Anatomic contribution to the study on the variety of fibrous formations of the arm in humans

The authors have examined an anatomical preparation of a human upper limb preserved in the Anatomical Museum in Bologna. The specimen was formed by bone, fibrous formations, musculus biceps brachii and musculus coracobrachialis. The soft parts were kept in situ and dried by mummification. The humerus showed abnormalities at its proximal extremity (Fig. 1) and the muscles displayed fibrous varieties: a) a fibrous sheet (Fig. 1, 2) connected the caput brevis of the musculus biceps brachii to the articular capsule of the shoulder joint; b) an aponevrosis (Fig. 1, 3) connected the musculus coracobrachialis to the same articular capsule and the humerus. These observations were discussed from an evolutionary and functional point of view.     

Zinc: an inhibitor of prolactin (PRL) secretion in humans

The response of plasma prolactin (PRL) to oral administration of increasing doses of zinc (25.0, 37.5 and 50.0 mg) was studied in 17 normal adult men and women. Blood samples were collected at 10 and 30-min intervals over a period of 120 min after two basal times (-30 and 0 min). PRL concentrations significantly fell below basal levels in all subjects in response to the increase in plasma zinc levels, as compared to the controls. These results suggest that acute hyperzincemia can inhibit basal PRL secretion in normal individuals.     

Structure of male accessory glands of Bolivarius siculus (fischer) (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae) and protein analysis of their secretions

In Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), male reproductive accessory glands are involved in the construction of a two‐part spermatophore; one part, the spermatophylax, is devoid of sperm and considered a nuptial gift. The morphology, ultrastructure, and secretion protein content of the male reproductive accessory glands from Bolivarius siculus were investigated. Two main groups of gland tubules open into the ejaculatory duct: the “first‐order” glands, a number of large anterior tubules, and the “second‐order” glands, smaller and more numerous tubules positioned posteriorly. Along with a further subdivision of the gland tubules, we here describe for the first time an additional gland group, the intermediate tubules, which open between first and second‐order glands. The mesoderm‐derived epithelium of all glands is a single layer of microvillated cells, which can be either flattened or cylindric in the proximal or distal region of the same gland. Epithelial cells, very rich in RER and Golgi systems, produce secretions of both electron‐dense granules and globules or electron‐transparent material, discharged into the gland lumen by apocrine or merocrine mechanisms, respectively. With one exception, a unique electrophoresis protein profile was displayed by each of the gland types, paralleling their unique morphologies. To assess the contribution of different types of accessory glands to the construction of the spermatophore, the protein patterns of the gland secretions were compared with those of the extracts from the two parts of the spermatophore. All samples showed bands distributed in a wide range of molecular weight, including proteins of very low molecular mass. However, one major high molecular weight protein band (>180 kDa) is seen exclusively in extracts from the first‐order glands, and corresponds to an important protein component of the spermatophylax. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Ceratotoxins: female-specific X-linked genes from the medfly, Ceratitis capitata.

In this paper, we report the chromosomal localization of ceratotoxins, a gene family encoding antibacterial female-specific peptides from the mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. The analysis of both polytene and mitotic chromosomes by in situ hybridization shows that ceratotoxins are the first case of female-specific X-linked genes from the medfly C. capitata. Southern blot analysis reveals that the ceratotoxin gene family is not specifically amplified in the female reproductive accessory glands of C. capitata.     

Mycoplasma agalactiae MAG_5040 is a Mg2+-Dependent,Sugar-Nonspecific SNase Recognised by the Host Humoral Response during Natural Infection

In this study the enzymatic activity of Mycoplasma agalactiae MAG_5040, a magnesium-dependent nuclease homologue to the staphylococcal SNase was characterized and its antigenicity during natural infections was established. A UGA corrected version of MAG_5040, lacking the region encoding the signal peptide, was expressed in Escherichia coli as a GST fusion protein. Recombinant GST-MAG_5040 exhibits nuclease activity similar to typical sugar-nonspecific endo- and exonucleases, with DNA as the preferred substrate and optimal activity in the presence of 20 mM MgCl₂ at temperatures ranging from 37 to 45°C. According to in silico analyses, the position of the gene encoding MAG_5040 is consistently located upstream an ABC transporter, in most sequenced mycoplasmas belonging to the Mycoplasma hominis group. In M. agalactiae, MAG_5040 is transcribed in a polycistronic RNA together with the ABC transporter components and with MAG_5030, which is predicted to be a sugar solute binding protein by 3D modeling and homology search. In a natural model of sheep and goats infection, anti-MAG_5040 antibodies were detected up to 9 months post infection. Taking into account its enzymatic activity, MAG_5040 could play a key role in Mycoplasma agalactiae survival into the host, contributing to host pathogenicity. The identification of MAG_5040 opens new perspectives for the development of suitable tools for the control of contagious agalactia in small ruminants.     

SHOX at a glance: from gene to protein

The Short Stature Homeobox-containing Gene SHOX was identified as the genetic cause of the short stature phenotype in patients with Turner Syndrome and in certain patients with idiopathic short stature. Shortly after, SHOX mutations were also associated with the growth failure and skeletal deformities seen in patients with Léri - Weill dyschondrosteosis and Langer mesomelic dysplasia. Today it is estimated that SHOX mutations occur with an incidence of roughly 1:1,000 in newborns, making mutations of this gene one of the most common genetic defects leading to growth failure in humans. This review summarises the involvement of SHOX in several short stature syndromes and describes recent advances in our understanding of SHOX functions and regulation. We also discuss the current evidence in the literature that points to a role of this protein in growth and bone development. These studies have improved our knowledge of the SHOX gene and protein functions, and have given insight into the etiopathogenesis of short stature. However, the exact role of SHOX in bone development still remains elusive and poses the next major challenge for researchers in this field.     

Carotenoids Co-Localize with Hydroxyapatite,Cholesterol, and Other Lipids in Calcified Stenotic Aortic Valves. Ex Vivo Raman Maps Compared to Histological Patterns

Unlike its application for atherosclerotic plaque analysis, Raman microspectroscopy was sporadically used to check the sole nature of bioapatite deposits in stenotic aortic valves, neglecting the involvement of accumulated lipids/lipoproteins in the calcific process. Here, Raman microspectroscopy was employed for examination of stenotic aortic valve leaflets to add information on nature and distribution of accumulated lipids and their correlation with mineralization in the light of its potential precocious diagnostic use. Cryosections from surgically explanted stenotic aortic valves (n=4) were studied matching Raman maps against specific histological patterns. Raman maps revealed the presence of phospholipids/triglycerides and cholesterol, which showed spatial overlapping with one another and Raman-identified hydroxyapatite. Moreover, the Raman patterns correlated with those displayed by both von-Kossa-calcium- and Nile-blue-stained serial cryosections. Raman analysis also provided the first identification of carotenoids, which co-localized with the identified lipid moieties. Additional fit concerned the distribution of collagen and elastin. The good correlation of Raman maps with high-affinity staining patterns proved that Raman microspectroscopy is a reliable tool in evaluating calcification degree, alteration/displacement of extracellular matrix components, and accumulation rate of different lipid forms in calcified heart valves. In addition, the novel identification of carotenoids supports the concept that valve stenosis is an atherosclerosis-like valve lesion, consistently with their previous Raman microspectroscopical identification inside atherosclerotic plaques.Key words: Valve calcification, stenosis, carotenoids, lipids, Raman microspectroscopy