Poly(A) RNA and Paip2 act as allosteric regulators of poly(A)-binding protein

When bound to the 3′ poly(A) tail of mRNA, poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) modulates mRNA translation and stability through its association with various proteins. By visualizing individual PABP molecules in real time, we found that PABP, containing four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), adopts a conformation on poly(A) binding in which RRM1 is in proximity to RRM4. This conformational change is due to the bending of the region between RRM2 and RRM3. PABP-interacting protein 2 actively disrupts the bent structure of PABP to the extended structure, resulting in the inhibition of PABP-poly(A) binding. These results suggest that the changes in the configuration of PABP induced by interactions with various effector molecules, such as poly(A) and PABP-interacting protein 2, play pivotal roles in its function.     

A new species of Megoura (Hemiptera,Aphididae) from Japan

A new species of the genus Megoura, M. lathyricola sp. n., was collected from Lathyrus japonicus subsp. japonicus (Leguminosae) in seashore areas of northern and southern Japan. This species is described and illustrated, and a revised key to the identification of the world species of Megoura is presented.     

Taurolidine Lock Is Superior to Heparin Lock in the Prevention of Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections and Occlusions

Background and Aims

Patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are at risk for catheter-related complications; mainly infections and occlusions. We have previously shown in HPN patients presenting with catheter sepsis that catheter locking with taurolidine dramatically reduced re-infections when compared with heparin. Our HPN population therefore switched from heparin to taurolidine in 2008. The aim of the present study was to compare long-term effects of this catheter lock strategy on the occurrence of catheter-related bloodstream infections and occlusions in HPN patients.

Methods

Data of catheter-related complications were retrospectively collected from 212 patients who received HPN between January 2000 and November 2011, comprising 545 and 200 catheters during catheter lock therapy with heparin and taurolidine, respectively. We evaluated catheter-related bloodstream infection and occlusion incidence rates using Poisson-normal regression analysis. Incidence rate ratios were calculated by dividing incidence rates of heparin by those of taurolidine, adjusting for underlying disease, use of anticoagulants or immune suppressives, frequency of HPN/fluid administration, composition of infusion fluids, and duration of HPN/fluid use before catheter creation.

Results

Bloodstream infection incidence rates were 1.1/year for heparin and 0.2/year for taurolidine locked catheters. Occlusion incidence rates were 0.2/year for heparin and 0.1/year for taurolidine locked catheters. Adjusted incidence ratios of heparin compared to taurolidine were 5.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.9–8.7) for bloodstream infections and 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.1–3.1) for occlusions.

Conclusions

Given that no other procedural changes than the catheter lock strategy were implemented during the observation period, these data strongly suggest that taurolidine decreases catheter-related bloodstream infections and occlusions in HPN patients compared with heparin.     

Advances in the Non-culture Based Laboratory Diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus</Emphasis> and the Endemic Molds

Given the widespread availability of non-culture based diagnostic techniques, the approach to diagnosis of Cryptococcus spp. and the endemic molds has become increasingly complex. These techniques include: histopathology, cytopathology, fungal serology, antigen detection, and molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This paper reviews the approach to diagnosis of Cryptococcus spp. and the endemic molds focusing on non-culture based diagnostic techniques.     

A Simple Sign for Recognizing Off–Axis OCT Measurement Beam Placement in the Context of Multicentre Studies

Purpose

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows quantification of the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, a potential biomarker for neurodegeneration. The estimated annual RNFL loss in multiple sclerosis amounts to 2 μm using time domain OCT. The recognition of measurement artifacts exceeding this limit is relevant for the successful use of OCT as a secondary outcome measure in clinical trials.

Methods

Prospective study design. An exploratory pilot study (ring and volume scans) followed by a cohort study (1,980 OCT ring scans). The OCT measurement beam was placed off–axis to the left, right, top and bottom of the subjects pupil and RNFL thickness of these scans were compared to the centrally placed reference scans.

Results

Off–axis placement of the OCT measurement beam resulted in significant artifacts in RNFL thickness measurements (95%CI 9μm, maximal size of error 42μm). Off–axis placement gave characteristic patterns of the OCT live images which are not necessarily saved for review. Off–axis placement also causes regional inhomogeneity of reflectivity in the outer nuclear (ONL) and outer plexiform layers (OPL) which remains visible on scans saved for review.

Conclusion

Off–axis beam placement introduces measurement artifacts at a magnitude which may mask recognition of RNFL loss due to neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. The resulting pattern in the OCT live image can only be recognised by the technician capturing the scans. Once the averaged scans have been aligned this pattern is lost. Retrospective identification of this artifact is however possible by presence of regional inhomogeneity of ONL/OPL reflectivity. This simple and robust sign may be considered for quality control criteria in the setting of multicentre OCT studies. The practical advice of this study is to keep the OCT image in the acquisition window horizontally aligned whenever possible.     

Janibacter alkaliphilus sp. nov., isolated from coral Anthogorgia sp

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain SCSIO 10480^T, was isolated from a gorgonian coral sample of Anthogorgia sp. Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of the organism supported that it belonged to the genus Janibacter. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain SCSIO 10480^T and other type strains of recognized members of the genus Janibacter were 96.0–97.8 %. Growth in the presence of up to 17 % (w/v) NaCl and optimally at pH 9.0–10.0 was a distinctive characteristic of strain SCSIO 10480^T. Other biochemical and physiological properties and the fatty acid profile also differentiated the isolate from other members of Janibacter species. Based on the results obtained in this study, we propose that strain SCSIO 10480^T should be classified within a novel species of the genus Janibacter, for which the name Janibacter alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed, with SCSIO 10480^T (=CCTCC AB 2011027^T = DSM 24723^T) as the type strain.     

Construction of a cytogenetically anchored microsatellite map in rabbit

Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) represents a valuable source of biomedical models and corresponds to a small but active economic sector in Europe for meat and fur. The rabbit genome has not been thoroughly studied until recently, and high-resolution maps necessary for identification of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) are not yet available. Our aim was to isolate over 300 new and regularly distributed (TG)n or (TC)n rabbit microsatellites. To achieve this purpose, 164 microsatellite sequences were isolated from gene-containing bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones previously localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on all the rabbit chromosomes. In addition, 141 microsatellite sequences were subcloned from a plasmid genomic library, and for 41 of these sequences, BAC clones were identified and FISH-mapped. TC repeats were present in 62% of the microsatellites derived from gene-containing BAC clones and in 22% of those from the plasmid genomic library, with an average of 42.9% irrespective of the microsatellite origin. These results suggest a higher proportion of (TC)n repeats and a nonhomogeneous distribution of (TG)n and (TC)n repeats in the rabbit genome compared to those in man. Among the 305 isolated microsatellites, 177 were assigned to 139 different cytogenetic positions on all the chromosomes except rabbit Chromosome 21. Sequence similarity searches provided hit locations on the Human Build 35a and hypothetical assignments on rabbit chromosomes for ten additional microsatellites. Taken together, these results report a reservoir of 305 new rabbit microsatellites of which 60% have a cytogenetic position. This is the first step toward the construction of an integrated cytogenetic and genetic map based on microsatellites homogeneously anchored to the rabbit genome.     

Contuse lesion of the rat spinal cord of moderate intensity leads to a higher time-dependent secondary neurodegeneration than severe one. An open-window for experimental neuroprotective interventions

Secondary neurodegeneration takes place in the surrounding tissue of spinal cord trauma and modifies substantially the prognosis, considering the small diameter of its transversal axis. We analyzed neuronal and glial responses in rat spinal cord after different degree of contusion promoted by the NYU Impactor. Rats were submitted to vertebrae laminectomy and received moderate or severe contusions. Control animals were sham operated. After 7 and 30 days post surgery, stereological analysis of Nissl staining cellular profiles showed a time progression of the lesion volume after moderate injury, but not after severe injury. The number of neurons was not altered cranial to injury. However, same degree of diminution was seen in the caudal cord 30 days after both severe and moderate injuries. Microdensitometric image analysis demonstrated a microglial reaction in the white matter 30 days after a moderate contusion and showed a widespread astroglial reaction in the white and gray matters 7 days after both severities. Astroglial activation lasted close to lesion and in areas related to Wallerian degeneration. Data showed a more protracted secondary degeneration in rat spinal cord after mild contusion, which offered an opportunity for neuroprotective approaches. Temporal and regional glial responses corroborated to diverse glial cell function in lesioned spinal cord.     

Notes on the diet of the critically endangered orange–fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) on Maud Island

Abstract

We conducted opportunistic observations on the diet of translocated orange-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi) on Maud Island to provide a first account of the diversity of food types ingested in the wild by this critically endangered species. Orange-fronted parakeets consumed fruits and leaves of 14 plant species as well as non–dietary items such as bark sticks and grit. Of dietary items, 96% were on plant species and 4% invertebrates. Of the plant species ingested 10% were non-natives. A major dietary component consisted of fruits and leaves of mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus). In contrast to the only other published account of the diet of orange-fronted parakeets, invertebrates constituted a minor part of identified ingested items. This may be related to the different composition of vegetation at the study sites, the low parakeet population density during the time of our study and methodological restrictions during our survey. Our observations on undocumented food items add information about the biology of New Zealands’ rarest parakeet species and indicate dietary flexibility of the species highlighting the potential of other regenerating islands as release sites to expand the geographic distribution of orange–fronted parakeets.