Seasonality of triplet births in the United States

Birth data on 1050 sets of triplets delivered in the United States from 1985 to 1988 were analyzed to establish whether seasonal variations in the number of triplet births occur. These data were compared to live birth data from the entire United States population over a similar period; the US data exhibit a seasonal variation with a peak in late summer. Seasonality in the number of triplet births was noted, and it differed significantly (p = 0.01) from that of the entire US population. A large peak in triplet births was seen in the spring (April-May) and a smaller peak in late summer (August-September). Only minor differences in these trends could be observed when triplet data were stratified by cause of pregnancy (spontaneous versus drug-induced ovulation) or corrected for the shorter gestations of triplet pregnancies.     

Zur Spezifität des histochemischen Carboanhydratase-Nachweises im inselorgan der Bauchspeicheldrüse

Zusammenfassung Die enzymatische Aufspaltung von Kobalthydrogenkarbonaten durch das Ferment CAH führt beim Häuslerschen Fermentnachweis über eine sekundäre Visualisation der Kobaltkarbonatniederschläge durch Umwandlung in Kobaltsulfid zur Markierung der Fermentaktivität am Schnitt. Untersuchungen am Pankreas zeigen, daß die Aussagekraft fermentmarkierender Niederschläge durch eine unspezifische Fällung zweiwertiger, nichtfermentgebundener Zinkionen beeinträchtigt wird. Das inkretorische Parenchym des Pankreas enthält keine CAH, wird aber intensiv imprägniert durch seinen Reichtum an nichtfermentgebundenen Zinkionen. Nach Abfangen dieser Metallionen durch Metallchelatbildner (Dithizon, NDDC) fehlt eine Kobaltsulfidschwärzung der Inselzellen.Im exkretorischen Parenchym führt dagegen die Bebrütung von Kryostatschnitten zu spezifischer Fermentmarkierung. Aus sterischen Gründen (tertiäre Bindung des zweiwertigen Metalls im Enzymmolekül) ist das CAH-Zink einer Chelatbindung mit Dithizon oder NDDC nicht zugänglich, die Aktivität der CAH in den Gangepithelien der Bauchspeicheldrüse wird durch Chelatbildner nicht beeinflußt.Die Spezifität des Häuslerschen Fermentnachweises ist unbestritten. Zu fordern ist aufgrund der vorliegenden Ergebnisse aber eine Kontrolle der Fermentreaktion durch Chelatbildner, um eine gleichzeitige unspezifische Imprägnation zweiwertiger Metallionen (insbesondere des Zinks) im Kryostatschnitt auszuschließen.

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Summary In the Häusler incubation method the demonstration of the catalytic activity of carbonic anhydrase in tissue sections involves an enzymatic splitting of cobalt hydrogencarbonates. The resulting carbonate precipitates are secondarily visualized by being transformed into cobalt sulfide. Examination of the pancreas by the modified Häusler reaction indicates that the specificity of the precipitates marking the enzyme is masked by an unspecific precipitation of bivalent zinc ions that are not bound to the enzyme. The endocrine parenchyma of the pancreas does not contain any carbonic anhydrase, but is intensely impregnated because of its abundance of zinc ions bound to insulin or glucagon. If these metallic ions are sequestered by the use of metal chelating agents (dithiozone, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate), the unspecific precipitates in the islets of Langerhans are eliminated.In the exocrine parenchyma, however, the incubation of cryostat sections results in a specific demonstration of the enzyme. The steric arrangement of zinc ions within the enzymic molecules (trivalent complexes of bivalent metal ions) prevents a complex linkage of dithiozone or sodium diethyldithiocarbamate to carbonic anhydrase. The activity of carbonic anhydrase in the epithelium of the ducts is not at all inhibited by chelating agents.The specificity of the Häusler incubation method for demonstrating carbonic anhydrase is uncontested. The results show, however, that in histochemical studies of the enzyme the use of chelating agents is necessary as a control to exclude a simultaneous unspecific precipitation of bivalent metal ions (especially zinc) in cryostat sections.

     

Repeated oral administration of capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours with prolonged stress-response in rats

This study was conducted to examine the psycho-emotional effects of repeated oral exposure to capsaicin, the principal active component of chili peppers. Each rat received 1 mL of 0.02% capsaicin into its oral cavity daily, and was subjected to behavioural tests following 10 daily administrations of capsaicin. Stereotypy counts and rostral grooming were significantly increased, and caudal grooming decreased, in capsaicin-treated rats during the ambulatory activity test. In elevated plus maze test, not only the time spent in open arms but also the percent arm entry into open arms was reduced in capsaicin-treated rats compared with control rats. In forced swim test, although swimming duration was decreased, struggling increased in the capsaicin group, immobility duration did not differ between the groups. Repeated oral capsaicin did not affect the basal levels of plasma corticosterone; however, the stress-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone was prolonged in capsaicin treated rats. Oral capsaicin exposure significantly increased c-Fos expression not only in the nucleus tractus of solitarius but also in the paraventricular nucleus. Results suggest that repeated oral exposure to capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours in rats, and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role in its pathophysiology.     

Effect of weight loss and exercise on angiogenic factors in the circulation and in adipose tissue in obese subjects

Background:

Vascular growth is a prerequisite for adipose tissue (AT) development and expansion. Some AT cytokines and hormones have effects on vascular development, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF‐A), angiopoietin (ANG‐1), ANG‐2 and angiopoietin‐like protein‐4 (ANGPTL‐4).

Methods:

In this study, the independent and combined effects of diet‐induced weight loss and exercise on AT gene expression and proteins levels of those angiogenic factors were investigated. Seventy‐nine obese males and females were randomized to: 1. Exercise‐only (EXO; 12‐weeks exercise without diet‐restriction), 2. Hypocaloric diet (DIO; 8‐weeks very low energy diet (VLED) + 4‐weeks weight maintenance diet) and 3. Hypocaloric diet and exercise (DEX; 8‐weeks VLED + 4‐weeks weight maintenance diet combined with exercise throughout the 12 weeks). Blood samples and fat biopsies were taken before and after the intervention.

Results:

Weight loss was 3.5 kg in the EXO group and 12.3 kg in the DIO and DEX groups. VEGF‐A protein was non‐significantly reduced in the weight loss groups. ANG‐1 protein levels were significantly reduced 22‐25% after all three interventions (P < 0.01). The ANG‐1/ANG‐2 ratio was also decreased in all three groups (P < 0.05) by 27‐38%. ANGPTL‐4 was increased in the EXO group (15%, P < 0.05) and 9% (P < 0.05) in the DIO group. VEGF‐A, ANG‐1, and ANGPTL‐4 were all expressed in human AT, but only ANGPTL‐4 was influenced by the interventions.

Conclusions:

Our data show that serum VEGF‐A, ANG‐1, ANG‐2, and ANGPTL‐4 levels are influenced by weight changes, indicating the involvement of these factors in the obese state. Moreover, it was found that weight loss generally was associated with a reduced angiogenic activity in the circulation.     

Shared Segment Analysis and Next-Generation Sequencing Implicates the Retinoic Acid Signaling Pathway in Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR)

Most isolated congenital heart defects are thought to be sporadic and are often ascribed to multifactorial mechanisms with poorly understood genetics. Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) occurs in 1 in 15,000 live-born infants and occurs either in isolation or as part of a syndrome involving aberrant left-right development. Previously, we reported causative links between TAVPR and the PDGFRA gene. TAPVR has also been linked to the ANKRD1/CARP genes. However, these genes only explain a small fraction of the heritability of the condition. By examination of phased single nucleotide polymorphism genotype data from 5 distantly related TAPVR patients we identified a single 25 cM shared, Identical by Descent genomic segment on the short arm of chromosome 12 shared by 3 of the patients and their obligate-carrier parents. Whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis identified a non-synonymous variant within the shared segment in the retinol binding protein 5 (RBP5) gene. The RBP5 variant is predicted to be deleterious and is overrepresented in the TAPVR population. Gene expression and functional analysis of the zebrafish orthologue, rbp7, supports the notion that RBP5 is a TAPVR susceptibility gene. Additional sequence analysis also uncovered deleterious variants in genes associated with retinoic acid signaling, including NODAL and retinol dehydrogenase 10. These data indicate that genetic variation in the retinoic acid signaling pathway confers, in part, susceptibility to TAPVR.     

Effect of chronic treatment with Rosiglitazone on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in rats: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis> studies

Background  

The present study was designed to examine the effect of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone - thiazolidinedione used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for its insulin sensitizing effects - on the Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in normal adult rats.     

First detection, isolation and molecular characterization of infectious salmon anaemia virus associated with clinical disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Chile

Background  

Several forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) segregate in more than 100 breeds of dog with each PRA segregating in one or a few breeds. This breed specificity may be accounted for by founder effects and genetic drift, which have reduced the genetic heterogeneity of each breed, thereby facilitating the identification of causal mutations. We report here a new form of PRA segregating in the Border Collie breed. The clinical signs, including the loss of night vision and a progressive loss of day vision, resulting in complete blindness, occur at the age of three to four years and may be detected earlier through systematic ocular fundus examination and electroretinography (ERG).     

三氧化二砷对食管癌细胞增殖和热休克蛋白70表达的影响

目的：研究三氧化二砷（As2O3）对食管癌细胞增殖和热休克蛋白70（HSP70）表达的影响。方法：通过相差显微镜、流式细胞术、免疫细胞化学染色和免疫印迹分析等方法观察As2O3对人食管癌细胞株EC1的作用效果和作用机制。结果：与对照组相比,经2μmol/L和5μmol/Las2O3作用的细胞出现明显的生长抑制,G2/M期细胞比例增加;2μmol/Las2O3作用48h后经Ecl细胞HSP70（heat shock protein70）及HSC70(heat shock cognate protein70)表达均增加。结论：As2O3诱导食管癌细胞G2/M期阻滞抑制细胞增殖和生长;HSP70的升高是细胞对As2O3作用后出现的应激反应,并与细胞周期阻滞相关。     

Localization of endothelin receptors in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in the rat

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition with concomitant loss of gas exchange units, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in its pathogenesis. Increased levels of ET-1 from tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage have been reported in patients with pulmonary fibrosis and in animal models after intratracheal bleomycin. We characterized the cellular distribution of alveolar ET receptors by immunohistochemistry in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in the rat and determined the regulation by bleomycin of ET receptor mRNA expression in isolated alveolar macrophages and rat lung fibroblasts. We found significant increases in the numbers of fibroblasts and macrophages at day 7 compared to day 28 and control animals. ET_B receptor immunoreactivity was observed on fibroblasts and invading monocytes. Isolated fibroblasts expressed both ET_A and ET_B receptor mRNA, and ET_A receptor mRNA was upregulated by bleomycin. Isolated resident alveolar macrophages expressed neither ET_A nor ET_B receptor mRNA which were also not induced by bleomycin. We conclude that, while ET_B receptor stimulation of fibroblasts and monocytes recruited during bleomycin-induced lung injury exerts antagonistic effects on fibroblast collagen synthesis, the observed increase in the number of fibroblasts in vivo and upregulation of fibroblast ET_A receptor mRNA by bleomycin in vitro point to a predominance of the profibrotic effects of ET receptor engagement.     

Fluoreszenzmikroskopische Untersuchungen an überlebenden menschlichen Plazenten mit Acridin-Orange

Zusammenfassung Die Eignung der Acridin-Orange-Fluorochromierung zur Darstellung der Überlebensfähigkeit supravitaler Zellen beruht auf dem sog. Konzentrationseffekt, bei dem es in Abhängigkeit von der unterschiedlichen intraplasmatischen Farbstoffadsorption in lebendem bzw. überlebendem und totem Gewebe zur Metachromasie kommt. Die Beobachtung dieser Metachromasie an überlebenden Zellen des Syncytiotrophoblasten der menschlichen Plazenta wird als Anhaltspunkt für die Aussage benutzt, wie lange mit einer an das Überleben der Zelle gebundenen stofflichen Selektion und im weiteren Sinne gerichteten Permeabilität gerechnet werden kann.Die Sekundärfluoreszenz des Syncytiotrophoblasten der menschlichen Plazenta zeigt nach 70 min dauernder Durchströmung mit physiologischer Kochsalzlösung keine gesteigerte Farbstoffadsorption. Erst nach 150 min ist eine dann schnell zunehmende Metachromasie im Karyoplasma der Zellen des Syncytiotrophoblasten zu beobachten. Nach 70 min ist mit einem Überleben der Zellen zu rechnen. Eine zu diesem Zeitpunkt beobachtbare Sekundärfluoreszenz der Zellelemente des intervillösen Kapillarspaltes, die nicht vom fetalen Kapillarsystem versorgt werden und jenseits der syncytio-sinusoidalen Stoffwechselmembran liegen, spricht für eine gerichtete Permeabilität des überlebenden Syncytiotrophoblasten der menschlichen Plazenta in der Richtung vom Kind zur Mutter.Unter Leitung von Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. V. Becker.