Cat-301 immunoreactivity in the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex of the strabismic amblyopic cat

Purpose: It was investigated whether alterations in neuronal structure and function occasioned by strabismic amblyopia also may be reflected in alterations in the expression on Y type neurons of a Cat-301 antibody sensitive antigen in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and cortex of our cat model of strabismic amblyopia. Methods/Results: The percentage of positively labelled cells was reduced in LGN laminae that received input from the deviated eye in strabismic amblyopic cats compared with normal cats. In the strabismic cortex, the density of immunopositive neurons was significantly reduced compared with normal, the effect being most pronounced in layer IV Conclusions: Despite previous physiological recordings indicating a decrease in X-cell associated acuity in strabismic amblyopia, the present findings imply that the changes in the early visual experience occasioned by strabismus also produce specific molecular changes in theY neuronal class.     

Aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch: A case report

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

Variation at 10 protein coding loci in the mbenzele pygmies from the central african republic and a comparison with microsatellite data

Ten protein coding loci (6‐PGD, A1‐AT, ACP1, CaII, ESD, GC, GPX1, Hbβ, PGM1, and TF) were analyzed in the Mbenzele Pygmies from the Central African Republic. The frequency data were used to calculate the genetic distances between Mbenzele Pygmies and other African groups. In the principal coordinate plot of F_ST genetic distances, the Mbenzele cluster together with other Pygmies of the western cluster, the Biaka from C.A.R., Gielli from Cameroon, and Babinga from Congo. By contrast, they are considerably distanced from other Pygmy groups of the eastern cluster (Twa from Rwanda, Mbuti from Zaire). Genetic distances obtained using protein loci were compared with those based on microsatellite loci. The two distance matrices are insignificantly correlated (r = 0.268; one tail probability = 0.332), and the main difference is in the higher genetic affinity between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies observed at the protein level. Although reasons underlying the discrepancy between inter‐populational variation at protein and DNA loci are not established with certainty, the comparison suggests that the genetic distance between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies at microsatellite loci could have been shaped by genetic drift. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:9–14, 2002.© 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Serum erythropoietin in cross-country skiers

Serum erythropoietin (Epo) activity, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Ht) were determined in 21 cross-country skiers during the training season. The Epo levels were not significantly reduced in the skiers relative to the normal population (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001, respectively). In 11 athletes Epo, Ht, urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and microalbuminuria were determined before and after a 50-km ski race at 1600 m above sea level. A significant increase of these variables (except for Ht) was found after the competition (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that while the reductions in Hb and Ht, which are typical of several endurance exercises, are not accompanied by a renal hypoxia sufficient to stimulate Epo overproduction, the renal hypoxia reached during the strenuous exercise of the race at altitude may be effective in determining blood increases in Epo.     

Peribursal fat plane of the shoulder: anatomic study and clinical experience

A comprehensive anatomic and radiographic analysis of the peribursal fat plane in 12 cadavers confirmed that the fat plane seen on radiographs represents extrasynovial fat lining the subacromial bursa and documented the anatomic relations of the bursa. A three-part retrospective clinical evaluation of rotator cuff tears, calcific tendinitis, and rheumatoid arthritis was performed. Two osteoradiologists blindly graded the appearance of the peribursal fat plane with the shoulder in external versus internal rotation in 21 patients with arthrographically intact rotator cuffs and 21 patients with disrupted rotator cuffs. The peribursal fat plane was seen better with disrupted rotator cuffs. The peribursal fat plane was seen better with the shoulder in internal rotation and was seen in 60% of control subjects but only 21% of patients with rotator cuff tears. Partial or complete obliteration of this fat plane is a sensitive (79%) but less specific (60%) indicator of rotator cuff tears. Obliteration of the peribursal fat plane by inflammatory processes in adjacent tissues, including calcific tendinitis and rheumatoid arthritis, occurred with a high frequency.     

Aptitude for physical exercise in a population of female hospital workers

Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of physical capacity in a female hospital population of Paris and its suburbs. A total of 1505 women working in the selected departments filled in a questionnaire concerning their working conditions, life habits and health and also attended a medical examination. The effort test performed consisted in flexing the legs 20 times with the chest held straigt, in 40 s. The heart rates were measured for the first, the second and the third minutes of recovery (first 15 s multiplied by 4). The blood pressure was measured just after the heart rate, for the first and the third minute. Recovery indices have been constituted from the results. The respective weights of anthropometric and sociodemographic risk factors for recovery indices were studied in multiple logistic regression models. The classification enables us to consider about 25%–30% of our population as having a satisfactory physical capacity, about 26%–27% as having an acceptable capacit, and about 24%–27% as having a weak capacity. About 21% of the population presented an excessive pressure reaction and 44% a questionable pressure reaction. Our results concerning the level of physical capacity of the female nursing staff should be taken into account especially in the future planning of work loads and architectural choices, which must avoid excessive physical burdens in relation to this level. An improvement in the level of physical capacity could be envisaged as well.     

Ethnogenomic diversity of Caucasus, Daghestan.

Autosomal short-tandem repeats (STRs) were typed in ethnic populations of Kubachians, Dargins, Avars, Lezgins, Kumiks, and Nogais of the Caucasus (Daghestan, Russia) at the University of Utah. Daghestan ethnic populations demonstrated differences in STR allele frequency distributions, but these differences were much lower among these ethnic groups compared to worldwide ethnic groups. The observed genetic diversity was low while F(ST) values were high, both of which provided supporting evidence for small population sizes and high levels of isolation among the ethnic groups. An analysis of genetic distance from the three major continents, encompassing Daghestan populations and groups, reveals three distinct clusters: all populations of African affiliation, European and Daghestan populations except the Nogais, and Asian populations with ethnic Nogais.