Marine and freshwater fishes of Alabama: a revised checklist and discussion of taxonomic issues.

Checklists are fundamental and important tools for organizing information about biodiversity that provide a basis for conservation and additional scientific research. While Alabama is recognized as an aquatic biodiversity hotspot with the highest native freshwater fish diversity in the contiguous United States, we currently lack an up-to-date list of the states fishes. In particular, much has changed over the past ~20 years regarding our knowledge of fishes from Alabama and the Mobile River Basin, rendering past comprehensive treatments by Mettee et al. (1996) and Boschung and Mayden (2004) out of date. Here, we provide a revised checklist of marine and freshwater fishes known from the coastal and inland waters of Alabama that includes 463 species (335 primarily freshwater fishes, and 128 marine or diadromous fishes) in 35 orders, 78 families, and 176 genera. Extant, extirpated, and extinct species are included, as are putative candidate species. The checklist is based on prior work, searches of the literature and online sources, as well as parsing a large compilation of >140,000 fish records for Alabama and the Mobile River Basin from 37 data providers in the global Fishnet2 database (www.fishnet2.net) and >4000 marine survey records from the SEAMAP database (https://www.gsmfc.org/seamap.php). After editing and quality control checks, the final combined database contained 144,215 collection records, ~95% of which were georeferenced. We discuss the species descriptions, nomenclatural changes, and updates to marine species that account for changes to the state list, and we close with a discussion of ~13 candidate species forms that remain undescribed, which represent outstanding taxonomic issues in need of further research attention.

Amide-type local anesthetics action on the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase from fast-twitch skeletal muscle.

Myotoxic effects related to intracellular Ca(2+) disturbances have been reported for local anesthetics. Such effects might derive from Ca-ATPase dysfunction. The aim of this work was to describe the effect of lidocaine and bupivacaine on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase from fast-twitch skeletal muscle and to identify the affected steps of the enzyme's cycle. SR sealed vesicles were isolated from rabbit fast-twitch muscles by ultracentrifugation. The effect of the anesthetics on Ca-ATPase activity was assessed with a colorimetric method and Ca(2+) binding, uptake, phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP, Ca(2+) dissociation kinetics and phosphoenzyme formation and decomposition levels were tested with radioisotopic methods. Lidocaine and bupivacaine inhibited Ca-ATPase activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (Ki) of 25.3 and 31.4 mM, respectively, and the steady-state Ca(2+) transport ability with Ki values of 33.6 and 46.5 mM, decreasing the maximal transport rate without modification of the Ca(2+) or ATP affinity for the enzyme. This is consistent with an absence of competition for the transport and catalytic sites. The anesthetics did not inhibit Ca(2+) binding but inhibited the phosphorylation partial reactions. Ca(2+) dissociation kinetics was not affected, but the phosphoenzyme levels were decreased, and the decomposition rate of the phosphoenzyme became faster in the presence of the anesthetics. It is concluded that lidocaine and bupivacaine at concentrations available in pharmaceutical formulations for clinical medical and dental uses inhibit the SR Ca-ATPase through inhibition of key phosphorylation steps of the enzymatic cycle.

Differential mechanism of the effects of ester-type local anesthetics on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase.

The effect of the local anesthetics procaine and tetracaine on sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes isolated from two masticatory muscles, masseter and medial pterygoid, was tested and compared to fast-twitch muscles. The effects of the anesthetics on Ca-ATPase activity, calcium binding, uptake, and phosphorylation of the enzyme by inorganic phosphate (Pi) were tested with radioisotopic methods. Calcium binding to the Ca-ATPase was non-competitively inhibited, and the enzymatic activity decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of the activity depended on pH, calcium concentration, the presence of the calcium ionophore calcimycin, and the membrane protein concentration. Unlike fast-twitch membranes, the pre-exposure of the masseter and medial pterygoid membranes to the anesthetics enhanced the enzymatic activity in the absence of calcimycin, supporting their permeabilizing effect. Procaine and tetracaine also interfered with the calcium transport capability, decreasing the maximal uptake without modification of the calcium affinity for the ATPase. Besides, the anesthetics inhibited the phosphorylation of the enzyme by Pi in a competitive manner. Tetracaine revealed a higher inhibitory potency on Ca-ATPase compared to procaine, and the inhibitory concentrations were lower than usual clinical doses. It is concluded that procaine and tetracaine not only affect key steps of the Ca-ATPase enzymatic cycle but also exert an indirect effect on membrane permeability to calcium and suggest that the consequent myoplasmic calcium increase induced by the anesthetics might account for myotoxic effects, such as sustained contraction and eventual rigidity of both fast-twitch and masticatory muscles.

Radiation produces irreversible chronic dysfunction in the submandibular glands of the rat.

The exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation during radiotherapy results in severe morphological and functional alterations of the salivary glands, such as xerostomia. In the present study we investigated the chronic effect of a single radiation dose of 15 Gray (Gy) limited to head and neck on rat salivary gland function (salivary secretion and gland mass) and histology. Results indicate that norepinephrine (NE)-induced salivary secretion was reduced significantly at 30, 90, 180 and 365 days after the administration of a single dose of 15 Gy of ionizing radiation compared to non-irradiated animals. The maximal secretory response was reduced by 33% at 30 and 90 days post irradiation. Interestingly, a new fall in the salivary response to NE was observed at 180 days and was maintained at 365 days post irradiation, showing a 75% reduction in the maximal response. The functional fall of the salivary secretion observed at 180 days post irradiation was not only associated with a reduction of gland mass but also to an alteration of the epithelial architecture exhibiting a changed proportion of ducts and acini, loss of eosinophilic secretor granular material, and glandular vacuolization and fibrosis. On the basis of the presented results, we conclude that ionizing radiation produces irreversible and progressive alterations of submandibular gland (SMG) function and morphology that leads to a severe salivary hypo-function.

Acute effects of elastic bands during the free-weight barbell back squat exercise on velocity, power, and force production.

The use of elastic bands in resistance training has been reported to be effective in increasing performance-related parameters such as power, rate of force development (RFD), and velocity. The purpose of this study was to assess the following measures during the free-weight back squat exercise with and without elastic bands: peak and mean velocity in the eccentric and concentric phases (PV-E, PV-C, MV-E, MV-C), peak force (PF), peak power in the concentric phase, and RFD immediately before and after the zero-velocity point and in the concentric phase (RFDC). Twenty trained male volunteers (age = 26.0 ± 4.4 years) performed 3 sets of 3 repetitions of squats (at 55% one repetition maximum [1RM]) on 2 separate days: 1 day without bands and the other with bands in a randomized order. The added band force equaled 20% of the subjects' 55% 1RM. Two independent force platforms collected ground reaction force data, and a 9-camera motion capture system was used for displacement measurements. The results showed that PV-E and RFDC were significantly (p < 0.05) greater with the use of bands, whereas PV-C and MV-C were greater without bands. There were no differences in any other variables. These results indicate that there may be benefits to performing squats with elastic bands in terms of RFD. Practitioners concerned with improving RFD may want to consider incorporating this easily implemented training variation.

Resveratrol and cancer: chemoprevention, apoptosis, and chemo-immunosensitizing activities.

The polyphenolic compound Resveratrol is a naturally occurring phytochemical and can be found in many plant species, including grapes, peanuts and various herbs. Several studies have established that Resveratrol can exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It also has activity in the regulation of multiple cellular events associated with carcinogenesis. This review describes the general properties of Resveratrol including its relationship to estrogen, its effect on lipid metabolism, its cardiovascular effects, and its role on gene expression. Resveratrol has also been examined in several model systems for its potential effect against cancer. Its anti-cancer effects include its role as a chemopreventive agent, its ability to inhibit cell proliferation, its direct effect in cytotoxicity by induction of apoptosis and on its potential therapeutic effect in pre-clinical studies. In addition, Resveratrol has been shown to exert sensitization effects on cancer cells that will result in a synergistic cytotoxic activity when Resveratrol is used in combination with cytotoxic drugs in drug-resistant tumor cells. Clearly, the studies with Resveratrol provide support for the use of Resveratrol in human cancer chemoprevention and combination with chemotherapeutic drugs or cytotoxic factors in the treatment of drug refractory tumor cells.

Doppler sonographic diagnosis of primary transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter.

Primary carcinoma arising in the urothelium of the ureter is rare, accounting for only 1% of all cancers of the upper urinary tract. We describe a case in which primary transitional cell carcinoma of the right ureter was sonographically detected in a 45-year-old woman. The mass exhibited tumoral vascularity on power Doppler sonography and spectral analysis.

Doxazosin: a new cytotoxic agent for prostate cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity of drug-resistant prostate cancer cell lines to doxazosin-mediated cell death, and the effects of combining doxazosin and chemotherapeutic agents on these cell lines. Materials and methods The cytotoxic effect of doxazosin was initially evaluated in the prostate carcinoma cell lines DU145 and PC-3. Doxazosin was combined either with adriamycin, etoposide or paclitaxel after its cytotoxic effects were detected in these cell lines. The tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay and trypan blue dye-exclusion tests were used to determine drug-mediated cytotoxicity. Experiments were performed at least three times and representative data are presented. RESULTS: Both cell lines were sensitive to doxazosin-mediated cytotoxicity and the maximum cytotoxicity was achieved after 72 h. While cell death increased with increasing concentrations of doxazosin, 60 micromol/L doxazosin killed more than half of the cells in these cell lines. The combination of doxazosin with both adriamycin and etoposide resulted in significant synergistic cytotoxic activity at subtoxic concentrations of the drugs. Interestingly, the combination of doxazosin and paclitaxel resulted in antagonistic activity. CONCLUSION: Doxazosin-mediated cytotoxicity in the drug-resistant human prostate carcinoma cell lines was confirmed. Combinations of doxazosin with either adriamycin and etoposide, but not paclitaxel, had synergistic cytotoxic activity in these tumour cell lines. These results suggest that doxazosin could be a new cytotoxic agent, either used alone or combined, in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Intracavernosal adrenalin injection in priapism.

Prolonged erection is a rare problem in urology but it must be treated effectively. The most common etiological factor is intracavernosal vasoactive agent injection for diagnosis or treatment of erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intracavernosal adrenalin injection alone in the treatment of priapism. Nineteen patients with prolonged erection were evaluated. Seventeen out of the 19 prolonged erections were due to intracavernosal vasoactive agent injection and the remaining two were idiopathic. In all cases 2 ml adrenalin (1/100 000) was injected in each cavernosal body. In the patients who did not respond to the first injection, repeated adrenalin injections were performed at 20 min intervals. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during the injections. Detumescence was achieved in ten (53%) patients after the first injection. Repeated adrenalin injections (2-5 injections) were required in nine patients and eight (42%) of them achieved detumescence. Only one (5%) patient who had 26-h prolonged erection could not achieve detumescence. There was no significant difference in blood pressure and heart rate during the monitoring of the patients when compared to the initial values. No standard treatment method has yet been described for prolonged erection. Repeated aspirations and irrigations for treatment of prolonged erection are problematical applications both for patients and urologist. Intracavernosal adrenalin injection alone can be used with high efficacy and safety for the treatment of prolonged erection especially in patients with a short duration of erection.

Juxtadrenal schwannoma.

Schwannoma which originated from Schwann cells is a nerve sheath tumour. Schwannomas of the urogenital tract are very rare. We present a case of a juxtadrenal schwannoma in a 66 years old female patient. To date only three juxtadrenal schwannoma cases have been described in the literature.

Results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the pediatric age group.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to show the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for urinary stone disease in the pediatric age group and to evaluate the complications encountered after the treatment. METHODS: 67 children with 109 stones underwent ESWL, using a Dornier MPL 9000 lithotriptor. Styrofoam boards were used to protect the lungs. KUB and chest radiographs were taken on the day after treatment. If stone-free status was achieved, the patient was followed with ultrasonography and urine analysis every 6 months for 2 years. If fragments < 4 mm were present, follow-up was repeated every 3 months. RESULTS: Stone size ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 cm. 71 renoureteral units underwent a total of 129 ESWL sessions. Retreatment was required in 28 patients. The mean number of sessions per unit was 1.8. A stone-free status was achieved in 60 renoureteral units. The overall success rate was 88.6%. The composition of the stone was mixed calcium oxalate and phosphate in the majority of the patients. Auxiliary procedures used were push-back, ureteroscopic stone removal, and open surgery. Hematuria, colics and fever over 38 degrees C were the complications encountered after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL is the first-line treatment for renal and upper ureteral calculi. However, larger stones which will require several ESWL sessions and consecutively increased number of shock waves are best treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy plus ESWL. Patients with congenital anomalies necessitating surgical reconstruction are the best candidates for operation.