Beaufort trout MicroPlex: a high-throughput multiplex platform comprising 38 informative microsatellite loci for use in resident and anadromous (sea trout) brown trout Salmo trutta genetic studies.

A flexible panel consisting of 38 informative microsatellite markers for Salmo trutta is described. These markers were selected from a pool of over 150 candidate loci that can be readily amplified in four multiplex PCR groups but other permutations are also possible. The basic properties of each markers were assessed in six population samples from both the Burrishoole catchment, in the west of Ireland, and Lough Neagh, in Northern Ireland. A method to assess the relative utility of individual markers for the detection of population genetic structuring is also described. Given its flexibility, technical reliability and high degree of informativeness, the use of this panel of markers is advocated as a standard for S. trutta genetic studies.

Phylogeographic structure of brown trout Salmo trutta in Britain and Ireland: glacial refugia, postglacial colonization and origins of sympatric populations.

The phylogeographical structure of brown trout Salmo trutta in Britain and Ireland was studied using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of four mitochondrial DNA segments (16S/ND1, ND5/6, COXIII/ND5 and ND5/12S). Analysis of 3636 individuals from 83 sites-morphotypes revealed a total of 25 haplotypes. These haplotypes were nested in seven two-step clades. Although there was a clear geographical patterning to the occurrence of derived clades, admixture among ancestral clades was extensive throughout the studied area. A relevant feature of the data was that some populations contained mixtures of highly divergent clades. This type II phylogeographic pattern is uncommon in nature. Clade intermixing is likely to have taken place during earlier interglacials as well as since the Last Glacial Maximum. The anadromous life history of many S. trutta populations has probably also contributed to clade mixing. Based on the data presented here and published data, postglacial colonization of Britain and Ireland most likely involved S. trutta from at least five potential glacial refuges. Probable locations for such refugia were: south of England-western France, east of the Baltic Sea, western Ireland, Celtic Sea and North Sea. Ferox S. trutta, as defined by their longevity, late maturation and piscivory, exhibited a strong association with a particular clade indicating that they share a common ancestor. Current evidence indicates that the Lough Melvin gillaroo S. trutta and sonaghen S. trutta sympatric types diverged prior to colonization of Lough Melvin and, although limited gene flow has occurred since secondary contact, they have remained largely reproductively isolated due to inlet and outlet river spawning segregation. Gillaroo S. trutta may reflect descendents of a previously more widespread lineage that has declined due to habitat alterations particularly affecting outlet rivers. The mosaic-like distribution of mtDNA lineages means that conservation prioritization in Britain and Ireland should be based on the biological characteristics of local populations rather than solely on evolutionary lineages.

Cortical bone trajectory for lumbar pedicle screws.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Achieving solid implant fixation to osteoporotic bone presents a clinical challenge. New techniques and devices are being designed to increase screw-bone purchase of pedicle screws in the lumbar spine via a novel cortical bone trajectory that may improve holding screw strength and minimize loosening. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that this new trajectory provides screw interference that is equivalent to the more traditionally directed trajectory for lumbar pedicle screws. However, a biomechanical study has not been performed to substantiate the early clinical results. PURPOSE: Evaluate the mechanical competence of lumbar pedicle screws using a more medial-to-lateral path (ie, "cortical bone trajectory") than the traditionally used path. STUDY DESIGN: Human cadaveric biomechanical study. METHODS: Each vertebral level (L1-L5) was dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanned and had two pedicle screws inserted. On one side, the traditional medially directed trajectory was drilled and tapped. On the contralateral side, the newly proposed cortical bone trajectory was drilled and tapped. After qCT scanning, screws were inserted into their respective trajectories and pullout and toggle testing ensued. In uniaxial pullout, the pedicle screw was withdrawn vertically from the constrained bone until failure occurred. The contralateral side was tested in the same manner. In screw toggle testing, the vertebral body was rigidly constrained and a longitudinal rod was attached to each screw head. The rod was grasped using a hydraulic grip and a quasi-static, upward displacement was implemented until construct failure. The contralateral pedicle screw was tested in the same manner. Yield pullout (N) and stiffness (N/mm) as well as failure moment (N-m) were compared and bone mineral content and bone density data were correlated with the yield pullout force. RESULTS: New cortical trajectory screws demonstrated a 30% increase in uniaxial yield pullout load relative to the traditional pedicle screws (p=0.080), although mixed loading demonstrated equivalency between the two trajectories. No significant difference in construct stiffness was noted between the two screw trajectories in either biomechanical test or were differences in failure moments (p=0.354). Pedicle screw fixation did not appear to depend on bone quality (DXA) yet positive correlations were demonstrated between trajectory and bone density scans (qCT) and pullout force for both pedicle screws. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that the new cortical trajectory and screw design have equivalent pullout and toggle characteristics compared with the traditional trajectory pedicle screw, thus confirming preliminary clinical evidence. The 30% increase in failure load of the cortical trajectory screw in uniaxial pullout and its juxtaposition to higher quality bone justify its use in patients with poor trabecular bone quality.

Bilateral symmetrical synchondrosis of navicular first cuneiform joint presenting as a lytic lesion.

This is a case report of a tarsal coalition involving a bilateral symmetrical synchondrosis of the navicular first cuneiform bones in a 37-year-old Hispanic man. After presentation with chronic foot pain and failure of conservative treatment, arthrodesis was performed on one foot with good relief. At this time increased pain has developed in the opposite foot. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral symmetrical navicular first cuneiform synchondrosis.

Intestinal filtration-secretion due to increased intraluminal pressure in rabbits.

The mechanism of changes in small intestinal transport due to acutely increased intraluminal hydrostatic pressure (IHP) was investigated in detail using perfused in vivo rabbit intestinal segments. IHP affected passive transport in vivo by increasing effective mucosal surface area in the small intestine (indicated by 3HOH transport and tissue architectural changes) and increasing small intestinal permeability (indicated by a proportionately greater increase in mannitol than erythritol secretory clearance). IHP did not alter ileal blood flow rate measured by radioactive microspheres, despite grossly evident venous dilatation, or active intestinal transport in the ileum as measured by a) in vitro ion transport in the absence of elevated hydrostatic pressure, b) mucosal adenylate cyclase or Na-K-ATPase activities, and c) glucose-stimulated water and electrolyte absorption. Acutely increased IHP appears to influence the hydrodynamics of the mucosal microcirculation in the rabbit ileum to produce a driving force for passive filtration-secretion, which is associated with and possibly augmented by increased tissue permeability and effective surface area.

Elevated intraluminal pressure alters rabbit small intestinal transport in vivo.

The effect of acutely increased intraluminal hydrostatic pressure (IHP) on rabbit jejunal, ileal, and colonic water and electrolyte transport was determined in vivo in a distended test segment and adjacent control segment using a perfusion system with [14C]polyethylene glycol as a nonabsorbable marker. Test-segment IHP was increased by raising the efflux catheter to produce 10-70 cm water IHP, while control-segment IHP was held constant at 0 cm water. Acutely increased IHP up to 40 cm water in the jejunum and up to 30 cm water in the ileum caused decreased net absorption in the jejunum and net secretion in the ileum but caused no significant change in control-segment transport. This indicated that IHP-induced changes in transport were mediated by local rather than systemic effects. The IHP-induced secretory process was dependent on the magnitude of elevation in IHP and reversible at less than or equal to 20 cm water in the ileum. An IHP of 30 cm water was associated with nonreversible transport changes in the ileum. Acutely increased IHP to 70 cm water did not significantly alter colonic transport. This experimental model is suitable for a comprehensive investigation of the mechanism of IHP-induced changes in small intestinal transport.

Effect of altered intestinal water transport on rabbit ileal blood flow.

A method is described for measuring ileal blood flow in the anesthetized (pentobarbital sodium) rabbit by the intraventricular injection of microspheres (15 micrometer) labeled with cerium-141 or chromium-51; with this method the amount of labeled microspheres lodging in the tissue is proportional to the blood flow. Blood flow to the ileal mucosa plus submucosa could be separated from flow to the ileal muscularis propria plus serosa by this technique. Simultaneous and sequential injections of radiolabeled microspheres gave similar measurements of ileal blood flow and did not affect ileal water absorption. Increasing ileal water absorption by treatment with the glucocorticoid methylprednisolone (3 mg/100 g per day for 3 days) increased blood flow to both compartments of the ileum and also to the colon, liver, and kidneys; methylprednisolone treatment did not alter blood flow when studies were performed before the methylprednisolone-induced increase in ileal water absorption had occurred. In contrast, intestinal secretagogues that induced both active ileal secretion (purified cholera toxin and serotonin) and passive ileal secretion (hypertonic mannitol) did not affect ileal blood flow. These studies indicate that increased ileal water absorption is associated with increased ileal blood flow, whereas intestinal secretion is not necessarily associated with an alteration in ileal blood flow.