Hybrid advantage in skin peptide immune defenses of water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus) at risk from emerging pathogens

Heterogeneity in immune defense effectors can benefit hosts encountering a variety of parasites and pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse set of immune defense effectors in many amphibians, and are secreted from dermal granular glands to protect the skin from infection. Over 50 different skin peptides have been reported from the European water frog hybridogenic complex (Pelophylax esculentus complex), consisting of the hybrid P. esculentus, and the parent species Pelophylax lessonae and Pelophylax ridibundus. In central Europe the hybrid is sympatric with only P. lessonae, while in other areas all three species can co-occur. Amphibian immune defenses are likely under selective pressure from emerging pathogens such as the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). To assess if hybridization affects immune defenses against Bd, we compared skin peptides of the three species in terms of (i) quantity, (ii) activity against Bd, (iii) repertoire, and (iv) stability. Hybrids secreted AMPs at higher quantities and with greater fungicidal activity compared to cohabiting P. lessonae. Compared to P. ridibundus, AMPs from hybrids were of similar quantity but slightly greater antifungal activity. Mass spectrometric analyses (MALDI-TOF) revealed that of all three species P. esculentus has the greatest peptide diversity, a repertoire inclusive of peptides occurring in either one or the other parent species. Measurements of degradation dynamics indicate that peptides remain relatively stable on the skin of all species for over an hour after induction of skin gland secretions. Our data demonstrate that the hybrid has more effective peptide defenses against Bd and a richer peptide repertoire than either parent species. Hybrid advantage in environments hosting virulent pathogens may contribute to disassortative mating preferences, and we suggest that AMP diversity may be analogous to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterozygosity by benefiting hosts encountering multiple parasites.     

经瞳孔温热疗法治疗老年黄斑变性所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管的长期观察(英文)

目的:评价经瞳孔温热疗法(TTT)治疗年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管(CNV)的长期疗效。方法:AMD所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管14例14眼。平均年龄67.1岁。记录详尽的眼科检查结果,拍摄彩色眼底相,并行黄斑部光学相干断层成像(OCT)检查。在初诊及随后的复诊中行眼底荧光素血管造影和吲哚青绿血管造影。TTT的治疗参数为:时间1min,光斑大小2 ~3mm,激光能量650 ~800mW。随诊时间5 ~64mo,平均28.6mo。结果:在14眼中,典型性CNV有10眼,典型为主性有2眼,1眼为少量典型性,1型隐匿性CNV有1眼。共4例患者出现治疗后出血,均在短期内吸收。有1眼在治疗后立刻出现了黄斑无灌注区。多数患眼在随诊中可见渗出逐渐减少。在平均28.6mo的随诊中,14只患眼,有5眼视力提高,8眼保持稳定,1眼视力下降。结论:经瞳孔温热疗法在AMD患者中能封闭黄斑中心凹下的CNV,促进网膜下积液的迅速吸收,从而稳定患者的视力。它可以作为一种治疗典型和典型为主性黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管的激光治疗手段。     

Severe nail changes due to Docetaxel treatment

We report a case of severe nail changes which occurred in a patient under docetaxel treatment for metastatic breast cancer.     

Trifid mandibular condyle: A case report

A few cases of bifid, but no case of trifid mandibular condyle, have been reported in the literature. This article presents the first reported case of trifid mandibular condyle in a living subject with a history of previous trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Additionally, the patient's other condyle was bifid. The patient had no complaint related to the functions of TMJ except for minimal weakness following chewing. The etiology and the prognosis of bifid and trifid condyle are discussed briefly. We considered computed tomography essential to rule out early stages of TMJ pathology in similar cases that resemble trifid mandibular condyle on conventional radiographs.     

Prevalence and determinants of minor psychiatric disorder in Turkish immigrants living in the Netherlands

Background The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of and risk and protective factors for minor psychiatric disorder in a general population sample of Turkish immigrants living in the Netherlands. Methods Minor psychiatric disorder was assessed with the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire. Demographic, immigration, social and support, and stress related variables were assessed with the Turkish Immigrant Assessment Questionnaire. The study sample was a randomly selected sample of 262 male and 523 female Turkish immigrants. Results Of all immigrants, 33.4 % experience minor psychiatric disorder with more females (36.1 %) than males (27.9 %) with disorder. For males, unemployment is a strong risk factor, whereas for females the burden of additional tasks (physical illness and inclusion of family members) in the household increases the risk for psychiatric disorder. For both males and females, however, the quality of the relationship with their partner in addition to enduring stresses around housing and finances are associated with elevated risks. Conclusions The incidence of minor psychiatric disorder in this sample of Turkish immigrants living in the Netherlands is higher than the incidence normally found in general population samples. The expression of somatic complaints around ‘tightness’ should alert physicians to further explore symptoms of minor psychiatric disorder and to examine sources of distress stemming from the partner relationship, the family, work and from poor housing and financial conditions. Accepted: 22 November 2001     

Renal cortical thickness and PON1 activity both decrease in chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with a tendency to atherosclerosis due to the enhanced oxidative stress and insufficient antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and paraoxonase (PON 1), together with abnormalities in lipid parameters. We determined the in vitro susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation and PON1 activities in patients with chronic renal insufficiency to see how PON1 affected the progression of the disease and whether hemodialysis influenced these parameters. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women, mean age 43.9 +/- 16) with CRF were included, 23 were receiving hemodialysis treatment. Exclusion criteria were diabetes mellitus and acute coronary disease. Eighteen healthy subjects (9 men and 9 women, mean age 39.9 +/- 10.5) volunteered to participate as controls. All patients were evaluated by renal ultrasound (USG) and two-dimensional echography, and their lipid profiles, PON1 activity, basal and Cu-induced LDL oxidation were determined. RESULTS: PON1 activities of patients were lower than controls (14.4 +/- 11 vs 30.9 +/- 19 U/L, p < 0.05) while basal ox-LDL levels determined by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method were higher (0.6 +/- 0.4 vs 0.4+/- 0.2 nmol/mg LDL protein, p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups treated with hemodialysis or not. There was a positive correlation between renal cortical thickness and HDL levels (r=0.47, p=0.006) and PON1 activity (r=0.45, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that HDL cholesterol levels and PON1 activities were both lower in patients, indicating depletion of the protective antioxidant capacity. PON1 activities and phenotypes were no different in patients with coronary disease and others so it does not appear to be a significant indicator of coronary artery disease in patients with CRF.     

The effect of preventive use of alanyl-glutamine on diaphragm muscle function in cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis model

BACKGROUND: Low muscle glutamine levels during sepsis are associated with reduced protein synthesis and elevated protein breakdown, in particular myofibrillar protein breakdown. Thus, in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model in the rat, we hypothesized that glutamine pretreatment would protect the diaphragm muscle function. METHODS: Eighty-four male Wistar rats weighing between 180 g and 200 g received standard amino acid solution 1.2 g kg(-1) per day intraperitoneally (IP) or standard amino acid solution 1.2 g kg(-1) per day plus alanyl-glutamine (GLN) 0.25 g kg(-1) per day (IP) during the first 6 days of the experiment. On the seventh day, CLP or sham procedures were applied. The sham and CLP groups were equally divided into 3 subgroups according to the termination of the experiment, which took place at either the 24th hour, 48th hour, or 72nd hour. After the compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were recorded from the diaphragms of the rats at these selected times, they were decapitated under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia, and diaphragms were harvested for biochemical and histopathological examination. RESULTS: The mean area and amplitude of CMAP were significantly larger in sham+GLN groups when compared with CLP and CLP+GLN groups at all times (p < .05). Diaphragm Ca+2 -ATPase levels were found to be significantly decreased in CLP group at all times compared to sham groups (p < .05). Diaphragm reduced glutathione levels were significantly higher in sham+GLN groups when compared with CLP and CLP+GLN groups at all times (p < .05). In histopathologic assessment, moderate neutrophil infiltration, which was observed in CLP48, was significantly reduced with alanyl-glutamine supplementation in CLP+GLN48 group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that glutamine pretreatment did not improve diaphragm muscle function, but prevented the biochemical and histopathological changes in diaphragmatic muscle in CLP-induced sepsis. However, further studies are needed to clarify whether a higher dose of glutamine supplementation might protect the diaphragmatic muscle functions.