Chromosome variation and anomalous karyotypes in the red-backed mouse Clethrionomys rufocanus (Rodentia, Microtinae)

G-banding and C-banding of chromosomes were studied in populations of the red-backed mouse Clethrionomys rufocanus from 11 localities of eastern Russia. Intrapopulation polymorphism of autosome 3 caused by the deletion-duplication of the short-arm heterochromatin (2n = 56; NFa = 56-58) was demonstrated. The karyotype of Cl. rufocanus from continental populations and Sakhalin Island was shown to have a large subtelocentric chromosome of pair 3 (NFa = 58), whereas in the population from Kunashir Island, chromosomes of this pair were acrocentric (NFa = 56). One animal from the population of the Kedrovaya Pad' Reserve (Primorsk krai) had a pericentric inversion (acrocentric morphology) of the Y chromosome. In two animals, a female from the Ussuriiskii Reserve (Primorsk krai) and a male captured near the Tomari Settlement (Sakhalin Island), a pericentric inversion of one chromosome of pair 6 was found (NFa = 59). The inversion detected in the animal from the Sakhalin population was accompanied by the loss of the centromeric heterochromatin. In contrast, the inversion of the chromosome pair 6, which was found in the mouse from the Primorsk krai population, did not involve the loss of centromeric heterochromatin. Analysis of our results and data from the literature showed that the karyotype of Cl. rufocanus is not constant, as was thought earlier. The percentage of animals with abnormal karyotype (1.6%) was higher than in other groups of red-backed mice studied (0.12-0.7%).     

Farmer''s lung disease in Somerset

A survey of laboratory records was made to assess the value of the precipitin test and isolation methods in the diagnosis of farmer's lung disease and also to determine its prevalence in the farming population of Somerset. A link was established between the clinical diagnosis as written on the form that accompanied the specimen and the actual number of positive laboratory diagnoses made. Fifty (43%) of the clinically diagnosed patients were serologically positive for farmer's lung during a four-year period. If the clinically diagnosed but serologically negative cases of farmer's lung disease are added to this number, a prevalence of about 23 per 1000 of the farming population of Somerset is obtained.     

Intergeneric transfer of genes involved in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis

Genes that seem to be involved in the initial steps of infection of a legume by Rhizobium have been transferred, by transformation, to mutant strains of Azotobacter vinelandii that are unable to fix nitrogen. These genes code for a surface antigen that binds specifically to a protein from the host plant.     

Violent storms and violent people: How meteorology can inform risk communication in mental health law.

Meteorology is often thought of as a field with highly developed techniques for forecasting rare and severe events. Risk assessment of another type of rare and severe event—violence to others—occurs in mental health law. The analogy between these 2 forms of risk assessment is explored in this article. How meteorologists go about assessing the risk of harmful weather is described. Implications from the meteorological analogy are drawn for 1 aspect of violence prediction that is routinely ignored in mental health law: the communication of risk "forecasts." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Positions and training of the indigenous health workforce

Laparoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are competetive tools in the diagnostic of non-palpable testis. Advantages and disadvantages of this methods will be demonstrate. 29 boys investigated for this indication with MRI. In case MRI failed to locate the testis laparoscopy was performed with a new miniaturized set of pediatric instruments (1.9 mm optic). The aim of laparoscopy was the identification of the spermatic duct and vessels and their topographic relation to the internal inguinal ring. All findings were verified by open surgical procedures. MRI revealed 10 inguinal and 7 abdominal testis. There was no false positive finding. In 12 boys MRI showed no testis. 4 cases were correct negative, 8 cases were false negative (32%). In these 8 MRI-negative patients laparoscopy revealed 7 inguinal and 1 abdominal testis. The optical quality of the mini-telescope was sufficient for a 100% correct diagnosis. Laparoscopy related complications did not occur. Laparoscopy proved to be a powerful low risk diagnostic method in non-palpable testis with high sensitivity and specifity (100% correct positive, 0% false negative). Therefore lapraroscopy is recommended as primary diagnostic access for this indication. In the same anesthesia a optimal therapy is possible. Nevertheless a positive MRI-finding locates the testis reliably, whereas a negative finding always needs further exploration because testis might have been missed.     

Treatment of irritable colon with the food additive Appital

Appital is a herbal medicine. The aim was to examine its effect in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Other diseases were excluded by physical examination, rectoscopy, blood tests and in patients older than 35 years X-ray of the colon or colonoscopy. The study was designed as a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The patients were randomized to either Appital or placebo. Following two weeks without medicine, the patient had Appital or placebo for eight weeks. Fifty-nine patients were randomized, 47 completed the study. The results were based on symptom scores registered by the patients. The symptom score was significantly reduced in patients treated with Appital (p = 0.002), but when compared to placebo, the difference was insignificant (p = 0.081). We concluded that Appital has no effect in relieving symptoms of IBS compared to placebo, although due to the possibility of type two error we cannot exclude a small, but hardly clinically relevant effect.     

cDNA cloning and gene mapping of human homologs for Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad17, rad1, and hus1 and cloning of homologs from mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations in DNA repair/cell cycle checkpoint genes can lead to the development of cancer. The cloning of human homologs of yeast DNA repair/cell cycle checkpoint genes should yield candidates for human tumor suppressor genes as well as identifying potential targets for cancer therapy. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes rad17, rad1, and hus1 have been identified as playing roles in DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint control pathways. We have cloned the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe rad17, RAD17, which localizes to chromosomal location 5q13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping; the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe rad1, RAD1, which maps to 5p14-p13.2; and the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe hus1, HUS1, which maps to 7p13-p12. The human gene loci have previously been identified as regions containing tumor suppressor genes. In addition, we report the cloning of the cDNAs for genes related to S. pombe rad17, rad9, rad1, and hus1 from mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster. These include Rad17 and Rad9 from D. melanogaster, hpr-17 and hpr-1 from C. elegans, and RAD1 and HUS1 from mouse. The identification of homologs of the S. pombe rad checkpoint genes from mammals, arthropods, and nematodes indicates that this cell cycle checkpoint pathway is conserved throughout eukaryotes.     

Clinical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity in 201 critically ill patients

We studied 201 critically ill patients during 267 courses of gentamicin (139 courses) or tobramycin (128 courses) therapy. Clinical and pharmacokinetic data were obtained on 240 of 267 courses (120 courses each of gentamicin and tobramycin). Two judgments of nephrotoxicity and its cause were made independently in this study, using a clinical and a pharmacokinetic definition of nephrotoxicity. The two sets of criteria were generally in good agreement, as all but 10 of 41 patients who were judged nephrotoxic by pharmacokinetic criteria were independently judged nephrotoxic by the clinical definition. Groups of patients judged nontoxic did not differ from groups judged nephrotoxic in age, sex, weight, initial creatinine clearance, total dose given, duration of treatment, initial aminoglycoside trough serum levels, number of dosage adjustments, concurrent use of furosemide, or concurrent cephalosporins. Prior aminoglycosides (usually gentamicin) had been used more frequently in the nontoxic group (P less than 0.05). Two major conclusions of this study are at variance with those of previous investigators; (i) we found no clinical parameters of value in predicting nephrotoxicity in critically ill patients; and (ii) aminoglycoside serum concentrations, once in the therapeutic range, were of limited value in prevention of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity in our patients.     

Poly(2-aminoadenylic acid): interaction with poly(uridylic acid)

Poly(2-aminoadenylic acid) forms both double and triple helices with poly(uridylic acid) [poly(U)]. The 2-amino group forms a third hydrogen bond, elevating the 2 leads to 1 transition temperature by 33 degrees C. The third strand, however, has about the same stability as poly(A)-2poly(U), as measured by Tm 3 leads to 2. This selective stabilization of the two-stranded helix results in a much greater resolution of the differnt thermal transitions than that observed in analogous polynucleotide systems. In contrast to other A, U systems 3 leads to 1 and 2 leads to 3 transitions are not observed under any conditions, and the triple helix always undergoes a 3 leads to 2 transition even at very high ionic strength. A 1:1 mixture of poly(2NH2A) and poly(U) exhibits no transient formation of 1:2 complex, unlike similar mixtures of poly(A) with poly(U) and poly(T). This difference is evidently due to a more rapid displacement reaction: [poly(2NH2A) + poly(2NH2A)-2poly(U) leads to 2 poly(2NH2A)-poly(U)] With poly(2NH2A) than with poly(A). We describe a method for establishing the combining ratios of polynucleotide complexes which used a computer to calculate the angles of intersection of mixing curves as explicit and continuous functions of the wavelength. The wavelength dispersions of the angles of intersection determine optimum wavelengths for establishing stoichiometry and can also provide reliable negative evidence that presumably plausible complexes are not formed. Analogous computer procedures have been developed to determine wavelengths which are selective for the formation of both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. Infrared spectra of the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes resemble those of other A, U homoribopolynucleotide helices in having two and three strong bands, respectively, in the region of carbonyl stretching vibrations. CD spectra of the two complexes are unusual in having negative first extrema of moderate intensity. We attribute these extrema to intrastrand interactions of strong, well-resolved transitions at 278 nm (B2u) of the 2-aminoadenine residues. The CD spectra are correlated with those of other polynucleotide helices.