The HcrVf2 gene from a wild apple confers scab resistance to a transgenic cultivated variety

The Vf gene from the wild species Malus floribunda 821 is the most studied apple scab resistance gene. Several molecular markers mapping around this gene were the starting point for a positional cloning project. The analysis of the bacterial artificial chromosome clones spanning the Vf region led to the identification of a cluster of genes homologous to the Cladosporium fulvum resistance gene family of tomato. One of these genes, HcrVf2 (homologue of the C. fulvum resistance genes of the Vf region), was used to transform the susceptible apple cultivar Gala. Four independent transformed lines resistant to apple scab were produced, proving that HcrVf2 is sufficient to confer scab resistance to a susceptible cultivar. The results show that direct gene transfer between cross-compatible species can be viable when, as in apple, the use of backcrosses to introduce resistance genes from wild species cannot exactly reconstitute the heterozygous genotype of clonally propagated cultivars.     

Gender and utilization of ancillary services

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether gender is associated with the use of ancillary services in hospitalized patients. DESIGN: A retrospective study of laboratory and radiology tests ordered for medical and surgical inpatients over 16-month and 20-month periods, respectively. Obstetric patients were excluded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Number of clinical laboratory and radiology tests per admission, their associated charges, and total charges per admission were measured. In crude analyses, women had 16.5% fewer clinical laboratory tests (p < .0001) with 18.8% lower associated charges (p < .0001) and 24.4% fewer radiology tests (p < .0001) with 15.6% lower associated charges (p < .0001) than men. Total changes for the admission were lower for women in both the clinical laboratory study period ($16,178 vs $18,912, p < .0001) and the radiology study period ($14,621 vs $18,182, p < .0001). When adjusted for age, race, insurance status, service, diagnosis-related-group weight, and length of stay, these differences were smaller but persisted: women had 3.7% fewer laboratory tests performed (p < .001) with 4.8% lower associated charges (p < .001). In similarly adjusted analyses for radiology studies, women received 10.4% fewer radiology examinations (p < .001), with 4.1% lower associated charges (p < .01). There were no significant differences in the adjusted total charges in the laboratory group ($17,450 vs $17,655, p=.20) and only a marginally significant difference in the radiology group ($16,278 vs $16,498, p = .05). When we compared ancillary utilization within the five largest diagnosis-related groups, these differences persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Men receive more ancillary services than women, even after adjusting for potential confounders. This study was supported by research grant R01-HS07107-01 from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Dr. Jha was supported in part by the Carl W. Walter fund of Harvard Medical School.     

Memory from the dynamics of intrinsic membrane currents

Almost all theoretical and experimental studies of the mechanisms underlying learning and memory focus on synaptic efficacy and make the implicit assumption that changes in synaptic efficacy are both necessary and sufficient to account for learning and memory. However, network dynamics depends on the complex interaction between intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic strengths and time courses. Furthermore, neuronal activity itself modifies not only synaptic efficacy but also the intrinsic membrane properties of neurons. This paper presents examples demonstrating that neurons with complex temporal dynamics can provide short-term “memory” mechanisms that rely solely on intrinsic neuronal properties. Additionally, we discuss the potential role that activity may play in long-term modification of intrinsic neuronal properties. While not replacing synaptic plasticity as a powerful learning mechanism, these examples suggest that memory in networks results from an ongoing interplay between changes in synaptic efficacy and intrinsic membrane properties.     

Effects of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibition on eicosanoids and healing of acetic acid colitis in rats

Both cyclooxygenase products, such as prostaglandin (PG) E₂, and lipoxygenase products, such as leukotriene (LT) B₄, are increased in colitis and have potent proinflammatory actions. We studied effects of specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase on the healing of acetic acid colitis in rats. Acetic acid colitis was induced 24 hr before enzyme inhibition began. Four days after induction of colitis, the area of gross colonic mucosal damage was determined by image analysis. Eicosanoid content in the intestinal lumen was quantitated by radioimmunoassay following chromatographic purification. Under these conditions, indomethacin significantly retarded the healing of colonic lesions and inhibited PGE₂ by >90% compared to placebo-treated colitis rats. AA861 had no effect on the healing of lesions, although >75% inhibition of leukotriene synthesis was demonstrated. These results suggest that inhibition of endogenous colonic prostaglandins can impair healing mechanisms in acute colitis even after inflammation has developed. In contrast, inhibition of leukotriene synthesis did not affect healing.     

18F-FDG PET/CT in bone sarcoidosis: an observational study

Clinical Rheumatology - Bone sarcoidosis is usually rare. Imaging procedures such as fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) can reveal bone...     

Importance of measuring pharmacologically active metabolites of edoxaban: development and validation of an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry method

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Although DOACs do not require regular measurements of their blood concentrations, clinical situations may require an assessment of their concentration....