Sensory development and its relation to habitat change in three species of sciaenids

Visual and mechanosensory development of three sciaenid species was investigated to examine possible correlations between sensory morphology and patterns of habitat use. Although the three species have different migration patterns as early larvae, few differences in sensory morphology occurred between species until late in the larval period. Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, were distinguished by enhancements of visual morphology (large eyes, abundant photoreceptors, and best summation of the three species). Croaker arrive inshore later in the larval period and, after settlement, appear to use deeper water habitats than do the other two species. Spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, had the fewest enhancements of visual morphology but had more free neuromasts than the other two species late in the larval period. After settlement, seatrout are primarily associated with seagrass habitats. Red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, did not have pronounced specialization of one sensory system, as did the other two species. For part of the larval period, neuromast numbers were higher in red drum than in the other two species. Later, enhancements of visual morphology did occur, but only eye and lens size were the same as those of Atlantic croaker. Red drum larvae appear to use a wider variety of habitats than do the other two species. In none of the species examined did sensory changes correlate with offshore to inshore movements, and only initial rod formation occurred prior to settlement. Distinct sensory changes did not occur concurrent with habitat changes, probably due to constructional and phylogenetic constraints. Rather, sensory differences are related to the environmental conditions in the predominant inshore habitat occupied by each species after settlement, when morphological limitations are less severe.     

Central sleep apnoea and heart failure (part II)

The three-dimensional (3-D) structure of a RNA pseudoknot that causes the efficient ribosomal frameshifting in the gag-pro region of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been determined recently by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. But since the structure refinement in the studies did not use metal ions and waters, it is not clear how metal ions participate in the stabilization of the pseudoknot, and what kind of ion-RNA interactions dominate in the tertiary contacts for the RNA pseudoknotting. Based on the reported structure data of the pseudoknot VPK of MMTV, we gradually refined the structure by restrained molecular dynamics (MD) using NMR distance restraints. Restrained MD simulation of the RNA pseudoknot was performed with sodium ions and water molecules. Our results are in good agreement with known NMR data and delineate the importance of the metal ion coordination in the stability of the pseudoknot. In the non-coaxially stacking pseudoknot, stem 1 (S1), stem 2 (S2), and the intervening A14 involves unconventional stacking of base pairs coordinated by Na+ and/or bridging water molecules. A6 and G7 of loop L1 make a perfect base stacking in the major groove and are further stabilized by coordinated Na+ ions and water molecules. The first 4-nucleotide (nt) ACUC of loop L2 form a sharp turn and the following 4-nt AAAA cross the minor groove of S1 and are steadied by interactions with the nucleotides of S , bridging water molecules and coordinated Na+ ions. Our studies suggest that the metal ion plays a crucial role in the RNA pseudoknotting of VPK. In the stacking interior of S1 and S2, the Na+ ion is positioned in the major groove and interacts directly with the carbonyl group O6 of G28 and carbonyl group O4 of U13 in the wobble base pair U13:G28. The ion-RNA interactions in MMTV VPK not only stabilize the RNA pseudoknot but also modify the electrostatic properties of the nucleotides at the critical parts of the pseudoknot VPK.     

Energy expenditure and physical activity in relation to bone mineral density in women with anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVES: To assess sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), average daily metabolic rate (ADMR), and total bone mineral density (TBMD) in women with anorexia nervosa, and to evaluate the effect of daily physical activity on TBMD. DESIGN: We compared women with anorexia nervosa and controls using measurements on body composition, and energy expenditure. Relations between these measurements were investigated. SETTING: Daily living environments in The Netherlands, and body composition and energy expenditure laboratory of the Department of Human Biology. SUBJECTS: Twelve adult, non-hospitalized women with anorexia nervosa, and sixteen adult normal weight women. INTERVENTIONS: Average daily metabolic rate was measured with the doubly labeled water method and sleeping metabolic rate in a respiration chamber. TBMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and percentage body fat was calculated combining the results from underwater weighing and deuterium dilution. RESULTS: TBMD was significantly lower in anorexia than in controls (0.989 +/- 0.081 vs 1.144 +/- 0.054 g/cm2). Also ADMR and SMR were reduced in anorexia. The physical activity index (PAI = ADMR/SMR) was not significantly different from PAI in controls. In anorexia, TBMD was related to the PAI (R2 = 0.35, P < 0.05). Finally, stepwise multiple regression revealed that PAI together with the study groups as dummy variables could explain 69% of the variation in TBMD. CONCLUSION: These findings show that in anorexia TBMD is reduced, but that nonetheless physical activity has a significant positive effect on bone density.     

Abnormal expression of the cell cycle regulators P16 and CDK4 in Alzheimer's disease

In this study, we demonstrate that two important regulators of the cell cycle, cyclin-dependent kinase-4 and its inhibitor p16, are increased in the brains of cases of Alzheimer's disease patients compared with age-matched controls. Both proteins are increased in the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, including those neurons containing neurofibrillary tangles and granulovacuolar degeneration. As p16 is not normally found in terminally differentiated neurons, it seems paradoxical that it is increased in Alzheimer's disease unless it is responding to increases in cyclin-dependent kinase-4 or other cell cycle regulators. Induction of the latter, a protein that signals re-entry and progression through the cell cycle, may itself be the consequence of alpha response to a growth stimulus. Re-entry into the cell cycle is likely deleterious in terminally differentiated neurons and may contribute to the biochemical abnormalities, such as oxidative stress and hyperphosphorylated tau protein, as well as the neuronal degeneration characteristic of the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.     

Construction of a pseudolarynx after laryngectomy and radical neck dissection. A preliminary report

Oxytocin analogues which combine high oxytocic activities with negligible antidiuretic and pressor activities have been studied. [4-Threonine,7-glycine]oxytocin, [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropionic acid),4-threonine,7-glycine]oxytocin, and [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropionic acid)]oxytocin were found to possess the following specific biological activities respectively: rat uterotonic, 270 +/- 10, 337 +/- 23, 1542 +/- 0.4; rat antidiuretic, 0.002 +/- 0.0008, 0.048 +/- 0.005, 40.3 +/- 2.4. The results are analyzed from a conformation-activity viewpoint in a continued attempt to evaluate the scope and limitations of this approach in comparison to structure-activity studies.     

A theoretical examination of the dynamics of facial skin with implications for scar reduction

A 30-year-old woman, diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus at the age of 18, presented with excessive sleepiness and cataplectic attacks. Sleep laboratory findings were consistent with narcolepsy. To the best of our knowledge an association between these 2 diseases has never been reported. The unrelated course of narcolepsy and lupus symptoms in our patient suggests a lack of common pathogenetic mechanisms and this association is more likely explained by genetic factors.     

Quality of life and productivity in nurses reporting migraine

Calcium phosphate bone cements (CPBCs) are osteotransductive, i.e. after implantation in bone they are transformed into new bone tissue. Furthermore, due to the fact that they are mouldable, their osteointegration is immediate. Their chemistry has been established previously. Some CPBCs contain amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and set by a sol-gel transition. The others are crystalline and can give as the reaction product dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), carbonated apatite (CA) or hydroxyapatite (HA). Mixed-type gypsum-DCPD cements are also described. In vivo rates of osteotransduction vary as follows: gypsum-DCPD > DCPD > CDHA approximately CA > HA. The osteotransduction of CDHA-type cements may be increased by adding dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCP) and/or CaCO3 to the cement powder. CPBCs can be used for healing of bone defects, bone augmentation and bone reconstruction. Incorporation of drugs like antibiotics and bone morphogenetic protein is envisaged. Load-bearing applications are allowed for CHDA-type, CA-type and HA-type CPBCs as they have a higher compressive strength than human trabecular bone (10 MPa).     

Structures of the van der Waals Isomers of Halosulfuric Acids: Microwave Spectra of HX-SO3 (X = F, Cl, Br)

The effects of different doses of filgrastim on yields of CD34+ peripheral blood stem cells were evaluated in patients with breast cancer. 55 were randomized to receive filgrastim 10, 20, 30 or 40 microg/kg/d with more CD34+ cells/kg/apheresis harvested after the three highest dose levels. 35 additional patients were randomized to receive 10 or 30 microg/ kg. The median number of CD34+ cells collected after 10 microg/ kg (n = 31) was 0.7 x 10(6)/kg/apheresis (range 0.1-4.4) as compared to 1.2 (range 0.1-6.8) after 30 microg/kg (n = 32) (P = 0.04). Among patients randomized to 10 v 30 microg/kg, more (50%) achieved > or = 5.0 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg and less aphereses were required to achieve > or = 2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg after the higher dose (P = 0.04). In multivariate analyses, patients receiving 10 microg/kg (n = 31) had lower yields of CD34+ cells (P = 0.026) and had a 3.3-fold increase in the probability of not achieving > or = 5.0 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg as compared to patients receiving 20-40 microg/kg (n = 59). Patients who had received radiation had a 2.9-fold probability of not achieving > or = 2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg. These data suggest that, in patients with good marrow reserves, doses of filgrastim > 10 microg/kg/d mobilized more CD34+ cells and may be useful when high numbers of CD34+ cells are desired.