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Validation of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions for evaluation of invasive character of urinary bladder carcinoma in rats and mice.

A series of 8 rat and 16 mouse invasive bladder carcinomas were investigated for the presence of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) to clarify whether this parameter is applicable to the estimation of their invasive character. With regard to number of AgNORs per cell, neither rat nor mouse carcinomas showed any difference between invasive and noninvasive sites within the same tumor. However, the frequency of cancer cells bearing bizarre dots, irregular in size and shape, was significantly higher at sites of actual invasion. Quantitative data generated using an image analyzer revealed significantly lower values for NOR roundness and significantly larger NOR size in invasive sites than in noninvasive sites in all groups. Double staining for the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and AgNORs was performed on eight rat carcinomas and a close correlation between the two was confirmed. Thus the number of AgNORs in PCNA-positive cells was significantly greater than in PCNA-negative cells. Furthermore, a particularly strong correlation was observed for incidences of PCNA-positive cells and bizarre dots (P < 0.01). The quantitative data also demonstrated significant differences in size and shape of dots. It is concluded that AgNORs have diagnostic value for the invasive character of bladder carcinomas.

Animals↗

Interpreting studies that compare high- and low-selected lines on new characters.

The attempt to characterize high- and low-selected lines on new variables poses serious interpretative problems when replicate lines are not available. Modest but significant line differences on new measures may be due to genetic drift totally irrelevant to the originally selected trait. Often these differences are exaggerated by inappropriate analysis using individual subject measurements rather than family means. Mean differences in high- and low-selected lines on new characters should not be ascribed to the originally selected trait unless (1) genetic drift can be estimated through the use of replicate lines, (2) the standardized mean difference exceeds 1/4 of the equivalent difference on the original selected trait, or (3) strong predictions involving multiple noncontingent measures are unconditionally supported. For most purposes of analysis, line means can be considered individual data points which can be used to compute correlations among measures. An alternative to selection with replicates--two-stage testing of commercially available inbred strains--should be considered when large genetic correlations between the characters are expected.

Animals↗

Object relations issues in the treatment of the preoedipal character.

It was through tolerance of Ms. D.'s infantile rage (i.e., rage against reality and its limits) that the analyst was able to open up a dialogue with the patient that could lead to a developmental mourning process. The same was true for the borderline character, Ms. A.! The interpersonal dialogue between analyst and analysand, which had both empathic and interpretive functions, allowed Ms. D. to reactivate her capacities for an intrapsychic dialectic gained during infancy. In her case, as well as in that of Ms. A., the initiation of an internal dialectic allowed for a mourning process to unfold. It is proposed that this internal dialectic is evidence of the existence of the psychic structure necessary to promote both mourning and the mutuality of interpersonal dialogue. The inability to mourn, generally seen in narcissistic and borderline characters, can be seen, therefore, not only as a failure in psychic structure formation, but also as a failure in psychic structure function that is due to intrapsychic defense.

Adult↗

Industrial yeast strain improvement: construction of a highly flocculent yeast with a killer character by protoplast fusion.

Conditions were optimized for rapid release and improved regeneration of protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3458. Rapid protoplast release was also obtained with representatives of several other yeast genera under the modified conditions of treatment. The application of the procedure in construction of a highly flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a killer character is described. Fusion was effected between UV-killed protoplasts of S. cerevisiae NCIM 3578 with a killer character and live protoplasts of the highly flocculent S. cerevisiae NCIM 3528 in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. Fusants were selected using benomyl resistance as marker, the killer toxin producer rather than the highly flocculent yeast being resistant to the fungicide at a concentration of 100 micrograms ml-1. Fusants were also characterized by their DNA contents, capacity for ethanolic fermentation of molasses sugar and levels of invertase, alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase activities.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Production characters of the Sahiwal and Ayrshire breeds and their crosses in Kenya.

Data were analysed for lactation character of Ayrshire, Ayrshire x Sahiwal, Sahiwal x Ayrshire and Sahiwal females and on survival and growth characters of progeny of Ayrshire, Sahiwal, Simmental and Mixed breed sires mated to these females in the temperate highlands ecological zone of Kenya. The Ayrshire females had significantly higher total lactation yield than the other breeding groups; however, the Ayrshire females received preferential treatment. Despite this the Sahiwal-Ayrshire crosses were superior (3.8%) to the Ayrshire females in productivity index per cow per year because of a shorter calving internal and a higher level of calf survival. Sahiwal females had significantly lower total lactation yield than Ayrshire and Sahiwal x Ayrshire cross females. At 2 years of age female progeny of Sahiwal and Simmental sires were significantly heavier than the female progeny of Ayrshire sires but not of Mixed breed sires, viz. Sahiwal x Ayrshire and calves with sires not known. The Ayrshire breed was shown to be superior to the Sahiwal breed in transmitted effects for milk production and the Sahiwal breed was superior to the Ayrshire breed in transmitted effects for growth rate. It is concluded that the Sahiwal breed has potential to contribute to both milk and beef production programmes when combined in crosses with Bos taurus breeds of cattle in ecological zones similar to the lower to mid-potential areas of the temperate highlands of Kenya.

Animals↗

Carcinoembryonic character of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

As a characteristic isoenzyme of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) has been detected in sera of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, which migrates to alpha-globulin region on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, biochemical studies on human fetal liver, Morris hepatoma (7316-A, 7794-A), and human hepatoma was carried out to elucidate its carcinoembryonic character. The highest distribution of the enzyme was found in particle fraction of human fetal liver as well as of Morris hepatoma, and an isoenzyme of gamma-GTP with the same electrophoretic mobility as detected in human hepatoma was obtained, which reflected to the pattern of the serum zymograms. Histochemically, the enzyme was distributed in plasma membrane of the fetal hepatocytes and Morris hepatoma cells, while it was distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm of human hepatoma cells. These findings may strongly suggest that gamma-GTP in hepatoma has a carcinoembryonic character and the detection of a serum isoenzyme in the alpha-globulin region is a quite diagnostic as well as the detection of alpha-fetoprotein in the field of neoplasma of the liver. The physicochemical and kinetic properties of the enzyme in human hepatoma were also discussed.

Animals↗

Both morphological and molecular characters support speciation of South American siskins by sexual selection.

South American siskin radiation was studied by both mitochondrial cytochrome b (mt cyt b) DNA sequencing and homologous phenotypic characters; the latter were coded separately according to sex. Mixed phenetic and molecular (total evidence) dendrograms were constructed and the corresponding analyses suggest that speciation started in the South American siskin group with a north to south separation (Carduelis notata/C. barbata) along the Andean spine. A second split may have taken place around the Peruvian Andean mountains, corresponding to the present distribution pattern of C. olivacea. The most recent speciation events seem to have occurred in three sister species pairs: (i) C. xanthogastra/C. atrata, (ii) C. magellanica/C. yarrellii, (iii) C. cucullata/C. crassirostris. Accumulation of consistent characters in both morphological and molecular data at the basal nodes of the dendrograms indicate that speciation events occurred within a short period of time. Our data also suggest that speciation probably occurred by sexual selection through female mating choice in this radiation. Additionally, studies of variable amino acid residues in the mt cyt b molecule show that the three variable amino acids found are placed in the mitochondrial transmembrane region, which is also part of the hypervariable region in mammals. Each of the three amino acid changes occur in each of the three postulated evolutionary groups.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Application of a quasi-median network analysis for the visualization of character conflicts to a population sample of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from southern Germany (Ulm).

Entire mtDNA control region sequences from 100 individuals in a west Eurasian population sample from southern Germany (around the city of Ulm) were generated and analyzed. The control region was amplified in one piece and sequenced with ten different sequencing primers. Sequence evaluation was performed independently. Phylogenetic analyses were used for quality assurance purposes and for the determination of the haplogroup affiliation of the samples. The sequences were scrutinized performing a quasi-median network analysis. To visualize character conflicts, frequent mutations were filtered, and the reduced data were represented by the torso of their quasi-median network. Character incompatibilities were found to be based on real biological patterns of homoplasy. The population data will be incorporated in the EMPOP database ( http://www.empop.org ).

DNA, Mitochondrial↗

Strain-differences of sensitivity to volatile anesthetics and their genetic character in mice.

Using loss of the righting reflex, we determined the ED50 values for enflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and halothane in white-haired ddN mice and black-haired C57BL mice. The ED50s (Mean +/- SEM) in ddN and C57BL mice for enflurane were 1.65 +/- 0.01 and 1.19 +/- 0.01% atm, for isoflurane 1.02 +/- 0.01 and 0.74 +/- 0.01% atm, for sevoflurane 2.29 +/- 0.03 and 1.95 +/- 0.03% atm, and for halothane 0.97 +/- 0.01 and 0.97 +/- 0.01% atm, respectively. The results indicate that the ddN strain is more resistant to enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane than the C57BL strain. The sensitivities to enflurane and isoflurane is F1 progeny of reciprocal crosses between ddN and C57BL mice revealed that in the ddN strain enflurane resistance is an incompletely dominant or polygenic character, isoflurane resistance in ddN strain is an autosomal recessive character and both are controlled by genes on the sex (X) chromosome. Enflurane and isoflurane resistances are controlled by at least 2 genes, one on the X chromosome, and each resistance is controlled by a different genetic mode

Journal Article↗

Temperament and character in women with postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether women with postpartum depression differ in personality traits from healthy postpartum women, healthy controls from the normal Swedish population and non-postpartum women with major depression. METHODS: Forty-five women with postpartum depression were compared with 62 healthy postpartum women, 62 age-matched, healthy, non-postpartum women from a normal sample and 74 non-postpartum women with major depression from a clinical sample. The edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used in order to screen for postpartum depression. A clinical diagnostic interview was done including a rating with the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale. Personality i.e. temperament and character was measured by the temperament and character inventory. RESULTS: Harm avoidance (HA) was higher (p < 0.001) and self-directedness (SD) scored lower (p < 0.001) in women with postpartum depression compared to healthy postpartum women. These differences were the most important differences between these two groups. Women with postpartum depression scored lower (p = 0.001) in cooperativeness (CO) and higher (p = 0.019) in self-transcendence (ST) compared to healthy postpartum women. Women with postpartum depression scored overall similar to women with major depression. CONCLUSION: High HA and low SD can be seen as vulnerability factors for developing a depression and especially in a stressful situation as childbirth.

Adult↗

Embryology of Siparunaceae (Laurales): characteristics and character evolution.

Embryological characters of Siparunaceae, which are poorly understood, were studied on the basis of two constituent genera, an African Glossocalyx and a South American Siparuna, to better understand their evolution within Laurales. These two genera have many embryological characteristics in common with the other lauralean families. Noticeably, they share the multi-celled ovule archesporium (uncertain in Glossocalyx) as a synapomorphy with all the other lauralean families except Lauraceae, the anthers dehisced by valves as a synspomorphy with all the other lauralean families except Calycanthaceae and Monimiaceae, and the bisporangiate anther as a synapomorphy with Gomortegaceae and Atherospermataceae. Siparunaceae are, however, distinct from all other laularean families in having unitegmic ovules that were derived from bitegmic ovules, probably due to an elimination of the outer integument. Likewise, the lack of the testa (i.e., developed outer integument), the "endotegmic" seed coat, and the perichalazal seed at maturity are also characteristics of Siparunaceae. Within the family, Siparuna differs from Glossocalyx in having plural tetrads of megaspores and plural, starchy-rich, one-nucleate, tubular embryo sacs (autapomorphies). On the other hand, Glossocalyx is characterized by having bilaterally flattened seeds (autapomorphy). Although functional aspects of those autapomorphies are uncertain, both Glossocalyx and Siparuna show evolution in different embryological characters.

Biological Evolution↗

Phylogenetic relationships among some Ateles species: the use of chromosomic and molecular characters.

As with most platyrrhines, the systematics of Ateles is under discussion. In order to help clarify its systematic, we employed chromosomic and molecular characters to analyze the phylogenetic relationship among some species of the genus Ateles. Chromosomic studies were conducted on 14 atelid specimens: eight Ateles from A. paniscus, A. chamek, A. belzebuth and A. geoffroyi, and six Alouatta caraya. Ateles paniscus showed 2N=32, whereas A. chamek, A. belzebuth and A. geoffroyi presented 2N=34, XX/XY (with a submetacentric X and a variable Y) corroborated by male meiosis. Nucleotide sequence variation at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene (COII) was analyzed in ten New World monkey specimens. Parsimony trees showed consistent phylogenetic relationships using both chromosomic forms and mitochondrial COII gene sequences as characters. Particularly, chromosomic phylogenies showed A. hybridus as a divergent taxon from the remaining group, whereas A. chamek, A. belzebuth and A. marginatus form an unresolved clade with A. geoffroyi as sister group.

Animals↗

Genetic variation in male and female reproductive characters associated with sexual conflict in Drosophila melanogaster.

Recent studies have shown that elevated mating, courtship and seminal substances affect female fitness negatively in Drosophila melanogaster. It has also been shown that males vary with respect to these characters and that male harm to females correlates positively with components of male fitness. These results suggest that there is sexual conflict over the effect of such male characters. An important component of this scenario is that females have evolved counteradaptations to male harm, but so far there is limited evidence for this. Here I define female resistance as the ability to withstand an increased exposure to males. Across 10 genetically differentiated lines of D. melanogaster, I found genetic variation among females in the reduction of lifespan that followed from exposure to males of different durations. There was also genetic variation among males with regards to the degree to which they decrease the lifespan of their mates. These results suggest that genetic variation for female ability to endure male sexually antagonistic adaptations exists and may play an important role in male-female coevolution.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Comparative study of biological and technological characters in three generations of silkworm Bombyx mori L. ameiotic, parthenogenetically cloned lines.

PURPOSE: Detect any deviation in biologic and technologic characters of eight ameiotic-parthenogenetically cloned lines of Bombyx mori L. from different origins from a normal sexually reproduced control line in three generations. METHODS: Comparative study of the three generations was conducted in SES, Vratza, unit of the National Center for Agrarian Sciences of Bulgaria after fixing all environmental rearing conditions. RESULTS: The ameiotic-parthen-clones displayed good parthenogenetic development, although total hatchability was significantly less than the sexually reproducing control populations. Survival rates between clones and control were not significantly different. All clones displayed significantly longer larval periods. Slight decline in second generation, and a steeper one in the third generation were observed for all eight cloned lines in cocoon weight, shell weight, and shell ratio and these differences were statistically significant. Cocoon yield was significantly lower than the control throughout the three generations. CONCLUSIONS: Our parthen-cloning method has a high rate of success in comparison to other cloning methods, the cloned progeny populations although were weaker technologically (cocoon weight, shell weight, and shell ratio), the biological characters (parthenogenetic development and survival rate) were not compromised. Further study is needed to determine the thermal needs of the cloned embryos and metabolic rate of all stages.

Animals↗

The hydrophobic character of the membrane-bound phosphodiesterase from Dictyostelium discoideum.

A phosphodiesterase activity is shown to copurify with the plasma membrane fraction prepared by the two-phase partition method. The enrichment in phosphodiesterase parallels that of alkaline phosphatase, which is thought to be a typical membranous enzyme. Up to 66% of the phosphodiesterase activity can be solubilized by a treatment with 0.2% Triton X-100. Higher doses were ineffective in solubilizing more activity. Analysis by native gel electrophoresis showed that an activity extracted by 2 M NaCl migrated at the same position as 'soluble' phosphodiesterase of cytosolic or extracellular origin. In contrast, the Triton-solubilized enzyme had an apparently higher molecular weight. When subjected to charge shift electrophoresis on agarose gels in the presence of an ionic detergent, the Triton-solubilized phosphodiesterase displayed a hydrophobic character. This behaviour contrasts with that of 'soluble' phosphodiesterases, the electrophoretic mobility of which is unaffected by the presence of an anionic detergent. The hydrophobic character of the membranous enzyme was lost after gentle hydrolysis by papain.

Cell Membrane↗

Brain receptor binding and lipophilic character of benzodiazepines.

A series of measurements of the potency of 26 benzodiazepines (BDZs) to inhibit the binding of [3H]diazepam to rat brain synaptosomal membranes has been undertaken. All compounds studied are NO2 or Cl 7-substituted, a class of BDZs known to have the highest biological activities and binding affinities (expressed as Ki). The results show that: (a) 2'-unsubstituted BDZs display a parabolic dependence of -log Ki values on lipophilic character of the molecule (expressed by means of the chromatographic Rm value); (b) 2'-halogen substituted BDZs show quite high binding affinities (ki values in the range 2-5 nM) giving rise to another class of BDZs whose dependence on the lipophilic character remains to be studied; and (c) BDZs lacking the carbonyl oxygen at position 2 (see Table 1), and having an oxygen at position 4, show low or very low binding affinities (Ki values in the range 600-7000 nM). Moreover for the compounds under examination, statistically significant correlations have been obtained between -log Ki values and psychopharmacological activity data.

Animals↗

Enkephalin-like character and analgesia.

The opioid activities of enkephalin analogues bearing D- or L-aminopentane-sulfonic/phosphonic acid at position 5 were studied in vitro, in electrically stimulated longitudinal muscle strip of guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens preparations and in vivo in the rat tail-flick test. Using their in vitro effects Met-enkephalin-like, beta-endorphin-like, (nor)morphine-like and derivatives of intermediate character could be differentiated. Correlating the in vitro activities with the analgesic activity in vivo it is concluded that the enkephalin-like character in a pentapetide may hinder the expression of analgesic activity, when the compounds are given into the cerebroventricular system.

Analgesics↗

Pattern-character analysis of flow volume-curve for diagnosis of pulmonary obstruction.

This study presents a different approach of the maximum expiratory flow volume curve analysis. Instead of computing only its classical parameters, we are interested in the perceptible components it raises up, that is its pattern. Patterns have been quantified and classified with algorithms used in pattern recognition. A criterion of likeness and a criterion of proximity of each character curve with a standard pattern are calculated. It permits to associate a character and a normal or a pathological standard pattern. The automata which has been designed for automatic and real-time acquisition and computation of the test is described. Results on populations of children and obstructive patients are then presented. It lets us assess the ability of the system for early bronchial diagnosis.

Adolescent↗