Multilocus and morphological analysis of south-eastern Iberian Wall lizards (Squamata,Podarcis)

The phylogenetic relationships among the wall lizards of the Podarcis hispanicus complex that inhabit the south-east (SE) of the Iberian Peninsula and other lineages of the complex remain unclear. In this study, four mitochondrial and two nuclear markers were used to study genetic relationships within this complex. The phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA gene trees constructed with ML and BI, and a species tree using *BEAST support three divergent clades in this region: the Valencia, Galera and Albacete/Murcia lineages. These three lineages were also corroborated in species delimitation analyses based on mtDNA using bPTP, mPTP, GMYC, ABGD and BAPS. Bayesian inference species delimitation method (BPP) based on both nuclear data and a combined data set (mtDNA + nuclear) showed high posterior probabilities for these three SE lineages (≥0.94) and another Bayesian analysis (STACEY) based on combined data set recovered the same three groups in this region. Divergence time dating of the species tree provided an estimated divergence of the Galera lineage from the other SE group (Podarcis vaucheri, (Albacete/Murcia, Valencia)) at 12.48 Ma. During this period, the Betic–Rifian arc was isolated, which could have caused the isolation of the Galera form distributed to the south of the Betic Corridor. Although lizards from the Albacete/Murcia and Galera lineage are morphologically similar, they clearly represent distinct genetic lineages. The noteworthy separation of the Galera lineage enables us to conclude that this lineage must be considered as a new full species.     

Proposed Classification of Auriculotemporal Nerve,Based on the Root System

The topography of the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) root system is the main criterion of this nerve classification. Previous publications indicate that ATN may have between one and five roots. Most common is a one- or two-root variant of the nerve structure. The problem of many publications is the inconsistency of nomenclature which concerns the terms “roots”, “connecting branches”, or “branches” that are used to identify the same structures. This study was performed on 80 specimens (40 adults and 40 fetuses) to propose a classification based on: (i) the number of roots, (ii) way of root division, and (iii) configuration of interradicular fibers that form the ATN trunk. This new classification is a remedy for inconsistency of nomenclature of ATN in the infratemporal fossa. This classification system has proven beneficial when organizing all ATN variants described in previous studies and could become a helpful tool for surgeons and dentists. Examination of ATN from the infratemporal fossa of fetuses (the youngest was at 18 weeks gestational age) showed that, at that stage, the nerve is fully developed.     

Autofluorescence imaging for recurrence detection in skin cancer postoperative scars

This clinical study is a first attempt to use autofluorescence for recurrence diagnosis of skin cancer in postoperative scars. The proposed diagnostic parameter is based on a reduction in scar autofluorescence, evaluated in the green spectral channel. The validity of the method has been tested on 110 postoperative scars from 56 patients suspected of non‐melanoma skin cancer, with eight patients (13 scars) available for the repeated examination. The recurrence diagnosis within a scar has been made after two subsequent autofluorescence check‐ups, representing the temporal difference between the scar autofluorescence amplitudes as a vector. The recognition of recurrence has been discussed to represent the significant deviations from the value of vector angle θ. This new autofluorescence‐based method can be easily integrated into the postoperative monitoring of surgical scars and can help diagnose the recurrence of skin cancer from the early stage of scar development.     

Correlation of conformational changes in the acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF) with its biological activity

The rabbit Acrosome Stabilizing Factor (ASF) is a glycoprotein synthesized in the corpus epididymis that reversibly decapacitates sperm. The effects of altering the conformation of ASF were evaluated by using a competitive enzyme-linked immunoabsorption assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies that recognized either sequential or conformational determinants and/or an in vivo decapacitation assay. Heat denaturation (80 degrees C for 30 min) of affinity-purified ASF resulted in destruction of its native conformation concurrent with its loss of biological activity. Acid pH treatment of ASF also resulted in a conformational change in ASF, which caused a shift from the dimeric form (MW = 260,000) to the monomeric form (MW = 130,000). This manipulation allowed the biological activity of the monomeric form of ASF to be assayed separately from the dimer. The monomer was found to be biologically inactive. Proteolysis with trypsin or Staphylococcus-V8 treatment resulted in loss of the native conformation of the molecule, but Staphylococcus-V8 did not destroy the sequential determinant recognized in this analysis. This work indicates that conformation of the ASF macromolecule is important for its biological activity, and also provides a rapid means to evaluate potential decapacitation activity of purified ASF.     

Expression of HLA-DR antigens on tumour cells does not contribute to skin reactivity to autologous cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS)-treated tumour cells in patients with metastatic melanoma

Summary Skin tests with autologous cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS)-treated and untreated cells were performed in ten metastatic melanoma patients. In the majority of cases evident reaction was noted with CHS-treated cells (9/10) while the reaction with untreated cells was mostly negative (7/10). Tumour cell suspensions used for skin tests were characterized for reactivity with monoclonal antibody TAL 1B5 detecting the HLA-DR alpha chain. There were no differences between CHS-treated and untreated cells with respect to HLA-DR expression and no correlation was found between grade of skin reaction to CHS-treated cells and the proportion of HLA-DR positive cells in the injected cell sample.     

Subcellular organization of Streptomyces aureofaciens and overproduction of chlortetracycline

Biosynthesis of chlortetracycline is localized differently under low- and high-production conditions (standard low-production strain and its high-production variant). The experimental evidence was based on the assay of anhydrotetracycline oxygenase in subcellular fractions, ultracytochemical localization and electron-probe X-ray microanalysis of the product in the mycelium. Overproduction of chlortetracycline is closely associated with compartmentation of biosynthetic enzymes and with an efficient export of the antibiotic out of the cell.     

Respiratory electron transport activity in plankton of the Weddell and Scotia Seas during late spring — early summer: relationships with other biological parameters

Summary As a means to estimate potential oxygen consumption, profiles of elctron transport system (ETS) activity were made along three transects across the Weddell-Scotia Confluence zone (WSC) and the marginal ice zone (which overlapped in part) during the EPOS leg 2 cruise of the RV Polarstern. The integrated ETS activity between 0 and 100 m depth (referred to in situ temperatures) ranged from 261 meq (mili-electron equivalents) m^–2 day^–1 in the WSC to 45 meq m^–2 day^–1 in the southernmost stations at 62° S. The temporal changes in the overall distribution of ETS activity were small compared with the spatial variations. The main feature of the ETS activity distribution was the presence of maxima located in the WSC, coinciding with peaks of phytoplankton biomass. Different relationships between ETS and chlorophyll a concentration in these maxima appeared to be related to diatom or flagellate dominance. Vertically integrated ETS activities were significantly correlated with chlorophyll a and paniculate organic carbon concentrations, primary production and bacterial thymidine uptake.Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

Timing of laparoscopic aspiration of preovulatory oocytes in heifers

Twenty-one heifers were synchronized with PGF(2) alpha and 22 heifers were stimulated with FSH-P in decreasing doses and synchronized with PGF(2) alpha. The beginning of LH rise was observed to be 47.6+/-14.0 h and 35.9+/-1.3 h (P < 0.05) and the peak of LH rise was observed at 53.8 +/- 13.4 h and 40.14+/-1.4 h (P < 0.05) after the luteolyticum administration in the synchronized and superovulated group respectively. The beginning of LH rise was observed 6.9+/-6.7 h and 4.8+/-2.6 h (P < 0.05) and the LH peak was observed 11.8+/-7.7 h and 8.3+/-3.2 h (P < 0.05) after the frist symptoms of oestrus in the synchronized and superovulated group respectively. Ovulation was not observed in stimulated heifers in the period of 23-25 h after the preovulatory LH rise. Compact cumulus oophorus was seen at 30.5%, expanded at 67.0 and partial at 2.5% during this interval of 23-25h. Within this same interval 26.9%, 51.3% and 21.8% oocytes without perivitelline space, with perivitelline space and with extruded first polar body were aspirated respectively. It may be concluded from the reported results that to recover fully mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization, it will be necessary to monitor the preovulatory period of the donor cow in great detail.