Food consumption of five deep-sea fishes in the Balearic Basin (western Mediterranean Sea): are there daily feeding rhythms in fishes living below 1000 m?

Predation and food consumption of five deep-sea fish species living below 1000 m depth in the western Mediterranean Sea were analysed to identify the feeding patterns and food requirements of a deep-sea fish assemblage. A feeding rhythm was observed for Risso's smooth-head Alepocephalus rostratus, Mediterranean grenadier Coryphaenoides mediterraeus and Mediterranean codling Lepidion lepidion. Differences in the patterns of the prey consumed suggest that feeding rhythms at such depths are linked with prey availability. The diets of those predators with feeding rhythms are based principally on active-swimmer prey, including pelagic prey known to perform vertical migrations. The diets of Günther's grenadier Coryphaenoides guentheri and smallmouth spiny eel Polyacanthonotus rissoanus, which did not show any rhythm in their feeding patterns, are based mainly on benthic prey. Food consumption estimates were low (<1% of body wet mass day(-1) ). Pelagic feeding species showing diel feeding rhythms consumed more food than benthic feeding species with no feeding rhythms.

Interferon-alpha upregulates gene expression of aquaporin-5 in human parotid glands.

Aquaporins are a family of homologous membrane proteins that function as highly selective water channels. Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is uniquely present in lacrimal and salivary glands, where it accounts for normal tear and saliva production. We tested the hypothesis that orally administered human interferon-alpha (HuIFN-alpha) benefits persons with xerostomia by augmenting the production of AQP5 protein by parotid gland epithelium. Cells from three human parotid glands were cultured with and without human lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha, and assayed for AQP5 mRNA levels by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and AQP5 protein levels by Western blot. Intracellular localization of AQP5 protein was done using confocal microscopy. The functional integrity of the glandular tissue was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis of alpha-amylase 1 and basic proline-rich protein transcripts. AQP5 was constitutively expressed in human parotid gland tissue, with AQP5 protein restricted to the plasma membranes and cytoplasmic vesicles of acinar cells. IFN-alpha augmented AQP5 transcription and protein production in a concentration-dependent manner, and increased the size of intensity of staining of AQP5-containing cytoplasmic vesicles in acinar cells. We conclude that IFN-alpha upregulates AQP5 gene expression in human parotid acinar cells in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that IFN-alpha regulates the gene expression of an aquaporin.

Orbital cellulitis and cavernous sinus thrombosis after cataract extraction and lens implantation.

Orbital cellulitis as a complication of ophthalmic surgery is uncommon. We treated a patient who had orbital cellulitis and cavernous sinus thrombosis three weeks after uncomplicated cataract extraction and lens implantation. Sinus x-rays showed sphenoid sinus opacification. Computed tomographic scan confirmed the sphenoid sinus disease, and no abscess was found. The patient recovered completely after treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Most orbital cellulitis is secondary to sinus disease. The trauma of surgery and the retrobulbar block must be considered possible causative factors in this patient, but sinus disease is still the most likely cause. Intraocular inflammation did not increase during the illness although the intraocular pressure rose from 14 to 23mmHg.

Current concepts of the lethal midline granuloma syndrome.

"Lethal midline granuloma" is an unusual but devastating spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders that is now thought to include four entities: idiopathic midline destructive disease, Wegener's granulomatosis, polymorphic reticulosis, and nasal lymphoma. These disorders must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with chronic, nonspecific complaints localized to the upper airway. An aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach may significantly decrease morbidity and death resulting from these lesions.

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: elevations in serum angiotensin converting enzyme and results of treatment with methotrexate.

We have presented the case of a 37-year-old white man who had recurrent, unilateral, facial edema, temporary partial facial nerve palsy, sensory loss along the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the fifth cranial nerve, ageusia bilaterally on the anterior two thirds of the tongue, right extraocular muscle palsies, and intractable migraine-type headaches, leading to the diagnosis of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels, which are postulated to derive from undiscovered granulomas, were found to be elevated. Methotrexate therapy mitigated the clinical course of the disease, and may prove to be useful in the treatment of this rare and recalcitrant condition.

Hypertrophic scarring of tracheoesophageal fistula causing vocal failure.

There are many known complications of tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration. A patient developed hypertrophic scarring with subsequent vocal failure, an as yet unreported complication.

Complex translocation t(3;9;22) and paracentric inversion of chromosome 3 in blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia.

We report a complex rearrangement observed in both the short and long arms of chromosome #3 in a patient with Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in blastic crisis and without thrombopoietic abnormalities. The rearrangement consisted of a complex translocation, t(3;9;22)(p21;q34;q11), and a paracentric inversion of the long arm of the same chromosome #3 involved in the translocation. Involvement of chromosome #3 in complex translocations in chronic myeloid leukemia and the relationship between 3q anomalies and thrombopoietic diseases are discussed.

[Effect of metformin on plasma lipoprotein lipase]. / Effetto della metformina sulla lipoproteinlipasi plasmatica.

The action of metformin with respect to in vitro turbidimetric clarification of a glyceridic system (lipostrate) has been studied in a group of metabolically healthy subjects. It is observed that biguanide associated with 3GS, heparinoid with known structure and costant liposemec activity, significantly accentuates clarifying activity whereas biguanide alone leads to only a slight increase in the clarification index, at least 5 times less than that induced by 3GS. Results are discussed. These agree with some recent experiments on the catabolic and antiatherogenic effect in vivo of biguanide on the VLDL and LDL, fostering their conversion into high density lipoproteins.