Fourteen new microsatellite markers for Atlantic herring Clupea harengus.

Fourteen new microsatellite loci were developed and tested on Atlantic herring Clupea harengus with 39 individuals from Iceland and 49 individuals from Norway. The microsatellites, which contain di, tri and tetranucleotide repeats, are polymorphic (7-30 alleles), with observed heterozygosity ranging between 0·69 and 1·00 and expected heterozygosity between 0·55 and 0·97.

Microsatellite standardization and evaluation of genotyping error in a large multi-partner research programme for conservation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Microsatellite genotyping is a common DNA characterization technique in population, ecological and evolutionary genetics research. Since different alleles are sized relative to internal size-standards, different laboratories must calibrate and standardize allelic designations when exchanging data. This interchange of microsatellite data can often prove problematic. Here, 16 microsatellite loci were calibrated and standardized for the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, across 12 laboratories. Although inconsistencies were observed, particularly due to differences between migration of DNA fragments and actual allelic size ('size shifts'), inter-laboratory calibration was successful. Standardization also allowed an assessment of the degree and partitioning of genotyping error. Notably, the global allelic error rate was reduced from 0.05 ± 0.01 prior to calibration to 0.01 ± 0.002 post-calibration. Most errors were found to occur during analysis (i.e. when size-calling alleles; the mean proportion of all errors that were analytical errors across loci was 0.58 after calibration). No evidence was found of an association between the degree of error and allelic size range of a locus, number of alleles, nor repeat type, nor was there evidence that genotyping errors were more prevalent when a laboratory analyzed samples outside of the usual geographic area they encounter. The microsatellite calibration between laboratories presented here will be especially important for genetic assignment of marine-caught Atlantic salmon, enabling analysis of marine mortality, a major factor in the observed declines of this highly valued species.

Permanent Genetic Resources added to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2010-31 March 2010.

This article documents the addition of 228 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Anser cygnoides, Apodemus flavicollis, Athene noctua, Cercis canadensis, Glis glis, Gubernatrix cristata, Haliotis tuberculata, Helianthus maximiliani, Laricobius nigrinus, Laricobius rubidus, Neoheligmonella granjoni, Nephrops norvegicus, Oenanthe javanica, Paramuricea clavata, Pyrrhura orcesi and Samanea saman. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Apodemus sylvaticus, Laricobius laticollis and Laricobius osakensis (a proposed new species currently being described).

Isolation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting triterpenes from Schinus molle.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of extracts of Schinus molle leaves, using an in vitro assay, led to the isolation of ACE-inhibitory steroidal triterpenes of the euphane type, identified by means of NMR spectroscopic methods. One of the triterpenes was isolated as an equilibrium mixture of epimeric aldehydes. The triterpenes showed moderate ACE-inhibitory activity (IC(50) about 250 microM).

[Toxicity of monkshood. Review.].

Monkshood, Aconitum napellus L. (Ranunculaceae), is considered one of the most poisonous plants growing in Europe. Monkshood and other Aconitum species are still used in Oriental and homeopathic medicine as analgesics, febrifuges and hypotensives. The neurotoxin aconitine is the principal alkaloid in most subspecies of monkshood. A review is presented, which includes historical aspects of monkshood as a poisonous and medicinal plant, the mode of action of aconitine, symptoms of toxicity, treatment and reports of recent poisoning incidents. In addition, results of quantitative HPLC examination of hypogeous and epigeous organs from a population of A. napellus ssp. vulgare cultivated in Iceland are discussed. The fact that children in Iceland have commonly been known to eat the sweet tasting nectaries in monkshood prompted an investigation of the alkaloidal content of these organs specifically. The low aconitine content found in the nectaries as well as in whole flowers accords with the absence of reported toxicity arising from the handling of flowers and consumption of nectaries from A. napellus in this country.

[Health risks of vaccination of farmed fish]. / Helserisiko ved vaksinasjon av oppdrettsfisk.

In 1991, three cases of anaphylactoid reactions among vaccinators of farmed fish were registered in Norway. The reactions developed after repeated accidental self-injection of vaccine against salmon furunculosis. In 1991, some 60 million salmon were vaccinated against furunculosis at approximately 50 grams body weight. Following such self-injection of vaccine, inflammatory reactions are seen in the injected finger, also spreading occasionally to the hand. More seldom a "flu" like syndrome with fever, muscle aches, and general malaise is experienced probably caused by endotoxins in the vaccine. Devices to protect the fingers against accidental self-injection have been developed and, so far, the results are promising.

Fluvoxamine in the treatment of demented elderly patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The efficacy of fluvoxamine on cognitive functioning and behavioral changes was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 46 elderly demented patients. The patients had a DSM-III diagnosis of primary degenerative dementia or multi-infarct dementia and were aged greater than or equal to 65 years. Twenty-two patients were given 150 mg fluvoxamine per day and 24 received placebo tablets; 14 and 15 patients, respectively, completed 6 weeks of treatment. Within treatments, there were no significant changes in median scores on neuropsychological tests (picture recall and recognition, trail making and finger tapping) or the GBS scale scores (degrees of dementia) or GBS subscale score (clinical profiles, including symptoms common in dementia, motor, emotional and intellectual functioning). Between treatments, the median changes in psychometric test scores did not differ significantly. However, within and between treatments, there were trends favoring fluvoxamine on symptoms common in dementia (confusion, irritability, anxiety, fear-panic, mood level and restlessness). In conclusion, the study does not support the hypothesis that fluvoxamine improves cognitive functioning or behavioral changes in elderly dementia patients.

Prolactin responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in multi-infarct dementia and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

The serum prolactin (PRL) responses to stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (500 micrograms Protirelin) were compared in 14 patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and 10 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Between the MID and the SDAT patients, there were no statistically significant differences in the median serum PRL concentrations, median changes in serum PRL concentrations or median proportional changes in serum PRL concentrations. Further, the serum PRL responses did not correlate with the GBS scale scores (degrees of dementia) or the GBS subscale scores (clinical profiles, including motor functioning, emotional functioning and intellectual functioning). In conclusion, the study does not support the hypothesis that serum PRL responses to TRH stimulation are of diagnostic value in differentiating between MID and SDAT.

Variation of HIV infectibility of macrophages as a function of donor, stage of differentiation, and site of origin.

Heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 is likely to involve transmission of virus present in seminal fluid to inflammatory cells, particularly macrophages, present in the endometrium and peritoneal cavity. We have investigated the susceptibility of peritoneal macrophages and the corresponding autologous blood monocytes from normal women to infection by the BA-L strain of HIV-1. In 10 of 18 examples, peritoneal macrophages showed signs of infection within 4-5 days, which was earlier than the autologous monocytes. In contrast to peritoneal macrophages, lung macrophages from 10 of 11 normal donors failed to show significant reverse transcriptase (RT) values 3 weeks post infection. Monolayer cultures of monocytes cultured for 5 days prior to infection developed RT values similar overall to those of freshly isolated cells although individual donors varied as to which culture condition was optimal. The ease of infection of peritoneal macrophages did not correlate with levels of CD4 antigen or degree of pelvic inflammatory development, nor were macrophages harvested from women early in the menstrual cycle significantly more susceptible to infection than those collected from midcycle on. This unexplained heightened infectibility of peritoneal macrophages in a proportion of normal women suggests that those individuals could be more at risk for heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 infection.

Flow cytometric versus immunohistochemical analysis of ovarian cancer class I antigen expression: differences may represent a defect in antigen expression.

Class I antigen expression by ovarian epithelial neoplasms was determined by flow cytometric analysis and an immunoperoxidase technique for each specimen. The numbers of class I positive tumors determined by the methods were compared. The more subjective immunohistochemical analysis and the more objective flow cytometric technique revealed similar results as long as strict criteria for the interpretation of results was applied. Most of the tumor specimens revealed a homogeneous Gaussian distribution of green fluorescence, class I antigen expression, by flow cytometry. There were two specimens that exhibited a less than characteristic type of membrane staining. The antigen-antibody reaction product was expressed in the extracellular matrix, as well as on the cell membrane of certain cells. This may represent a defect in antigen expression and, if so, might alter the immune response to these tumors.

Class I histocompatibility antigen expression: a prognostic factor for aneuploid ovarian cancers.

Epithelial ovarian cancers with aneuploid DNA content are associated with a poorer clinical course than diploid tumors. Flow cytometric analysis may further categorize aneuploid tumors based on the relative expression of cell surface histocompatibility (HLA) antigens. Surgical specimens from 20 patients with aneuploid tumors were stained using an indirect immunofluorescence method with primary murine monoclonal antibodies W36/22 (class I HLA surface antigens) and L5.1 (irrelevant antibody), counterstained with propidium iodide (DNA stain), and analyzed with the flow cytometer using a computer program to correct staining intensity for cell size. Patients with high or low class I expression were similar with respect to age, stage, histology, grade, and residual disease following surgical debulking; all patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Women with low class I HLA antigen expression had higher progression rates and death rates than patients with high class I HLA expression. Low class I HLA antigen expression is a poor prognostic factor among patients with aneuploid ovarian cancers.

The GBS scale in multi-infarct dementia and senile dementia of Alzheimer type.

The GBS profile was assessed for 39 patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and 34 patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT). The MID patients fulfilled the DSM-III criteria for multi-infarct dementia and had a score of 7 points or more on the Hachinski Ischemic Scale (HIS) and a score of 4 points or less on the Gustafson/Nilsson Alzheimer Scale (GNAS). The SDAT patients fulfilled DSM-III criteria for primary degenerative dementia and had a score of 5 points or more on the GNAS and a score of 6 points or less on the HIS. The total GBS score, the GBS subscale and relative subscale scores for intellectual functioning were significantly higher in patients with SDAT as compared with patients with MID. However, these subscale scores were considerably dispersed and nearly totally overlapping between patients with MID and SDAT, which implicates that the discriminative value is minimal. The validity between the GBS versus HIS and between the GBS versus GNAS was divergent, suggesting that the GBS scale has its own unique validity. In conclusion, the study does not support the hypothesis that the GBS profile may be of diagnostic value in clinical differentiation between multi-infarct dementia (MID) and senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT).