Ascospores of large-spored Metschnikowia species are genuine meiotic products of these yeasts

The asci of Metschnikowia species normally contain two ascospores (never more), raising the question of whether these spores are true meiotic products. We investigated this problem by crossing genetically-marked strains of the haploid, heterothallic taxa Metschnikowia hawaiiensis, Metschnikowia continentalis var. continentalis, and M. continentalis var. borealis. Asci were dissected and the segregation patterns for various phenotypes analyzed. In all cases (n = 47) both mating types (h+ and h-) were recovered in pairs of sister spores, casting further uncertainty as to whether normal meiosis takes place. However, the segregation patterns for cycloheximide resistance and several auxotrophic markers were random, suggesting that normal meiosis indeed occurs. To explain the lack of second-division segregation of mating types, we concluded that crossing-over does not occur between the mating-type locus and the centromere, and that meiosis I is tied to spore formation, which explains why the number of spores is limited to two. The latter assumption was also supported by fluorescence microscopy. The second meiotic division takes place inside the spores and is followed by the resorption of two nuclei, one in each spore.     

Reproductive abnormalities in tsetse flies in Zimbabwe

Between November 1988 and July 1995 five technicians carried out ovarian dissections on 16,013 Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and 123,848 G. pallidipes Austen captured at Rekomitjie Research Station, Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. The ovarian age and uterine content were recorded, as were the lengths (l₁, l₂ and l_u) of the largest and second largest oocyte, and of any uterine inclusion. Major abnormalities and abnormal spermathecal contents were found in <0.1% of all flies dissected. Apparent abortions rates varied significantly between dissectors and occurred at frequencies of 0.8–4.5% in G. m. morsitans and 0.3–2.8% in G. pallidipes. The lowest estimates give the best picture of the field situation. Abortion rates were higher in flies caught on electric nets than in trapped flies where the rate was only 0.15%, indicating that reproductive losses are negligible for most of the year at Rekomitjie. The rates did, however, increase to >2% when mean temperatures exceeded 27°C and flies were captured in artificial refuges. There was little effect of ovarian age on the abortion rate, but the frequency of empty uteri declined markedly with age – with a suggestion, however, that it might increase again in the oldest flies. A knowledge of the rates of reproductive loss is important for the construction of realistic models of the dynamics of tsetse populations.     

经胸超声胸骨右缘切面对Stanford A型主动脉夹层诊断价值的研究

目的:通过经胸超声心动图获取胸骨右缘升主动脉长短轴切面观察Stanford A型主动脉夹层患者的升主动脉结构,探讨对该类患者进行检查时该切面的应用价值。方法:31例经CTA或手术证实为A型主动脉夹层的连续性患者,超声心动图检查除常规通过胸骨左缘切面观察升主动脉结构外,均做胸骨右缘切面以进一步观察升主动脉结构,包括最大内径,有无撕脱内膜及内膜活动情况,同时应用常规胸骨左缘切面和胸骨右缘切面对A型主动脉夹层能够清晰显示出的病例比例加以比较。结果:胸骨左缘切面能够清晰显示升主动脉结构9例,占比例29%。胸骨右缘切面能够清晰显示升主动脉结构20例,比例65%。将两种切面结合能够清晰显示升主动脉结构的比例升高到74%。胸骨右缘肋间切面测得的升主动脉最大径线数值与CTA结果的一致性更好。结论:胸骨右缘肋间切面对A型主动脉夹层显示的清晰度更好,有助于临床诊断,具有重要的参考价值,值得临床广泛推广。     

医用生物胶黏合封堵乳糜瘘10例的临床效果观察

目的:评价颈淋巴清扫术中应用医用生物胶黏合周围自体肌肉组织封堵胸导管瘘口预防术后乳糜瘘的临床疗效及安全性。方法:选择2005年1月~2012年4月我科收治的10例口腔癌患者,在颈淋巴清扫术中发现并确诊为乳糜瘘后,立即行瘘口缝扎并应用医用生物胶黏合周围自体肌肉组织封堵瘘口,观察其临床效果及不良反应的发生情况。结果:经此方法治疗后,10例患者术中术后均未出现乳糜瘘及其他严重并发症;2例患者经此法治疗无效后,二次手术探查行瘘口缝扎及应用医用生物胶黏合封堵治疗后有效。术后随访10例患者3个月均未发现有乳糜瘘复发,亦未出现局部刺激反应及变态反应。结论:术中医用生物胶黏合封堵胸导管瘘口是预防颈淋巴结清扫术后乳糜瘘理想、安全的治疗方法。     

Measurement of grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) trachea via magnetic resonance imaging,dissection, and electron beam computed tomography

To produce a model to explain the acoustic properties of human speech sounds produced by Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and to compare these properties across species (e.g., with humans, other psittacine and nonpsittacine mimics), researchers need adequate measurements of the chambers that constitute the parrot vocal tract. Various methods can provide such data. Here we compare results for tracheal measurements provided by a) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a live bird, b) caliper measurements of four preserved specimens, and c) electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) of three of these preserved specimens. We find that EBCT scans provide data that correspond to the inner area of the dissected trachea, whereas MRI results correspond to area measurements that include tracheal ring thickness. We briefly discuss how these data may predict formant values for Grey parrot reproduction of human vowels. Our results suggest how noninvasive techniques can be used for cross-species comparisons, including the coevolution of structure and function in avian mimicry. J. Morphol. 238:81–91, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fibulin-5在主动脉夹层血管壁中表达异常

目的:研究Stanford A型主动脉夹层(aortic dissection,AD)升主动脉和正常升主动脉血管组织中Fibulin-5表达的差异。方法:收集Stanford A型AD患者手术中切除的升主动脉血管组织标本12例(AD组),多器官捐献患者升主动脉血管12例(对照组)。采用EVG染色观察主动脉中膜弹性纤维形态结构;应用SP免疫组织化学法及Western blot法对标本组织中的Fibulin-5进行检测分析。结果:AD组主动脉中膜弹性纤维形态和排列不规则、破碎、丢失,结构紊乱。免疫组织化学显示Fibulin-5阳性表达见于主动脉壁平滑肌细胞胞质中,AD组与对照组比较,Fibulin-5表达明显较少。Western blot蛋白印迹示AD组Fibulin-5表达明显减少,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:Fibulin-5在AD主动脉中膜中表达下调,可能在AD的发生中发挥作用。     

A Novel Scoring System for the Risk of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Metastases in Lymph Nodes Posterior to the Right of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

ObjectiveSome surgeons believe that dissection posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node (PRRLN-LN) is unnecessary for the low metastasis rate and high complication risk. However, persistent metastatic lymph nodes may have a higher recurrence rate, surgical risk, and complications. Thus, it is important to distinguish patients who require PRRLN-LN dissection. To identify the risk factors for lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve metastasis (LN-prRLN) and establish a scoring system to help determine whether PRRLN-LN dissection is required in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods821 participants were randomly allocated to the development and validation cohorts in a 2:1 ratio. A nomogram-based predictive model for LN-prRLN was established based on the risk factors identified in the development cohort.ResultsLN-prRLN was diagnosed pathologically in 124 of 821 patients (15.1%) from the entire cohort. Multivariate analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR], 0.964; 95% CI, 0.945-0.983; P < .001), tumor size (OR, 1.536; 95% CI, 1.135-2.079; P = .005), extrathyroidal extension (OR 2.271, 95% CI, 1.368-3.770; P = .002), clinically involved right central compartment lymph node metastasis (OR 1.643, 95% CI, 1.055-2.559; P = .028), and right lateral lymph node metastasis (OR 4.271, 95% CI, 2.325-7.844; P < .001) as the predictors of LN-prRLN. A risk model was established and well validated. Calibration curves to evaluate the nomogram in both the development and validation cohorts revealed a concordance index of 0.756 ± 0.058 and 0.745 ± 0.042, respectively.ConclusionOur scoring system may be useful for helping the surgeons decide which patients should undergo the dissection of PRRLN-LN.