Infanticide in hamadryas baboons

The results of 20-year study of infanticide cases in hamadryas baboon troop of the Sukhumi colony and 10-year observations in Gumista Natural Reserve are presented. The allopatric behaviour which may be the cause of infant death, is shown to be common for 4-7 year old males. In behaviour of older males directed to the infants the elements of aggression predominate. The majority of injuries and infanticide by males takes place in the situations associated with a dominant male change in the group or with the introduction of new females into the groups. In the groups where the social relationships are not fully organized, the appearance of infant leads to decrease of dominant male function and to appropriation of infant by a male and its traumatizing. As a result of infanticide the infants of young 4-7 year old females die most of all. The death of infants commonly occurs during the introduction of young males into the group. The probability of infanticide during the introduction of older males is lower.     

Hydrophilic molecular rotor derivatives-synthesis and characterization

Recent research shows high potential for some p-N,N-dialkylaminobenzylidenecyanoacetates, part of a group known as fluorescent molecular rotors, to serve as fluorescent, non-mechanical viscosity sensors. Of particular interest are molecules compatible with aqueous environments. In this study, we present the synthesis and physical characterization of derivatives from 9-(2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)-julolidine and related molecules. All compounds show a power-law relationship of fluorescence emission with the viscosity of the solvent, different mixtures of ethylene glycol and glycerol to modulate viscosity. Compounds with high water solubility exhibit the same behavior in aqueous solutions of dextran, where the dextran concentration was varied to modulate viscosity. In addition, some compounds have been found to have low sensitivity towards changes in the pH in the physiological range. The compounds presented show promise to be used in biofluids, such as blood plasma or lymphatic fluid, to rapidly and non-mechanically determine viscosity.     

Slow clearance of Plasmodium vivax with chloroquine amongst children younger than six months of age in the Brazilian Amazon

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread parasite causing malaria, being especially prevalent in the Americas and Southeast Asia. Children are one of the most affected populations, especially in highly endemic areas. However, there are few studies evaluating the therapeutic response of infants with vivax malaria. This study retrospectively evaluated the parasitaemia clearance in children diagnosed with vivax malaria during the first five days of exclusive treatment with chloroquine (CQ). Infants aged less than six months old had a significantly slower parasitaemia clearance time compared to the group of infants and children between six months and 12 years old (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis; Wilcoxon test; p = 0.004). The impaired clearance of parasitaemia in younger children with vivax malaria is shown for the first time in Latin America. It is speculated that CQ pharmacokinetics in young children with vivax malaria is distinct, but this specific population may also allow the detection of CQ-resistant parasites during follow-up, due to the lack of previous immunity.     

Comparison of different delivery systems of DNA vaccination for the induction of protection against tuberculosis in mice and guinea pigs

The great challenges for researchers working in the field of vaccinology are optimizing DNA vaccines for use in humans or large animals and creating effective single-dose vaccines using appropriated controlled delivery systems. Plasmid DNA encoding the heat-shock protein 65 (hsp65) (DNAhsp65) has been shown to induce protective and therapeutic immune responses in a murine model of tuberculosis (TB). Despite the success of naked DNAhsp65-based vaccine to protect mice against TB, it requires multiple doses of high amounts of DNA for effective immunization. In order to optimize this DNA vaccine and simplify the vaccination schedule, we coencapsulated DNAhsp65 and the adjuvant trehalose dimycolate (TDM) into biodegradable poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres for a single dose administration. Moreover, a single-shot prime-boost vaccine formulation based on a mixture of two different PLGA microspheres, presenting faster and slower release of, respectively, DNAhsp65 and the recombinant hsp65 protein was also developed. These formulations were tested in mice as well as in guinea pigs by comparison with the efficacy and toxicity induced by the naked DNA preparation or BCG. The single-shot prime-boost formulation clearly presented good efficacy and diminished lung pathology in both mice and guinea pigs.     

Electron microscopy evidence that cytoplasmic localization of the p16INK4A "nuclear" cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) in tumor cells is specific and not an artifact. A study in non-small cell lung carcinomas

It is well established that p16^INK4A protein acts as a cell cycle inhibitor in the nucleus. Therefore, cytoplasmic localization of p16 ^INK4A usually is disregarded by investigators as nonspecific. Three recent studies reported findings that differ from the current view concerning p16^INK4A immunohistochemical localization. All three demonstrated that breast and colon cancers expressing cytoplasmic p16^INK4 represent distinct biological subsets. We previously detected in a percentage of non-small cell lung carcinomas simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic p16^INK4A staining. In view of the reports concerning breast and colon carcinomas, we conducted an ultrastructural re-evaluation of our cases to clarify the specificity of p16^INK4A cytoplasmic expression. We observed p16 ^INK4A immunolocalization in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of a proportion of tumor cells. Diffuse dense nuclear staining was detected in the nucleoplasm, whereas weaker granular immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm near the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Negative tumor cells also were visible. In the tumor-associated stromal, cells p16^INK4A immunoreactivity was detected only in the nuclei. We have demonstrated that p16^INK4A cytoplasmic staining is specific and suggest that it represents a mechanism of p16^INK4A inactivation similar to that observed in other tumor suppressor genes.     

Foregut Mesenchyme Contributes Cells to Islets during Pancreatic Development in a 3-Dimensional Avian Model

Current interest in the potential use of pancreatic stem-cells in the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus has led to increased research into normal pancreatic development. Pancreatic organogenesis involves branching morphogenesis of undifferentiated epithelium within surrounding mesenchyme. Current understanding is that the pancreatic islets develop exclusively from the epithelium of the embryonic buds. However, a cellular contribution to islets by mesenchyme has not been conclusively excluded. We present evidence that the mesenchyme of both the dorsal pancreatic bud and stomach rudiment make a substantial contribution of cells to islets during development in a three-dimensional avian model. These data suggest that mesenchyme can be a source not only of signals but also of cells for the definitive epithelia, making pancreatic organogenesis more akin to that of the kidney than to other endodermal organs. This raises the possibility for the use of mesenchymal cells as stem-or progenitor-cells for islet transplantation.Key Words: islets, stem-cells, development, epithelium, mesenchyme, pancreas, stomach, chick-quail, 3-dimensional, endocrine     

Aggression and composition of conflicting pairs in Green monkeys

The aggressive behaviour of Green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) maintained in corrals of Adler Primate Center was studied. The influence of the composition conflicting pairs, the quality of their relationships as well as the relatedness and hierarchic relations between the antagonists on the intensity and structure of aggressive relationships was investigated. It was found that the frequency of contact forms of aggression was not dependent on the composition of conflicting pairs of animals. At the same time, the frequency of non-contact forms of aggression was influenced by such parameters as the membership of antagonists in the same or different gender categories, belonging to one or different matrilines, as well as the quality of relationships and the rank of antagonists.     

Study of reconciliation in anubis baboons

The study of post-conflict reconciliation in corral living anubis baboons was carried out. It was established that more than third part of the all the conflicts were followed with reconciliation, and the mean value for the frequency of reconciliation tendency was 27.3 +/- 2.4. The frequency of reconciliation in different categories of conflicting pairs of animals was comparable. 75% of cases of reconciliation occurred during the first 2 minutes after the conflict. Use of definite behavioral patterns by the individuals for demonstration of reconciliation depended on sex of the participants and on their role in the conflict. Differences in the indices of reconciliation tendency in high and low rank monkeys were found.