Juvenoid-induced effects on the growth and differentiation of testis in the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica

The juvenoid hydroprene or altozar (ZR-0512), when applied to larvae and pupae of Corcyra cephalonica at doses of 100 μg and 10 μg per individual, produced abnormalities in the growth and differentiation of imaginal testicular structures. In all the resultant larval-imaginal intermediates each testis contained a compact mass of cysts at various developmental stages with a comparatively higher number of spermatid cysts denoting a potentiality for increased fertility. Delayed differentiation of spermatozoa may also be inferred from this finding. On rare occasions the two larval testes failed to become enclosed in a single sac. Conversely, in the adultoids obtained from pupal treatment, the production of a normal quantity of testicular cysts of different kinds was inhibited. Moreover, malformed and sometimes degenerating spermatozoan cysts were formed. In a few extreme cases differentiation of even the spermatid cysts had been almost entirely prevented. Spermatogonia and the degenerating cell masses were the chief components of the testis of such adultoids. All observations indicated a sort of male sterility induced by the juvenoid when applied to pupae, especially at 12 hours age. The effect of the juvenoid on spermatogenesis could not be shown to be direct.     

Major morphological sperm abnormalities in the bull are related to sperm DNA damage

The influence of sperm morphology and chromatin integrity on bull fertility suggests a strong but undefined biological relationship between these two parameters. In this study we explore this relationship, making use of the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test, which allows simultaneous observation of sperm abnormalities and DNA fragmentation. Based on spermatozoa from 17 Holstein-Friesian bulls, we determined a relationship between DNA fragmentation and the presence of the “so called” major-type sperm defects. Values for DNA fragmentation index (mean ± SEM) calculated from cells with major-type abnormalities were significantly (P < 0.05) higher (85.05 ± 5.00%) than those from abnormal forms classified as minor-type (17.89 ± 5.55%). Some of the sperm abnormalities, such as double forms, narrow base heads, small heads, shortened tails and proximal cytoplasmic droplets, were only associated with sperm showing fragmented DNA. The simultaneous assessment of sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation has the potential to improve the efficacy of sperm quality assessment in this species.     

Effects on spermiogenesis in the mouse of a male sterile neurological mutation,Purkinje cell degeneration

Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) is a neurological mutation in the mouse that causes male sterility, but not female sterility. In order to assess the effects of this mutation on spermiogenesis, the structure of the testis and of epididymal spermatozoa was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In the mutant males, the sperm count was reduced, sperm were nonmotile, and 93% of the sperm were characterized by structural abnormalities of the head, the tail, or both. In the testes of mutant mice, Sertoli cell structure was normal, as were also the early stages of spermiogenesis. However, the elongating and maturing spermatids were characterized by abnormally shaped heads and tails with extraneous and ectopic outer dense fibers. These defects were common in the testes of the mutant mice and rare in the testes of the littermate control mice. It was concluded that the structural abnormalities of the pcd sperm occurred during spermiogenesis and were not due to degeneration of the sperm in the epididymis. These structural abnormalities are similar to those found in all other reported male sterile mutants of the mouse; therefore, although they are caused by the expression of the pcd gene, they are not unique to the expression of this gene.     

Significance of Borderline Nuclear Abnormality In Cervical Smears

Women with cervical smears showing borderline nuclear abnormality (BNA), or reactive changes in the form of squamous metaplasia (SM) or endocervical cell hyperplasia (ECH), were age-matched with healthy controls to determine the outcome of these conditions. No significant difference in the risk of dyskaryosis was observed in cases showing reactive changes and the controls. In contrast, there was a 23% excess of cases showing dyskaryosis in the repeat smears of cases of BNA over the controls. An odds ratio of 8.3 was obtained, showing dyskaryosis in subsequent smears after a diagnosis of BNA.     

Tachyarrhythmia in a baboon: a case report

An adult baboon with multiple organ symptomatology and tachycardia was successfully treated with one-time electrical cardioversion. The case is presented to demonstrate the need to include ECG monitoring in diagnostic assessment of primate animals with nonspecific symptoms.     

Development of chicken embryos following exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields with differing waveforms.

Previous studies in my laboratory have revealed a reproducible and statistically significant increase in the number of malformations in live chicken embryos that had been exposed during the first 48 h of incubation to a pulsed magnetic field (unipolar pulses, 100-pps, 1-microT peak density). In marked contrast, no adverse effect was seen following similar exposure to 60-Hz, bipolar, unipolar, or split-sine waves at 3-microT peak-to-peak. In the four experiments comprising the present study, differences in the numbers of malformations between control and experimental groups were not statistically significant. Field-free incubation for an additional 72 h after exposure to a bipolar sine wave for 48 h resulted in an increase in normal live embryos in both control and treated groups.     

Cytological evidence of a new male-sterile mutant in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Summary From one plant of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with only two one-seeded pods, found in an F₄ population maintained by single-seed descent procedure, two fully fertile plants were obtained which, in turn, produced two progeny segregating for male sterility. Segregation ratios, observed on progeny from fertile plants in three successive generations, indicated that the male-sterility trait was under the control of a single recessive gene. Cytological observations made on malesterile, female-fertile plants showed the occurrence of a complete and properly timed cytokinesis with the formation of tetrad cells whose size was very variable, one of which sometimes had two nuclei. During pollen maturation binucleate microspores and grains with reduced size (micropollens) were frequently observed. Massive pollen degeneration occurred at a rather later stage. Structural evidence points to a normally functioning tapetum.On the basis of these cytological observations we conclude that the abnormalities observed in the mutant we studied have to be considered to be different from those caused by any other known ms allele. Tests of allelism with other sources of male sterility are in progress.     

静脉导管超声检测在胎儿心脏畸形诊断中的应用价值

目的探讨超声检测中晚孕胎儿静脉导管在胎儿心脏畸形诊断中的价值。方法应用二维及彩色多普勒超声对164例正常胎儿和31例心脏畸形胎儿的静脉导管进行检测,分析频谱特征及RI、PI、S/A等相关参数。结果正常胎儿静脉导管频谱为三相波,始终是前向血流,随孕周的增加,S、D、A逐渐增高,RI、PI、S/A逐渐降低。胎儿心脏畸形组RI、PI、S/A较正常胎儿组明显增高,差异具有统计学意义,P<0.01,25例(80.6%)出现零相或反向A波,正常组164例均未出现零相或反向A波。结论超声检测胎儿静脉导管对胎儿心脏畸形的诊断具有重要的参考价值。     

Chromosomal abnormalities as a cause of recurrent abortions in Egypt

BACKGROUND:

In 4%-8% of couples with recurrent abortion, at least one of the partners has chromosomal abnormality. Most spontaneous miscarriages which happen in the first and second trimesters are caused by chromosomal abnormalities. These chromosomal abnormalities may be either numerical or structural.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Cytogenetic study was done for 73 Egyptian couples who presented with recurrent abortion at Genetic Unit of Children Hospital, Mansoura University.

RESULTS:

We found that the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities was not significantly different from that reported worldwide. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 9 (6.1%) of 73 couples. Seven of chromosomal abnormalities were structural and two of them were numerical.

CONCLUSION:

Our results showed that 6.1% of the couples with recurrent abortion had chromosomal abnormalities, with no other abnormalities. We suggest that it is necessary to perform cytogenetic in vestigation for couples who have recurrent abortion.     

超声心动图检查指标与胎儿染色体异常的相关性

摘要 目的：探究超声心动图检查指标与胎儿染色体异常之间的相关性。方法：选择2017年1月至2020年1月于我院接受产前超声心动图检查的980例高危产妇为研究对象,均对其开展超声心动图以及染色体核型检测,记录受检者染色体核型异常具体情况,筛选出染色体核型异常产妇（80例）作为研究组,设另900例染色体正常产妇为对照组,就两组产妇的超声心动图检查指标左心室Tei指数、右心室Tei指数以及颈项透明层厚度（NT）值差异进行比较,Spearman相关性分析探究上述超声心动图指标的相关性,最后绘制心动图指标对染色体异常的诊断ROC曲线图并计算AUC值。结果：（1）比较显示研究组胎儿的左心室Tei指数、右心室Tei指数和NT值均明显的高于对照组胎儿,组间差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;（2）相关性分析显示NT值同染色体异常胎儿的左心室Tei值、右心室Tei值均呈现明显的正相关联系（r=0.8927,r=0.9315,P<0.0001）;（3）ROC曲线绘制显示左心室Tei值、右心室Tei值和NT值对胎儿染色体异常的诊断AUC分别为0.9889、0.7574、0.7959（P<0.05）。结论：超声心动图检查指标同胎儿的染色体异常之间存在明显的关联性,可以考虑将超声心动图作为胎儿染色体异常的初筛手段,推广于临床应用。     

Genotoxic evaluation in two amphibian species from Brazilian subtropical wetlands

Biomarkers analysis serves as an early warning system for the presence of pollutants because their responses appear before irreversible damage to the ecosystem takes place. The genotoxic effects of pollutants may occur at cellular pollutant concentrations that are well below levels that would cause gross cytotoxicity, making this a useful tool to detect early effects of toxic environmental agents. Combining the importance of Brazilian wetlands to the conservation of amphibian biodiversity with the potential negative impacts of irrigated rice fields in the surrounding areas, the aim of the present study was to evaluate genotoxic damage in two amphibian species, Pseudis minuta, and Leptodactylus gr latrans, from the southern Brazilian wetlands. Adult specimens from both Anuran species were captured from preserved (Taim Ecological Station = TAIM) and non-preserved (Senandes) wetlands. Nuclear abnormalities were quantified in erythrocytes, and the results were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. There was a higher incidence of micronucleated erythrocytes in P. minuta, and of notched nuclei in L. gr latrans that were collected in TAIM when compared to those that were collected in Senandes, despite the fact that TAIM is a conservation unit. These findings indicate that Anurans are coping with genotoxic substances in their habitats, and underscore the need to implement monitoring programs in TAIM to determine which compounds or mixtures might be causing cell damage and to investigate the effects of such compounds on other anuran species and animal groups.     

Pulmonary vascular development goes awry in congenital lung abnormalities

Pulmonary vascular diseases of the newborn comprise a wide range of pathological conditions with developmental abnormalities in the pulmonary vasculature. Clinically, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is characterized by persistent increased resistance of the vasculature and abnormal vascular response. The classification of PH is primarily based on clinical parameters instead of morphology and distinguishes five groups of PH. Congenital lung anomalies, such as alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) and PH associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), but also bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), are classified in group three. Clearly, tight and correct regulation of pulmonary vascular development is crucial for normal lung development. Human and animal model systems have increased our knowledge and make it possible to identify and characterize affected pathways and study pivotal genes. Understanding of the normal development of the pulmonary vasculature will give new insights in the origin of the spectrum of rare diseases, such as CDH, ACD, and BPD, which render a significant clinical problem in neonatal intensive care units around the world. In this review, we describe normal pulmonary vascular development, and focus on four diseases of the newborn in which abnormal pulmonary vascular development play a critical role in morbidity and mortality. In the future perspective, we indicate the lines of research that seem to be very promising for elucidating the molecular pathways involved in the origin of congenital pulmonary vascular disease. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 102:343–358, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reversals in two dextral flounder species, Microstomus achne and Cleisthenes pinetorum (Pleuronectida; Teleostei), from Japan

Reversals are described in Microstomus achne (three specimens) and Cleisthenes pinetorum (one specimen) collected from the Pacific coast of northern Japan, being the first published records of reversals in these genera.     

染色体微阵列分析技术在2600例流产物中的应用

染色体微阵列分析(chromosomal microarray analysis, CMA)是一种通过对染色体进行全基因组扫描来筛查染色体数目和结构异常的检测技术,是儿科和产前遗传诊断的常规工具,已被应用于流产病因分析。本研究应用CMA技术在全基因组水平分析引起流产的染色体异常情况,并评估该技术在临床流产中的应用价值。对收集的2600例流产样本进行CMA技术检测,成功检测了2505例,成功率高达96.3%,其中1021例用CytoScan Optima芯片进行检测,1211例用CytoScan 750K芯片进行检测,273例用CytoScan HD芯片进行检测。利用这3种芯片共检出967例(38.60%)样本发生染色体异常,其中通过CytoScan Optima芯片检出506例(50.00%),CytoScan 750K芯片检出388例(32.00%),CytoScan HD芯片检出73例(26.74%)。在967例染色体异常中,有801例(82.83%)发生染色体数目异常,94例(9.72%)发生染色体结构异常,56例(5.79%)发生嵌合体,16例(1.65%)检出纯合区域。本研究结果表明,CMA可应用于临床流产物的遗传学诊断,是一种可靠、稳定、高分辨的技术,其检测结果能够对再生育风险评估提供指导。     

Maternal age and non‐chromosomal birth defects,Atlanta—1968–2000: Teenager or thirty‐something,who is at risk?

OBJECTIVE: This investigation explored the association between maternal age and non-chromosomal birth defects to assess any increased risk associated with maternal age. METHODS: Birth defect cases were ascertained by the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP), denominator information was obtained using birth certificate data. Infants with any chromosomal diagnosis were excluded. Effect estimates were calculated using 5-year maternal age categories with 25-29 years as the referent. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for maternal race, parity, infant sex, and birth year. RESULTS: A total of 1,050,616 singleton infants, born after > or = 20 weeks gestation in the five counties of metropolitan Atlanta from 1968 through 2000 who did not have a chromosomal abnormality and whose mother was 14 to 40 years old, were included in the analyses, 32,816 of them were identified with birth defects by the MACDP. Young maternal age (14-19 years) was associated with anencephaly (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.30-2.52), hydrocephaly without neural tube defect (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.23-1.96), all ear defects (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.10-1.49), cleft lip (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.30-2.73), female genital defects (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.12-2.19), hydronephrosis (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.11-1.82), polydactyly (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.09-1.52), omphalocele (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.39-3.12), and gastroschisis (OR = 7.18, 95% CI = 4.39-11.75). Advanced maternal age (35-40 years) was associated with all heart defects (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03-1.22), tricuspid atresia (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.02-1.50), right outflow tract defects (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.10-1.49), hypospadias 2nd degree or higher (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.33-2.58), male genital defects excluding hypospadias (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.08-1.45) and craniosynostosis (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.18-2.30). CONCLUSIONS: Young and advanced maternal ages are associated with different types of birth defects. Underlying causes for these associations are not clear.     

P300 values in patients diagnosed with primary Sjogren syndrome

Purpose: Primary Sjogren syndrome (PSS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by symptoms of a dry mouth and eyes, in which other organs and systems are widely involved. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in PSS is reported in a wide range between 2.5–60%. The reason is that the clinical picture can remain asymptomatic despite the presence of CNS involvement in the disease process. In this study, our aim was to evaluate subclinical cognitive impairment in patients with PSS by investigating P300 potential parameters.

Method: Forty-three female patients with PSS (mean age: 52.6?±?11.4 years) and 35 healthy female controls (mean age: 54.5?±?8.09 years) were included in the study. Mini-Mental State evaluations (MMSE) and brain MRI were performed in the patient and control groups. An event-related evoked potentials test (P300) was applied to those with normal MMSE.

Results: The P300 latencies of patients with PSS were significantly longer compared with the control group (p?=?.019). In patients with PSS, there was no difference in P300 parameters between ANA, Anti-SSA, Anti-SSB-positive and negative patients, and patients with or without sedimentation and CRP elevation. In addition, brain MRI revealed no statistically significant difference between patients with PSS with and without ischemic gliotic lesions (p=.48).

Conclusion: In our study, P300 latency was also found to be significantly longer in patients who had no white matter change. We believe that prolonged P300 potential latencies without associated white matter lesions in brain imaging may be associated with subclinical CNS involvement.