Evolution of apomixis loci in Pilosella and Hieracium (Asteraceae) inferred from the conservation of apomixis-linked markers in natural and experimental populations.

The Hieracium and Pilosella (Lactuceae, Asteraceae) genera of closely related hawkweeds contain species with two different modes of gametophytic apomixis (asexual seed formation). Both genera contain polyploid species, and in wild populations, sexual and apomictic species co-exist. Apomixis is known to co-exist with sexuality in apomictic Pilosella individuals, however, apomictic Hieracium have been regarded as obligate apomicts. Here, a developmental analysis of apomixis within 16 Hieracium species revealed meiosis and megaspore tetrad formation in 1 to 7% of ovules, for the first time indicating residual sexuality in this genus. Molecular markers linked to the two independent, dominant loci LOSS OF APOMEIOSIS (LOA) and LOSS OF PARTHENOGENESIS (LOP) controlling apomixis in Pilosella piloselloides subsp. praealta were screened across 20 phenotyped Hieracium individuals from natural populations, and 65 phenotyped Pilosella individuals from natural and experimental cross populations, to examine their conservation, inheritance and association with reproductive modes. All of the tested LOA and LOP-linked markers were absent in the 20 Hieracium samples irrespective of their reproductive mode. Within Pilosella, LOA and LOP-linked markers were essentially absent within the sexual plants, although they were not conserved in all apomictic individuals. Both loci appeared to be inherited independently, and evidence for additional genetic factors influencing quantitative expression of LOA and LOP was obtained. Collectively, these data suggest independent evolution of apomixis in Hieracium and Pilosella and are discussed with respect to current knowledge of the evolution of apomixis.

[Composition and antioxidant capacity of the guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit, pulp and jam]. / Composición química y capacidad antioxidante en fruta, pulpa y mermelada de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.).

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a tropical fruit widely relished in the tropics, consumed fresh and processed. In this work, free acidity, pH, ash, nitrogen and water contents were measured, besides the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of the peel, the shell and the pulp of the fresh fruit and the processed guava pulp and jam. The highest phenolic content was found in the guava skin la (10.36 g/100 g skin) and the lowest in the jam (1.47 g/ 100 g jam), in dry weight. The antioxidant capacity of the skin was 10 times higher than that of the pulp, and the jam was twice that of the shell.

Composición química y capacidad antioxidante en fruta, pulpa y mermelada de guayaba (Psidium guajava L. ) / Composition and antioxidant capacity of the guava (Psidium gujava L. ) fruit, pulp and jam

La guayaba (Psidium guajava L.) es una fruta tropical de gran aceptación en los trópicos, donde se consume fresca y procesada. En este trabajo se comparó la acidez libre, el pH, el contenido de cenizas, nitrógeno y la humedad, junto con el contenido de polifenoles totales y la capacidad antioxidante de la piel, el casco y la pulpa de la fruta fresca, y de la pulpa procesada y la mermelada de guayaba. El mayor contenido de polifenoles fue encontrado para la piel de la guayaba (10.36 g/100 g piel) y el menor en la mermelada (1.47 g/100g mermelada), expresados en base seca. Se encontró que la capacidad antioxidante de la piel fue diez veces superior a la de la pulpa, y la de la mermelada el doble que la del casco

[QT dynamicity in risk stratification in patients after myocardial infarction]. / QT dynamicita v rizikové stratifikaci u pacientu po infarktu myokardu.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular repolarization abnormalities are associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in patients after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study is to assess QT dynamicity - QT/RR relationship - in patients after myocardial infarction and its contribution to risk stratification of sudden cardiac death. METHODS: In a group of patients with diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction a long term ECG recording was performed 48-72 hours after myocardial infarction (MARS Unity Workstation, GE Medical Information Technologies). Patients with unstable circulation, artificial pulmonary ventilation, left bundle brach block, atrial fibrillation and paced rhythm were excluded. Analysis of QT dynamicity was performed by QT Guard software (GE Medical Information Technologies). QT/RR relationship is expressed by linear regression as QT = = aRR + b where "a" is termed "slope". RESULTS: Assessment of QT dynamicity was possible in 215 ECG recordings. In 6-month follow-up 2 patients died and another was successfully resuscitated for primary ventricular fibrillation. Six-month mortality resp. mortality + resuscitation was 0.9 %, resp. 1.4 %. Therefore statistical evaluation was not possible. In the 3 mentioned individuals the slope values were 0.333, 0.249 and 0.342. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality of up-to-date-treated patients after myocardial infarction is low. Therefore, in such patients it is not possible to assess QT dynamicity as a risk factor in midterm follow-up. Limitation of the method is the necessity of substantial selection of patients elegible for analysis and dependance on necessary equipment.

Demonstration of MyoD1 expression in oncocytic cardiomyopathy: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Oncocytic cardiomyopathy is a rare arrhythmogenic disorder usually associated with female sex, difficult-to-control arrhythmias, or sudden death of infants and children. Morphologically, it is characterized by the presence of oncocytic cells, which are diffusely distributed or form the nodular structures within the myocardium, occasionally involving the valves, with a large number of mitochondria in cytoplasms. We present two cases of oncocytic cardiomyopathy. The first case had a fatal clinical outcome, and the other case was surgically treated. The nuclear expression of skeletal muscle transcription factor MyoD1 was demonstrated in the first case, supporting the theory that oncocytic cardiomyopathy is a conduction system developmental disorder. To confirm this hypothesis, it is necessary to further investigate myogenic transcription factor program in human cardiac conduction system cells.

Determination of the effect of calcineurin inhibitors on the rat's immune system after KLH immunisation.

The calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA), tacrolimus (FK506) and pimecrolimus (ASM981) are on the market for the oral treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and topical treatment of atopic dermatitis, respectively. The effect of these treatments on the immune response was investigated in this study after immunisation of rats with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Male rats (10 per group) were orally administered pimecrolimus at 10 or 30 mg/kg/day), tacrolimus at 3 mg/kg/day or CsA at 20 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Control animals similarly received the vehicle only. The last five animals per group were immunised and challenged with KLH on days 16 and 24, respectively. Eight days after the last injection, the immune function was investigated by detecting KLH-specific antibodies in the serum and by examination of cell infiltration at the site of the KLH-challenge. In addition, a correlation between functional and structural changes was established by quantification of lymphocyte sub-populations in the blood or residing in lymphatic tissue. In KLH-immunised rats, CsA caused complete suppression of the KLH-specific IgM and IgG production, whereas only IgG production was affected by pimecrolimus at 30 mg/kg/day and more so by tacrolimus at 3 mg/kg/day. Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte sub-populations in spleen and lymph node indicated a decrease in T lymphocytes with pimecrolimus at 30 mg/kg/day, tacrolimus and CsA, whereas these changes were marginal for pimecrolimus at 10 mg/kg/day. Immunophenotyping of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) revealed a decrease in the absolute number of T lymphocytes with all three test items. In comparison with non-immunised animals, a slight increase in absolute numbers of T lymphocytes was observed in KLH-immunised animals treated with pimecrolimus at 10 or 30 mg/kg/day. In conclusion, the ability of the immune system to respond to KLH was not affected by pimecrolimus at 10 mg/kg/day whereas a decrease in immune function was noted in the other groups as follows: pimecrolimus (30 mg/kg/day) < tacrolimus (3 mg/kg/day) < CsA (20 mg/kg/day).

[The importance of electrocardiography in the development of new drugs--prolonged QT intervals as indicators of adverse effects]. / Význam elektrokardiografie ve vývoji nových léku--prodlouzení intervalu QT jako ukazatel vázných nezádoucích úcinku.

Both experimental animal studies and clinical observations have shown that drugs from various indication areas, such as psychotropic agents and antiarrhythmics can induce disturbances of cardiac rhythm and electrocardiographic abnormalities. Particularly, QT interval prolongation is associated with distinctive polymorphic ventricular tachycardias and often causes syncopes or cardiac arrest that represent a high risk of recurrent events including sudden death. In the last decade, several drugs in different indication areas, possessing these effects were withdrawn from the market and approvals were postponed or even refused. These events led to higher regulatory requirements on the cardiovascular safety of new drugs, with a special emphasis on prolongation of the QT interval. This article reviews the use of preclinical and clinical electrocardiography, as well as the current problems during development of novel drugs and future strategy in clinical studies. Even though ECG proved to be a powerful and reliable tool for detection of cardiac serious adverse effects during development of drugs, it also needs to be used with increased attention in all patients treated with new drugs and drug combinations in clinical and ambulatory practice in order to ensure their safe use in a wide population, as well as in patients with concurrent cardiac risk factors.

A test to detect cane-sugar-honey.

A manual procedure for simple detection of cane sugar honey is described in terms of a visual reaction of honey, water and diethyl ether mixtures. Analyses of 30 samples of genuine honey were contrasted with 30 samples of cane-sugar-honey from Venezuela, and discriminated correctly by the proposed method.

[Personal experience with Garamycin Schwamm in routine surgical practice]. / Nase zkusenosti s pouzitím Garamycin Schwammu v bezné chirurgické praxi.

The author demonstrates the use of Garamycin Schwamm of Schering-Plought Co. in common surgical practice. He draws attention to its advantages in septic surgery and operations where an infectious agent was not detected on cultivation but where there is a high risk of infection (open fractures). Garamycin Schwamm has a very wide spectrum of action and therefore its use in emergency surgery where there is no time for cultivation examinations, is very useful.

[Classification of commercial Venezuelan honey]. / Clasificación de mieles comerciales venezolanas.

Commercial honeys were analysed to study their quality in the Venezuelan market and were grouped in progressive classes according to their organoleptical and physico-chemical characteristics. For that purpose, 500 honey samples were collected in 1985-1987 in different locations of Venezuela. By sensorial evaluation, 13.4% of the samples were recognized as honey frauds and 86.6% as genuine honey. The analytical results were compared with the standards established in the Venezuelan regulation for honey (COVENIN 2191-84), and 59.8% of the genuine honeys were found to be altered because they failed to fulfil the requirement for moisture content (39.8%), reducing sugars (11.2%), sucrose (17.4%), ash (31.7%), total acidity (25.5%), hydroximethylfurfural (43.2%) and diastase (34.0%). Honey frauds never fulfilled the requirements for hydroximethylfurfural and diastase. The high values found for acidity and ash content in genuine honeys with only one altered characteristic, reveal the need to review the established requirements in the national regulation for honey. It is suggested to use the nitrogen content of honey to detect honey frauds in Venezuela.

[Minimal time for detecting protein quality using indicators of protein catabolism in chickens]. / Tiempo mínimo para detectar calidad proteica usando indicadores del catabolismo proteico en pollos.

Previous studies shown that in chickens the hepatic activities of the purine enzymes Xanthine Dehydrogenase and Nucleoside Phosphorylase and the uric acid excretion can predict the quality of the protein consumed in a very short time. In these studies even though the experimental time was short, the time used for the conditioning of the chickens was long and included five days with six chickens per cage and then five to six days for progressively changing the chickens to individual cages in order to avoid the stress associated with the isolation of the animals. Thus the purpose of this study was to determine the minimal time required to detect differences in these parameters after feeding a soy-met and a gelatin diet and eliminating completely the time required for the isolation of the chickens. Thus, 76 one day old Warren male chickens were placed in groups of six on a soy-met powdered diet during five days and on day six all the chicken were placed in individual cages and one halve was offered the same diet while the rest received a gelatin diet. Then on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 after the diet change five chickens on each diet were sacrificed and the activity of the liver purine enzymes as well as the uric acid excreted were determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Ablation of the accessory bundle of Kent using radiofrequency current in a 17-year-old boy with type A Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]. / Prerusení akcesorního Kentova svazku radiofrekvencním proudem u sedmnáctileteho chlapce s WPW syndromem typu A.

The authors describe the in Czechoslovakia so far not used therapeutic catheterization ablation method of the accessory atrioventricular pathway in patients with tachycardia with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. They performed successful ablation of the accessory bundle of Kent located by electrophysiological examination behind the left atrium and left ventricle in a 17-year-old boy with WPW Syndrome type A. They severed the accessory pathway by radiofrequency current using a catheter inserted from a retrograde approach into the left ventricle beneath the mitral valve. After ablation the boy suffers no longer from tachycardia, the ECG tracing in devoid of preventricular preexcitation, although he has no medicamentous treatment.

In situ analysis of adenohypophysis proliferative activity in beagle dogs. Preliminary results.

In order to establish control data on adenohypophysis cell cycle in beagle dogs, two different approaches were used. In the first approach, the adenohypophysis mitotic index (percentage of cells in mitosis: MI) was determined using pituitary glands from 50 control beagle dogs, 10 to 25 months old, from retrospective regulatory safety assessment studies. We found that the MI in males was 0.024 +/- 0.007% and in females 0.068 +/- 0.019%. The second approach involved the determination of the adenohypophysis cell fraction in S phase by means of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) anti-BrdU method in 16 control beagle dogs, 8 to 20 months old, from ongoing safety assessment studies. We found that the BrdU labeling index (percentage of BrdU-positive cells per total number of cells: BrdU LI) was 0.053 +/- 0.009% in males and 0.059 +/- 0.015% in females. Analysis of our data indicated that the results obtained from the BrdU LI were more reliable (coefficient of variation [CV] less than 0.07) compared to those obtained from the MI (CV greater than 1.4). No clear difference was found between male and female beagle dogs, regarding adenohypophysis cell proliferation. In both studies, adenohypophysis cell proliferation was found to be age-dependent, with the highest value in immature dogs. No correlation between estrus cycle in females and adenohypophysis cell proliferation was noted.

[Location of the bundle of Kent in patients with Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve]. / Lokalizace Kentova svazku u pacientu s Ebsteinovou anomálií trikuspidální chlopne.

The prequisite of better therapeutic results in patients with Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve is more perfect diagnosis not only of the severity of the malformed valve but also of other associated defects incl. the anomalous accessory bundle of Kent which causes the development of dangerous tachydysrhythmias. The authors present their own experience with the localization of the bundle of Kent by mapping the endocardium of the atria in seven children before a cardiac operation. In all ventricular preexcitation type B with the bundle of Kent in the posterior lower portion of the atrial septum was found. In two non-operated patients who died with tachydysrhythmia which could not be controlled, the bundle of Kent was confirmed by histological examination, in three it was severed by operation, two patients are waiting to be operated. The authors recommend interruption of the bundle of Kent always concurrently with operation of the malformed tricuspid valve and other associated cardiac defects.

Approximate lethal dose versus median lethal dose in acute toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals. A retrospective study.

The relation between approximate lethal doses (ALD, i.e. the lowest dose at which mortality occurs) and the corresponding median lethal doses (LD50) was investigated in 231 acute toxicity studies in mice and rats. The ALD values were divided into four classes (less than 5 mg/kg, 5-50 mg/kg, 50-500 mg/kg, 500-2000 mg/kg) and the LD50/ALD factors were calculated. In intravenous studies the LD50 values were higher than the ALD values by mean factors of 1.27-1.61 in mice and 1.25-2.84 in rats. In oral studies the LD50 values were higher by mean factors of 1.46-2.5 in mice and 1.59-2.1 in rats. Only in 20 cases (8.7%) did the LD50 values differ by factors higher than 2.