Chromium,selenium, and other trace element intakes of a selected sample of Canadian premenopausal women

Daily Cr, Se, Ag, Cs, Rb, Sb, and Sc intakes of 84 Canadian women aged 30.3±6.1 yr (mean±SD) living in a University community and consuming self-selected diets were determined by analyses of 1-d food composites collected by the subjects. Aliquots of the homogenized food composites were freeze-dried and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation procedures following irradiation for 72h. In all cases, trace element concentrations in the food composites were non-Gaussian. Median daily intakes were: Cr, 47 μg; Se, 74 μg; Ag, 7.1 μg; Cs, 4.4 μg; Rb, 1.5 mg; Sb 2.0 μg; and Sc, 0.38 μg. Sixty percent and 24% of the subjects received daily Cr and Se intakes, respectively, below the US Food and Nutrition Board safe and adequate range. High Cr density diets were associated with a significantly higher consumption of cheese and dry legumes and nuts (p<0.05). In the high Se density diets, intakes of grain products and breakfast cereals were significantly higher (p<0.05), and intakes of potatoes, table fats, total fat, saturated fat, and oleic acid were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the low Se density diets. The low daily Cr intakes evident in this study may be cause for concern in view of the increasing evidence that women may be at greater risk for deficiency of Cr than men because of Cr depletion during pregnancy.     

The ultrastructure of three microsporidia from winter moth,Operophtera brumata (L.), and the establishment of a new genus Cystosporogenes n.g. for Pleistophora operophterae (Canning, 1960)

Summary The ultrastructure of three species of microsporidia in winter moths, Operophtera brumata (L.), has been used to consolidate taxonomic assessments previously based on light microscopy. The characters formerly used to assign Nosema operophterae Canning, 1960 to a new genus Orthosoma Canning, Wigley & Barker, 1983, namely that the nuclei are isolated and that sporoblasts are separated from ribbon-shaped multinucleate (2, 4, 8 or rarely 12 nuclei) sporonts, were upheld at the ultrastructural level. Development was in contact with the cell cytoplasm but all stages, which must have included meronts, had an electron dense surface coat. Nosema wistmansi Canning, Wigley & Barker, 1983, was found to be ultrastructurally typical of the genus Nosema Naegeli, 1857. An unusual feature of this species was the close association of cysternae of host endoplasmic reticulum with the surface of meronts, an association lost in sporogony. Pleistophora operophterae (Canning, 1960) has been transferred, on ultrastructural criteria, to a new genus Cystosporogenes n.g. Nuclei are isolated; all stages develop in a vesicle bounded by an envelope of enigmatic origin; this envelope persists around the spores as a sporophorous vesicle; division of the sporont within this vesicle is by budding and the number of sporoblasts, and therefore spores, is variable up to about 60.Microsporidia which undergo multisporous sporogony in sporophorous vesicles are now distributed among seven genera. These are: Glugea Thélohan, 1891; Pleistophora Gurley, 1893; Pseudopleistophora Sprague, 1977; Vavraia Weiser, 1977; Baculea Loubès & Akbarieh, 1978; Polydispyrenia Canning & Hazard, 1982 and Cystosporogenes n.g. New genera would appear to be needed for Pleistophora sp. of Sandars & Poinar (1976) and Pleistophora sp. of Percy, Wilson & Burke (1982). ac]19840404     

Regeneration of phasic synapses on a crayfish slow muscle following allotransplantation of a mixed phasic-tonic nerve

Brain Cell Biology - Separate phasic or tonic nerves allotransplanted to reinnervate a denervated slow superficial flexor muscle (SFM) in the abdomen of adult crayfish regenerate synaptic nerve...     

Identification of DNA sequences flanking T-DNA insertions by PCR-walking

In recent years, concerns over genetic modification issues have resulted in regulatory authorities requiring comprehensive analysis of transgene insertion events in the plants that are to be commercialized. Determining that plants are devoid of vector backbone sequences is a trivial task that is best achieved by Southern blot analysis; however, identifying the DNA sequences flanking the T-DNA insertions can be arduous. In this paper, we present a robust method of characterizing this insertion event. We have applied and modified a genomic walking method that combines vectorette and suppression PCR walking.     

A scanning electron microscope study of a microsporidian with a pansporoblast: Thelohania maenadis

Air drying is not adequate for the preservation of the pansporoblastic membrane of Thelohania maenadis (Protozoa, Microsporidia), a parasite of the crabs Carcinus mediterraneus and Carcinus maenas. Freeze-drying and critical point drying preserve the pansporoblast membrane and reveal that isolated spores of the microsporidian are covered with a thick hairy coat. This coat originates as secretory product within the pansporoblast cavity.     

Front Cover: Photoacoustic imaging of the human placental vasculature (J. Biophotonics 4/2020)

Successful therapy of twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome requires accurate imaging to guide laser photocoagulation of the anastomosing placental vessels. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is an alternative imaging method that provides contrast for hemoglobin, and in this study, it was used to visualize chorionic superficial and subsurface vasculature in human placentas. The strong potential of PA imaging to guide minimally invasive fetal therapies was demonstrated. Further details can be found in the article by Efthymios Maneas, Rosalind Aughwane, Nam Huynh, et al. ( e201900167 ).