Morphological relationship between the cranial and supraorbital regions in Homo sapiens

Although some hypotheses that attempt to explain the variation in supraorbital region morphology in modern humans have been proposed, this issue is still not well understood. In this study, the craniofacial size and spatial models were tested using a sample of modern human crania from geographically diverse populations, and the co‐occurrence of the degrees of glabella (GL) and superciliary arch (ST) expression were analyzed. The two supraorbital structures were examined by visual assessment, and eight quantitative variables were included in the three‐way ANOVA, canonical variates analysis and partial rank correlation. The influences of sex and the region of origin of the cranial samples on the relationships between the examined variables and the degrees of supraorbital structures expression were also considered. The results only partially supported the craniofacial size and spatial models and suggested that GL and ST experienced separate influences during development. In the sample of all crania, the neurocranial size more strongly influenced the morphological variation of the ST than of the GL, and sex influenced both of these structures the most. The results suggest that sex may be the main factor (having an influence independent of the other traits) on the morphological variation of the GL and ST. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:110–124, 2015 © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Integral dose: Comparison between four techniques for prostate radiotherapy

Aim

Comparisons of integral dose delivered to the treatment planning volume and to the whole patient body during stereotactic, helical and intensity modulated radiotherapy of prostate.

Background

Multifield techniques produce large volumes of low dose inside the patient body. Delivered dose could be the result of the cytotoxic injuries of the cells even away from the treatment field. We calculated the total dose absorbed in the patient body for four radiotherapy techniques to investigate whether some methods have a potential to reduce the exposure to the patient.

Materials and methods

We analyzed CyberKnife plans for 10 patients with localized prostate cancer. Five alternative plans for each patient were calculated with the VMAT, IMRT and TomoTherapy techniques. Alternative dose distributions were calculated to achieve the same coverage for PTV. Integral Dose formula was used to calculate the total dose delivered to the PTV and whole patient body.

Results

Analysis showed that the same amount of dose was deposited to the treated volume despite different methods of treatment delivery. The mean values of total dose delivered to the whole patient body differed significantly for each treatment technique. The highest integral dose in the patient''s body was at the TomoTherapy and CyberKnife treatment session. VMAT was characterized by the lowest integral dose deposited in the patient body.

Conclusions

The highest total dose absorbed in normal tissue was observed with the use of a robotic radiosurgery system and TomoTherapy. These results demonstrate that the exposure of healthy tissue is a dosimetric factor which differentiates the dose delivery methods.     

Identification of molecular markers for selection of supermale (YY) asparagus plants

The research was aimed to elaborate a method for selection of male plants (XY, YY) and female ones (XX) as well as for identification of supermale genotypes (YY) among male phenotypes. The population obtained by self-pollination of andromonoecious plants was analysed. In order to identify the bands differentiating the male from the female genotypes, Bulk Segregant Analysis (BSA) was carried out. Primers identified by BSA analysis were used for RAPD amplification on the template of the male and female individuals. Among the products obtained by the use of primer OPB-20, some bands were linked with sex. A band of about 700 bp was found in all female plants, and in 4 phenotypically male specimens. In the male plants, the band showed a much lower intensity, compared with the female specimens. It seems that this fragment can be linked to the X chromosome in the investigated specimens. In the female specimens with XX karyotype, template duplication occurs and hence the band intensity is twice as high as in the XY karyotype. Three male plants did not include the OPB-20-700 fragment so they could potentially have the supermale (YY) karyotype. If the obtained marker proved its usefulness for identification of supermale plants, it could become a valuable tool facilitating breeding work.     

Selected zinc metabolism parameters in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with moderate and severe primary arterial hypertension

The aim of this study was to compare zinc (Zn) metabolism parameters in groups of premenopausal and postmenopausal women with moderate and severe primary arterial hypertension. The study included 38 women, of which 15 were premenopausal and 23 were postmenopausal. Postmenopausal women had a positive correlation between total (ERCt-Zn) and oubain-dependent (ERCos-Zn) rate constants of Zn efflux from lymphocyte (k = 0.52). In premenopausal women’s ERCos-Zn was negatively but weakly correlated with serum Zn (Zn-s) (k = 0.35). The Zn ERCt-Zn and ERCos-Zn did not show any correlation with age, as did Zn-s. Lymphocyte Zn correlated negatively with age only in premenopausal women (k = -0.62). The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system correlated with Zn metabolism parameters. In premenopausal women, plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone showed positive correlations with lymphocyte Zn (Zn-l) (k = 0.63 andk = 0.41, respectively), and in postmenopausal women, it correlated negatively with Zn-s (k = -0.38) and whole aldosterone correlated negatively with ERCos-Zn (k = -0.41). Positive correlations between Zn metabolism parameters and arterial blood pressure in premenopausal women were as follows: ERCt-Zn with diastolic blood pressure (dRR) (k = 0.40) and ERCos-Zn with dRR (k = 0.47). In postmenopausal women, the correlations between ERC-t-Zn and dRR and systolic blood pressure (sRR) were negative (k = -0.53 andk = -0.63, respectively). A similar situation was observed between dRR and sRR and Zn-s (k = -0.40 andk = -0.38, respectively). The body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with ERCt-Zn in premenopausal women (k = 0.36), whereas in postmenopausal, it was negatively correlated with ERCos-Zn (k = -0.42). For the whole group, negative correlations were seen between ZnS and dRR and sRR (k = -0.36 andk = -0.39, respectively) and between ERCos-Zn and BMI (k = -0.39). The results presented show differences in Zn metabolism in arterial hypertension between premenopausal and post-menopausal women. The role of estrogens in these differences is disscused.     

Novel water-soluble photosensitizers from chitosan

Novel water-soluble polymeric photosensitizers based on the natural polymer chitosan were synthesized and studied. The modified chitosans contain covalently attached Rose Bengal. The polymers absorb light from the visible spectral region and generate singlet oxygen. They can serve as environmentally friendly, biodegradable polymeric photosensitizers, which can use light from a visible spectral region to initiate photooxidation of organic compounds in water.     

Cultivation, mineral nutrition and seed production of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don in the temperate climate zone

The following aspects of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cultivation are covered in this chapter: climatic and soil requirements, agricultural measures, including propagation, sowing, planting, fertilization, irrigation and harvest date. The influence of these parameters on quality of herb material and alkaloid concentration is also discussed. Although tropical and subtropical zone have been reported as the most suitable for the cultivation of Catharanthus roseus, it seems to be possible to grow it also under other climatic conditions. However then, adequate conditions should be provided, according to the specific requirements of this species. Proper air temperature and humidity as well as sufficient soil moisture during growth, development and seed set are important factors for growing of Catharanthus roseus in the temperate zone. Albeit it may tolerate unfavourable environment conditions such as drought or salinity, its yield may be reduced considerably. Special attention has been paid in this paper to the effect of different ways of fertilization on alkaloid yield.     

Bacterial strains colonizing subcutaneous catheters of personal insulin pumps

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is a commonly used, safe intensive insulin therapy method effective in maintaining normoglycaemia. The disadvantage of CSII are skin infections of the catheter injection site. The aim of the study was to gain insight on the colonization of subcutaneous insulin pump catheters by skin flora and to investigate the correlation between Staphylococcus aureus carrier state (presence in the nose), its presence on the skin and catheter. 141 catheters obtained from 94 children with T1DM and CSII were examined using the semi quantitative culture technique of Maki. The result was positive in 34 examinations (24.1%) in 30 children (31.9%). Most often coagulase negative staphylococci were isolated (30), mainly Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1/3 of the staphylococci were methicillin resistant. S. aureus was detected in 7 examinations in 6 children. S. aureus carrier state was proved in 31.9% of all examined patients, more often in children with a positive catheter culture (41.4%), there were no MRSA. No correlation between S. aureus carrier state and catheter colonization was shown. Statistically significant correlations between: coagulase negative staphylococci presence, including the methicillin resistant strains, on the skin and on the catheter surface (p< 0.0001); glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and bacteria catheter colonization (p = 0.0335) were observed. Subcutaneous catheter colonization by microorganisms often occurs in CSII. Microorganisms found on the skin are the most frequent cause of the subcutaneous catheter infection.     

Identification of the amino acids in the Major Histocompatibility Complex class II region of Scottish Blackface sheep that are associated with resistance to nematode infection

Lambs with the Major Histocompatibility Complex DRB1*1101 allele have been shown to produce fewer nematode eggs following natural and deliberate infection. These sheep also possess fewer adult Teladorsagia circumcincta than sheep with alternative alleles at the DRB1 locus. However, it is unclear if this allele is responsible for the reduced egg counts or merely acts as a marker for a linked gene. This study defined the MHC haplotypes in a population of naturally infected Scottish Blackface sheep by PCR amplification and sequencing, and examined the associations between MHC haplotypes and faecal egg counts by generalised linear mixed modelling. The DRB1*1101 allele occurred predominately on one haplotype and a comparison of haplotypes indicated that the causal mutation or mutations occurred in or around this locus. Additional comparisons with another resistant haplotype indicated that mutations in or around the DQB2*GU191460 allele were also responsible for resistance to nematode infections. Further analyses identified six amino acid substitutions in the antigen binding site of DRB1*1101 that were significantly associated with reductions in the numbers of adult T. circumcincta.