Heat stress effects on the cumulus cells surrounding the bovine oocyte during maturation: altered matrix metallopeptidase 9 and progesterone production.

When the effects of heat stress are detrimental during maturation, cumulus cells are intimately associated with the oocyte. To determine the extent to which heat stress affects these cells, in this study, transcriptome profiles of the cumulus that surrounded control and heat-stressed oocytes (41 °C during the first 12 h only and then shifted back to 38.5 °C) during in vitro maturation (IVM) were compared using Affymetrix bovine microarrays. The comparison of cumulus-derived profiles revealed a number of transcripts whose levels were increased (n=11) or decreased (n=13) ≥ twofold after heat stress exposure (P<0.01), sufficient to reduce the development of blastocysts by 46.4%. In a separate study, quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to confirm heat-induced differences in the relative abundances of the transcripts of five different genes (caveolin 1, matrix metallopeptidase 9, FSH receptor, Indian hedgehog homolog, and inducible nitric oxide synthase). Heat stress exposure resulted in >1.7-fold decrease in the protein levels of latent matrix metallopeptidase 9 (proMMP9). Heat-induced reductions in transcript levels were noted at 6 h IVM with reductions in proMMP9 protein levels at 18 h IVM (P=0.0002). Independent of temperature, proMMP9 levels at 24 h IVM were positively correlated with the development rate of blastocysts (R²=0.36; P=0.002). The production of progesterone increased during maturation; heat-induced increases were evident by 12 h IVM (P=0.002). Both MMP9 and progesterone are associated with the developmental competence of the oocyte; thus, it seems plausible for some of the negative consequences of heat stress on the cumulus-oocyte complex to be mediated through heat-induced perturbations occurring in the surrounding cumulus.

Comparative study of the valence electronic excitations of N2 by inelastic x-ray and electron scattering.

Bound-state, valence electronic excitation spectra of N2 are probed by nonresonant inelastic x-ray and electron scattering. Within usual theoretical treatments, dynamical structure factors derived from the two probes should be identical. However, we find strong disagreements outside the dipole scattering limit, even at high probe energies. This suggests an unexpectedly important contribution from intramolecular multiple scattering of the probe electron from core electrons or the nucleus. These effects should grow progressively stronger as the atomic number of the target species increases.

The local electronic structure of alpha-Li3N.

New theoretical and experimental investigations of the occupied and unoccupied local electronic densities of states (DOS) are reported for alpha-Li(3)N. Band-structure and density-functional theory calculations confirm the absence of covalent bonding character. However, real-space full-multiple-scattering (RSFMS) calculations of the occupied local DOS find less extreme nominal valences than have previously been proposed. Nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering, RSFMS calculations, and calculations based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation are used to characterize the unoccupied electronic final states local to both the Li and N sites. There is a good agreement between experiment and theory. Throughout the Li 1s near-edge region, both experiment and theory find strong similarities in the s-and p-type components of the unoccupied local final DOS projected onto an orbital angular momentum basis (l-DOS). An unexpected, significant correspondence exists between the near-edge spectra for the Li 1s and N 1s initial states. We argue that both spectra are sampling essentially the same final DOS due to the combination of long core-hole lifetimes, long photoelectron lifetimes, and the fact that orbital angular momentum is the same for all relevant initial states. Such considerations may be generally applicable for low atomic number compounds.

A short working distance multiple crystal x-ray spectrometer.

For x-ray spot sizes of a few tens of microns or smaller, a millimeter-sized flat analyzer crystal placed approximately 1 cm from the sample will exhibit high energy resolution while subtending a collection solid angle comparable to that of a typical spherically bent crystal analyzer (SBCA) at much larger working distances. Based on this observation and a nonfocusing geometry for the analyzer optic, we have constructed and tested a short working distance (SWD) multicrystal x-ray spectrometer. This prototype instrument has a maximum effective collection solid angle of 0.14 sr, comparable to that of 17 SBCA at 1 m working distance. We find good agreement with prior work for measurements of the Mn Kbeta x-ray emission and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering for MnO, and also for measurements of the x-ray absorption near-edge structure for Dy metal using Lalpha(2) partial-fluorescence yield detection. We discuss future applications at third- and fourth-generation light sources. For concentrated samples, the extremely large collection angle of SWD spectrometers will permit collection of high-resolution x-ray emission spectra with a single pulse of the Linac Coherent Light Source. The range of applications of SWD spectrometers and traditional multi-SBCA instruments has some overlap, but also is significantly complementary.

Intraoperative monitoring of motor evoked potentials: a review of 116 cases.

We reviewed the results of motor evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) monitoring during 116 operations on the spine or spinal cord. We monitored MEPs by electrically stimulating the spinal cord and recording compound muscle action potentials from lower extremity muscles and monitored SEPs by stimulating posterior tibial or peroneal nerves and recording both cortical and subcortical evoked potentials. We maintained anesthesia with an N2O/O2/opioid technique supplemented with a halogenated inhalational agent and maintained partial neuromuscular blockade using a vecuronium infusion. Both MEPs and SEPs could be recorded in 99 cases (85%). Neither MEPs nor SEPs were recorded in eight patients, all of whom had preexisting severe myelopathies. Only SEPs could be recorded in two patients, and only MEPs were obtained in seven cases. Deterioration of evoked potentials occurred during nine operations (8%). In eight cases, both SEPs and MEPs deteriorated; in one case, only MEPs deteriorated. In four cases, the changes in the monitored signals led to major alterations in the surgery. We believe that optimal monitoring during spinal surgery requires recording both SEPs and MEPs. This provides independent verification of spinal cord integrity using two parallel but independent systems, and also allows detection of the occasional insults that selectively affect either motor or sensory systems.

Complications of intravenous immune globulin treatment in neurologic disease.

Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is advocated as a safe treatment for immune-mediated neurologic disease. We reviewed the medical records of 88 patients who were given IVIg for a neurologic illness. Major complications in four patients (4.5%) included congestive heart failure in a patient with polymyositis, hypotension after a recent myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis in a bed-bound patient, and acute renal failure with diabetic nephropathy. Other adverse effects included vasomotor symptoms 26, headache 23, rash 5, leukopenia 4, fever 3, neutropenia 1, proteinuria (1.9 g/day) 1, viral syndrome 1, dyspnea 1, and pruritus 1. Fifty-two patients (59%) had some adverse effect of IVIg infusion, most commonly vasomotor symptoms, headaches, fever, or shortness of breath in 40 (45%), which improved with reduced infusion rate or symptomatic medications. Five (6%) had asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities and seven (8%) had other minor adverse effects. Adverse effects led to discontinuation of therapy in 16% and permanent termination of therapy in 10% of patients. There was no mortality or long-term morbidity. Although adverse effects were frequent, serious complications were rare except in patients with heart disease, renal insufficiency, and bed-bound state.

Localization of a gene for partial epilepsy to chromosome 10q.

There is strong evidence for a genetic contribution to epilepsy, but it is commonly assumed that this genetic contribution is limited to 'generalized' epilepsies, and that most forms of 'partial' epilepsy are nongenetic. In a linkage analysis of a single family containing 11 affected individuals, we obtained strong evidence for localization of a gene for partial epilepsy. This susceptibility gene maps to chromosome 10q, with a maximum two-point lod score for D10S192 of 3.99 at theta = 0.0. All affected individuals share a single haplotype for seven tightly linked contiguous markers; the maximum lod score for this haplotype is 4.83 at theta = 0.0. Key recombinants place the susceptibility locus within a 10 centimorgan interval.

Age and incidence of estrogen receptor positive breast tumors.

Estrogen receptors of primary breast cancer tumors were determined by sedimentation analysis. Positive tumors from pre- and post-menopausal patients were those that contained estrogen receptor content greater than 250 and greater than 750 fmoles per g wet weight tissue, respectively. A positive correlation of patients' age with increasing incidence of estrogen receptor positive tumors was found; test for linear trend significance z = 5.38 (P less than 0.001). One-sixth of those less than 29 years had positive tumors, 27 percent in the age group 40 to 49 years, 46 percent in those 70 to 79 years, and 62 percent in those 80 years or older.

Separation of estrogen receptors from nonspecific binding employing receptor antibodies.

Sedimentation analysis in the presence of monoclonal antibodies to the estrogen receptor results in a well-marked separation of the estrogen receptor peak from that containing significant amounts of nonspecific binding. This method has been applied to the study of liver and breast cancer cytosols. These findings are of importance in the study of breast cancer metastases and of endocrine-responsive organs such as the liver, that previously could not be readily analyzed because of the presence of significant amounts of nonspecific binding.

Analysis of version in the acetabular cup.

To determine the amount of anteversion or retroversion of the acetabular component of the implanted total hip prosthesis, two anteroposterior radiographs of the hip are obtained, with the contralateral hip flexed to compensate for the possible existing flexion contracture. The X-ray beam is centered on the implanted total hip in one radiograph, and moved away from it toward the contralateral hip in the second radiograph. If the cup is anteverted, the opening will seem wider in the second radiograph. To calculate the angle, the location of the center of the X-ray beam on the X-ray plate must be know. The center of the X-ray beam can be marked on the radiograph by putting a metalic cross on the patient, over the centering cross of the X-ray light source. If the distance of the signature of the X-ray's center beam is less than 8 mm for the center of the cup on the X-ray film, the cup version can be calculated from the arcsin of the shortest to the largest diameter of the cup. If the central ray's signature is farther away, correction is necessary for this calculation. Also, the variable parameters, e.g., cup size, and magnification rate, should be considered in the calculations. The anteroposterior radiographs of the implanted total hip, obtained with the central beam being marked on the X-ray plate, not only are useful for evaluation of the implant but also can be used to calculate the version angle with an accuracy of +/-2 degrees. The necessary calculation is tabulated for cups with an outside diameter of 44-56 mm.

Locomotory energetics in a marsupial (Antechinomys spenceri) and a rodent (Notomys alexis).

Steady state oxygen consumption was compared in a rodent Notomys alexis and a marsupial Antechinomys spenceri. The marsupial was found to diverge from predicted eutherian energic patterns. N. alexis appears to use energy storage as a significant part of the step cycle before becoming bipedal. Aerobic scope and heat storage during running are similar in both species.