Behavioral changes in ACTH-(1-24)-induced excessive grooming in aging rats

Age-related behavioral changes are commonly associated with impaired cognitive functioning. As a result an abundance of neuropsychological tools have been developed to study learning and memory in man and animal. The combined use of ethological methods and the extensively studied measures of excessive grooming behavior in rats provides an excellent tool to study non-cognitive behavioral changes. In the present study, a sequential analysis was applied to the different grooming elements. Aged rats showed a loss in the sequential organization of their grooming behavior, which led to a decrease in the display of tail sniffing. Interestingly, the reduced display of an element which appears latest in the ontogeny of grooming is reminiscent of the Jacksonian principle of behavioral degeneration. Seemingly, this principle is not necessarily confined to learning paradigms, but may be extended to other behavioral systems as well.     

Virulence of Candida albicans mutants

Mutant strains of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans blocked in pyrimidine transport and salvage metabolism were tested for virulence in various animal models. The growth rate, germination and proteolytic enzyme production did not correlate with the virulence of the strains. However, a defect in the uridine transport system significantly decreased virulence in murine candidosis, although it had no effect in vaginal candidosis or in a Candida cyst model. It remains unclear whether this is due to the differing host defence mechanisms involved in systemic and superficial mycoses, or to the different requirements of the fungal systems for adherence and tissue invasion in the two types of infection.     

Study on the Tongue and Groove Effect of the Elekta Multileaf Collimator Using Monte Carlo Simulation and Film Dosimetry

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, multileaf collimation of the treatment fields from medical linear accelerators is a common option. Due to the design of the leaf sides, the tongue and groove effect occurs for certain multileaf collimator applications such as the abutment of fields where the beam edges are defined by the sides of the leaves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, the tongue and groove effect was measured for two pairs of irregular multileaf collimator fields that were matched along leaf sides in two steps. Measurements were made at 10 cm depth in a polystyrene phantom using Kodak EDR2 films for a photon beam energy of 6 MV on an Elekta Sli-plus accelerator. To verify the measurements, full Monte Carlo simulations were done. In the simulations, the design of the leaf sides was taken into account and one component module of BEAM code was modified to correctly simulate the Elekta multileaf collimator. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results of measurements and simulations are in good agreement and within the tolerance of film dosimetry.     

A comparison of preoperative and intraoperative evaluation of patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pre- and intraoperative situation using the POP-Q system during optimally standardized conditions of both examinations. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective observational study, 108 women were compared. The POP-Q in the outpatient department (preoperative) was compared with the situation just prior to surgery after full anesthesia was reached (intraoperative). During the intraoperative measurement, traction with 0.5 kg force was applied on all relevant places. RESULTS: The pre- and intraoperative measurements were all significant correlated with the R-values between 0.43 and 0.85. All six points, which are measured during the POP-Q, were more prolapsed in the intra- as compared with the preoperative situation. The points Bp, C, and D were significantly more prolapsed, but for the points Aa, Ba, and Ap this was not significant. Fifteen patients were upstaged by the intraoperative measurements and five patients were downstaged in the overall POP-Q grading system. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative evaluation of the prolapse can reveal significant changes as compared with the preoperative situation. In general, the prolapse is more pronounced especially in the middle and posterior compartment.     

Changes in anti-Müllerian hormone serum concentrations over time suggest delayed ovarian ageing in normogonadotrophic anovulatory infertility

BACKGROUND: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), produced by growing pre-antral and early antral ovarian follicles, has been shown to be a useful marker for ovarian ageing. Serum AMH concentrations are elevated during reproductive life in anovulatory women, especially in those patients exhibiting polycystic ovaries (PCO). The current study was designed to investigate whether the decrease in AMH serum concentrations over time is different comparing women with normogonadotrophic anovulation [World Health Organization (WHO) group 2 (including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)] and normo-ovulatory controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: AMH serum levels were assessed on two occasions in 98 patients suffering from WHO 2 anovulatory infertility as well as in 41 normo-ovulatory premenopausal women. Median time interval between both visits was 2.6 years (range 0.3-9.0) for WHO 2 patients compared with 1.6 years (range 1.0-7.3) in controls. Serum AMH concentrations were significantly (P < 0.0001) elevated on both occasions in WHO 2 patients (AMH1, median = 7.5 microg/l, range 0.1-35.8; and AMH2, median = 6.7 microg/l, range 0.0-30.6) compared with controls (AMH1, median = 2.1 microg/l, range 0.1-7.4; and AMH2, median = 1.3 microg/l, range 0.0-5.0). Regression analysis, corrected for age, indicated a significant relative decrease in serum AMH concentrations over time for both groups (P < 0.001). However, the decline in serum AMH in WHO 2 patients was significantly less compared with controls (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The present longitudinal study shows that serum AMH concentrations decrease over time both in women presenting with WHO 2 anovulatory infertility and in normo-ovulatory controls. The decrease in WHO 2 patients is less pronounced despite distinctly elevated concentrations. This observation may suggest retarded ovarian ageing and hence a sustained reproductive life span in these patients.     

USH2A mutation analysis in 70 Dutch families with Usher syndrome type II

Usher syndrome type II (USH2) is characterised by moderate to severe high-frequency hearing impairment, progressive visual loss due to retinitis pigmentosa and intact vestibular responses. Three loci are known for USH2, however, only the gene for USH2a (USH2A) has been identified. Mutation analysis of USH2A was performed in 70 Dutch USH2 families. Ten mutations in USH2A were detected, of which three are novel, c.949C>A, c.2242C>T (p.Gln748X) and c.4405C>T (p.Gln1468X). Including 9 previously published Dutch USH2a families, estimates of the prevalence of USH2a in the Dutch USH2 population were made. Mutations were identified in 62% of the families. In 28% both mutated alleles were identified, whereas in 34% the mutation in only one allele was found. It is estimated that about 28% of the Dutch USH2 families have a different causative gene. Analysis of deduced haplotypes suggests that c.1256G>T (p.Cys419Phe) is a Dutch ancestral mutation, occurring in 16% of the alleles.     

Oligonucleotide typing is a perfect tool to identify antigens stimulatory in the mixed lymphocyte culture

An important criterion for the selection of donors for bone marrow transplantation is the grade of matching for HLA between donor and recipient. For patients that lack an HLA-identical sibling, an extending pool of unrelated volunteers for bone marrow donation is available. From these donors the best matched candidate can be selected by serological typing, followed by a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC).Oligonucleotide genotyping for HLA class II antigens is considered to be valuable for the prediction of MLC reactivity. We investigated whether this typing method, in combination with serological typing, would cover the recognition of all MLC stimulatory determinants. One hundred thirty-six combinations of HLA-A, -B, and -DR serologically identical individuals were tested in the MLC. Additional typing for HLA-DRB and HLA-DPB by oligonucleotide genotyping made it possible to evaluate the influence of these genes on MLC reactivity. Combinations that were matched for HLA-DRB gave significantly lower responses than those that were mismatched. Nevertheless, in the matched combinations responses were observed to 94% relative response index. These responses could all be attributed to HLA-DP, since all combinations that were identical by HLA-DPB genotyping were negative in the MLC. In conclusion, with the combined use of serology and oligonucleotide genotyping, responder-stimulator combinations can be selected that are identical for all MLC stimulatory determinats. 245 (1991)