Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone of the horse (Equus caballus) DRA gene

The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession number M60100. Clone pL33EA is available upon request.     

DEVELOPMENTAL FEATURES OF THE SPERMATOGENOUS CELL IN GINKGO BILOBA

A “double-blepharoplast” originates de novo in the spermatogenous cell of Ginkgo biloba L. Initially, the double-blepharoplast consists of two opposing hemispherical bodies comprised of densely staining material. The two blepharoplasts seemingly are pushed apart by the formation of densely packed fibrils which are oriented perpendicular to the distal, rounded edges of the two future blepharoplasts. As the latter move apart, each one develops lightly staining channels which are often organized in a hub and spoke configuration (procentrioles). Microtubules extend from the blepharoplasts as the latter move to their final position in the cell, and centrioles (probasal bodies) become organized at the periphery of each blepharoplast. Two large “osmiophilic globules,” conspicuous entities close to the nucleus of the mature spermatogenous cell, arise de novo. A fibrillogranular body in the cytoplasm, always closely associated with the nucleus, also arises de novo.     

Thermal stresses in frozen organs

An analysis was performed to determine the thermal stresses in the solid region of an organ frozen so that a constant cooling rate is imposed on its outer surface. The analysis shows that at the instant the water freezes at a certain location in the organ, compressive azimuthal stresses develop in the region close to the change of phase front. The compressive asimuthal stresses decrease and become tensile at that location as the change of phase front propagates further. The radial stresses are always compressive. It is hypothesized that those stresses might induce mechanical damage to the cellular components of the organ. The analysis shows that the magnitude of these stresses is a function of the material properties and the product of the outer surface cooling rate and the square of the outer surface radius.     

ANG II-induced translocation of cytosolic PLA2 to the nucleus in vascular smooth muscle cells

The accumulation of radiolabeled arachidonicacid (AA), immunoblot analysis of subcellular fractions, andimmunofluorescence tagging of proteins in intact cells were used toexamine the coupling of ANG II receptors with the activity and locationof a cytosolic phospholipase A₂(cPLA₂) in vascular smoothmuscle cells (VSMC). ANG II induced the accumulation of AA, whichpeaked by 10 min and was downregulated by 20 min. A large proportion ofthe AA released in response to ANG II was due to the activation of a Ca²⁺-dependent lipase coupled toan AT₁ receptor. However,regulation of Ca²⁺ availabilityfailed to completely block AA release, and a small but significantreduction in ANG II-mediated AA release was observed in the presence ofan AT₂ antagonist. These findings,coupled with a 25% reduction in the ANG II-induced AA release by aninhibitor specific for aCa²⁺-independentPLA₂, are consistent with thepresence and activation of aCa²⁺-independentPLA₂. In contrast, immunoblotanalysis and immunofluorescence detection showed that the ANGII-mediated translocation of cPLA₂ to a membrane fraction was exclusivelyAT₁ dependent and regulated byCa²⁺ availability. Furthermore,the nucleus was the membrane target. We conclude that ANG II regulatesthe Ca²⁺-dependent activation andtranslocation of cPLA₂ through anAT₁ receptor and that this eventis targeted at the nucleus in VSMC.

     

Radiation techniques used in patients with breast cancer: Results of a survey in Spain

AimTo evaluate the resources and techniques used in the irradiation of patients with breast cancer after lumpectomy or mastectomy and the status of implementation of new techniques and therapeutic schedules in our country.BackgroundThe demand for cancer care has increased among the Spanish population, as long as cancer treatment innovations have proliferated. Radiation therapy in breast cancer has evolved exponentially in recent years with the implementation of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, image guided radiotherapy and hypofractionation.Material and MethodsAn original survey questionnaire was sent to institutions participating in the SEOR-Mama group (GEORM). In total, the standards of practice in 969 patients with breast cancer after surgery were evaluated.ResultsThe response rate was 70% (28/40 centers). In 98.5% of cases 3D conformal treatment was used. All the institutions employed CT-based planning treatment. Boost was performed in 56.4% of patients: electrons in 59.8%, photons in 23.7% and HDR brachytherapy in 8.8%. Fractionation was standard in 93.1% of patients. Supine position was the most frequent. Only 3 centers used prone position. The common organs of risk delimited were: homolateral lung (80.8%) and heart (80.8%). In 84% histograms were used. An 80.8% of the centers used isocentric technique. In 62.5% asymmetric fields were employed. CTV was delimited in 46.2%, PTV in 65% and both in 38.5%. A 65% of the centers checked with portal films. IMRT and hypofractionation were used in 1% and in 5.5% respectively.ConclusionIn most of centers, 3D conformal treatment and CT-based planning treatment were used. IMRT and hypofractionation are currently poorly implemented in Spain.     

Characterization of Vibrio cholerae O1 isolates responsible for cholera outbreaks in Kenya between 1975 and 2017

Kenya is endemic for cholera with different waves of outbreaks having been documented since 1971. In recent years, new variants of Vibrio cholerae O1 have emerged and have replaced most of the traditional El Tor biotype globally. These strains also appear to have increased virulence, and it is important to describe and document their phenotypic and genotypic traits. This study characterized 146 V. cholerae O1 isolates from cholera outbreaks that occurred in Kenya between 1975 and 2017. Our study reports that the 1975–1984 strains had typical classical or El Tor biotype characters. New variants of V. cholerae O1 having traits of both classical and El Tor biotypes were observed from 2007 with all strains isolated between 2015 and 2017 being sensitive to polymyxin B and carrying both classical and El Tor type ctxB. All strains were resistant to Phage IV and harbored rstR, rtxC, hlyA, rtxA and tcpA genes specific for El Tor biotype indicating that the strains had an El Tor backbone. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genotyping differentiated the isolates into 14 pulsotypes. The clustering also corresponded with the year of isolation signifying that the cholera outbreaks occurred as separate waves of different genetic fingerprints exhibiting different genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. The emergence and prevalence of V. cholerae O1 strains carrying El Tor type and classical type ctxB in Kenya are reported. These strains have replaced the typical El Tor biotype in Kenya and are potentially more virulent and easily transmitted within the population.