Bone development of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fins in Seriola rivoliana (Valenciennes, 1833) larvae.

Skull, pectoral and pelvic fin bone structures in longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana were studied from 3.43 ± 0.15 to 16.20 ± 0.73 mm standard length (SL) specimens. The S. rivoliana skull started to mineralize with the appearance of the parasphenoid and maxillary by 3.43 ± 0.15 mm SL at the neurocranium and jaw regions, respectively. The first pectoral structure to mineralize was the cleithrum at 3.75 ± 0.14 mm SL shortly followed by the supracleithrum and posttemporal. The pelvic fin started by 6.16 ± 0.32 mm SL with the spine and continued with the soft rays and basipterygium. The present study determined the onset of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fin mineralization. These results might be used as a reference for future studies in S. rivoliana or related species.

Coeliac disease not responding to a gluten-free diet in children: case studies and literature review.

We presented the cases of three children with coeliac disease who despite good adherence to a glutenfree diet remained non-responsive to treatment. Two patients, one of them with IgA deficiency, were successfully treated by complete gluten exclusion with enteral nutrition. However the third child with a severe coeliac disease did not achieve clinical and histologic improvement, even on immunosuppressive treatment. If no hidden sources of gluten can be identified, other causes of persistent villous atrophy, dierent from coeliac disease, have to be considered. They include e.g. inflammatory, immune and endocrine diseases of the digestive tract. In severe cases of childhood coeliac disease not responding to a gluten free diet, autoimmune enteropathy and refractory coeliac disease must be taken into account.

Effects of dietary DHA and α-tocopherol on bone development, early mineralisation and oxidative stress in Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae.

DHA deficiency has been related to skeletal malformations in fish, but high DHA levels have produced controversial results that could relate to the oxidative status of fish tissues in the different reports. In the present study, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae were fed deficient, adequate or high DHA levels, or high DHA levels supplemented with the antioxidant α-tocopherol. Larvae fed deficient DHA levels tended to be smaller, and showed the highest incidence of urinary bladder calculi, lordosis and kyphosis and the lowest number of mineralised vertebrae for any given size class. Elevation of dietary DHA increased larval growth and significantly enhanced the expression of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene. However, a DHA level increase up to 5 % raised the degree of lipid oxidation in larval tissues and deformities in cranial endochondral bones and in axial skeletal haemal and neural arches. The increase in dietary α-tocopherol supplementation in high-DHA feeds reduced again the occurrence of skeletal deformities. Moreover, the expression of genes coding for specific antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase, which neutralised reactive oxygen substances formed by increased dietary DHA, was significantly decreased in larvae fed high α-tocopherol levels. These results denoted the importance of DHA for early bone formation and mineralisation. Low dietary DHA levels delay early mineralisation and increase the risk of cranial and axial skeletal deformities. Excessive DHA levels, without an adequate balance of antioxidant nutrients, increase the production of free radicals damaging cartilaginous structures before bone formation.

Oxidative status and histological changes in sea bass larvae muscle in response to high dietary content of docosahexaenoic acid DHA.

In previous studies, we observed dystrophic alterations in muscle of 48-day-old sea bass fed imbalanced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and vitamin E diets. To understand the whole pathological process associated with oxidative stress, a histological study was performed by feeding 14-day-old sea bass larvae with microdiets containing different ratios of DHA/vitamin E (1/150, 5/150 and 5/300) for a period of 21 days. Larvae fed diet 1/150 showed no lesions in contrast to larvae fed diets 5/150 and 5/300 where the highest incidence of muscle lesions and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content was observed. Semithin sections revealed focal lesions consisting of degenerated fibres with hypercontracted myofilaments and extensive sarcoplasm vacuolization affecting both red and white muscle. Ultrathin sections of degenerating muscle fibres showed diffuse dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum, disorganized myofilaments and autophagic vacuoles containing myelin figures and dense bodies. Additionally, some macrophages were observed among injured fibres as numerous satellite cells. Results from the study agree with those obtained from previous work, proving the pathological potential of free radicals in sea bass larvae musculature. Moreover, high vitamin E inclusion could not completely protect cell membranes from free radicals action.

First report of Streptococcus iniae in red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, L.).

This work describes the first isolation of Streptococcus iniae in red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (L.), and the first European isolation of this pathogen in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L.). In both farmed fish species, infection resulted in lethargy, anorexia, abnormal swimming, exophthalmia and sudden death, with mortality rates of over 25% in red porgy and 10% in gilthead seabream. Beta-haemolytic Gram-positive cocci, catalase negative and oxidase negative, were isolated in pure culture from internal organs. Conventional and rapid identification systems, and 16S rRNA gene partial sequencing were used to identify the causative agent of the natural disease. LD50 trials were carried out to show the virulence of this isolated strain in these species, with values of 1.7 × 104 CFU per fish in red porgy and 1.32 × 105 CFU per fish in gilthead seabream. The most prominent lesions were meningoencephalitis and multifocal infiltration of macrophage cells in the kidney and spleen.

[Overdosing of pipamperone from a squeeze bottle]. / Overdosering van pipamperon uit een knijpflacon.

BACKGROUND: Medication is not always delivered in a safe dosing format. Up to 33% of medication errors can be attributed to confusing packaging or labelling. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-year-old boy with ADHD, for which he was being treated with methylphenidate and pipamperone drops, was brought to the A&E department with signs of severe encephalopathy. He had apparently been given pipamperone in streams rather than in drops in the previous months. The pipamperone level in his blood was raised to toxic levels. The pipamperone drops were delivered in a plastic squeeze bottle (LDPE bottle), which makes correct dosing almost impossible. The treating psychiatrist and the prescribing GP had not noticed this medication error. The incident was reported to the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, the Netherlands Medicines Evaluation Board and the Portal for Patient Safety. A warning was also added to the Netherlands paediatric medication prescription website about pipamperone in a squeeze bottle. CONCLUSION: Drug packaging can be a cause of intoxication. The treatment provider should be aware of this in cases of drug intoxication.

From ligands to binding motifs and beyond; the enhanced versatility of nanocrystal surfaces.

Surface chemistry bridges the gap between nanocrystal synthesis and their applications. In this respect, the discovery of complex ligand binding motifs on semiconductor quantum dots and metal oxide nanocrystals opens a gateway to new areas of research. The implications are far-reaching, from catalytic model systems to the performance of solar cells.

Suckling stimulus, lactation, and suppression of ovulation in the rat.

Lactation pseudopregnancy in rats suckling a 5-pup litter lasted 22.0 +/- 0.4 days (mean +/- SEM; n = 11). By day 13 of lactation (day 1 of lactation = day of parturition), the continuation of lactation pseudopregnancy was dependent on the suckling stimulus, as litter removal on day 13 resulted consistently in ovulation on day 16. Measurements of various hormones before and after litter removal revealed high concentrations of progesterone and PRL during lactation and a rapid drop of both hormone concentrations after litter removal. Lactation pseudopregnancy in rats suckling a 10-pup litter lasted 26.1 +/- 0.9 days (n = 16). After litter removal on day 13 of lactation, the lactation pseudopregnancy continued for a further 7- to 11-day period, as evidenced by daily vaginal smears which remained mucified during that period. Measurements of hormone concentrations revealed continuously high concentrations of PRL before litter removal and a pattern of PRL secretion characterized by at least two diurnal peaks during the first days after litter removal. Progesterone concentrations decreased by 50% after litter removal, but the levels then remained constant and well above those found after the removal of 5-pup litters. It is argued that the different response to litter removal on day 13 of lactation between rats suckling 5 or 10 pups is due to the initiation of PRL peaks in rats with 10-pup litters: these PRL peaks are able to maintain luteal function for some period. It is further argued that the initiation of PRL peaks in rats with 10-pup litters is due to the high blood concentrations of progesterone at the time of litter removal compared to those of rats with a 5-pup litter.

[Stereotaxic surgery in 4 cases of Parkinson's disease]. / Cirugía estereotáxica en cuatro casos de Parkinson.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic efficiency of the stereotactic thalamotomy in patients with Parkinson's disease not responsive to medical treatment. METHODS: We performed four stereotactic thalamotomies using Leksell's system for the inactivation of the thalamic ventrolateralis nucleus. RESULTS: Upon re-examination 5 to 58 months after surgery, complete relief of tremor, rigidity and pain was observed; only one case showed a light tremor in the contralateral side three months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic thalamotomy is of benefit for the control of medically refractory parkinsonism.

Survival of Chlamydia trachomatis in different transport media and at different temperatures: diagnostic implications.

We compared the survival of a laboratory strain of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L-2 in different media and at different temperatures (room temperature, 4 degrees C, and -70 degrees C). At these temperatures the best storage medium was 2SP (0.2 mol/l sucrose in 0.02 mol/l phosphate buffer supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum). We used material obtained from patients to study the sensitivity of the culture method as a function of sample storage time and temperature. Compared with results on direct inoculation, material stored in 2SP for 48 hours gave 11% fewer positive cultures at 4 degrees C and 14% fewer at room temperature. Of samples which gave negative results on direct inoculation, 4% were positive after storage at 4 degrees C for 48 hours and 2% after storage at -70 degrees C for a week. As expected, the number of inclusion forming units in the original material proved to be important for the percentage of positive cultures among the stored samples.

Prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma hominis in infertile women.

A total of 57 infertile women, who had been referred for in vitro fertilisation or for diagnostic laparoscopy, were tested for the presence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma hominis. Four were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 53, 33 had laparoscopically obvious tubal disorders, such as adhesions, distal occlusions and strictures, and 20 did not. Antibodies to C trachomatis were found in 7/33 (21.2%) v 0/20, antibodies to N gonorrhoeae in 20/38 (60.6%) v 5/20 (25%), and antibodies to M hominis in 18/24 (75%) women with tubal disorders v 13/19 (68.4%) of those with no disorder. Antibodies to C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae were significantly (p less than 0.05) more common in women with tubal disorders. The high prevalence of antibodies to N gonorrhoeae in infertile women without tubal disorders suggests that ciliated tubal epithelium is damaged after inflammation without this being laparoscopically visible. Our results confirm the important role of N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis in the aetiology of infertility after tubal inflammation.