Associations between the rates of maturation of the bones of the hand-wrist

Skeletal maturation rates for the age interval 3 to 13 years were analyzed using bone-specific assessments (Greulich-Pyle) of serial radiographs of 40 children. The mean rates of skeletal maturation resembled those of the population from which the atlas standards had been derived. There was a linear trend of skeletal age against chronological age for most bones in each sex. Regression lines were fitted to these data and the b values of the regression lines were calculated. Communality indices were calculated from an intercorrelation matrix of these b values. There was a statistically significant rank order correlation between the sexes in the communality indices. They tended to be higher in the girls than in the boys and were relatively low for the radius, ulna and carpals. Communality indices within groups of bones were high in all rows, especially the metacarpals, but in each sex they were comparatively low in the first ray (metacarpal plus the phalanges of the corresponding digit) and in the fifth ray of the boys. Neighborhood effects on the levels of association of maturation rates were present, particularly in the carpus, but marginal effects were not noted.     

Associations between the rates of elongation of the short bones of the hand

Data from serial radiographs of 40 children were used to study the rates of total, diaphyseal and epiphyseal elongation of the bones of the hand from 3–13 years. Communality indices were calculated from complete correlation matrices for each sex. These indices tended to be lower for boys than girls. Communality indices for distal phalanges were lower than for the other bones and those for epiphyseal elongation were lower than those for total or diaphyseal elongation. Correlations between groups of bones in their rates of elongation were higher in rows of bones than in rays. There were statistically significant neighborhood effects and a slight tendency to marginal effects in the correlations between rates of elongation in rows of bones; neither of these effects was present in rays.     

An ultrastructural study of the melanophages in the cerebrospinal fluid of the tadpoles of Xenopus

Melanin deposits in the brain ventricles of Xenopus tadpoles were studied with light and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM). They appeared to be aggregations of melanophages which accumulated free pigment granules excreted by ependymal cells into the cerebrospinal fluid. Whereas the meningeal melanophores contained oval melanosomes of various sizes, the melanosomes in the scavenger cells were all spherical, large (0.6–1.1 μm) and fairly uniform in size. Moreover, they were arranged in spherical groups which were never seen in the cytoplasm of the melanophores. The melanosomes within the cells were identical to the free melanosomes found in the cerebrospinal fluid and those which occurred within the ependymal cells in the young larva, suggesting a common origin from the egg cytoplasm. The number of the melanosomes in the melanophages increased with age. Fine cytoplasmic projections were involved in catching and engulfing the melanosomes. Some other features of the cytoplasm, e.g., large deposits of cell detritus, also indicated that the cells were macrophages. In the later stages, (48, 49) no projections were observed, but the cells were totally filled with melanosomes.     

Morphometric analysis of the formation of the external zone of the median eminence of the rat hypothalamus in the perinatal period

Morphometric electron microscopy data were obtained using a semiautomatic image analysis which demonstrate that the main stages of formation of the external zone of median eminence in the rat hypothalamus take place during the perinatal period. From the 20th day of prenatal period to the 9th day of postnatal period, the length of contact between the neurosecretory axons and the primary portal plexus increases twice, whereas that between the basal processes of ependyma cells and the primary portal plexus by a factor of 1.5. At the same time, the number of secretory granules and microvesicles in axons and that of pinocytotic vesicles in the basal processes markedly increases. Regional differences in the distribution of vesicular structures were noted in neonatal animals: secretory granules were more numerous in the axon swellings remote from the external basal lamina; pinocytotic vesicles were more numerous in the basal processes which terminated in the medial median eminence.     

Distinguishing between the hair fibres of the rabbit and the mountain hare in scats of the red fox

Irish mountain hare and rabbit hair fibres were examined for differences in microstructure. Obvious and significant differences were found in the widths of the cortex in the shield and shaft regions of the dorsal guard hairs. Other less obvious differences were also noted in scale overlap and patterns. These findings were applied in the examination of a small number of fox scats collected from a coastal grassland habitat. Mammals were by far the most important prey item of the fox; rabbit remains were present in 83% of scats examined. Hare remains were present in 15% of the scats with significantly more hare remains occurring in the scats during winter.     

Variability of the arteries of the nose

Arriving current, width and course of the arteries of the outer nose were investigated at 40 headhalves. We defined 4 groups of vessel patterns. Also 6 types of variations were described and right-left-differences were determined. The results are discussed in detail with the dates of former scientists.     

Features of the structure of the regional lymph nodes of the duodenum in monkeys

By means of morphometric methods, duodenal regional lymph nodes were studied in rhesus and lapunder macaques. It was demonstrated that in monkeys the connective tissue framework, cortical plateau, medullary substance, cortical substance, sinuses and follicles are expressed differently. Cellular elements in the lymph nodes analysed in the monkeys subjected to a comparative investigation demonstrated their uneven distribution in the same structural components. Small lymphocytes were predominate cellular elements. There were rather essential differences in the number of plasmic cells, mitotically dividing cells, acidophilic granulocytes, mast cells and macrophages. Certain species differences were demonstrated to exist both in structure and cell composition of the lymph nodes that seemed to depend on some local peculiarities of immunogenic reactions.     

不同红梨果皮类黄酮合成基因表达模式分析

采用半定量和荧光定量PCR方法,分析10个类黄酮合成基因在梨品种‘红星’和‘满天红’成熟果皮中的转录特性以及光照对基因表达的影响.结果表明:‘满天红’花色苷合成上游基因(CHS、CHI)的表达量高于‘红星',而下游基因(F3H、DFR、ANS)以及黄酮醇(FLS)和原花色素(LAR、ANR)合成相关基因的表达量却正好相反.套袋去除光照可使所有被检测基因的转录水平降低,F3GT和FLS最明显,表达量差异达20～30倍以上,且套袋‘红星’中PAL、F3H、DFR、ANS、LAR、ANR基因的表达量仍高于不套袋‘满天红’.研究认为,花色苷合成下游基因转录水平的差异是2个红色梨品种间着色不同的主要原因,而F3GT是光照调控‘红星’着色的关键基因.     

Associations between the rates of maturation and growth in the short bones of the hand

Serial radiographs of the hand-wrist were used to analyze the associations within bones between the rates of change in skeletal maturity, diaphyseal and epiphyseal lengths and diaphyseal width. In previous studies of these children, it has been shown that these rates are linear in relation to chronological age. The associations between the rates of change in these parameters were analyzed using the slopes (b values) for regression lines flitted to the data in each child. In individual bones, most of the correlation coefficients were moderate to low; some were negative. For most associations in each sex they were relatively high for metacarpal II. The rates of skeletal maturation and diaphyseal elongation were correlated more highly in the girls than in the boys but the rates of skeletal maturation and epiphyseal elongation were correlated more highly in the boys. When bones were considered in groups, relatively high correlations were noted for the metacarpals and ray II, lower correlations were common for the middle and distal phalanges. There was no evidence of real neighborhood effects but marginal effects were present.     

Analysis of the intra-individual differences of the joint surfaces of the calcaneus

Patients with calcaneus fractures experience considerable interferences with daily living activities. The quality of anatomical reconstruction is important because of its influence on functional outcome. The aim of this study was to develop an automatic algorithm based on computer tomographic (CT) images to quantify the integrity of calcaneal joint surfaces. Validation of this algorithm was done by assessing intra-individual variations of characteristic joint parameters. Bilateral hind foot CT data of 12 subjects were manually segmented, and 3D models from the calcaneus, talus and cuboid were generated. These models were implemented in a custom-made software to analyse the area, 3D orientations and bone distance of the joint surfaces of the calcaneus. Three joints were detected, and the calculated parameters were compared between right and left hind foot by the evaluation of the directional asymmetry (%DA). The results were statistically analysed with a paired t-test. The median of area (5–7 %DA) of the joint surfaces and the distance between two articulating surfaces (8–9 %DA) showed the greatest intra-individual differences. Median differences in 3D orientation were comparatively low (1–2 %DA). None of these differences was statistically significant. Inter-individual variations among subjects were several magnitudes larger than intra-individual differences. The presented computational tool provides 3D joint-specific parameters of the calcaneus, which enable to describe their respective joint integrity. The results show that only small intra-individual differences within the anatomy exist. Surgical treatment should take place with the aid of CT data from the contralateral side. Thus, a good restoration of the anatomy may be reached. The computational tool assesses the quality of reduction, and may be helpful to evaluate the outcome and quality of operative treatment based on the calculated joint-specific parameters of joint reconstructions in the hind foot.     

Evaluation of the effect of the radioactive contamination of hydrobionts in the 30-kilometer control zone of the accident at the Chernobyl AES]

A study was made of hydrobionts, particularly fishes, living within the thirty-kilometer control zone of Chernobyl NPP and northern part of the Kiev basin, after the disaster. Out of 31 fish species living in the NPP cooling pond some were identified which were mostly affected by radioactive contamination. They were predators belonging, with respect to reproduction and development, to a lithophilous group. Peculiarities of reproduction of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix kept in stews of the cooling pond before the accident were studied. After a three-year exposure to ionizing radiation (cumulative dose of 8-9 Gy) no reduction in the reproductive capacity of mature fishes was observed.     

On the ultrastructure of the ovary of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica L.)

Summary The ovary of the liver fluke has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The organ consisted of germ cells and a layer of peripheral cells suggested to be nurse cells, and was surrounded by a capsule containing muscular tissue. The peripheral cells rested on a thick basement membrane and were irregular in outline. Their nuclei were of irregular shape, the mitochondria were dark with few cristae and the endoplasmic reticulum was tubular or vesicular and partly studded with ribosomes. The germ cells were rounded or polyhedral except in the outer part of the ovary where some of them showed irregular processes. The germ cells of the outer region (oogonia) were relatively small and in close contact with the cells suggested to be nurse cells. The inner germ cells (oocytes) were large and loosely packed. Their nuclei were irregular and contained round distinct nucleoli. The nuclear envelopes showed numerous pores. The endoplasmic reticulum was very sparse, but free ribosomes were abundant in the cytoplasm. This corresponded with a strong basophilia removable with RNase. In addition round basophilic bodies formed by densely packed ribosomes and membraneous material occurred in close spatial relation to mitochondria. The latter contained dense granules and few cristae. Groups of vesicles and membraneous lamellae were found in the cytoplasm, but they were considerably smaller than vertebrate Golgi complexes. Numerous dense spherical granules were found mainly in the periphery of the large germ cells. The granules were strongly osmiophilic except in the terminal part of the ovary. They were PAS-positive, but negative to Sudan dyes.Supported by a grant from Jordbrukets Forskningsråd, Stockholm.     

On the origin of the Hirudinea and the demise of the Oligochaeta

The phylogenetic relationships of the Clitellata were investigated with a data set of published and new complete 18S rRNA gene sequences of 51 species representing 41 families. Sequences were aligned on the basis of a secondary structure model and analysed with maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. In contrast to the latter method, parsimony did not recover the monophyly of Clitellata. However, a close scrutiny of the data suggested a spurious attraction between some polychaetes and clitellates. As a rule, molecular trees are closely aligned with morphology-based phylogenies. Acanthobdellida and Euhirudinea were reconciled in their traditional Hirudinea clade and were included in the Oligochaeta with the Branchiobdellida via the Lumbriculidae as a possible link between the two assemblages. While the 18S gene yielded a meaningful historical signal for determining relationships within clitellates, the exact position of Hirudinea and Branchiobdellida within oligochaetes remained unresolved. The lack of phylogenetic signal is interpreted as evidence for a rapid radiation of these taxa. The placement of Clitellata within the Polychaeta remained unresolved. The biological reality of polytomies within annelids is suggested and supports the hypothesis of an extremely ancient radiation of polychaetes and emergence of clitellates.     

Immunochemical study of the antigenic structure of microbes of the genus Bordetella. 5. Fractionation of the extracts of the parapertussis microbes and the study of the immunochemical and biochemical properties of the isolated fractions]

Fractions responsible for the main part of the serological and immunogenic activity differing by the set of antigens were isolated from the salt extracts of parapertussis microbes by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-100, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and preparative electrophoresis in agar. Fractions, disclosing a sufficiently high serological activity and possessing the immunological properties, but containing the minimal set (2--3 out of 7) antigens, which were included in the initial extract, were isolated in the agar gel in the use of the preparative electrophoresis method.     

Diversity of the microscopic fungi in the littoral sands of the White Sea

For the first time, the study of the mycobiota of littoral sands of the cold-water White Sea was conducted. Twenty-four samples were collected in July–August 2015 in the Onega Bay, the Kandalaksha Bay, and on the Terskii coast. Culture methods were used to detect the number of colony forming units (CFU) and the fungi diversity. The number of CFUs is small; it ranges from 0 to 57 per 1 cm³. A total of 54 morphotypes were detected, of which 22 were identified to the species, seven to the genus level, and 25 were not identified, because they did not form sporulation. Only two species, Cladosorium sphaerospermum and Paradendryphiella salina, were characterized by the relative abundance of more than 10% and the frequency of occurrence of more than 50%. Another five species were found in more than one sample: Penicillium chrysogenum, Cadophora fastigiata, Acremonium fuci, anamorph of Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, and teleomorph of Pseudeurotium hygrophilum. All other morphotypes were found in a small number in single samples. In general, darkcolored forms predominated in the mycobiota both in diversity and in number.     

Drainage of the prelymphatics of the brain via the adventitia of the vertebral artery

Carbon particles injected into the cortex of the cerebellum of the rat were found in the Virchow-Robin spaces of the adjacent capillaries, and in the adventitia of the cerebellar artery, basilar artery and vertebral artery--both inside and outside the skull. They were also found in some portions of the deeper cervical lymph nodes. However, while tracers injected into the cerebral hemispheres are drained via the tissue channels in the adventitia of the internal carotid arteries, tracers injected into the cerebellar hemispheres are drained via those of the vertebral arteries.     

Ultrastructural study of the distribution of calcium in the pineal gland of the rat subjected to manipulation of the photoperiod

Summary Using the pyroantimoniate technique, a study was conducted at electron microscope level on the distribution of the calcium ion in the pineal glands of normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats with initial weights of 150–200 g subjected to a 12:12 light dark cycle and others under the same conditions were subjected to modifications in the noradrenergic signal, such as continuous illumination over 7 days, blinding by bilateral enucleation (7 or 90 days) before sacrifice and bilateral superior cervical gangliectomy at 21 days before sacrifice. All the animals were sacrificed by decapitation, half of them at midday and the other half at midnight. Abundant fine precipitations of calcium were found in the intercellular spaces of the pineal glands of the normal rats. By contrast, in the gangliectomized animals subjected to constant illumination and chronic binding these precipitations were few in number. Additionally, two types of pinealocytes were observed regarding the distribution and concentration of intracytoplasmic calcium in both the normal and experimentally manipulated animals. Type I correspond to the classic light pinealocytes, with an absence of intracytoplasmic precipitations, although in the normal and gangliectomized animals sacrificed at midnight it was possible to observe fine deposits inside the mitochondrial matrix. Type II correspond to the classic dark pinealocytes, with a dense cytoplasmic matrix and numerous deposits of intracytoplasmic and intranuclear calcium; these were never seen in the type I pinealocytes.     

Ultrastructural study of the distribution of calcium in the pineal gland of the rat subjected to manipulation of the photoperiod

Using the pyroantimoniate technique, a study was conducted at electron microscope level on the distribution of the calcium ion in the pineal glands of normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats with initial weights of 150-200 g subjected to a 12:12 light dark cycle and others under the same conditions were subjected to modifications in the noradrenergic signal, such as continuous illumination over 7 days, blinding by bilateral enucleation (7 or 90 days) before sacrifice and bilateral superior cervical gangliectomy at 21 days before sacrifice. All the animals were sacrificed by decapitation, half of them at midday and the other half at midnight. Abundant fine precipitations of calcium were found in the intercellular spaces of the pineal glands of the normal rats. By contrast, in the gangliectomized animals subjected to constant illumination and chronic binding these precipitations were few in number. Additionally, two types of pinealocytes were observed regarding the distribution and concentration of intracytoplasmic calcium in both the normal and experimentally manipulated animals. Type I correspond to the classic light pinealocytes, with an absence of intracytoplasmic precipitations, although in the normal and gangliectomized animals sacrificed at midnight it was possible to observe fine deposits inside the mitochondrial matrix. Type II correspond to the classic dark pinealocytes, with a dense cytoplasmic matrix and numerous deposits of intracytoplasmic and intranuclear calcium; these were never seen in the type I pinealocytes.     

Changes in the innervational connections of the urinary bladder upon experimental stimulation of the hypothalamus]

The innervation of the urinary bladder was studied in 40 rabbits, 5 of which were control and in 35 animals the posterior and anterior nuclei of the hypothalamus were stimulated by electric current through bipolar electrodes. The efferent innervation connections in whose terminal plexuses there occurred absorption of catecholamines were shown histochemically and neurohistologically to be involved in the pathological process. Reactive and degenerative changes were found to take place in receptory nerve terminations, and first of all in free ones. Then the bodies of pseudounipolar neurons of spinal ganglia were changed. Changes were also found in the connections of sensory neurons with the cells of Goll's and Burdach's nuclei.     

An immuno-electron-microscopic study of the localization of VIP-like immunoreactivity in the adrenal gland of the rat

Summary VIP-like immunoreactivity was revealed in a few chromaffin cells, medullary ganglion cells and a plexus of varicose nerve fibers in the superficial cortex and single varicose fibers in the juxtamedullary cortex and the medulla of the rat adrenal gland. VIP-like immunoreactive chromaffin cells were polygonal in shape without any distinct cytoplasmic processes and they appeared solitarily. Their cytoplasm contained abundant granular vesicles having a round core and the immunoreactive material was localized to the granular core. VIP-immunoreactive ganglion cells were multipolar and had large intracytoplasmic vacuoles. The immunoreactive material was localized not only in a few granular vesicles but also diffusely throughout the axoplasm. VIP-immunoreactive varicose nerve fibers in the superficial cortex were characterized by abundant small clear vesicles and some large granular vesicles, while those in the juxtamedullary cortex and medulla and the ganglionic processes were characterized by abundant large clear vesicles, as well as the same vesicular elements as contained in the nerves in the superficial cortex. The immunoreactive material was localized on the granular cores and diffusely in the axoplasm in both nerves. Based on the similarity and difference in the composition of the vesicles contained in individual nerves, it is likely that the VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the medulla and the juxtamedullary cortex are derived from the medullary VIP-ganglion cells, while those in the superficial cortex are of extrinsic origin. The immunoreactive nerve fibers in both the cortex and the medulla were often in direct contact with cortical cells and chromaffin cells, where no membrane specializations were formed. The immunoreactive nerve fibers were sometimes associated with the smooth muscle cells and pericytes of small blood vessels in the superficial cortex. In addition they were often seen in close apposition to the fenestrated endothelial cells in the cortex and the medulla, only a common basal lamina intervening. Several possible mechanisms by which VIP may exert its effect in the adrenal gland are discussed.