The phylogeny of howler monkeys (Alouatta, Platyrrhini): Reconstruction by multicolor cross-species chromosome painting

We performed multidirectional chromosome painting in a comparative cytogenetic study of the three howler monkey species Alouatta fusca, A. caraya and A. seniculus macconnelli (Atelinae, Platyrrhini) in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within this genus. Comparative genome maps between these species were established by multicolor fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. The three species included in this study and previously analyzed howler monkey species were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis on the basis of a data matrix comprised of 98 discrete molecular cytogenetic characters. The results revealed that howler monkeys represent the genus with the most extensive karyotype diversity within Platyrrhini so far analyzed with high levels of intraspecific chromosomal variability. Two different multiple sex chromosome systems were identified. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Alouatta is a monophyletic clade which can be derived from a proposed ancestral Atelinae karyotype of 2n=62 chromosomes by a chromosome fusion, a fission, a Y-autosomal translocation and a pericentric inversion. Following these suggestions, the genus Alouatta can be divided into two distinct species groups: the first includes A. caraya and A. belzebul, the second A. s. macconnelli, A. sara, A. s. arctoidea and A. fusca.     

Invasive cancer of the prostate. Reconstruction of the lower urinary tract by prostatic resection and ureteral reimplantation into the bladder vault

Some prostatic cancers (T4) spread out along the ureters to the kidneys. Patients, usually arrive with terminal renal failure and bladder retention and have often fast-advancing cancer with massive nodes invading. T.U.R., reimplantation of the ureters into the bladder dome or into a pso?c bladder and the specific treatment of the cancer, have often permitted these patients to survive for some years without any dialysis. In these cases we often find very important lower limbs oedema. With lymphatic nodes radiotherapy and subcutaneous injections of heparin, these oedema may regress completely.     

Therapist features in sexual offender treatment: their reliable identification and influence on behaviour change

In the first of the two studies reported here, we established that trained judges could reliably identify 18 therapist features that occurred with reasonable frequency. In the second study 17 of these features were examined to determine how well they related to changes in sexual offenders with treatment. Five videotapes from each of five different prison programs were rated for the presence of these 17 features and correlational analyses examined their relationship with changes in 44 measures of treatment targets. The primary findings indicated that empathy and warmth displayed by the therapists and their directive and rewarding behaviours, were the features that most strongly predicted therapeutic benefits. The results are discussed in terms of their clinical and research implications. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Do weekly and fast-rotating shiftwork schedules differentially affect duration and quality of sleep?

 Characteristics of shiftwork schedules can have distinct impacts on workers’ sleep. This report presents comparisons of the effects of two different shiftwork schedules on duration and quality of the main sleep episodes in comparable worker populations at two different petrochemical plants. No significant differences were found for sleep duration in comparing the two plants. However, within each plant’s shift cycles, morning and night shifts showed shorter sleep durations than all other workdays and days off. Quality of sleep was perceived as lowest for night shifts of both plant schedules, and of lesser quality for weekly than for fast-rotating shifts. These results support recommendations for reducing the number of consecutive nights of shiftwork. However, before recommending any optimal shift schedule, interactions of sleep duration and quality with shift schedules need much further evaluation. Received: 18 December 1995/Accepted: 18 July 1996     

Phospholipid determination in platelets,plasma and red cells of patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders

Abstract: Red cell phospholipids (PLs) were assessed in 11 patients with essential thrombocythemia and 5 patients with polycythemia vera. Platelet and plasma PLs were also determined in 10 of these patients, and the results were compared with studies performed in 16 healthy volunteers. The amount of platelet PLs in patients was similar to controls (556 ± 90 nmol/10⁹cells, versus 481 ± 91 nmol/10⁹cells), as was the percentage of the main specimens of these compounds, including phosphatidylserine (11.1 ± 0.8%), which is relevant for platelet procoagulant activity. We did not find differences between red cell PLs of patients (300 ± 60 nmol/10⁹cells), versus controls (289 ± 71 nmol/10⁹cells), and the sphingomyelin/phosphatidylcholine ratio in these cells was the same in both groups (0.75 ± 0.1). Finally, we did not detect any alteration in the amount of plasma PLs specimens.     

Developmental stages of the vomeronasal organ in the rat: a light and electron microscopic study.

This paper describes the development of the rat vomeronasal organ from the stage of anlage until adulthood. Groups of four rats were sacrificed daily from prenatal day 13 (E13) until birth; at days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 16 after birth; weekly from day P21 to P42 plus an additional group of adults. The vomeronasal organs were processed for light microscopy, including alcian blue-PAS and NADH-diaphorase reactions, and also for electron microscopy. For summarizing our results we propose the following developmental stages: 1. Anlage (E13). 2. Early morphogenesis (E14-16). 3. Late morphogenesis (E17 to birth). 4. Initiation of secretory activity (First postnatal week). 5. Cytoarchitectural maturity (2nd postnatal week). 6. Complete maturity (From 3rd postnatal week onwards). Our results on the maturation of the histological structure and the histochemical reactions, indicate that there may be some functional activity at birth but the development of the organ still continues during the first three postnatal weeks to acquire its full functional capability.     

Changes in the physiologic pattern of mitral prosthesis regurgitation in the presence of a prosthetic dysfunction]

AIM OF STUDY: Evaluation by transesophageal echocardiography of the effect on the characteristics of physiological regurgitant jets (JF) resulting from prosthetic disfunction due to pathologic regurgitation (JF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 69 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of prosthesis in mitral position using transesophageal echocardiography and color doppler codification. The patients were divided in two groups (N and D groups) according to the presence of prosthesis disfunction by pathologic regurgitation. In each patient we determined planimetric areas and atrial peak depth of each JF and also the sum of JF planimetric areas of each mitral prosthesis. When pathological regurgitation was present we calculated the highest planimetric area, severity degree and atrial peak depth in each JP. RESULTS: The planimetric area in each JF of group N was 330 +/- 167 mm2 and in group D 117 +/- 116 mm2 (p less than 0.001). The sum of the areas of JF in group N was 474 +/- 204 mm2 and in group D 254 +/- 176 mm2 (p less than 0.01). The atrial depth of JF in group was 32 +/- 15 mm and in group D 26 +/- 18 mm (p less than 0.01). In group D 29% of the patients had mild pathological regurgitation, 10% moderate and 61% severe. The maximum planimetric area of JP in group D was 1078 +/- 1007 mm2 with atrial depth of 37 +/- 28 mm. CONCLUSION: The pathological regurgitation in disfunction prosthesis in mitral position has a significant reduction effect in the dimension of prosthesis physiologic regurgitation jets. This transesophageal echocardiographic observation makes it possible to characterize and clarify more precisely the different types of mitral prosthesis jets.     

Serum visceral protein levels reflect protein-calorie repletion in neonates recovering from major surgery.

Protein catabolism resulting from acute metabolic stress causes significant postoperative decreases in visceral proteins, including albumin (Alb) and prealbumin (PA). Although clinical trials have suggested an advantage of PA over Alb in monitoring the visceral protein response to nutritional supplementation following surgery, the capability of the neonate to generate such a response has yet to be evaluated. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine if PA is superior to Alb in assessing postoperative repletion of the visceral protein pool in neonates. Serum Alb and PA levels were measured and energy balance (EB) and protein intake (PI) were recorded in 10 neonates less than 48 hours after major surgery and again following 4 consecutive days of positive EB. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using indirect calorimetric methodology. Mean PI (g/kg/d) was lower (0.78 +/- 0.78) and mean EB (kcal/kg/d) was negative (-2.92 +/- 10.05) less than 48 hours postoperatively compared with mean PI (2.52 +/- 0.57; P = .0006) after 4 consecutive days of positive EB (34.84 +/- 16.5; P = .0004). Mean percent change (mean% delta) from negative EB to positive EB was significantly greater for PA (100%; P = .0002) as compared with Alb (18.5%). These data appear to support the conclusion that serial serum PA levels are superior to Alb to monitor the visceral protein response to nutritional supplementation in neonates following surgery.