Distribution of structural and trace elements in human temporal bone

This study was undertaken to evaluate a systematic analysis of mineral and trace elements of individual functionally determined parts of adult temporal bone. Marked differences were observed in basic structural elements (Ca, P, Mg, and Zn) among different bone regions. The more so, molar Ca/P ratio was significantly different in various regions, being highest in the hammer and vestibular regions. Taxonomic analysis revealed specific differences in the mineral ratio between the two petrous bone regions believed to develop from various embryonal bases. According to results, the observed differences in mineral trace element composition of particular regions of human temporal bone might be explained by their developmental specificities and functional adaptation.     

Teratocarcinogenesis as related to the age of embryos grafted under the kidney capsule

Summary Mouse egg-cylinders of C3H/H strain with two and three germ layers were transplanted under the kidney capsule. They developed into well differentiated teratomas and teratocarcinomas. Older embryos developed invariably into teratomas composed of adult tissues only. We consider the period of germ layer inversion as a critical stage when embryonic cells loose their potentiality for uncontrolled growth.     

Reprogramming is essential in nuclear transfer

Fertile offspring have been produced by nuclear transfer from adult somatic cells in several mammalian species (Wilmut et al., 1997; Kato et al., 1998; Wakayama et al., 1998; Polejaeva et al., 2000; Chesne et al., 2002; Shin et al., 2002; Zhou et al., 2003). Various possible causes have been suggested for the overall low efficiency (Perry and Wakayama, 2002). Notably, however, it has not yet been clearly demonstrated whether reprogramming after nuclear transfer is necessary for successful cloning. Here we show that reprogramming is essential in nuclear transfer, by comparing the developmental efficiency after the transfer of cumulus cell nuclei with that for zygote nuclei. Nuclear transfers from blastomeres of a series of pre-implantation stages showed further that, as development proceeds, the nuclei progressively lose their potency and become more difficult to reprogram upon their transfer into enucleated MII oocytes. We also found that naturally ovulated oocytes are much better recipients of a nucleus than are superovulated oocytes, which have been used in all the nuclear transfer experiments reported so far. This indicates that cloning efficiency can also be increased to some extent by technical improvements. All these results enable us to distinguish more clearly between the inherent problem of reprogramming and technical problems associated with materials, manipulation, and in vitro culture.     

Eiweißkristalloide in Kakteen-Virusträgern

Zusammenfassung Mit dem Gewebesaft vonOpuntia brasiliensis, die neben cytoplasmatischen Eiweißspindeln noch Zellkernkristalloide enthielt, wurde ein spindelfreiesEpiphyllum infiziert. Nach einiger Zeit (ca. 3 Wochen) erschienen im infiziertenEpiphyllum nicht mir die cytoplasmatischen Eiweißspindeln. sondern auch die Kernkristalloide.In den Vakuolen der erwähntenOpuntia wie auch in denen vonEpiphyllum wurden kristallinische Eiweißdrusen beobachtet, die auch als vom Virus bedingte Zelleinschlüsse aufgefaßt werden.     

Viruskörper und Zellteilungsanomalien inOpuntia brasiliensis

Zusammenfassung In der Epidermis der Kladodien und Blätter vonOpuntia brasiliensis befinden sich zahlreiche spindelartige und andersgeformte Eiweißgebilde, die im Cytoplasma lokalisiert sind. Außerdem enthalten einige Zellen auch noch Zellkernkristalloide, die in vielen Eigenschaften mit den Cytoplasma-Proteinkörpern übereinstimmen. Alle diese Gebilde werden als Viruskörper aufgefaßt.Außerdem kommen in den Epidermiszellen der ausgewachsenen Kladodien Zellteilungsanomalien vor. Als Ursache dieser Anomalien wird die Anwesenheit der Viruskörper in den Zellen während des Teilungsprozesses angenommen.     

Trichoplaxin — A new membrane-active antimicrobial peptide from placozoan cDNA

A method based on the use of signal peptide sequences from antimicrobial peptide (AMP) precursors was used to mine a placozoa expressed sequence tag database and identified a potential antimicrobial peptide from Trichoplax adhaerens. This peptide, with predicted sequence FFGRLKSVWSAVKHGWKAAKSR is the first AMP from a placozoan species, and was named trichoplaxin. It was chemically synthesized and its structural properties, biological activities and membrane selectivity were investigated. It adopts an α-helical structure in contact with membrane-like environments and is active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species (including MRSA), as well as yeasts from the Candida genus. The cytotoxic activity, as assessed by the haemolytic activity against rat erythrocytes, U937 cell permeabilization to propidium iodide and MCF7 cell mitochondrial activity, is significantly lower than the antimicrobial activity. In tests with membrane models, trichoplaxin shows high affinity for anionic prokaryote-like membranes with good fit in kinetic studies. Conversely, there is a low affinity for neutral eukaryote-like membranes and absence of a dose dependent response. With high selectivity for bacterial cells and no homologous sequence in the UniProt, trichoplaxin is a new potential lead compound for development of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.     

Eighteen years of heart transplantation--a single center experience

The best option for the treatment of a failing heart is heart transplantation. The transplantation program at the University Hospital Center Rebro Zagreb started in 1988. To the best of our knowledge this is the first retrospective study on cardiac transplantation in Croatia looking into survival following heart transplantation. Between 1988 and 2006, we performed 81 heart transplantations at the University Hospital Center Rebro Zagreb. Our study focused on the last ten years after establishment of the Department of cardiac surgery as a separate institution. There were thirteen different hospitals throughout Croatia, which contributed to the donor network. Average age of the heart recipient was 48+/-11.8 years (range 14-72), and average age of the heart donor was 34+/-10.7 years (range 14-56). There were more women among the heart donors (34%) then among the heart recipients (18%). During the first ten years, from 1988-1998, the average number of cardiac transplantations was 3 per year In the period from 1998-2006, average number of cardiac transplantations increased to 6 per year. The average thirty-day mortality for the last nine years was 27%. It declined from 30% and 40% in 1998 and 1999, respectively down to 0% in the last two years. Average age of the patients who died was 50+/-6.5years (range 44-62) and did not significantly differ from those who survived. The donor network has grown up to fourteen different hospitals throughout Croatia. The limiting factor in cardiac transplant surgery is the number of available donors. Therefore in attempt to form a good transplant program it is crucial to form an efficient donor network. The number of performed cardiac transplantations is expected to rise until it reaches the number of available donors. With advances in operative technique and postoperative management--immunosuppressive therapy we have observed a remarkable drop in the early operative mortality in the studied period.     

Do parathyroid glands from individuals of different age and gender contain lymph vessels?

Whereas lymph vessels in some endocrine glands have been thoroughly investigated, data on these vessels in human parathyroid glands are often contradictory and deficient in available literature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to histomorphologically investigate whether lymph vessels could be found in human parathyroid glands postnatally and, if so, whether their presence was age- and gender-dependent. A total of 44 parathyroid glands from subjects of both genders, aged 4-90 years, were studied. The glands were divided into three groups. Those from the 1st and the 2nd age group demonstrated similar morphological structure of parenchyma with predominant chief cells with pale-staining cytoplasm, while the frequency of lymph vessels was lower in the 2nd group. Unlike in these groups, chief cells with dark- staining cytoplasm predominated in the glandular parenchyma of the 3rd age group where lymph vessels were not found in any of the examined glands. The frequency of lymph vessels in parathyroid glands was almost the same for both genders. Histomorphologic occurrence of lymph vessels coincided with the presence of endocrine cells with pale-staining cytoplasm, which allowed the assumption that lymph vessels were also one of the signs of functional activity of human parathyroid glands.     

Do we need the "adolescent crisis" diagnosis?

The aim of the study was to examine patients in adolescent crisis at the beginning of treatment and after a period of 12 months in order to evaluate the relative diagnostic and therapeutic validity. The study included 153 Split University students in adolescent crisis; 90 of them were treated by counseling and 63 served as controls. For diagnosis, Hampstead index and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) multiaxial evaluation were used, allowing a wider insight into personal functioning. The study sample was split in 7 significantly different diagnostic subgroups. The counseling-treated examinees had better personality functioning after 12 months, but did not differ significantly from the control group. Some of their single functions were more severely disturbed at the very beginning. Counseling is a valuable therapeutic and diagnostic tool for adolescent crisis. The assessment must evaluate the entire person, because looking at only one aspect, due to different development and its place, a wrong conclusion may be reached. The "adolescents crisis" entity is clinically relevant.     

Quantification model for muscular forces and momentums in human lower extremities

The possibility of calculating muscular forces and momentums and their influence on skeleton was evaluated in this study by means of computerized tomography performed on a living person. Through this, the surface and corrected surface for each muscle cross section area were obtained, the distance from muscular centroide to the neutral bone axis was measured, and muscular force and muscular momentum on the bone were determined. Muscular momentum on the bone was obtained by multiplication of the muscular force and the distance between muscular centroide and neutral bone axis. The use of computerized tomography, as a method for creating a model for quantification of muscular forces and momentum, was proven to be reliable according to exactness in evaluation of all human lower extremity structures which is the basis for muscular biomechanical characteristic calculations.