Mechanism of incorporation of newly synthesized myosin alkali light chain into myofibril

The present work was designed to study the incorporation of newly synthesized myosin alkali light chain [MLC] molecules into myofibris. cDNA of fast skeletal muscle type of MLC tagged with green fluorescence protein [LC3f-GFP] was transfected into cultured chicken cardiomyocytes, and the assembly of expressed LC3f-GFP was observed in living cells under a fluorescence microscope equipped with a cooled CCD camera. At 14-16 hours after transfection, LC3f-GFP was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes. In some cells, however, intense fluorescence spots of LC3f-GFP were found along myofibrils with a periodically of 1.2 micro m. Confocal microscopy of such cells, stained with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin, revealed the fluorescence spots of LC3f-GFP localized at both ends of A-bond. When these cells were further incubated, LC3f-GFP came to be localized at all levels of the A-bands by 26 hours after transfection. These results indicate that myosin filaments are not replaced with newly synthesized myosin molecules at once along their length, but molecules in filaments are replaced individually from their ends

Hypospermatogenesis and spermatozoa maturation arrest in rats induced by mobile phone radiation

To determine the morphological changes induced by mobile phone radiation in the testis of Wistar albino rats. Cohort study. Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 2007 to June 2008. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided in three groups. First group of eight served as the control. The second group [group B, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/ day and the third group [group C, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. Morphological changes in the testes induced by mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day caused 18.75% hypospermatogenesis and 18.75% maturation arrest in the testis of albino rats compared to matched controls. However, no abnormal findings were observed in albino rats that were exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. Long-term exposure to mobile phone radiation can cause hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest in the spermatozoa in the testis of Wistar albino rats

Personality type, gender and age difference: a study of customers' brand loyalty

The purpose of the research is to study the role of Personality Types, Gender and Age difference in Customers' Brand Loyalty. It was hypothesized that 1] There would be difference in brand loyalty of customers with Type "A", "B" and "AB" Personalities, 2] There would be gender difference in customers brand loyalty and, 3] There would be difference in brand loyalty of customers with age groups 19-21 years and 22-24 years. Sample of the present research consisted of 54 male and 54 female customers. Their Age range was from 19-24 years.Their minimum educational qualification was graduation and all belonged to middle and upper middle socio economic class. All the respondents were individually approached and they were requested to fill the demographic data sheet, which was followed by Anjum -Khalique Type A Scale [AKTAS, Anjum and Khalique, 1991], along with the Illustrative Measures of Brand Loyalty [Sheth, Mittal, and Newman, 1999a]. Analysis of Variance was applied to determine difference in brand loyalty among customers with Type "A", "B" and "AB" Personalities, t-test was applied in order to find out difference in brand loyalty between Type "A" and "B", Type "A" and "AB" and between Type "B" and "AB" Personalities. Further difference was also calculated with reference to gender and age range. Results indicated that there is a significant difference in consumer's brand loyalty with reference to Personality Types [N=108, df=2 and 105, F=3.561, p<.05].Although insignificant difference of brand loyalty was found between Personality Type A and B [N=36, t=1 .88, df =34, p>.05] and between Personality Type A and AB [N=91, t=0.132, df=89, p>.05]. However significant difference was noted between Personality Type B and AB [N=89, t=-2.725, df=87, p<.01]. Likewise there was significant difference between consumers with age group from 19-21 years and 22 - 24 years [N=108, t=2.83, df =106, p<.01]. Consumers of age group 19-21 years were found to be more brand loyal [X=19.02] than consumers of age group 22- 24 years[X= 17.02].Furthermore insignificant difference of brand loyalty was found between male and female customers [N=108, t=0.101, df=106, p>.05].Overall results indicate that personality and age are two important predictors of customer's brand loyalty where as gender is an insignificant factor. Nevertheless we can't negate the influence of other situational factors that are also responsible for it. Limitations of the study and avenues for future research have also been suggested

Smoking habbits of preclinical Saudi medical students

To assess trends of smoking and the relation between smoking behavior of undergraduate medical students and their attitudes towards smoking and treatment of tobacco dependence. Data was collected from the preclinical medical students of College of Medicine, King Saud University. A total of 422 male students completed the anonymous questionnaire. Response rate was 88.3%. Of the respondents 17.53% and 82.46% were regular smokers and non-smokers respectively. Only 29.72% of the regular smokers smoke less than ten cigarettes, 28.37% smoke ten to twenty cigarettes whereas, 41.89% smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day. 48.67% started smoking at nineteen years of age, 16.2% started before this age and 21.62% and 13.51% started at twenty and twenty one years of ages respectively. 78.37% started smoking just for pleasure. Only 29.72% smoke light cigarettes whereas 33.78% and 36.48% smoke medium and heavy cigarettes respectively. Almost 78.37% smokers agreed with the fact that smoking is harmful to health and 21.62% realized that their cigarette smoke bother others and again 78.37% of smokers have attempted to quit smoking but failed and 35.13% still wanted to quit smoking. About 83.78% of smokers complained that they suffer from chronic cough, 56.75% were lacking concentration in their studies and 41.89% felt that they were short of memory. Attitudes of smokers were significantly different on most items of tobacco, but knowledge of tobacco problem in the undergraduate medical students was not sufficient. Teaching about tobacco and related issues remains essential in the undergraduate medical course

Sternalis: a clinically important variation

Sternalis muscle is an anatomical variation that is considered as a dilemma for surgeons and radiologists whereas a matter of interest for anatomists. It is found occasionally in the human on the anterior aspect of the thorax, superficial to the pectoralis major muscle. During routine cadaveric dissection for undergraduate medical students, presence of sternalis muscle was detected in a 60 years old mate cadaver. This rare anomaly has puzzled radiologists and surgeons in confirming diagnosis, missing it completely or mistaking it for a tumor on mammography or CT scan as it may mimic a malignant mass lesion on the medial aspect of craniocaudal mammograms. A detailed description of this important variation is needed in the text books for radiologists and surgeons