P‐1DIRECT‐TO‐VIAL USE OF THE LIQUI‐PREP™ CYTOLOGY SYSTEM

Introduction: The authors initiated the use of Liqui‐PREP? (LGM International Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA) in August, 2005. Cytotechnologists received extensive (one month) training by cytopathologists experienced in Liquid‐based cytology. The Liqui‐PREP? direct‐to‐vial procedure (LP) was compared to the conventional Pap smears in a routine screening population. Methods: Data derived from 26 178 LP cervical‐vaginal (CV) specimens were compared to data derived from 218 548 conventional Pap smears (CS). Both data sets reflect patient samples collected concurrently (August–December, 2005) by 117 participating outpatient medical practices from a well‐defined geographic area. There were no significant personnel changes during the study period. The diagnostic results, classified according to Bethesda criteria were calculated. Results:

Comparison of the Efficacy of the Two Tetracycline‐Containing Sequential Therapy Regimens for the Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori: 5 days Versus 14 days Amoxicillin

Aim: To compare the efficacy of 14‐day and 5‐day amoxicillin treatment on the eradication rate during tetracycline containing sequential H. pylori therapy, and also to compare the eradication rate of this regimen with those used in similar studies performed in Turkey. Method: This study included 112 patients infected with H. pylori that were randomized into 2 groups. In group A, patients (n = 56) received pantoprazole (40 mg BID) and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole (40 mg BID), tetracycline (500 mg QID), and metronidazole (500 mg TID) for the remaining 9 days. In group B, patients (n = 56) received pantoprazole (40 mg BID) and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole (40 mg BID), tetracycline (500 mg QID), metronidazole (500 mg TID), and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for the remaining 9 days. Eradication rates were calculated using both intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and per‐protocol (PP) analyses. Results: In all, 112 patients were subjected to ITT analysis and 109 patients completed the study. In group A, H. pylori eradication was achieved in 46 (82.1%) of the 56 patients included in the ITT analysis and in 46 (83.6%) of the 55 patients included in the PP analysis. In group B, H. pylori eradication was achieved in 44 (78.57%) of the 56 patients included in the ITT analysis and in 44 (81.48%) of the 54 patients included in the PP analysis ( Table 2 ). The eradication rates were not statistically significant between the 2 groups (p > .005).

Table 2. Eradication rates in the two study groups

Proffered Papers 10.30–11.15 Monday 15 September 2003 3 5 year outcome of women with borderline and mild dyskaryosis smears 3 5 year outcome of women with borderline and mild dyskaryosis smears

Aims

• 1 To identify the outcome status of women with borderline and mild dyskaryosis smears.
• 2 To determine whether the presence or absence of koilocytosis influences the outcome status.
• 3 To identify the proportion of women with borderline smears showing koilocytosis.

Materials and methods Borderline and mild dyskaryosis cervical smears diagnosed during January to March 1997 were identified from the laboratory database. Each slide was reviewed by two researchers independently, who then agreed a final consensus diagnosis. All slides were classified according to the presence or absence of koilocytosis. Slides were excluded from the study if the review diagnosis was negative, inadequate or high‐grade dyskaryosis. The outcome status was classified according to the worst lesion identified histologically and/or cytologically during the 5‐year follow‐up period. Results 1974 women were identified with borderline or mild dyskaryosis cervical smears of which 1597 were included in the study. Table 1 shows the outcome status of these women.

Table 1. . The outcome status of these women

Posters. P9 A case of carcinosarcoma presenting in a cervical ThinPrep® sample

Introduction Direct endometrial sampling with cytology and or histology is used at our hospital as part of the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding. It is used in cases where there is a low clinical suspicion of malignancy. The advantage of the technique is that it can be done as an outpatient procedure with minimal patient discomfort. Reports in the literature give mixed results. We present a 3‐year retrospective of our experience with follow‐up.

ALGAL RESPONSE TO NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT IN FORESTED OLIGOTROPHIC STREAM1

Nutrient input in streams alters the density and species composition of attached algal communities in open systems. However, in forested streams, the light reaching the streambed (rather than the local nutrient levels) may limit the growth of these communities. A nutrient‐enrichment experiment in a forested oligotrophic stream was performed to test the hypothesis that nutrient addition has only minor effects on the community composition of attached algae and cyanobacteria under light limitation. Moderate nutrient addition consisted of increasing basal phosphorus (P) concentrations 3‐fold and basal nitrogen (N) concentrations 2‐fold. Two upstream control reaches were compared to a downstream reach before and after nutrient addition. Nutrients were added continuously to the downstream reach for 1 year. Algal biofilms growing on ceramic tiles were sampled and identified for more than a year before nutrient addition to 12 months after. Diatoms were the most abundant taxonomic group in the three stream reaches. Nutrient enrichment caused significant variations in the composition of the diatom community. While some taxa showed significant decreases (e.g., Achnanthes minutissima, Gomphonema angustum), increases for other taxa (such as Rhoicosphenia abbreviata and Amphora ovalis) were detected in the enriched reach (for taxonomic authors, see Table 2 ). Epiphytic and adnate taxa of large size were enhanced, particularly during periods of favorable growth conditions (spring). Nutrients also caused a change in the algal chl a, which increased from 0.5–5.8 to 2.1–10.7 μg chl · cm^?2. Our results indicate that in oligotrophic forested streams, long‐term nutrient addition has significant effects on the algal biomass and community composition, which are detectable despite the low light availability caused by the tree canopy. Low light availability moderates but does not detain the long‐term tendency toward a nutrient‐tolerant community. Furthermore, the effects of nutrient addition on the algal community occur in spite of seasonal variations in light, water flow, and water chemical characteristics, which may confound the observations.

Table 2. Percent abundances of the most frequent taxa in three reaches of the Fuirosos stream. U1 and U2 untreated; E, enriched both in the periods before (bef) and after (aft) the enrichment of the E reach. Acronyms identifying the taxa are indicated.

SEAWEED EXTRACTS AS A POTENTIAL TOOL FOR THE ATTENUATION OF OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN OBESITY‐RELATED PATHOLOGIES1

Recent studies suggest that seaweed extracts are a significant source of bioactive compounds comparable to the dietary phytochemicals such as onion and tea extracts. The exploration of natural antioxidants that attenuate oxidative damage is important for developing strategies to treat obesity‐related pathologies. The objective of this study was to screen the effects of seaweed extracts of 49 species on adipocyte differentiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during the adipogenesis in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes, and to investigate their total phenol contents and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities. Our results show that high total phenol contents were observed in the extracts of Ecklonia cava (see Table 1 for taxonomic authors) (681.1 ± 16.0 μg gallic acid equivalents [GAE] · g^?1), Dictyopteris undulata (641.3 ± 70.7 μg GAE · g^?1), and Laurencia intermedia (560.9 ± 48.1 μg GAE · g^?1). In addition, DPPH radical scavenging activities were markedly higher in Sargassum macrocarpum (60.2%), Polysiphonia morrowii (55.0%), and Ishige okamurae (52.9%) than those of other seaweed extracts (P < 0.05). Moreover, treatment with several seaweed extracts including D. undulata, Sargassum micracanthum, Chondrus ocellatus, Gelidium amansii, Gracilaria verrucosa, and Grateloupia lanceolata significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation and ROS production during differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. Furthermore, the production of ROS was positively correlated with lipid accumulation (R² = 0.8149). According to these preliminary results, some of the seaweed extracts can inhibit ROS generation, which may protect against oxidative stress that is linked to obesity. Further studies are required to determine the molecular mechanism between the verified seaweeds and ROS, and the resulting effects on obesity.

Table 1. List of Korean seaweed extracts of 49 species evaluated in this experiment.

Calorimetric determination of base-stacking enthalpies in double-helical DNA molecules

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to directly determine the transition enthalpies accompanying the duplex-to-single-strand transition of poly[d(AT)], poly(dA)·poly(dT), poly[d(AC)]·poly[d(TG)], and d(GCGCGC). The calorimetric data allow us to define the following average base-stacking enthalpies:

Microevolutionary interpretations from the dentition

The qualities of the dentition (preservability, hereditability, evolutionary stability, behavioral correlations) make them eminently suited for long-term evolutionary studies where only natural selection need be considered. Teeth, however, can be just as valuable for short-term or microevolutionary studies but here consideration of additional processes and conditions is required. Admixture, one such source of microevolution common to many living human groups, often follows contact or discovery by external groups or displacement. Estimates of admixture have been made for several such living hybrid populations by several investigators and all were premised on assumed blood group allele frequencies for the ancestral population of the hybrid group as in this simple model:

Endoplasmic Reticulum Targeting and Insertion of Tail-Anchored Membrane Proteins by the GET Pathway

Hundreds of eukaryotic membrane proteins are anchored to membranes by a single transmembrane domain at their carboxyl terminus. Many of these tail-anchored (TA) proteins are posttranslationally targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane for insertion by the guided-entry of TA protein insertion (GET) pathway. In recent years, most of the components of this conserved pathway have been biochemically and structurally characterized. Get3 is the pathway-targeting factor that uses nucleotide-linked conformational changes to mediate the delivery of TA proteins between the GET pretargeting machinery in the cytosol and the transmembrane pathway components in the ER. Here we focus on the mechanism of the yeast GET pathway and make a speculative analogy between its membrane insertion step and the ATPase-driven cycle of ABC transporters.The mechanism of membrane protein insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has been extensively studied for many years (Shao and Hegde 2011). From this work, the signal recognition particle (SRP)/Sec61 pathway has emerged as a textbook example of a cotranslational membrane insertion mechanism (Grudnik et al. 2009). The SRP binds a hydrophobic segment (either a cleavable amino-terminal signal sequence or a transmembrane domain) immediately after it emerges from the ribosomal exit tunnel. This results in a translational pause that persists until SRP engages its receptor in the ER and delivers the ribosome-nascent chain complex to the Sec61 channel. Last, the Sec61 channel enables protein translocation into the ER lumen along with partitioning of hydrophobic transmembrane domains into the lipid bilayer through the Sec61 lateral gate (Rapoport 2007).Approximately 5% of all eukaryotic membrane proteins have an ER targeting signal in a single carboxy-terminal transmembrane domain that emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel following completion of protein synthesis and is not recognized by the SRP (Stefanovic and Hegde 2007). Nonetheless, because hydrophobic peptides in the cytoplasm are prone to aggregation and subject to degradation by quality control systems (Hessa et al. 2011), these tail-anchored (TA) proteins still have to be specifically recognized, shielded from the aqueous environment, and guided to the ER membrane for insertion. In the past five years, the guided-entry of TA proteins (GET) pathway has come to prominence as the major machinery for performing these tasks and the enabler of many key cellular processes mediated by TA proteins including vesicle fusion, membrane protein insertion, and apoptosis. This research has rapidly yielded biochemical and structural insights (​and2)2) into many of the GET pathway components (Hegde and Keenan 2011; Chartron et al. 2012a; Denic 2012). In particular, Get3 is an ATPase that uses metabolic energy to bridge recognition of TA proteins by upstream pathway components with TA protein recruitment to the ER for membrane insertion. However, the precise mechanisms of nucleotide-dependent TA protein binding to Get3 and how the GET pathway inserts tail anchors into the membrane are still poorly understood. Here, we provide an overview of the budding yeast GET pathway with emphasis on mechanistic insights that have come from structural studies of its membrane-associated steps and make a speculative juxtaposition with the ABC transporter mechanism.

Table 1.

A catalog of GET pathway component structures

Diminished Susceptibility to Cefoperazone/Sulbactam and Piperacillin/Tazobactam in Enterobacteriaceae Due to Narrow-Spectrum β-Lactamases as Well as Omp Mutation

Cefoperazone/sulbactam (CSL) and piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) are commonly used in clinical practice in China because of their excellent antimicrobial activity. CSL and TZP-nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae are typically resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins such as ceftriaxone (CRO). However, 11 nonrepetitive Enterobacteriaceae strains, which were resistant to CSL and TZP yet susceptible to CRO, were collected from January to December 2020. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and whole-genome sequencing were conducted to elucidate the mechanism for this rare phenotype. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that all isolates were amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid resistant and sensitive to ceftazidime, cefepime, cefepime/tazobactam, cefepime/zidebactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and ceftolozane/tazobactam. Whole-genome sequencing revealed three of seven Klebsiella pneumoniae strains harbored bla_SHV-1 only, and four harbored bla_SHV-1 and bla_TEM-1B. Two Escherichia coli strains carried bla_TEM-1B only, while two Klebsiella oxytoca isolates harbored bla_OXY-1-3 and bla_OXY-1-1, respectively. No mutation in the β-lactamase gene and promoter sequence was found. Outer membrane protein (Omp) gene detection revealed that numerous missense mutations of OmpK36 and OmpK37 were found in all strains of K. pneumoniae. Numerous missense mutations of OmpK36 and OmpK35 and OmpK37 deficiency were found in one K. oxytoca strain, and no OmpK gene was found in the other. No Omp mutations were found in E. coli isolates. These results indicated that narrow spectrum β-lactamases, TEM-1, SHV-1, and OXY-1, alone or in combination with Omp mutation, contributed to the resistance to CSL and TZP in CRO-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae.Antibiotic susceptibility tests

Perioperative Opioid Counseling Reduces Opioid Use Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

BackgroundPreoperative counseling may reduce postoperative opioid requirements; however, there is a paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating efficacy. The purpose of this study was to perform an interventional, telehealth-based RCT evaluating the effect of peri-operative counseling on quantity and duration of opioid consumption following primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA).MethodsParticipants were randomized into three groups: 1. Control group, no perioperative counseling; 2. Intervention group, preoperative educational video; 3. Intervention group, preoperative educational video and postoperative acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Opioid consumption was evaluated daily for 14 days and at 6 weeks postoperatively. Best-case and worse-case intention to treat analyses were performed to account for non-responses. Bonferroni corrections were applied.Results183 participants were analyzed (63 in Group 1, 55 in Group 2, and 65 in Group 3). At 2 weeks postoperatively, there was no difference in opioid consumption between Groups 1, 2, and 3 (p>0.05 for all). At 6 weeks postoperatively, Groups 2 and 3 had consumed significantly less opioids than Group 1 (p=0.04, p<0.001) (

Noncanonical Sites of Adult Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Brain

Two decades after the discovery that neural stem cells (NSCs) populate some regions of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), deep knowledge has been accumulated on their capacity to generate new neurons in the adult brain. This constitutive adult neurogenesis occurs throughout life primarily within remnants of the embryonic germinal layers known as “neurogenic sites.” Nevertheless, some processes of neurogliogenesis also occur in the CNS parenchyma commonly considered as “nonneurogenic.” This “noncanonical” cell genesis has been the object of many claims, some of which turned out to be not true. Indeed, it is often an “incomplete” process as to its final outcome, heterogeneous by several measures, including regional location, progenitor identity, and fate of the progeny. These aspects also strictly depend on the animal species, suggesting that persistent neurogenic processes have uniquely adapted to the brain anatomy of different mammals. Whereas some examples of noncanonical neurogenesis are strictly parenchymal, others also show stem cell niche-like features and a strong link with the ventricular cavities. This work will review results obtained in a research field that expanded from classic neurogenesis studies involving a variety of areas of the CNS outside of the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ). It will be highlighted how knowledge concerning noncanonical neurogenic areas is still incomplete owing to its regional and species-specific heterogeneity, and to objective difficulties still hampering its full identification and characterization.The central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals is assembled during developmental neurogenesis, and its architectural specificity is maintained through a vast cohort of membrane-bound and extracellular matrix molecules (Gumbiner 1996; Bonfanti 2006). Although CNS structure is sculpted by experience-dependent synaptic plasticity at different postnatal developmental stages (critical periods) (see Sale et al. 2009) and, to a lesser extent, during adulthood (Holtmaat and Svoboda 2009), the neural networks are rather stabilized in the “mature” nervous tissue (Spolidoro et al. 2009). The differentiated cellular elements forming adult neural circuitries remain substantially unchanged in terms of their number and types, because cell renewal/addition in the CNS is very low. This situation is intuitive because connectional, neurochemical, and functional specificities are fundamental features of the mature CNS in highly complex brains, allowing specific cell types to be connected and to act in a relatively invariant way (Frotscher 1992).Since the discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) (Reynolds and Weiss 1992), we realized that the aforementioned rules of CNS stability have a main exception in two brain regions: the forebrain subventricular zone (SVZ) (Lois and Alvarez-Buylla 1994) and the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) (Gage 2000). These “adult neurogenic sites” are remnants of the embryonic germinal layers (although indirectly for the SGZ, which forms ectopically from the embryonic germinative matrix), which retain stem/progenitor cells within a special microenvironment, a “niche,” allowing and regulating NSC activity (Kriegstein and Alvarez-Buylla 2009). In addition, the areas of destination (olfactory bulb and dentate gyrus) reached by neuroblasts generated within these neurogenic sites harbor specific, not fully identified yet, environmental signals allowing the integration of young, newborn neurons. These two “canonical” sites of adult neurogenesis have been found in all animal species studied so far, including humans (reviewed in Lindsey and Tropepe 2006; Bonfanti and Ponti 2008; Kempermann 2012; Grandel and Brand 2013). Although in several classes of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, and reptiles, adult neurogenesis is widespread in many areas of the CNS (Zupanc 2006; Chapouton et al. 2007; Grandel and Brand 2013), in mammals, the vast majority of the brain and spinal cord regions out of the germinal-layer-derived neurogenic sites are commonly referred to as “nonneurogenic parenchyma” (Sohur et al. 2006; Bonfanti and Peretto 2011; Bonfanti and Nacher 2012). However, this viewpoint has changed during the last few years. New examples of cell genesis, involving both neurogenesis and gliogenesis, have been shown to occur in the so-called nonneurogenic regions of the mammalian CNS (Horner et al. 2000; Dayer et al. 2005; Kokoeva et al. 2005; Luzzati et al. 2006; Ponti et al. 2008; reviewed in Butt et al. 2005; Nishiyama et al. 2009; Migaud et al. 2010; Bonfanti and Peretto 2011), suggesting that structural plasticity involving de novo neural cell genesis could be more widespread than previously thought. Apart from their temporal persistence (some of them represent examples of delayed developmental neurogenesis, which persist postnatally; see below), neurogliogenic processes vary as to their regional localization, origin, and final outcome. In this review, “noncanonical” neurogenic processes occurring in adult mammals will be reviewed by underlining their heterogeneity across the species and their differences in intensity and outcome with respect to canonical neurogenic sites.

Table 1.

Main sites of noncanonical neurogenesis in the mammalian brain

Immunoreactivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin characterizes a potentially aggressive subgroup of little basal cell carcinomas

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a very common malignant skin tumor that rarely metastatizes, but is often locally aggressive. Several factors, like large size (more than 3 cm), exposure to ultraviolet rays, histological variants, level of infiltration and perineural or perivascular invasion, are associated with a more aggressive clinical course. These morphological features seem to be more determinant in mideface localized BCC, which frequently show a significantly higher recurrence rate. An immunohistochemical profile, characterized by reactivity of tumor cells for p53, Ki67 and alpha-SMA has been associated with a more aggressive behaviour in large BCCs. The aim of this study was to verify if also little (<3 cm) basal cell carcinomas can express immunohistochemical markers typical for an aggressive behaviour.Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a very common malignant skin tumor that rarely metastatizes, even If Is often locally aggressive. Several factors, like large size (more than 3 cm), face localization, exposure to ultraviolet rays, histological variants, infiltration level and perineural or perivascular invasion, are associated with a more aggressive clinical course. In particular, the incidence of metastasis and/or death correlates with tumors greater than 3 cm in diameter in which setting patients are said to have 1–2 % risk of metastases that increases to 20–25% in lesions greater than 5 cm and to 50% in lesions greater than 10 cm in diameter (Snow et al., 1994). Histologically morpheiform, keratotic types and infiltrative growth of BCC are also considered features of the most aggressive course (Crowson, 2006). This can be explained by the fact that both the superficial and nodular variants of BCC are surrounded by a continuous basement membrane zone comprising collagens type IV and V admixed with laminin, while the aggressive growth variants (i.e. morpheiform, metatypical, and infiltrative growth subtypes) manifest the absence of basement membrane (Barsky et al., 1987).The molecular markers which characterize aggressive BCC include: increased expression of stromolysin (MMP-3) and collagenase-1 (MMP-1) (Cribier et al., 2001), decreased expression of syndecan-1 proteoglycan (Bayer-Garner et al., 2000) and of anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 (Ramdial et al., 2000; Staibano et al., 2001).C-ras , c-fos (Urabe et al., 1994; Van der Schroeff et al., 1990) and p53 tumor supressor gene mutations (Auepemikiate et al., 2002) are indicative of an aggressive course.Focusing upon bcl-2 and p53 expression in BCC, there have been numerous studies documenting the utility of bcl-2 as a marker of favourable clinical behaviour while p53 expression may be a feature of a more aggressive outcome (Ramdial et al., 2000; Staibano et al., 2001; Bozdogan et al., 2002).An increased expression of cytoskeletal microfilaments like α–smooth muscle actin, frequently found in invasive BCC subtypes (Jones JCR et al., 1989), may explain an enhanced tumor mobility and deep tissue invasion through the stroma. (Cristian et al., 2001; Law et al., 2003). The aim of this preliminary study was to verify if also little (<3 cm) basal cell carcinomas may express aggressive immunohistochemical markers like p53, Ki67 and alpha-SMA. We used 31 excisional BCCs with tumor size less than 2 cm (ranging from 2 up to 20 mm) and with different skin localization (19 in the face, 6 in the trunk and 6 in the body extremities). All cases were immunostained for p53, BCL2, Ki67 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (AgeSexLocationHystotypeMax.DimDepthUlcEssInfp53Bcl-2Ki67AML161MExtrKeratotic10×81No+++URD+++++-261MFaceAdenoid10×94No+URD+++---364MExtrSup mult11×130.8No+DRD+---473MFaceNodular10×82Yes+DRD+++++++++584MFaceNodular9×122Yes+DRD----684MFaceAdenoid50.8No+URD+++---784MExtrNodular13×103No+DRD+++++-852FFaceNodular40.8No+URD+++-976FFaceAdenoid10×44No+DRD+++-++-1077FFaceMorph8×61Yes+++DRD+++---1186MFaceMorph81Yes+DRD+++-++1263FFaceAdenoid41No+URD+++++1376FFaceNodular71.5No+DRD++++++-1484MFaceNodular114Yes+++DRD+--+1563FFaceKeratotic10×61.8No++DRD-+++-1668FTrunkSup mult10×60.7No++URD++--1767MFaceSup mult12×60.4No+URD+-+-1867MExtrSup mult4×30.3No+URD+++++-1932FExtrSup mult1×30.4No+URD+++-2045MTrunkNodular7×52Yes+++URD+++-2162MTrunkSup mult11×70.9No++URD-++-++2265MTrunkAdenoid7×61.5No+URD+++++-2372MTrunkNodular12×61No+URD+++-++2486FFaceKeratotic20×113.1No++DRD+++-2585MFaceNodular0.51.3No++DRD++++-2674FExtrNodular4×40.9No+URD--+-2771MFaceNodular6×121.7No+DRD--+-2864FTrunkSup mult1.3×1.50.4No++URD+++---2978FFaceNodular4×31.5No++DRD+++-+++3080MFaceKeratotic4×41.6Yes+DRD--++++Open in a separate window Our data show that p53 (75%), Bcl2 (50%) and Ki67 (63%) positivity was generally diffuse in the majority of cases. On the contrary, cytoplasmatic α-SMA expression was present only in 8 out of 31 cases (25,8%). All these 8 α-SMA positive BCCs, prevalently found in the mideface (6 out of 8), were characterized by an initial invasion beyond the dermis. Among these 6 face-localized α-SMA positive BCCs, 1 showed a sclerosing aggressive histotype, 1 a keratotic type and 4 a nodular histotype.These 8 little α-SMA-positive BCCs, compared to the others 23 α-SMA negative samples, all showed a major aggressiveness features: facial location, ulceration, morpheiform histotype and deeper infiltration into the dermis (Location

---

Histotype

---

Local aggressiveness

---

Immunohistochemistry

---

FaceKeratoticMorpheiformDepht of invasion Mean value(mm)UlcerationInfiltration of the dermisP53Bcl-2Ki678 α-SMA Positive cases75%12%12%1.650%63%75%50%63%23 α-SMA Negative cases56%13%4%1.413%48%78%43%65%Open in a separate windowGiven the absence of a specific difference between α-SMA positive cases and α-SMA negative cases in the expression of aggressive immunohistochemical markers, except for a light reduction of bcl-2 in the α-SMA positive group (​and2).2). By the analysis of the data, we selected the combination that could better define an aggressive behaviour even for little BCC: α-SMA, p53, Ki67 positivity and bcl-2 negativity. We considered p53 and ki67 markers of proliferation and cell-cycle alteration, combined with a loss of apoptotic activity expressed by Bcl-2 negativity, quite characteristic of aggressiveness; moreover α-SMA positivity probably reflects invasive potential and acquired mobility by neoplastic cells.This immunohistochemical profile (α-SMA, p53, Ki67 positivity and bcl-2 negativity) in our cases of BCC is present in two of them; one is a morpheiform BCC, that is an aggressive variant, while the other one is a nodular subtype (less aggressive).Therefore, our preliminary data suggest that only α-SMA positivity should be considered as an early diagnostic marker of potential aggressiveness in little BCC: all α-SMA positive little BCC in fact showed clinical and histological features of aggressiveness. Invasive potential is probably acquired by some BCCs not only when they reach large size, but it is probably present also when they have still little size, and can be revealed by α-SMA positivity in the neoplastic cells. Open in a separate windowFigure 1BCC, nodular type, HE, 10×. Open in a separate windowFigure 2BCC, nodular type, α-SMA positivity, 10×.     

Focus on Metabolism: Posttranslational Protein Modifications in Plant Metabolism

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins greatly expand proteome diversity, increase functionality, and allow for rapid responses, all at relatively low costs for the cell. PTMs play key roles in plants through their impact on signaling, gene expression, protein stability and interactions, and enzyme kinetics. Following a brief discussion of the experimental and bioinformatics challenges of PTM identification, localization, and quantification (occupancy), a concise overview is provided of the major PTMs and their (potential) functional consequences in plants, with emphasis on plant metabolism. Classic examples that illustrate the regulation of plant metabolic enzymes and pathways by PTMs and their cross talk are summarized. Recent large-scale proteomics studies mapped many PTMs to a wide range of metabolic functions. Unraveling of the PTM code, i.e. a predictive understanding of the (combinatorial) consequences of PTMs, is needed to convert this growing wealth of data into an understanding of plant metabolic regulation.The primary amino acid sequence of proteins is defined by the translated mRNA, often followed by N- or C-terminal cleavages for preprocessing, maturation, and/or activation. Proteins can undergo further reversible or irreversible posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of specific amino acid residues. Proteins are directly responsible for the production of plant metabolites because they act as enzymes or as regulators of enzymes. Ultimately, most proteins in a plant cell can affect plant metabolism (e.g. through effects on plant gene expression, cell fate and development, structural support, transport, etc.). Many metabolic enzymes and their regulators undergo a variety of PTMs, possibly resulting in changes in oligomeric state, stabilization/degradation, and (de)activation (Huber and Hardin, 2004), and PTMs can facilitate the optimization of metabolic flux. However, the direct in vivo consequence of a PTM on a metabolic enzyme or pathway is frequently not very clear, in part because it requires measurements of input and output of the reactions, including flux through the enzyme or pathway. This Update will start out with a short overview on the major PTMs observed for each amino acid residue (PTMs, including determination of the localization within proteins (i.e. the specific residues) and occupancy. Challenges in dealing with multiple PTMs per protein and cross talk between PTMs will be briefly outlined. We then describe the major physiological PTMs observed in plants as well as PTMs that are nonenzymatically induced during sample preparation (PTMs, in particular for enzymes in primary metabolism (Calvin cycle, glycolysis, and respiration) and the C4 shuttle accommodating photosynthesis in C4 plants (PTMs observed in plants

Mechanisms and Evidence of Genital Coevolution: The Roles of Natural Selection,Mate Choice,and Sexual Conflict

Genital coevolution between the sexes is expected to be common because of the direct interaction between male and female genitalia during copulation. Here we review the diverse mechanisms of genital coevolution that include natural selection, female mate choice, male–male competition, and how their interactions generate sexual conflict that can lead to sexually antagonistic coevolution. Natural selection on genital morphology will result in size coevolution to allow for copulation to be mechanically possible, even as other features of genitalia may reflect the action of other mechanisms of selection. Genital coevolution is explicitly predicted by at least three mechanisms of genital evolution: lock and key to prevent hybridization, female choice, and sexual conflict. Although some good examples exist in support of each of these mechanisms, more data on quantitative female genital variation and studies of functional morphology during copulation are needed to understand more general patterns. A combination of different approaches is required to continue to advance our understanding of genital coevolution. Knowledge of the ecology and behavior of the studied species combined with functional morphology, quantitative morphological tools, experimental manipulation, and experimental evolution have been provided in the best-studied species, all of which are invertebrates. Therefore, attention to vertebrates in any of these areas is badly needed.Of all the evolutionary interactions between the sexes, the mechanical interaction of genitalia during copulation in species with internal fertilization is perhaps the most direct. For this reason alone, coevolution between genital morphologies of males and females is expected. Morphological and genetic components of male and female genitalia have been shown to covary in many taxa (Sota and Kubota 1998; Ilango and Lane 2000; Arnqvist and Rowe 2002; Brennan et al. 2007; Rönn et al. 2007; Kuntner et al. 2009; Tatarnic and Cassis 2010; Cayetano et al. 2011; Evans et al. 2011, 2013; Simmons and García-González 2011; Yassin and Orgogozo 2013; and see examples in TaxaMale structuresFemale structuresEvidenceLikely mechanismReferencesMollusks Land snails (Xerocrassa)Spermatophore-producing organsSpermatophore-receiving organsComparative among speciesSAC or female choiceSauder and Hausdorf 2009 SatsumaPenis lengthVagina lengthCharacter displacementLock and keyKameda et al. 2009Arthropods Arachnids (Nephilid spiders)MultipleMultipleComparative among speciesSACKuntner et al. 2009 Pholcidae spidersCheliceral apophysisEpigynal pocketsComparative (no phylogenetic analysis)Female choiceHuber 1999 Harvestmen (Opiliones)Hardened penes and loss of nuptial giftsSclerotized pregenital barriersComparative among speciesSACBurns et al. 2013Millipedes Parafontaria tonomineaGonopod sizeGenital segment sizeComparative in species complexMechanical incompatibility resulting from Intersexual selectionSota and Tanabe 2010 Antichiropus variabilisGonopod shape and sizeAccesory lobe of the vulva and distal projectionFunctional copulatory morphologyLock and keyWojcieszek and Simmons 2012Crustacean Fiddler crabs, UcaGonopodeVulva, vagina, and spermathecaTwo-species comparison, shape correspondenceNatural selection against fluid loss, lock and key, and sexual selectionLautenschlager et al. 2010Hexapodes OdonatesClasping appendagesAbdominal shape and sensory hairsFunctional morphology, comparative among speciesLock and key via female sensory systemRobertson and Paterson 1982; McPeek et al. 2009Insects Coleoptera: seed beetlesSpiny aedagusThickened walls of copulatory ductComparative among speciesSACRönn et al. 2007 Callosobruchus: Callosobruchus maculatusDamage inflictedSusceptibility to damageFull sib/half sib mating experimentsSACGay et al. 2011Reduced spinesNo correlated responseExperimental evolutionSACCayetano et al. 2011 Carabid beetles (Ohomopterus)Apophysis of the endophallusVaginal appendix (pocket attached to the vaginal apophysis)Cross-species matingsLock and keySota and Kubota 1998; Sasabi et al. 2010 Dung beetle: Onthophagus taurusShape of the parameres in the aedagusSize and location of genital pitsExperimental evolutionFemale choiceSimmons and García-González 2011 Diptera: Drosophila santomea and D. yakubaSclerotized spikes on the aedagusCavities with sclerotized plateletsCross-species matingsSACKamimura 2012 Drosophila melanogaster species complexEpandrial posterior lobes
Oviscapt pouchesComparative among speciesSAC or female choiceYassin and Orgogozo 2013Phallic spikesOviscapt furrowsCercal teeth, phallic hook, and spinesUterine, vulval, and vaginal shields D. mauritiana and D. secheliaPosterior lobe of the genital archWounding of the female abdomenMating with introgressed linesSACMasly and Kamimura 2014 Stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae)Genital processCommon spermathecal ductComparative among species and morphologicalFemale choiceKotrba et al. 2014 Tse-tse flies: Glossina pallidipesCercal teethFemale-sensing structuresExperimental copulatory functionFemale choiceBriceño and Eberhard 2009a,b Phelebotomine: sand fliesAedagal filaments, aedagal sheathsSpermathecal ducts length, base of the ductComparative among speciesNone specifiedIlango and Lane 2000 Heteroptera: Bed bugs (Cimiciidae)Piercing genitaliaSpermalege (thickened exosqueleton)Comparative among speciesSACCarayon 1966; Morrow and Arnqvist 2003 Plant bugs (Coridromius)Changes in male genital shapeExternal female paragenitaliaComparative among speciesSACTatarnic and Cassis 2010 Waterstriders (Gerris sp.)Grasping appendagesAntigrasping appendagesComparative among speciesSACArnqvist and Rowe 2002 Gerris incognitusGrasping appendagesAntigrasping appendagesComparative among populationsSACPerry and Rowe 2012 Bee assassins (Apiomerus)AedagusBursa copulatrixComparative among speciesNoneForero et al. 2013 Cave insects (Psocodea), NeotroglaMale genital chamberPenis-like gynosomeComparative among speciesFemale competition (role reversal), coevolution SACYoshizawa et al. 2014 Butterflies (Heliconiinae)Thickness of spermatophore wallSigna: Sclerotized structure to break spermatophoresComparative among speciesSACSánchez and Cordero 2014Fish Basking shark: Cetorhinus maximusClasper clawThick vaginal padsMorphological observationNoneMatthews 1950 GambusiaGonopodial tipsGenital papillae within openingsComparative among speciesStrong character displacementLangerhans 2011 Poecilia reticulataGonopodium tip shapeFemale gonopore shapeComparative among populationsSACEvans et al. 2011Reptiles AnolesHemipene shapeVagina shapeShape correspondence, two speciesSexual selectionKöhler et al. 2012 Several speciesHemipene shapeVagina shapeShape correspondenceLock and key, female choice, and SACPope 1941; Böhme and Ziegler 2009; King et al. 2009 Asiatic pit vipersSpininess in hemipenesThickness of vagina wallTwo-species comparisonNonePope 1941 Garter snake: Thamnophis sirtalisBasal hempene spineVaginal muscular controlExperimental manipulationSACFriesen et al. 2014Birds WaterfowlPenis lengthVaginal elaborationComparative among speciesSACBrennan et al. 2007 TinamousPenis length/presenceVaginal elaborationComparative among speciesFemale choice/natural selectionPLR Brennan, K Zyscowski, and RO Prum, unpubl.Mammals MarsupialsBifid penisTwo lateral vaginaeShape correspondenceNoneRenfree 1987 EquidnaBifid penis with four rosettesSingle vagina splits into two uteriShape correspondenceNoneAugee et al. 2006; Johnston et al. 2007 Insectivores: Short-tailed shrew: Blarina brevicaudaS-shaped curve of the erect penisCoincident curve in the vaginaShape correspondenceNoneBedford et al. 2004 Common tenrec: Tenrec caudatusFiliform penis (up to 70% of the male’s body length)Internal circular folds in the vaginaLength correspondenceNoneBedford et al. 2004 Rodents: Cape dune mole: Bathyergus suillusPenis and baculum lengthVaginal lengthAllometric relationships within speciesNoneKinahan et al. 2007 Australian hopping mice (Notomys)Spiny penisDerived distal region in the vaginaMorphological observation and two-species comparisonCopulatory lockBreed et al. 2013 Pig: Sus domesticusFiliform penis endCervical ridgesArtificial inseminationFemale choiceBonet et al. 2013 Primates: Macaca arctoidesLong and filamentous glansVestibular colliculus (fleshy fold) that partially obstructs the entrance to the vaginaShape correspondence and comparison with close relativesNoneFooden 1967Open in a separate windowThe likely mechanism is that suggested by the authors, and it includes sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC), natural selection, sexual selection, female choice, or none specified. The evidence provided by the studies can be comparative among species or among populations, experimental evolution, cross-species matings, full-sibling (sib)/half-sib matings, shape, and length correspondence. Shape correspondence is often taken as evidence of coevolution, although it is not as conclusive as other approaches.Male genitalia are among the most variable structures in nature (Eberhard 1985). In contrast, female genitalia have typically been found not to be as interspecifically variable as male genitalia in several studies that specifically examined and described them (Eberhard 1985, 2010a,b). Female genitalia are not studied as often as male genitalia, perhaps because of a male-biased view of evolutionary processes by researchers (Ah-King et al. 2014). However, studying female genitalia is undeniably challenging. Male genitalia are generally kept inside of the body cavity, but are everted before, or during copulation, so their functional morphology can be more easily studied than the internal genitalia of females. Female genitalia also tend to be softer than male genitalia and thus their morphology may be more difficult to describe, and can more easily be distorted on dissection and preservation. Female adaptations to sense or oppose features of male genitalia can be subtle, requiring careful study. Female genital tracts are under multiple sources of selection: not just mating, but also storing sperm, egg laying, birthing, and often interfacing with the terminal portion of the digestive tract. Therefore, selection balancing multiple functions may further constrain morphological evolution in female genitalia. However, even small morphological changes in female genitalia, for example, increases in vaginal muscle, may change a female’s ability to choose or reject a male during mating, or to manage the costs of mating. Thus, the functional consequences to male and female genital morphology are hard to predict unless one knows how genitalia function during intromission. Despite these challenges, recent studies have examined variation of female genitalia and evidence is accumulating that features of female genitalia are variable enough to support coevolutionary processes (Polihronakis 2006; Puniamoorthy et al. 2010; Siegel et al. 2011; Showalter et al. 2013; and see additional references in Ah-King et al. 2014).In this article, we will discuss different hypotheses of genital evolution that predict coevolution; however, this is not a review of that entire subject (but see Eberhard et al. 2010b; Simmons 2013). Rather, we discuss the various mechanisms of genital coevolution differentiating the potentially independent or overlapping roles of natural selection, female choice, and male–male competition (Fig. 1). This classification allows us to distinguish specifically those mechanisms of genital coevolution that involve sexual conflict (i.e., when the evolutionary interests of individuals of different sexes, particularly over mating, are different). We then highlight examples in different taxa organisms with particular emphasis on those that provide evidence of sexual conflict.Open in a separate windowFigure 1.Graphical classification of mechanisms of genital evolution and coevolution. Three circles depict the independent and co-occurring actions of natural selection, female choice, and male–male competition. Different specific versions of genital coevolution can occur depending on which of the three broader evolutionary mechanisms are occurring. Sexual conflict (hatched lines) occurs through the simultaneous action of male–male competition and female choice, or male–male competition and natural selection. SAC, sexually antagonistic coevolution. See text for explanation.