„Plasmaamöben“ in geschleuderter Spirogyra

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

A girl with karyotype 46,XX,del(7) (qter→p15:)

Summary A girl with partial deletion of the short arms of one chromosome 7 is described. Among many other symptoms she has craniosynostosis. Early closure of cranio-sutures has previously been described in 2 of 3 patients with partial deletion 7. Investigation of a number of genetic marker systems shows that the HL-A, MN, AcP, and GPT loci are not located in the deleted segment.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Mädchen mit teilweiser Deletion des kurzen Armes eines Chromosoms 7 beschrieben. Außer vielen anderen Symptomen hat sie eine Craniosynostose. Frühzeitiger Verschluß der Schädelnähte wurde auch bei 2 von 3 Patienten mit Deletion 7, die in der Literatur beschrieben sind, beobachtet. Untersuchung einer Reihe genetischer Markersysteme zeigt, daß die HL-A-, MN-, AcP- und GPT-loci nicht in dem deletierten Segment liegen.

     

Possible Causes of a Harbour Porpoise Mass Stranding in Danish Waters in 2005

An unprecedented 85 harbour porpoises stranded freshly dead along approximately 100 km of Danish coastline from 7–15 April, 2005. This total is considerably above the mean weekly stranding rate for the whole of Denmark, both for any time of year, 1.23 animals/week (ranging from 0 to 20 during 2003–2008, excluding April 2005), and specifically in April, 0.65 animals/week (0 to 4, same period). Bycatch was established as the cause of death for most of the individuals through typical indications of fisheries interactions, including net markings in the skin and around the flippers, and loss of tail flukes. Local fishermen confirmed unusually large porpoise bycatch in nets set for lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) and the strandings were attributed to an early lumpfish season. However, lumpfish catches for 2005 were not unusual in terms of season onset, peak or total catch, when compared to 2003–2008. Consequently, human activity was combined with environmental factors and the variation in Danish fisheries landings (determined through a principal component analysis) in a two-part statistical model to assess the correlation of these factors with both the presence of fresh strandings and the numbers of strandings on the Danish west coast. The final statistical model (which was forward selected using Akaike information criterion; AIC) indicated that naval presence is correlated with higher rates of porpoise strandings, particularly in combination with certain fisheries, although it is not correlated with the actual presence of strandings. Military vessels from various countries were confirmed in the area from the 7th April, en route to the largest naval exercise in Danish waters to date (Loyal Mariner 2005, 11–28 April). Although sonar usage cannot be confirmed, it is likely that ships were testing various equipment prior to the main exercise. Thus naval activity cannot be ruled out as a possible contributing factor.     

Microbial mutagenicity of selected hydrazines

Selected hydrazines and related compounds were examined for their mutagenic activity in S. typhimurium strains TA1535 and TA1537. These in vitro assays were conducted with and without metabolic activation by Aroclor-induced rat-liver enzymes. Relatively high levels of mutagenicity were observed with phenylhydrazine X HCl, methylhydrazine, N'-acetyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine, and 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, the stabilized salt of a carcinogenic metabolite of agaritine; only low levels of mutagenicity were observed with other compounds, although most are strong carcinogens. Several of the compounds were highly toxic to the bacteria, and detection of mutagenicity was enhanced by calculating the increase in mutagenic activity on the basis of the surviving fractions of bacteria.     

Tissue compatibility in regenerating explants from the colonial marine hydroid Hydractinia echinata (Flem.)

Artificially maintained colonies of the colonial marine hydroid Hydractinia echinata are endogenously limited in lateral growth and usually develop in a circular pattern with a closed periderm. Further lateral growth consists of free stolons. Preliminary studies of tissue compatibility in regenerating explants indicate that fusion generally fails to occur if the opposing explants are of differing sex, from different individuals of the same sex, or if peripheral explant contact occurs after free stolons have begun to form. Of the three aforementioned causes of fusion failure, the most important factor appears to be the timing of peripheral explant contact. If regenerating explants contact each other before the endogenous circular growth pattern is achieved, fusion will occur regardless of sex and/or individuality. Incompatibility between explants from the same individual may be because of periderm development inhibition in some instances. However, the failure of free stolon fusion between explants from the same individual suggests the development of “temporal specificity” once the endogenous limit of lateral growth is achieved.     

Development and validation of genetic markers for sex and cannabinoid chemotype in Cannabis sativa L.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging dioecious crop grown primarily for grain, fiber, and cannabinoids. There is good evidence for medicinal benefits of the most abundant cannabinoid in hemp, cannabidiol (CBD). For CBD production, female plants producing CBD but not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are desired. We developed and validated high‐throughput PACE (PCR Allele Competitive Extension) assays for C. sativa plant sex and cannabinoid chemotype. The sex assay was validated across a wide range of germplasm and resolved male plants from female and monoecious plants. The cannabinoid chemotype assay revealed segregation in hemp populations, and resolved plants producing predominantly THC, predominantly CBD, and roughly equal amounts of THC and CBD. Cultivar populations that were thought to be stabilized for CBD production were found to be segregating phenotypically and genotypically. Many plants predominantly producing CBD accumulated more than the current US legal limit of 0.3% THC by dry weight. These assays and data provide potentially useful tools for breeding and early selection of hemp.     

Symbiosis of cornulitids with the cystoporate bryozoan Fistulipora in the Pridoli of Saaremaa,Estonia

Cornulites sp. and Fistulipora przhidolensis formed a symbiotic association in the Pridoli (latest Silurian) of Saaremaa Island, Estonia. This Cornulites sp.–F. przhidolensis association is the youngest example of cornulitid–bryozoan symbiosis. Symbiosis is indicated by intergrowth of both organisms. The cornulitids are completely embedded within the cystoporate bryozoan colony, leaving only their apertures free on the growth surface of bryozoan. In terms of food competition, this association could have been slightly harmful to F. przhidolensis as Cornulites sp. may have been a kleptoparasite. There may have been a small escalation in the evolution of the endobiotic life mode of cornulitids as the number of such associations increased from the Ordovician to Silurian. It is likely that Palaeozoic bryozoan symbiosis reached its maximum in the Late Ordovician. Most of the symbiotic bryozoans in the Palaeozoic are trepostomes, and the diversity of symbiotic associations was also greatest among trepostomes.     

PACAP and PAC1 Receptor Expression in Human Insulinomas

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with widespread occurrence and diverse functions. PACAP...     

Engagement of SIRPα Inhibits Growth and Induces Programmed Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Background

Recent studies show the importance of interactions between CD47 expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and the inhibitory immunoreceptor, signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages. Although AML cells express SIRPα, its function has not been investigated in these cells. In this study we aimed to determine the role of the SIRPα in acute myeloid leukemia.

Design and Methods

We analyzed the expression of SIRPα, both on mRNA and protein level in AML patients and we further investigated whether the expression of SIRPα on two low SIRPα expressing AML cell lines could be upregulated upon differentiation of the cells. We determined the effect of chimeric SIRPα expression on tumor cell growth and programmed cell death by its triggering with an agonistic antibody in these cells. Moreover, we examined the efficacy of agonistic antibody in combination with established antileukemic drugs.

Results

By microarray analysis of an extensive cohort of primary AML samples, we demonstrated that SIRPα is differentially expressed in AML subgroups and its expression level is dependent on differentiation stage, with high levels in FAB M4/M5 AML and low levels in FAB M0–M3. Interestingly, AML patients with high SIRPα expression had a poor prognosis. Our results also showed that SIRPα is upregulated upon differentiation of NB4 and Kasumi cells. In addition, triggering of SIRPα with an agonistic antibody in the cells stably expressing chimeric SIRPα, led to inhibition of growth and induction of programmed cell death. Finally, the SIRPα-derived signaling synergized with the activity of established antileukemic drugs.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that triggering of SIRPα has antileukemic effect and may function as a potential therapeutic target in AML.