Mapping bark bacteria: initial insights of stemflow-induced changes in bark surface phyla.

IMPORTANCE: Compared with the phyllosphere, bacteria inhabiting bark surfaces are inadequately understood. Based on a preliminary pilot study, our work suggests that microbial populations vary across tree bark surfaces and may differ in relation to surrounding land use. Initial results suggest that stemflow, the water that flows along the bark surface, actively moves bacterial communities across a tree. These preliminary findings underscore the need for further study of niche microbial populations to determine whether there are connections between the biodiversity of microbiomes inhabiting corticular surfaces, land use, and hydrology.

IGF2 gene polymorphisms and IGF-II concentration are determinants of longitudinal weight trends in type 2 diabetes.

The hypothesis of the study was that IGF2 gene polymorphisms were associated with longitudinal trends in weight through modification of IGF-II concentration.Observational study that explored associations of the IGF2 gene and baseline circulating IGF-II concentration with 'real-world' longitudinal trends in body-mass index in a type 2 diabetes population.26 haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the IGF2 and H19 genes were studied in 485 Caucasian individuals in the Salford Longitudinal Diabetes Cohort. A generalised-estimating equation (GEE) model was used to separately study the association of SNPs and IGF-II concentration with 8-year longitudinal trends in body-mass index.High serum IGF-II concentration at baseline was associated with weight loss over the study period (ß=-0.006, 95% CI -0.009 to -0.002, p<0.001). 8 SNPs were associated with longitudinal body-mass index trends, of which 4 retained significance after multiple -testing correction. 2 SNPs rs10770063 and rs3842767 were associated with both IGF-II concentration as well as longitudinal weight changes.We report novel associations between polymorphisms in the IGF2 gene, with concentration of circulating IGF-II and also with longitudinal weight change in type 2 diabetes. Our data indicate that the IGF2 gene and its gene product may be important determinants of longitudinal weight trends in type 2 diabetes.

Do hematopoietic cells exposed to a neurogenic environment mimic properties of endogenous neural precursors?

Hematopoietic progenitors are cells, which under challenging experimental conditions can develop unusual phenotypic properties, rather distant from their original mesodermal origin. As previously reported, cells derived from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) or human bone marrow (BM) under certain in vivo or in vitro conditions can manifest neural features that resemble features of neural-derived cells, immunocytochemically and in some instances also morphologically. The present study explored how hematopoietic-derived cells would respond to neurogenic signals from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult and aged (6 and 16 months old) rats. The mononuclear fraction of HUCB cells was transplanted into the SVZ of immunosuppressed (single cyclosporin or three-drug treatment) animals. The triple-suppression paradigm allowed us to protect transplanted human cells within the brain and to explore further their phenotypic and migratory properties. One week after implantation, many surviving HUCB cells were located within the SVZ and the vertical limb of the rostral migratory stream (RMS). The migration of HUCB cells was restricted exclusively to the pathway leading to the olfactory bulb. In younger animals, grafted cells navigated almost halfway through the vertical limb, whereas, in the older animals, the migration was less pronounced. The overall cell survival was greater in younger animals than in older ones. Immunocytochemistry for surface CD antigen expression showed that many HUCB cells, either cultured or within the brain parenchyma, retained their hematopoietic identity. A few cells, identified by using human-specific antibodies (anti-human nuclei, or mitochondria) expressed nestin and doublecortin, markers of endogenous neural progenitors. Therefore, it is believed that the environment of the neurogenic SVZ, even in aged animals, was able to support survival, "neuralization," and migratory features of HUCB-derived cells.

Green fluorescent protein bone marrow cells express hematopoietic and neural antigens in culture and migrate within the neonatal rat brain.

Finding a reliable source of alternative neural stem cells for treatment of various diseases and injuries affecting the central nervous system is a challenge. Numerous studies have shown that hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic progenitors derived from bone marrow (BM) under specific conditions are able to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers. Recently, it was reported that cultured, unfractionated (whole) adult BM cells form nestin-positive spheres that can later initiate neural differentiation (Kabos et al., 2002). The identity of the subpopulation of BM cells that contributes to neural differentiation remains unknown. We therefore analyzed the hematopoietic and neural features of cultured, unfractionated BM cells derived from a transgenic mouse that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in all tissues. We also transplanted the BM cells into the subventricular zone (SVZ), a region known to support postnatal neurogenesis. After injection of BM cells into the neurogenic SVZ in neonatal rats, we found surviving GFP+ BM cells close to the injection site and in various brain regions, including corpus callosum and subcortical white matter. Many of the grafted cells were detected within the rostral migratory stream (RMS), moving toward the olfactory bulb (OB), and some cells reached the subependymal zone of the OB. Our in vitro experiments revealed that murine GFP+ BM cells retained their proliferation and differentiation potential and predominantly preserved their hematopoietic identity (CD45, CD90, CD133), although a few expressed neural antigens (nestin, glial fibrillary acdiic protein, TuJ1).

Teflon buttress inhibits recanalization of uncut stapled bowel.

The uncut Roux limb operation is designed to have the benefits of a Roux limb but still have electrical continuity from proximal to distal bowel, thus eliminating the risk of Roux stasis syndrome. The main complication has been recanalization of the uncut staple line leading to bile reflux. This study aims to employ a new technique, which will not allow recanalization of an uncut staple line but will not interfere with normal bowel myoelectric activity. Fourteen mongrel dogs, 25 to 35 kg, underwent a midline laparotomy under general anesthesia. An uncut staple line was placed 25 cm from the ligament of Treitz. In seven animals an uncut staple line alone was placed, and in the other seven animals the bowel was stapled between a sandwich of Teflon reinforcing strips such that the staples were held on both sides of the bowel by the Teflon. A jejunojejunostomy was placed 6 cm proximal to the staple line. Insulated bipolar electrical leads were placed around the staple line. After the electrical leads were monitored 2 days to 3 months postoperatively for bowel myoelectric activity, The animals were killed and the operative sites inspected. No animal suffered morbidity or mortality from the procedure. All seven unreinforced staple lines recanalized and all seven reinforced staple lines remained competent. The duodenal pacemaker potentials were transmitted through the staple line in five animals (3 controls and 2 with Teflon reinforcement) with in 1 week postoperatively. The uncut staple line does not reliably transmit the duodenal pacemaker potentials. The staple line does not recanalize when it is reinforced with a permanent material, increasing the utility of the "uncut" Roux limb operation.

Large-scale purification and preliminary structural studies of MAC 182, a gibberellin-binding monoclonal antibody.

The large-scale purification of the anti-gibberellin monoclonal antibody, MAC 182, is described. N-Terminal amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chains were determined and compared with those of known antibodies. Fab-fragments were prepared and purified to a state suitable for crystallization.

Metabolism of the aldose reductase inhibitor ALO1567 in man.

1. The metabolism of the aldose reductase inhibitor, ALO1567, was studied in man. The major biotransformation pathway was aromatic hydroxylation followed by glucuronide conjugation. 2. Hydroxylation occurred at several positions on the fluorene ring. The major metabolite was identified as the 7-hydroxy analogue of ALO1567 and three minor metabolites were characterized as positional isomers of the 7-hydroxy metabolite. 3. Oxidative defluorination and metabolism on the hydantoin ring were also indicated as minor pathways. 4. The capacity of normal subjects to oxidize ALO1567 was indicated by the urinary ratio of the parent drug to the 7-hydroxy metabolite after daily oral administration of 100 mg and 200 mg of ALO1567. Most subjects having higher ALO1567 plasma concentrations showed higher ratios.

A profile of Canadian hospital-based palliative care.

This article describes the characteristics of hospice-based palliative care programs in Canada, based on a sampling of respondents, teams, programs, and hospitals. This report is an outgrowth of a study of social services in Canadian, hospital-based palliative care programs. One hundred eighty-five hospitals were polled between December 1987 and March 1988, using a mailed-out questionnaire. One hundred sixty programs replied, a response rate of 86.5 percent.

New monoclonal antibodies to 3 beta-hydroxy-gibberellins.

Two new monoclonal antibodies to 3 beta-hydroxy-gibberellins are described. Monoclonal antibodies GA1-1 and GA1-2 were derived from immunizations with the hapten-protein conjugate gibberellin A1-17-KLH. Cross-reactivities with a panel of 43 gibberellins and gibberellin derivatives are compared with those of other anti-gibberellin monoclonal antibodies.

La campaña de emergencia mediante rociamientos en volumenes ultrarreducidos contra ejemplares adultos de Aedes aegypti realizada en 1982 en Paramaribo, Suriname / Emergency campaign by ultralow volume sprayers against adult. Aedes aegypti samples carried out during 1982 in Paramaribo, Suriname

En un intento de detener una epidemia de dengue en la ciudad de Paramaribo, se efectuaron en mayo y junio de 1982 rociamientos con malatión al 95%, aplicado con pulverizadores de volumen ultrarreducido (ULV) montados en camiones. Toda la ciudad, con una superficie de 70 Km**2 y 552 km de calles, fue rociada dos veces en 37 noches de un período de siete semanas y media, utilizando dos pulverizadores durante cuatro horas cada noche (18.00 a 22.00 horas), con un intervalo de una semana entre los dos rociamientos de cada zona. Durante las tres primeras semanas de la campaña, una dosis de 456 ml de ingrediente activo por Km de calle (50 ml/ha si la amplitud de barrido era de 91 m) produjo una gran mortalidad de Aedes aegypti adultos colocados en jaulas en el interior y en el exterior de los edificios de una manzana rociada; sin embargo, los resultados de las pruebas con trampas de ovipostura indicaron únicamente una pequeña reducción del número de huevos y solo durante unos tres días después de la aplicación de aerosol. Por consiguiente, se incrementó la dosis a 901 ml/Km (99 ml/ha) en las semanas 4-7, pero en una segunda zona de prueba se encontró que el número de trampas con huevos se reducía muy poco y durante un período breve. Por lo tanto, parece que ninguna de las dosis fue adecuada para eliminar la población adulta de A. aegypti y, además, que el método de aplicación fue demasiado lento para detener la epidemia de dengue, objetivo de la campaña

Crithidia fasciculata: a catalase-containing trypanosomatid sensitive to nitroheterocyclic drugs.

Crithidia fasciculata, which contains high levels of a cytosolic catalase, is sensitive to inhibition by at least two nitroheterocyclic drugs, Nifurtimox and MK 436, both of which are also active against Trypanosoma cruzi. Drug sensitivity is not enhanced in organisms containing reduced levels of catalase. The ultrastructural lesions in T. cruzi produced by nitroheterocycles, especially the swelling and gross vacuolation of the mitochondria, are seen also in C. fasciculata. These results are not consistent with the hypothesis that the action of drugs such as Nifurtimox on T. cruzi involve hydrogen peroxide accumulation as a result of the absence of catalase.

Synthesis of [8,9-2H2]apomorphine and [1,3,8,9-2H4]apomorphine for PMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectral studies.

Methods are described for the preparation of [8,9-2H2]apomorphine and [1,3,8,9-2H4]apomorphine based on reaction of apomorphine in trifluoroacetic acid-d. The mass spectral properties of these compounds and of the O,O-bis(heptafluorobutyrate) ester and the O,O-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) ethers of apomorphine, using electron impact and chemical ionization, are reported. [1,3,8,9-2H4]Apomorphine was used to elaborate the 13C-NMR chemical shifts of the proton-bearing carbons of apomorphine.