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Radiological determination of the posterior limits of the temporal lobe for volumetric analysis.

The posterior peri-Sylvian area is the most highly lateralized part of the human brain due to its specialised role in language. Currently, there is no clearly defined posterior boundary of the temporal lobe which takes account of language lateralization and which can be reliably determined radiologically. However, there have been a number of recent advances in magnetic resonance technology including volume visualisation techniques which have as their goal the realistic three-dimensional representation of the brain which is acquired in two-dimensional slices. These have enabled the identification of precise macroanatomical and cytoarchitectural boundaries from which an efficient and reproducible posterior limit may be demarcated. Such limit standardisation is important for volumetric investigations of both neurological and psychiatric disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 20 normal subjects (10 male and 10 female), aged between 18 and 42 years, were acquired as part of a study of normal temporal lobe volume variation. In order to demonstrate the method of posterior limit placement, a thin slice (1.5 mm) 3D spoiled gradient magnetic resonance image of the brain of a 30 year-old right-handed male, without neurological disease, was acquired on a 1.5 tesla GE magnetic resonance machine. The data set was transferred via network to the hard disk of a 166 MHz Pentium processor PC. A software package called MEASURE allowed reformation of the data set in all three orthogonal planes. Then, using a high resolution algorithm, the brain was aligned along the newly proposed posterior plane which runs from the limit of the Sylvian fissure, identified on a 3D rendering, to the posterior/inferior splenium. It is hoped that this procedure will be utilised as a standard method for radiological determination of the limit of the posterior temporal lobe in order to allow volumetric measurements of this structure to be compared in a meaningful way.

Adolescent↗

Combined use of proacrosin immunocytochemistry and autosomal DNA in situ hybridisation for evaluation of human ejaculated germ cells.

The recently reported human pregnancies and births after fertilising oocytes with round spermatids recovered from the ejaculate of men with non-obstructive azoospermia have underscored the need for a more accurate evaluation of the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation status of ejaculated germ cells. In this study we describe our first experience with a method combining the immunocytochemical visualisation of proacrosin with autosomal DNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) to assess ejaculated germ cells from patients with a spermiogenesis defect. The proacrosin immunoreactivity, analysed with the use of the monoclonal antibody 4D4, has been detected in cells of round spermatid size presenting a haploid FISH figure as well as in larger cells whose ploidy corresponds to primary and secondary spermatocytes. These observations are in agreement with previously published results obtained, with the use of the same antibody, by immunocytochemical analysis of histological sections of testicular tissue. All the cells of round spermatid size possessing proacrosin immunoreactivity were found to be haploid by FISH. On the other hand, some of the haploid cells of round spermatid size did not possess proacrosin immunoreactivity. The structural pattern of proacrosin immunoreactivity was highly variable both in spermatids and in younger spermatogenic cells. These data show that cell size is the main criterion to be used for the identification of ejaculated round spermatids, whereas the presence of the developing acrosome represents only an auxiliary criterion. The scoring of acrosomal development in ejaculated spermatids may be useful as part of pre-treatment diagnosis before the inclusion of infertile couples in a spermatid conception programme.

Acrosin↗

Stress induced changes in transmitter release from sympathetic varicosities of the mouse vas deferens.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is an important component of the response to stress, but the effects of prolonged stress on sympathetic neurotransmission have not been assessed. In the present study we have examined the effect of 3 to 10 days exposure to stress induced by frequent handling and sham injections on neurotransmitter release from sympathetic varicosities of the mouse vas deferens. DiOC2(5)-fluorescence was used to visualise the sympathetic varicosities so that extracellular electrodes could be placed over known numbers of varicosities to monitor transmitter release using electrophysiological techniques. The frequency of excitatory junction currents (EJCs) increased with increasing duration of exposure to stress. The mean and maximum EJC amplitude significantly increased by 107% and 43%, respectively after 10 days of exposure to stress. The density of sympathetic varicosities innervating smooth muscle of the mouse vas deferens was not changed throughout the duration of the exposure to stress. The findings from this study demonstrate that the efficacy of transmitter release from the sympathetic varicosities is altered by repeated exposure of mice to stressful stimuli, such as handling and sham injections. Since such procedures are routine in many pharmacological experiments, it is important that investigators are aware of these changes so that due consideration is given when interpreting the data obtained from animals treated in this way.

Animals↗

Multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in an elderly human individual.

We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study deletions in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of an elderly human individual. An extended set of PCR primers has been utilised to identify 10 mitochondrial DNA deletions in a 69-year-old female subject with no known mitochondrial disease. The particular deletions visualised as PCR products depended on the primer pairs used, such that the more distantly separated PCR primers enabled visualisation of larger deletions. Some deletions were common to the heart, brain and skeletal muscle, whereas others were apparently specific to individual tissues. DNA sequencing analysis of PCR products showed that short direct repeat sequences (5 to 13 bp) flanked all deletion breakpoints; in most cases one copy of the repeat was deleted. It is proposed that the accumulation of such multiple deletions is a general phenomenon during the ageing process.

Aged↗

Echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging of Gaviscon alginate rafts in-vivo.

Liquid Gaviscon and Gaviscon Advance are established reflux suppressant formulations. This study describes the use of echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging (EPI) to visualise non-invasively intragastric alginate rafts of Liquid Gaviscon and Gaviscon Advance in healthy subjects. Secondly, the feasibility of using relaxation rate (T2(-1)) measurements to monitor changes in the physicochemical properties of the rafts in-vivo is evaluated. Six subjects ingested 500 mL of a liquid meal and received a single dose of 20 mL Liquid Gaviscon or 10 mL Gaviscon Advance on 2 separate visits each and were imaged every 15 min. An alginate raft was observed in the stomach for all subjects and both treatments. The raft was observed to consist of a few large fragments on the majority of the scans for both products. At t = 60 min a raft was still present in all cases. Three-dimensional volume reconstructions showed, for the first time, the spatial distribution of the rafts within the gastric lumen. The T2(-1) data showed potential for assessment of dynamic changes in the physicochemical properties of the alginate rafts in-vivo. We conclude that EPI shows great potential in assessing alginate rafts formation in-vivo.

Adult↗

Natural course of Crohn's disease after ileocolic resection: endoscopically visualised ileal ulcers preceding symptoms.

Forty two Crohn's disease patients were followed up after ileocolic resection with regard to symptoms and endoscopic appearance of the ileocolic anastomosis. Twenty eight patients resected because of colonic neoplasm served as controls. In all the Crohn's disease patients the ileal resection margin was disease free macroscopically at operation. In addition, intraoperative ileoscopy was performed in 13 and no sign of residual inflammation in the neoterminal ileum was seen. Endoscopy soon after surgery often showed preanastomotic ileal ulceration before symptoms appeared, whereas no anastomotic lesions were observed in the controls. Thus, 22 of 30 Crohn's disease patients examined had ulceration of the anastomotic area after three months, but only 10 had developed symptoms indicating relapse (73 v 33%). Corresponding figures in the 30 patients examined after one year were 93 v 37%, and in 14 patients after three years they were 100 and 86% respectively. The inflammatory lesions in all cases were preanastomotic, in the neoterminal ileum, and showed time related progression from aphthae to larger ulcers and stricture. The study suggests that endoscopically observed inflammatory lesions that appear soon after ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease signify new inflammation and not residual, persistent disease or incomplete anastomotic healing. The data further suggest that despite clinical remission after apparently radical intestinal resection, the bowel is permanently inflamed in Crohn's disease.

Adolescent↗

CT data sets surface extraction for biomechanical modeling of long bones.

In modelling applications such as custom-made implants design is useful to have a surface representation of the anatomy of bones rather than the voxel-based representation generated by tomography systems. A voxel-to-surface conversion process is usually done by a 2D segmentation of the images stack. However, other methods allow a direct 3D segmentation of the CT or MRI data set. In the present work, two of these methods, namely the Standard Marching Cube (SMC) and the Discretized Marching Cube (DMC) algorithms, were compared in terms of local accuracy when used to reconstruct the geometry of a human femur. The SMC method was found to be more accurate than the DMC method. The SMC method was capable of reconstructing the inner and outer geometry of a human femur with a peak error lower than 0.9 mm and an average error comparable to the pixel size (0.3 mm). However, the large number of triangles generated by the algorithm may limit its adoption in many modelling applications. The peak error of the DMC algorithm was 1.6 mm but it produced approximately 70% less triangles than the SMC method. From the results of this study, it may be concluded that three dimensional segmentation algorithms are useful not only in visualisation applications but also in the creation of geometry models.

Algorithms↗

Cross sectional echocardiographic assessment of great artery diameters in infants and children.

The pulmonary trunk and aortic root were measured on cross sectional echocardiograms in 173 normal subjects aged from one day to 15 years. Fifteen neonates were reexamined 3-6 days later. The great vessels were visualised in the parasternal long axis and short axis views. All measurements were made in end diastole and end systole by the leading edge method. The internal diameter (inner surface to inner surface) of the pulmonary trunk was also measured. The diameters of the great vessels correlated best with the square root of body surface area. Individual variability in cardiac growth gave a wide scatter of normal values. This was controlled for by calculating the ratio of the pulmonary trunk to aortic root for each subject. This ratio showed little individual variability and, except for the neonatal period, was remarkably constant throughout infancy and childhood (1.06 (0.06)). In the first 24 hours of life the ratio of the pulmonary trunk to the aortic root was significantly larger (1.29 (0.12)) but within one week it decreased to the "normal" ratio found in the older age groups. These normal data should be useful in assessing patients with congenital heart disease, particularly those in whom pulmonary blood flow is abnormal.

Adolescent↗

Dual-label autoradiographic analysis of human skin fibroblast and myoblast proteins by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension.

Horizontal two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension has been applied to the analysis of human skin fibroblast and muscle myoblast total cell proteins. Excellent two-dimensional separations of skin fibroblast proteins were obtained using pH 4-10 immobilised pH gradient gels with a long interelectrode distance (16 cm), but resolution was degraded, particularly of the more acidic proteins, by the use of shorter (10 cm) gels. Improved resolution of acidic and basic proteins was obtained using separate pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels respectively in the first dimension. Two-dimensional protein maps of skin fibroblast proteins were visualised both by silver staining and by autoradiography of samples labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine. Horizontal two-dimensional electrophoresis, using pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels in the first dimension, was applied to the analysis of protein samples from skin fibroblasts and muscle myoblasts dual-labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine and [75Se]selenomethionine in an attempt to identify sets of proteins specific to each cell type. In addition, two-dimensional maps or protein samples derived from normal individuals and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were compared to search for protein changes associated with the disease state. Although sets of qualitative protein spot differences were observed by visual inspection of the two-dimensional gels, more rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis of the patterns using a computerised analysis system will be required to obtain the maximum amount of information from these data.

Autoradiography↗

Specific atrial overexpression of G protein coupled human beta 1 adrenoceptors in transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a transgenic mouse model of atrial beta 1 adrenoceptor overexpression in order to create atrial alteration of the receptor transduction system. METHODS: Transgenic founders were generated after microinjection of the transgene construct into the pronucleus of fertilised mouse eggs. Heterozygous progeny were screened for RNA expression of the human beta 1 adrenoceptor gene under the control of a 0.56 kb proximal promoter of the human atrial natriuretic factor. One line, out of the three obtained, was selected and further characterised for overexpression of the human beta 1 adrenoceptor. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect beta 1 adrenoceptor mRNA, and 125I-cyanopindolol (ICYP) binding assays were used to quantify receptors in heart membranes. A quantitative autoradiographic ICYP binding technique was also used to visualise atrial and ventricular beta adrenoceptors in heart sections. RESULTS: The human beta 1 adrenoceptor was overexpressed specifically in the atria of transgenic mice. The level of the beta 1 adrenoceptor was 5-10-fold higher in transgenic mice compared to basal murine beta 1 adrenoceptors in non-transgenic control mice. Left and right atrial receptor overexpression was confirmed by in vitro autoradiography. The human receptors were able to couple to the murine stimulatory G proteins (Gs), as shown by high affinity binding site dosage using the beta adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline. Isoprenaline displacement studies allowed the determination of two different affinity sites, one of high affinity (KH = 5.8 nM), and one of low affinity (KL = 520 nM). When expressed in terms of protein density (fmol.mg-1), atrial transgenic beta 1 adrenoceptors displayed a threefold increase in high affinity sites (KH) as compared to control mice. Preliminary electrocardiographic data showed supraventricular premature beats in 6/14 transgenic mice v 2/16 control mice. CONCLUSIONS: These transgenic mice may provide a useful pharmacological tool to investigate the pathophysiological consequences of the overactivation of atrial beta 1 adrenoceptor-adenylyl cyclase signalling system.

Animals↗

The major protein of bull seminal plasma: biosynthesis and biological function.

We isolated the major protein of apparent Mr of 15,000-16,000 from seminal plasma as well as from seminal vesicle secretion of bull and proved by amino acid analysis and tryptic peptide mapping that the two proteins were identical. An antiserum against this major protein was employed to quantitate and identify the major protein in seminal plasma as well as seminal vesicle secretion. The antiserum did not cross-react with proteins from bovine or human plasma or follicular fluid respectively. Cell-free translation of poly(A)RNA from seminal vesicle tissue and immunoprecipitation yielded one major species with apparent Mr of 18,000. Using the anti-major protein antiserum, this major species was specifically immuno absorbed. Cloning and sequencing of a major protein-specific cDNA led to the identification of clone pMP17, encoding a precursor of the major protein of 128 amino acid residues. We proved that the major protein is identical to protein PDC 109 (Esch et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 113:861-867, 1983). The seminal vesicles synthesize major protein in an androgen-dependent fashion. In addition to intraluminal secretion of the vas deferens, ampullary spermatozoa revealed an intense immunoreaction which was restricted to the neck region of the sperm head and the middle piece, while the principal piece of the tail as well as the sperm head were devoid of immunoreactive material. Epididymal epithelium (as well as calf seminal vesicle epithelium) showed no immunoreactivity with major protein antiserum. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that only spermatozoa devoid of a plasma membrane around the middle piece were able to bind the antiserum against major protein. After removal of the plasma membrane from epididymal spermatozoa, binding of major protein to subplasmalemmal binding sites was visualised using gold-labeled MP. Transblotting with gold-labeled MP demonstrated a protein of about 66 kDa which appears to represent the major protein-receptor. Binding of major protein to the receptor (after loss of the plasma membrane in the mid-piece region of the spermatozoa after contact with secretions from seminal vesicles) is interpreted as a physiological process presumably related to the onset of sperm motility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and cloning of Streptomyces terminal fragments.

Streptomyces species have a linear chromosome of approximately 8 Mb in size. Many strains also carry linear plasmids. Most of these linear elements contain terminal proteins covalently bound to the 5' ends of the DNA. Using a method for the visualisation of terminal DNA fragments in agarose gels, it was possible to see three fragments in S. rimosus and five fragments in S. avermitilis. The method was also used to clone the 298 bp BamHI fragment carrying the left end of plasmid SLP2. Analysis of the sequence showed that the end resembled other Streptomyces chromosome and plasmid ends, but there were eight palindromes (instead of seven) and a tandem duplication of a 14 bp sequence.

Base Sequence↗

Correlation between functional, radiological and anatomical abnormalities in upper airway obstruction (UAO) due to tracheal stenosis.

Few data are available on the relative sensitivity of different lung function tests in upper airway obstruction (UAO) and on the correlation of these tests with radiological estimations of tracheal stenosis. This paper is based on patients with a goiter or tracheal tumor and in healthy subjects breathing through rigid resistors, as well as on literature data. Lung function abnormalities present a specific pattern in UAO: this is characterised by a typical shape of the maximal flow-volume curve, a marked reduction in peakflow (PEF) and only minor changes in routine spirometry (e.g. FEV1, which thus tends to underestimate the stenosis). The clinical relevance of the lung function abnormalities in UAO can be estimated from their relationship with the exercise limitation: a moderate exercise limitation to about 60% pred is found if PEF is reduced to about 40% pred, and Raw is increased to about 600% pred (in which instance FEV1 is still 75% pred). This limitation grossly corresponds to a UAO of about 6 mm diameter. No good correlation is found between lung function abnormalities and the radiological stenosis (CT-scan or X-ray): CT-scan or X-ray are only moderately correlated with each other. Moreover, stenosis can be visualised through X-ray in only about 60% of the cases.

Adult↗

Molecular dynamics simulations of oligonucleotides in solution: visualization of intrinsic curvature.

We have undertaken molecular dynamics simulations on the d(CGCAAAAAAGCG).d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) dodecamer in solution. In this study, we focus on aspects of conformation and dynamics, including the possibility of cross-strand hydrogen bonds. We compare our results with those from crystallography as well as infrared, Raman and NMR spectroscopy and cyclization kinetics. Our method of analysis allows us to visualise the curvature of the helix as a function of time during the simulation. We find that the major distortions of the helix axis path occur at the junctions between the (essentially straight) A-tract and the CG- and GC-tracts, although at one junction this is due to hyperflexibility (i.e., regions of high flexibility with no preferred direction of curvature), while at the other junction a static curvature is found (i.e., a preferred, sustained direction of curvature).

Base Sequence↗

Real-time RT-PCR fluorescent detection of tomato spotted wilt virus.

A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay based on TaqMan chemistry was developed for the detection and quantification of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). This method enabled sensitive, reproducible and specific detection of TSWV in 'leaf soak' and total RNA extracts from infected plants. TaqMan reliably detected TSWV in as little as 500 fg total RNA. The assay was 10-fold more sensitive than visualisation of ethidium bromide-stained bands following agarose gel electrophoresis. TSWV isolates from various crops and locations were detected with a cycle threshold of 20-26 in 1 ng total RNA extracted from fresh or freeze-dried leaves. A dilution series of in vitro transcripts from a cloned 628 base pair fragment of TSWV S RNA served as standard for quantification of viral template in infected leaf samples. The TaqMan assay detected reproducibly 1000 molecules of the target transcript.

Base Sequence↗

Investigating extended regulatory regions of genomic DNA sequences.

MOTIVATION: Despite the growing volume of data on primary nucleotide sequences, the regulatory regions remain a major puzzle with regard to their function. Numerous recognising programs considering a diversity of properties of regulatory regions have been developed. The system proposed here allows the specific contextual, conformational and physico-chemical properties to be revealed based on analysis of extended DNA regions. RESULTS: The Internet-accessible computer system RegScan, designed to analyse the extended regulatory regions of eukaryotic genes, has been developed. The computer system comprises the following software: (i) programs for classification dividing a set of promoters into TATA-containing and TATA-less promoters and promoters with and without CpG islands; (ii) programs for constructing (a) nucleotide frequency profiles, (b) sequence complexity profiles and (c) profiles of conformational and physico-chemical properties; (iii) the program for constructing the sets of degenerate oligonucleotide motifs of a specified length; and (iv) the program searching for and visualising repeats in nucleotide sequences. The system has allowed us to demonstrate the following characteristic patterns of vertebrate promoter regions: the TATA box region is flanked by regions with an increased G+C content and increased bending stiffness, the TATA box content is asymmetric and promoter regions are saturated with both direct and inverted repeats. AVAILABILITY: The computer system RegScan is available via the Internet at http://www.mgs.bionet.nsc. ru/Systems/RegScan, http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/mgs/systems/r egscan/.

Algorithms↗

Regulatory peptides of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.

The gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts contain numerous regulatory peptides produced by and released from specialised epithelial cells and the organ innervation. This complex system of endocrine cells and nerves is generally called "the diffuse neuroendocrine system". Markers are now available which permit the visualisation of the diffuse neuroendocrine system or its individual components. These include antibodies to neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, neurofilament triplet proteins, the brain protein S100 and antibodies to a variety of regulatory peptides. Peptides present in the gut and lung innervation include: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), galanin, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), somatostatin and cholecystokinin (the latter two are also localised to endocrine cells of the gut). Bombesin-immunoreactivity is found in nerves in the gut and in endocrine cells of the foetal/neonatal lung. Neuropeptides of the gut and lung originate either from local neurons (e.g. VIP, PHI, galanin) or extrinsic neurons localised in sensory ganglia (e.g. substance P and CGRP) or the sympathetic chain (e.g. NPY). Recent studies point to the involvement of regulatory peptides in diseases of the gut and lung. These, together with detailed distribution studies, provide supportive data on the putative role of the peptides in the control of normal bowel and respiratory functions. The gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts were within the systems investigated by Feyrter during his original observations on the existence of specialised epithelial cells with a putative regulatory function (Feyrter, 1938). These "endocrine/paracrine" cells were found to be scattered in epithelial organs throughout the body. In fact, endocrine cells of the respiratory tract are frequently referred to as "Feyrter's cells". The term "regulatory peptides" was introduced as a generic term (Polak and Bloom, 1983) after the finding that active peptides are produced both by cells of the diffuse endocrine or APUD (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) system (Pearse, 1983) and autonomic/sensory nerves. These peptides are released into the circulation from endocrine cells or locally from nerve terminals or paracrine cells. The concept of "gut/brain" peptides was dispelled after the findings that the respiratory tract was provided abundantly with numerous active peptides produced by and released from mucosal endocrine cells and/or the innervation.

Animals↗

Suppression of the ribosomal L2 gene reveals a novel mechanism for stress adaptation in soybean.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea bacteria or zoospores of the fungus Phytophthora sojae were used to trigger a hypersensitive reaction (HR) in cell cultures of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Williams 82). During a screen for genes that show an altered expression as a response to dying neighbour cells we have identified a gene fragment that is specifically but transiently down-regulated in an HR. The corresponding cDNA codes for the ribosomal protein L2 (rpL2) of 80S ribosomes, which is essential for the peptidyl-transferase activity. Two gene copies of rpL2 exist in soybean and both genes are transcribed. The temporary down-regulation of the rpL2 genes is followed by a transient block in the synthesis of new proteins as visualised by pulse-labelling experiments using 35S-amino acids. The same basic phenomenon was also found after treatment of soybean cells with other stress-causing compounds such as elicitors or heavy metals. It is suggested that the transient block in protein synthesis allows a more rapid depletion of, for example, signal molecules with a short half-life time and thus leads to a faster adaptation of the cellular protein inventory to the new environmental conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗