Directional dispersal between mid-ocean ridges: deep-ocean circulation and gene flow in Ridgeia piscesae.

This study examined relationships between bathymetrically induced deep-ocean currents and the dispersal of the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae along the northeast Pacific ridge system. A robust diagnostic model of deep-ocean circulation in this region predicted strong southeasterly currents following contours of the Blanco Transform Fault, a 450-km lateral offset that separates the Gorda and Juan de Fuca ridge systems. Such currents should facilitate the southward dispersal of R. piscesae larvae. Immigration rates for populations north and south of the Blanco Transform Fault were estimated from molecular population genetic data. Mitochondrial DNA evidence revealed population subdivision across the Blanco Transform Fault, and a strong directional bias in gene flow that was consistent with predictions of the circulation model. The distribution of mitochondrial diversity between the northern and southern populations of R. piscesae suggests that the Gorda Ridge tubeworms have maintained larger effective population sizes than the northern populations, a pattern that also exists in co-occurring limpets. Together, these data suggest that the northern vent fields may experience a higher frequency of habitat turnover and consequently more rapid losses of genetic diversity.

Pseudoleukocytosis without pseudothrombocytopenia induced by the interaction of EDTA and IgG(2)-kappa M-protein.

We encountered a patient who showed ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-induced pseudoleukocytosis without pseudothrombocytopenia. The patient had IgG-kappa type monoclonal (M) gammopathy. The total protein concentration was 77 g/l, and the gamma-globulin fraction containing M-protein was 23.2%. The white blood cell count of the patient's blood anti-coagulated with EDTA was 52300/microl as determined using an automated counter, but was within normal limits when counted manually by light microscopy using a hemacytometer. Large amounts of a transparent substance were observed on blood smears, and white precipitates were formed by an interaction of the patient's serum with EDTA. Immunofixation electrophoresis showed these precipitates to be of the IgG(2)-kappa type M-protein. Western blotting analysis showed that the IgG molecules had a molecular mass of 155 kDa and were composed of two gamma-chains of approximately 53 kDa and two kappa-chains of 27 kDa. Pseudoleukocytosis was also observed when the patient's blood was anti-coagulated with O, O'-bis(2-amino-ethyl)-ethyleneglycol-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or sodium citrate, but not with lithium heparin. The present case seems to be the first report of pseudoleukocytosis induced by the interaction of EDTA and IgG(2)-kappa type M-protein.

Effects of acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide on primary antibody response.

The effects of acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide on primary humoral antibody response to sheep red blood cells in mice were studied. Mice were exposed to 5 ppm, 20 ppm, and 40 ppm nitrogen dioxide for 12 hr. An exposure of 20 ppm or 40 ppm resulted in a significant suppression of antibody responses, but 5 ppm did not affect antibody response. This immunosuppression resulting from nitrogen dioxide exposure was more apparent in males than females. Exposures to 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide for various time intervals revealed that the strongest suppression effect was observed in the group exposed 2 days after antigen injection. A decreased total cell number in the spleen, and more strikingly, in the thymus, was also caused by acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide.

Effects of chai ling tang on proteinuria in rat models.

Effects of Chai Ling Tang (a decoction of medicinal herbs) on passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) in rats, a model similar to human membranous nephropathy, were examined. Four hundred mg/kg (body weight) of Chai Ling Tang, or 240 mg/kg B.W. of Xiao Chai Hu Tang, or 130 mg/kg B.W. of Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) and Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) were intraperitoneally injected respectively into three groups of female Wistar rats once a day starting from 5 days before intravenous injection of anti-FxlA antibody to the end of the experiment. Another group of rats intraperitoneally injected with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was used as the control. It was found that the excretion of urinary protein was significantly suppressed in the Chai Ling Tang treated group (52.2 +/- 46.9 mg/day) as compared to that in the PBS control group (276.5 +/- 127.0 mg/day) 15 days after anti-FxlA antibody injection (P < 0.01). The decrease of serum albumin and total protein, and the increase of serum total cholesterol were significantly inhibited in the Chai Ling Tang treated group as compared to that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). It is therefore concluded that proteinuria in PHN can be significantly suppressed by Chai Ling Tang.