Endothelial cell CD36 regulates membrane ceramide formation, exosome fatty acid transfer and circulating fatty acid levels.

Endothelial cell (EC) CD36 controls tissue fatty acid (FA) uptake. Here we examine how ECs transfer FAs. FA interaction with apical membrane CD36 induces Src phosphorylation of caveolin-1 tyrosine-14 (Cav-1Y14) and ceramide generation in caveolae. Ensuing fission of caveolae yields vesicles containing FAs, CD36 and ceramide that are secreted basolaterally as small (80-100 nm) exosome-like extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We visualize in transwells EC transfer of FAs in sEVs to underlying myotubes. In mice with EC-expression of the exosome marker emeraldGFP-CD63, muscle fibers accumulate circulating FAs in emGFP-labeled puncta. The FA-sEV pathway is mapped through its suppression by CD36 depletion, blocking actin-remodeling, Src inhibition, Cav-1Y14 mutation, and neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inhibition. Suppression of sEV formation in mice reduces muscle FA uptake, raises circulating FAs, which remain in blood vessels, and lowers glucose, mimicking prominent Cd36-/- mice phenotypes. The findings show that FA uptake influences membrane ceramide, endocytosis, and EC communication with parenchymal cells.

Bone development of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fins in Seriola rivoliana (Valenciennes, 1833) larvae.

Skull, pectoral and pelvic fin bone structures in longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana were studied from 3.43 ± 0.15 to 16.20 ± 0.73 mm standard length (SL) specimens. The S. rivoliana skull started to mineralize with the appearance of the parasphenoid and maxillary by 3.43 ± 0.15 mm SL at the neurocranium and jaw regions, respectively. The first pectoral structure to mineralize was the cleithrum at 3.75 ± 0.14 mm SL shortly followed by the supracleithrum and posttemporal. The pelvic fin started by 6.16 ± 0.32 mm SL with the spine and continued with the soft rays and basipterygium. The present study determined the onset of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fin mineralization. These results might be used as a reference for future studies in S. rivoliana or related species.

Occurrence of skeletal deformities and osteological development in red porgy Pagrus pagrus larvae cultured under different rearing techniques.

The present study describes the osteological development and the occurrence of skeletal deformities in red porgy Pagrus pagrus larvae in relation to the intensification of the rearing system. Eggs obtained from natural spawning were cultured under two different rearing systems: intensive (100 eggs l⁻¹) in 2000 l and semi-intensive (mesocosm) system (5 eggs l⁻¹) in 40,000 l conico-cylindrical tanks. Fish samples were periodically collected along the development from hatching to juveniles at 95 days post hatching (dph). Osteological development, meristic counts and the presence of skeletal deformities were evaluated. Despite the external appearance of the juveniles being similar to wild standards, X-ray studies revealed a high number of fish (semi-intensive: 37·8%; intensive: 45·5%) with skeletal deformities. Regardless of the rearing system, no significant interaction was found between the per cent of the most common deformities, axial deviations (lordosis and presence of fused vertebrae). Cranial deformities and kyphosis incidences, however, were significantly higher in intensively cultured P. pagrus. Also, the fused vertebrae in these fish were located mainly in the caudal area instead of pre-haemal area for semi-intensively reared P. pagrus. Moreover, a significant interaction was found between the total number of vertebrae and the type of rearing system used; fish from the intensive system showing a higher number of fish with an extra vertebrae (10 abdominal + 15 caudal). Present results suggest a relationship among feeding sequence, osteological development and deformity incidence and location in P. pagrus larvae.

Acoustic monitoring (RFM) of total hip arthroplasty - Results of a cadaver study.

INTRODUCTION: At present there are no reliable non-traumatic and non- invasive methods to analyse the healing process and loosening status after total hip replacement. Therefore early as well as late loosening of prosthesis and interface component problems are difficult to be found or diagnosed at any time. METHODS: In a cadaver study the potential application of Resonance Frequency Monitoring (RFM) will be evaluated as a non-invasive and non-traumatic method to monitor loosening and interface problems in hip replacement. In a 65 year old female cadaver different stability scenarios for a total hip replacement (shaft, head/modular head and cup, ESKA, Luebeck, Germany) are simulated in cemented and cement less prosthesis and then analysed with RFM. The types of stability vary from secure/press-fit to interface-shaft disruption. RESULTS: The RFM shows in cemented as well as cement less prosthesis significant intra-individual differences in the spectral measurements with a high dynamic (20 dB difference corresponding to the factor 100 (10000%)), regarding the simulated status of stability in the prosthesis system. CONCLUSION: The results of the study demonstrate RFM as a highly sensitive non-invasive and non-traumatic method to support the application of RFM as a hip prosthesis monitoring procedure. The data obtained shows the possibility to use RFM for osteointegration surveillance and early detection of interface problems, but will require further evaluation in clinical and experimental studies.

Lead poisoning of horses in the vicinity of a battery recycling plant.

The diagnosis of lead poisoning in horses living on farmland in the vicinity of a battery recycling plant was based on clinical signs as well as on laboratory findings. Chemical analysis of six surface soils (0-15 cm) and herbage samples taken at different distances to the recycling plant showed very high total lead levels in the closest sites to the facility and a clear decrease with distance. Total lead levels in soil samples ranged from 127 to 5657 mg kg(-1), with more than 70% of lead extractable by EDTA in the most polluted soils. Lead levels in the aerial part of herbage samples were in the range of 113-4741 mg kg(-1). A water washing pre-treatment of the vegetal samples considerably diminished the concentration of lead, suggesting that airborne lead particles from the facility emissions were fixed on the shoots. The analysis of samples taken from six dead horses showed lead concentrations, expressed as mg kg(-1) (d.w.), as follows: blood: 0.20-0.89; liver: 2.5-15; kidney: 1.70-6.75. Lead intake levels, estimated according to the ingestion rate of Grammineae forage, illustrates that the apported lead through the ingestion of vegetation growing in the closest sites to the recycling plant was approximately 99.5 mg Pb/kg body weight/day surpassing the fatal dosage for horses of 2.4 mg Pb/kg body weight/day reported by Hammond and Aronson, Ann NY Acad Sci, 1964; 111: 595-611.

MMPI-2 with Mexican psychiatric inpatients: basic and content scales.

This paper presents the results of a study of the Mexican Spanish version of the MMPI-2 with a clinical sample of 233 patients who were diagnosed as having psychological disturbances or personality disorders, according to DSM-III R criteria. Inpatient scores were obtained from four psychiatric hospitals, located in Mexico City. The scores of the patients were compared with those of Mexican college students, which is the largest Mexican normative sample collected to date, consisting of 813 men and 1,137 women. Results of this study show that the MMPI-2 can accurately differentiate between normal and non-normal groups in Mexican populations and demonstrate that the inventory maintains its construct validity in this clinical sample.

Hematological recovery in Sparus aurata after bleeding. A time course study.

To determine the hematological recovery after blood loss in gilthead sea bream juveniles, an experimental anemia was induced by caudal blood extraction. Seventy fish were used for experimental hemorrhage and another 35 were used as controls. Blood samples were taken after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days in both control and anemic groups. After bleeding, besides a reduction in the direct hematic constants, a peak in the mean cell volume value, together with a decrease in mean cell hemoglobin concentration after bleeding, suggested erythrocyte swelling. The increase in MCH suggested the occurrence of hyperchromic erythrocytes. Recovery of RBC number started between 2 and 4 days after bleeding and seemed to be related to erythroblast release to circulation. Total recovery was completed after 8 days of bleeding. The recovery patterns for hematological parameters of sea bream are discussed in relation to applied work on this species.

Hypersensitivity as a cause of dermatologic and vaginal moniliasis resistant to topical therapy.

The finding of multiple respiratory or skin allergies together with a high rate of improvement by desensitization leads the author to conclude that allergy is a predisposing factor for the chronicity or recurrence of vaginal or dermatologic moniliasis. Desensitization with Candida albicans antigen was the mainstay in the treatment of resistant dermatologic or vaginal moniliasis and the sole form of therapy in cases of nail involvement with deep seated lesions out of the reach of topical agents.