Two new species of Eimeria Schneider 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 (Rodentia: Muridae) from Jordan

Coprological examination of 40 Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 from Jordan revealed oocysts of three species of genus Eimeria. Two species are described as new. Eimeria zuhairamri sp. n. has broadly ellipsoidal oocysts 29.6 (27.0–34.0)×23.3 (22.0–25.0) m with distinctly granulated wall and oocyst residuum. Endogenous development occurs in jejunum and ileum. Eimeria alorani sp. n. has oocysts 26.9 (23.0–29.0)×19.3 (18.0–22.0) m with smooth wall and absent residuum. Endogenous development is confined to the caecum. The third species, developing in jejunum, has oocysts morphologically indistinguishable from Eimeria uptoni. The identity of E. uptoni and the taxonomy of Eimeria of Apodemus are discussed.     

Effect of ovariectomy on response to dietary cholesterol in patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas)

From a group of 20 patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas), four high and four low responders to dietary cholesterol were selected for this study. The monkeys were paired according to their responsiveness to cholesterol, and ovariectomies were carried out on one group of the matched pairs. For the study, the monkeys were fed a Prudent Diet (at 0.1 mg cholesterol/cal) for 5 months preceding the ovariectomy and for 7 months after the ovariectomy followed by a Rich Diet (at 0.4 mg cholesterol/cal) for 7 months. Serum cholesterol, apo B, and apo A-I concentrations and cholesterol distributions were determined. We observed that while the monkeys consumed the Prudent Diet, total serum cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, and apo A-I increased in the ovariectomized group, but not in the control group. When they began consuming the Rich Diet, total serum cholesterol, apo B, and apo A-I concentrations increased in all monkeys, but increased more in the ovariectomized monkeys. The effect of the loss of ovarian function on lipoprotein metabolism is accentuated when the monkeys are fed a Rich Diet designed to be similar to a saturated fat, cholesterol-rich diet consumed by human beings.     

Unrelated donors selected prospectively by block-matching have superior bone marrow transplant outcome

Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated improved outcome in patients whose donors were matched for non-HLA markers in the MHC as well as for HLA genes. Forty patients receiving transplants from unrelated donors were typed prospectively for HLA and non-HLA markers. Non-HLA markers near HLA-B (beta-block markers) and in the DRB1 introns (delta-block markers) were used to assess MHC match between donors and recipient. Patients whose donors were matched at the beta- and delta-blocks had improved event free survival (63%) compared to patients whose donors were mismatched at one or both blocks (25%) (p < 0.05). Patients whose donors were matched at the beta-block had significantly less severe acute graft versus host disease (p < 0.05). In order to investigate the basis for improved outcome block matching was correlated with HLA matching as determined by DNA sequencing. Beta-block matching was highly correlated with matching for exons 2 and 3 of HLA-B but less so for HLA-C. Delta-block matching was highly correlated with matching for exon 2 of HLA DRB1. It is concluded that matching for non-HLA markers in the MHC improves matching for HLA genes. Further studies are required to determine whether matching for non-HLA markers improves outcome to a greater extent than matching for the HLA genes alone.     

An anti-actin monoclonal antibody inhibits the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction and hyperactivated motility of human sperm.

We report an inhibitory effect of an anti-actin monoclonal antibody (mAb) on the human zona pellucida (ZP)-induced acrosome reaction (AR). Motile sperm were incubated with native human ZP for 2 h in medium containing either the anti-actin mAb, an irrelevant control mAb or cytochalasins B or D (40 micromol/l). Sperm bound to the ZP were recovered and the AR was determined by fluorescein-labelled Pisum Sativum agglutinin. Anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (mIgG) Dynabeads, immunofluorescence and immunogold were used to detect the location of the anti-actin mAb in sperm. The anti-actin mAb significantly inhibited the ZP-induced AR (equivalent to cytochalasins), the ionophore A23187-induced AR and hyperactivation of sperm in medium. After incubation with anti-actin mAb, anti-mIgG beads bound to the head of >50% of sperm recovered after binding to the ZP and 10% of sperm remaining in the medium. The proportion of sperm that bound anti-mIgG beads after recovery from binding to the ZP in the presence of the anti-actin mAb was significantly correlated with the ZP-induced AR in the absence of the antibody. Immunofluorescence and immunogold demonstrated entry of the anti-actin mAb into sperm. This study suggests that the sperm plasma membrane becomes permeable to the anti-actin mAb during capacitation and initiation of the AR.     

P-selectin inhibition suppresses muscle regeneration following injury

This investigation sought to determine if P-selectin-mediated mechanisms contributed to macrophage localization in damaged muscle, an essential process for muscle regeneration. Mice were injected intravenously (i.v.) with soluble P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (sPSGL-1) at 5, 50, or 200 microg/mouse or with 100 microl vehicle alone, and then, lengthening contractions were induced in hindlimb plantar-flexor muscles. The contractions caused fiber damage in soleus muscles, with maximal invasion by CD11b+ mononuclear cells at 24 h post-injury and substantial accumulation of CD11b+ mononuclear cells in the extracellular matrix up to 7 days post-injury. sPSGL-1 treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in the number of regenerating fibers (P=0.021), as determined by developmental myosin heavy chain (dMHC) expression. This expression was reduced 93% at 7 days post-injury by the highest dose of sPSGL-1, which had no significant influence on intrafiber or extracellular accumulation of cells expressing CD11b, a general marker for phagocytic cells. Additional mice were injected i.v. with 20 microg anti-P-selectin or isotype-control immunoglobulin G and were then subjected to lengthening contractions as before. At 7 days post-injury, soleus muscles from anti-P-selectin-treated mice contained 48% fewer mononuclear cells that bound ER-BMDM1 (P=0.019), a marker for mature macrophages and dendritic cells, and 84% fewer fibers expressing dMHC (P = 0.006), compared with muscles from isotype-injected, control mice. The number of CD11b+ cells was not significantly different between groups. The results are consistent with the concept that P-selectin is involved in the recruitment, maturation, and/or activation of cells that are critical for muscle fiber regeneration.     

From segment to somite: segmentation to epithelialization analyzed within quantitative frameworks.

One of the most visually striking patterns in the early developing embryo is somite segmentation. Somites form as repeated, periodic structures in pairs along nearly the entire caudal vertebrate axis. The morphological process involves short- and long-range signals that drive cell rearrangements and cell shaping to create discrete, epithelialized segments. Key to developing novel strategies to prevent somite birth defects that involve axial bone and skeletal muscle development is understanding how the molecular choreography is coordinated across multiple spatial scales and in a repeating temporal manner. Mathematical models have emerged as useful tools to integrate spatiotemporal data and simulate model mechanisms to provide unique insights into somite pattern formation. In this short review, we present two quantitative frameworks that address the morphogenesis from segment to somite and discuss recent data of segmentation and epithelialization.     

Specificity of immunoglobulin E in coccidioidomycosis and correlation with disease involvement.

Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies were quantitated in 26 patients with active pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, 59 patients with active disseminated disease, 12 patients in clinical remission, and 91 healthy subjects. Significant differences were obtained in IgE serum levels of patients with active disease versus healthy subjects (P less than 0.0001). Patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis did not differ in their IgE levels when compared with patients with disseminated disease. However, serum IgE levels were significantly increased in patients with disease involving two or more organ systems when compared with patients with pulmonary disease or extrapulmonary disease involving a single organ system (P less than 0.02). Total serum IgE correlated with anti-Coccidioides IgE (P less than 0.001), but with only six exceptions, patients with anti-Coccidioides IgE also exhibited IgE antibodies to 1 or more of 12 common allergens. The correlation between hyperproduction of IgE and disease severity coupled with the depressed cell-mediated immune status of patients with this disease suggests a defect(s) in the T-lymphocyte population which functions to regulate IgE synthesis.     

Wiping reflexes and nerve impulse patterns evoked by electrical stimulation of the skin in frogs.

Electric shocks applied to the skin evoke well aimed wiping reflexes in the frogs, Discoglossus pictus and Rana esculenta. In skin-grafted animals, moreover, wipes were misdirected from those areas which gave misdirected responses to tactile stimulation. Recordings from cutaneous sensory neurons revealed that only one action potential, with varying latency, was evoked per shock in any given unit. It is concluded that the capacity for sensory localization in anurans cannot depend upon specific patterns of afferent nerve impulses.     

A general practice records audit of the process of care for people with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: The appropriateness of epilepsy as a topic for general practice audit activity has been emphasized, but few audits have been undertaken to data and those that have are small scale. Historically, management of epilepsy has been a neglected area, and services for people with epilepsy remain generally poor. AIM: The study was designed to examine the process of care for people with epilepsy through a region-wide audit of general practitioner records. METHOD: General practitioners in 31 randomly selected general practices in one UK health region undertook a notes audit for all patients identified as having active epilepsy (patients who had had seizures in the last 2 years, or were currently seizure-free but on antiepileptic medication). A standard pro forma was used to collect information relating to diagnosis, drug treatment, and primary and secondary care contacts. RESULTS: Recording of information in the notes was generally good, but poor for some key items essential to the effective management of the condition; results suggest that a number of recommendations about provision of care for epilepsy are not being met: in particular, EEG and CT investigations often appear poorly directed; prescribed antiepileptic therapy is not always optimal; significant numbers of patients are being treated in hospital by non-neurologists; there is little evidence of any regular review being undertaken by general practitioners of their patients with epilepsy; and counselling about the non-clinical aspects of epilepsy often appears inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recommendations in a number of recent reports, gaps and inconsistencies in epilepsy care persist, both at the primary and secondary level. The means by which such shortcomings can be reduced (e.g. by specialist epilepsy nurses working across the primary-secondary care interface) should now be systematically examined. The study has highlighted a need for evidence-based guidelines which span the primary-secondary care interface and clarify the contribution of the various practitioners involved in the provision of care for people with epilepsy.