Positional relationships between photoperiod response QTL and photoreceptor and vernalization genes in barley.

Winterhardiness has three primary components: photoperiod (day length) sensitivity, vernalization response, and low temperature tolerance. Photoperiod and vernalization regulate the vegetative to reproductive phase transition, and photoperiod regulates expression of key vernalization genes. Using two barley mapping populations, we mapped six individual photoperiod response QTL and determined their positional relationship to the phytochrome and cryptochrome photoreceptor gene families and the vernalization regulatory genes HvBM5A, ZCCT-H, and HvVRT-2. Of the six photoreceptors mapped in the current study (HvPhyA and HvPhyB to 4HS, HvPhyC to 5HL, HvCry1a and HvCry2 to 6HS, and HvCry1b to 2HL), only HvPhyC coincided with a photoperiod response QTL. We recently mapped the candidate genes for the 5HL VRN-H1 (HvBM5A) and 4HL VRN-H2 (ZCCT-H) loci, and in this study, we mapped HvVRT-2, the barley TaVRT-2 ortholog (a wheat flowering repressor regulated by vernalization and photoperiod) to 7HS. Each of these three vernalization genes is located in chromosome regions determining small photoperiod response QTL effects. HvBM5A and HvPhyC are closely linked on 5HL and therefore are currently both positional candidates for the same photoperiod effect. The coincidence of photoperiod-responsive vernalization genes with photoperiod QTL suggests vernalization genes should also be considered candidates for photoperiod effects.

The predictors of unsuccessful transition to foster care.

The placement movements of 235 children entering foster care over a 12-month period were followed up 4 months after referral into care. Baseline and follow-up measures of the 170 children who were still in care at follow-up were also compared. Results indicated that adolescents with mental health or behavioural problems were the least likely to achieve placement stability or to display improved psychological adjustment in care. In fact, unsatisfactory transition to foster care was found to be so prevalent among these children that conventional foster family care should be considered unsuitable for them. The paper concludes that there is an urgent need for a wider range of alternative care options for the adolescent population.

Incidental detection of preclinical renal tumors with electron beam computed tomography: report of 26 consecutive operated patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to describe the positive predictive value of electron beam CT (EBCT) for diagnosis of solid renal tumors. METHOD: Among 11,932 consecutive patients undergoing screening EBCT, 27 cases met EBCT criteria for solid renal tumors. Twenty-six of 27 patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: Surgical pathology identified 25 solid renal tumors and 1 adrenal hemorrhage with thrombus. Twenty tumors were classified as T1N0M0, one was T2N0M0, and one was T3aN0M0. All tumor patients are clinically well at 1-41 months (mean 17 months) postoperatively. None of the patients had clinical signs or symptoms characteristic of renal malignancy. CONCLUSION: EBCT is an effective tool for detection of solid renal tumors in a healthy outpatient population (positive predictive value 0.96). The detection rate is low [0.2% (26/11,932) at our facility] in patients undergoing EBCT for other indications. The cost-effectiveness and sensitivity of this technique for solid renal tumor detection among various populations remain to be determined.

Lipid composition of the extracellular matrix of Botrytis cinerea germlings.

Six simple lipid classes (mono-, di- and tri-acylglycerols, free fatty acids, free fatty alcohols and wax esters) were identified by TLC in the extracellular matrix of Botrytis cinerea germlings and the molecular components of each class were characterized using GC-MS. The relative amounts of fatty acids and fatty alcohols within each lipid class were determined by GC-FID. Over all the lipid classes, the most abundant saturated fatty acids were palmitic (ca. 30%) and stearic acid (ca. 22%). Palmitoleic and oleic acids made up ca. 21% and 24% (respectively) of the free fatty acids, while erucic (ca. 4.1%) and linoleic (ca. 3.6%) acids were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids in the acylglycerides. The acylglycerides also contained almost 35% long chain fatty acids (C20:0 to C28:0). Six fatty acids were identified which had odd-numbered carbon chain lengths (C15:0, C17:0, C19:0, C21:0, C23:0 and C25:0). Of these, pentacosanoic acid made up almost 14% of the fatty acids in the acylglycerides. Three methyl-branched chain fatty acids, namely isopalmitic, isoheptadecanoic and anteisopalmitic, were identified in the ECM, all in small amounts. Of the fatty alcohols identified, only palmityl and stearyl alcohols were found in the free form (ca. 57% and 43%, respectively) but arachidyl alcohol (ca. 47%) and 1-octacosanol (ca. 30%) were the most abundant fatty alcohols found in the wax ester fraction.

Children with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia: after infancy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this original report is to describe the characteristic chest imaging findings in children with primary congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia who survive infancy. CONCLUSION: In children with primary congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia, increased interstitial markings decrease over time and increased hyperinflation is associated with persistent patchy areas of ground-glass opacity.

Paget disease of the breast: a pictorial essay.

Paget disease of the breast accounts for approximately 2%-3% of breast cancers. It is characterized by infiltration of the nipple epidermis by adenocarcinoma cells, which cause an eczematous eruption on the nipple and areola. The clinical features are highly suggestive of the disease; awareness of these on the part of the clinician should lead to more prompt diagnosis and earlier initiation of appropriate treatment. Mammograms, although not always positive, should be obtained in all cases suggestive of Paget disease to search for the underlying tumor and direct further treatment. Findings that may be seen at mammography include skin thickening, nipple retraction, subareolar or more diffuse malignant microcalcifications, and a discrete mass or masses. However, a negative mammogram should not alter the course of treatment. Conversely, identification of subareolar mammographic findings should alert the clinician to search for physical signs in the nipple and areolar region suggestive of Paget disease.

Development of tearing in preterm and term neonates.

BACKGROUND: Although term and preterm infants have the capacity to secrete tears, the relative contribution of basal and reflex secretion of tears has not been previously assessed together in a prospective study. This information potentially has practical clinical importance. OBJECTIVES: To measure basal and reflex tear secretion in preterm (30-37 weeks after conception) and term (38-42 weeks) newborns and to determine the developmental pattern of tear production. METHODS: Tear secretion was evaluated by applying Schirmer tear test strips to the inferior fornix for 5 minutes before (reflex plus basal secretion) and after (basal secretion) applying a topical anesthetic agent. RESULTS: Seventy infants (36 preterm and 34 term) were tested. Mean (+/- SD) basal tear secretion was 6.2 (+/- 4.5) mm in preterm and 9.2 (+/- 4.3) mm in term infants and increased progressively with increasing weight (P<.001) for all newborns. Mean (+/- SD) reflex tear secretion was 7.4 (+/- 4.8) mm in preterm and 13.2 (+/- 6.5) mm in term infants and also increased with increasing weight (P<.001) for all newborns. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm infants have reduced reflex and basal tear secretion. This may mask the diagnosis of a nasolacrimal duct obstruction, concentrate topically applied medications, and allow corneas to quickly become dry during ophthalmological examination and treatment. By term, tear production in newborns is similar to that in adults.

Allergic fungal sinusitis: CT findings.

PURPOSE: To determine the computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with allergic fungal sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed CT scans and surgical and histopathologic reports in 45 patients (27 male, 18 female; age range, 8-68 years) with allergic fungal sinusitis from multiple institutions. The median age (25 years) and demographics of the patients were determined. Two head and neck radiologists together evaluated the CT scans for the presence of intrasinus high-attenuation areas, extent of sinus involvement, bone expansion and thinning, bone erosion, and extension of disease into the adjacent soft tissues. RESULTS: Allergic fungal sinusitis was more common in male patients and in patients aged 20-30 years. All patients had increased intrasinus attenuation at non-contrast material-enhanced CT. Multiple sinus involvement occurred in 43 patients. Bilateral involvement was more common than unilateral disease. Forty-four patients had complete opacification of at least one of the involved sinuses; 43 of these patients had expansion of an involved sinus, 42 had remodeling and thinning of the bony sinus walls, and 41 had erosion of the sinus wall. CONCLUSION: Allergic fungal sinusitis is a distinct clinical entity with nonspecific symptoms that may be initially suggested by the CT findings. These findings should alert the clinician to the possibility of allergic fungal sinusitis and prompt other diagnostic studies to establish the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Ocular torsion as a complication of scleral buckle procedures for retinal detachments.

BACKGROUND: Strabismus can occur in as many as 30% of patients after scleral buckle procedures for retinal detachments. Most previous case series have reported on horizontal and vertical deviations. This study examines the frequency of torsion after scleral buckle procedures, the abnormalities of extraocular muscles seen during strabismus surgery, and the surgical procedures effective in improving torsion. METHODS: A chart review examined the records of all patients coming to a strabismus referral practice with diplopia reported > or =6 months after scleral buckle procedures. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of patients with diplopia after scleral buckle operations had torsion (88% extorsion, 12% intorsion). The 2 mechanisms that caused extorsion most frequently were inadvertent production of a superior oblique muscle palsy and tightening of the inferior rectus muscle from the underlying scleral buckle. Other mechanisms of extorsion were also seen. The mechanism for production of intorsion was scarring of the superior oblique muscle to the nasal border of the insertion of the superior rectus muscle. Surgical procedures were successful in reducing torsion 4 degrees or more in 59% of cases. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing surgery for torsion after a scleral buckle procedure, exploration of the superior oblique muscle and the inferior rectus muscle may yield information about the mechanism involved in the production of the torsion.

Feline inappropriate elimination.

Cases involving inappropriate elimination can be treated successfully through careful diagnosis, identification of causative factors, and development of an appropriate treatment plan. Veterinarians can provide a valuable service to their clients through case workups, educational information, and timely referrals. Normal elimination and marking behavior and causative factors involved in inappropriate elimination cases are reviewed. Treatments, including behavior modification techniques and drug therapy suggestions, also are included in this article.

Projection from dorsal column nuclei to dorsal mesencephalon.

This study investigated the projection from the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) to the dorsal mesencephalon. Single-unit extracellular recordings were obtained from the DCN of alpha-chloralose anesthetized cats. Neurons were identified by standard antidromic stimulation criteria as projecting to the dorsal mesencephalon (M neurons), the diencephalon (D neurons), or to both regions (MD neurons). Fifty-two neurons could be antidromically activated from the dorsal mesencephalon. Of these, 31 could also be antidromically activated by stimulation in the diencephalon. An additional 34 neurons were studied that could be antidromically activated only from the diencephalon. Stimulation sites within the dorsal mesencephalon effective in antidromically activating M and MD neurons were in the caudal ventrolateral superior colliculus, the intercollicular area, and external nucleus of the inferior colliculus. Effective diencephalic stimulation sites were in the ventroposterolateral nucleus, the zona incerta, and the magnocellular division of the medial geniculate. The antidromic latencies to stimulation in the dorsal mesencephalon of M and MD neurons spanned a similar but wide range of values in contrast to the latencies to stimulation in the diencephalon of D neurons which were all short. Conduction velocities along the mesencephalic and diencephalic collaterals of MD neurons were similar. Many of the neurons projecting to the mesencephalon had receptive fields located proximally on the body. Most of the neurons had rapidly adapting responses to low-intensity mechanical stimulation of the skin. The major difference between the mesencephalic M and MD projection neurons and diencephalic projection D neurons was the larger percentage of neurons having proximal receptive fields in the former group. These findings are the first electrophysiological demonstration of a direct somatosensory input to the dorsal mesencephalon arising in the DCN. This input is probably responsible for providing some of the somatosensory input to the deeper layers of the superior colliculus, the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus, and the intercollicular area, regions known to have neurons responding to somatosensory stimuli.