Skeletal anomalies in reared Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis juveniles: a radiographic approach.

Reared Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis Kaup show a high incidence of vertebral anomalies; however, little is known about its skeletal anomaly profile in the later farming phases. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed description and quantification of the most common skeletal anomalies in reared Senegalese sole in the juvenile stage by means of computed radiography. A total of 374 Senegalese sole were classified according to the external morphology of the fish as normal or altered and then radiographed in latero-lateral and in dorso-ventral projections. Radiographic evaluation of anomalies focused especially on vertebral body anomalies (VBA) and vertebral column deviations (VCD). The 2 orthogonal projections provided a more complete visualization of the skeleton. Approximately 75% of the individuals showed at least 1 anomaly, while VBA and/or VCD were detected in 48.9% of the specimens. Regarding external morphology, 88% of the fish were categorized as normal, although about 72% of these normal fish displayed abnormalities in radiographies. The most frequent anomalies consisted of deformations of the caudal complex plates (hypurals, parhypural and epural), preurals and caudal vertebrae. Scoliosis was the most prevalent among VCD, affecting the caudal area in almost 15% of the individuals. The anomaly profile at the juvenile stages showed some differences compared to what has been reported previously in earlier stages of development. In light of these results, further investigation into the progression of skeletal anomalies over time and the causative factors at later stages is required.

New insight on vertebral anomalies in cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) at early stages of development.

Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) is a promising flatfish species in aquaculture. However, skeletal anomalies are still a great concern in sole farming. Investigation of this issue is crucial to improving larval quality and optimizing production. The aim of this study was to thoroughly assess anomalies in the rachis of reared sole at early developmental stages. Sole (n = 507) were sampled at 31 or 32 days after hatching (dah). The specimens were stained with alcian blue and alizarin red and evaluated for the detection of vertebral deformities. Most fish presented 9:34:3 vertebrae in abdominal, caudal and caudal complex regions, respectively. Remarkably, all specimens showed at least one spinal anomaly. Alterations of neural/haemal elements, as well as deformities of hypurals, parhypural and epural, were recurrent. Vertebral body anomalies and/or vertebral column deviations were identified in 52% of the individuals. Vertebral deformations and fusions were common, especially in caudal complex. 'Minor' anomalies were predominant, and some of the detected disorders might be a result of non-/low-pathological processes. These results contribute a new insight into the main skeletal anomalies affecting cultured sole larvae. Further research is required to determine their impact on fish welfare and external appearances at commercial stages.

A randomized, multicenter study of G-CSF starting on day +1 vs day +5 after autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation.

In order to assess the effect of delaying G-CSF administration after autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation on the duration of neutropenia, 87 patients were randomized to receive G-CSF 5 microg/kg/day starting on day +1 (n = 45) or +5 (n = 42) following PBPC transplantation, until recovery of the neutrophils. The duration of neutropenia (<0.5 x 10(9)/l) was shorter in the day +1 group (7 vs 8 days; P = 0.02), especially in patients receiving melphalan 200 mg/m(2) and CD34(+) cell doses >3.0 x 10(6)/kg. These patients had a later onset of neutropenia after transplant. There were no differences in time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment, or in the incidence of fever and documentation of infection. Although the duration of antibiotic therapy (7 vs 10.5 days; P = 0.01) and time to hospital discharge (13 vs 15 days; P = 0.02) were shorter in the day +1 group, these differences could not be predicted by the day of G-CSF initiation in multivariate analysis. Starting G-CSF on day +1 does not result in faster neutrophil engraftment but in later onset and consequently, slightly shorter duration of neutropenia in patients who receive melphalan 200 mg/m(2) and CD34(+) cell doses >3.0 x 10(6)/kg.

Life-threatening capillary leak syndrome after G-CSF mobilization and collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells for allogeneic transplantation.

We report a case of capillary leak syndrome in a 37-year-old female PBPC donor who received G-CSF 900 microg/day for 4 days and underwent leukapheresis. This lady had remained well and stable despite marked leukocytosis during G-CSF treatment, but developed hypotension during leukapheresis, quickly followed by hypoxemia, ascites, pericardial and pleural effusion, shock, edema, neurologic changes and hepatocellular injury. Upon G-CSF withdrawal, dopamine and crystalloid infusion, methylprednisolone treatment and suspension of apheresis, the clinical situation fully reversed. We hypothesize that leukapheresis, in the presence of marked leukocytosis and high doses of G-CSF, may have triggered neutrophil activation and the release of inflammatory mediators, resulting in tissue damage and systemic manifestations of increased capillary permeability.

Characterization of an amylase produced by a Trichoderma harzianum isolate with antagonistic activity against Crinipellis perniciosa, the causal agent of witches' broom of cocoa.

An isolate of Trichoderma harzianum showing antagonistic activity against Crinipellis perniciosa, the causal agent of the witches' broom disease of cocoa, produces substantial amounts of hydrolytic enzymes. An amylase purified from isolate 1051 had a molecular mass of about 68.7 kDa. Maximal activity against soluble starch was determined at pH 4.0 and 60 degrees C. The K(m) and V(max) values were 3.5 mg ml(-1) and 1.67 mg min(-1) of reducing sugar. The end products were mostly malto-oligosaccharides. The enzyme also hydrolyzed glycogen, amylopectin, maltotriose, and maltotetraose, but not pullulan or cellobiose. Maltose was only barely hydrolyzed. The purified amylase exerted a discrete hydrolytic effect on the C. perniciosa cell wall in vitro as observed by scanning electron microscopic analysis. While Fe(3+), Al(3+), Zn(2+), and Cu(2+) were effective in inhibiting the purified amylase, Mn(2+) considerably enhanced the activity. Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Co(2+) showed no substantial effect on enzyme activity.

Substantive unconscious and adjective unconscious: the contribution of Wilfred Bion.

The author first provides her readers with a brief summary of some of Freud's ideas, as found throughout his work, on the notion of 'unconscious'. The notion of unconscious as noun is contrasted to the idea of unconscious as adjective, this latter being proposed as a quality, or a state, ever temporary, dynamic, and subject to the constant changes going on in the individual's internal psychic world, as well as to external conditions. After presenting some considerations, the author then contrasts the Kleinian model of the mind to the Freudian, and Wilfred Bion's contribution is discussed at some length. Within Bion's conception of psychic functioning, the model of 'dream' is highlighted and, in this regard, clarifications are sought regarding Bion's view of the unconscious. To conclude, a brief and superficial approximation to the work of Carl Jung is touched upon, although the author admits to knowing little of Jung's positions.

Validation of the psychoanalytic clinical process: the role of dreams.

This paper explores the place of dreams in the validation of the actuality of an evolving psychoanalytic clinical process. The specificity of psychoanalysis, in the author's perspective, consists basically in its being an intersubjective clinical practice; because of this, positivistic notions of validation, such as verification as a search for constancies and regularities, have no proper place here. The shared emotional experience--the intersubjectivity--of the psychoanalytic pair is the place where our method must be validated. Dreams, not only as a solitary intrapsychic production during sleep, but also as narratives made by the analysand within the setting, are an essential part of working through and provide a feasible way to attain some degree of validation of the process. The analysand's narrative of his dreams leads to a 'shared dreaming' in session of the analysand-analyst pair; leaving aside their role as resistance, dreams emerge from emotional experiences as a 'construction of knowledge', as an attempt at symbolic elaboration.

Effect of methionine supplementation to a low-soybean protein diet on liver lipid metabolism.

Female Wistar rats were fed a low-soybean protein (8%) diet supplemented with different concentrations of DL-methionine (0-1.2%) during the lactation period. Diet supplementation with methionine caused a significant increase in rat body weight. The addition of 0.3% DL-methionine to the diet did not cause an increase in liver triacylglycerol concentration in 21-day-old rats, but an increase did occur after the addition of 0.6% DL-methionine to the diet. Supplementation of the diet with DL-methionine did not change liver phospholipid or protein concentrations, nor plasma triacylglycerol levels. Liver lipid synthesis from [1-14C]acetate in 21-day-old rats whose dams had been fed an 8% soybean protein diet supplemented with 1.2% DL-methionine was significantly higher than in the group receiving no DL-methionine supplementation. Hepatic production of CO2 and of water-soluble acid products from [1-14C]palmitate did not differ between groups. Inositol addition to a low-soybean protein diet supplemented with DL-methionine did not change triacylglycerol nor phospholipid levels in the liver.