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Fluctuating asymmetry: a biological monitor of environmental and genomic stress.

Increased fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of morphological traits occurs under environmental and genomic stress. Such conditions will therefore lead to a reduction in developmental homeostasis. Based upon temperature extreme experiments, relatively severe stress is needed to increase FA under field conditions. Increasing asymmetry tends, therefore, to occur in stressed marginal habitats. Genetic perturbations implying genomic stress include certain specific genes, directional selection, inbreeding, and chromosome balance alterations. It is for these reasons that transgenic organisms may show increased FA. As there is evidence that the effects of genomic and environmental stress are cumulative, organisms in a state of genomic stress may provide sensitive biological monitors of environmental stress.

Animals↗

Fluctuating DNA methylation tracks cancer evolution at clinical scale.

Cancer development and response to treatment are evolutionary processes1,2, but characterizing evolutionary dynamics at a clinically meaningful scale has remained challenging3. Here we develop a new methodology called EVOFLUx, based on natural DNA methylation barcodes fluctuating over time4, that quantitatively infers evolutionary dynamics using only a bulk tumour methylation profile as input. We apply EVOFLUx to 1,976 well-characterized lymphoid cancer samples spanning a broad spectrum of diseases and show that initial tumour growth rate, malignancy age and epimutation rates vary by orders of magnitude across disease types. We measure that subclonal selection occurs only infrequently within bulk samples and detect occasional examples of multiple independent primary tumours. Clinically, we observe faster initial tumour growth in more aggressive disease subtypes, and that evolutionary histories are strong independent prognostic factors in two series of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Using EVOFLUx for phylogenetic analyses of aggressive Richter-transformed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia samples detected that the seed of the transformed clone existed decades before presentation. Orthogonal verification of EVOFLUx inferences is provided using additional genetic data, including long-read nanopore sequencing, and clinical variables. Collectively, we show how widely available, low-cost bulk DNA methylation data precisely measure cancer evolutionary dynamics, and provides new insights into cancer biology and clinical behaviour.

Humans↗

Linear and nonlinear circular dichroism of R-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone.

Linear and nonlinear circular dichroism of R-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone (R-3MCP) is reported in the gas and liquid phases. Measurements of (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization circular dichroism (REMPICD) for nozzle-jet expanded molecular beams of the equatorial conformer of R-3MCP are presented. Monitoring either mass-selected cations or photoelectrons produced via (2+1) REMPI through the n --> 3s Rydberg transition yielded a REMPICD of +1.5+/-0.5% [REMPICD identical with 2(I(L)-I(R))(I(L)+I(R))], where I(L/R) refers to the ion/electron signal for left/right circularly polarized light. A racemic mixture of 3-methylcyclopentanone showed no significant CD; however, the signal fluctuations were much larger than that observed for the resolved R-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone as might be expected for the small number of ions produced from slightly unequal numbers of enantiomers in each laser shot. Gas phase, vibrationally resolved, one-photon CD for vapor phase R-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone (i.e., admixture of five axial and equatorial forms) was measured to be approximately 0 and -0.004 at photon energies corresponding to the one- (nonresonant) and two-(3s resonance) photon energy levels. The one-photon CD (of the room temperature population of conformers) at an energy corresponding to the ionization step was measured previously to be approximately +0.0011 which is of the same sign as the REMPICD. The first step is also near a positive CD region. This suggests that the (2+1) REMPICD is determined primarily by both the initial and continuum steps. The one-photon CDs for the equatorial and axial forms of 3MCP are calculated, using GAUSSIAN03, to be approximately equal but having opposite sign for the transitions of interest. The CD for 3MCP in cyclohexane is found to be strongly temperature dependent as a result of the presence of both the axial and equatorial conformers. The energy difference between the two conformers is determined from a van't Hoff plot of these data to be 3.50+/-0.05 kJ/mole in cyclohexane and is approximately 1 kJ/mole smaller than measurements employing other methods.

Journal Article↗

Conformation, energy, and folding ability of selected amino acid sequences.

Evolutionary selection of sequences is studied with a knowledge-based Hamiltonian to find the design principle for folding to a model protein structure. With sequences selected by naive energy minimization, the model structure tends to be unstable and the folding ability is low. Sequences with high folding ability have only the low-lying energy minimum but also an energy landscape which is similar to that found for the native sequence over a wide region of the conformation space. Though there is a large fluctuation in foldable sequences, the hydrophobicity pattern and the glycine locations are preserved among them. Implications of the design principle for the molecular mechanism of folding are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Calcium-permeable channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle.

Membrane vesicles from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle were incorporated into a bilayer lipid membrane. With this system, single current fluctuation was observed in the presence of 50 mM Ba-gluconate. This channel activity was observed only in vesicles from terminal cisternae. The single channel conductance was 14.1 pS, and the channel state was almost wholly open. The open-close transition of the channel obeyed simple two-state kinetics and was voltage-independent. The ionic selectivity was also studied, and the channel showed no selectivity among Ba, Ca, Mn, and Mg. On the other hand, it was less permeable to Cs than to Ba. Based on these results, the relation of the Ca channel to excitation-contraction coupling is discussed.

Animals↗

Ecology of bacteriophages infecting activated sludge bacteria.

Little is known about the endemic bacteriophages of activated sludge. In this investigation 49 virus-host systems were studied by isolating co-occurring bacteria and bacteriophages from the aeration basin of a sewage treatment plant during 5 successive weeks. The phage titers were high and fluctuated during the time period. The occurrence of phage-sensitive and -resistant hosts did not depend on the presence or absence of phages. Several phage-host systems expressed variable plating efficiencies. In addition, phages with broad host ranges were observed. These results show that phages are an active part of this ecosystem and that they may exert selection pressure for phage resistance on their bacterial host populations.

Bacteria↗

Benefit-risk assessment of rofecoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

NSAIDs are widely used to treat pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis. Their use in this indication is generally intermittent and fluctuates with the intensity of the disease. Nonetheless, success of the therapy is frequently limited by injury to the gastrointestinal mucosa and complications such as bleeding, ulceration and perforation. A careful and detailed evaluation of these aspects in regard to the newly introduced NSAIDs is of considerable clinical importance. This review focuses on the NSAID rofecoxib, one of the selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, which are claimed to be as effective as nonselective NSAIDs with better gastrointestinal tolerability. Indeed, phase II, phase III and epidemiological studies have revealed that the efficacy of rofecoxib is comparable to that of conventional NSAIDs but with lower gastrointestinal toxicity, although this advantage may not be demonstrable in every patient. In patients treated with low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) for cardiovascular prophylaxis, celecoxib (another selective COX-2 inhibitor) seems to have no obvious advantages over conventional NSAIDs, and similar conclusions may be applied to rofecoxib. A comparison of NSAID therapy +/- concomitant low-dose aspirin was not a primary outcome in this trial with celecoxib and there is thus a need for further studies which compare the gastrointestinal risk of a selective COX-2 inhibitor plus aspirin versus a conventional NSAID. Recent debate has emerged regarding the cardiovascular safety of rofecoxib. Although there is evidence both for and against higher cardiovascular risk with rofecoxib, a retrospective cohort study recently published suggested that there is no increased risk of acute myocardial infarction in the short-term when compared with non-selective NSAIDs. The renal toxicity of rofecoxib has been thoroughly investigated. Clinical studies revealed renal effects of rofecoxib similar to those of conventional NSAIDs. Since adverse effects increase with the degree of renal impairment, monitoring of renal function should be carried out in patients at risk. Although there are still insufficient data concerning certain important adverse effects of rofecoxib, this drug is becoming an important alternative in the therapy of osteoarthritis, especially in high-risk patients. Clinicians need to weigh up the benefits and risks of rofecoxib on a case-by-base basis.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

[National surveillance of schistosomiasis in China from 2000 to 2004].

OBJECTIVE: To specify the trends of endemic situation among twenty one national surveillance sites for schistosomiasis from 2000 to 2004. METHODS: According to the national surveillance protocol, longitudinal surveillance on endemic situation of schistosomiasis was carried out at twenty-one sites since 2000. RESULTS: The infection rate of Schistosoma japonicum declined in six of the twenty-one surveillance sites. The density of living snails and of infected snails decreased in two sites but not well controlled in most other sites. The prevalence in cattle fluctuated yearly in most sites and maintained at a relatively high level. During the surveillance period, acute cases were found annually and the number of advanced patients did not increase significantly. No new case and infected snails were found in Jinshan, Shanghai, since 2000, where transmission of schistosomiasis was interrupted two decades ago. CONCLUSION: Routine control strategies such as selective chemotherapy combined with livestock chemotherapy, snail control in risk areas have a positive impact on the control of schistosomiasis. However, these strategies should be lasted for longer time and the surveillance on snails and cattle should be continued.

Adolescent↗

Resistance mechanisms in human sarcoma mutants derived by single-step exposure to paclitaxel (Taxol).

A fluctuation analysis experiment was performed by exposing 15 expanded populations of MES-SA sarcoma cells to paclitaxel (Taxol) at a concentration of 10 nM for 7 days. The mutation rate was approximately 8 multiplied by 10(-7)/cell generation. ANOVA supports a stochastic cell survival mechanism of spontaneous mutation rather than induction of an adaptive response under these selection conditions. Surviving colonies were found in 12 populations, 9 of which had clones that remained resistant to paclitaxel after a 2-month period of propagation. Analysis of mdr1 gene expression by reverse transcription PCR demonstrated positive clones in 4 of the 9 populations with stable resistance. Accumulation of [(3)H]paclitaxel was decreased in these clones but not in the mdr1-negative clones compared with parental cells. A high degree of resistance to paclitaxel (36- to 93-fold) was selected by this single drug exposure in all 9 stably resistant mutants. Those with mdr1 activation demonstrated a broad cross-resistance to vinblastine, doxorubicin, and etoposide, whereas the other 6 mutants were cross-resistant only to the Vinca alkaloids. Because tubulins are the target molecules for paclitaxel cytotoxicity, we evaluated total tubulin content by immunoblotting and performed semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis for expression of the alpha-tubulin isotypes B alpha 1, K alpha 1 and H alpha 44, the beta-tubulin isotypes M40, beta9, 5beta, beta2 and beta4, and gamma-tubulin. Total tubulin content was decreased significantly in one of the single-step mutants. All surviving clones, both resistant and sensitive to paclitaxel, displayed reduced expression of the 5beta and beta 4 beta-tubulin isotype transcripts in comparison with the parental cell line. These data suggest that stringent exposure to paclitaxel selected clones with reduced transcript levels of 5beta and beta4 beta-tubulin isotypes, but that these reduced levels were not directly involved in the resistance of the clones to paclitaxel. The results suggest an important role for non-multidrug-resistant mechanisms of resistance to paclitaxel. These mechanisms do not involve reduced drug accumulation and provide cross-resistance among both paclitaxel and tubulin depolymerizing agents.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Effect of carcass price fluctuations on genetic and economic evaluation of carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle.

The objectives of this study were 1) to investigate the effect of changes in carcass market prices due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) occurrences on estimates of genetic parameters and economic weights for carcass traits; and 2) to compare direct and indirect approaches for prediction of genetic merit of Japanese Black cattle for profitability of their progeny. The direct approach utilized estimated breeding values of carcass prices, whereas in the indirect approach, selection indices were constructed as products of economic weights and breeding values of component traits. Data were composed of 80,191 carcass records divided into 5 periods based on changes in carcass prices as a result of occurrences of BSE in Japan and the United States. The periods ranged from a period before occurrence of BSE in Japan to a period of beef import restrictions and a rise in prices. Carcass traits analyzed included HCW, LM area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, and marbling score (MS). Price traits included carcass unit price and carcass sale price. Estimates of heritability for price traits were moderate (0.32 to 0.46) and slightly sensitive to changes in carcass market prices. Genetic correlations of HCW and LM area with price traits increased and that between MS and carcass sale price decreased with period, whereas estimates of genetic correlation between MS and carcass unit price were high in all periods (0.96 to 0.98). Economic weights for carcass traits varied with periods because carcass prices were highly sensitive to economic importance of traits. Nevertheless, correlations between within-period breeding values for price traits estimated using direct and indirect approaches were high (0.92 to 0.99). This result indicates that selection realized by direct and indirect approaches will provide very similar results. A comparison among within-approach breeding values estimated in different periods showed that the largest differences in breeding values of sires for price traits were between the periods after occurrences of BSE in Japan and in the United States. Economic effects of BSE occurrences influenced the importance of carcass traits and economic merits of price traits through a change of carcass prices from period to period, irrespective of the approach taken in determining the genetic merit of breeding animals for profitability of their progeny.

Animals↗

Hippocampal Noradrenaline and Serotonin Release over 24 Hours as Measured by the Dialysis Technique in Freely Moving Rats: Correlation to Behavioural Activity State, Effect of Handling and Tail-Pinch.

Hippocampal extracellular levels of noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were monitored with the microdialysis technique in freely moving rats. In one experiment 30 min samples were collected during 24 h of continuous perfusion, and the monoamine output was compared to the behavioural activity state, as arbitrarily classified in three categories: sleep/rest, drowsiness and full alertness associated with complex behaviours. In the individual animal the hippocampal NA and 5-HT output showed pronounced fluctuations during the 24 h period, but the 30 min sampling times did not allow for a clear-cut correlation to behavioural activity state. However, the mean NA and 5-HT output for all animals during the dark period of the day was 43 and 38% higher, respectively, than during the light period, and the average NA and 5-HT levels in samples collected during periods of high behavioural activity was 34 and 45% higher, respectively, than during periods of rest or sleep. In contrast, there were no detectable changes in extracellular 5-HIAA. The selective serotonin uptake blocker indalpine, added to the perfusion fluid at 1 microM, increased the extracellular 5-HT levels 6-fold, with a similar correlation to behavioural activity state as without indalpine. In a second experiment the effect of handling and tail-pinch was studied in 15 min sample fractions. Gentle handling of the animals during the sampling period increased the hippocampal NA and 5-HT output by 32 and 72%, respectively, and a similar increase (63 and 48%) was obtained by application of tail-pinch. Maximum NA output was reached during the handling or tail-pinch period, whereas maximal 5-HT levels were detected in the subsequent 15 min sample fraction. No changes in extracellular 5-HIAA was observed. It is concluded (1) that intracerebral microdialysis provides a useful method for the study of extracellular NA and 5-HT in the hippocampal formation of conscious rats during active behaviour; (2) that there are substantial fluctuations in hippocampal NA and 5-HT output in freely moving rats which correlate with the light - dark cycle as well as with the activity state of the animals; (3) that the spontaneous variations in 5-HT output are maintained during reuptake blockade; and (4) that behavioural activation through gentle handling or tail-pinch elicits NA and 5-HT release. The present data support a role of the forebrain NA and 5-HT systems in behavioural state control and highlights the necessity of experimental designs in which the spontaneous fluctuations in transmitter release are controlled for in studies of, for example, drug effects on NA and 5-HT release in conscious animals.

Journal Article↗

Effects of prenatal irradiation on fetal, neonate, and young adult murine hemopoiesis.

B6D2F1 mice received cobalt-60 radiation on day 10.5 of gestation at doses of 50 to 300 rad at a dose rate of 40 rad per min. These animals were studied at four selected age periods: (a) day 14.5 of gestation, (b) neonate, (c) juvenile, and (d) 13 week-old adult. Fetal liver cellularity, morphology, and hemopoietic progenitor cell concentration reflected injury after 200 rad. The 15 day-old mouse spleen cellularity was affected more than bone marrow cellularity, but greater radiation injury was reflected by bone marrow hemopoietic progenitor cells. Fluctuations from normal hematopoietic values were greater in the 15 day-old juvenile than in the 9 day-old neonate, commencing with 50 rad. These included peripheral blood parameters and marrow- and spleen-derived erythroid-, granulocytic- and megakaryocytic-progenitor cells. The consequences of prenatal irradiation (150 rad) were evident in the 13 week-old mouse. This was manifested by a reduced spleen cellularity and perturbations in concentrations of hemopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow.

Aging↗

Recommendations for implementation of high dose rate 192Ir brachytherapy in developing countries by the Advisory Group of International Atomic Energy Agency.

PURPOSE: To provide recommendations for the implementation of high dose rate (HDR) 192Ir brachytherapy technology in developing countries. METHODS: An Advisory Group Meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met to address the implementation of HDR 192Ir brachytherapy technology in developing countries. These recommendations reflect only the personal opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the IAEA. RESULTS: An HDR treatment system should be purchased as a complete unit that includes the 192Ir radioactive source, source loading unit, applicators, treatment planning system, and control console. Infrastructure support may require additional or improved buildings and procurement of or access to new imaging facilities. A supportive budget is needed for quarterly source replacement and the annual maintenance necessary to keep the system operational. The radiation oncologist, medical physicist, and technologist should be specially trained before HDR can be introduced. Training for the oncologist and medical physicist is an ongoing process as new techniques or sites of treatment are introduced. Procedures for quality assurance (QA) of patient treatment, and the planning system must be introduced. Emergency procedures with adequate training of all associated personnel must be in place. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to select HDR in preference to alternate methods of brachytherapy is influenced by the ability of the machine to treat a wide variety of clinical sites. In departments with personnel and budgetary resources to support this equipment appropriately, economic advantage becomes evident only if large numbers of patients are treated. Intangible benefits of source safety, personnel safety, and easy adaptation to fluctuating demand for treatments also require consideration when evaluating the need to introduce this treatment system.

Brachytherapy↗

Epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common viral pathogen that currently infects an estimated 4 million people worldwide, including 400 million who have chronic infection. Persons with chronic HBV infection are at a lifelong risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cirrhosis, or both. Many persons with HBV are unaware that they carry the infection, and, of those who are chronically infected, only a minority receives routine, scheduled follow-up to monitor their disease status. Persons from high-risk populations, especially immigrants from nations where hepatitis B is highly endemic, should be tested for HBV seromarkers and should be vaccinated if they are found to be negative. The natural history of chronic HBV is a dynamic one: patients can fluctuate between periods of active liver inflammation and periods of inactive disease. Disease progression is influenced by various factors, including viral genotype and specific mutations, demographic features, concurrent viral infections, and social and environmental factors. Recent data suggest that antiviral therapy can decrease the risk of liver decompensation and liver-related death and reduce the risk of HCC in selected individuals with active liver disease and severe fibrosis. Persons identified with chronic HBV infection need lifelong, regular monitoring for the development of active liver disease and HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

[The papilla and visual field in glaucoma. Relation between planimetrically determined papilla and visual field changes].

From 126 patients with ocular hypertension and/or primary open-angle glaucoma, those (n = 18) who had an untreated intraocular pressure of at least 25 mm Hg or a cup/disk ratio of at least 0.8 were selected for this study. The course of the disease was followed by means of photos of the disk and visual field examinations performed with an automated perimeter. The area of the neuroretinal rim was measured planimetrically. The mean period of observation was 3.7 years, in the course of which the size of neuroretinal rim became decreased in 10 patients, merely fluctuated in 6 patients, and increased in 2 patients. No definite correlation between the course of the visual fields and that of changes in the neuroretinal rim could be demonstrated at either the first or the last examination. Nonetheless, when the visual field changes were juxtaposed to those in the neuroretinal rim, a tendency to a decrease in rim area and an increase in visual field losses was noted. However, numerous exemplary cases showed that one cannot necessarily predict visual field losses from the size of the rim and vice versa. Comparison of estimated rim areas with those determined planimetrically obviously verifies that planimetry provides more accurate results.

Aged↗

Turnover of deans of medicine during the last five decades.

This report uses published information on the tenures of the 862 U.S. medical school deans who served from 1940-41 through 1990-91 to ascertain whether the turnover of deans has increased historically. The data confirm the wide-spread impression that there has been increasing instability of medical school leadership in recent decades. The proportion of deans who survive to a specific tenure in office has diminished, and the proportion of schools with new deans has increased, although with marked yearly fluctuations. Furthermore, the frequency of deans' turnover has not been evenly distributed among medical schools. Some schools have had large numbers of short-tenured deans, while other schools have had only a few deans over the five decades studied. The authors speculate that the rise in the turnover of deans may be related to the criteria used for their selection and/or because American academic medical centers have grown in size and are increasing in organizational complexity. The authors urge that future research that explores the causes of recent deans' turnover should incorporate modern management and statistical techniques and consider organizational variables as well as the personal and professional characteristics of deans.

Faculty, Medical↗

The comparison of intrinsic rates of increase among chromosome-substituted lines resistant and susceptible to organophosphate insecticides in Drosophila melanogaster.

To investigate the genetic basis of the seasonal fluctuations in resistance to three organophosphates, observed within a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen), we compared the intrinsic rate of increase, generation time and net reproduction rate among chromosome substitution lines derived from a resistant and a susceptible line, obtained from this natural population. There was significant variation among substituted lines; lines possessing the third chromosome from the resistant line, which confers resistance to the three organophosphates, generally showed lower mean values of these fitness measures. Chromosomal analyses also indicated significant negative contributions of the third chromosome from the resistant line. However, significant positive contributions of the interactions among chromosomes from the resistant line to these fitness measures were also detected. We further conducted a local stability analysis, in which each chromosome-substituted line was assumed to be introduced at a low frequency into the initial susceptible population. It was demonstrated that the resistance factor(s) on the third chromosome tend to decrease in their frequency under both density-independent and juvenile density-regulated conditions. Based on these results, a possible explanation for the seasonal fluctuations in resistance to the three organophosphates observed in the natural population was proposed.

Animals↗

Rapid spectrofluorometric screening of poly-hydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from microbial mats.

Microbial mat ecosystems are characterized by both seasonal and diel fluctuations in several physicochemical variables, so that resident microorganisms must frequently adapt to the changing conditions of their environment. It has been pointed out that, under stress conditions, bacterial cells with higher contents of poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA) survive longer than those with lower PHA content. In the present study, PHA-producing strains from Ebro Delta microbial mats were selected using the Nile red dying technique and the relative accumulation of PHA was monitored during further laboratory cultivation. The number of heterotrophic isolates in trypticase soy agar (TSA) was ca. 107 colony-forming units/g microbial mat. Of these, 100 randomly chosen colonies were replicated on mineral salt agar limited in nitrogen, and Nile red was added to the medium to detect PHA. Orange fluorescence, produced upon binding of the dye to polymer granules in the cell, was detected in approximately 10% of the replicated heterotrophic isolates. The kinetics of PHA accumulation in Pseudomonas putida, and P. oleovorans were compared with those of several of the environmental isolates spectrofluorometry. PHA accumulation, measured as relative fluorescence intensity, resulted in a steady-state concentration after 48 h of incubation in all strains assayed. At 72 h, the maximum fluorescence intensity of each strain incubated with glucose and fructose was usually similar. MAT-28 strain accumulated more PHA than the other isolates. The results show that data obtained from environmental isolates can highly improve studies based on modeling-simulation programs, and that microbial mats constitute an excellent source for the isolation of PHA-producing strains with industrial applications.

Biopolymers↗