Historical biogeography and the evolution of the latitudinal gradient of species richness in the Papionini (Primata: Cercopithecidae)

We apply historical biogeography techniques to the macaques, baboons and their relatives (Primata: Papionini) and relate the inferred history of range shifts, and associated evolutionary events, to the latitudinal distribution of extant species, which is strongly tropical. The results of reversible parsimony, weighted ancestral area and dispersal-vicariance analyses all agree that Central Africa was part of the range of the ancestor of the tribe. Tropical regions with high current species richness (Central Africa, South-east Asia, Indonesia) have: (1) had a relatively long history of occupation, (2) experienced both a greater number and a greater average rate of speciation events and (3) given rise to more dispersal events to other regions. However, nested sister-taxon comparisons across the tribe show no overall association between differences in latitude and differences in rates of cladogenesis. Our historical reconstructions are largely consistent with previous hypotheses and fossil data, and suggest that both the passage of time since colonization and rates of cladogenesis have enhanced tropical species richness. Historical biogeography may thus considerably aid understanding of this and other spatial problems in macroecology.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 85 , 235–246.     

A histopathological and stereological study of liver damage in female rats caused by mercury vapor

We examined the possible effects of elemental mercury vapor on the liver of the female rats. We divided the animals into an untreated control group and an experimental group that was exposed to mercury vapor for 45 days. Liver samples were obtained for histological and stereological analysis. The total liver, parenchyma and sinusoid volumes were increased significantly in the mercury vapor treated group compared to controls. Also, the mean density, total number and mean nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, except for binucleated hepatocytes, was decreased in the experimental group compared to controls. Light and electron microscopy revealed alterations of liver structure of the experimental animals compared to controls.     

Gefiederwachskompositionen von Kranichen und Rallen. Beitrag zur Systematik der Gruiformes

Zusammenfassung Die Komposition der Bürzeldrüsensekrete von Kranichen und Rallen zeigen deutliche Gemeinsamkeiten und weisen auf eine nahe Verwandtschaft beider Familien. Alle untersuchten Sekrete bestehen aus Monoesterwachsen, an deren Aufbau mehr oder minder hoch verzweigte Fettsäuren mit speziellem Verzweigungsrhythmus und methyl-substituierte Alkohole beteiligt sind. Auf Ordnungsebene sind Ähnlichkeiten mit den Charadriiformes erkennbar; dagegen sind die Wachse sowohl der Galliformes als auch der Cuculiformes, die beide oft in die Nähe der Gruiformes gerückt wurden, grundsätzlich verschieden.

---

The composition of the uropygial gland secretions of cranes and rails, a contribution to the classification of Gruiformes

Summary The composition of the uropygial gland secretions of cranes and rails show significant similarities and indicate a close relationship of both families. All secretions investigated consist of monoester waxes composed of more or less highly branched fatty acids with a special branching rhythm and methyl-substituted alcohols. On the order level relationships to the charadriiform birds are obvious, whereas the uropygial gland waxes from the galliform and cuculiform birds, both often regarded to be closely related to the Gruiformes, are fundamentally different.

     

Haemodynamic effects of buprenorphine after heart surgery.

The effect of buprenorphine on the cardiovascular system was examined in 11 patients during the period of reduced cardiac reserve after open-heart surgery. Within 10 minutes of giving the full analgesic dose (5 microgram/kg) intravenously the mean heart rate had fallen significantly by six beats/min. Although in two patients the mean arterial pressure fell by 24 mm Hg, there was no overall change in mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, or peripheral resistance. In a further six patients buprenorphine was used successfully as the sole analgesic after open-heart surgery. Buprenorphine appears to be safer than morphine for use in patients with reduced cardiac reserve and is of similar analgesic efficacy.     

The prognostic value of baseline erosions in undifferentiated arthritis

Introduction

Evidence suggests that citrullinated fibrin(ogen) may be a potential in vivo target of anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared the diagnostic yield of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests by using chimeric fibrin/filaggrin citrullinated synthetic peptides (CFFCP1, CFFCP2, CFFCP3) with a commercial CCP2-based test in RA and analyzed their prognostic values in early RA.

Methods

Samples from 307 blood donors and patients with RA (322), psoriatic arthritis (133), systemic lupus erythematosus (119), and hepatitis C infection (84) were assayed by using CFFCP- and CCP2-based tests. Autoantibodies also were analyzed at baseline and during a 2-year follow-up in 98 early RA patients to determine their prognostic value.

Results

With cutoffs giving 98% specificity for RA versus blood donors, the sensitivity was 72.1% for CFFCP1, 78.0% for CFFCP2, 71.4% for CFFCP3, and 73.9% for CCP2, with positive predictive values greater than 97% in all cases. CFFCP sensitivity in RA increased to 80.4% without losing specificity when positivity was considered as any positive anti-CFFCP status. Specificity of the three CFFCP tests versus other rheumatic populations was high (> 90%) and similar to those for the CCP2. In early RA, CFFCP1 best identified patients with a poor radiographic outcome. Radiographic progression was faster in the small subgroup of CCP2-negative and CFFCP1-positive patients than in those negative for both autoantibodies. CFFCP antibodies decreased after 1 year, but without any correlation with changes in disease activity.

Conclusions

CFFCP-based assays are highly sensitive and specific for RA. Early RA patients with anti-CFFCP1 antibodies, including CCP2-negative patients, show greater radiographic progression.     

New levels of sophistication in the transcriptional landscape of bacteria

An extra layer of complexity in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria is now apparent through previously unanticipated roles of noncoding and antisense RNAs.