Witches'Broom of Rhamnus catharticus: A New Phytoplasma Disease

A lethal witches'broom disease of buckthorn ( Rhamunus catharticus ) has been observed in south-western Germany. The disease is associated with the presence of a distinct phytoplasma that is most closely related to the phytoplasmas of the apple proliferation cluster. However, the agent can clearly be distinguished from the other cluster members.     

Characterization of a Phytoplasma Associated with Pear Decline in Iran

Symptoms of pear decline (PD) were observed in several pear growing regions of Iran. Pear trees with typical symptoms of PD from Estahban (Fars Province) were examined for phytoplasma infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Graft inoculation of healthy pear trees with scions from diseased trees resulted in production of PD symptoms and transmission of phytoplasma as verified by PCR. Target DNA was amplified from symptomatic pear trees with fO1/rO1, an apple proliferation (AP) group-specific primer pair. Physical and putative restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of fO1/rO1 primed PCR products showed profiles corresponding to AP group, 16SrX-C subgroup ( Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri). Percent similarity values and phylogenetic analysis of fO1/rO1 primed sequences confirmed that, as a member of AP subclade, Estahban PD phytoplasma has a closer relationship to PD and peach yellow leaf roll phytoplasmas than to AP ( Ca . Phytoplasma mali) and European stone fruit yellows ( Ca . Phytoplasma prunorum) phytoplasmas. This is the first report of PD phytoplasma in the eastern Mediterranean.     

A School Survey on the Flowering Time of Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) in the North of Scotland

Biological Radiographs B. Ann Blofield and G. Du Boulay London: Macmillan Education Ltd. £4.95 per set. Reviewed by Brian Jones

Outline Drawings for Human Physiology D. G. MacKean Overhead projector transparencies 9 Sets (84 foils). London: John Murray. £17.50. Reviewed by Colin Stoneman

Colour Micrographs Gene Cox (for Introduction to Biology by D. G. Mackean) 7 sets of 20 slides London : John Murray. £600 per set Reviewed by Colin Stoneman

Audio-visual Materials for Higher Education Pp. xx+221. British Universities Film Council Ltd. £2.75. Reviewed by C. G. Gardener     

A Branch-inducing Phytoplasma in Euphorbia pulcherrima is Associated with Changes in Expression of Host Genes

Phytoplasma infection causes a desirable branching phenotype in the ornamental plant Euphorbia pulcherrima by releasing apical dominance . Four E. pulcherrima genes specifically regulated during phytoplasma infection were identified using a combination of differential display of cDNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products and microarray analysis. According to BLAST searches the possible functions of identified genes included a histidine-containing phosphotransmitter, an α-expansin, a protein with similarity to the gibberellin-regulated GAST-1 and a protein with similarity to an Arabidopsis thaliana protein with unknown function.     

Patterns of stem photosynthesis in two invasive legumes (Spartium junceum,Cytisus scoparius) of the California coastal region

Stem assimilation of Spartium junceum and Cytisus scoparius was measured over diurnal cycles during four time periods of 1992 in California. Spartium junceum plants were growing at an inland, coastal mountain site while the C. scoparius plants were growing at a coastal bluff habitat. Both species had positive stem assimilation that resulted in approximately 200 mmol m ² day^-1 carbon dioxide accumulation. Daily carbon gain decreased from spring to fall for S. junceum due to a decrease in shoot water potential. Although C. scoparius had the same relationship between assimilation and shoot water potential as that of S. junceum, carbon gain and water potential did not decrease during the year for C. scoparius. The major limitation for carbon gain of C. scoparius was light intensity because the coastal site was characterized by lower temperature, higher humidity, and more fog than the inland site. Although these species grew in habitats that had a different vapor pressure and temperature, the assimilation response to vapor pressure was similar between the species. Water use efficiency was higher and intercellular carbon dioxide was lower for S. junceum compared to C. scoparius. Although the leaves of both species are ephemeral, the canopy has a constant positive carbon balance because of stem assimilation. The constant carbon gain throughout the year, from stem assimilation, may enhance the growth capacity of these invasive species in disturbed habitats.     

Glucocerebrosidase Gene Mutations Associated with Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis in a Chinese population

Mutations of glucocerebrosidase (GBA) confer susceptibility to Parkinson''s disease in several ethnical populations, with a high incidence especially in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Although there are several studies that have investigated a similar association in a Chinese population, small sample sizes and few positive outcomes have made it difficult to obtain conclusive results from these individual studies. Therefore, the present study used a meta-analysis approach, pooling the appropriate data from published studies to investigate the association of GBA mutations and Parkinson''s disease in a Chinese population. Nine studies containing 6536 Chinese subjects (3438 cases and 3098 healthy controls) and examining the GBA mutations of L444P, N370S and several other mutations were included. Review Manager 5.2 software was applied to analyze the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results showed a significant association of Parkinson''s disease risk with overall GBA mutations (OR = 6.34, 95% CI = 3.77–10.68, p<0.00001), and with the subgroup of L444P mutation (OR = 11.68, 95% CI = 5.23–26.06, p<0.00001). No such association was observed for the subgroup with N370S mutation or other mutations, in part because of the small sample size or rare events. Thus, for the rare occurrence of GBA mutations, studies with larger sample size are necessary to minimize the sampling error and to obtain convincing results.     

A saponin with anti-ulcerogenic effect from the flowers of Spartium junceum.

A new oleanene-type saponin with potent anti-ulcerogenic activity was isolated from the flowers of Spartium junceum. The various techniques of NMR spectral analysis, viz. 1H, 13C, DEPT, C-H COSY, H-H COSY, COLOC, NOESY, HMBC, HMQC, in conjunction with EI- and FAB-mass spectrometry, revealed that the structure of the isolated saponin was 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2) -O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-3 beta,16beta,22 beta,24-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-ene and named as spartitrioside.     

Fatal Transmissible Amyloid Encephalopathy: A New Type of Prion Disease Associated with Lack of Prion Protein Membrane Anchoring

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals characterized by gray matter spongiosis and accumulation of aggregated, misfolded, protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres). PrPres can be deposited in brain in an amyloid-form and/or non-amyloid form, and is derived from host-encoded protease-sensitive PrP (PrPsen), a protein normally anchored to the plasma membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). Previously, using heterozygous transgenic mice expressing only anchorless PrP, we found that PrP anchoring to the cell membrane was required for typical clinical scrapie. However, in the present experiments, using homozygous transgenic mice expressing two-fold more anchorless PrP, scrapie infection induced a new fatal disease with unique clinical signs and altered neuropathology, compared to non-transgenic mice expressing only anchored PrP. Brain tissue of transgenic mice had high amounts of infectivity, and histopathology showed dense amyloid PrPres plaque deposits without gray matter spongiosis. In contrast, infected non-transgenic mice had diffuse non-amyloid PrPres deposits with significant gray matter spongiosis. Brain graft studies suggested that anchored PrPsen expression was required for gray matter spongiosis during prion infection. Furthermore, electron and light microscopic studies in infected transgenic mice demonstrated several pathogenic processes not seen in typical prion disease, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy and ultrastructural alterations in perivascular neuropil. These findings were similar to certain human familial prion diseases as well as to non-prion human neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer''s disease.     

The Association of Clover Proliferation Phytoplasma with Stolbur Disease of Pepper in Spain

A phytoplasma disease, `stolbur', affects pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) in Spain. Affected plants have short internodes, green flowers buds and other symptoms that are characteristic of phytoplasma-induced diseases. Herein the detection and classification of the phytoplasma that may cause the disease is reported. DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicate that this phytoplasma should be classified in the clover proliferation group 16SrVI, a group that is clearly distinct from the stolbur group 16SrXII.     

SLDP: a Novel Protein Related to Caleosin Is Associated with the Endosymbiotic Symbiodinium Lipid Droplets from Euphyllia glabrescens

Intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) have been proposed to play a key role in the mutualistic endosymbiosis between reef-building corals and the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium spp. This study investigates and identifies LD proteins in Symbiodinium from Euphyllia glabrescens. Discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation was used to separate Symbiodinium cells from E. glabrescens tentacles. Furthermore, staining with a fluorescent probe, Nile red, indicated that lipids accumulated in that freshly isolated Symbiodinium cells and lipid analyses further showed polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was abundant. The stable LDs were purified from endosymbiotic Symbiodinium cells. The structural integrity of the Symbiodinium LDs was maintained via electronegative repulsion and steric hindrance possibly provided by their surface proteins. Protein extracts from the purified LDs revealed a major protein band with a molecular weight of 20 kDa, which was termed Symbiodinium lipid droplet protein (SLDP). Interestingly, immunological cross-recognition analysis revealed that SLDP was detected strongly by the anti-sesame and anti-cycad caleosin antibodies. It was suggested that the stable Symbiodinium LDs were sheltered by this unique structural protein and was suggested that SLDP might be homologous to caleosin to a certain extent.     

A New and Practical Oral Contraceptive Agent: Norethindrone with Mestranol

The usefulness of a new oral contraceptive compound containing norethindrone 5 mg. and mestranol 0.075 mg. (Ortho-Novum) was studied. One hundred and seventeen private patients used this preparation for a total of 998 menstrual cycles. There were no pregnancies. Side effects were minimal and caused few (11 patients) to discontinue use. The most significant of these was weight gain and a premenstrual tension syndrome including nausea, breakthrough bleeding and skin effects. Other symptoms were minor and easily controlled. Instruction in use of the preparation is easy. Patient acceptance is excellent. Possible masculinizing effects, liver damage, or harmful effects on the uterus were checked specifically by laboratory evaluation; no significant abnormal findings were noted.This appears to be an effective oral contraceptive which is well accepted by the patient and which produced no serious side effects as used in this study.     

Purification of the Phytoplasma Associated with China-tree (Melia azedarach L.) Decline and the Production of a Polyclonal Antiserum for its Detection

China-tree or paraiso ( Melia azedarach ) decline, caused by a phytoplasma, is a disease in Argentina for which hitherto no diagnostic reagents were available. The production of a polyclonal antiserum using a purification protocol involving a double Percoll gradient is reported. The antiserum was used successfully in immuno-dot blot assay to discriminate between infected and healthy plants. It also recognized, although less reliably, other phytoplasmas present in garlic ( Allium sativum ), peach ( Prunus persica ) and tona ( Tona cilliata ). Organisms that by their size and morphology resembled phytoplasmas were detected by immuno-electron microscopy and immunogold labelling. The ability of the antiserum to discriminate between healthy and infected plants was confirmed by PCR amplification of fragments only from infected plants.     

CT引导下经皮肺穿刺并发症的高危因素分析

目的:探讨CT引导下经皮肤肺穿刺并发症发生的高危因素.方法:回顾分析93例因肺部肿块行CT引导下经皮肤肺穿刺患者,对其性别、吸烟史、病灶大小、肿块类型、组织学分型、穿刺时体位、进针位置、进针角度和进针深度等因素与穿刺后并发症的相关性进行分析.结果:单因素分析显示吸烟史、病灶大小、肿块类型和进针深度在有并发症患者和无并发症的患者之间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05),多因素分析显示病灶大小、肿块类型和进针深度在两组患者间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论:病灶大小、肿块类型和进针深度为CT引导下经皮肺穿刺并发症出现的高危因素.     

Skin Autofluorescence Is Associated with the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Observational Study

Background

Advanced glycation end product (AGE) accumulation is thought to be a measure of cumulative metabolic stress that has been reported to independently predict cardiovascular disease in diabetes and renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between AGE accumulation, measured as skin autofluorescence, and the progression of renal disease in pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

Skin autofluorescence was measured noninvasively with an autofluorescence reader at baseline in 449 pre-dialysis patients with CKD. The primary end point was defined as a doubling of serum creatinine and/or need for dialysis.

Results

Thirty-three patients were lost to follow-up. Forty six patients reached the primary end point during the follow-up period (Median 39 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher risk of development of the primary end points in patients with skin autofluorescence levels above the optimal cut-off level of 2.31 arbitrary units, derived by receiver operator curve analysis. Cox regression analysis revealed that skin autofluorescence was an independent predictor of the primary end point, even after adjustment for age, gender, smoking history, diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria (adjusted hazard ratio 2.58, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Tissue accumulation of AGEs, measured as skin autofluorescence, is a strong and independent predictor of progression of CKD. Skin autofluorescence may be useful for risk stratification in this group of patients; further studies should clarify whether AGE accumulation could be one of the therapeutic targets to improve the prognosis of CKD.     

Angiogenesis Inhibitor Bevacizumab Increases the Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease Associated with Chemotherapy: A Meta-Analysis

Concerns have arisen regarding the risk of ischemic heart disease with the novel antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab, a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody to the vascular endothelial growth factor that is widely used in cancer treatment. Currently, the role of bevacizumab in ischemic heart disease is controversial. This meta-analysis was therefore performed to assess the overall risk of ischemic heart disease associated with the use of bevacizumab. The databases of PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for English language studies of randomised controlled trials comparing bevacizumab with control therapy published through October 25, 2012. Summary incidence rates, relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects models based on the heterogeneity of the included studies. A total of 4,617 patients from 7 randomised controlled trials were identified and included for analysis. Among those patients receiving bevacizumab, the summary incidence of ischemic heart disease was 1.0% (95% CI, 0.6%–1.4%). Patients treated with bevacizumab had a significantly increased risk of ischemic heart disease with an RR of 2.49 (95% CI, 1.37–4.52) compared with controls. In addition, both high doses and low doses of bevacizumab increased the risk of cardiac ischemia (low dose at 2.5 mg/kg per week: RR, 2.14 [95% CI, 1.09–4.19]; high dose at 5 mg/kg per week: RR, 4.81 [95% CI, 1.03–22.42]). Bevacizumab was also found to significantly increase the risk of cardiac ischemia in patients with colorectal cancer (RR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.11–4.06) compared with controls. This meta-analysis shows the use of bevacizumab was associated with an increased risk of developing ischemic heart disease in colorectal cancer patients receiving this drug. Our conclusions are limited by the available data. Further evaluations of high-quality RCTs are needed.