The evolution of the dorsal thalamus of jawed vertebrates, including mammals: Cladistic analysis and a new hypothesis

The evolution of the dorsal thalamus in various vertebrate lineages of jawed vertebrates has been an enigma, partly due to two prevalent misconceptions: the belief that the multitude of nuclei in the dorsal thalamus of mammals could be meaningfully compared neither with the relatively few nuclei in the dorsal thalamus of anamniotes nor with the intermediate number of dorsal thalamic nuclei of other amniotes and a definition of the dorsal thalamus that too narrowly focused on the features of the dorsal thalamus of mammals. The cladistic analysis carried out here allows us to recognize which features are plesiomorphic and which apomorphic for the dorsal thalamus of jawed vertebrates and to then reconstruct the major changes that have occurred in the dorsal thalamus over evolution. Embryological data examined in the context of Von Baerian theory (embryos of later-descendant species resemble the embryos of earlier-descendant species to the point of their divergence) supports a new ‘Dual Elaboration Hypothesis’ of dorsal thalamic evolution generated from this cladistic analysis. From the morphotype for an early stage in the embryological development of the dorsal thalamus of jawed vertebrates, the divergent, sequential stages of the development of the dorsal thalamus are derived for each major radiation and compared. The new hypothesis holds that the dorsal thalamus comprises two basic divisions—the collothalamus and the lemnothalamus—that receive their predominant input from the midbrain roof and (plesiomorphically) from lemniscal pathways, including the optic tract, respectively. Where present, the collothalamic, midbrain-sensory relay nuclei are homologous to each other in all vertebrate radiations as discrete nuclei. Within the lemnothalamus, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of mammals and the dorsal lateral optic nucleus of non-synapsid amniotes (diapsid reptiles, birds and turtles) are homologous as discrete nuclei; most or all of the ventral nuclear group of mammals is homologous as a field to the lemniscal somatosensory relay and motor feedback nuclei of non-synapsid amniotes; the anterior, intralaminar and medial nuclear groups of mammals are collectively homologous as a field to both the dorsomedial and dorsolateral (including perirotundal) nuclei of non-synapsid amniotes; the anterior, intralaminar, medial and ventral nuclear groups and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of mammals are collectively homologous as a field to the nucleus anterior of anamniotes, as are their homologues in non-synapsid amniotes. In the captorhinomorph ancestors of extant land vertebrates, both divisions of the dorsal thalamus were elaborated to some extent due to an increase in proliferation and lateral migration of neurons during development. Mammals are unique in the degree to which their synapsid ancestors further elaborated the lemnothalamus, so that the identity of and previous experience with objects in their environment has become their most salient priority.     

The concept of self-management of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents: an evolutionary concept analysis

AIM: An evolutionary concept analysis was undertaken to clarify the concept of self-management of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents. BACKGROUND: Several problems exist in the literature on self-management of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents. There is no uniform terminology and there is no uniform definition of the concept. Also, there is no differentiation in the literature between self-management of diabetes in children and adults. METHODS: Ninety-nine references were reviewed and analysed in the disciplines of nursing, medicine, and psychology. After separate analyses revealed no significant differences across disciplines, the analyses were combined to describe the attributes, antecedents, consequences, and surrogate and related concepts. RESULTS: The three essential attributes of the concept were identified as process, activities, and goals. Self-management of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents is an active and proactive process; it is daily, lifelong, and flexible, and it involves shifting and shared responsibility for diabetes care tasks and decision-making between child and parent. It is a process that involves collaboration with health care providers. Self-management of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents also consists of varied and many activities related to giving insulin, monitoring metabolic control, regulating diet and exercise, to name just a few. The concept also involves goals, which may differ from one parent/child dyad to another. A working definition of the concept is suggested. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that a more uniform definition of the concept will enable researchers to continue investigating antecedents and consequences of the concept in a way that allows for aggregating results.     

Quantitative DNA measurement by flow cytometry and image analysis of human nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors

Current clinical staging, which includes the use of serum tumor markers and imaging techniques, fails to identify the 30–40% of clinical stage I (CS I) nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor (NSGCT) patients who have occult metastatic disease. Therefore, there is a real clinical need to evaluate new biological parameters of the primary tumor that might be useful as predictors of occult metastatic disease. This study was undertaken to compare quantitative DNA measurements by flow cytometry and image analysis in CS I NSGCT, and to analyze the relevance of these parameters for predicting occult lymph node involvement. Different blocks of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSGCTs of 62 CS I patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection between 1985 and 1989 were prepared according to the Hedley technique, and analyzed by quantitative cytometry. Thirty-six (58.1%) patients had histologically proven lymph node involvement (pathological stage II), whereas 26 (41.9%) patients (pathological stage I) had neither lymph node metastases according to retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) specimens nor tumor recurrence during follow-up. Concordant results were found in 76.5% of the samples by both cytometric techniques. For flow cytometry, the percentages of aneuploid cells in the S- and the G2M+S-phase were the most robust predictive parameters for lymph node involvement, whereas for image analysis the 5c exceeding rate (5cER) had the most predictive significance. Based on the experience obtained in this study, both cytometric techniques provide additional information on tumor aggressiveness that might be useful in therapeutic selection of early stage NSGCT patients for either RPLND or surveillance only.     

癌胚抗原及粘液组织化学在胃癌中表达的研究

对60例胃癌进行了粘液组织化学和癌胚抗原免疫组织化学研究。结果表明:胃癌发病率肠型和胃肠混合型占多数。60例胃癌中含大肠型粘液者占50例,而单纯含胃型粘液为极少数。癌胚抗原分布方式,肠型胃癌与胃肠混合型胃癌比较无显著差异性(P>0.05)。癌胚抗原的阳性率,胃肠混合型胃癌高于肠型胃癌,两者之间有非常显著差别(P<0.01)。认为选用能显示硫粘蛋白和氧乙酰基唾液酸粘蛋白的粘液组织化学方法,作为胃癌组织分型和确定胃粘膜肠化性质,对癌前病变诊断有一定价值。     

A Norwegian nationwide quality assurance project in nuclear medicine: total performance in bone scintigraphy measured with a new transmission phantom

A prototype version of a recently developed transmission phantom for simulation of radionuclide bone studies was used in a Norwegian nationwide quality assurance project. The design of the phantom made it possible to perform a receiver operation characteristic (ROC) examination with respect to the detection of radionuclide accumulation in the ribs. The participants were also asked to report accumulation in the spinal column. Images obtained by means of a uniform source and a four-quadrant bar pattern were used to judge resolution and homogeneity with the collimator used in the bone studies. The overall performance of the laboratories was satisfactory, but considerable variations were found. There was a marked correlation between the physician's performance and the resolution and homogeneity of the camera. Reports from stationary imaging were generally better than those that were based on whole-body scans.     

Association and linkage with quantitative traits

This paper examines two approaches for the analysis of quantitative traits: (1) association studies and (2) linkage studies. The trait studied was Q1 from simulated Problem 2 data set in Genetic Analysis Workshop 9. Our purpose was to evaluate associations present in the data, to identify nongenetic and genetic predictors of the trait, and to explore the simulated genome for linkage. Through the association study, we found evidence for the primary major gene associated with this trait. The linkage study found evidence of residual genetic effect acting through other traits. Adjustments of Q1 for Q2 and Q3 led to a failure to find significant effects of MG2 and MG3. This supports the suggestion that adjustment for genetically influenced traits for effects of other genetic traits can reduce the power to detect major gene effects. In summary, we detected the major gene directly associated with the trait of interest through association studies. Linkage analysis detected evidence for two other genes associated to a lesser degree with the trait. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

思维的非演绎方法在歌唱中的运用

从非演绎方法入手,从分析与综合、归纳与概括、类比与联想三个方面联系歌唱的思维过程,论述非演绎思维方法在歌唱过程中的运用。思维的非演绎方法贯穿于歌唱的全过程,它们之间存在着紧密的联系。掌握思维的非演绎方法对于歌唱水平的提高有积极的促进作用。     

458例尿路结石成分分析

目的 探讨西安地区尿路结石的成分状况，为临床防治提供帮助。方法对458例尿路结石标本进行化学成分测定，并结合临床资料进行比较。结果尿路结石男性发病多于女性，男、女比为2．1：1，20一50岁为高发年龄，上尿路结石明显多于下尿路结石，上、下尿路结石之比为10．5：1。结石成分以混合结石占多数，为325例（71％），其中以草酸钙，磷酸钙与尿酸的混合结石为主。对比混合性结石及单纯性结石发现，各种成分所占比例基本一致。结论结石成分分析对于了解结石成因、预防结石形成和复发具有重要的意义。     

2005～2007年我国非甾体抗炎药市场应用分析

目的：以骨骼肌肉系统使用非甾体抗炎药物为例，分析该类药物在2005～2007年的销售数量、销售金额及生产厂家风云榜。方法：采用药物分类累加的方法统计2005～2007年非甾体抗炎药的销售数量和金额排序，并对前10位药品销售数量和金额对比，及前10位厂家对比。结果：双氯芬酸稳居销售榜首，美洛昔康、布洛芬等药物位居其后。结论：新一代的非甾体抗炎药已经占据主要市场，各类药物各有特色，但是仍需注意其消化系统及心血管系统的不良反应。     

Body composition in young female adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. A prospective case-control study.

AIMS: Overweight is common during late puberty in female patients with Type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the change in body composition from late puberty to early adulthood in such female patients in comparison with age-matched control subjects. METHODS: Eighteen females with Type 1 diabetes and 19 healthy female control subjects were recruited for a case-control study at the age of 16-19 years (baseline). Six years later, 16 of the diabetic females and 17 of the control subjects were re-examined (follow-up). Body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (total fat mass/height2) were significantly higher at baseline in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects (26.4 +/- 2.6 vs. 23.9 +/- 3.7 kg/m2, P < 0.05, and 10.0 +/- 2.4 vs. 8.0 +/- 2.8 kg/m2, P = 0.04, respectively). At follow-up, these parameters still tended to be higher in the diabetic group (27.8 +/- 4.9 vs. 24.6 +/- 5.7 kg/m2, P = 0.09, and 11.8 +/- 5.6 vs. 8.7 +/- 4.9 kg/m2, P = 0.05, respectively). BMI at baseline was strongly correlated to BMI at follow-up in both diabetic patients (r = 0.60; P < 0.05) and control subjects (r = 0.83; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increased fat mass in pubertal girls with Type 1 diabetes seems to persist in young adulthood. This study emphasizes the need for new strategies to prevent the development of overweight during puberty in diabetic girls.