The quantitative analysis of constitutive heterochromatic regions of human chromosomes 1, 9, and 16 in relation to size and inversion heteromorphisms in East Indians

Summary 100 normal East Indians were studied by C-banding technique to estimate the frequency of size and inversion heteromorphisms of the secondary constriction regions (h) of human chromosomes 1, 9, and 16, and the data were compared to those of Caucasians and Black Americans.     

Spectrum of Aeromonas and Plesiomonas infections in patients with cancer and AIDS

The spectrum of infection with Aeromonas and Plesiomonas included gastroenteritis, bacteremia, biliary tract infection, perirectal infection, and disseminated disease. Most patients (86%) with bacteremia were neutropenic (less than 500 PMN/mm3). Colonization of stools and sputum also occurred. Therapy with aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and the newer quinolones was effective in patients with AIDS and cancer.     

Electrophysiological actions of chlorimipramine on guinea-pig ventricular fibres

Summary Chlorimipramine (CMI, 1×10^–5M to 7×10^–5M) decreased the amplitude, overshoot and rate of rise of ventricular action potentials and abolished the Ca-mediated action potentials elicited in guinea-pig papillary muscles. These results indicates that CMI inhibits the rise in sodium and calcium conductances during the cardiac action potential.     

Release of volatiles from a possible cryovolcano from near-infrared imaging of Titan

Titan is the only satellite in our Solar System with a dense atmosphere. The surface pressure is 1.5 bar (ref. 1) and, similar to the Earth, N2 is the main component of the atmosphere. Methane is the second most important component, but it is photodissociated on a timescale of 10(7) years (ref. 3). This short timescale has led to the suggestion that Titan may possess a surface or subsurface reservoir of hydrocarbons to replenish the atmosphere. Here we report near-infrared images of Titan obtained on 26 October 2004 by the Cassini spacecraft. The images show that a widespread methane ocean does not exist; subtle albedo variations instead suggest topographical variations, as would be expected for a more solid (perhaps icy) surface. We also find a circular structure approximately 30 km in diameter that does not resemble any features seen on other icy satellites. We propose that the structure is a dome formed by upwelling icy plumes that release methane into Titan's atmosphere.     

Modification by calcium dobesilate of histamine effects on capillary ultrastructure.

The ultrastructure of blood capillaries and venules are studied in rat skin. After i.v. injection of histamine the luminal surface of the endothelial cells show protrusions of variable size. Numerous gaps have been found in the capillary wall, specially in the venules. These alterations are not observed in the animals that were treated with calcium dobesilate before the administration of histamine. In these cases the capillary structure are indistinguishable of the controls. The possible effects of the histamine and calcium dobesilate on the cell coat and cell junctions of the endothelial capillary cells are discussed.     

Membrane guanylate cyclase is a cell-surface receptor with homology to protein kinases

Guanylate cyclase has been strongly implicated as a cell-surface receptor on spermatozoa for a chemotactic peptide, and on various other cells as a receptor for atrial natriuretic peptides. Resact (Cys-Val-Thr-Gly-Ala-Pro-Gly-Cys-Val-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Leu-NH2), the chemotactic peptide released by sea urchin Arbacia punctulata eggs, is specifically crosslinked to A. punctulata spermatozoan guanylate cyclase. After the binding of the peptide the state of guanylate cyclase phosphorylation modulates enzyme activity. We report here that the deduced amino-acid sequence of the spermatozoan membrane form of guanylate cyclase predicts an intrinsic membrane protein of 986 amino acids with an amino-terminal signal sequence. A single transmembrane domain separates the protein into putative extracellular and cytoplasmic-catalytic domains. The cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal 95 amino acids contain 20% serine, the likely regulatory sites for phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, the enzyme is homologous to the protein kinase family.     

Diversity and biogeography of the little known deep-sea barnacles of the genus Waikalasma Buckeridge, 1983 (Balanomorpha: Chionelasmatoidea) in the Southwest Pacific,with description of a new species

Due to the extreme scarcity of specimens, little is known about the biodiversity and biogeography of the barnacles of the genus Waikalasma Buckeridge, 1983 (Thoracica: Waikalasmatidae Ross and Newman, 2001), which inhabit the deep sea of the Southwest Pacific. Previous studies reported only a single living species, W. boucheti Buckeridge, 1996, from Vanuatu. In the present study, the collections by French deep-sea expeditions off New Caledonia (NORFOLK 1 & 2, EBISCO, SMIB 2, SMIB 4, SMIB 8, BIOCAL, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, BATHUS 2), the Solomon Islands (SALOMON 1), Vanuatu (BOA1) and Papua New Guinea (BIOPAPUA) yielded specimens of Waikalasma species from 500 to 800 m depth. From molecular (DNA barcode region cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 12S gene) and morphological analysis, a new species Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov., and W. boucheti were identified. From molecular phylogenetic analysis, sequence divergence in the DNA barcode region between W. dianajonesae sp nov. and W. boucheti reached > 10%. Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov. differs from W. boucheti in the number and size of imbricating plates on the shell and the shape of the tergum. Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov. and W. boucheti exhibit sympatric biogeographical distributions in the Southwest Pacific. Waikalasma dianajonesae was found in the waters of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Island, whilst W. boucheti was collected from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia waters.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:713013C7-677A-478F-B5DF-FD4690A7C6A9     

Genome-wide association study of prostate cancer identifies a second risk locus at 8q24

Recently, common variants on human chromosome 8q24 were found to be associated with prostate cancer risk. While conducting a genome-wide association study in the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility project with 550,000 SNPs in a nested case-control study (1,172 cases and 1,157 controls of European origin), we identified a new association at 8q24 with an independent effect on prostate cancer susceptibility. The most significant signal is 70 kb centromeric to the previously reported SNP, rs1447295, but shows little evidence of linkage disequilibrium with it. A combined analysis with four additional studies (total: 4,296 cases and 4,299 controls) confirms association with prostate cancer for rs6983267 in the centromeric locus (P = 9.42 x 10(-13); heterozygote odds ratio (OR): 1.26, 95% confidence interval (c.i.): 1.13-1.41; homozygote OR: 1.58, 95% c.i.: 1.40-1.78). Each SNP remained significant in a joint analysis after adjusting for the other (rs1447295 P = 1.41 x 10(-11); rs6983267 P = 6.62 x 10(-10)). These observations, combined with compelling evidence for a recombination hotspot between the two markers, indicate the presence of at least two independent loci within 8q24 that contribute to prostate cancer in men of European ancestry. We estimate that the population attributable risk of the new locus, marked by rs6983267, is higher than the locus marked by rs1447295 (21% versus 9%).