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Different Organs (different + organ)
Selected AbstractsDiprosopiasis in a Lamb.ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2003A Case Report Summary Conjoined twinning has been reported in most of the domestic animal species. Among them, sheep have the highest incidence of craniofacial defects. A live male crossbreed dystocic two-headed lamb was delivered from a 2-year-old Pinzerita sheep after first mating. After 40 h of life, the lamb spontaneously died. The most important gross findings involved the head, whereas the examination of different organ and tissue sections did not reveal remarkable histomorphological changes. The lamb was classified as a conjoined twinning and, on the basis of the facial duplication, as a diprosopus tetraophtalmus. [source] Effects of normobaric hyperoxia on water content in different organs in ratsACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2002L. E. B. Stuhr ABSTRACT Pulmonary oxygen toxicity is a dose-dependent effect on alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells resulting in pulmonary oedema. Any concomitant effects on systemic capillary endothelium would be expected to result in capillary leakage and an increase in the tissues' water content. Total tissue water (TTW) in different organs was therefore studied in freely moving rats exposed to 100% O2 at normobaric pressure for 24 or 48 h, and compared to air-breathing control rats. The TTW for the following tissues was measured: Trachea, left bronchus, left lung, left and right ventricle, left kidney, skin (left paw-hindlimb), skin (back of the rat), left brain, left eye and thigh muscle left side. There was a significant increase in TTW of the lung accompanied by pleural effusion after 48 h of oxygen exposure as expected in all exposed animals. There was a small increase in TTW of the paw only, and a small decrease or no change in other tissues after 24 and 48 h of exposure. We conclude that there is no evidence of systemic capillary dysfunction as measured by tissue water content after exposure to hyperoxia in a dosage causing pulmonary oedema. [source] Plant profilin isovariants are distinctly regulated in vegetative and reproductive tissuesCYTOSKELETON, Issue 1 2002Muthugapatti K. Kandasamy Abstract Profilin is a low-molecular weight, actin monomer-binding protein that regulates the organization of actin cytoskeleton in eukaryotes, including higher plants. Unlike the simple human or yeast systems, the model plant Arabidopsis has an ancient and highly divergent multi-gene family encoding five distinct profilin isovariants. Here we compare and characterize the regulation of these profilins in different organs and during microspore development using isovariant-specific monoclonal antibodies. We show that PRF1, PRF2, and PRF3 are constitutive, being strongly expressed in all vegetative tissues at various stages of development. These profilin isovariants are also predominant in ovules and microspores at the early stages of microsporogenesis. In contrast, PRF4 and PRF5 are late pollen-specific and are not detectable in other cell types of the plant body including microspores and root hairs. Immunocytochemical studies at the subcellular level reveal that both the constitutive and pollen-specific profilins are abundant in the cytoplasm. In vegetative cell types, such as root apical cells, profilins showed localization to nuclei in addition to the cytoplasmic staining. The functional diversity of profilin isovariants is discussed in light of their spatio-temporal regulation during vegetative development, pollen maturation, and pollen tube growth. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 52:22,32, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Simultaneous medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland and Hodgkin's lymphoma in bilateral lymph nodes of the neck: A potential pitfall in fine-needle aspiration cytologyDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2004Jesús Acosta-Ortega M.D. Abstract The clinicopathological features and the cytological findings of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and medullary carcinoma (MC) of the thyroid gland are described appearing simultaneously in different organs of the cervical region of the same patient. Although the cytological features of both entities are well known, the rare clinical presentation and the epithelium-like Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of the syncytial variant of HL led to an erroneous cytological diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;31:255,258. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mechanism of DNA damage by cadmium and interplay of antioxidant enzymes and agentsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Veera L. D. Badisa Abstract Cadmium is an environmental toxicant, which causes cancer in different organs. It was found that it damages DNA in the various tissues and cultured cell lines. To investigate the mechanism of DNA damage, we have studied the effect of cadmium-induced DNA damage in plasmid pBR322 DNA, and the possible ameliorative effects of antioxidative agents under in vitro conditions. It was observed that cadmium alone did not cause DNA damage. However, it caused DNA damage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, in a dose dependent manner, because of production of hydroxyl radicals. Findings from this study show the conversion of covalently closed circular double-stranded pBR 322 DNA to the open circular and linear forms of DNA when treated with 10 ,M cadmium and various concentrations of H2O2. The conversion was due to nicking in DNA strands. The observed rate of DNA strand breakage was dependent on H2O2 concentration, temperature, and time. Metallothionein I failed to prevent cadmium-induced DNA nicking in the presence of H2O2. Of the two antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) studied, only catalase conferred significant (50,60%) protection. EDTA and DMSO exhibited protection similar to catalase, while mannitol showed only about 20% protection against DNA damage. Ethyl alcohol failed to ameliorate cadmium-induced DNA strands break. From this study, it is plausible to infer that cadmium in the presence of hydrogen peroxide causes DNA damage probably by the formation of hydroxyl ions. These results may indicate that cadmium in vivo could play a major role in the DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 144,151, 2007. [source] Investigation of histopathological and cytogenetic effects on Lepomis gibbosus (Pisces: Perciformes) in the Çine stream (Ayd,n/Turkey) with determination of water pollutionENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Yücel Ba, lu Koca Abstract Water quality and the distribution of some heavy metals in three different organs of Lepomis gibbosus from the Çine Stream were studied. Also, histopathological changes in gill, liver, and muscle tissue were examined at light microscopical level. Micronucleus (MN) formation in fish erytrocytes, as an indicator of chromosomal damage, has been increasingly used to detect the genotoxic potential of environmental contaminants. The frequency of MN was examined from samples of fish from the Çine Stream and a control group. MN frequency was higher in fish samples caught from the Çine Stream than that in the control group. The chemicals ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, and sulphate were determined as parameters that possibly affect the gill, liver, and muscle morphology. Zn was the most accumulated metal in tissues as well as in water. Maximum metal accumulation occured in both liver and gills. For histopathological examinations, samples of gills, liver, and muscle tissues of L. gibbosus were studied by using light microscopy. In this study, a significant decrease in mean length of primary and secondary lamellae were observed. Moreover, cellular proliferation developed with secondary lamellae fusion, ballooning degenerations or club deformation of secondary lamellae, as well as distribution of necrotic, hyperplastic and clavate secondary lamellae. In the liver, altered staining, swollen and ruptured parenchymal cells, loss of cord structure, reduce of glycogen in hepatocytes, and vacuolar structure filled with cellular debris and many dark particles were seen. In muscle tissue, focal necrosis, cellular dissolution, and a decline or loss of striatation in muscle fibres were found. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 560,571, 2005. [source] Chronic toxicity and responses of several important enzymes in Daphnia magna on exposure to sublethal microcystin-LRENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Wei Chen Abstract In the current study, the toxicological mechanisms of microcystin-LR and its disadvantageous effects on Daphnia magna were examined. Survival rate, number of newborn, activity of several important enzymes [glutathione S-transferase (GST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphatases, and glutathione], accumulated microcystins, and ultrastructural changes in different organs of Daphnia were monitored over the course of 21-day chronic tests. The results indicated that low concentrations of dissolved microcystin had no harmful effect on Daphnia. On the contrary, stimulatory effects were detected. In the presence of toxin at high dosage and for long-term exposure, GST and glutathione levels decreased significantly. The decreased enzyme activity in the antioxidant system probably was caused by detoxification reactions with toxins. And these processes of detoxification at the beginning of chronic tests may enable phosphatases in Daphnia magna to withstand inhibition by the toxins. At the same time, we also found that the LDH activity in test animals increased with exposure to microcystin-LR, indicating that adverse effects occurred in Daphnia. With microcystin given at a higher dosage or for a longer exposure, the effect on Daphnia magna was fatal. In the meantime, microcystin began to accumulate in Daphnia magna, and phosphatase activity started to be inhibited. From the ultrastructure results of cells in D. magna, we obtained new information: the alimentary canal may be the target organ affected by exposure of microcystins to D. magna. The results of the current study also suggested that the oxidative damage and PPI (protein phosphatase inhibition) mechanisms of vertebrates also are adapted to Daphnia. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 323,330, 2005. [source] Methylmercury uptake and distribution kinetics in sheepshead minnows, Cyprinodon variegatus, after exposure to CH3Hg-spiked foodENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2004Joy J. Leaner Abstract The distribution kinetics of methylmercury (CH3Hg[II]) was determined in sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) after a single dose of different CH3Hg(II)-spiked food to determine what factors influence the bioavailability, uptake, and redistribution of CH3Hg(II) to various organs of C. variegatus. The kinetics of CH3Hg(II) distribution was measured in the different organs during a period of 0.1 to 35 d after dosage. The CH3Hg(II) distribution kinetics in the different tissues was modeled using a simple multicompartmental pharmacokinetic model, which assumed that blood was the conduit linking the CH3Hg(II) exchange between the different organs. The CH3Hg(II) was taken up into the intestinal tissue within hours after feeding, followed by a slow release to the blood and the other organs of the body. Exchange between the blood and the visceral organs was relatively slow, with maximum CH3Hg(II) uptake in the liver and gill occurring at 1.5 d following dietary exposure. Subsequently, the majority of the CH3Hg(II) was channeled from the viscera to the rest of the body with a substantial lag time after feeding. However, the rate of transfer between tissues in the studies reported here were faster than those measured by others for larger fish. [source] Misfolded transthyretin causes behavioral changes in a Drosophila model for transthyretin-associated amyloidosisEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2007Malgorzata Pokrzywa Abstract Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by accumulation of mutated transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils in different organs and prevalently around peripheral nerves. We have constructed transgenic flies, expressing the clinical amyloidogenic variant TTRL55P and the engineered variant TTR-A (TTRV14N/V16E) as well as the wild-type protein, all in secreted form. Within a few weeks, both mutants but not the wild-type TTR demonstrated a time-dependent aggregation of misfolded molecules. This was associated with neurodegeneration, change in wing posture, attenuation of locomotor activity including compromised flying ability and shortened life span. In contrast, expression of wild-type TTR had no discernible effect on either longevity or behavior. These results suggest that Drosophila can be used as a disease-model to study TTR amyloid formation, and to screen for pharmacological agents and modifying genes. [source] Expression of Pit2 sodium-phosphate cotransporter during murine odontogenesis is developmentally regulatedEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2006Dawei Zhao Different sodium-dependent inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake mechanisms play a major role in cellular Pi homeostasis. The function and detailed distribution patterns of the type III Na+ -phosphate cotransporter, PiT-2, in different organs during development are still largely unknown. We therefore examined the temporospatial expression patterns of Pit2 during murine odontogenesis. Odontoblasts were always devoid of Pit2 expression, whereas a transient, but strong, expression was detected in young secretory ameloblasts. However, the stratum intermedium and, later on, the papillary layer and cells of the subodontoblastic layer, exhibited high levels of Pit2 mRNA, which increased gradually as the tooth matured. Hormonal treatment or Pi starvation of tooth germs in vitro did not alter Pit2 levels or patterns of expression, indicating mechanisms of regulation different from those of PiT-1 or other cell types. PiT-2 also functions as a retroviral receptor, and functional membrane-localized protein was confirmed throughout the dental papilla/pulp by demonstrating cellular permissiveness to infection by a gammaretrovirus that uses PiT-2 as a receptor. The distinct pattern of Pit2 expression during odontogenesis suggests that its Pi -transporter function may be important for homeostasis of dental cells and not specifically for mineralization of the dental extracellular matrices. The expression of viral receptors in enamel-forming cells and the dental pulp may be of pathological significance. [source] Organ-specific ligation-induced changes in harmonic components of the pulse spectrum and regional vasoconstrictor selectivity in Wistar ratsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Tse Lin Hsu It has been shown previously that the amplitudes of the harmonic components of the pulse spectrum vary in specific patterns when the arteries leading to different organs are ligated, with the variations in the harmonics being linearly additive. Since ligation can be regarded as a vast increase in organ resistance, the present study examined the potential of using these ligation-induced variations in the pulse spectrum as reference parameters for an increase in vascular resistance and for regional vasoconstrictor selectivity. A vasoconstrictor, either arginine vasopressin (AVP) or angiotensin II (Ang II), was infused into anaesthetized Wistar rats via the femoral vein for 1 h. The distinct harmonic-specific drug effects on the pulse spectrum were simulated by combining renal artery and superior mesenteric artery ligations in different ratios, the ratio with the lowest mean square difference determining the regional drug selectivity. The ratios indicated that the effect of AVP on the pulse spectrum was attributable to the combined effect of ligating the renal and superior mesenteric arteries, while the effect of Ang II was attributable to ligation of the renal artery. The results are comparable with those of investigations of regional vascular resistance performed using traditional methods. Our findings indicate that the ligation-induced variations in the pulse spectrum can be used to determine regional increases in vascular resistance. This implies that blood pressure can be used as the sole parameter to determine which arterial bed has been affected by the vasoconstrictor, and how seriously. [source] Volatile constituents of different organs of Psoralea bituminosa L.FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004Alessandra Bertoli Abstract The essential oil and SPME samples of the leaves, ,owers and seeds of Psoralea bituminosa L. were analysed by GC and GC,MS. We have investigated also the presence of monoterpene or aliphatic alcohol glucosides. The essential oils showed both qualitative and quantitative differences. The main constituents of the leaf and the ,ower essential oils were caryophyllene (23% and 18%, respectively), , -farnesene (15% and 6%, respectively), and germacrene D (24% and 18%, respectively). Signi,cant amounts (7%) of the same compounds were also directed in the seed essential oil, but tricyclene (11%) and , -pinene (50%) were the most important constituents of this oil. The volatile fractions of remaining leaf aqueous extracts after treatment with , -glucosidase revealed qualitative differences in comparison with the composition of the corresponding essential oils, and high levels of 3-hexen-1-ol (37%) and 1-octen-3-ol (27%) were observed. The SPME analysis of the fresh leaves, ,owers and seeds of P. bituminosa con,rmed the qualitative composition of the volatile oils, even if we detected signi,cative differences in the percentage ratio between monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in comparison with the oils, where sesquiterpenes were the main components. In fact the variation of the monoterpenes, tricyclene, , -pinene and camphene between the leaf oil and the corresponding headspace sample was remarkable: tricyclene increased from 0.1% to 8%, , -pinene from 0.1% to 16% and camphene from 0.3% to 10% in the SPME samples. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fat stores in birds: an overlooked sink for carotenoid pigments?FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2001J. J. Negro Summary 1,Carotenoids are responsible for the most striking colours in birds, but also play an important role as enhancers of the immune system. Consequently, a trade-off between the ornamental and health functions of carotenoids in birds has been proposed. 2,Although it is well known that birds can store carotenoids in different organs and tissues, including the fat stores, until now all field studies of the regulation of carotenoid stores have focused on plasma carotenoids. 3,Carotenoids in the fat of 44 wild Greylag Geese (Anser anser L.) wintering in south-western Spain were identified and quantified. In addition, the relationships between carotenoids and the size of the fat stores, as well as the sex and age of the geese, were analysed. 4,The major carotenoid in goose fat was lutein. This and related carotenoids are also the most prevalent pigments in bird plasma and secondary sexual characters. We also detected ,-cryptoxanthin, ,-carotene, neochrome and neoxanthin. Total carotenoid concentration was negatively correlated with the size of the fat stores. Males had higher concentrations of carotenoids than females. 5A possible explanation for these patterns is that male birds tend to have higher plasma carotenoids than females, a difference that could be transposed to fat if carotenoids diffused passively from the blood into adipose tissues. Carotenoids, however, may tend to remain in the fat stores. If this were true, fat would not be a reservoir of carotenoids, but a sink where a significant amount of these pigments would be sequestered, being no longer available for other functions. [source] Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: an immunohistochemical analysis of its tumorigenesisHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007A Iwasa Aims:, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of malignant transformation in mature cystic teratoma (MCT) of the ovary. Some investigators have suggested the possibility of origin from columnar epithelium. The aim of this study was to analyse such tumours immunohistochemically to elucidate their histogenesis. Methods and results:, The expression of cytokeratin (CK) 10 and CK18 was examined in 21 samples of SCC arising in MCT. The expression of CK10 and CK18 was also assessed in SCCs arising in different organs (skin, vulva, lung and uterine cervix) for the purpose of comparison. SCC in MCT expressed CK10 in 7/21 cases [33.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12,0.53] and CK18 in 14/21 cases (66.7%, 95% CI 0.46,0.87). SCC in MCT expressed CK10 less frequently, but CK18 more frequently, as is the case in SCCs of the uterine cervix (CK10, 20%; CK18, 70%) and the lung (CK10, 5%; CK18, 90%), both of which are derived from columnar epithelium by squamous metaplasia. Conclusions:, SCC in MCT may be derived from metaplastic squamous epithelium. [source] Computational methods for optical molecular imagingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 12 2009Duan Chen Abstract A new computational technique, the matched interface and boundary (MIB) method, is presented to model the photon propagation in biological tissue for the optical molecular imaging. Optical properties have significant differences in different organs of small animals, resulting in discontinuous coefficients in the diffusion equation model. Complex organ shape of small animal induces singularities of the geometric model as well. The MIB method is designed as a dimension splitting approach to decompose a multidimensional interface problem into one-dimensional ones. The methodology simplifies the topological relation near an interface and is able to handle discontinuous coefficients and complex interfaces with geometric singularities. In the present MIB method, both the interface jump condition and the photon flux jump conditions are rigorously enforced at the interface location by using only the lowest-order jump conditions. This solution near the interface is smoothly extended across the interface so that central finite difference schemes can be employed without the loss of accuracy. A wide range of numerical experiments are carried out to validate the proposed MIB method. The second-order convergence is maintained in all benchmark problems. The fourth-order convergence is also demonstrated for some three-dimensional problems. The robustness of the proposed method over the variable strength of the linear term of the diffusion equation is also examined. The performance of the present approach is compared with that of the standard finite element method. The numerical study indicates that the proposed method is a potentially efficient and robust approach for the optical molecular imaging. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cardiopulmonary effects of HI-6 treatment in soman intoxicationJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue S1 2001A. Göransson-Nyberg Abstract The cardiopulmonary effects of HI-6, together with atropine and soman, were studied in the rat. HI-6 is an effective antidote in acute poisoning with the nerve agent soman. The therapeutic efficiency of HI-6 is still unclear and cannot be explained entirely by the HI-6 reactivating ability of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Other non-cholinergic factors must be involved. One possible detoxifying process might be an effect of HI-6 on the blood flow to sensitive organs. The purpose of the present study was to investigate 1) whether soman per se induces changes in regional blood flow and 2) whether the blood flow to different organs is affected when HI-6 (50 mg kg,1 i.m.) and atropine (10 mg kg,1 i.m.) are given either before or immediately after soman intoxication (90 µg kg,1 s.c.). For regional blood flow determinations the microsphere method was used with male Wistar rats weighing 300,400 g. The rats were anaesthetised and breathed spontaneously during the experiment. Three different blood flow measurements were made in the same animal and concomitant physiological parameters such as mean arterial blood pressure and respiratory rate were recorded. The blood AChE activity was followed throughout the experiment. Our results show that when HI-6 is given after intoxication with soman, dramatic changes in blood flow occur with a significant decrease in both respiratory rate and blood AChE activity. If HI-6 is given prior to the intoxication, however, all rats are unaffected and none of the parameters measured are changed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Changes in expression and activity of glutathione S -transferase in different organs of schistosoma haematobium -infected hamsterJOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2003S. A. Sheweita Abstract Schistosomiasis is a major health problem in many subtropical developing countries, causing a number of serious pathologies, including bladder cancer. Most of the toxic compounds formed as a result of these infestations are derived either exogenously or formed endogenously and can be conjugated with glutathione (GSH) via glutathione S-transferase (GST). The present study investigates the effect of Schistosma haematobium infection on the activity of GST and glutathione reductase (GR) and levels of glutathione and free radicals (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in different organs of the male hamster. The total activity of GST was increased in several organs; in kidney by 50 and 46% at 6 and 10 weeks postinfection, respectively, and in bladder tissues by 169, 23, and 130% at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postinfection, respectively. In support of this, the expression of GST isozymes was also induced in kidney and bladder tissues at early stages (2, 4, and 6 weeks) and reduced at the later stages of infection (8 and 10 weeks). In contrast, the expression of these isozymes was decreased in the spleen and liver at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks postinfection. Also, such activity was decreased in lungs by 74 and 78% and in bladders by 65 and 72% at 8 and 10 weeks postinfection, respectively. GSH levels increased in lungs by 95, 40, and 56% at 2, 4, and 6 weeks and in spleen by 26 and 74% at 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, but decreased at later stages of S. haematobium infection in these organs. The depletion of GSH levels also occurred in bladders by 72 and 54% at 8 and 10 weeks postinfection, respectively. The activity of GR was increased in the livers, lungs, and kidneys of the S. haematobium -infected hamster. TBARS also increased in the lung by 14, 65, 53, 828, and 624% and in the kidney by 64, 29, 87, 190, and 111%, and in the bladder by 216, 23, 1468, 528, and 1025% at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks postinfection, respectively. This study indicates that low GST expression and high levels of free radicals could provide new evidence for damage to the bladder and other organs as a result of S. haematobium infection. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:138,145, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10071 [source] p63 expression in normal human epidermis and epidermal appendages and their tumorsJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Miki Tsujita-Kyutoku Background:, p63, a member of the p53 gene family, is expressed in basal cells of several different organs. Methods:, The immunoreactivity of p63 was examined in normal human epidermis and epidermal appendages and their tumors, and compared with proliferative activity as evaluated by Ki-67. Results:, In normal skin, p63 expression was seen in basal/suprabasal cells of the epidermis, outer root sheath and hair matrix cells of the hair follicle, seboblast situated in the outermost layer of sebaceous glands, and outer layer cells of the ductal portion and myoepithelial cells of the secretory portion of the sweat glands. p63 expression was confined to the cells forming a continuous basal rim along the normal epithelial structure. In tumors, p63 expression resembled that in normal tissue in that tumor components originating from p63-positive cells were constantly positive for p63. In normal and tumor tissues, not all p63-positive cells were positive for Ki-67. Conclusions:, p63 expression may be a marker of basal/progenitor cells in tumors of epidermis and epidermal appendages, and may be a diagnostic marker of these tumors. [source] ACTIVITY DISTRIBUTION OF DIGESTIVE PROTEASES FROM NEMIPTERUS VIRGATUS AND THEIR RESPONSES TO pH VALUE AND TEMPERATUREJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2008HONG TAO ABSTRACT In the present study, three groups (I,III) of Nemipterus virgatus, with average body weights of 154.36, 250.72 and 329.09 g, respectively, were used to investigate the changes in the activity and distribution of digestive proteases in different organs and sections of the digestive tract. Another group of N. virgatus (average body weight of 188.41 g) was used to analyze the changes in the activity of digestive proteases in response to various pH values and temperatures. The activity of digestive proteases in all analyzed organs increased with the increase of body weight at the range of 154.36,329.09 g. The activities of digestive proteases in the different sections of the digestive tract were compared, and a similar change was found among groups I,III. The activities of digestive proteases from various organs were in a descending order: pylorus ceca > stomach > foregut > midgut > hindgut > hepatopancreas. Through observing the zymograms of substrate,sodium dodecil sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, many kinds of digestive proteases could be found in different organs and the varieties were changed with the change of body weight. Two peaks in the diagram between protease activity and pH value were found at pH 3.0 and 10.0, respectively. The activity under alkaline condition was 60% higher than that under acidic condition. The optimal temperature for protease activity was 50C, while the protease activity at 10C was only 30% of that at 50C. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Nemipterus virgatus is one of the most important commercial fishes in the East China Sea and South China Sea. The digestive tract of N. virgatus is rich in digestive proteases and they can be employed as important biotechnological tools. The activities of digestive proteases from various organs and the effects of pH value and temperature on them were investigated in this study. The effect of body weight of N. virgatus was also evaluated. All these information would be helpful to extensively utilize this resource for the fish process industry. [source] Relationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Grain Yield in Spring Wheat Cultivated under Different Water RegimesJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2007Xing Xu Abstract In C3 plants, carbon isotope discrimination (,) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion for grain yield. Reported correlations between , and grain yield however, differ highly according to the analyzed organ or tissue, the stage of sampling, and the environment and water regime. In a first experiment carried out in spring wheat during two consecutive seasons in the dry conditions of northwest Mexico (Ciudad Obregon, Sonora), different water treatments were applied, corresponding to the main water regimes available to spring wheat worldwide, and the relationships between , values of different organs and grain yield were examined. Under terminal (post-anthesis) water stress, grain yield was positively associated with , in grain at maturity and in leaf at anthesis, confirming results previously obtained under Mediterranean environments. Under early (pre-anthesis) water stress and residual moisture stress, the association between grain , and yield was weaker and highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing. No correlation was found between , and grain yield under optimal irrigation. The relationship between , and grain yield was also studied during two consecutive seasons in 20 bread wheat cultivars in the Ningxia region (Northern China), characterized by winter drought (pre-anthesis water stress). Wheat was grown under rainfed conditions in two locations (Guyuan and Pengyang) and under irrigated conditions in another two (Yinchuan and Huinong). In Huinong, the crop was also exposed to salt stress. Highly significant positive associations were found between leaf and grain , and grain yields across the environments. The relationship between , and yield within environments highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing, the quantity and distribution of rainfall during the growth cycle, the presence of salt in the soil, and the occurrence of irrigation before anthesis. These two experiments confirmed the value of , as an indirect selection criterion for yield and a phenotyping tool under post-anthesis water stress (including limited irrigation). [source] Comparative morphology of the hemolymph vascular system in scorpions,A survey using corrosion casting, MicroCT, and 3D-reconstructionJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Christian S. Wirkner Abstract Although scorpions are one of the better known groups of Arthropoda, detailed knowledge of their anatomy remains superficial. This contribution presents the first comprehensive investigation of the gross morphology of the scorpion vascular system, based on a survey of species representing all major lineages of the order, using classical and modern non-destructive techniques in combination with three-dimensional reconstruction. The investigation reveals that the hemolymph vascular system (HVS) of Scorpiones comprises a central pumping heart which extends the entire length of the mesosoma and is enclosed in a pericardium. Several arteries branch off the heart to supply different organs and body regions. Two different anterior aorta major branching patterns are identified among the species investigated. Arteries that branch off the anterior aorta system supply the appendages (chelicerae, pedipalps, and walking legs) and the central nerve mass with a complex arterial network. This study of the HVS of scorpions provides further evidence that the vascular systems of euarthropods can be highly complex. Use of the term "open circulatory system" within arthropods is re-emphasized, as it refers to the general organization of the body cavity (i.e. mixocoely) rather than to the complexity of the circulatory system. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differences in growth and yield in response to cadmium toxicity in cotton genotypesJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004Feibo Wu Abstract A greenhouse hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of cadmium (Cd; 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10 ,M in nutrient solution) on yield and yield components as well as Cd concentration and accumulation in three cotton genotypes (Simian 3, Zhongmian 16, Zhongmian 16,2). The results showed that Cd concentration in different organs increased with increasing Cd levels in the nutrient solution in the following order: root > petiole > xylem > fruiting branch, leaf > phloem in vegetative organs and seed coat, seed nut > boll shell > fiber in reproductive organs. There were significant genotypic differences in functional leaf and petiole Cd concentrations at 1 and 10 ,M Cd treatments, with the cultivar Simian 3 showing higher Cd concentrations and greater reductions in lint yield than the other two genotypes. [source] Alcohol-Induced Lipid and Morphological Changes in Chick Retinal DevelopmentALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2004Yolanda Aguilera Abstract: Background: Alcohol exposure causes alterations in the lipid content of different organs and a reduction of long-chain fatty acids. During embryo development, the central nervous system is extremely vulnerable to the teratogenic effects of alcohol, and the visual system is particularly sensitive. Methods: White Leghorn chick embryos were injected with 10- and 20-,l alcohol doses into the yolk sac at day 6 of incubation. The lipid composition of the retina was analyzed in embryos at day 7 of incubation (E7), E11, E15, and E18. The percentages of phospholipids, free cholesterol, esterified cholesterol, diacylglycerides, and free fatty acids were estimated by using an Iatroscan thin layer chromatography flame ionization detector. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to determine fatty acid composition. The morphological study was performed at E7, E11, and E19 by means of semithin and immunohistochemical techniques. Results: In the retina, alcohol causes the total lipid content to change, with a remarkable increase in free cholesterol and a dramatic decrease in esterified cholesterol. Diacylglycerides and free fatty acids tend to increase. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine decrease, whereas phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylinositol increase. The main fatty acids of the retina also undergo changes. At E7, myriotic acid increases, and oleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid decrease. From E18 onward, there is some recovery, except for fatty acids, which recover earlier. From a morphological point of view, alcohol effects on retinal development are various: increase of intercellular spaces in all cell layers, pyknosis with loss of cellularity in the inner nuclear cell layer and ganglion cell layer, retarded or disorderly cell migration, early cell differentiation, and loss of immunoreactivity for myelin oligodendrocyte,specific protein. Conclusions: Acute alcohol exposure during embryo development causes the lipid composition of the retina to change, with a trend to recovery in the last stages. These alterations are in line with the changes observed at a morphological level. [source] The MAGi RNA extraction method: a highly efficient and simple procedure for fresh and dry plant tissuesJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 1 2009e Gül Ince Abstract BACKGROUND: Samples from different plant species, different organs or tissues at different times of the year, usually show great differences in their cell compositions, pH, and the endogenous RNase activities, decreasing the RNA yield and quality. RESULTS: In this study we describe a reagent and a simple total RNA isolation method for plant organs, tissues and dry seeds. The RNA extraction reagent (MAGi) is non-toxic and can be stored at room temperature for several months to years. The principle of the total RNA extraction is that tissues are lysed in extraction solution with the aid of mortar homogenization,maceration, and cellular proteins, polysaccharides and DNA are removed from the RNA. We tested the reported method on more than 16 different types of plant seed and 15 different tissues and organs of pepper. CONCLUSION: The RNA extraction procedure reported in the present study greatly reduces the time required to isolate dry seed total RNA and other tissues by more than half as compared with the previously reported methods. The range of typical RNA yield and quality represents a significant improvement over existing protocols. The quality is high enough to be considered as suitable method for RT-PCR, cDNA library construction and microarray gene expression studies. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Endothelial, but not the inducible, nitric oxide synthase is detectable in normal and portal hypertensive ratsLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2002Michael Martin Stumm Abstract:Background: Chronic portal hypertension is accompanied by a nitric oxide (NO) dependent vasodilation. Three isoforms of NO producing synthases (NOS) are characterized: neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS). Sources of increased NO levels in chronic hypertension is disputed. Methods: To determine eNOS and iNOS expression in different organs of portal hypertensive and control rats, we divided Sprague-Dawley rats in 6 groups: (1) Partial portal vein ligated rats, (2) Bile duct ligated rats, (3) Carbon tetrachloride treated rats, (4) Sham operated rats, (5) Untreated control rats, and (6) LPS treated rats. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunoblotting (IB) using antibodies against eNOS or iNOS were carried out on samples from thymus, aorta, heart, lung, oesophagus, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas, small and large intestine. Results: IHC revealed an even eNOS expression in all groups. Expression of iNOS was restricted to macrophages in organs of LPS treated and the thymus of rats. IB mirrored these results. Conclusion: In chronic portal hypertension, the main source for NO production depends on eNOS activity. [source] Hepatitis E virus infection as a cause of graft hepatitis in liver transplant recipientsLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2010Sven Pischke Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection induces self-limiting liver disease in immunocompetent individuals. Cases of chronic hepatitis E have recently been identified in organ transplant recipients. We questioned if chronic hepatitis E plays a role in graft hepatitis after liver transplantation in a low endemic area. Two hundred twenty-six liver transplant recipients, 129 nontransplanted patients with chronic liver disease, and 108 healthy controls were tested for HEV antibodies. HEV RNA was investigated in all sera from transplanted patients. HEV antibodies were detected in 1 healthy control (1%), 4 patients with chronic liver disease (3%), and 10 liver transplant recipients (4%). Three liver transplant patients also tested positive for HEV RNA. Two of them developed persistent viremia with HEV genotype 3. The patients were anti-HEV immunoglobulin G,negative and HEV RNA,negative before transplantation and had an episode of acute hepatitis 5 or 7 months after transplantation, which led to advanced liver fibrosis after 22 months in 1 patient. Seroconversion to anti-HEV occurred not before 4 months after the first detection of HEV RNA. The possibility of reverse zoonotic transmission was experimentally confirmed by the infection of 5 pigs with a patient's serum. The pigs showed histological inflammation in the liver, and HEV RNA was detectable in different organs, including muscle. In conclusion, the prevalence of HEV infection in Central European liver transplant recipients is low; however, chronic hepatitis E may occur and needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of graft hepatitis. The diagnosis of HEV infection should be based on HEV RNA determination in immunosuppressed patients. We suggest that immunocompromised individuals should avoid eating uncooked meat and contact with possibly HEV-infected animals. Liver Transpl 16:74,82, 2010. © 2009 AASLD. [source] Progressive Renal Vascular Proliferation and Injury in Obese Zucker RatsMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 4 2010RADU ILIESCU Microcirculation (2010) 17, 250,258. doi: 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2010.00020.x Abstract Objective:, Obesity, an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease, may induce renal injury by promoting inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines can induce neovascularization in different organs, including the kidneys. However, whether obesity triggers renal neovascularization and, if so, its effect on renal function has never been investigated. Methods:, Blood pressure, proteinuria, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured in vivo. Renal microvascular (MV) architecture was studied by 3D micro-CT in lean and obese Zucker rats (LZR and OZR, n = 7/group) at 12, 22, and 32 weeks of age. Renal inflammation was assessed by quantifying interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and ED-1 expression, as renal fibrosis in trichrome-stained cross-sections. Results:, Mild inflammation and lower GFR was only observed in younger OZR, without renal fibrosis or changes in MV density. Interestingly, renal MV density increased in OZR at 32 weeks of age, accompanied by pronounced increase in renal IL-6 and TNF-alpha, ED-1+ cells, proteinuria, decreased GFR, and fibrosis. Conclusions:, This study shows increased renal cortical vascularization in experimental obesity, suggesting neovascularization as an evolving process as obesity progresses. Increased renal vascularization, possibly triggered by inflammation, may reflect an initially compensatory mechanism in obesity. However, increased inflammation and inflammatory-induced neovascularization may further promote renal injury as obesity advances. [source] Opportunities afforded by the study of unmyelinated nerves in skin and other organsMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2004William R. Kennedy MS Abstract Neurological practice is mainly focused on signs and symptoms of disorders that involve functions governed by myelinated nerves. Functions controlled by unmyelinated nerve fibers have necessarily remained in the background because of the inability to consistently stain, image, or construct clinically applicable neurophysiological tests of these nerves. The situation has changed with the introduction of immunohistochemical methods and confocal microscopy into clinical medicine, as these provide clear images of thin unmyelinated nerves in most organs. One obvious sign of change is the increasing number of reports from several laboratories of the pathological alterations of cutaneous nerves in skin biopsies from patients with a variety of clinical conditions. This study reviews recent methods to stain and image unmyelinated nerves as well as the use of these methods for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy, for experimental studies of denervation and reinnervation in human subjects, and for demonstrating the vast array of unmyelinated nerves in internal organs. The new ability to examine the great variety of nerves in different organs opens opportunities and creates challenges and responsibilities for neurologists and neuroscientists. Muscle Nerve 756,767, 2004 [source] Disseminated aspergillosis in two dogs in IsraelMYCOSES, Issue 2 2006Y. Bruchim Summary Aspergillus terreus, normally a soil or plant saprophyte, causes disseminated systemic infection, involving primarily the skeletal and the cardiopulmonary system in humans and dogs.1, 2 We describe two cases of German shepherd dogs that were referred to Koret School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital with a history of anorexia and weakness. Case 1 suffered from neurological deficits, paraparesis and lumbar pain whereas case 2 suffered from unilateral uveitis and exophthalmus. Both dogs were treated symptomatically, but deteriorated progressively despite therapy and were therefore euthanised. Necropsy revealed disseminated aspergillosis, and numerous organs had multiple, miliary, white-yellow foci. Microscopically, these were identified as granulomas, containing fungal hyphae. Affected tissue included brain, heart, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes and bones (case 2). Aspergillus terreus was isolated from different organs and from urine culture. We suggest that disseminated aspergillosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in German shepherd dogs presenting with ocular disease, neurological deficits, spinal column pain, urinary system disorders, and radiographic evidence of skeletal and/or respiratory pathology. [source] Organ-specific, developmental, hormonal and stress regulation of expression of putative pectate lyase genes in ArabidopsisNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 3 2007Saiprasad Goud Palusa Summary ,,Pectate lyases catalyse the eliminative cleavage of de-esterified homogalacturonan in pectin, a major component of the primary cell walls in higher plants. In the completed genome of Arabidopsis, there are 26 genes (AtPLLs) that encode pectate lyase-like proteins. ,,Here, we analysed the expression pattern of all AtPLLs in different organs, at different stages of seedling development and in response to various hormones and stresses. ,,The expression of PLLs varied considerably in different organs, with no expression of some PLLs in vegetative organs. Interestingly, all PLL genes are expressed in flowers. Several PLLs are expressed highly in pollen, suggesting a role for these in pollen development and/or function. Analysis of expression of all PLL genes in seedlings treated with hormones, abiotic stresses and elicitors of defense responses revealed significant changes in the expression of some PLLs without affecting the other PLLs. The stability of transcripts of PLLs varied considerably among different genes. ,,Our results indicate a complex regulation of expression of PLLs and involvement of PLLs in some of the hormonal and stress responses. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||