A tooth at the border of two morphogenetic fields

A tooth at the border between two morphogenetic fields (mandibular canine and honing premolar) may become morphologically similar to and/or functionally incorporated with the teeth of either field. In light of this, observations of the morphology and occlusion of female anthropoid C1s from 58 extant species are presented to assess whether and to what extent they exhibit incisor-like form and function. Female C1s in 74% of the taxa observed exhibit well developed incisor-like traits which may reflect field border phenomena. In another 9%, incisor traits are present but they are not examples of field border phenomena. Interspecies variation in female C1 morphology is related to behavior, function, natural selection and phyletic inertia. A selection model, derived from the data, is used to explain C1 sexual dimorphism and the evolution of male and female human canines. The data's relevance to the field vs clone theory debate is also discussed.     

Selection of a mutant strain of Lipomyces kononenkoae with dextranase synthesis resistant to catabolite repression

A mutant strain of Lipomyces kononenkoae 2896-3 synthesizing dextranase but resistant to catabolite repression was obtained using N-nitroso-N-methylurea treatment. Enzyme biosynthesis in media with dextran and other carbon sources was then characterized. The capacity of the mutant to produce dextranase when grown on hydrolysed corn starch is demonstrated.     

Use of tumour marker immunoreactivity to identify primary site of metastatic cancer.

OBJECTIVES--To determine whether variations in the expression of tumour related antigens can predict the origin of tumours. DESIGN--Immunohistological study of tumour marker expression in primary adenocarcinomas and respective metastatic deposits. Antibodies to the following tumour markers were used: polymorphic epithelial mucin (NCRC-11 and SM3), carcinoembryonic antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen with non-specific antigen co-specificity, CA125, CA19.9, prostate specific antigens, and thyroglobulin. SETTING--Histopathology department of teaching hospital. SUBJECTS--100 pathology sections of metastatic adenocarcinoma and their related primary tumours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Concordance of reactivity between primary and metastatic tumours. Reactivity profiles of tumour sites. RESULTS--The correct primary site of origin was predicted in 70% (33/47) of tumours in men and 54% (27/43) tumours in women with antibodies SM3, 288, CA19.9, CA125, and PSA (men only). Specificities ranged from 68% for breast tumour to 98% for prostate tumour. CONCLUSION--Use of tumour markers in patients presenting with metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown origin can help localise the probable primary sites and reduce the need for extensive and expensive imaging techniques.     

High prevalence of asthma in cross country skiers.

OBJECTIVES--To study the prevalence of asthma (asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness) in Swedish cross country skiers compared with non-skiers and monitor changes in symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness during the year. DESIGN--Cross sectional study during the winter ski season and in the summer. SETTING--Six ski clubs for élite skiers (total 47) in two different areas of Sweden. SUBJECTS--42 élite cross country skiers and 29 non-skiing referents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Bronchial responsiveness, asthma symptoms, and lung function. RESULTS--Bronchial responsiveness was significantly greater and asthma symptoms more prevalent in the skiers than in the referents. There was no difference in bronchial responsiveness within either group between winter and summer. 15 of the 42 skiers used antiasthmatic drugs regularly and 23 had a combination of asthma symptoms and hyperresponsive airways or physician diagnosed asthma, or both. Altogether 33 skiers had symptoms of asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. One of the referents had symptoms of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and none used antiasthmatic drugs regularly. CONCLUSIONS--Asthma, asthma-like symptoms, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are much more common in cross country skiers than in the general population and non-skiers. Strenuous exercise at low temperatures entailing breathing large volumes of cold air is the most probable explanation of persistent asthma in skiers.     

Heterogeneity in the mouse epidermal cell cycle analysed by computer simulations

Abstract. Different sets of cell kinetic data obtained over many years from hairless mouse epidermis have been simulated by a mathematical model including circadian variations. Simulating several independent sets of data with the same mathematical model strengthens the validity of the results obtained. The data simulated in this investigation were all obtained with the experimental system in a state of natural synchrony. The data include cell cycle phase distributions measured by DNA flow cytometry of isolated epidermal basal cells, fractions of tritiated thymidine ([³H]TdR) labelled cells within the cell cycle phases measured by cell sorting at intervals after [³H]TdR pulse labelling, bivariate bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)/DNA data from epidermal basal cells isolated at intervals after pulse labelling with BrdUrd, mitotic rate and per cent labelled mitosis (PLM) data from histologic sections. The following main new findings were made from the simulations: the second PLM peak observed at about 35 h after pulse labelling is hardly influenced by circadian variations; the peak is mainly determined by persisting synchrony of a rapidly cycling population with a G₁-duration (T_G1) of 20 h to 30 h; and there is a highly significant population of slowly cycling G₁-cells (G_1σ). However, no significant circadian variations were found in the number of these cells.     

Factor VIII: structure, function and analysis

Factor VIII is an important blood coagulation protein whose genetic deficiency leads to the serious bleeding disorder, classic haemophilia (haemophilia A).Here we review the structure, function and analysis of this protein for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Because factor VIII is tightly associated with von Willebrand factor some recent work on the latter is also considered so as to clarify the relationship between them.     

Vagal nerve and the gastric mucosal defense

An essential role for an intact vagal nerve has been proven in the development of gastric mucosal cyto- and general protection. On the other hand, chemically-induced (ethanol, HCl, indomethacin) gastric mucosal damage is enhanced after acute surgical vagotomy. The aims of this paper were to study the possible mechanisms of the vagal nerve in the development of gastric mucosal defense. The following questions were addressed: 1) effect of surgical vagotomy on the development of ethanol- (ETOH), HCl-, and indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric mucosal damage; 2) changes in the gastric mucosal defense by scavengers, prostacyclin and other compounds (small doses of atropine and cimetidine: 3) changes in the gastric mucosal vascular permeability due to chemicals; 4) effect of indomethacin in the ETOH and HCl models with and without surgical vagotomy; 5) changes in the gastric mucosal content of prostacyclin and PGE₂ in the ETOH and HCl models after surgical vagotomy; and 6) changes in the role of SH-groups in gastric mucosal defense after surgical vagotomy. It was found that: 1) the gastric mucosal damage produced by chemicals (ETOH, HCl, and indomethacin) was enhanced after surgical vagotomy; 2) the cyto- and general gastric protective effects of β-carotene, prostacyclin, and small doses of atropine and cimetidine disappeared after surgical vagotomy; 3) the vascular permeability due to chemicals (ETOH, HCl, indomethacin) significantly increased after surgical vagotomy in association with an increase in both number and severity of gastric mucosal lesions; 4) IND alone (in animals with an intact vagus) did not produce gastric mucosal lesions (in 1-h experiments), but it aggravated ETOH-induced gastric mucosal damage (both its number and severity); 5) the gastric mucosal levels of prostacyclin and PGE₂ decreased after surgical vagotomy; 6) IND application (after surgical vagotomy) decreased further the tissue levels of prostacyclin and PGE₂ in association with an increase of gastric mucosal damage; and 7) the gastric mucosal protective effects of SH-groups were abolished by surgical vagotomy.     

Deletion analysis of the SUP35 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals two non-overlapping functional regions in the encoded protein

SUP35is an omnipotent suppressor gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae coding for a protein consisting of a C-terminal part similar to the elongation factor EF-1α and a unique N-terminal sequence of 253 amino acids. Twelve truncated versions of the SUP35 gene were generated by the deletion of fragments internal to the coding sequence. Functional studies of these deletion mutants showed that: (i) only the EF-1α-like C-terminal part of the Sup35 protein is essential for the cell viability; (ii) overexpression of either the N-terminal part of the Sup35 protein or the full-length Sup35 protein decreases translational fidelity, resulting in omnipotent suppression and reduced growth of [psi⁺] strains; (iii) expression of the C-terminal part of the Sup35 protein generates an antisuppressor phenotype; and (iv) both the N- or C-terminal segments of the Sup35 protein can bind to 80S ribosomes. Thus, the data obtained define two domains within the Sup35 protein which are responsible for different functions.