Evolution of motor patterns: aquatic feeding in salamanders and ray-finned fishes

Patterns of muscle activity (motor patterns) have generally been found to be strongly conserved during the evolution of aquatic feeding behavior within closely related groups of fishes and salamanders. We conducted a test of the generality of motor pattern conservation with a much broader phylogenetic scope than has been done previously. Activity patterns of three cranial muscles were quantified from electromyographic (EMG) recordings made during suction feeding in a salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) and 4 widely divergent species of ray-finned fishes (Amia calva, Notopterus chitala, Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus). General features of the motor pattern were the same in all species, but multivariate and univariate analyses of variance revealed highly significant differences among the 5 species in the average muscle activity pattern, indicating that the motor pattern has not been precisely conserved among these 5 taxa. Five of eight EMG variables that describe the intensity and timing of muscle activity differed among species. Only the intensity of activity of the adductor mandibulae appears to be a strongly conserved feature of the suction feeding motor pattern in anamniotes. A discriminant function analysis of the 8 EMG variables successfully classified about two thirds of the feeding incidents as belonging to the correct species. In contrast to the results of previous studies of closely related taxa, we found that numerous quantitative differences exist among species, indicating that functionally significant details of suction feeding motor patterns have changed during evolution, whereas several general features of the pattern have been conserved.     

Glutathione S-transferase expression in fetal kidney and Wilms' tumour

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been implicated in carcinogenesis and tumour drug-therapy resistance. In this study GST pi was the predominant isoenzyme in the fetal human kidney. It was present in differentiated epithelial structures but never in the primitive mesenchyme. By contrast most cases of Wilms' tumours showed GST pi in both epithelial structures and undifferentiated blastema. The level of expression, as assessed by immunostaining, was no more than moderate, and was generally higher in differentiated elements. In only one case was GST alpha found in Wilms' tumour. This study had demonstrated a difference between fetal kidney and Wilms' tumour blastema in terms of GST expression.     

Sex steroids promote neurite growth in mesencephalic tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in vitro

The influence of steroid hormones on the differentiation of catecholaminergic and serotonergic (5-HT) neurons was studied in dissociated cell cultures from embryonic day 14 (E14) rat diencephalon, mesencephalon and metencephalon treated for 6 days with 17 beta-estradiol (E), testosterone (T), 5 alpha-dihydrostestosterone (DHT), progesterone (P), dexamethasone (DEX), or E + T. The effects of these hormones on morphologic differentiation were determined by morphometric measurements of total length of neurites of immunocytochemically identified neurons in culture, which were stained with antisera against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or 5-HT. A significant increase in neurite length was observed in cultures of TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons from the mesencephalon treated with E, T, E + T, but not with P, DHT or DEX. Based on labeling with [3H]dopamine (DA) uptake and competition with specific inhibitors, these mesencephalic TH-IR cells appear to represent DA neurons of the A8-A10 groups (which includes the substantia nigra). No statistically significant effects of these steroids were observed on TH-IR neurons from the diencephalon (assumed to be precursors of the tuberoinfundibular and incertohypothalamic dopaminergic groups). The 5-HT neurons of the raphe nuclei (metencephalon) showed no statistically significant response to steroids. We conclude that during the early fetal period, sex steroids can affect the morphologic differentiation of mesencephalic DA neurons in vitro, indicating that these hormones are capable of selectively influencing the development of a specific population of monoamine neurons during this critical period.     

Kinetics of peripheral blood mononuclear cell mobilization with chemotherapy and/or granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor: implications for yield of hematopoietic progenitor cell collections

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are commonly collected and used to reconstitute hematopoiesis after high-dose chemotherapy. However, strategies for optimal collection and assessment of leukapheresis components are not standardized. STUDY DESIGN and METHODS: Hematopoietic progenitor cell assays were performed on 369 leukapheresis components collected from 95 patients who had received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy and/or granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Precollection patient hematologic values, leukapheresis collection values, component hematopoietic progenitor cell assays, and patient outcome measures were summarized. The kinetics of mononuclear cell (MNC) and PBPC mobilization were assessed among four patient groups. RESULTS: Patient group was a significant predictor of the peripheral blood MNC count on the day of collection (p<0.0001), and that value was a significant predictor of granulocyte-macrophage– colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) yield (p<0.0001). This relationship between the peripheral blood MNC count on the day of collection and CFU- GM yield differed according to patient group (p<0.0001). CFU-GM made up a larger fraction of peripheral blood MNCs collected from patients who received chemotherapy plus G-CSF than collected from those who received G-CSF alone. Moreover, the peripheral blood MNC count and the corresponding CFU-GM yield increased significantly on consecutive days of collection in patient groups receiving chemotherapy and G-CSF but were unchanged or decreased in patients receiving G-CSF alone. CONCLUSION: The relationship between peripheral blood MNC count and leukapheresis component CFU-GM yield differed significantly between patients who received chemotherapy and G-CSF and those who received G- CSF alone for the mobilization of PBPCs. Patient peripheral blood MNC count and component CFU-GM yield are useful for both assessing and suggesting revisions to PBPC mobilization and collection strategies.     

Procedure-based nonsurgical management of lumbar zygapophyseal joint cyst-induced radicular pain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of fluoroscopically guided, contrast-enhanced lumbar zygapophyseal joint (Z-joint) aspiration and steroid injection combined with transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) for the treatment of lumbar Z-joint cyst-induced radicular pain. DESIGN: Retrospective case series with independent follow-up. SETTING: Institutional, referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients referred to a single provider for procedure-based management of radicular pain believed secondary to lumbar Z-joint cyst. Inclusion criteria consisted of lumbar radicular pain that was consistent with the level and side of the Z-joint cyst as a causative lesion. INTERVENTIONS: Eighteen patients were treated with a fluoroscopically guided, contrast-enhanced Z-joint aspiration and steroid injection at the level of the causative cyst coupled with a fluoroscopically guided, contrast-enhanced TFESI over the level of the presumably irritated spinal nerve. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction, and whether or not surgery was performed. RESULTS: Fifty percent of patients treated with the procedure had significant long-term benefit and avoided surgical intervention at an average follow-up of 9.9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopically guided, contrast-enhanced spinal procedures as part of an aggressive nonsurgical treatment program are a safe and effective alternative to surgical intervention for lumbar Z-joint cyst-induced radicular pain.