Stereotactic radiotherapy for lung oligometastases

30–60% of cancer patients develop lung metastases, mostly from primary tumors in the colon-rectum, lung, head and neck area, breast and kidney. Nowadays, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT ) is considered the ideal modality for treating pulmonary metastases.When lung metastases are suspected, complete disease staging includes a total body computed tomography (CT ) and/or positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET -CT ) scan. PET -CT has higher specificity and sensitivity than a CT scan when investigating mediastinal lymph nodes, diagnosing a solitary lung lesion and detecting distant metastases. For treatment planning, a multi-detector planning CT scan of the entire chest is usually performed, with or without intravenous contrast media or esophageal lumen opacification, especially when central lesions have to be irradiated. Respiratory management is recommended in lung SRT, taking the breath cycle into account in planning and delivery. For contouring, co-registration and/or matching planning CT and diagnostic images (as provided by contrast enhanced CT or PET-CT ) are useful, particularly for central tumors. Doses and fractionation schedules are heterogeneous, ranging from 33 to 60 Gy in 3–6 fractions. Independently of fractionation schedule, a BED₁₀ > 100 Gy is recommended for high local control rates. Single fraction SRT (ranges 15–30 Gy) is occasionally administered, particularly for small lesions. SRT provides tumor control rates of up to 91% at 3 years, with limited toxicities.The present overview focuses on technical and clinical aspects related to treatment planning, dose constraints, outcome and toxicity of SRT for lung metastases.     

长白落叶松人工林热值及其能量现存量

采用量热法对5个径级的长白落叶松各器官热值进行测定,结合生物量的数据,对长白落叶松的能量现存量进行研究。结果表明:长白落叶松各器官能量现存量模型W=aD~b最适推算长白落叶松的能量现存量。长白落叶松各器官热值的测定结果显示:枝皮干叶根。各器官的能量现存量呈现:干根皮枝叶的规律,能量现存总量1988.39×10~9J/hm~2,地上部分能量现存量远远高于地下部分,主要集中在0—12 m的树段,地下部分主要集中在粗根和根坨。对比5个径级根系的能量现存量,20径级根系的能量现存量最大(187.73×10~9J/hm~2),8径级根系的能量现存量最小(7.72×10~9J/hm~2)。对比5个径级长白落叶松的能量现存量,16径级的能量现存量最大(723.45×10~9J/hm~2),8径级的能量现存量最小(46.58×10~9J/hm~2)。对比长白落叶松和樟子松的能量现存量可知:长白落叶松小于樟子松。     

Continual neurogenesis of vomeronasal neurons in vitro

We developed a culture system of vomeronasal neurons in which continuous degeneration and regeneration of axon bundles were observed. Partially dissociated vomeronasal cells from rat embryonic day 15 were grown in culture and formed a miniature vomeronasal‐like epithelium. We called these structures vomeronasal pockets. They contained both vomeronasal neurons and supporting cells. They formed a spherical structure with a central cavity where microvilli protruded from supporting cells. Mature vomeronasal neurons with well‐developed microvilli were not observed in the vomeronasal pocket. The time period between degeneration of axon bundles and the next was about 2 weeks. When vomeronasal pockets were incubated with 5 µg/mL aphidicolin, an inhibitor of cell division, regeneration of axon bundles was not observed after degeneration. These results suggest that vomeronasal neurons in culture undergo continuous regeneration but do not fully mature. In this culture system, vomeronasal pockets survived for over 1 year. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 40: 226–233, 1999     

First documentation of flehmen in a common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

A male common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) was observed giving a flehmen grimace on 14 occasions in July and August of 1998 at the Denver Zoo. Twelve instances of flehmen occurred after anogenital investigation of the female as she was exiting the pool. The two other instances of flehmen occurred in the terrestrial portion of the enclosure after the male examined samples of the female's freshly voided urine. The frequency of flehmen increased as the female approached estrus. Flehmen in common hippos may be an example of an evolutionary remnant. Zoo Biol 18:415–420, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Distribution and morphology of the ampullary organs of the salmontail catfish,Arius graeffei

Whole body staining of Arius graeffei revealed that ampullary pores cover the body with their highest densities occurring on the head and lowest densities on the mid‐ventral surface. Each ampullary organ consists of a long canal (0.2–1.75 mm) passing perpendicular to the basement membrane, through the epidermis into underlying dermal connective tissues, curving thereafter to run roughly parallel to the epidermis. Histochemical staining techniques (Alcian blue and Lillie′s allochrome) indicate that the canals contain a neutral to acidic glycoprotein‐based mucopolysaccharide gel that varies in composition along the length of the canal. Collagen fibers, arranged in a sheath, surround a layer of squamous epithelium that lines each ampullary canal. At the proximal end of the canal, squamous cells are replaced by cuboidal epithelial cells that protrude into the lumen, thus constricting the lumen to form a small pore into the ampulla. The ampulla is lined with receptor and supportive cells. The numerous (60–120) pear‐shaped receptor cells bear microvilli on their luminal surface. Two forms of receptor cells exist in each ampullary organ: basal and equatorial receptor cells. Each receptor cell is connected to an unmyelinated nerve. Each receptor cell is surrounded by supportive cells on all but the apex. Tight junctions and underlying desmosomes occur between adjacent receptor and supportive cells. This form of ampullary organ has not previously been described for teleosts. J. Morphol. 239:97–105, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

电鳐电器官的蝮蛇突触前神经毒素结合蛋白的一些结合性质

电鳐（Ｔｏｒｐｅｄｏｃａｌｉｆｏｒｎｉｃａ）的电器官是一种富含突触的组织．将这种电器官的粗制膜悬液与同位素１２５Ｉ标记的β－蝮蛇神经毒素进行结合实验,结果表明这种电器官中存在相对含量较高的毒素结合位点,Ｂｍａｘ为１１５０ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ,ＫＤ为２．８×１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ．响尾蛇神经毒素和β－银环蛇神经毒素对其结合作用的抑制实验显示,前者与β－蝮蛇神经毒素有共同的结合位点,后者的作用位点则不同．提示β－蝮蛇神经毒素结合位点可能涉及一种新的参与突触前递质释放机制的功能蛋白     

Physiology of vibration-sensitive afferents in the femoral chordotonal organ of the stick insect

The femoral chordotonal organ in orthopterans signals proprioceptive sensory information concerning the femur-tibia joint to the central nervous system. In the stick insect, 80 out of 500 afferents sense tibial position, velocity, or acceleration. It has been assumed that the other sensory cells in the chordotonal organ would serve as vibration detectors. Extracellular recordings from the femoral chordotonal organ nerve in fact revealed a sensitivity of the sense organ for vibrations with frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 4 kHz, with a maximum sensitivity between 200 and 800 Hz. Single vibration-sensitive afferents responded to the same range of frequencies. Their spike activity depended on acceleration amplitude and displacement amplitude of the vibration stimulus. Additionally, 80% of the vibration-sensitive afferents received indirect presynaptic inputs from themselves or from other afferents of the femoral chordotonal organ, the amplitude of which depended on stimulus frequency and displacement amplitude. They were associated with a decrease of input resistance in the afferent terminal. From the present investigation we conclude that the femoral chordotonal organ of the stick insect is a bifunctional sensory organ that, on the one hand, measures position and movement of the tibia and, on the other hand, detects vibration of the tibia. Accepted: 6 November 1998     

Genetic stability of hairy root cultures of Datura stramonium

The karyotypic status of three root lines, transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, versus a non-transformed root line of Datura stramonium, as well as grown plants (control), was investigated. In the transformed cultures, the karyotype as well as the number of chromosomes (2n = 24) remained the same as in the control plants. In the normal root line there were clear differences at a morphological level despite showing the same chromosomic number (2n = 24) at a high frequency. The existence of aneuploids (2n = 2n ± x) and tetraploids (2n = 4x = 48) was also observed in the latter. The frequency of chromosomic alterations was very low in all the cultures. Cytogenetic analysis of the transformed root cultures of D. stramonium reported here shows a great chromosomic stability, which is not the case with normal root cultures. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.