Acquisition of germ plasm accelerates vertebrate evolution.

Primordial germ cell (PGC) specification occurs either by induction from pluripotent cells (epigenesis) or by a cell-autonomous mechanism mediated by germ plasm (preformation). Among vertebrates, epigenesis is basal, whereas germ plasm has evolved convergently across lineages and is associated with greater speciation. We compared protein-coding sequences of vertebrate species that employ preformation with their sister taxa that use epigenesis and demonstrate that genes evolve more rapidly in species containing germ plasm. Furthermore, differences in rates of evolution appear to cause phylogenetic incongruence in protein-coding sequence comparisons between vertebrate taxa. Our results support the hypothesis that germ plasm liberates constraints on somatic development and that enhanced evolvability drives the evolution of germ plasm.

Osmoregulation of juvenile marine goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) in low-salinity water / Osmorregulación de juveniles del mero guasa juvenil (Epinephelus itajara) en aguas de baja salinidad / Osmorregulação de juvenis do peixe garupa (Epinephelus itajara) em águas de baixa salinidade

Background: goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is an economically valuable marine species and an excellent candidate for domestication for aquaculture purposes. If this grouper can osmoregulate in lowsalinity water, its cultivation can provide socio-economic benefits, for both coastal communities and the mainland agricultural sector. Objective: to evaluate the osmoregulatory capacity of juvenile goliath grouper when exposed to low-salinity water. Methods: juvenile goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) were either directly or gradually transferred from seawater to freshwater to test osmoregulatory ability. Body weight was assessed during acclimation and blood samples were taken to measure total osmolality and electrolytes. Results: all fish survived the transfer to freshwater and were maintained for up to 12 days after termination of the acclimation trials which lasted 72 hours. Juvenile goliath grouper were hyposmotic (342-462 mosmol/kg) to seawater and hyperosmotic (272-292 mosmol/kg) to freshwater. The gills and kidneys were found to have principal roles in the osmoregulatory processes. Numerous chloride cells were found on superficial regions of the gill filament epithelium, most likely serving to eliminate the excess of electrolytes while in seawater. The kidneys had numerous nephrons to make urine and retain electrolytes while in freshwater. Conclusions: these observations lead to the conclusions that juvenile goliath grouper have the ability to osmoregulate in freshwater and should be considered a marine euryhaline species. Such adaptability opens for consideration the possibility that goliath grouper could be successfully farmed in brackish water or even in freshwater.

Antecedentes: el mero guasa Epinephelus itajara es una especie marina de gran valor comercial y un excelente candidato a domesticar con fines acuícolas. Si el mero guasa puede osmoregular en agua de baja salinidad, su cultivo puede proporcionar beneficios socio económicos, tanto para las comunidades costeras, como al sector agropecuario en tierra firme. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto en la osmoregulación de juveniles de mero guasa expuestos a aguas de baja salinidad. Métodos: juveniles de mero guasa mantenidos en agua de mar fueron transferidos directamente o de manera gradual a agua dulce para poner a prueba su capacidad osmorreguladora. Durante el proceso de aclimatación se les evaluó el peso corporal y se extrajo sangre para medir la osmolalidad total y electrolitos. Resultados: todos los peces sobrevivieron la transferencia al agua dulce y durante 12 días más, después de la finalización de los ensayos de aclimatación que tuvieron una duración de 72 horas. Juveniles de mero guasa fueron hiposmóticos (342-462 mosmol/kg) respecto al agua de mar e hiperosmóticos (272-292 mosmol/kg) respecto al agua dulce. La histología de branquias y riñones reveló que estos órganos son de gran importancia en los procesos osmorregulatorios. Un gran número de células de cloruro fueron localizadas como parte del epitelio de los filamentos branquiales; estas células trabajan para librar al cuerpo del exceso de electrolitos mientras los peces se encuentran en el mar. En el riñón se observaron numerosas nefronas y túbulos colectores para la formación de orina y retención de electrolitos; tejidos esenciales si estos peces permanecen en agua dulce. Conclusión: estas observaciones llevan a la conclusión de que los juveniles de mero guasa tienen la capacidad de osmorregular en agua dulce y debe ser considerada una especie marina eurihalina. Tal adaptabilidad supone la posibilidad de que el mero guasa podría ser cultivado en agua salobre o incluso en agua dulce.

Antecedentes: o peixe garoupa Epinephelus itajara é uma espécie marinha de muito valor comercial a qual seria ótimo ter domesticada para sua produção industrial na aquicultura. Se o peixe garoupa pode osmoregular em água de baixa salinidade, sua cultura pode proporcionar benefícios socioeconômicos, tanto para as comunidades costeiras, quanto para o sector agrícola no interior do continente. Objetivo: avaliar a osmoregulação de juvenis do peixe garoupa expostos a águas de baixa salinidade. Métodos: juvenis do peixe Garoupa mantidos no mar foram transferidos direta ou gradualmente para água doce testando assim sua capacidade osmorregulatória. Durante o processo de aclimatização, foi avaliado o peso corporal e amostras de sangue foram coletadas para medir a osmolalidade total e alguns eletrólitos. Resultados: todos os peixes sobreviveram à transferência para água doce 12 dias mais após a conclusão dos estudos de aclimatação que se fizeram durante um período de 72 horas. Juvenis do peixe garupa foram hiposmoticos (342-462 mosmol/kg) com respeito à água marinha e hiperosmóticos (272-292 mosmol/kg) com respeito à água doce. Histologia das brânquias e os rins revelaram que estes órgãos são de grande importância nos processos de osmoregulaçao. Um grande número de células de cloreto foi localizado como parte do epitélio dos filamentos branquiais; estas células trabalham no organismo para livrar o corpo do excesso de eletrólitos enquanto os peixes estão no mar. Nos rins foram observados numerosos néfrons e ductos recoletores para a formação de urina e retenção de eletrólitos; tecidos essenciais no caso de que estes peixes permaneçam em água doce. Conclusão: estas observações levam à conclusão de que os juvenis do peixe garupa tem a capacidade de osmoregular em água doce e deve ser considerado uma espécie marinha eurialina. A adaptabilidade deste peixe em água doce supõe a possibilidade de que o peixe garupa poderia ser cultivado nesta água em criadouros no interior do continente.

Uptake of metronidazole in Artemia at different developmental life stages.

The purpose of this study was to examine the capacity of live brine shrimp Artemia spp. to accumulate metronidazole at different developmental life stages. Metronidazole is used in fish as an antiparasitic medication. An effective drug delivery method is to enrich the Artemia with metronidazole and offer them as live feed to the infected fish, usually ornamental species and other small fishes. Artemia cysts were hatched and then soaked in a metronidazole solution (0.05%) at instars 1-3 of larval development. Our findings indicated that Artemia were able to accumulate metronidazole at levels considered therapeutic to other animals and humans (25-100 mg/kg). However, the levels varied depending on the stage of larval development. Artemia accumulated the highest levels of metronidazole (137-143 mg/kg) when they started filter feeding (instar 2), whereas newly hatched Artemia (instar 1) contained the lowest level (85 mg/kg). Based on this study and a review of the literature, a new protocol recommended for enriching Artemia with metronidazole consists of soaking the Artemia in a 0.05% metronidazole solution for 3 h at room temperature. Because metronidazole is relatively insoluble in water, it must first be dissolved in warm water with continuous stirring.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2011-31 March 2011.

This article documents the addition of 111 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi, Anopheles nuneztovari sensu lato, Asellus aquaticus, Calopteryx splendens, Calopteryx virgo, Centaurea aspera, Centaurea seridis, Chilina dombeyana, Proctoeces cf. lintoni and Pyrenophora teres f. teres.

Performance analysis of a proposed tightly-coupled medical instrument network based on CAN protocol.

Advances in medical devices and health care has been phenomenal during the recent years. Although medical device manufacturers have been improving their instruments, network connection of these instruments still rely on proprietary technologies. Even if the interface has been provided by the manufacturer (e.g., RS-232, USB, or Ethernet coupled with a proprietary API), there is no widely-accepted uniform data model to access data of various bedside instruments. There is a need for a common standard which allows for internetworking with the medical devices from different manufacturers. ISO/IEEE 11073 (X73) is a standard attempting to unify the interfaces of all medical devices. X73 defines a client access mechanism that would be implemented into the communication controllers (residing between an instrument and the network) in order to access/network patient data. On the other hand, MediCAN™ technology suite has been demonstrated with various medical instruments to achieve interfacing and networking with a similar goal in its open standardization approach. However, it provides a more generic definition for medical data to achieve flexibility for networking and client access mechanisms. The instruments are in turn becoming more sophisticated; however, the operation of an instrument is still expected to be locally done by authorized medical personnel. Unfortunately, each medical instrument has its unique proprietary API (application programming interface - if any) to provide automated and electronic access to monitoring data. Integration of these APIs requires an agreement with the manufacturers towards realization of interoperable health care networking. As long as the interoperability of instruments with a network is not possible, ubiquitous access to patient status is limited only to manual entry based systems. This paper demonstrates an attempt to realize an interoperable medical instrument interface for networking using MediCAN technology suite as an open standard.

Networking and plug-and-play of bedside medical instruments.

Medical device manufacturers continuously improve instruments with more capabilities at the point of care such as the bedside, operating room, intensive care unit, or emergency room. The instruments are in turn becoming more sophisticated; however, the operation of an instrument is still expected to be locally done by authorized medical personnel. The measurements from these instruments are stored using archaic methods such as a patient history record on a paper. The access to these records is cumbersome and not available unless the medical personnel is present at the point of care. Unfortunately, each medical instrument has its unique proprietary API (application programming interface - if any) to provide automated and electronic access to monitoring data. Integration of these APIs requires an agreement with the manufacturers towards realization of interoperable health care networking. As long as the interoperability of instruments with a network is not possible, ubiquitous access to patient status is limited only to manual entry based systems. Manual entry is being implemented to create electronic health records, HL7, and similar initiatives. However, they do not address a bottomup automation (i.e. from instrument and patient bed side up) to leverage the mature networking technologies in a health care setting. This paper demonstrates an attempt to realize an interoperable medical instrument interface for networking using MediCAN technology suite as an open standard. We will present the approach with a comparison study of a similar initiative led by ISO/IEEE 11073 standards.

Medical instrument data exchange.

Advances in medical devices and health care has been phenomenal during the recent years. Although medical device manufacturers have been improving their instruments, network connection of these instruments still rely on proprietary technologies. Even if the interface has been provided by the manufacturer (e.g., RS-232, USB, or Ethernet coupled with a proprietary API), there is no widely-accepted uniform data model to access data of various bedside instruments. There is a need for a common standard which allows for internetworking with the medical devices from different manufacturers. ISO/IEEE 11073 (X73) is a standard attempting to unify the interfaces of all medical devices. X73 defines a client access mechanism that would be implemented into the communication controllers (residing between an instrument and the network) in order to access/network patient data. On the other hand, MediCAN technology suite has been demonstrated with various medical instruments to achieve interfacing and networking with a similar goal in its open standardization approach. However, it provides a more generic definition for medical data to achieve flexibility for networking and client access mechanisms. In this paper, a comparison between the data model of X73 and MediCAN will be presented to encourage interoperability demonstrations of medical instruments.

The practice of gastroenterology: evolution versus intelligent design.

This article describes the economic pressures threatening the traditional practice of gastroenterology and suggests steps by which gastroenterology practices can adapt and adopt a collaborative model that can position the practice for success in a changing environment.

An outbreak of conjunctivitis due to a novel unencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae among military trainees.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial conjunctivitis usually occurs as sporadic cases; outbreaks are uncommon and usually are associated with school campuses. We report an outbreak of Streptococcus pneumoniae conjunctivitis at a military training facility. METHODS: An outbreak investigation was done. Each case of conjunctivitis was evaluated with an assessment tool including demographic and clinical data. Conjunctival swabs were obtained. Pneumococci underwent standard testing, including serotyping with the Quellung reaction, capsular staining, and multilocus sequence typing. Sequence types were compared with previous reported outbreak strains by construction of dendrograms. Carriage rates of S. pneumoniae were determined among previously undiagnosed case patients with conjunctivitis, and a case-control study was performed. Control measures included education to increase hand washing, distribution of alcohol-based hand gel, and prompt treatment of patients with conjunctivitis. RESULTS: During a 6-week period, 92 cases of conjunctivitis occurred among 3500 persons, with an attack rate of 1.75 cases per 100 person-months. Eighty cases (87%) were due to S. pneumoniae; 45 (49%) were confirmed, and 35 (38%) were probable. Ten percent of recruits surveyed carried the outbreak strain. Twenty-two percent self-reported symptoms consistent with conjunctivitis during the outbreak period; sharing washcloths was associated with conjunctivitis (odds ratio, 11.7; P=.03). The causative organism was resistant to azithromycin but susceptible to telithromycin. The outbreak strain was an unencapsulated S. pneumoniae that has not been previously described; it was most closely related to the sequence type causing the Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH) outbreak of conjunctivitis in 2002. CONCLUSIONS: We report a conjunctivitis outbreak among military trainees caused by a novel, unencapsulated strain of S. pneumoniae.

Detection of Norwalk-like virus infection aboard two U.S. Navy ships.

Two U.S. Navy ships experienced outbreaks of gastroenteritis following port visits to Southeast Asia during August to September 1999. The USS Peleliu (LHA 5) had 162 (6% attack rate) medical visits and the USS Constellation (CV 64) had 425 medical visits (9% attack rate). Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit No. 5 personnel conducted on-board molecular diagnostic assays to presumptively detect the presence of genogroup I Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) in both outbreaks. NLV RNA were detected in 4 (80%) of 5 Peleliu stool specimens and in 9 (36%) of 25 from the Constellation. Significant antibody titer rises to NLV antigens were measured in 18 (62%) of 29 Peleliu and 69 (68%) of 102 Constellation cases, but only in 1 (4%) of 28 asymptomatic controls. All environmental swipes were negative for NLV. Stools yielded no bacterial or parasitic enteropathogens. No point source was found for either ship. The on-site laboratory investigation can provide important information for outbreak control and prevention while new cases are still presenting.