whole gut irrigation with mannite is equally efficacious as compared to standard treatment for prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy after upper gastrointestinal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. In contrast to previously published controlled studies, no impact of the lavage on the mortality rate or duration of intensive care unit treatment could be shown. With respect to the lower costs for the mannite solution as compared to paromomycine and lactulose (ROTE LISTE, Germany), the mannite lavage should be recommended for the prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy after upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Adult↗