Urinary cytologic abnormalities in bone marrow transplant recipients of cyclosporin

The role of urinary cytology in the early diagnosis of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity was studied in 20 bone marrow transplant recipients. There was an evident cyclosporin cytopathy in 35% of bone marrow transplant recipients examined, consisting mainly of degenerative and necrotic abnormalities in cells of the proximal convoluted tubules seen in urinary samples. These findings regressed to normal after reduction of the cyclosporin dose. Urinary cytology proved to be a useful method for the early diagnosis of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity.     

MIB-1 and S-phase cell fraction predict survival in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The monoclonal antibody anti-Ki67 is used to detect proliferating cells, but its main limitation is the requirement of fresh-frozen material. On a series of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we used a Ki67 equivalent monoclonal antibody, the recently proposed MIB-1, on formalin-fixed histopathological material using microwave antigen retrieval. MIB-1 expression was analysed in relation to other proliferation indices, such as autoradiographic ³H-thymidine labelling index (³HTL1) and flow cytometric S-phase cell fraction (FCM-S) and to pathological status. Moreover, the prognostic relevance of the cell kinetic indices was defined in uni- and multivariate analyses including histology and tumour stage. The relationship between MIB-1 index and the other proliferation indices was statistically significant even though the correlation coefficient was around 0.6. The MIB-1 index was also related to the REAL (Revised European American Lymphoma) classification, but not to the Ann Arbor stage classification. Univariate analysis showed that the MIB-1 index was a significant predictor of 6-year survival in the overall series and in distinctly analysed low-grade and high-grade lymphoma subgroups. With regard to S-phase indices, ³HTLI was a powerful prognosticator in patients with high-grade histologies and FCM-S in patients with low-grade histologies. Multivariate analyses revealed that MIB-1 indiex, ³HTLI and FCM-S retained their prognostic significance independent of histology. In conclusion, the MIB-1 antibody provides prognostic information in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and has the main advantage that it can be used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.     

Reactivity of the cerebral resistance and capacitance vessels and blood-brain water exchange in the experimental brain injury

In conclusion, an estimate of the intracranial volumetric effects produced in anesthetized dogs by histamine, acetylcholine and CO2 shows that, on a basis of equiactivity on CBF, the effects of histamine on the intracranial content are twice greater than those produced by acetylcholine and CO2. This difference may be explained by a greater activity of histamine on the intracranial capacitance vessels and/or by an increase in the fluid escape from blood to the brain produced by histamine. Data obtained after the production of an acute, cold induced brain lesion support the second possibility.     

Purification and properties of carnitine acetyltransferase from human liver

Carnitine acetyltransferase was purified from the supernatant obtained after centrifugation of human liver homogenate to a final specific activity of 78.75 unit.mg-1 with acetyl-CoA as a substrate. Human carnitine acetyltransferase is a monomer of 60.5 kDa with maximum activity in the presence of propionyl-CoA and a pH optimum of 8.7. Apparent Km values for acetyl-CoA are three times lower than for decanoyl-CoA. Km values for L-carnitine in the presence of acetyl-CoA are six times lower than in the presence of decanoyl-CoA. Km values for acetylcarnitine are three times lower than for octanoylcarnitine. The polyclonal antibodies against human carnitine acetyltransferase recognize a 60.5-kDa peptide in the purified preparation of human liver and brain homogenates and in immunoblots of mitochondrial and peroxisomal fractions from human liver. Immunoprecipitation and SDS/PAGE analysis of 35S-labelled proteins produced by human fibroblasts indicate that mitochondrial carnitine acetyltransferase is synthesized as a precursor of 65 kDa. We also purified carnitine acetyltransferase from the pellet obtained after centrifugation of liver homogenate. The pellet was extracted by sonication in the presence of 0.5% Tween 20. The chromatographic procedures for the purification and the kinetic, physical and immunological properties of pellet-extracted carnitine acetyltransferase are similar to those of carnitine acetyltransferase purified from the supernatant of human liver homogenate.     

Fascioloides magna (Bassi, 1875) in feral swine from southern Texas.

Between 1971 and 1975, Fascioloides magna was found in 46 of 67 (69%) feral swine (Sus scrofa) in southern Texas. Flukes were recovered from swine in areas where F. magna commonly has been recovered from white-tailed deer and cattle. One to 12 flukes were recovered from each infected animal. Their presence was indicated by black hematin pigment on the liver and various other internal organs. Eggs were not detected in the gallbladder or feces of infected animals although mature flukes and eggs were recovered in the livers suggesting that, like cattle, feral swine can be infected but are aberrant hosts for the parasite and do not disseminate eggs.     

The plant landscape as inferred from a basket of the Roman town of Privernum (Latium,central Italy)

Abstract

Privernum was a rich Roman colony located 70 km southwest of Rome (southern Latium, central Italy). The archaeobotanical investigations focused on the garden and related structures of the luxury domus della Soglia nilotica. They are archaeologically and radiocarbon dated to the second half of the 1st century AD. The remains of a charred basket were found in the filling of the euripus, an ornamental water basin of the garden. The weaving was made with twisted strands of the leaves of Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T. Durand and Schinz; for the bottom and the handle/s of the basket, wood of evergreen oaks and ash and/or elm, respectively were probably used. The basket contained Pinus pinea seeds and cone scales, and Prunus persica endocarps, which were probably burnt in summer. The sediment in the drainage system and in the kitchen was processed for macro- and microremains. The results indicate the presence of spontaneous ruderal and weed flora elements, typical of human settlement areas, and crops.     

Population Structure of Barley Landrace Populations and Gene-Flow with Modern Varieties

Landraces are heterogeneous plant varieties that are reproduced by farmers as populations that are subject to both artificial and natural selection. Landraces are distinguished by farmers due to their specific traits, and different farmers often grow different populations of the same landrace. We used simple sequence repeats (SSRs) to analyse 12 barley landrace populations from Sardinia from two collections spanning 10 years. We analysed the population structure, and compared the population diversity of the landraces that were collected at field level (population). We used a representative pool of barley varieties for diversity comparisons and to analyse the effects of gene flow from modern varieties. We found that the Sardinian landraces are a distinct gene pool from those of both two-row and six-row barley varieties. There is also a low, but significant, mean level and population-dependent level of introgression from the modern varieties into the Sardinian landraces. Moreover, we show that the Sardinian landraces have the same level of gene diversity as the representative sample of modern commercial varieties grown in Italy in the last decades, even within population level. Thus, these populations represent crucial sources of germplasm that will be useful for crop improvement and for population genomics studies and association mapping, to identify genes, loci and genome regions responsible for adaptive variations. Our data also suggest that landraces are a source of valuable germplasm for sustainable agriculture in the context of future climate change, and that in-situ conservation strategies based on farmer use can preserve the genetic identity of landraces while allowing adaptation to local environments.     

Survival ability of cytotoxic strains of motile Aeromonas spp. in different types of water

The ability of motile Aeromonas spp. to survive in drinking water (mineral and tap water) and in sea water was experimentally tested. Clinically isolated cytotoxic strains of A. hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria were selected for this study. After contamination of water samples, the survival of Aeromonas strains was studied for at least three months using viable counts. The results obtained show that the survival of the Aeromonas spp. varies considerably depending on species and water type. For all three species, the survival time was longest in mineral water, where viable bacteria of each strain were still detected after 100 d. Moreover, A hydrophila and A. caviae also re-grew on the first day. In tap water all strains showed marked survival, although to a lesser extent than in mineral water. Aeromonas cells showed a rapid decline in sea water (90% reduction in viable cells after about two d) and thus seem to be more sensitive to saline/marine stress than chlorination.     

Use of lysozyme for treatment of bacterial contamination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> shoot cultures of fruit plants

Summary Use of lysozyme was tested for treatment of bacterial contaminations in in vitro shoot cultures of quince (Cydonia oblonga) ‘BA 29’ and the hybrid (Prunus persica × P. amygdalus) rootstock ‘GF 677’. Shoots which had been contaminated for about 1 yr by Bacillus circulans and Sphingomonas paucimobilis were treated in liquid culture, at pH 4.5, with 9–36 mg ml⁻¹ egg white lysozyme (EWL), and compared to each other and to untreated cultures for their growth, proliferation, and number of bacterial colony-forming units in the tissues. EWL did not negatively affect shoot growth up to 18 mg ml⁻¹; furthermore, the proliferation rates of EWL-treated shoots were sometimes higher than those of controls. In contrast, the concentration of 36 mg ml⁻¹ had some deleterious effect on the regrowth capacity and shoot production of ‘GF 677’ at the first subculture to solid medium after EWL, treatments. EWL had a simple bacteriostatic effect against Sphingomonas paucimobilis; in contrast, it was effective at 18 mg ml⁻¹ in eliminating Bacillus circulans in both ‘BA 29’ and ‘GF 677’ cultures, after optimal treatment duration.     

IL-11 and IL-11Rα immunolocalisation at primate implantation sites supports a role for IL-11 in placentation and fetal development

Embryo implantation, endometrial stromal cell decidualization and formation of a functional placenta are critical processes in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Interleukin (IL)-11 signalling is essential for adequate decidualization in the mouse uterus and IL-11 promotes decidualization in the human. IL-11 action is mediated via binding to the specific IL-11 receptor α (IL-11Rα). The present study examined immunoreactive IL-11 and IL-11Rα in cycling rhesus monkey endometrium, at implantation sites in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys and in human first trimester decidua and defined distinct spatial and temporal patterns. In cycling rhesus monkey endometrium, IL-11 and IL-11Rα increased in both basalis and functionalis regions during the secretory compared with the proliferative phase, with changing cellular locations in luminal and glandular epithelium and stroma. The patterns were similar overall to those previously described in human endometrium. Differences were seen in immunostaining during implantation in cynomologus and rhesus monkey. In the cynomolgus, very little staining for IL-11 or IL-11Rα was seen in syncytio- and cyto-trophoblast cells in the villi between days 12 and 150 of pregnancy although there was moderate staining in cytotrophoblast in the shell between days 12 and 17 and in subpopulations of cytotrophoblast cells invading the arteries at day 17. By contrast in the rhesus monkey between days 24 and 35 of pregnancy and in human first trimester placenta, cyto- and syncytio-trophoblast in the villi but not cytotrophoblast in the shell were positively stained. The most intense staining for both IL-11 and IL-11Rα was present within the decidua in the maternal component of implantation sites in all three primates but moderate staining was also present in maternal vascular smooth muscle and glands perivascular cells and epithelial plaques. These results are consistent with a role for IL-11 both during decidualization and placentation in primates.