Evidence for cognitive impairment in mastocytosis: prevalence, features and correlations to depression

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by mast cells accumulation in one or more organs. We have reported that depression is frequent in mastocytosis, but although it was already described, little is known about the prevalence and features of cognitive impairment. Our objective was to describe the prevalence and features of cognitive impairment in a large cohort of patients with this rare disease (n?=?57; mean age?=?45) and to explore the relations between memory impairment and depression. Objective memory impairment was evaluated using the 3(rd) edition of the Clinical Memory scale of Wechsler. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Age and education levels were controlled for all patients. Patients with mastocytosis presented high levels of cognitive impairment (memory and/or attention) (n?=?22; 38.6%). Cognitive impairment was moderate in 59% of the cases, concerned immediate auditory (41%) and working memory (73%) and was not associated to depression (p≥0.717). In conclusion, immediate auditory memory and attention impairment in mastocytosis are frequent, even in young individuals, and are not consecutive to depression. In mastocytosis, cognitive complaints call for complex neuropsychological assessment. Mild-moderate cognitive impairment and depression constitute two specific but somewhat independent syndromes in mastocytosis. These results suggest differential effects of mast-cell activity in the brain, on systems involved in emotionality and in cognition.     

Cytomegalovirus Replicon-Based Regulation of Gene Expression In Vitro and In Vivo

There is increasing evidence for a connection between DNA replication and the expression of adjacent genes. Therefore, this study addressed the question of whether a herpesvirus origin of replication can be used to activate or increase the expression of adjacent genes. Cell lines carrying an episomal vector, in which reporter genes are linked to the murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) origin of lytic replication (oriLyt), were constructed. Reporter gene expression was silenced by a histone-deacetylase-dependent mechanism, but was resolved upon lytic infection with MCMV. Replication of the episome was observed subsequent to infection, leading to the induction of gene expression by more than 1000-fold. oriLyt-based regulation thus provided a unique opportunity for virus-induced conditional gene expression without the need for an additional induction mechanism. This principle was exploited to show effective late trans-complementation of the toxic viral protein M50 and the glycoprotein gO of MCMV. Moreover, the application of this principle for intracellular immunization against herpesvirus infection was demonstrated. The results of the present study show that viral infection specifically activated the expression of a dominant-negative transgene, which inhibited viral growth. This conditional system was operative in explant cultures of transgenic mice, but not in vivo. Several applications are discussed.     

The citius end: world records progression announces the completion of a brief ultra-physiological quest

World records (WR) in sports illustrate the ultimate expression of human integrated muscle biology, through speed or strength performances. Analysis and prediction of man's physiological boundaries in sports and impact of external (historical or environmental) conditions on WR occurrence are subject to scientific controversy. Based on the analysis of 3263 WR established for all quantifiable official contests since the first Olympic Games, we show here that WR progression rate follows a piecewise exponential decaying pattern with very high accuracy (mean adjusted r(2) values = 0.91+/-0.08 (s.d.)). Starting at 75% of their estimated asymptotic values in 1896, WR have now reached 99%, and, present conditions prevailing, half of all WR will not be improved by more than 0,05% in 2027. Our model, which may be used to compare future athletic performances or assess the impact of international antidoping policies, forecasts that human species' physiological frontiers will be reached in one generation. This will have an impact on the future conditions of athlete training and on the organization of competitions. It may also alter the Olympic motto and spirit.     

Vorläuferspitzen im Blütenbereich

Zusammenfassung Ebenso wie die Laubblätter sind auch die Blütenblätter imstande, Vorläuferspitzen auszubilden, die entweder bifazial oder unifazial gebaut sein können. Besonders die unifazialen Spitzen lassen erkennen, daß die Vorläuferspitze — ganz ähnlich wie der ebenfalls zum Oberblatt gehörende Blattstiel — nicht nur entwicklungsgeschichtlich, sondern auch morphologisch eine gewisse Selbständigkeit besitzt.Das an 85 Arten aus 32 Familien untersuchte Auftreten der Vorläuferspitzen an Blütenblättern ist nicht an bestimmte Verwandtschaftskreise gebunden und variiert innerhalb der einzelnen Familien.     

Die Plazenta des dorsiventralenCuphea-Gynözeums

zusammenfassung Die Plazenta vonCuphea cyanea, lanceolata undprocumbens, ein komplexes, aus den Medianplazenten der beiden peltaten Karpelle bestehendes und durch die Symmetrieverhältnisse modifiziertes Organ, erhält durch frühzeitige Degeneration der Scheidewände weitgehende Selbständigkeit innerhalb des Gynözeums. Dies führt zunächst zu einer charakteristischen, nicht durch die Karpelle regulierten Stellung und schließlich zu einem Herauskrümmen der Plazenta aus der zerbrechenden Frucht. Diese Bewegung wird durch eine Wachtumszone an der Ventralscite der Plazenta bewirkt.     

Genetic and environmental determination of tracking in static strength during adolescence.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the observed phenotypic stability in static strength during adolescence, as measured by interage correlations in arm pull, is mainly caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. Subjects were from the Leuven Longitudinal Twin Study (n = 105 pairs, equally divided over 5 zygosity groups). Arm-pull data were aligned on age at peak height velocity to attenuate the temporal fluctuations in interage correlations caused by differences in timing of the adolescent growth spurt. Developmental genetic models were fitted using structural equation modeling. After the data were aligned on age at peak height velocity, the annual interage correlations conformed to a quasi-simplex structure over a 4-yr interval. The best-fitting models included additive genetic and unique environmental sources of variation. Additive genetic factors that already explained a significant amount of variation at previous measurement occasions explained 44.3 and 22.5% of the total variation at the last measurement occasion in boys and girls, respectively. Corresponding values for unique environmental sources of variance are 31.2 and 44.5%, respectively. In conclusion, the observed stability of static strength during adolescence is caused by both stable genetic influences and stable unique environmental influences in boys and girls. Additive genetic factors seem to be the most important source of stability in boys, whereas unique environmental factors appear to be more predominant in girls.     

Plasmolyse verhindert Ergrünen

Zusammenfassung Im Dunkeln etiolierte Plastiden ergrünen im Lichte nicht, wenn und so lange die Zellen plasmolysiert sind.Diese Hemmung der Chlorophyllbildung ist reversibel; nach erfolgter Deplasmolyse stellt sich im Lichte Ergrünen ein.Auch ein bereits beginnender Ergrünungsprozeß kann bei nachträglicher Plasmolyse nicht fortgesetzt werden.Während der Plasmolyse kann am Licht in den etiolierten Plastiden sich auch die für die Silberreduktion der Chloroplasten verantwortliche Substanz nicht bilden.Die Behinderung der Chlorophyllbildung im plasmolysierten Zustande der Zelle wird als ein Symptom dafür angesehen, daß die Plasmolyse die Physiologie der Zelle nicht unwesentlich beeinflußt.