Genome-wide analysis of the SET DOMAIN GROUP family in grapevine

The SET DOMAIN GROUP (SDG) proteins represent an evolutionarily-conserved family of epigenetic regulators present in eukaryotes and are putative candidates for the catalysis of lysine methylation in histones. Plant genomes analyses of this family have been performed in arabidopsis, maize, and rice and functional studies have shown that SDG genes are involved in the control of plant development. In this work, we describe the identification and structural characterization of SDG genes in the Vitis vinifera genome. This analysis revealed the presence of 33 putative SDG genes that can be grouped into different classes, as it has been previously described for plants. In addition to the SET domain, the proteins identified possessed other domains in the different classes. As part of our study regarding the growth and development of grapevine, we selected eight genes and their expression levels were analyzed in representative vegetative and reproductive organs of this species. The selected genes showed different patterns of expression during inflorescence and fruit development, suggesting that they participate in these processes. Furthermore, we showed that the expression of selected SDGs changes during viral infection, using as a model Grapevine Leafroll Associated Virus 3-infected symptomatic grapevine leaves and fruits. Our results suggest that developmental changes caused by this virus could be the result of alterations in SDG expression.     

Vitrification of carnation in vitro: Changes in cell wall mechanical properties,cellulose and lignin content

Vitrification of internodes of carnation was brought about by culturing in liquid medium. Cell wall extensibility of these internodes was kinetically followed in comparison to that of normal plants using the constant stress method. Liquid culture induced increased immediate and total deformation capacities of the walls from the second day. Measurements indicated that these deformation capacities involved plastic properties rather than elastic ones. These changes were paralleled by decreased relative levels of cellulose and lignin.     

Conserved sequences flank variable tandem repeats in two alleles of the G surface protein of Paramecium primaurelia

We describe the cloning and the sequencing of a macronuclear DNA fragment of Paramecium primaurelia, strain 168, encompassing the entire coding region of the 168G surface protein gene. Comparison of its nucleotide and its deduced amino acid sequences to those of the allelic surface protein 156G, previously described, reveals the rigorous conservation of a highly periodic structure. This structure is based on the presence of 37 periods of about 75 residues, each period containing eight cysteine residues. The differences between the two proteins are clustered in the central part of the sequence, which is itself made of quasi-identical tandem repeats. We propose that these repeats constitute the domain exposed on the surface of the cells and present the characteristics of concerted evolution.     

Lymphocyte subpopulations of regional lymph nodes in human colon and gastric adenocarcinomas

 In order to study the host immune response to tumours, previous knowledge of the cellular composition of regional draining lymph nodes is necessary. Enlarged regional lymph nodes are a common finding in colon and gastric adenocarcinomas. We have studied the cellular composition of normal non-reactive and of regional draining lymph nodes of colon and gastric adenocarcinomas. In normal non-reactive lymph nodes, T lymphocytes (CD2⁺, CD7⁺) constituted the largest fraction of the lymphoreticular cells. These lymphocytes were mainly CD4⁺, and there were more cells expressing the CD45RA isoform of the CD45 antigen than CD45RO. Reactive lymph nodes presented a decreased proportion of CD4⁺ CD45RA⁺ cells and an increased number of B cells. Although most of the T cells in the reactive nodes were CD4⁺ CD45RO⁺, their proportion was similar to that found in normal non-reactive nodes. We studied the presence of the molecules CD28 and CD80 involved in the processes of interaction and activation of T and B lymphocytes. The CD28 molecule was found in all the T lymphocytes, while the CD80 molecule was weakly expressed on the B lymphocyte membrane. Received: 4 January 1996 / Accepted: 28 May 1996     

Physiological ecology of a metalimnetic Cryptomonas population: relationships to light, sulfide and nutrients

The possible mechanisms by which Cryptomonas phaseolus maintainsa large metalimnetic population during stratification were studiedin Lake Cisó. The population was shown to always remainat the oxygen-sulfide interface despite the fact that sometimesthe amount of light reaching was <1% of incident light. Thismeant that the amount of light reaching the peak was sometimesmuch lower than the optimum light intensity for photosynthesisof the population, which was     

Low Selenium Diet Affects Monoamine Turnover Differentially in Substantia Nigra and Striatum

Abstract: Turnover of dopamine, noradrenaline. serotonin, and their metabolites has been measured in striatum and substantia nigra of adult female rats that were fed control or selenium-deficient diets for 15 days. In addition, the glutathione peroxidase activity has been studied. The most striking result was the increase of dopamine turnover (63%) and 3- methoxytyramine turnover (55%) in substantia nigra between control and experimental animals. On the other hand, no changes were found in the turnover rate of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum. Likewise, no changes were found in noradrenaline turnover in substantia nigra. In the striatum, there was a significant increase of serotonin turnover versus no change for 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid. However, in the substantia nigra, serotonin turnover did not show significant changes, whereas 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid turnover decreased. At the same time, glutathione peroxidase activity significantly decreased in both structures after selenium-deficient diets. These results suggest that a selenium-deficient diet for a short period of time decreases brain protection. principally in the substantia nigra, against oxidative damage.     

Treatment-resistant depression: definition,prevalence, detection,management, and investigational interventions

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is common and associated with multiple serious public health implications. A consensus definition of TRD with demonstrated predictive utility in terms of clinical decision-making and health outcomes does not currently exist. Instead, a plethora of definitions have been proposed, which vary significantly in their conceptual framework. The absence of a consensus definition hampers precise estimates of the prevalence of TRD, and also belies efforts to identify risk factors, prevention opportunities, and effective interventions. In addition, it results in heterogeneity in clinical practice decision-making, adversely affecting quality of care. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have adopted the most used definition of TRD (i.e., inadequate response to a minimum of two antidepressants despite adequacy of the treatment trial and adherence to treatment). It is currently estimated that at least 30% of persons with depression meet this definition. A significant percentage of persons with TRD are actually pseudo-resistant (e.g., due to inadequacy of treatment trials or non-adherence to treatment). Although multiple sociodemographic, clinical, treatment and contextual factors are known to negatively moderate response in persons with depression, very few factors are regarded as predictive of non-response across multiple modalities of treatment. Intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine (co-administered with an antidepressant) are established as efficacious in the management of TRD. Some second-generation antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, quetiapine XR) are proven effective as adjunctive treatments to antidepressants in partial responders, but only the olanzapine-fluoxetine combination has been studied in FDA-defined TRD. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is established as effective and FDA-approved for individuals with TRD, with accelerated theta-burst TMS also recently showing efficacy. Electroconvulsive therapy is regarded as an effective acute and maintenance intervention in TRD, with preliminary evidence suggesting non-inferiority to acute intravenous ketamine. Evidence for extending antidepressant trial, medication switching and combining antidepressants is mixed. Manual-based psychotherapies are not established as efficacious on their own in TRD, but offer significant symptomatic relief when added to conventional antidepressants. Digital therapeutics are under study and represent a potential future clinical vista in this population.     

Thyroid fine needle aspiration: the morphological features on ThinPrep® slide preparations. Eighty cases with histological control

This study had several purposes: to define cytomorphological features of thyroid cells that might be modified by alcohol fixation; to optimize May-Grünwald–Giemsa (MGG) staining on ThinPrep^® (TP; Cytyc Inc., Bexborough, MA, USA) slides and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of slides prepared by a liquid-based method with those obtained by conventional technique. This study included 120 cases of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid and 55 FNAs performed on surgically resected thyroid specimens. Histological control was available in 80 cases. In the first group of 120 FNAs, a split-sample technique was used for the TP. Three screenings were performed: first, an individual screening of the conventional smears (CS) and of the TP, a second screening to compare cells observed on the TP with the histological control and a third screening to assess the previously defined diagnostic criteria. Twenty-seven TP cases (22%) were considered unsatisfactory for diagnosis compared with 10 in CS (8%). The high rate of unsatisfactory cases with TP is likely to be due to the use of the split-sample technique. The sensitivity was 94% for CS and 81% for TP. The specificity was 67% and 60% for CS and TP, respectively. Two occult papillary carcinomas were missed by both methods. As for the MGG staining, the modified technique used for TP resulted in the same quality as the standard procedure. Conversely, TP did however induce uncommon morphological features. In this study, sensitivity and specificity levels are higher for CS than for TP; the difference may be explained by the fact that the methanol fixative used for TP induces some cytological alterations, especially in oncocytic tumours and lymphocytic thyroïditis.     

A case of congenital syphilis during the colonial period in Mexico City

Congenital syphilis has been diagnosed very seldom in ancient populations. The case that we examined comes from San Jeronimo's Church (17th and 18th centuries AD; Mexico City). Coffin 43 contained an incomplete skeleton of an approximately 2-year-old infant. The pathological lesions of this skeleton include bilateral osteochondritis, diaphyseal osteomyelitis, and osteitis and/or periostitis on the long bones. The radiographic appearance depicts symmetrical osteomyelitic foci, particularly at the proximal extremity of both tibiae (Wimberger's sign). The skull exhibits hydroceph-aly and periosteal changes on the vault, and the unerupted upper incisors evince dental hypoplasia and other pathological alterations reminiscent of Hutchinson's incisors. All these features strongly suggest a case of early Congenital syphilis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Studies of cyclic AMP action using mutant tissue culture cells

Summary S49 mouse lymphoma cell mutants, each with a specific defect in its ability to generate or respond to cyclic AMP, have been isolated. Analysis of the properties of these cells has begun to provide information on complex and significant biologic problems related to the cyclic AMP system. Presented in the Opening Symposium on Nutritional Factors and Differentiation at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 6–9, 1977. The work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant BMS 75-06764 and National Institutes of Health Grants GM 16496 and GM 00001. P.C. is the recipient of National Institutes of Health Research Career Development Award GM 00308. P. A. I. is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.