Regulatory functions of homeobox domain transcription factors in fungi.

Homeobox domain (HD) proteins present a crucial involvement in morphological differentiation and other functions in eukaryotes. Most HD genes encode transcription factors (TFs) that orchestrate a regulatory role in cellular and developmental decisions. In fungi, multiple studies have increased our understanding of these important HD regulators in recent years. These reports have revealed their role in fungal development, both sexual and asexual, as well as their importance in governing other biological processes in these organisms, including secondary metabolism, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to environmental stresses. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on the regulatory roles of HD-TFs in fungi, with a special focus on Aspergillus species.

The 12-month safety profile of dexlansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor with a dual delayed release formulation, in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: Dexlansoprazole MR is a Dual Delayed Release formulation of dexlansoprazole, an enantiomer of lansoprazole, designed to extend the duration of acid suppression. AIM: To assess the 12-month safety of dexlansoprazole MR in patients with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: In this randomised open-label study, patients received dexlansoprazole MR 60 or 90 mg once-daily for 12 months. Safety was evaluated at months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12/final visit through physical examinations, laboratory evaluations, endoscopies, gastric biopsies, fasting serum gastrin values and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Of 591 patients receiving dexlansoprazole MR 60 and 90 mg, 71% and 65%, respectively, experienced ≥1 treatment-emergent AE; the most frequent AE was upper respiratory infection (14% and 13% in the 60- and 90-mg groups). Thirty patients experienced ≥1 serious AE; a majority of serious AEs were unrelated to study drug. No clinically meaningful change in any clinical laboratory parameters was noted. As expected, serum gastrin values rose with dexlansoprazole therapy; increases were not dose related. No clinically concerning trends were identified in gastric pathology results; no endocrine cell hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma, or lymphoma were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve-month treatment with dexlansoprazole MR 60 and 90 mg was well tolerated by GERD patients in this study (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00255190).

Safety profile of dexlansoprazole MR, a proton pump inhibitor with a novel dual delayed release formulation: global clinical trial experience.

BACKGROUND: Dexlansoprazole MR is a dual delayed release formulation of dexlansoprazole, an enantiomer of lansoprazole. AIM: To assess safety of dexlansoprazole MR in phase 3 clinical trials. METHODS: Data from 4270 patients receiving dexlansoprazole MR 30 mg (n = 455), 60 mg (n = 2311) or 90 mg (n = 1864); lansoprazole 30 mg (n = 1363); or placebo (n = 896) in six randomized controlled trials and a 12-month safety study were pooled. Safety was assessed via adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, clinical laboratory results and gastric biopsies. Adverse events were summarized per 100 patient-months of exposure to account for imbalances in study drug exposure. RESULTS: The number of patients with > or =1 treatment-emergent adverse event per 100 patient-months was higher in placebo (24.49) and lansoprazole (21.06) groups than in any dexlansoprazole MR (15.64-18.75) group. Fewer patients receiving dexlansoprazole MR discontinued therapy because of an adverse event (P < or = 0.05 vs. placebo). Seven patients died of events considered unrelated to study drug. Mean serum gastrin rose in all groups except placebo; increases were not dose-related. No clinically concerning trends were seen in gastric biopsy results. Endocrine cell hyperplasia, dysplasia and neoplasia were not observed. CONCLUSION: Dexlansoprazole MR 30-90 mg has a safety profile comparable to that of lansoprazole.

Regional differences in synaptogenesis in human cerebral cortex.

The formation of synaptic contacts in human cerebral cortex was compared in two cortical regions: auditory cortex (Heschl's gyrus) and prefrontal cortex (middle frontal gyrus). Synapse formation in both cortical regions begins in the fetus, before conceptual age 27 weeks. Synaptic density increases more rapidly in auditory cortex, where the maximum is reached near postnatal age 3 months. Maximum synaptic density in middle frontal gyrus is not reached until after age 15 months. Synaptogenesis occurs concurrently with dendritic and axonal growth and with myelination of the subcortical white matter. A phase of net synapse elimination occurs late in childhood, earlier in auditory cortex, where it has ended by age 12 years, than in prefrontal cortex, where it extends to midadolescence. Synaptogenesis and synapse elimination in humans appear to be heterochronous in different cortical regions and, in that respect, appears to differ from the rhesus monkey, where they are concurrent. In other respects, including overproduction of synaptic contacts in infancy, persistence of high levels of synaptic density to late childhood or adolescence, the absolute values of maximum and adult synaptic density, and layer specific differences, findings in the human resemble those in rhesus monkeys.

Isolated rat liver perfusion studies with cyclic heptapeptide toxins of Microcystis and Oscillatoria (freshwater cyanobacteria).

Isolated perfused rat livers were used to study the dose-dependent effects of three cyclic heptapeptide toxins isolated from Norwegian freshwater bloom samples containing Microcystis aeruginosa, Oscillatoria agardhii var. and Oscillatoria agardhii var. isothrix. The high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) purified toxins had an i.p. LD50 in the rat and mouse of approximately 50, 500 and 1000 micrograms/kg, respectively. Hepatic insult of the toxins at concentrations of 0.5-4.0 times the rat i.p. lethal dose were assessed by monitoring bile flow, accumulation of total protein in the perfusate, release of intracellular enzymes and histopathologic examination of perfused liver tissue. One hundred micrograms of Microcystis toxin produced cessation of bile flow during a 1 hr perfusion period, while the two Oscillatoria toxins required 1000 and 2000 micrograms of toxin, consistent with their lower LD50 values. Hepatic cell membranes remained intact during the perfusion since release of enzymes and proteins into the perfusate was similar for toxin treated and control livers, and histopathologic examination of Trypan Blue infused livers revealed exclusion of the dye from the intracellular compartment of the parenchyma. Histopathologic findings for all three toxins showed hepatocellular disassociation that increased with toxin concentration. At the ultrastructural level, all three toxins caused dose-dependent vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, formation of concentric whorls composed of rough-ER, mitochondrial swelling, large cytoplasmic vacuoles and altered bile canaliculi. These changes were similar to those found for previous in vivo studies using Microcystis cyclic heptapeptides from Scotland and Australia. The Oscillatoria toxins required five to ten times more toxin to produce similar effects as the Microcystis toxin. At the higher concentrations, the Oscillatoria toxins also caused a proliferation of smooth-ER. The isolated perfused rat liver was found to be a good model for studying the hepatocellular effects of different cyclic peptide toxins from cyanobacteria.

Peroxisomes in the rat brain and the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate during postnatal development. An electron-microscopic study.

Peroxisomes were identified in the neurons of cerebral cortex of 12-day-old suckling rats from normal and plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-fed mothers. The study suggests that DEHP passed to the pups through the mother's milk during nursing can induce peroxisomal proliferation in neurons during postnatal development.

Ultrastructural changes in the mouse liver induced by hepatotoxin from the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa strain 7820.

The time-course of ultrastructural changes was studied in mouse liver hepatocytes after i.p. injection of lethal (100 micrograms/kg) and sublethal (10 micrograms/kg) doses of the heptapeptide hepatotoxin from Microcystis aeruginosa strain 7820, a freshwater blue-green alga (cyanobacterium). At both dose levels the hepatocytes show progressive intracellular changes over time periods of 10, 20, 30, and 60 min. The changes resulting from a lethal dose were more prominent and rapid compared to those of the sublethal dose. The most common responses to lethal and sublethal doses were vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria and degranulation (partial or total loss of ribosomes from vesicles). These vesicles appear to have formed from the dilated parts of rough endoplasmic reticulum by fragmentation or separation. At the lethal dose an increased amount of whorl shaped rough endoplasmic reticulum along with large membrane-bound vacuoles were observed in the cytoplasm. With the sublethal dose an increase in the amount of small and large cytoplasmic lipid droplets occurred. These ultrastructural changes parallel the pathological events which lead to animal death by hemorrhagic shock.

Ultrastructural localization of catalase and D-amino acid oxidase in 'normal' fetal mouse liver.

In the hepatocytes of 'normal' fetal mice from mothers which were carriers of muscular dysgenesis, catalase and D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) positive as well as negative peroxisomes were observed. DAAO reaction product was occasionally localized in patches around cell membranes and DAAO-positive peroxisomes were frequently observed near mitochondria.

Histochemical studies on the distribution of adenosine triphosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase amongst the constituents of the thoracic ganglia and the associated nerve of Periplaneta americana.

The present study deals with the distribution of adenosine triphosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase in the various constituents of thoracic ganglia and associated nerve of Periplaneta americana. The localization of both the enzymes in the thoracic ganglia is identical. The neural lamella is devoid of any activity for both the enzymes. The ganglion cells are intensely positive at their borders. The neuronal cell surface and/or glial cell processes which envelope the neurons show intense activity for these enzymes. Adenosine triphosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase are present around "giant fibres" and small axons. The activity appears to confine itself in the sheaths. The cytoplasm and the nuclei of the neurons are devoid of enzymatic activity, whereas the nucleoli are slightly active. The nerves are positive for both the enzymes. The role of these enzymes at different sites has also been discussed.