Deuterium magnetic resonance study of cholesteryl esters in membranes

The ternary systems EYL:H2O (50:50 wt %) containing 1 and 5 mol % cholesteryl palmitate-d31 or 1 and 5 mol % cholesteryl palmitate-16,16,16,16-d3 have been studied. Cholesteryl palmitate-d31 gave a unique deuterium magnetic resonance spectrum corresponding to a homogeneous (delta vQ = 3 and 12 kHz) and a solid phase (deltaVQ = 38 and 118 kHz). From the characteristic spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times, a procedure for calculating the amount of each phase present in the ternary mixture is given resulting in a maximum value of homogeneously dissolved cholesteryl palmitate of 0.2 +/- 0.1 mol % and a solid fraction above 0.2 mol %. The most probable order parameter for the (-CD2)n portion of the homogeneous fraction of cholesteryl palmitate-d31 was determined from the quadrupolar splittings to be S = 0.1 which is less than one-half that of the order parameter found for the lecithin chains. Possible explanations for the diminution of the order parameter for cholesteryl ester in bilayers are discussed.     

Heterochrony and Early Left-Right Asymmetry in the Development of the Cardiorespiratory System of Snakes

Snake lungs show a remarkable diversity of organ asymmetries. The right lung is always fully developed, while the left lung is either absent, vestigial, or well-developed (but smaller than the right). A ‘tracheal lung’ is present in some taxa. These asymmetries are reflected in the pulmonary arteries. Lung asymmetry is known to appear at early stages of development in Thamnophis radix and Natrix natrix. Unfortunately, there is no developmental data on snakes with a well-developed or absent left lung. We examine the adult and developmental morphology of the lung and pulmonary arteries in the snakes Python curtus breitensteini, Pantherophis guttata guttata, Elaphe obsoleta spiloides, Calloselasma rhodostoma and Causus rhombeatus using gross dissection, MicroCT scanning and 3D reconstruction. We find that the right and tracheal lung develop similarly in these species. By contrast, the left lung either: (1) fails to develop; (2) elongates more slowly and aborts early without (2a) or with (2b) subsequent development of faveoli; (3) or develops normally. A right pulmonary artery always develops, but the left develops only if the left lung develops. No pulmonary artery develops in relation to the tracheal lung. We conclude that heterochrony in lung bud development contributes to lung asymmetry in several snake taxa. Secondly, the development of the pulmonary arteries is asymmetric at early stages, possibly because the splanchnic plexus fails to develop when the left lung is reduced. Finally, some changes in the topography of the pulmonary arteries are consequent on ontogenetic displacement of the heart down the body. Our findings show that the left-right asymmetry in the cardiorespiratory system of snakes is expressed early in development and may become phenotypically expressed through heterochronic shifts in growth, and changes in axial relations of organs and vessels. We propose a step-wise model for reduction of the left lung during snake evolution.     

Hypoxia-mimetic effects in the secretome of human preadipocytes and adipocytes

White adipose tissue (WAT) regulates energy metabolism by secretion of proteins with endocrine and paracrine effects. Dysregulation of the secretome of obesity-associated enlarged WAT may lead to obesity-related disorders. This can be caused by hypoxia as a result of poorly vascularized WAT. The effect of hypoxia on the secretome of human (pre)adipocytes is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CoCl₂, a hypoxia mimetic, on the secretome of human SGBS (pre)adipocytes by a proteomics approach combined with bioinformatic analysis. In addition, regulation of protein secretion was examined by protein turnover experiments. As such, secretome changes were particularly associated with protein down-regulation and extracellular matrix protein dysregulation. The observed up-regulation of collagens in adipocytes may be essential for cell survival while down-regulation of collagens in preadipocytes may indicate a disturbed differentiation process. These CoCl₂-induced changes reflect WAT dysfunction that ultimately may lead to obesity-associated complications. In addition, 9 novel adipocyte secreted proteins were identified from which 6 were regulated by CoCl₂. Mass spectrometry data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000162.     

Metabolomics of prolonged fasting in humans reveals new catabolic markers

Fasting is one of the simplest metabolic challenges that can be performed in humans. We here report for the first time a comprehensive analysis of the human ??fasting metabolome?? obtained from analysis of plasma and urine samples in a small cohort of healthy volunteers, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography- and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS). Intra- and inter-individual variation of metabolites was on measurement of four overnight fasting samples collected from each volunteer over a four week period. One additional sample per volunteer was collected following a prolonged fasting period of 36?h. Amongst a total of 377 quantified entities in plasma around 44% were shown to change significantly in concentration when volunteers extended fasting from 12 to 36?h. In addition to known markers (plasma free fatty acids, glycerol, ketone bodies) that reflect changes in the body??s fuel management under fasting conditions a wide range of ??new?? entities such as ??-aminobutyrate as well as other amino and keto acids were identified as fasting markers. Based on multiple correlations amongst the metabolites and selected hormones in plasma such as leptin or insulin-like-growth-factor-1 (IGF-1), a robust metabolic network with coherent regulation of a wide range of metabolites could be identified. The metabolomics approach described here demonstrates the plasticity of human metabolism and identifies new and robust markers of the fasting state.     

Special Reviews

Fair Isle and its Birds, Kenneth Williamson. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London, 1965. 30/-. xvi + 311 pages, 17 figures and maps, 27 photographs.

Waterfowl Tomorrow, edited by Joseph P. Linduska. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Washington D.C., 1964. 4 dollars. 770 pages, 187 photographs, I (folded) map, many drawings by Bob Hines. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington D.C., 20402.

The Giant Canada Goose, Harold C. Hanson. Southern Illinois University Press (U.K. Agent, W. S. Hall, London), 1965. $ 9.75. 226 pages, 74 photos, text-figures and tables.

The Harvest that Kills, John Coleman-Cooke. Odhams, 1965. 25/-. 207 pages.

Gardening without Poisons, Beatrice Trum Hunter. Hamish Hamilton, London, 1 965. 25/-. 294 pages, line drawings.

The Life of the Robin, David Lack. H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., London, 1965. 30/-. 240 pages, text-figures.

Vertebrate Fauna of the Halifax Parish, compiled by I. Morley. Halifax Scientific Society, 1965. 103 pages, 3 photographic plates.

The Bird Table Book, Tony Soper. David & Charles, Dawlish, and Macdonald, London, 1965. 21/-. 140 pages, 20 photos, numerous line drawings.

Song and Garden Birds of North America; Water, Prey and Game Birds of North America, Alexander Wetmore, with chapters by Dean Amadon, E. T. Gilliard, A. H. Miller, R. C. Murphy, R. T. Peterson, and others. $11.95 each (post paid), from Nat. Geog. Soc., Dept. 280, Washington, D.C., 20036. 400 and 464 pages respectively, numerous illustrations, nearly all in colour, 6 long-playing records in cover-flap of each.

The Birds of Shakespeare, J. E. Harting. Argonaut Inc. Publishers, Chicago, 1965. $7.50. 321 + xxxviii pages.

Serengeti Shall Not Die, B. & M. Grzimek. Collins, London, 1965. 25/-. 256 pages, 44 photos, text-figures.

Wings of Light, Garth Christian. Newnes, London, 1965. 35/-. 178 pages, 31 photos.

Antarctic Biology (Proceedings of the First Symposium on Antarctic Biology held at Paris in 1962), ed. R. Carrick, M. Holdgate and J. Prévost. Editions Hermann (115 Boulevard St-Germain, Paris 6), 1965. 54 N.F. 652 pages, 11 plates, numerous text-figures.

Birds of Town and Village, W. D. Campbell; paintings by Basil Ede.Country Life, London, 1965. 126/-. 156 pages, 36 coloured plates.

The Game Research Association, 5th Annual Report, 1965.

The Wildfowlers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Report and Year Book 1964–65.     

The development of CD-ring modified analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

During a 20-year collaboration the laboratories of UGent and KU Leuven have developed different series of Vitamin D analogs characterized by structural modifications in the central CD-ring system. Modifications have first involved the introduction of substituents at C11 and the epimerization at C14, and subsequently more drastic changes consisting in both ring deletion and enlargement relative to the natural CD-ring system. Lately, the focus has shifted towards the synthesis of analogs featuring a symmetrical CD-ring core. As an illustration two different series are presented.     

Evolution and Development of Ventricular Septation in the Amniote Heart

During cardiogenesis the epicardium, covering the surface of the myocardial tube, has been ascribed several functions essential for normal heart development of vertebrates from lampreys to mammals. We investigated a novel function of the epicardium in ventricular development in species with partial and complete septation. These species include reptiles, birds and mammals. Adult turtles, lizards and snakes have a complex ventricle with three cava, partially separated by the horizontal and vertical septa. The crocodilians, birds and mammals with origins some 100 million years apart, however, have a left and right ventricle that are completely separated, being a clear example of convergent evolution. In specific embryonic stages these species show similarities in development, prompting us to investigate the mechanisms underlying epicardial involvement. The primitive ventricle of early embryos becomes septated by folding and fusion of the anterior ventricular wall, trapping epicardium in its core. This folding septum develops as the horizontal septum in reptiles and the anterior part of the interventricular septum in the other taxa. The mechanism of folding is confirmed using DiI tattoos of the ventricular surface. Trapping of epicardium-derived cells is studied by transplanting embryonic quail pro-epicardial organ into chicken hosts. The effect of decreased epicardium involvement is studied in knock-out mice, and pro-epicardium ablated chicken, resulting in diminished and even absent septum formation. Proper folding followed by diminished ventricular fusion may explain the deep interventricular cleft observed in elephants. The vertical septum, although indistinct in most reptiles except in crocodilians and pythonidsis apparently homologous to the inlet septum. Eventually the various septal components merge to form the completely septated heart. In our attempt to discover homologies between the various septum components we aim to elucidate the evolution and development of this part of the vertebrate heart as well as understand the etiology of septal defects in human congenital heart malformations.     

Digital imaging analysis of size and shape of wheat and pea upon heating under anoxic conditions as a function of the temperature

Three types of experiments were carried out. In the first series of experiments emmer wheat grains (Triticum dicoccum Schübl), var. AR, and peas (Pisum sativum L.), var. RE, were heated at temperatures ranging from 130–700 °C under controlled anoxic conditions for a maximum of 120 min. For each temperature a separate experiment was carried out in a pre-heated tube oven. Image acquisition was carried out on a flat bed scanner with a transparency adapter; for the analysis the image program IMAGE J 1.27 was used. Various size and shape factors are discussed and the definitions of the selected size and shape factors are given. The size and shape were measured and the mean calculated from thirty of the untreated specimens and the charred residues heated at each temperature. The results show a change of size and shape as a function of the temperature. The changes for wheat grains and peas are not identical. It is suggested that the presence of the pericarp enclosing the wheat grains causes this difference. In a second series of experiments it was shown that untreated grains of emmer wheat, bread wheat and macaroni wheat can be separated by measuring the shape, but size varies too much within each species, probably the result of different growing conditions, to be useful for separation purposes. As a result of heating at temperatures higher than 290 °C the shape of the three species becomes identical. This implies that the three species can no longer be separated after being heated, solely on the basis of size and shape. Finally, both emmer wheat grains enclosed by chaff and without chaff were heated under similar conditions. After removal of the chaff from the former, the size and shape of the grains were measured. The results show no significant difference in size and shape between both types.     

Ultrasound enhanced prehospital thrombolysis using microbubbles infusion in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction: Rationale and design of the Sonolysis study

Background

The CONSORT Statement provides recommendations for reporting randomized controlled trials. We assessed the extent to which leading medical journals that publish reports of randomized trials incorporate the CONSORT recommendations into their journal and editorial processes.

Methods

This article reports on two observational studies. Study 1: We examined the online version of 'Instructions to Authors' for 165 high impact factor medical journals and extracted all text mentioning the CONSORT Statement or CONSORT extension papers. Any mention of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) or clinical trial registration were also sought and extracted. Study 2: We surveyed the editor-in-chief, or editorial office, for each of the 165 journals about their journal's endorsement of CONSORT recommendations and its incorporation into their editorial and peer-review processes.

Results

Study 1: Thirty-eight percent (62/165) of journals mentioned the CONSORT Statement in their online 'Instructions to Authors'; of these 37% (23/62) stated this was a requirement, 63% (39/62) were less clear in their recommendations. Very few journals mentioned the CONSORT extension papers. Journals that referred to CONSORT were more likely to refer to ICMJE guidelines (RR 2.16; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.08) and clinical trial registration (RR 3.67; 95% CI 2.36 to 5.71) than those journals which did not. Study 2: Thirty-nine percent (64/165) of journals responded to the on-line survey, the majority were journal editors. Eighty-eight percent (50/57) of journals recommended authors comply with the CONSORT Statement; 62% (35/56) said they would require this. Forty-one percent (22/53) reported incorporating CONSORT into their peer-review process and 47% (25/53) into their editorial process. Eighty-one percent (47/58) reported including CONSORT in their 'Instructions to Authors' although there was some inconsistency when cross checking information on the journal's website. Sixty-nine percent (31/45) of journals recommended authors comply with the CONSORT extension for cluster trials, 60% (27/45) for harms and 42% (19/45) for non-inferiority and equivalence trials. Few journals mentioned these extensions in their 'Instructions to Authors'.

Conclusion

Journals should be more explicit in their recommendations and expectations of authors regarding the CONSORT Statement and related CONSORT extensions papers.