Bacteria of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia cepacia</Emphasis> complex are cyanogenic under biofilm and colonial growth conditions

Background  

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a collection of nine genotypically distinct but phenotypically similar species. They show wide ecological diversity and include species that are used for promoting plant growth and bio-control as well species that are opportunistic pathogens of vulnerable patients. Over recent years the Bcc have emerged as problematic pathogens of the CF lung. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is another important CF pathogen. It is able to synthesise hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration. We have recently shown that HCN production by P. aeruginosa may have a role in CF pathogenesis. This paper describes an investigation of the ability of bacteria of the Bcc to make HCN.     

Repeated post-exercise administration with a mixture of leucine and glucose alters the plasma amino acid profile in Standardbred trotters

Background  

The branched chain amino acid leucine is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion. Used in combination with glucose it can increase the insulin response and the post exercise re-synthesis of glycogen in man. Decreased plasma amino acid concentrations have been reported after intravenous or per oral administration of leucine in man as well as after a single per oral dose in horses. In man, a negative correlation between the insulin response and the concentrations of isoleucine, valine and methionine have been shown but results from horses are lacking. This study aims to determine the effect of repeated per oral administration with a mixture of glucose and leucine on the free amino acid profile and the insulin response in horses after glycogen-depleting exercise.     

Isolation and characterization of eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci in Aegiphila sellowiana and their transferability

We isolated and characterized eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci for Aegiphila sellowiana an outcrossing pioneer tree species that is frequently used in reforestation programs of tropical riparian forests in Brazil. A total of 38 alleles were detected across a sample of 45 individuals of A. sellowiana, with an average number of 3.45 alleles per locus. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.430 and the observed (H_O) and expected (H_E) heterozygosity values varied from 0.156 to 1.000 and 0.145 to 0.730, respectively. Eight loci exhibited significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P ≤ 0.001) and 32 pair combinations of loci showed significant linkage disequilibrium (P ≤ 0.001). All 11 primers were tested for cross amplification in 12 species belonging to the family Lamiaceae and 5 species belonging to the related family Verbenaceae. The sequence and diversity information obtained using these microsatellites and their cross-transferability to other species of Lamiaceae as well as Verbenaceae will increase our understanding of genetic structures and species relationships within Aegiphyla and other genera of these families.     

"Components separation" method for closure of abdominal-wall defects: an anatomic and clinical study

Closure of large abdominal-wall defects usually requires the transposition of remote myocutaneous flaps or free-tissue transfers. The purpose of this study was to determine if separation of the muscle components of the abdominal wall would allow mobilization of each unit over a greater distance than possible by mobilization of the entire abdominal wall as a block. The abdominal walls of 10 fresh cadavers were dissected. This demonstrated that the external oblique muscle can be separated from the internal oblique in a relatively avascular plane. The rectus muscle with its overlying rectus fascia can be elevated from the posterior rectus sheath. The compound flap of the rectus muscle, with its attached internal oblique-transversus abdominis muscle, can be advanced 10 cm around the waistline. The external oblique has limited advancement. These findings were utilized clinically in the reconstruction of abdominal-wall defects in 11 patients, ranging in size from 4 x 4 to 18 x 35 cm. This study suggests that large abdominal-wall defects can be reconstructed with functional transfer of abdominal-wall components without the need for resorting to distant transposition of free-muscle flaps.     

CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF SOME HYPOCHOERIS SPECIES (COMPOSITAE) FROM BRAZIL

Karyotypes of nine Brazilian taxa of genus Hypochoeris were studied utilizing root-tip mitotic metaphases. Two distinct groups were found. One group includes six species that showed high asymmetric bimodal karyotypes, while the second group has two species that have a karyotype similar to those observed in European species. All the species have karyotypes with 2n = 8 that are very uniform within each group, with only small morphological differences. Nucleolar organizing region and C-band patterns are shown for H. brasiliensis.     

Karyotypic study of some species of Serjania and Urvillea (Sapindaceae; Tribe Paullinieae)

Karyotypes of six species (in ten populations) of the genus Serjania and one species of the genus Urvillea were studied using root tip mitotic metaphases. All species of Serjania were diploids with 2n = 24 chromosomes and the species of Urvillea was octoploid with 2n = 86 chromosomes. Analysis of the karyotypes of Serjania showed that the species are differentiated by chromosomic structural changes. Chromosome lengths showed great differences among the species that may be explained by chromosomal deletion or addition. The basic chromosomic number is x = 12 for Serjania and x = 11 for Urvillea. In Urvillea the evolutionary trend may be toward polyploidy followed by reductional aneuploidy. The Giemsa (C-band) staining technique was applied in Serjania; however, no clear blocks of heterochromatin were observed. This result agrees with the presence of semireticulate nuclei. The Nucleolar Organizing Region (NOR-banding) technique was applied in S. communis and S. laruotteana, which showed one and two pairs stained, respectively. Variation in the number of nucleoli was observed among the different populations of Serjania. This variation could be explained by the presence of small nucleolar organizer regions that occur scattered along the genome and are not detected by the silver staining methodology.     

Aspects of early medieval farming from sites in Mediterranean France

This paper reviews archaeobotanical remains (seeds and fruits) from some early medieval sites in the Mediterranean area of southern France (Lower Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence and Corsica). Four periods are distinguished, from the 5th-6th to the 11th-12th centuries A.D. The influence upon the results of the reliability of the samples, and the type of features from which they came, is discussed. The few sites with abundant material limit the evidence for the farming system. A comparison with northern France shows differences in the role of some crops in the local economy. The main crop plants were Triticum aestivum/durum, Hordeum vulgare and Vitis vinifera, followed by relatively smaller amounts of Avena sativa. Secale cereale and Panicum miliaceum occur sporadically. Specific identification of hulled wheat (T. dicoccum/spelta and T. cf. monococcum) is equivocal. The occurrence of Vicia faba var. minor, Pisum sativum, Lathyrus cicera and Linum usitatissimum varies between sites. The number of Lens culinaris finds indicates its probable cultivation. The occurrence of Cicer arietinum is limited in assemblages of this area. As in previous centuries, Vitis vinifera is the most common fruit of French medieval sites. Written sources from Catalonia and Languedoc and results from rescue excavations indicate that the nature of viticulture changed after the Gallo-Roman period. Other cultivated fruits, Olea europaea, Prunus dulcis, P. domestica, P. avium, P. persica, Pinus pinea, Morus nigra, Ficus carica, Juglans regia and gathered wild fruit occur rarely. The farming, which was based on mixed farming, includes use of wetland and meadow.