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PubMed1986

An ultrastructural study of the papillary layer and its vascular bed in the kitten enamel organ.

Ultrastructure and three-dimensional architecture of the papillary layer and associated capillaries in the enamel organ of 2-3-month-old kittens were examined by means of routine thin sections, freeze-fracture, and scanning electron microscopy of the tissues digested by HCl-collagenase and of vascular corrosion casts. Outwardly, the papillary layer formed gently sloping upheavals, but did not show prominent papillary ridges. The papillary cells were characterized by a high concentration of intramembranous particles on the plasma membrane P-face, by numerous hemi-annular gap junctions between the cell process of one papillary cell and the cell body of another host cell, and by annular gap junctional vesicles in the subsurface cytoplasm. Some annular gap junctions appeared partially degenerated. These findings led us to speculate that these annular gap junctions are produced by the endocytosis of gap junctional membranes from the cell surface into the subsurface cytoplasm. Capillaries were distributed on the enamel organ within shallow furrows between the papillary upheavals. A part of these capillaries penetrated deeply into the enamel organ but did not contact the ameloblasts. The endothelial walls of the capillaries were pierced with many endothelial fenestrations, especially when facing the papillary layer. The endothelial cell also contained numerous micropinocytotic vesicles throughout its entire cytoplasm. These findings suggest that the papillary cells and associated capillaries are highly specialized for transport of solutes and molecules between the vascular region and the enamel organ during the phase of enamel maturation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interactions of the chemotaxis signal protein CheY with bacterial flagellar motors visualized by evanescent wave microscopy.

The chemotaxis signal protein CheY of enteric bacteria shuttles between transmembrane methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP) receptor complexes and flagellar basal bodies [1]. The basal body C-rings, composed of the FliM, FliG and FliN proteins, form the rotor of the flagellar motor [2]. Phosphorylated CheY binds to isolated FliM [3] and may also interact with FliG [4], but its binding to basal bodies has not been measured. Using the chemorepellent acetate to phosphorylate and acetylate CheY [5], we have measured the covalent-modification-dependent binding of a green fluorescent protein-CheY fusion (GFP-CheY) to motor assemblies in bacteria lacking MCP complexes by evanescent wave microscopy [6]. At acetate concentrations that cause solely clockwise rotation, GFP-CheY molecules bound to native basal bodies or to overproduced rotor complexes with a stoichiometry comparable to the number of C-ring subunits. GFP-CheY did not bind to rotors lacking FIiM/FliN, showing that these subunits are essential for the association. This assay provides a new means of monitoring protein-protein interactions in signal transduction pathways in living cells.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Migratory intraocular cilium following phacoemulsification.

A case of an intraocular cilium noted in the anterior chamber after routine small incision phacoemulsification is described. The cilium was noted on the third postoperative day. It initially protruded internally from the paracentesis site and subsequently pierced the peripheral iris to migrate through to the posterior chamber to finally re-emerge through the pupil and come to rest in the inferior angle. No adverse effects have been noted and the patient's visual acuity was stable at 6/5 after 6 months of follow up.

Anterior Chamber↗

PubMed1999

Osmoregulation in Drosophila melanogaster selected for urea tolerance.

Animals may adapt to hyperosmolar environments by either osmoregulating or osmoconforming. Osmoconforming animals generally accumulate organic osmolytes including sugars, amino acids or, in a few cases, urea. In the latter case, they also accumulate 'urea-counteracting' solutes to mitigate the toxic effects of urea. We examined the osmoregulatory adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster larvae selected to live in 300 mmol l(-)(1) urea. Larvae are strong osmoregulators in environments with high NaCl or sucrose levels, but have increased hemolymph osmolarity on urea food. The increase in osmolarity on urea food is smaller in the selected larvae relative to unselected control larvae, and their respective hemolymph urea concentrations can account for the observed increases in total osmolarity. No other hemolymph components appear to act as urea-counteractants. Urea is calculated to be in equilibrium across body compartments in both selected and control larvae, indicating that the selected larvae are not sequestering it to lower their hemolymph osmolarity. The major physiological adaptation to urea does not appear to involve increased tolerance or improved osmoregulation per se, but rather mechanisms (e.g. metabolism, decreased uptake or increased excretion) that reduce overall urea levels and the consequent toxicity.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The origin and evolution of parasitism on terrestrial vertebrates in insects, mites, and ticks].

Coexistence of terrestrial vertebrates and arthropods has been continuing over 200 million years; various forms of parasitism originated independently in various groups of arthropods during this period. The association of Acari and insects with nests and shelters of their hosts (nidicoly) played the main role in the origin of parasitism in these major groups of arthropods. The primary step in the evolution of parasitism was the permanent habitation in nests and borrows of mammals and birds in Mesozoic era. The second step was a substitution of various forms of schizophagy by the regular feeding on products of vital activity and dead parts of host body. The next step was the feeding on various body parts of vertebrate hosts, namely skin, hair, feathers, external excreta, and drops of blood. The final step was the development of the ability to damage skin and suck out the blood of vertebrates. In some taxa of astigmatid mites the parasitism on birds originated from phoresy: hypopi (heteromorphous deutonymphs) obtained the ability to absorb the liquid nutrients from hair follicles and subcutaneous tissues through the cuticle. The development of haematophagous feeding on mammals in several families of Diptera was the second way of the origin of parasitism. Highly mobile dipterans with the piercing-sucking or licking mouthparts were able to change easily from the accidental puncturing of the host skin or licking of the blood, pus, and mucus to the obligatory haematophagy. The evolution of some arthropod taxa did not went beyond a primary domination of spatial relations, as in many astigmatid mites, or trophic relations in the form of micropredatory, as in the haematophagous Diptera.

Animals↗

PubMed2014

Serial founder effects and genetic differentiation during worldwide range expansion of monarch butterflies.

Range expansions can result in founder effects, increasing genetic differentiation between expanding populations and reducing genetic diversity along the expansion front. However, few studies have addressed these effects in long-distance migratory species, for which high dispersal ability might counter the effects of genetic drift. Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) are best known for undertaking a long-distance annual migration in North America, but have also dispersed around the world to form populations that do not migrate or travel only short distances. Here, we used microsatellite markers to assess genetic differentiation among 18 monarch populations and to determine worldwide colonization routes. Our results indicate that North American monarch populations connected by land show limited differentiation, probably because of the monarch's ability to migrate long distances. Conversely, we found high genetic differentiation between populations separated by large bodies of water. Moreover, we show evidence for serial founder effects across the Pacific, suggesting stepwise dispersal from a North American origin. These findings demonstrate that genetic drift played a major role in shaping allele frequencies and created genetic differentiation among newly formed populations. Thus, range expansion can give rise to genetic differentiation and declines in genetic diversity, even in highly mobile species.

Animal Distribution↗

PubMed1996

[Abscess development caused by ingrown nitinol spiral as a fatal complication of a partially deteriorated MEMOSOND-PEG].

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a safe method with a low complication rate for providing enteral nutrition. While the "pull" method is the standard technique for PEG placement, alternatively "push" methods were developed in order to minimize peristomal wound infections caused by micro-organisms from the oropharyngeal cavity. Intragastral fixation of the "push" type PEG tube has always been a problem. The MEMOSOND-PEG uses a heat activated nitinol memory spiral as an anchor-like intragastral fixation. So far, an intraabdominal dislocation and a perforation have been reported as severe complications of this type of PEG tube. Five years after insertion we observed the development of an abscess induced by ingrowth of a nitinol spiral into the stomach wall as a further fatal complication in a patient with a MEMOSOND-PEG. The memory metal spiral had pierced the stomach wall after partial destruction of the polyurethane covering. The nitinol spiral was endoscopically extracted in several fragments. Ten days after extraction however, the patient died of combined kidney and liver failure due to a sepsis with Staphylococcus.

Abdominal Abscess↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Suicide or fatal accident in fantasy play?].

The death by drowning of a 25-year-old man is reported, whose putrescent body was found drifting on the surface of an artificial lake. The deceased was dressed in a coat of chain-mail and trousers of the same material. The chain-mail clothing, which had a weight of 20 kg, reminded one of a knight's armour; it had been made by the wearer himself. Around the neck there were several turns of a chain running down to the legs and tying them together. According to the police investigations it is to be assumed that the man went out on the lake in a rubber boat and then pierced the air chambers of the boat with a knife. The possible background of the case in context with the special liking for fantasy games is discussed.

Accidents↗

PubMed1986

Earring aspiration and other jewelry hazards.

Jewelry wearing among very young children is increasing. Ear piercing is being practiced even in neonates. Accompanying these phenomena is the ever-present risk of ingestions and aspirations of small jewelry items, notably earring pieces. We present two cases that illustrate some of the real and potential hazards of these small jewelry pieces. Relatively safe jewelry items and specific safety measures are discussed.

Accidents, Home↗

PubMed2004

Three-dimensional rearrangement of proteins in the tail of bacteriophage T4 on infection of its host.

The contractile tail of bacteriophage T4 undergoes major structural transitions when the virus attaches to the host cell surface. The baseplate at the distal end of the tail changes from a hexagonal to a star shape. This causes the sheath around the tail tube to contract and the tail tube to protrude from the baseplate and pierce the outer cell membrane and the cell wall before reaching the inner cell membrane for subsequent viral DNA injection. Analogously, the T4 tail can be contracted by treatment with 3 M urea. The structure of the T4 contracted tail, including the head-tail joining region, has been determined by cryo-electron microscopy to 17 A resolution. This 1200 A-long, 20 MDa structure has been interpreted in terms of multiple copies of its approximately 20 component proteins. A comparison with the metastable hexagonal baseplate of the mature virus shows that the baseplate proteins move as rigid bodies relative to each other during the structural change.

Bacteriophage T4↗

PubMed1997

Expression of a Schistosoma mansoni 28-kilodalton glutathione S-transferase in the livers of transgenic mice and its effect on parasite infection.

Schistosomiasis is a debilitating tropical disease for which an effective vaccine is needed. A 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma mansoni (Sm28GST) has been shown to induce protective immunity. Sm28GST possesses significant sequence identity to mammalian GST isoforms. In order to study self-reactivity in mice immunized with Sm28GST and the concomitant phenomena of immune tolerance and epitope suppression, as well as their consequences for the protective immunity induced by this vaccination, we developed transgenic (Tg) mice that express Sm28GST under the control of a part of the mouse transferrin gene promoter. A study of (P28)Tg mice showed that the expression of Sm28GST was strictly localized in pericentrolobular hepatocytes. No histological change, inflammatory infiltrates, or modification of seric L-aspartate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase concentration was observed over an 18-month period, despite a cross-reactivity between Sm28GST and a mouse molecule of 30 kDa. The immunoglobulin G anti-Sm28GST response of (P28)Tg mice immunized with recombinant Sm28GST was lower (P < 0.001) than that observed in non-(P28)Tg littermates and inversely proportional of Sm28GST liver expression. The response of non-(P28)Tg mouse spleen cells to Sm28GST stimulation was greater (P < 0.01) than that observed with (P28)Tg mouse spleen cells. (P28)Tg mice infected with 40 S. mansoni furcocercariae harbored more worms (P < 0.05) than did non-(P28)Tg control mice. The increase in the level of infection in (P28)Tg mice was reflected in concomitant increases in the numbers of adult worms and schistosome eggs found in livers and intestines after whole-body perfusion at 56 days postinfection, but no relative increase in the fertility of individual female worms was observed. The results obtained argue for the involvement of Sm28GST in reducing levels of infection and support the view that this enzyme has a central role in the maintenance of parasite viability, at least during its migration through host tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Simply modified no-scalpel vasectomy (percutaneous vasectomy)--a comparative study against the standard no-scalpel vasectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The simply modified no-scalpel vasectomy (SMNSV; percutaneous vasectomy) technique was reported to simplify the standard no-scalpel vasectomy (SNSV) procedure. In this report, we introduce our experiences with SMNSV in comparison with the SNSV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1999 and June 2002, 417 men were prospectively randomized to be vasectomized at the Taipei Medical University Hospital: 215 acceptors underwent the SNSV and the remaining 202 received the SMNSV. Using the no-scalpel vasectomy instruments in a percutaneous fashion, the sharp no-scalpel hemostat punctures the skin directly instead of fixating the vas to the skin with the use of a ring clamp, as done in SNSV. The vas is then grasped with the ringed instrument instead of piercing the vas and performing the supination maneuver, as described for SNSV. The intraoperative conditions of each group were recorded. The postoperative pain and life conditions were self-reported. The pain level was assessed using a 10-cm visual analogue scale under various situations. RESULTS: The time required for the SMNSV technique was less than that for the SNSV technique (p < .05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to incision length, postoperative pain, pain at coitus, time of return to work, time of resuming intercourse, self-reported satisfaction in sexual life, postoperative psychological status, postoperative body weight change and postoperative complications (p > .05 for all items). CONCLUSIONS: The simply modified vasectomy technique simplifies the SNSV technique. It combines the minimally invasive nature of SNSV with the simplicity of classical vasectomy while conserving many comparable advantages.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

The cost of being an omnivore: mandible wear from plant feeding in a true bug.

Evolutionary and ecological transitions from carnivorous to omnivorous feeding may be constrained by the ability of the animal to cope with disparate types of foods, even if preadaptations for such behaviour exist. The omnivorous true bug, Dicyphus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) requires both animals (small, soft-bodied insects) and plants in its diet and obtains the majority of its dietary and metabolic water from plant feeding. Serrations on the lateral margins of the mandibular stylets wear with age, and this wear is exacerbated when the insects feed on plants compared to those provided free water and no plants. D. hesperus that feed on plants attack fewer prey but consumed similar amounts of prey tissue compared to individuals that were provided free water. Although others have shown mandible wear for plant-chewing animals we show for the first time that plant feeding can impose similar wear on plant-piercing animals as well.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2003

Gingival recessions caused by lip piercing: case report.

Fear of losing the teeth is common among patients presenting with gingival recession. This report describes a case in which unusual gingival recessions were caused by lip piercing. Periodontal treatment involved removal of the causative agent, hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, and coverage of the root with a subepithelial connective tissue graft. The therapeutic measures applied in this case yielded satisfactory root coverage, an increase in the width of the keratinized gingiva, improvement in hygiene status and absence of dental hypersensitivity.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

ZDOCK and RDOCK performance in CAPRI rounds 3, 4, and 5.

We present an evaluation of the results of our ZDOCK and RDOCK algorithms in Rounds 3, 4, and 5 of the protein docking challenge CAPRI. ZDOCK is a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based, initial-stage rigid-body docking algorithm, and RDOCK is an energy minimization algorithm for refining and reranking ZDOCK results. Of the 9 targets for which we submitted predictions, we attained at least acceptable accuracy for 7, at least medium accuracy for 6, and high accuracy for 3. These results are evidence that ZDOCK in combination with RDOCK is capable of making accurate predictions on a diverse set of protein complexes.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Health-related quality of life in women previously treated for early-stage breast cancer.

This study describes health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women previously treated for early stage breast cancer relative to general population and breast cancer norms. It also identifies correlates and multivariate predictors of physical and mental HRQOL. 2582 women who were up to four years post-treatment for early stage breast cancer completed the RAND-36 Health Survey and reported personal and cancer-related information. Participants reported generally high HRQOL that was comparable to norms for women in the general population and other women with breast cancer. In multivariate analyses, better physical HRQOL was associated with fewer psychological symptoms, lower body mass index, better sleep quality, and more physical activity. Better mental HRQOL was associated with better sleep quality, fewer life events, less pain, and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms. Interventions targeting psychosocial symptoms, weight reduction, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and pain could result in improved HRQOL in these women.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1995

Vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor expression in a mouse model of retinal neovascularization.

Neovascular diseases of the retina are a major cause of blindness worldwide. Hypoxia is thought to be a common precursor to neovascularization in many retinal diseases, but the factors involved in the hypoxic neovascular response have not been fully identified. To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) in retinal neovascularization, the expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA and protein were studied in a mouse model of proliferative retinopathy. RNA (Northern) blot analysis revealed that retinal VEGF/VPF mRNA expression increased 3-fold between 6 and 12 hr of relative retinal hypoxia and remained elevated during the development of neovascularization. In situ hybridization localized VEGF/VPF mRNA to cells bodies in the inner nuclear layer of the retina. Immunohistochemical confocal microscopy demonstrated that VEGF/VPF protein levels increase with a time course similar to that of the mRNA. The cells in the inner nuclear layer of the retina that produce VEGF/VPF were identified morphologically as Müller cells. These data suggest that VEGF/VPF expression in the retina plays a central role in the development of retinal ischemia-induced ocular neovascularization.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Deprivation and satiation: The interrelations between food and wheel running.

Two experiments were designed to assess whether depriving rats of food would increase the reinforcement effectiveness of wheel running (Experiment 1) and whether satiation for wheel running would decrease the reinforcement effectiveness of food (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, a progressive-ratio schedule was used to measure the reinforcement effectiveness of wheel running when rats were deprived or not deprived of food. Completion of a fixed number of lever presses released a brake on a running wheel for 60 s, and the response requirement was systematically increased until the rat stopped pressing or until 8 hr had elapsed. The ratio value reached (and the total number of lever presses) was an inverted-U function of food deprivation (percentage body weight). In Experiment 2, when wheel running preceded test sessions, fewer food-reinforced lever presses were maintained by the progressive-ratio schedule, and responding occurred at a lower rate on a variable-interval schedule. An interpretation of these results is that deprivation or satiation with respect to one event (such as food) alters the reinforcement effectiveness of a different event (such as access to wheel running).

Journal Article↗