High level of divergence of male-reproductive-tract proteins, between Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species, D. simulans

We compared male-reproductive-tract polypeptides of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Approximately 64% of male-reproductive-tract polypeptides were identical between two randomly chosen isofemale lines from these two species, compared with 83% identity for third-instar imaginal wing-disc polypeptides. Qualitatively similar differences were found between reproductive tracts and imaginal discs when D. sechellia was compared with D. melanogaster and with D. simulans. When genic polymorphism was taken into account, approximately 10% of male- reproductive-tract polypeptides were apparently fixed for different alleles between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; this proportion is the same as that found for soluble enzymes by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Strikingly, approximately 20% of male-reproductive- tract polypeptides of either D. melanogaster or D. simulans had no detectable homologue in the other species. We propose that proteins of the Drosophila male reproductive tract may have diverged more extensively between species than have other types of proteins and that much of this divergence may involve large changes in levels of polypeptide expression.      

Flow cytometric determination of DNA ploidy level in nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue

Nuclei, isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue, were stained with propidium iodide (PI) and found suitable for DNA analysis by flow cytometry (FCM). DNA-derived fluorescence intensity, however, was always decreased and had a much higher intersample variability as compared to results obtained with fresh material. Using chicken red blood cells (CRBC) as a model system, we found the lower fluorescence intensity to be due to the formalin fixation step in tissue processing. The intersample variability was found to be at least partly caused by variations in the duration of fixation. Overnight trypsinization improved the fluorescence intensity but did not reduce the intersample variability. Under all conditions tested PI binding to CRBC appeared to be saturable. Since fresh diploid or red blood cells could not be used to standardize DNA histograms, an alternative approach was developed in which nuclei from paraffin-embedded normal and tumor tissue of the same specimen were mixed. With this method DNA indices (DI) of 24 colorectal cancers were found to be closely correlated (r = 0.9877, P less than 0.001) with DI obtained with fresh tumor tissue from the same patients. The correlation of the percentages of S-phase nuclei between paraffin-extracted and fresh samples (r = 0.5875, P less than 0.05) was as high as could be expected, taking sampling differences into account. This method is an important tool for the retrospective analysis of FCM-derived DNA parameters in relation to diagnosis and prognosis of neoplasms.     

Pre-induction priming of the uterine cervix with oral prostaglandin E2 and a placebo

A double blind study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness or oral prostaglandin E2 as a means of improving the pelvic score prior to induction of labour. 48 patients who were greater than 37 were gestation and who had Bishop scores of less than 6 entered the study. Ten tablets were given on an hourly regime. Of 25 patients in the prostaglandin group, 17 were considered successes (68.0%), whereas of 23 patients who received a placebo, 9 were successes (39.1%). No adverse effects were recorded. Prostaglandin E2 is therefore considered a safe and effective method for priming the unfavourable cervix prior to induction of labour.     

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit liver cytochrome P-448

Cytochrome P-448 (mol wt 55,000 Daltons) from rabbit liver was purified to a specific content of 16.6 nmol/mg. Mice were immunised with this preparation, their spleens removed and dissociated lymphocytes hybridised with myeloma cells. Four monoclonal antibodies against cytochrome P-448 were raised and partially characterised. All four antibodies interacted with cytochrome P-448 in intact microsomal fractions and selectively immunoadsorbed cytochrome P-448 from solubilised microsomal preparations. One of the antibodies inhibited benzo[a] pyrene hydroxylase activity in a reconstituted system, one had no effect on activity and two increased activity. The possible applications of such antibodies are discussed.     

Towards a new classification of the giant paraphyletic genus Cyperus (Cyperaceae): phylogenetic relationships and generic delimitation in C4 Cyperus

Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ETS1f) and plastid DNA (rpl32‐trnL, trnH‐psbA) sequence data are presented for ‘C₄ Cyperus’ (Cyperaceae). The term ‘C₄ Cyperus’ encompasses all species of Cyperus s.l. that use C₄ photosynthesis linked with chlorocyperoid vegetative anatomy. Sampling comprises 107 specimens of 104 different taxa, including many of the subdivisions of C₄ Cyperus s.s. and all C₄ segregate genera (Alinula, Ascolepis, Kyllinga, Lipocarpha, Pycreus, Queenslandiella, Remirea, Sphaerocyperus and Volkiella). According to our results, C₄ Cyperus is a well‐supported monophyletic clade nested in C₃ Cyperus. Despite the lack of resolution along the backbone of the C₄ Cyperus clade and for some internal branches, several well‐supported clades can be distinguished. The first clade in C₄ Cyperus is formed by Cyperus cuspidatus and C. waterloti. Other recognizable and well‐supported clades correspond to segregate genera, i.e. Ascolepis, Lipocarpha including Volkiella, and Kyllinga. Species of C₄ Cyperus s.s. form a core grade in which the C₄ segregate genera are embedded. Pycreus, the largest segregate genus composed of c. 120 species, is not monophyletic as it includes several C₄ species of Cyperus s.s. This study establishes a phylogenetic framework for revising the classification and character evolution in Cyperus s.l. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> in a long spiral form does not alter expression of immunodominant proteins

Background  

We have previously reported that altered culture conditions (a broth media with shaking) could induce a strain of Helicobacter pylori to assume a long spiral morphology resembling that described for Helicobacter heilmannii. The present study was initiated to determine if other strains of H. pylori could be induced to assume that morphology and if doing so would alter the expression of immunodominant proteins.     

Similar hypotensive responses to resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction

Low intensity resistance exercise (RE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) has gained attention in the literature due to the beneficial effects on functional and morphological variables, similar to those observed during traditional RE without BFR, while the effects of BFR on post-exercise hypotension remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to compare the blood pressure (BP) response of trained normotensive individuals to RE with and without BFR. In this cross-over randomized trial, eight male subjects (23.8 ± 4 years, 74 ± 3 kg, 174 ± 4 cm) completed two exercise protocols: traditional RE (3 x 10 repetitions at 70% one-repetition maximum [1-RM]) and low intensity RE (3 x 15 repetitions at 20% 1-RM) with BFR. Blood pressure measurements were performed after 15 min of seated rest (0), immediately after and 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 40 min, 50 min and 60 min after the experimental sessions. Similar hypotensive effects for systolic BP (SBP) were observed for both protocols (P < 0.05) after exercise, with no differences between groups (P > 0.05) and no statistically significant difference for diastolic BP (P > 0.05). These results suggest that in normotensive trained individuals, both traditional RE and RE with BFR induce hypotension for SBP, which is important to prevent cardiovascular disturbances.