A simple technique to improve recovery and morphology of cells exfoliated into fluids

OBJECTIVE: To devise a simple, inexpensive and effective method for the cytologic study of fluids and to compare the results of the method with the conventional centrifuge smear (CS) method. STUDY DESIGN: We examined 200 fluid samples from various body sites using CS and thick and thin (TT) smears. Cellular yield, cytomorphology and background of the smears were studied and scored. The scores were compared and analyzed with the chi 2 test. RESULTS: TT smears gave a higher cellular yield, better morphologic details and cleaner background. The values of all three features were statistically significant (P < .001). In 38 cases a definitive diagnosis could be made on TT smears and not on CS smears. CONCLUSION: TT smears give significantly better results than CS smears. Simple to prepare and requiring no additional investment in terms of cost, technical skill and sophisticated instruments, this method is ideally suited to small laboratories, especially in developing countries.     

Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of the large subunit of replication factor C (RF-C) leads to its dissociation from the RF-C complex

The five subunit replication factor C (RF-C) complex plays a critical role in DNA elongation. We find that the large subunit of RF-C (RF-Cp145) is phosphorylated in vivo whereas the smaller RF-C subunits are not phosphorylated. The phosphorylation of endogenous RFCp145 is modulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Phosphorylation is maximal in G2/M and is inhibited by an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases. Phosphorylation of purified recombinant RF-C complex in vitro reveals that RF-Cp145 is preferentially phosphorylated by cdc2-cyclin B but not by cdk2-cyclin A or cdk2-cyclin E. In vitro phosphorylation of RF-C complex by cdc2-cyclin B kinases leads to dissociation of phosphorylated RFCp145 from the RF-C complex. Using different approaches we demonstrate that phosphorylated RFCp145 is indeed dissociated from RF-Cp40 and RF-Cp37 in vivo. These results suggest that destabilization of the RF-C complex by CDKs may inactivate the RF-C complex at the end of S phase.     

Structure of the air-breathing organs of a swamp mud eel,Monopterus cuchia

The structure of the air-breathing organs ofMonopterus (=Amphipnous)cuchia has been studied by using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and the morphological basis for buccopharyngeal respiration, aerial as well as aquatic has been established. Respiratory islets are well distributed over the surface of the buccopharynx, hypopharynx and branchial arches extending deep into the gill clefts but occupy only the anterior two-thirds of the air sacs, the remaining posterior one-third part seems to be non-respiratory in function and may serve as a reservoir for residual air. Arterioles penetrate deep into the epithelial region of air sacs and buccopharynx in spiral-like fashion to form the characteristic vascular papillae of the respiratory islets. In juvenile fish new respiratory islets develop in the non-vascular part of the air sac in between large older islets as sprout-like structures. The respiratory area, capillary loading, thickness of air-blood tissue barrier, and the diffusing capacity of the respiratory membrane of a 200 g fish were found to be 20 cm², 2.72 cm³/m², 0.72 × 10^?4 cm, and 0.00165 ml O₂/min/mmHg/kg, respectively.     

Cultivation of Neem (Azadirachta indica,Meliaceae) in Saudi Arabia

What is probably the world’s largest neem (Azadirachta indica) plantation is on 10 sq km in the Plains of Arafat, Saudi Arabia, where 50,000 trees have been planted recently. The project, designed to provide shade to the ca. 2 million Muslim pilgrims who camp there annually for “Haj” rites, has economic potential. Pest-control materials, soap, toothpaste, and pharmaceutical products are among items that could be produced for home consumption and export. Introduced into the country more than 40 yr ago, the tree has acclimated itself remarkably well to the local hot and arid conditions. La Culture du Neem (Azadirachta indica,Meliaceae)en Arabie Seoudite. La plus grande plantation de neem (Azadirachta indica) entourne dix kilometres carrés dans les Plaines d’Arafat, Arabie Séoudite, où 50.000 arbres ont étés plantés récemment. Le projet, créé pour fournir ombrage aux 2 millions de pèlerins musulmans qui y campent annuellement pour les rites de “haj,” a potentiel économique. Les articles que l’on pourra produire pour consommation domestique et exportation incluent les matériels pour régler des pestes, le savon, le dentifrice, et les produits pharmaceutiques. Introduit au pays il y a plus que 40 ans, l’arbre s’est adapté remarquablement bien a la chaleur locale et aux conditions arides.     

Gross and fine structure of the pseudo branch of the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

The structure of the glandular pseudobranch of the air-breathing fish Anabas testudineus is described on the basis of light and electron microscopy. It is shown that the pseudobranch has the same basic structure as a typical gill, although in this case it is not freely exposed to the water.
Individual secondary lamellae can be recognized in which well-defined, but narrow, blood channels are present between typical pillar cells. The epithelial layer is mainly represented by enlarged mitochondria-rich cells which constitute a large proportion of the whole organ. Mitochondria-rich cells contain an abundant endoplasmic reticulum which is in close contact with the mitochondria and becomes concentrated near the vascular borders of the cell and opens directly into the basement lamina.
The presence of numerous pinocytotic vesicles in the enlarged pillar cell flanges may transfer material to the blood channels. The precise nature and role of any materials released in this way remains to be investigated.     

Surface area of the respiratory organs of the Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Pisces: Anabantidae)

Measurements have been made of the surface area of the gills and accessory respiratory organs of Anabas in the weight range 1–120 g, and the data analysed with respect to body weight using logarithmic transformations. The slope of the regression line for total gill area (0–615) is less than that found in most fish, the number of secondary lamellae/mm decreased more rapidly with body weight than for most water-breathing species (h = -0.152). The gill area of Anabas is relatively small but when the area of the accessory organs is added, the total respiratory area is of the same order as inactive water-breathing fish. The regression coefficient for combined areas of labyrinthine organs and lining of the suprabranchial chambers (0.713) exceeds that for the gills and together with other evidence (including estimates of diffusing capacity from morphological measurements), indicates an increasing importance of air-breathing of larger specimens. The average surface area of the accessory organs available for 1 ml of air within the suprabranchial chambers was found to be 2226 mm².     

Beta-secretase (BACE-1) inhibitors: accounting for 10s loop flexibility using rigid active sites

BACE-1 is a flexible enzyme with experimentally determined motion in the flap region, the catalytic aspartates, and the 10s loop. Four in-house crystallographically determined complexes of tertiary carbinamine inhibitors revealed 10s loop motion in the S(3) pocket. These X-ray structures were used to correlate K(i) values, which span over five orders of magnitude, with the calculated interaction energy, using the Merck Molecular Force Field for a series of 19 tertiary carbinamine inhibitors.     

Genetics of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease:An Overview

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world today.Its incidence in adults and children is rising rapidly due to the ongoing epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes.Hence,it has become a global public health issue.Environmental factors have been found to play a major role in the etiology of NAFLD,especially for genetically susceptible populations. Among these,one of the most important factors is junk food,especially the typical "Western-style" diet rich in simple carbohydrates, saturated fat,and highly processed food materials.Genetic predisposition to NAFLD does occur;however,a precise definition of genetic factors responsible for NAFLD is still lacking.Specific variants of different genes have been shown to present a risk for NAFLD.Genetic studies might be helpful in the management of the disease by developing novel treatment strategies based on individual’s genotype.