High endemism and stem density distinguish New Caledonian from other high-diversity rainforests in the Southwest Pacific.

Background and Aims: The biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia is globally renowned for the diversity and endemism of its flora. New Caledonia's tropical rainforests have been reported to have higher stem densities, higher concentrations of relictual lineages and higher endemism than other rainforests. This study investigates whether these aspects differ in New Caledonian rainforests compared to other high-diversity rainforests in the Southwest Pacific. Methods: Plants (with a diameter at breast height ≥10 cm) were surveyed in nine 1-ha rainforest plots across the main island of New Caledonia and compared with 14 1-ha plots in high-diversity rainforests of the Southwest Pacific (in Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands). This facilitated a comparison of stem densities, taxonomic composition and diversity, and species turnover among plots and countries. Key Results: The study inventoried 11 280 stems belonging to 335 species (93 species ha-1 on average) in New Caledonia. In comparison with other rainforests in the Southwest Pacific, New Caledonian rainforests exhibited higher stem density (1253 stems ha-1 on average) including abundant palms and tree ferns, with the high abundance of the latter being unparalleled outside New Caledonia. In all plots, the density of relictual species was ≥10 % for both stems and species, with no discernible differences among countries. Species endemism, reaching 89 % on average, was significantly higher in New Caledonia. Overall, species turnover increased with geographical distance, but not among New Caledonian plots. Conclusions: High stem density, high endemism and a high abundance of tree ferns with stem diameters ≥10 cm are therefore unique characteristics of New Caledonian rainforests. High endemism and high spatial species turnover imply that the current system consisting of a few protected areas is inadequate, and that the spatial distribution of plant species needs to be considered to adequately protect the exceptional flora of New Caledonian rainforests.

Augmentation of clozapine with another pharmacological agent: treatment for refractory schizophrenia in the 'real world'.

OBJECTIVE: Refractory schizophrenia (SZ) affects approximately 30% of people with SZ. Clozapine (CLZ) is the gold standard treatment; however, there are still patients who are non-responsive or partially responsive to treatment. Although a lack of evidence exists in reality, these patients are treated with a combination of agents in addition to CLZ. Therefore, this article reviews the prevalence of the augmentation of CLZ with additional agents. METHOD: This study was cross-sectional; physicians in a region of Australia in May 2011 were contacted to provide details of their patients on CLZ and any additional agents. The data set consists of 84 patients. RESULTS: The majority of the patients 84.5% were taking at least one additional agent. Of those taking additional agents, they derived from the following classes' antipsychotics (72%), antidepressants (30%), mood stabilisers (17%), antimetabolic agents (13%), benzodiazepines (7%), anticholinergics (4%) and miscellaneous agents (12.5%). CONCLUSION: It is apparent that CLZ is routinely augmented with other agents despite the lack of an evidence base. However, concerning was the lack of augmentation with antimetabolic agents despite the paucity of literature reporting the detrimental impact of antipsychotic treatment upon patients metabolic indices. The findings are discussed in the context of the current recommendations and empirical literature.

Identification of lead sources in residential environments: Sydney Australia.

Interior and exterior dust, soil and paint were analysed at five brick urban Sydney homes over 15 months to evaluate temporal variations and discriminate sources of lead (Pb) exposure. Exterior dust gauge Pb loading rates (µg/m(2)/28 days), interior vacuum dust Pb concentrations (mg/kg) and interior petri-dish Pb loading rates (µg/m(2)/28 days), were correlated positively with soil Pb concentrations. Exterior dust gauge Pb loading rates and interior vacuum dust Pb concentrations peaked in the summer. Lead isotope and Pb speciation (XAS) were analysed in soil and vacuum dust samples from three of the five houses that had elevated Pb concentrations. Results show that the source of interior dust lead was primarily from soil in two of the three houses and from soil and Pb paint in the third home. IEUBK child blood Pb modelling predicts that children's blood Pb levels could exceed 5 µg/dL in two of the five houses.

Public speaking: a tool for career advancement.

Health care managers and executives find themselves with increasingly limited career prospects in today's financially restricted environment. How can a knowledgeable professional advance in his or her career? The author suggests public speaking as an excellent means to promote career advancement. The article suggests how to develop ideas for a speech and offers tips on presentation techniques.

Cortical granule biogenesis is active throughout oogenesis in sea urchins.

Cortical granules are secretory vesicles formed in the eggs of most animals and are essential for the prevention of polyspermy in these organisms. We have studied the biogenesis of cortical granules in sea urchin oocytes by identifying cDNA clones that encode proteins targeted selectively to the cortical granules. These cDNA clones were identified by an immunoscreen of a cDNA library using antibodies to proteins of the fertilization envelope. Four different mRNAs were identified, ranging from 4 kb to 13 kb in length, that encoded proteins targeted specifically to cortical granules. Accumulation of these mRNAs began very early in oogenesis, in oocytes approximately 10-15 microns in diameter, and continued throughout oogenesis. The mRNAs reached peak abundance (on a per cell basis) in germinal vesicle stage oocytes, and the accumulation of each mRNA was linear with respect to oocyte growth. During breakdown of the germinal vesicle these mRNAs were degraded so that in eggs the mRNA signals were at background levels. Antibodies generated to recombinant proteins made from each of these cDNA clones showed that in the oocyte each cognate protein appeared early in oogenesis. These proteins accumulated only in cortical granules: no accumulation was seen in the cytoplasm, in Golgi, or in other vesicles, and no heterogeneity of the contents was seen within the population of cortical granules. Using these antibodies we show that cortical granules accumulated linearly throughout oogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

SFE1, a constituent of the fertilization envelope in the sea urchin is made by oocytes and contains low-density lipoprotein-receptor-like repeats.

At fertilization in most animals, cortical granules of the egg or oocyte secrete their contents, whose function it is to modify the extracellular matrix. This modified matrix then participates in the block to polyspermy and protection for early embryonic development. In the sea urchin, contents of the cortical granules are secreted within 30 sec of insemination. Several of these content proteins then bind to the nascent vitelline layer of the egg and lift off the cell surface to form a stable, impervious, fertilization envelope. At least six major proteins are present in the envelope, and recently we have identified cDNA clones of two, ovoperoxidase, and SFE9. Here we report on the identification and characterization of SFE1, a constituent of the fertilization envelope of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, that has revealing characteristics of how the envelope might form and what protein interaction domains might predominate. We present the largest cDNA sequence we were able to identify representing approximately two thirds of the predicted protein coding region. The C-terminal half of the cognate SFE1 protein contains two different amino acid repeat motifs: a cysteine-rich (15%) motif of 40 amino acids that is tandemly repeated 22 times and is followed by a serine/threonine-rich (38%) repeat of 63 amino acids that is tandemly repeated 3.5 times. Surprisingly, just N-terminal to the cysteine-rich repeat region is a sequence of five repeats with similarity to repeats in another cortical granule protein, SFE9, and to the motif originally identified in the receptor of low-density lipoproteins, the LDLr motif. The amino acid composition deduced from the partial SFE1 cDNA is similar also to the composition of proteoliaisin, a protein thought to tether the ovoperoxidase to the vitelline layer of the egg and thereby sequester the crosslinking activity of the ovoperoxidase to a limited population of proteins in the fertilization envelope. However, by use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to SFE1 and proteoliaisin, we show here that they are distinct gene products. We also show that SFE1 is packed selectively into the cortical granules and then is crosslinked into the fertilization envelope following fertilization. In situ RNA hybridization analysis shows that the mRNA of SFE1 (9 kilobases) is present in oocytes selectively and is turned over rapidly in the oocyte following germinal vesicle breakdown. Our findings suggest that the gene encoding this major product of the egg is activated concomitantly with the other cortical granule-specific products already identified, and that a common LDLr-like motif of the fertilization envelope may reveal a structural mechanism for protein interactions in its construction.

Direct molecular interaction of a conserved yolk granule protein in sea urchins.

The regulation of yolk storage in oocytes and subsequent utilization in embryos is critical for embryogenesis. In sea urchins, the major yolk protein is made in the intestines, transported to the ovaries and accumulated in developing oocytes within membrane-bound vesicles comprising approximately 10% of the mass of an egg. Here, a non-yolk protein that accumulates specifically in yolk granules is reported. This protein was identified by cDNA cloning and, by use of antibodies to the recombinant protein, it was shown that this molecule is stored selectively in yolk granules of oocytes and embryos. No accumulation was seen in the accessory cells, testis, or intestines. In situ ribonucleic acid (RNA) hybridizations showed that the transcript accumulated only in oocytes, and was more highly concentrated in young oocytes. However, later in oogenesis, the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels decreased significantly so that no signal was detectable in mature haploid eggs or at any later stage in development. However, by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis, the 30 kDa band was present throughout development. The predicted sequence of this protein shows that it is a member of the bep, HLC-32, EBP family of sea urchin proteins, but as it does not accumulate at the cell surface, nor in the hyaline layer in the two species studied here, as do other members of the family, it has been referred to as YP30 (30 kDa protein of the yolk platelet). To address its potential function, yeast two-hybrid analysis was performed to screen for proteins that potentially interact with YP30. It was found that it binds itself, and forms strongly interacting dimers. It is hypothesized that YP30 participates in the packaging and storage of major yolk protein during oogenesis, or in the utilization of the major yolk protein in development.

Fatal disseminated BCG infection in an 18-year-old boy.

Death from disseminated infection with BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) after routine vaccination is rare, and various immune defects may be responsible. An 18-year-old boy died with widespread lymph-node, bone, lung, and liver involvement 6 years after BCG vaccination. Total numbers of B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes were normal, but T lymphocytes, while transforming normally in the presence of non-specific mitogens, did not transform in the presence of purified protein derivative. Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests were negative. Monocytes containing alpha-naphthylacetate esterase were absent.

Tratamiento de la hipertension arterial esencial con acebutolol en dosis unica diaria. / Treatment of essential arterial hipertension with acebutolol in daily single dose

Se estudio la accion antihipertensiva de acebutolol en dosis unica en 26 enfermos hipertensos tratados en la Primera Catedra de Medicina. El acebutolol fue administrado en dosis unicas de 200 a 400 mg. Quince pacientes normalizaron sus cifras tensionales, ocho las mejoraron y en tres no se obtuvo mejoria. No se registraron efectos secundarios en ningun caso