Seasonal changes in the distribution of gonadal lipids and spermatogenetic tissue in the male phase of Monopterus albus (Pisces: Teleostei)

The gonad of Monopterus albus undergoes cyclical changes after the reversal of sex from female to male. The seasonally variable events include a prenuptial accumulation of cholesterol-positive lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of the interstitial cells when spermatogenetic activity is resumed in late February and early March. The development of the interstitial Leydig cells reaches a maximum in May just before spawning. There occurs a sudden depletion of the interstitial lipids during the breeding season in June at a time when the male animals exhibit active nuptial behaviour. After spermiation, the old interstitial cells degenerate, and during the succeeding phase of gonadal inactivity, become replaced by a new generation from connective tissue cells in the interstitium of the gonadal lamellae which gradually accumulate lipoidal material.
The lobular cycle comprises a postnuptial accumulation of amorphous intralobular lipids which become completely cleared in February when active spermatogenesis is restored. Spermatogenesis resumes shortly after spawning, but only advances as far as primary spermatocytes during the postnuptial period of inactivity.
The authors conclude that, as far as the seasonal variations in gonadal lipid distribution is concerned, the cycles in the gonad of the hermaphroditic teleost, M. albus , conform to the same pattern as those of the gonochoristic seasonal breeders studied.     

Psychosocial perception of adults with onychomycosis: a blinded,controlled comparison of 1,017 adult Hong Kong residents with or without onychomycosis

Background

A survey was conducted amongst 1,017 Hong Kong residents ages 18 and over to determine their knowledge of fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) and the psychosocial impact of the disease on the relationships, social lives and careers of sufferers.

Methods

The Fungal Nail Perception Survey was conducted by email and online between May 29th and June 10th, 2013. Participants were shown three photographs of people with and without onychomycosis of the toenails. Respondents were asked ten questions (repeated for each picture) to ascertain their perceptions of the people in the pictures. Questions were related to perceptions around the ability of sufferers and non-sufferers to form relationships with others, social activities of sufferers and non-sufferers, perceptions of the effect of the disease on the potential for career success, and awareness of fungal nail disease and health. The sub-population who themselves suffered from onychomycosis were asked about self-perception as well as their perception of others with onychomycosis.

Results

Compared with non-sufferers, survey respondents perceived those with onychomycosis as less likely to be able to form good relationships. They also indicated that they would be more likely to exclude sufferers than non-sufferers from social activities and that they would be more likely to feel uncomfortable when sitting or standing beside an infected person than beside an uninfected person. Respondents perceived people with onychomycosis to be less able to perform well in their chosen career than with someone without onychomycosis. Interestingly, those respondents who themselves were infected felt socially excluded, upset and embarrassed by their infection.

Conclusions

Onychomycosis may lead to stigmatization and social exclusion. Misconceptions of onychomycosis are high and education about the disease needs to be improved. Early recognition and treatment of the disease is essential to avoid complications and improve treatment outcomes, which would lead to reduced psychosocial impact on those with fungal nail infections.

     

The extraction and analysis of lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO, and three rough mutants.

Three spontaneously arising rough mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been isolated by selection for resistance to virulent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific bacteriophages. In addition, the first phages specific for rough mutants of P. aeruginosa were isolated. Using these phage and autoagglutination patterns in 4% NaCl and acriflavine, these mutants could be clearly distinguished from the wild-type strain and each other. Chemical analysis of the LPS together with chromatographic resolution of the polysaccharide moieties showed alterations in both O-specific side chains and core regions.     

Arylphthalazines as potent,and orally bioavailable inhibitors of VEGFR-2

A series of arylphthalazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as antagonists of VEGF receptor II (VEGFR-2). IM-094482 57, which was prepared in two steps from commercially available starting materials, was found to be a potent inhibitor of VEGFR-2 in enzymatic, cellular and mitogenic assays (comparable activity to ZD-6474). Additionally, 57 inhibited the related receptor, VEGF receptor I (VEGFR-1), and showed excellent exposure when dosed orally to female CD-1 mice.     

Modulation of Calmodulin mRNA and Protein Levels in Barley Aleurone

Changes in calmodulin (CaM) mRNA and protein were investigated in aleurone layers of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Himalaya) incubated in the presence and absence of calcium, gibberellic acid (GA3), and abscisic acid (ABA). CaM mRNA levels increased rapidly and transiently following incubation of aleurone layers in H2O, CaCl2, or GA3. The increase in CaM mRNA was prevented by ABA. This increase in CaM mRNA was brought about by physical stimulation during removal of the starchy endosperm from the aleurone layer. CaM protein levels did not increase in response to physical stimulation. Only incubation in GA3 plus CaCl2 brought about a rapid increase in CaM protein levels in the aleurone cell. ABA reduced the level of CaM protein below that found at the beginning of the incubation period. The rise in CaM protein preceded increases in the synthesis and secretion of [alpha]-amylase. Immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to carrot and mung bean CaM was used to localize CaM in aleurone protoplasts. Monoclonal antibodies to tubulin and polyclonal antibodies to tonoplast intrinsic protein and malate synthase were used as controls. CaM was localized to the nucleus, the vacuolar membrane, and the cytosol, but was not associated with microtubules.     

Microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic inflammatory T cells leads to down-regulation of microglial immune activation.

Apoptotic cell death is an established mechanism to terminate an inflammatory response in rodent or human brains. Microglia, as the resident phagocyte, is a strong candidate for the clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes. Apoptosis was induced in cultured autologous thymocytes and in myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific, encephalitogenic T cells from Lewis rats by the addition of 0.1 microg/ml methylprednisolone. The amount of phagocytosis of apoptotic cells was assessed using an in vitro phagocytosis assay. Supernatants were collected to measure microglial cytokine secretion. The state of immune activation in microglia was investigated by a T cell proliferation assay and by flow cytometric analysis of microglial surface expression of immune molecules. Microglia ingested specifically apoptotic cells (apoptotic thymocytes as well as MBP-specific T cells) in contrast to nonapoptotic control cells (p < 0.0001). Subsequent secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-12 was significantly decreased, while the secretion of IL-10 and TGF-beta was not affected. Furthermore, ingestion of apoptotic cells led to increased microglial MHC class II expression without concomitant increase in MHC class I, costimulatory molecules, and ICAM expression. The Ag-specific activation of MBP-specific T cells in cocultures with microglia that had ingested apoptotic cells was significantly less than that of identical T cells that interacted with nonphagocytosing microglia. Together with negative results obtained in a trans-well system, this is in support of a cell contact-mediated effect. Microglia might play an important role in the clearance of apoptotic cells. The uptake of apoptotic cells by microglia is tolerogenic and results in a reduced proinflammatory cytokine production and a reduced activation of encephalitogenic T cells. This might help to restrict an autoimmune inflammation and minimize damage in the inflamed brain.