Genetic relationships betweenLupinus pilosus andL. palaestinus (Fabaceae)

Lupinus pilosus Murr. andL. palaestinus Boiss., are both East Mediterranean annuals, greatly resemble each other in morphology, and have the same chromosome number (2n = 42). Some fertile hybrids can be formed by artificial hybridization or under unusual habitat conditions. Isolation in nature between the species is, however, maintained by prevalent selfing, partial reproductive barriers and genic imbalance, together with differences in ecological requirements. It is suggested that this speciation pattern which includes little morphological and hardly any chromosomal divergence might have occurred in other cases of edaphic vicariants too.     

Micropatterned thin film honeycomb materials from regiospecifically modified cellulose

Thin film honeycomb materials were prepared from regioselectively modified celluloses. The method uses water condensation at the surface of a cellulosic solution as an ordered template to form honeycomb structures. Pore size and distribution is controlled by several factors, one of which is the hydrophilicity of the cellulosic used. The amphiphilic nature of the celluloses was modified with varying lengths of ethylene glycol side chains using 2,6-thexyldimethylsilyl cellulose. It was found that the side chains do affect the honeycomb formation, with longer ethylene glycol chains leading to increased pore uniformity but having little influence on the pore size.     

Ferritin-bearing lymphocytes and T-cell levels in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer

Summary Peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing surface ferritin and thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) levels were determined in 15 breast cancer patients in stage I–II, 5 in stage III, 10 with benign breast disease, 4 with Thalassaemia, and 25 normal controls. The results of this study demonstrate that a subpopulation of lymphocytes (16.6%) bearing surface ferritin was found in patients with breast cancer in stage I–II. None were demonstrated in patients with either benign breast disease, or with Thalassaemia, the latter known to have high serum ferritin levels, and almost none (1.7%) in normal individuals. A significant decrease in the percentage of ERFC as compared with the percentage of T cells, determined with anti-T cell antiserum (P<0.01), was observed in patients with breast cancer in stage I–II. Yet, the mean T-cell percentage in this group of patients was significantly higher than the mean percentage of T cells in normal controls (P<0.01). In patients with benign breast disease, the percentage of T cells corresponded to the percentage of ERFC and did not significantly differ from those in normals. Stage III breast cancer patients seem to constitute a biologically distinct group, since the ferritin-positive lymphocyte subpopulation disappeared and the percentage of ERFC and T cells returned to the values of normal controls.Overnight incubation of lymphocytes from patients exhibiting a ferritin-positive lymphocyte subpopulation in culture media containing 20% FCS resulted in the removal of ferritin from the surface of the cells and in restoration of the percentage of ERFC.     

Lactate level as an index of the severity of the condition in massive hemorrhage]

Dynamics of the lactate, pyruvate, organic acid concentrations and of the L/P ratio in the blood was studied in 22 patients with massive blood loss and in 13 experimental dogs during the terminal states (bloos loss equal to 50+/-5.3 ml/kg weight) and during the post-reanimation period. Comparison of clinical and experimental data gives reasons to believe that the maximum lactate increase (70--80 mg%) during the early restorative period after clinical death does not necessarily predict the lethal issue. Nevertheless, the critical level of blood lactic acid (if the clinical death had not as yet developed) could serve as a prognostic criterion. The long-term increase in the lactate level could also serve as an unfavourable prognosis.     

The annual species ofAdonis (Ranunculaceae)—a polyploid complex

The five annual species ofAdonis L., sect.Adonis, growing in Israel, form a series of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid species. Their somatic chromosome numbers are 2n = 16 inA. annua L.,A. dentata Del. andA. palaestina Boiss., 2n = 32 inA. microcarpa DC., 2n = 48 inA. aestivalis L.; counts forA. dentata, A. palaestina andA. microcarpa are new records. There are indications that alloploidization may have been involved in the process of speciation in sect.Adonis. A taxonomic survey of the 8 species of the section reveals that a higher ploidy level is usually combined with a larger distribution area.     

Dominance and non-complementation among pink-adenineless mutants of Schizophyllum commune involving two discrete genes

Summary In Schizophyllum commune, adenineless mutations conferring pink color fell into two loosely linked loci, ad-4 and ad-7. The mutations were tested for dominance and complementation in dikaryons, and several of the ad-7 mutations were found to be partly dominant over their wild allele and noncomplementary with mutations of the ad-4 locus. The dominance and at least one case of intergenic noncomplementation were verified by quantitative tests.This research was partly supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant No. A10-CR-66.     

Competitive ability as a function of sensitivity to the environment I. Competition betweenTribolium castaneum andTribolium confusum in a deteriorating environment

Summary Tribolium castaneum lines selected for high and for low sensitivity to the environment were observed in pure strain culture and in mixed 1∶1 cultures withTribolium confusm. Since the medium was not refreshed during the experiment, the environment was continuously deteriorating and ultimately both species became extinct. Both time until extinction and total dry weight were used as a measure of competitive ability. AllTribolium castaneum lines showed higher competitive ability thanTribolium confusum. As interference was noted in all the mixed cultures, competition here demonstrates both exploitation and interference. Comparisons between theT. castaneum lines indicates higher competitive ability for lines with shorter developmental time.     

Regulation of Elg1 activity by phosphorylation

ELG1 is a conserved gene with important roles in the maintenance of genome stability. Elg1''s activity prevents gross chromosomal rearrangements, maintains proper telomere length regulation, helps repairing DNA damage created by a number of genotoxins and participates in sister chromatid cohesion. Elg1 is evolutionarily conserved, and its Fanconi Anemia-related mammalian ortholog (also known as ATAD5) is embryonic lethal when lost in mice and acts as a tumor suppressor in mice and humans. Elg1 encodes a protein that forms an RFC-like complex that unloads the replicative clamp, PCNA, from DNA, mainly in its SUMOylated form. We have identified 2 different regions in yeast Elg1 that undergo phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of one of them, S112, is dependent on the ATR yeast ortholog, Mec1, and probably is a direct target of this kinase. We show that phosphorylation of Elg1 is important for its role at telomeres. Mutants unable to undergo phosphorylation suppress the DNA damage sensitivity of Δrad5 mutants, defective for an error-free post-replicational bypass pathway. This indicates a role of phosphorylation in the regulation of DNA repair. Our results open the way to investigate the mechanisms by which the activity of Elg1 is regulated during DNA replication and in response to DNA damage.     

Clinical Guidelines for Management of Bone Health in Rett Syndrome Based on Expert Consensus and Available Evidence

Objectives

We developed clinical guidelines for the management of bone health in Rett syndrome through evidence review and the consensus of an expert panel of clinicians.

Methods

An initial guidelines draft was created which included statements based upon literature review and 11 open-ended questions where literature was lacking. The international expert panel reviewed the draft online using a 2-stage Delphi process to reach consensus agreement. Items describe the clinical assessment of bone health, bone mineral density assessment and technique, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Results

Agreement was reached on 39 statements which were formulated from 41 statements and 11 questions. When assessing bone health in Rett syndrome a comprehensive assessment of fracture history, mutation type, prescribed medication, pubertal development, mobility level, dietary intake and biochemical bone markers is recommended. A baseline densitometry assessment should be performed with accommodations made for size, with the frequency of surveillance determined according to individual risk. Lateral spine x-rays are also suggested. Increasing physical activity and initiating calcium and vitamin D supplementation when low are the first approaches to optimizing bone health in Rett syndrome. If individuals with Rett syndrome meet the ISCD criterion for osteoporosis in children, the use of bisphosphonates is recommended.

Conclusion

A clinically significant history of fracture in combination with low bone densitometry findings is necessary for a diagnosis of osteoporosis. These evidence and consensus-based guidelines have the potential to improve bone health in those with Rett syndrome, reduce the frequency of fractures, and stimulate further research that aims to ameliorate the impacts of this serious comorbidity.     

Effect of oxazaborolidines on immobilized fructosyltransferase analyzed by surface plasmon resonance

Dental diseases are among the most prevalent afflictions of humankind. These diseases are associated with the formation of biofilms harboring pathogenic bacteria. Fructosyltransferases (FTF) are extra cellular enzymes of several oral bacteria. FTF are associated with the formation of extracellular polysaccharide matrix (fructans) which play a role in biofilm formation and oral bacteria physiology. Oxazaborolidines have been shown to inhibit biofilm formation. The purpose of this study was to examine if the anti-biofilm effect is, in part, an effect on the immobilized enzymes synthesizing the extra cellular polysaccharide participating in biofilm formation. Eight different oxazaborolidines (BNO1-BNO8) were synthesized and evaluated for their affect on the synthesis of fructans by FTF using the biomolecular interaction analysis (BIAcore) system which involves the use of real-time surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. The tested oxazaborolidines demonstrated a significant and immediate inhibitory effect on immobilized FTF activity. This effect was reversible. Our results show that oxazaborolidines can act as enzymatic inhibitors of FTF immobilized on the surface, also at levels lower than their MIC. Part of the anti-biofilm effect of BNOs may be accounted for this enzymatic inhibition.