INFLAM – INFLAMmation in Brain and Vessels with Iron Nanoparticles and Cell Trafficking: A Multiscale Approach of Tissue Microenvironment,Iron Nanostructure and Iron Biotransformation

Background

Inflammation is a share process in atherosclerosis and stroke and is thought to be a key player in the evolution of these diseases. Ten years ago, inflammation imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was considered very promising for both pre-clinical and clinical studies of atherosclerosis and stroke.

The development of patient information leaflets. Care of the mouth after radiotherapy

Objectives: Describe the methodology used to produce a patient leaflet on care of the mouth after radiotherapy. Design: Prospective study to design a patient information leaflet. Setting and Subjects : Patients undergoing radiotherapy for oral cancer. Intervention: After a review of the relevant literature, a patient questionnaire was produced. This was then completed by patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment and gave an indication of the problems being encountered. Healthcare professionals were surveyed for their views. A leaflet was then produced according to published guidelines. It was taken back to another group of patients and a further version produced after input from a health promotion group. Results: A leaflet was produced after wide consultation and survey. Conclusion: Considerable effort must to be put into the production of patient information leaflet. It must be discussed with patients in the target group if it is to be sensitive, understood and find acceptance among its users     

Nonneutral evolution of tandem repeats in the mitochondrial DNA control region of lagomorphs

The mitochondrial DNA of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) contains a tandem array of 153-bp repeats in the vicinity of the replication origin of the H-stand. Variation among molecules in the number of these repeats results in inter- and intraindividual length polymorphism (heteroplasmy). Generally, in an individual, one predominant molecular type is observed, the others representing a low percentage of the mtDNA content. At the tissue level, we observe a particular distribution of this polymorphism in the gonads compared with liver, kidneys, or brain, implying a relationship between the differentiation status of the cells and the types of new mtDNA molecules which appear and accumulate during lifetime. Similar tandem repeats were also found in the mtDNA noncoding region of European hares (Lepus europaeus), a cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and a pika (Ochotona rufescens). The lengths and the sequences of these units evolve rapidly and in a concerted way, but the number of repeats is maintained in a narrow range, and an internal 20-bp segment is highly conserved. Constraints restrict the evolution of the primary sequence of these repeated units, the number of which is probably controlled by a stabilizing selection.      

Isolation and molecular identification of planctomycete bacteria from postlarvae of the giant tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon.

Bacteria phenotypically resembling members of the phylogenetically distinct planctomycete group of the domain Bacteria were isolated from postlarvae of the giant tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon. A selective medium designed in the light of planctomycete antibiotic resistance characteristics was used for this isolation. Planctomycetes were isolated from both healthy and monodon baculovirus-infected prawn postlarvae. The predominant colony type recovered from postlarvae regardless of viral infection status was nonpigmented. Other, less commonly observed types were pink or orange pigmented. A planctomycete-specific 16S rRNA-directed probe was designed and used to screen the isolates for their identity as planctomycetes prior to molecular phylogenetic characterization. 16S rRNA genes from nine prawn isolates together with two planctomycete reference strains (Planctomyces brasiliensis and Gemmata obscuriglobus) were sequenced and compared with reference sequences from the planctomycetes and other members of the domain Bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence signatures of the 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that the prawn isolates were members of the planctomycete group. Five representatives of the predominant nonpigmented colony type were members of the Pirellula group within the planctomycetes, as were three pink-pigmented colony type representatives. Homology values and tree topology indicated that representatives of the nonpigmented and pink-pigmented colony types formed two discrete clusters within the Pirellula group, not identical to any known Pirellula species. A sole representative of the orange colony type was a member of the Planctomyces group, virtually identical in 16S rDNA sequence to P. brasiliensis, and exhibited distinctive morphology.     

Control of woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Pemphigidae) on mature apple trees using insecticide soil-root drenches

Abstract Woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum , is an important pest of apples that infests both the aerial and root parts of the tree. Root colonies are protected from the pesticide sprays applied during the growing season and the climatic effects of winter. Consequently, root colonies are a major source of aerial re-infestation in the following spring. Imidacloprid, the first of a new group of insecticides from the chloronicotinyl family, is known to provide excellent control of woolly aphid on trees up to 7-years-old when applied as a root soil drench. This study compared the effects of a single application of chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, pirimicarb or vamidothion, applied as a root drench over four growing seasons. A soil wetting agent was added to each chemical to improve soil saturation and penetration. Imidacloprid provided excellent control of woolly aphid on the trees that were 17-years-old at the start of the study and continued to do so for four seasons. Pirimicarb appeared to offer some suppression of woolly aphid during the first season but not in subsequent seasons, while chlorpyrifos and vamidothion failed to control woolly aphid in any season. The potential role for imidacloprid in IPM programs is discussed.     

A rapid technique for the analytical and preparative isolation of transfer RNA from reaction mixtures

The isolation of enzymically modified tRNA's from enzyme reaction mixtures is usually achieved by one of two general methods. Amino-acyl synthetase reactions are easily assayed by filter paper techniques (1) in which the tRNA is precipitated on filters of materials such as cellulose ester or glass fiber. After drying, the filters can be counted by several techniques. The limitations of this technique include unknown counting efficiency and loss of the sample. In cases in which recovery of the tRNA is desired the usual procedure involves phenol extraction of the tRNA followed by selective precipitation with salts and/or organic solvents.     

Membrane Attachment of R-Factor Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Compatible and Incompatible Cell Pairs Following Conjugation

Superinfection of an Escherichia coli R(+) strain with a closely related R-factor was associated with the accumulation of replicative intermediates of the superinfecting deoxyribonucleic acid. This deoxyribonucleic acid remains associated with a rapidly sedimenting cell component.