Gamma-tubulin in chicken erythrocytes: changes in localization during cell differentiation and characterization of cytoplasmic complexes.

The mechanism of marginal band (MB) formation in differentiating erythroid cells is not fully understood, and the proteins involved in nucleation of MB microtubules are largely unknown. To gain insights into the function of gamma-tubulin in MB formation, we have followed its distribution in developing chicken erythrocytes and characterized soluble forms of the protein. In early stages of erythroid cells differentiation, gamma-tubulin was present in microtubule-organizing centers, mitotic spindles, as well as on MB. Its subcellular localization changed in the course of differentiation, and in postnatal peripheral erythrocytes gamma-tubulin was found only in soluble forms. After cold-induced depolymerization gamma-tubulin in erythroid cells formed large clusters that were not observed in matured cells, and re-growth experiments demonstrated that gamma-tubulin was not present in distinct nucleation structures at the cell periphery. Soluble gamma-tubulin formed complexes of various size and large complexes were prone to dissociation in the presence of high salt concentration. Interaction of gamma-tubulin with tubulin dimers was revealed by precipitation experiments. gamma-Tubulin occurred in multiple charge variants whose number increased in the course of erythrocyte differentiation and corresponded with decreased binding to MB. The presented data demonstrate for the first time that gamma-tubulin is a substrate for developmentally regulated posttranslational modifications and that the binding properties of gamma-tubulin or its complexes change during differentiation events.     

Extended lymphadenectomy (D2) in patients with early gastric cancer.

AIMS: To investigate the survival benefit of extended lymphadenectomy (D2) in EGC patients in one European Institution. METHODS: A review was made of our prospective gastric database from January 1980 to December 2001. Of 527 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma, 119 with EGC underwent potentially curative resection (R0) with D2 lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: There were two post-operative deaths. Of the 117 evaluable cases, 96 were classified as N0 and 21 as N+, with metastases in the perigastric lymph nodes (level 1) in 13, and beyond this site (level 2) in eight. Five-year survival was 85.9 and 83.0% in N0 and N+ patients, respectively. During a median follow-up of 90 months, five of the eight patients with level 2 metastases died of recurrent disease and three were alive. The estimated survival benefit for 119 patients with EGC was 2.5% (3/119 cases). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with EGC, metastases to level 2 are rare. Our results indicate that D2 lymphadenectomy has a limited survival benefit and that in these cases a less extensive lymphadenectomy (D1) could be performed.     

Pristane-induced lupus: considerations on this experimental model

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial, autoimmune inflammatory disease with pleomorphic clinical manifestations involving different organs and tissues. The etiology of this disease has been associated with a dysfunctional response of B and T lymphocytes against environmental stimuli in individuals genetically susceptible to SLE, which determines an immune response against different autoantigens and, consequently, tissue damage. The study of different murine models has provided a better understanding of these autoimmune phenomena. This review primarily focuses on that has been learned from the pristane-induced lupus (PIL) model and how this model can be used to supplement recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of SLE. We also consider both current and future therapies for this disease. The PubMed, SciELO, and Embase databases were searched for relevant articles published from 1950 to 2016. PIL has been shown to be a useful tool for understanding the multiple mechanisms involved in systemic autoimmunity. In addition, it can be considered an efficient model to evaluate the environmental contributions and interferon signatures present in patients with SLE.     

Higher IgG level correlated with vitamin D receptor in the hippocampus of a pristane-induced lupus model

Clinical Rheumatology - Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have neurological complications, characterizing neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE). Studies have investigated alternative...     

Prevalence and reliability of treatment-based classification for subgrouping patients with low back pain

Objectives: To observe the distribution of patients who presented with low back pain (LBP) and to determine the between therapists’ interrater reliability of assessments in a private outpatient setting using treatment-based classification (TBC) subgroups.

Methods: An observational and methodological study was conducted. Four hundred and twenty-nine patients (231 male; 198 female) presenting LBP symptoms and referred to conservative treatment were assessed by 13 physical therapists who conducted a 60-min examination process utilizing TBC subgroups. Interrater reliability analyses from six raters were assessed using Fleiss’ kappa and previously recorded data (n = 30).

Results: In this study, 65.74% of patients were classified in only one subgroup, the most prevalent being stabilization (21.91%), followed by extension (15.38%), traction (11.89%), flexion (10.96%), manipulation (5.13%), and lateral shift (0.47%). Approximately 20.98% of patients were classified in two subgroups, where the most frequent overlaps were flexion + stabilization (7.46%), extension + stabilization (6.06%), flexion + traction (4.20%), extension + manipulation (1.86%), and 13.29% of patients were not classified in any TBC subgroup. Analysis of interrater reliability showed a kappa value of 0.62 and an overall agreement of 66% between raters.

Discussion: LBP is a heterogeneous clinical condition and several classification methods are proposed in the attempt to observe better outcomes for patients. Eighty-five percent of patients assessed were able to be classified when using the TBC assessment and reliability analysis showed a substantial agreement between raters.

Level of Evidence: 2c.     

Pain,health perception and sleep: impact on the quality of life of firefighters/rescue professionals

Objective:

to evaluate the quality of life of firefighters and rescue professionals, and characterize their socio-demographic, health, work and lifestyle profile.

Methods:

cross-sectional study that used a socio-demographic, lifestyle, health, work data questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life aspects, in Fire Department bases, Civil Air Patrol Group of the Military Police and Rescue Group of Emergency Services.

Results:

ninety professionals participated in this study - 71 firefighters, 9 nurses, 7 doctors and 3 flight crew members. The average age of the group was 36.4 ± 7.8 years; they worked about 63.7 hours per week; 20.2% reported pain in the last week and 72.7% had body mass index above 25 kg/m2. The average of the WHOQOL-BREF domains was: physical (74.6), psychological (75.2), social (76.5) and environmental (58.7). Significant association was found (Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation) between the WHOQOL-BREF domains and pain in the past six months, in the last week, health perception, job satisfaction, hours of sleep, domestic tasks and study.

Conclusion:

the main factors related to quality of life were presence of pain, health perception, sleep and domestic activity.     

What Factors Are Associated With the Recovery of Autonomy After a Hip Fracture? A Prospective,Multicentric Cohort Study

Objective

To identify the factors associated with recovering autonomy in activities of daily living (ADL) in patients who have had a hip fracture.

Aluminium oxide nanoparticles induced morphological changes,cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in Chinook salmon (CHSE‐214) cells

Aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) are increasingly used in diverse applications that has raised concern about their safety. Recent studies suggested that Al₂O₃ NPs induced oxidative stress may be the cause of toxicity in algae, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Caenorhabditis elegans and Danio rerio. However, there is paucity on the toxicity of Al₂O₃ NPs on fish cell lines. The current study was aimed to investigate Al₂O₃ NPs induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and morphological abnormality of Chinnok salmon cells (CHSE‐214). A dose‐dependent decline in cell viability was observed in CHSE‐214 cells exposed to Al₂O₃ NPs. Oxidative stress induced by Al₂O₃ NPs in CHSE‐214 cells has resulted in the significant reduction of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione in a dose‐dependent manner. However, a significant increase in glutathione sulfo‐transferase and lipid peroxidation was observed in CHSE‐214 cells exposed to Al₂O₃ NPs in a dose‐dependent manner. Significant morphological changes in CHSE‐214 cells were observed when exposed to Al₂O₃ NPs at 6, 12 and 24 h. The cells started to detach and appear spherical at 6 h followed by loss of cellular contents resulting in the shrinking of the cells. At 24 h, the cells started to disintegrate and resulted in cell death. Our data demonstrate that Al₂O₃ NPs induce cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in a dose‐dependent manner in CHSE‐214 cells. Thus, our current work may serve as a base‐line study for future evaluation of toxicity studies using CHSE‐214 cells. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.