Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “vascular bundle”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

[Orgasm and its impact on quality of life after radical prostatectomy].

INTRODUCTION: Orgasm is a neurophysiological event, which produces bulbous cavernous muscle contraction that usually coincided with ejaculation. The aim of this study was to assess the orgasm's presence and quality in patients treated with radical prostatectomy, as well as its impact on quality of life of these patients. METHOD: The medical records of 152 patients with radical prostatectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were operated between january 1999 and december 01, with an average age of 64.4 (44-75) years and the follow-up period was 33 (21-45) months. 42 (31.6%) patients showed erectile dysfunction (ED) previous to surgery. The research was performed by a personal interview through a questionnaire. RESULTS: 134 patients (96.4%) treated showed post operative ED, 91.6% of patients had stable relationship and 44.4% have sexual intercourse, 23.3% masturbation only and 32.3% no sexual activity. 84 patients (55.2%) were not interested in receiving treatment and 25 (16.4%) referred a reduced libido. Concerning to orgasm sensation, 140 patients (92.1%) preserved a subjectively normal orgasm, 4 (2.6%) referred lack of it and 8 (5.2%) a weakened or anomalous sensation. Furthermore 24 patients (15.7) had urine loss during orgasm. CONCLUSIONS: After radical prostatectomy, both the orgasmic function and libido were kept by the majority of patients despite the neuro vascular bundle damaged caused. Only a minority of patients having urine loss, as a consequence of surgical procedure.

Adult↗

Double mandibular osteotomy with coronoidectomy for tumours in the parapharyngeal space.

Removal of deep-lobe parotid tumours from the parapharyngeal space is often difficult because of limited surgical access and the critical vascular and neurologic structures nearby. Mandibulotomy, when necessary, is useful for improving wider visibility and control of the vascular bundle and facial nerve, but may cause damage to the inferior dental and lingual nerves. The double mandibular osteotomy with coronoidectomy gives excellent access and avoids damage to these nerves.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Local anaesthetic for transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of local anaesthetic (LA) infiltration in decreasing the discomfort experienced by patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of prostate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 98 patients were randomized to receive 3x3ml of 1% lidocaine (n=55) or saline (n=43). The injection sites were basolaterally on each side to infiltrate the neuro-vascular bundle and one at the apex. Generally 12 systematic random biopsies were performed after which patients were asked to grade the pain of the whole procedure using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10. RESULTS: The LA group had a significantly lower pain score compared with placebo. The mean pain scores were 3.0 and 4.3 (p<0.001), respectively. Using an unpaired t-test, the difference between means was -1.96 to -0.51 with 95% confidence interval. There were no significant problems associated with the infiltration of either saline or LA. CONCLUSION: Local anaesthesia for TRUS biopsy is simple and well tolerated. It significantly reduces the pain associated with the procedure. We recommend its usage as a part of standard TRUS biopsy of the prostate.

Adult↗

Temporary internal fixation of the scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint for the treatment of Kienböck's disease: a preliminary study.

Temporary scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal (STT) fixation with Kirschner wires (K-wires) has been used in the treatment of 16 cases of Kienböck's disease since 1988. Twelve of these cases with a follow-up of at least 1 year were reviewed. Eight patients were women and 4 were men and the average age at the time of surgery was 44 years (range, 20-67 years). Five cases were treated with temporary STT fixation and vascular bundle implantation (group V), and 7 cases were treated with temporary STT fixation and tendon roll implantation (group T). K-wires were removed between 16 and 26 weeks after surgery (average, 18.6 weeks) in group V, and between 8 and 13 weeks (average, 9.7 weeks) in group T. The follow-up periods ranged from 12 to 92 months (average, 38 months). Postoperative wrist pain disappeared in 7 cases and decreased in 5. The postoperative arc of wrist flexion and extension increased from 97 degrees to 108 degrees in group V and from 85 degrees to 103 degrees in group T. Grip strength improved from 22.2 to 30.6 kg in group V and from 11.4 kg to 17.7 kg in group T. X-ray evaluation revealed that the mean carpal height ratio was 0.488 before surgery, 0.489 during STT fixation, and 0.480 at the final follow-up. The carpal height decreased in 3 cases (2 in group V and 1 in group T). The postoperative radioscaphoid angle improved in all cases during K-wire insertion and regressed after removal of the K-wire, eventually showing a decrease in 4 cases, an increase in 3 cases, and no change in 5 cases.

Adult↗

Neck injuries as a reconstructive parameter in car-to-pedestrian accidents.

The study has assessed the usefulness of injuries to the ligamentous, muscular and vascular neck structures for deducing about the presumable location of a pedestrian in relation to a motor vehicle at the moment of collision. The localisation of haemorrhagic suffusions in the lower insertions of the scalene (mainly) and sternocleidomastoid muscles has shown a correlation with the direction of the inertia force. No correlation has been observed between the direction of impact and damages to the cervical vascular bundles and the localisation of haemorrhagic suffusions in the upper insertions of the nape muscles. In some cases, injuries to the ligaments of the cervical vertebrae made up the complex characteristic of the direction of acting forces. The injuries of soft tissues and ligaments can, thus, facilitate the deductions about the direction of impact. However, the type of a car involved in the accident and the possibility that these injuries resulted from direct head or neck trauma should be considered.

Accidents, Traffic↗

The vascular rein technique: a new way for thumb reconstruction.

Many surgical procedures have already been published for reconstruction of an amputated thumb. A new technique is proposed consisting of a composite island transfer of part or of the whole distal phalanx of the middle finger. A double vascular bundle is provided and microsurgery is not necessary. 13 cases have been carried out with a maximum follow up of 6 years.

Amputation, Traumatic↗

Inadvertent 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose lymphoscintigraphy: a potential pitfall characterized by hybrid PET-CT.

PURPOSE: To communicate an important pitfall in positron emission tomography (PET) oncologic staging using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG). PROCEDURE: A 60-year-old man with a right upper lobe bronchogenic carcinoma was injected with FDG through a cannula in his left cubital fossa, with a small amount of the dose extravasating. RESULTS: Images obtained one hour post-injection with a positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) scanner demonstrated linear FDG activity running with the left arm brachial vascular bundle and along collateral channels, and accumulation of FDG in a low left axillary lymph node of normal size and CT appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Following inadvertent extravasation, FDG appears to accumulate in regional lymph nodes in the same fashion as bone scanning agents or lymphoscintigraphy colloid. Physicians and technologists need to be aware of this important pitfall in order to avoid the false positive diagnosis of nodal metastases. The ability of PET to demonstrate lymphatics and lymph nodes indicates its possible future use in lymphoscintigraphy.

Journal Article↗

Mapping peroxidase in plant tissues by scanning electrochemical microscopy.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy has been firstly used to map the enzymatic activity in natural plant tissues. The peroxidase (POD) was maintained in its original state in the celery (Apium graveolens L.) tissues and electrochemically visualized under its native environment. Ferrocenemethanol (FMA) was selected as a mediator to probe the POD in celery tissues based on the fact that POD catalyzed the oxidation of FMA by H(2)O(2) to increase FMA(+) concentration. Two-dimensional reduction current profiles for FMA(+) produced images indicating the distribution and activity of the POD at the surface of the celery tissues. These images showed that the POD was widely distributed in the celery tissues, and larger amounts were found in some special regions such as the center of celery stem and around some vascular bundles.

Apium↗

Expression analysis of a sucrose carrier in the germinating seedling of Ricinus communis.

This study describes the expression of a sucrose carrier at various developmental stages in Ricinus communis. A partial-length cDNA clone, RcSUT1, was isolated by RT-PCR from Ricinus seedling RNA. This is almost identical to a sucrose carrier cDNA, Rscr1, which has previously been isolated by library screening. However, we have observed a very different expression pattern in the seedling to that previously reported. Northern analysis, with RcSUT1 as a probe, revealed high expression of a 2 kb transcript in the cotyledons of the germinating seedling; transcript levels were similar in cotyledons harvested 3-6 days after germination. A much lower level of this transcript was detected in the root, hypocotyl and endosperm RNA of the seedling and very low levels were also present in the sink and source leaves of the mature plant. This pattern of expression was also reflected at the protein level with an antipeptide antibody raised to part of the RcSUT1 deduced amino acid sequence. Tissue print hybridisation analysis of the hypocotyl revealed that the sucrose carrier transcripts were localised to the phloem cells of the vascular bundles. A more detailed analysis of sucrose carrier gene expression in the cotyledons of the germinating seedling was carried out by in situ hybridisation; the strongest signals were observed from the lower epidermal layer and the phloem, consistent with an active loading role for these cells. An ultrastructural study of the cells in the lower epidermis showed that they have wall ingrowths which are characteristic of transfer cells. The results are discussed in relation to the physiological role of the sucrose carrier in the Ricinus seedling and to the pathways of sucrose movement from endosperm to the sieve elements in the cotyledons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Maize alpha-tubulin genes are expressed according to specific patterns of cell differentiation.

In the past few years many alpha- and beta-tubulin genes of different organisms have been cloned and studied, and in most systems studied they constitute multigene families. In plants, most studies have been done in Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays. In this paper, the study of mRNA accumulation by in situ hybridization and the activity of three maize alpha-tubulin gene promoters (tua1, tua2 and tua3) in transgenic tobacco plants are described. In maize, the expression of these three tubulin isotypes differ in the root and shoot apex and is associated with different groups of cells throughout the distinct stages of cell differentiation. In transgenic tobacco plants the promoters of the genes, fused to the uidA reporter gene (GUS), direct expression to the same tissues observed by in situ hybridization experiments. The tua1 promoter is mainly active in cortex-producing meristematic cells and in pollen, whereas tua3 is active in cells which are differentiating to form vascular bundles in the root and shoot apices. The accumulation of tua2 mRNA is detected by RNA blot in a similar form as tua1, but at a very much low level. In situ hybridization indicates that the tua2 mRNA specifically accumulates in the maize root epidermis. No GUS staining was detected in transgenic tobacco plants with the tua2 promoter. The difference in expression of the specific genes may be linked to processes where microtubules have different functions, suggesting that in plants, as in animals, there are differences in the function of the tubulin isotypes.

Cell Differentiation↗

Characterization of a pine multigene family containing elicitor-responsive stilbene synthase genes.

Young pine seedlings respond to environmental stress by induced synthesis of pinosylvin, a stilbene phytoalexin. Heartwood of pine trees is characterized by a high content of pinosylvin. The formation of pinosylvin from cinnamoyl-CoA and three molecules malonyl-CoA catalysed by pinosylvin synthase is typical of the genus Pinus. Its enzyme activity not detectable in unstressed seedlings is substantially increased upon application of stimuli like UV-light or infection with the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. A genomic DNA library was screened with pinosylvin synthase cDNA pSP-54 as a probe. Ten clones were isolated and grouped into five subclasses according to the size of their introns. After subcloning into plasmid T7T3, four different members of the five gene subclasses were characterized by sequencing. Emphasis was put on isolating various promoters and analyzing and comparing their responsiveness. The amino acid sequences deduced from genes PST-1, PST-2, PST-3 and PST-5 shared an overall identity of more than 95%. In gene PST-5, the putative translation start site ATG was replaced by CTG. While promoter regions near the TATAA box were almost identical PST-1, PST-2 and PST-3, further upstream sequences differed substantially. Differences in promoter strength were analysed both in transgenic tobacco plants and by transient expression in tobacco protoplasts. Constructs used contained the bacterial beta-glucuronidase under the control of the promoters of pine genes PST-1, PST-2 and PST-3. Upon treatment with UV light or fungal elicitor, the promoter of PST-1 showed highest responsiveness and led to tissue-specific expression in vascular bundles. The data suggest that in pine the gene product of PST-1 is responsible for both the stress response in seedlings and pinosylvin formation in the heartwood.

Acyltransferases↗

Tissue-specific expression of two genes for sucrose synthase in carrot (Daucus carota L.).

Sucrose synthase, which cleaves sucrose in the presence of uridine diphosphate (UDP) into UDP-glucose and fructose, is thought to be a key determinant of sink strength of heterotrophic plant organs. To determine the roles of the enzyme in carrot, we characterized carrot sucrose synthase at the molecular level. Two genes (Susy*Dc1 and Susy*Dc2) were isolated. The deduced amino acid sequences are 87% identical. However, the sequences upstream of the translation initiation codons are markedly different, as are the expression patterns of the two genes. Susy*Dc2 was exclusively expressed in flowers. Transcripts for Susy*Dc1 were found in stems, in roots at different developmental stages, and in flower buds, flowers and maturing seeds, with the highest levels in strong utilization sinks for sucrose such as growing stems and tap root tips. Expression of Susy*Dc1 was regulated by anaerobiosis but not by sugars or acetate. The carrot sucrose synthase protein is partly membrane-associated and this insoluble form may be directly involved in cellulose biosynthesis. Tap roots of the carrot cultivar used accumulated starch in the vicinity of the vascular bundles, which correlated with high sucrose synthase transcript levels. This finding suggests that soluble sucrose synthase in tap roots channels sucrose towards starch biosynthesis. Starch accumulation appears to be transient and may be involved in sucrose partitioning to developing tap roots.

Anaerobiosis↗

Localization of peroxidase mRNAs in soybean seeds by in situ hybridization.

The soybean Ep gene encodes an anionic peroxidase enzyme that accumulates in large amounts in seed coat tissues. We have isolated a second peroxidase gene, Prx2, that is also highly expressed in developing seed coat tissues. Sequence analysis of Prx2 cDNA indicates that this transcript encodes a cationic peroxidase isozyme that is far removed from Ep in peroxidase phylogeny. To determine the expression patterns for these two peroxidases in developing seeds, the abundance and localization of the Ep and Prx2 transcripts were compared by in situ hybridization. Results show the expression of Ep begins in a small number of cells flanking the vascular bundle in the seed coat, spreads to encircle the seed, and then migrates to the hourglass cells as they develop. Expression of Prx2 occurs throughout development in all cell layers of the seed coat, and is also evident in the pericarp and embryo. Nonetheless, the Ep-encoded enzyme accounts for virtually all of the peroxidase activity detected in mature seed coats. The Prx2 enzyme is either insoluble in a catalytically inactive form, or is subject to degradation during seed maturation.

Blotting, Northern↗

Cellular expression and regulation of the Medicago truncatula cytosolic glutamine synthetase genes in root nodules.

In this paper we have studied the localisation of expression of the two functional cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS) genes, MtGSa and MtGSb, in root nodules of the model legume Medicago truncatula. We have used a combination of different techniques, including immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridisation and promoter beta-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions in transgenic plants, to provide the means of correlating gene expression with protein localisation. These studies revealed that transcriptional regulation (mRNA synthesis) plays an important part in controlling GS protein levels in nodules of M. truncatula. The major locations of cytosolic GS mRNA and protein are the central tissue, the parenchyma and the pericycle of the vascular bundles. These findings indicate that in nodules, GS might be involved in other physiological processes in addition to the primary assimilation of ammonia released by the bacterial nitrogenase. The two genes show different but overlapping patterns of expression with MtGSa being the major gene expressed in the infected cells of the nodule. Promoter fragments of 2.6 kb and 3.1 kb of MtGSa and MtGSb, respectively, have been sequenced and primer extension revealed that the MtGSb promoter is expressed in nodules from an additional start site that is not used in roots. Generally these fragments in the homologous transgenic system were sufficient to drive GUS expression in almost all the tissues and cell types where GS proteins and transcripts are located except that the MtGSa promoter fragment did not express GUS highly in the nodule infected cells. These results indicate that the cis-acting regulatory elements responsible for infected-cell expression are missing from the MtGSa promoter fragment.

Base Sequence↗

Expression of ACC oxidase genes differs among sex genotypes and sex phases in cucumber.

Ethylene has been implicated as a sex-determining hormone in cucumber: its exogenous application increases femaleness, and gynoecious genotypes were reported to produce more ethylene. In this study, three full-length ACC oxidase cDNAs were isolated from cucumber floral buds. RFLP analysis of a population that segregates for the F(femaleness) locus indicated that CS-ACO2 is linked to F at a distance of 8.7 cM. Expression of two of the genes, CS-ACO2 and CS-ACO3, was monitored in flowers, shoot tips and leaves of different sex genotypes. In situ mRNA hybridization indicated different patternsof tissue- and stage-specific expression of CS-ACO2 and CS-ACO3 in developing flowers. CS-ACO3 expression in mid-stage female flowers was localized to the nectaries, pistil and in the arrested staminoids, whereas CS-ACO2 transcript levels accumulated later and were found in placental tissue, ovary and staminoids. In male flowers, petals and nectaries expressed both genes, whereas ACO2 expression was strong in pollen of mature flowers. In young buds, strong expression was observed along developing vascular bundles. Four sex genotypes were compared for CS-ACO2 and CS-ACO3 expression in the shoot apex and young leaf. FF genotypes had higher transcript levels in leaves but lower levels in the shoot apex and in young buds, as compared to ff genotypes; the shoot-tip pattern is, therefore, inversely correlated with femaleness, and the possibility of a feedback inhibition mechanism underlying such correlation is discussed. The two CS-ACO genes studied displayed a differential response to ethrel treatment in different organs and sex genotypes, further demonstrating the complexity of the mechanisms controlling ethylene production during cucumber floral development.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

The expression of Brostm, a KNOTTED1-like gene, marks the cell type and timing of in vitro shoot induction in Brassica oleracea.

We studied the early events of de novo formation of adventitious shoot meristems in stem segments of Brassica oleracea. A regeneration system was used that is efficient, rapid, highly responsive to cytokinins and does not involve callus formation, thus allowing studies on a direct developmental switch of cells in the stem segment to form adventitious shoot meristem cells. Shoot meristem cells and dividing cells were marked from very early stages using in situ hybridization studies with Brostm, a Brassica homologue of the Arabidopsis SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM) gene, and a cyclin box-derived probe, Brocyc, respectively. We show that the process of developmental switching starts before any cell division occurs in the stem explants. This switching occurs synchronously both longitudinally and transversely in the explant, in groups of 5-7 phloem parenchyma cells subtending vascular bundles in the explant. Brostm is induced specifically in response to a cytokinin, benzyladenine, within 4 h of treatment and the transcripts persist during cell proliferation leading to shoot differentiation. We also show that during adventitious shoot formation, cells expressing Brostm are distinct from those expressing Brocyc. Lastly, our data suggest that, although developmental switching is initiated synchronously within 4 h of treatment, it requires 8 h of treatment for the establishment of organogenic determinance. The latter process is aynchronous, implying that additional factors formed later than Brostm are required to achieve maximal levels of determined cell populations to form adventitious shoots in vitro.

Adenine↗

The root-nodule symbiosis between Sarothamnus scoparius L. and its microsymbionts.

When nitrogen fixing root nodules are formed, Sarothamnus scoparius (broom) is inoculated with its microsymbionts. Nodules studied under light and electron microscopy exhibited typical indeterminate nodule histology with apical, persistent meristem, age gradient of nodule tissues, and open vascular bundles, and also with some particular features such as: the presence of mitotic activity in the infected meristematic cells, lack of infection threads, distribution of bacteria by process of host cell division, and occurrence of a large bacteroid zone only with infected cells. The results of cross-inoculation tests have shown a broad host range for S. scoparius microsymbionts including not only the native host but also species such as: Lupinus luteus, Ornithopus sativa, Lotus corniculatus, Genista tinctoria, Chamaecitisus ratisbonensis, Macroptilium atropurpureum, and Phaseolus vulgaris. In addition, our data established a close symbiotic relationship of S. scoparius nodulators to Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) by comparison of the partial sequence of nodC gene of the strain CYT7, specific for the broom, to those from Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) strain D1 and others available in the public databases.

Bacterial Proteins↗