Exact formulas that predict the average inbreeding coefficient and heterozygosity of an F2 generation derived from two segregating populations were developed. When population sizes are sufficiently large, the heterozygosity of the F2 is one-half of the heterozygosity of F1 plus one-half of the mean heterozygosity of the two parental populations. The importance of inferring heterozygosity of F2 is discussed from evolutionary perspective.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2, and interleukin-12 synergize with calcium ionophore to enhance dendritic cell function.

The authors previously showed that monocytes treated with calcium ionophore (CI) acquire characteristics of mature dendritic cells (DC) in part through a calcineurin-dependent pathway. In this study, the authors evaluated the ability of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) alone or in combination with CI to induce DC characteristics in peripheral blood monocytes. Monocytes obtained by leukapheresis and countercurrent centrifugal elutriation were cultured with calcium, cytokines, or both, profiled by flow cytometry, and assessed for antigen uptake and sensitization of autologous CD8+ T cells to antigen. Monocytes treated with the combination of GM-CSF, IL-2, and IL-12 resulted in immunophenotypic and antigen uptake profiles typical of immature DC, including loss of surface CD14 expression, de novo low-level expression of B7.1, negligible CD83 expression, marked enhancement of CD40 and ICAM-1, and high major histocompatibility complex class I and II levels. A high level of antigen uptake by macro-pinocytosis was observed. In contrast, CI treatment significantly up-regulates B7.1, B7.2, CD40, CD54, and CD83 and substantially down-regulates CD14 and macro-pinocytosis, a profile consistent with mature DC. Many CI-induced modulations, but none resulting from cytokine treatment alone, were inhibited by the calcineurin phosphatase inhibitor cyclosporin A. Compared with monocytes treated with CI alone, combined treatment of monocytes with GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-12, and CI augmented B7.1 and CD83 expression and enhanced sensitization of autologous CD8+ T cells to melanoma-antigen-derived peptides. These results suggest that several independent pathways of DC activation can cooperatively enhance the function of monocyte-derived DC.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Amelanotic malignant choroidal melanoma in a 10-year-old girl.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The ontogeny of morphological differences in the mandible in two inbred strains of mice.

We have analyzed the postnatal ontogeny of the mandible of two inbred strains of mice (C3HeB and C57/BL) with conventional statistical analysis of area traits and with Euclidian Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA). The relative contribution of the distal tooth-bearing part of the mandible to the area of the whole mandible decreases over time. The most prominent differences in shape between mice of 10 days and 25 days postnatal age are found in the lower posterior part of the mandible. Between angular and condylar process intramembranous ossification proceeds at a high rate and gradually fills the space between these two processes. The position of the proximal end of the molar tooth-row is relocated ventrally during this period. Morphological differences between C3H and C57 are most pronounced at 15 days postnatal age. Regions that discriminate best between the two strains change during development. While differences in the coronoid process separate the two groups clearly at 10 and 25 days postnatal age, no significant differences in the coronoid process are found at 20 days postnatal age. Similarly, masseter area shows significant differences at 15 and 25 days postnatal age, while C57 and C3H mice are equivalent for this trait at the other times. The same qualitative results are obtained by Euclidian Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA): regions of major differences between strains are not consistent among ages. These results suggest that the ontogeny of morphological differences between closely related taxa is quite an erratic process; development of morphometric differences does not proceed smoothly and continuously. This unpredictable pattern of development of morphometric differences is expected if development of the mandible is tightly integrated by epigenetic and regulatory processes.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute effects of static magnetic fields on cutaneous microcirculation in rabbits.

The acute microcirculatory effects of locally applied of static magnetic (SMF) to the cutaneous tissue within a rabbit ear chamber (REC) were evaluated during consciousness. Rabbits with REC were subjected to microphotoelectric plethysmography. Power levels of SMF upon the REC were controlled at 1, 5, 10 mT(milli Tesla), respectively. The duration of exposure was 10 minutes. The exposure of SMF induced variation of vasomotion with a latency of about 10 seconds in a non-dose dependent manner. SMF had a biphasic effect upon the microcirculatory system; when the vascular tone was low, the SMF enhanced vasomotion, and when it was high, the SMF suppressed vasomotion. The results suggest that the SMF can modulate vascular tone due to vasomotion which may involve in clinical efficacy for refraining from neck and shoulder stiffness.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Subchronic effects of static magnetic fields on cutaneous microcirculation in rabbits.

The subchronic effects of locally applied of static magnetic fields (SMF) on the cutaneous microcirculation within the rabbit ear chamber (REC) were evaluated under conscious conditions. The microcirculatory vasomotion within a REC was measured continuously and analyzed multilaterally by microphotoelectric plethysmography and an image shearing monitor. A SMF, a 180 mT (milli Tesla) cylindlical samarium-cobalt permanent magnet was attached on REC for 24 hours to 4 weeks Exposure to SMF for 1-3 weeks significantly induced long-lasting vasodilation with enhanced vasomotion as compared to control group. Thereafter the active vasomotion of SMF group was depressed and/or returned to initial values and there was no difference between SMF and control groups. The results suggest that the subchronic exposure of SMF can bidirectionally modulate microcirculatory vasomotion in cutaneous tissue.

Animals↗