Search

Background: Understanding the pathogenesis of the chiari-like malformation in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) is incomplete, and current hypotheses do not fully explain the development of syringomyelia (SM) in the spinal cords of affected dogs. This study investigates an unconventional pathogenetic theory for the development of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure waves in the subarachnoid space in CKCS with SM, by analogy with human diseases. In children with achondroplasia the shortening of the skull base can lead to a narrowing of the jugular foramina (JF) between the cranial base synchondroses. This in turn has been reported to cause a congestion of the major venous outflow tracts of the skull and consequently to an increase in the intracranial pressure (ICP). Amongst brachycephalic dog breeds the CKCS has been identified as having an extremely short and wide braincase. A stenosis of the JF and a consequential vascular compromise in this opening could contribute to venous hypertension, raising ICP and causing CSF jets in the spinal subarachnoid space of the CKCS. In this study, JF volumes in CKCSs with and without SM were compared to assess a possible role of this pathologic mechanism in the development of SM in this breed., Results: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 40 CKCSs > 4 years of age were used to create three-dimensional (3D) models of the skull and the JF. Weight matched groups (7-10 kg) of 20 CKCSs with SM and 20 CKCSs without SM were compared. CKCSs without SM presented significantly larger JF -volumes (median left JF: 0.0633 cm3; median right JF: 0.0703 cm3; p < 0.0001) when compared with CKCSs with SM (median left JF: 0.0382 cm3; median right JF: 0.0434 cm3; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the left and right JF within each group. Bland-Altman analysis revealed excellent reproducibility of all volume measurements., Conclusion: A stenosis of the JF and consecutive venous congestion may explain the aetiology of CSF pressure waves in the subarachnoid space, independent of cerebellar herniation, as an additional pathogenetic factor for the development of SM in this breed.

Our aim was to determine the relative volume of the occipital bone of Cavalier King Charles spaniels with and without syringohydromyelia and normal French bulldogs to reappraise the role of a possible insufficiency of the paraxial mesoderm in the pathogenesis of the caudal occipital malformation syndrome. Analysis of the occipital bone volume of 43 dogs based on computed tomography datasets was performed. Volume was determined by means of three-dimensional models. Using manual segmentation of the occipital bone in sagittal, transverse, and dorsal images, the volume of the occipital bone and the rest of the skull was calculated. The absolute occipital bone volume was put in relation to the total skull volume, the occipital bone index. For the Cavalier King Charles spaniels without syringomyelia, the median occipital bone index was 0.0681; for Cavalier King Charles spaniels with syringomyelia, it was 0.0646 and for French bulldogs, it was 0.0676. There was no global difference of the occipital bone index between examined groups (P = 0.4331). A reduced volume of the occipital bone was not found in Cavalier King Charles spaniels in general in comparison to French bulldogs, or in Cavalier King Charles spaniels with syringomyelia compared to Cavalier King Charles spaniels without syringomyelia. These results do not support occipital hypoplasia as a cause for syringomyelia development, challenging the paraxial mesoderm insufficiency theory. This also suggests that the term Chiari-like malformation, a term derived from human studies, is not appropriate in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel., (© 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.)

Objectives: Many patients are discharged from the emergency department (ED) with an incomplete understanding of the information needed to safely care for themselves at home. Patients have demonstrated particular difficulty in understanding post-ED care instructions (including medications, home care, and follow-up). The objective of this study was to further characterize these deficits and identify gaps in knowledge that may place the patient at risk for complications or poor outcomes., Methods: This was a prospective cohort, phone interview-based study of 159 adult English-speaking patients within 24 to 36 hours of ED discharge. Patient knowledge was assessed for five diagnoses (ankle sprain, back pain, head injury, kidney stone, and laceration) across the following five domains: diagnosis, medications, home care, follow-up, and return instructions. Knowledge was determined based on the concordance between direct patient recall and diagnosis-specific discharge instructions combined with chart review. Two authors scored each case independently and discussed discrepancies before providing a final score for each domain (no, minimal, partial, or complete comprehension). Descriptive statistics were used for the analyses., Results: The study population was 50% female with a median age of 41 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 29 to 53 years). Knowledge deficits were demonstrated by the majority of patients in the domain of home care instructions (80%) and return instructions (79%). Less frequent deficits were found for the domains of follow-up (39%), medications (22%), and diagnosis (14%). Minimal or no understanding in at least one domain was demonstrated by greater than two-thirds of patients and was found in 40% of cases for home care and 51% for return instructions. These deficits occurred less frequently for domains of follow-up (18%), diagnosis (3%), and medications (3%)., Conclusions: Patients demonstrate the most frequent knowledge deficits for home care and return instructions, raising significant concerns for adherence and outcomes., (© 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.)

Rapid reactions: Several reactants for strain-promoted cycloaddition reactions have been genetically encoded as the side chains of noncanonical amino acids. This results in decisive improvements for the fluorescent labelling of intracellular proteins such as quantitative turnover, completion of labelling reactions within minutes, fluorogenic effects and even partial orthogonality for multicolour labelling., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of brain lesions in 5 dogs and 2 cats characterized by extensive cystic changes of the cerebral hemispheres in terms of a porencephaly are presented. Age at diagnosis ranged from 12 weeks to 7 years. MRI findings were confined to the forebrain. Porencephalic lesions appeared as wedge-shaped parenchymal defects connecting the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space or as large cystic defects in the cerebral hemispheres. Although in two adult dogs the porencephalic lesions were asymptomatic, the other animals showed clinical symptoms depending on the affected cerebral area. Three animals had seizures. Interestingly, four animals showed neurological signs normally not localized to the forebrain (nystagmus, hypermetria, ataxia). Whether these clinical signs are related to impaired function of the cerebral cortex or to not recognizable lesions in the cerebello-vestibular system could not be further clarified. Although the defects develop intrauterine or postnatal, the clinical symptoms can occur later in life. The definition of porencephaly as well as its subclassification is not uniform in veterinary medicine. We suggest the term encephaloclastic porencephaly unregarding the underlying cause of the defect, which cannot be further specified by diagnostic imaging.

Our multidisciplinary team developed a new set of discharge instructions for five common emergency department diagnoses using recommended tools for creating literacy-appropriate and patient-centered education materials. We found that the recommended tools for document creation were essential in constructing the new instructions. However, while the tools were necessary, they were not sufficient. This paper describes the insights gained and lessons learned in this document creation process.

Although magnetic resonance imaging has been used to examine the brain of domestic ruminants, detailed information relating the precise anatomical features in these species is lacking. In this study the brain structures of calves (Bos taurus domesticus), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus) and a mesaticephalic dog (Canis lupis familiaris) were examined using T2-weighed Turbo Spin Echo sequences; three-dimensional models based on high-resolution gradient echo scans were used to identify brain sulci and gyri in two-dimensional images. The ruminant brains examined were similar in structure and organisation to those of other mammals but particular features included the deep depression of the insula and the pronounced gyri of the cortices, the dominant position of the visual (optic nerve, optic chiasm and rostral colliculus) and olfactory (olfactory bulb, olfactory tracts and piriform lobe) systems, and the relatively large size of the diencephalon., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Schizophrenia is a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population and imposing a significant burden on society. One of the most replicated and well-established postmortem findings is a deficit in the expression of the gene encoding the 67-kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67), the primary GABA-producing enzyme in the brain. GAD67 is expressed in various classes of interneurons, with vastly different morphological, molecular, and physiological properties. Importantly, GABA system deficits in schizophrenia encompass multiple interneuronal subtypes, raising several important questions. First, do different classes of interneurons regulate different aspects of behavior? Second, can we model cell-type-specific GABAergic deficits in mice, and will the rodent findings translate to human physiology? Finally, will this knowledge open the door to knowledge-based approaches to treat schizophrenia?, (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The general skull morphology of the head of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) was examined and compared with cephalometric indices of brachycephalic, mesaticephalic, and dolichocephalic heads. Measurements were taken from computed tomography images. Defined landmarks for linear measurements of were identified using three-dimensional (3D) models. The calculated parameters of the CKCS were different from all parameters of mesaticephalic dogs but were the same as parameters from brachycephalic dogs. However, the CKCS had a wider braincase in relation to length than in other brachycephalic breeds. Studies of the etiology of the chiari-like malformation in the CKCS should therefore focus on brachycephalic control groups. As Chari-like malformation has only been reported in brachycephalic breeds, its etiology could be associated with a higher grade of brachycephaly, meaning a shorter longitudinal extension of the skull. This has been suggested for other breeds., (© 2011 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.)

Background: Many patients who could benefit from hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors (statins) are unable to take statins because of myalgias while taking previous statin therapy., Objective: The primary objective was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly rosuvastatin in patients with documented myalgias on statins who were not currently taking a statin and not at low-density lipoprotein (LDL) goal., Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study we enrolled a total of 17 Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care patients with a diagnosis of hyperlipidemia and a history of myalgias on statin therapy who were not currently on a statin and not at LDL goal. Two 8-week treatment phases consisted of rosuvastatin 5 mg once-weekly or matching placebo, with a dose titration to 10 mg once-weekly if not at LDL goal at week 4. The primary efficacy outcome was the difference in the mean percentage change in LDL from baseline between rosuvastatin and placebo., Results: A significant difference in the mean percentage change in LDL from baseline for rosuvastatin vs. placebo was identified (12.2% reduction vs. 0.4% reduction, respectively; P = .002). Two of the 17 patients (11.8%) in the placebo treatment phase and three of the 15 patients (20%) in the rosuvastatin treatment phase experienced myalgias requiring cessation of therapy. In addition, three patients (20%) were able to attain LDL goal on rosuvastatin compared with zero patients (0%) on placebo., Conclusion: Once-weekly low-dose rosuvastatin is an effective and well-tolerated lipid-lowering therapy option for patients not at LDL goal and previously unable to tolerate statins because of a history of myalgias., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Helical modes, conducting opposite spins in opposite directions, are shown to exist in metallic armchair nanotubes in an all-electric setup. This is a consequence of the interplay between spin-orbit interaction and strong electric fields. The helical regime can also be obtained in chiral metallic nanotubes by applying an additional magnetic field. In particular, it is possible to obtain helical modes at one of the two Dirac points only, while the other one remains gapped. Starting from a tight-binding model we derive the effective low-energy Hamiltonian and the resulting spectrum.

Background: Silent infarction is common in poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients and associated with poor outcome. Invasive neuromonitoring devices may detect changes in cerebral metabolism and oxygenation., Methods: From a consecutive series of 32 poor-grade SAH patients we identified all CT-scans obtained during multimodal neuromonitoring and analyzed microdialysis parameters and brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) preceding CT-scanning., Results: Eighteen percent of the reviewed head-CTs (12/67) revealed new infarcts. Of the eight infarcts in the vascular territory of the neuromonitoring, seven were clinically silent. Neuromonitoring changes preceding radiological evidence of infarction included lactate-pyruvate-ratio elevation and brain glucose decreases when compared to those with distant or no ischemia (P ≤ 0.03, respectively). PbtO2 was lower, but this did not reach statistical significance., Conclusions: These data suggest that there may be distinct changes in brain metabolism and oxygenation associated with the development of silent infarction within the monitored vascular territory in poor-grade SAH patients. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether treatment triggered by neuromonitoring data has an impact on outcome.

Objective: It has been shown that the components of the vertebral canal (dura mater, pia mater, subarachnoid space, spinal cord parenchyma and central canal) can be visualized intraoperatively with the help of ultrasonography. This study was conducted to document the intraoperative sonographical findings of disc extrusion and to determine imaging criteria for the localisation of the extrusion and the consecutive changes of the spinal cord parenchyma., Material and Methods: 43 dogs of different breeds with a diagnosed disc extrusion were sonographically examined immediately after establishing the surgical decompression (hemilaminectomy, laminectomy, ventral slot) (examination 1) and again after removal of disc material (examination 2)., Results: In all 34 patients the extruded disc material could be imaged sonographically appearing as inhomogenous, hyperechoic areas of moderate echogenicity. There was a distal shadowing dependent on the grade of calcification in 53% of the patients in examination 1 and in 79% at examination 2. Furthermore, a tendency towards a central localisation of the disc prolapse (67.6% in examination 1 and 57.1% examination 2) was observed. Intraoperative identification of disc extrusion could be accomplished in 79% of the cases. Intraoperative haemorrhage highly significantly impaired the assessment of the spinal cord (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: Intraoperative spinal ultrasonography using a linear probe with a frequency from 5 to 10 MHz is a valuable tool for the visualization of spinal structures. It provides information for intraspinal navigation and evaluation of the extent of spinal lesions as well as the state of decompression. Bleeding has a negative influence on the visualization of the spinal canal.

Inhibition of eukaryotic DNA replication leads to the rapid suppression of histone synthesis, via 3' uridylation of cytoplasmic histone mRNAs followed by their Lsm1-7-mediated decapping and degradation. Here we show that the human cytoplasmic RNA terminal U-transferase ZCCHC11, recently implicated in microRNA metabolism, associates with replication-dependent histone mRNAs. Knockdown of ZCCHC11 selectively blocked histone mRNA degradation following inhibition of DNA replication, whereas knockdown of PAPD1 or PAPD5, previously proposed as candidate histone mRNA U-transferases, had no such effect. Furthermore, a reduction in the proportion of histone transcripts that were uridylated was observed following ZCCHC11 knockdown. Our data indicate that ZCCHC11 is the terminal U-transferase responsible for targeting human histone mRNAs for degradation following inhibition or completion of DNA replication.

Background: To study the feasibility of utilizing intracortical electroencephalography (ICE) including quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis for the detection of vasospasm in five consecutive poor-grade SAH patients., Methods: Intracortical electroencephalography (ICE) was obtained via a single miniature parenchymal 8-contact depth electrode placed at the bedside. Quantitative EEG parameters, calculated on surface EEG and ICE, included alpha/delta ratio (ADR), mean amplitude, suppression percent, and total power. Percent changes between averaged values over 4-6 h of baseline EEG and EEG prior to angiography were calculated. The entire continuous qEEG recording for each patient was then reviewed to determine optimal automated alarm criteria., Results: ICE ADR was the most accurate for predicting angiographic vasospasm (5/5). ICE ADR decreased between baseline and follow-up by 42% (from 0.56 ± 0.07 to 0.32 ± 0.03) for those with vasospasm (N = 3) compared to 17% (0.62 ± 0.06 to 0.51 ± 0.03) for those without (N = 2). A sustained decrease in the ICE ADR from baseline (>25% for ≥ 4 h) occurred in all three patients with angiographically confirmed vasospasm and not in the two without; this decline occurred 1-3 days prior to angiographic confirmation., Conclusions: Intracortical EEG is promising for detecting ischemia from vasospasm in poor-grade SAH patients, may be superior to scalp EEG, and allow automated detection, particularly using the ADR. Larger studies are needed to better define the effectiveness of this approach.

In schizophrenia, glutamic acid decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) disturbances are robust, consistently observed, cell-type specific and represent a core feature of the disease. In addition, neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is a phenotypic marker of a sub-population of GAD1-containing interneurons, has shown reduced expression in the prefrontal cortex in subjects with schizophrenia, suggesting that dysfunction of the NPY+ cortical interneuronal sub-population might be a core feature of this devastating disorder. However, modeling gene expression disturbances in schizophrenia in a cell type-specific manner has been extremely challenging. To more closely mimic these molecular and cellular human post-mortem findings, we generated a transgenic mouse in which we downregulated GAD1 mRNA expression specifically in NPY+ neurons. This novel, cell type-specific in vivo system for reducing gene expression uses a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing the NPY promoter-enhancer elements, the reporter molecule (eGFP) and a modified intron containing a synthetic microRNA (miRNA) targeted to GAD1. The animals of isogenic strains are generated rapidly, providing a new tool for better understanding the molecular disturbances in the GABAergic system observed in complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. In the future, because of the small size of the silencing miRNAs combined with our BAC strategy, this method may be modified to allow generation of mice with simultaneous silencing of multiple genes in the same cells with a single construct, and production of splice-variant-specific knockdown animals.

The addition of nontemplated nucleotides, particularly adenylyl and uridylyl residues, to the 3' ends of RNA substrates has been the focus of much attention in recent years, and these studies have generated some intriguing surprises. In addition to the well-known canonical poly(A) polymerase (PAP) that polyadenylates mRNAs prior to export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, a separate class of noncanonical poly(A) polymerases has emerged over the past decade. Studies on various organisms have led to the realization that these noncanonical PAPs, which are conserved from yeast to mammals, play crucial and diverse roles in the regulation of gene expression. Here we review the current knowledge of these enzymes, with an emphasis on the human proteins, and highlight recent discoveries that have implications far beyond the understanding of RNA metabolism itself., (2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a 17.6 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) microscope to determine external and internal structures and three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering of premature bovine brain tissue. Two bovine embryos (Carnegie-stages 16 and 21) were examined. 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with a high field MR-scanner at a field strength of 17.6 Tesla. Images with isotropic nominal resolutions up to 39.1 microm were acquired. The MR images corresponded very well with histological slices. 3D virtual models of the embryonic brain were easily produced in a relatively short time and the high field scanner provided highly detailed images of formalin fixed brain tissue. Manual segmentation and automatic volume rendering is a valuable tool for the fast generation of 3D brain models and, to some degree, can replace conventional techniques in comparative embryology.

Cocaine is one of the most widely abused drugs and one that is frequently encountered in forensic toxicology laboratories. Most often, the detection of cocaine would lead toxicologists and forensic pathologists to believe that the drug was used illicitly; however, cocaine is an effective local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is used clinically in surgeries of the eye, ear, nose, and throat. Therefore, it is important to note that the presence of cocaine and its metabolites in forensic samples cannot always be attributed to abuse and that a thorough investigation and review of medical records is warranted before an informed conclusion can be made. In this case report, a 54-year-old male died three days after an altercation in which he suffered multiple injuries. In addition to natural disease and injuries documented at autopsy, cocaine and its metabolites were detected in the decedent's urine, and a review of surgical records showed that earlier on the day of death, he was administered cocaine clinically during a procedure to repair nasal bone fractures. If not for this comprehensive investigation and review of surgical records, the assumption of cocaine abuse might have otherwise been made and the cause and manner of death incorrectly established.

Here, we want to assess the benefit of high-resolution and high-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detailed documentation of internal brain morphology in formalin-fixed whole head specimens of the full-term calf brain (Bos taurus). Imaging was performed on a Siemens 1.5 T scanner. Optimum contrast was achieved using a 3D sequence with a flip angle of 30 degrees , repetition time (TR) of 20 ms, echo time (TE) of 6.8 ms, and an interpolated matrix of 1024 x 1024. In plane resolution was 0.25 mm. Computer-generated three-dimensional images were reconstructed from the original scans in the coronal plane. This study shows that MRI is capable to identify delicate structures in immature brain specimens. The use of MRI in comparative morphology facilitates the examination of series of brains or brain samples in a reasonable time. The comprehensive description of species- and group-specific brain features in MRI scans of Bos taurus will complement existing data for diagnostic imaging and neuromorphological research, in general, as well as for phylogenetic reconstructions.

OBJECTIVE-To measure the absolute and relative volumes of cranial vaults of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) and other brachycephalic dogs for the purpose of evaluating a possible association between the volume of the caudal fossa (fossa caudalis cerebri; CF) and existence of Chiari-like malformation (CLM) and syringohydromyelia in CKCSs. ANIMALS-40 CKCSs and 25 brachycephalic dogs. PROCEDURES-The intracranial vault of all dogs was evaluated via computed tomography followed by magnetic resonance imaging. Volumes of the CF and the rostral and medial fossa (fossa rostralis et medialis cerebri) were determined. The ratio of the absolute volumes was calculated as the volume index (VI). RESULTS-All CKCSs had cranial characteristics consistent with CLM. There were no significant differences between CKCSs and brachycephalic dogs with respect to the VI and absolute volumes of the CF and rostral and medial fossas. The CKCSs without syringohydromyelia (n = 26) had a median VI of 0.1842, and CKCSs with syringohydromyelia (14) had a median VI of 0.1805. The median VI of other brachycephalic dogs was 0.1864. The VI did not differ among these 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results of this study suggested that descent of the cerebellum into the foramen magnum and the presence of syringohydromyelia in CKCSs are not necessarily associated with a volume reduction in the CF of the skull.

A scaling theory of replica symmetry breaking (RSB) in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick (SK) model is presented in the framework of critical phenomena for the scaling regime of large RSB orders kappa , small temperatures T , and small (homogeneous) magnetic fields H . We employ the pseudodynamical picture [R. Oppermann, M. J. Schmidt, and D. Sherrington, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 127201 (2007)], where two critical points CP1 and CP2 are associated with the order function's pseudodynamical limits lim&#95;{a-->infinity}q(a)=1 and lim&#95;{a-->0}q(a)=0 at (T=0 , H=0 , 1kappa=0) . CP1 - and CP2 -dominated contributions to the free energy functional F[q(a)] require an unconventional scaling hypothesis. We determine the scaling contributions in accordance with detailed numerical self-consistent solutions for up to 200 orders of RSB. Power laws, scaling functions, and crossover lines are obtained. CP1 -dominated behavior is found for the nonequilibrium susceptibility, which decays like chi&#95;{1}=kappa;{-53}f&#95;{1}(Tkappa;{-53}) , for the entropy, which obeys S(T=0) approximately chi&#95;{1};{2} , and for the subclass of diverging parameters a&#95;{i}=kappa;{53}f&#95;{a&#95;{i}}(Tkappa;{-53}) [describing Parisi box sizes m&#95;{i}(T) identical witha&#95;{i}(T)T ], with f&#95;{1}(zeta) approximately zeta and f&#95;{a&#95;{i}}(zeta) approximately 1zeta for zeta-->infinity , while f(0) is finite. CP2 -dominated behavior, controlled by the magnetic field H while temperature is irrelevant, is retrieved in the plateau height (or width) of the order function q(a) according to q&#95;{pl}(H)=kappa;{-1}f&#95;{pl}(H;{23}kappa;{-1}) with f&#95;{pl}mid R:(zeta)mid R:&#95;{zeta-->infinity} approximately zeta and f&#95;{pl}(0) finite. Divergent characteristic RSB orders kappa&#95;{CP1}(T) approximately T;{-35} and kappa&#95;{CP2}(H) approximately H;{-23} , respectively, describe the crossover from mean field SK- to RSB-critical behavior with rational-valued exponents extracted with high precision from our RSB data. The order function q(a) is obtained as a fixed-point function q(a) of RSB flow, in agreement with integrated fixed-point energy and susceptibility distributions.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the spine, especially of the spinal cord, has been rarely reported in dogs. The atlanto-occipital junction provides a small acoustic window through which examination of the craniocervical transition can be performed. Normal sonographic findings of this region in 10 normal brachycephalic dogs are presented and compared with sonographic findings from 25 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with the caudal occipital malformation syndrome. Sonographic findings were compared with magnetic resonance imaging findings to determine the extent of cerebellar herniation and syringohydromyelia. Cerebellar displacement into the foramen magnum was clearly identified sonographically; however, syringohydromyelia was not discernable due to bone overlay.

The archaeology of pre-Columbian polities in the Amazon River basin forces a reconsideration of early urbanism and long-term change in tropical forest landscapes. We describe settlement and land-use patterns of complex societies on the eve of European contact (after 1492) in the Upper Xingu region of the Brazilian Amazon. These societies were organized in articulated clusters, representing small independent polities, within a regional peer polity. These patterns constitute a "galactic" form of prehistoric urbanism, sharing features with small-scale urban polities in other areas. Understanding long-term change in coupled human-environment systems relating to these societies has implications for conservation and sustainable development, notably to control ecological degradation and maintain regional biodiversity.

We describe a method which allows the treatment of high orders of replica symmetry breaking (RSB) at low temperatures as well as at T=0 directly, without a need for approximations or scaling assumptions. It yields the low-temperature order function q(a,T) in the full range 0 < or = a < infinity and is complete in the sense that all observables can be calculated from it. The behavior of some observables and the finite RSB theory itself is analyzed as the continuous RSB limit is approached. The validity and applicability of the traditional continuous formulation is then scrutinized and a continuous formulation for treating RSB in the Parisi gauge directly at T=0 is proposed.

Spinal arachnoid cysts (SACs) are uncommon expanding lesions in the spinal canal. They are rarely diagnosed in dogs, and there are only four published cases in cats. We report a case of a 12-year-old cat with recurrent signs of intermittent urinary incontinence and hind limb ataxia 2 years after surgical marsupialisation of a spinal arachnoid cyst at T11/12. Recurrence of a cyst was diagnosed by myelography. Repeated marsupialisation after laminectomy was successful and the cat recovered satisfactorily although intensive physical therapy was necessary. SACs are very rare in cats and seem to occur mainly as a secondary lesion to spinal and meningeal trauma or irritation due to bony changes of the vertebrae.

We report control of magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial (Ga,Mn)As by anisotropic strain relaxation in patterned structures. The strain in the structures is characterized using reciprocal space mapping by x-ray techniques. The magnetic anisotropy before patterning of the layer, which shows biaxial easy axes along [100] and [010], is replaced by a hard axis in the direction of large elastic strain relaxation and a uniaxial easy axis in the direction where pseudomorphic conditions are retained.

Numerical results up to the 42nd order of replica-symmetry breaking (RSB) are used to predict the singular structure of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass at T=0. We confirm predominant single parameter scaling and derive corrections for the T=0 order function q(a), related to a Langevin equation with pseudotime 1/a. a=0 and a=infinity are shown to be two critical points for infinity-RSB, associated with two discrete spectra of Parisi block size ratios, attached to a continuous spectrum. Finite-RSB-size scaling, associated exponents, and T=0-energy are obtained with unprecedented accuracy.

For centuries Amazonia has held the Western scientific and popular imagination as a primordial forest, only minimally impacted by small, simple and dispersed groups that inhabit the region. Studies in historical ecology refute this view. Rather than pristine tropical forest, some areas are better viewed as constructed or 'domesticated' landscapes, dramatically altered by indigenous groups in the past. This paper reviews recent archaeological research in several areas along the Amazon River with evidence of large pre-European (ca 400-500 calendar years before the present) occupations and large-scale transformations of forest and wetland environments. Research from the southern margins of closed tropical forest, in the headwaters of the Xingu River, are highlighted as an example of constructed nature in the Amazon. In all cases, human influences dramatically altered the distribution, frequency and configurations of biological communities and ecological settings. Findings of historical change and cultural variability, including diverse small to medium-sized complex societies, have clear implications for questions of conservation and sustainability and, specifically, what constitutes 'hotspots' of bio-historical diversity in the Amazon region.

We observe the occurrence of an Efros-Shklovskii gap in (Ga,Mn)As based tunnel junctions. The occurrence of the gap is controlled by the extent of the hole wave function on the Mn acceptor atoms. Using k.p-type calculations we show that this extent depends crucially on the direction of the magnetization in the (Ga,Mn)As (which has two almost equivalent easy axes). This implies one can reversibly tune the system into the insulating or metallic state by changing the magnetization.

We evaluated the dependency of neutrophil O production on PTK-Lyn and MAPK-ERK1/2 in rats after thermal injury. Activation of PTK-Lyn was assessed by immunoprecipitation. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was assessed by Western blot analysis. O production was measured by isoluminol-enhanced luminometry. Imaging technique was employed to measure neutrophil [Ca2+](i) in individual cells. Thermal injury caused marked upregulation of Lyn and ERK1/2 accompanying enhanced neutrophil O production. Treatment of rats with PTK blocker (AG556) or MAPK blocker (AG1478) before burn injury caused complete inhibition of the respective kinase activation. Both AG556 and AG1478 produced an ~66% inhibition in O production. Treatment with diltiazem (DZ) produced an ~37% inhibition of O production without affecting Lyn or ERK1/2 activation with burn injury. Ca2+ mobilization was upregulated with burn injury but not affected by treatment of burn rats with AG556. Unlike the partial inhibition of burn-induced O production by AG556, AG1478, or DZ, platelet-activating factor antagonist (PAFa) treatment of burn rats produced near complete inhibition of O production. PAFa treatment also blocked activation of Lyn. The findings suggest that the near complete inhibition of O production by PAFa was a result of blockade of PTK as well as Ca2+ signaling. Overall, our studies show that enhanced neutrophil O production after thermal injury is a result of potentiation of Ca2+ -linked and -independent signaling triggered by inflammatory agents such as PAF.

This study focuses on the effect of chemicals on acrosome reaction in elephant spermatozoa. Semen was collected at the Washington Park Zoo in Portland, Oregon, from an 11-yr-old Asian elephant by artificial vagina (7 ejaculates) and transported to Mahidol University in Bangkok in extender at 4 to 5 degrees C within 24 to 28 h. A total of 500 x 10(6) sperm/mL was used for the control and for each of the 4 treatment groups: 1) cAMP (0.1 mM); 2) caffeine (0.1 mM); 3) Penicillamine hypotaurine and epinephine, PHE (penicillamine 2 mM, hypotaurine 1 mM, epinephine 1 mM); and 4) heparin (10 microg/mL) at 39 degrees C for 2 h. Aliquots were removed and the sperm viability, abnormal morphology, and acrosome status were evaluated by triple stain technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe changes of the sperm head membrane in all treatment groups. Trypan blue reliably stained dead spermatozoa, while rose Bengal stained only the spermatozoa with intact acrosomes. The concentration of dead sperm cells was similar in the 4 groups. The percentages of live acrosome-reacted spermatozoa in the control and in groups treated with caffeine, PHE, cAMP and heparin were 19.5 +/- 4.3, 38.1 +/- 4.0, 34.8 +/- 3.7, 29.8 +/- 0.8 and 28.0 +/- 4.2, respectively. The acrosome reaction rate was higher in the treatment groups than in the control (P<0.05). Caffeine and PHE caused significantly higher acrosome reaction of the sperm head than cAMP or heparin (P<0.05). The electron micrographs showed that the acrosome reaction occurred by the presence of apical vesiculation. The results indicated that 1) the triple stain technique allowed for evaluation of both viability and acrosome reaction simultaneously in elephant spermatozoa,2) acrosome reaction occurred at a high rate in all 3 treatment groups. 3) the effects of caffeine and PHE were significantly higher (P<0.05) than of cAMP and heparin, and 4) the data obtained from the triple stain technique corresponded to those from TEM.

Methods: Five patients with chronic ventilatory failure demonstrated by arterial hyperkapnia and overloaded respiratory muscles under spontaneous ventilation (P01/P01 max) were adapted to passive noninvasive ventilation (ISB). Three of them suffered from severe COPD (FEV1 < 50%), two patients from severe restriction (VC < 30%). These patients had to undergo a bicycle ergometer exercise with and without nasal ventilation until they reached physical exhaustion with standardised incremental increase in external workload., Results: In both settings all patients were able to manage exercise up to their physical exhaustion. The anaerobic limit was exceeded each time. The total ventilation volume had to be increased two- to threefold during exercise with nasal ventilation to maintain the passive ventilation. The reduced load on the respiratory muscles was generally proven by lower pCO2 and higher pH levels. Without ventilation discontinuation of the exercise was caused by dyspnoea, whereas this was due to weakness in the legs under ventilation. In all five cases the achieved level of external workload was higher when supporting the respiratory muscles (43 watts vs. 36 watts) at lower lactate levels., Conclusion: On a bicycle ergometer the respiratory muscles can be sufficiently relieved using noninvasive nasal ventilation. A higher level of workload, longer duration and a higher quality of exercise can be achieved thereby. The fact that patients without relief of load of the respiratory muscles complained of dyspnoea, whereas the fact that patients with ventilation complained of weakness in their legs indicates the high efficiency of this method, although the tested patients are severely handicapped individuals who usually do not undergo comparable physical exercise in their daily activities.

This paper presents a simplified summary of the process to make laws. It starts from the juridical concepts, requirements needed, hierarchy of the Brazilian laws, the need to follow proper steps through channels and committees within the National Congress, quorum required until its final approval with the presidential sanction, when a project of law becomes an enacted law. The purpose is to help nurses and other interested people to participate in the development of their profession through laws which better fulfill the professional interests of the group.

Alteration in energy metabolism of postmenopausal women might be related to the reduction of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). DHEA and DHEAS decline with age, leveling at their nadir near menopause. DHEA and DHEAS modulate fatty acid metabolism by regulating carnitine acyltransferases and CoA. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation with DHEAS would also increase tissue L-carnitine levels, carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) activity and mitochondrial respiration in oophorectomized rats. Plasma L-carnitine levels rose following oophorectomy in all groups (P < 0.0001). Supplementation with DHEAS was not associated with further elevation of plasma L-carnitine levels, but with increased hepatic total and free L-carnitine (P = 0.021 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and cardiac total L-carnitine concentrations (P = 0.045). In addition, DHEAS supplementation increased both hepatic and cardiac CAT activities (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.05 respectively). CAT activity positively correlated with the total and free carnitine levels in both liver and heart (r = 0.764, r = 0.785 and r = 0.700, r = 0.519, respectively). Liver mitochondrial respiratory control ratio, ADP:O ratio and oxygen uptake were similar in both control and supplemented groups. These results demonstrate that in oophorectomized rats, dietary DHEAS supplementation increases the liver and heart L-carnitine levels and CAT activities. In conclusion, DHEAS may modulate L-carnitine level and CAT activity in estrogen deficient rats. The potential role of DHEAS in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation in postmenopausal women is worthy of investigation.

In many countries the rights of patients and consumers of health services are gaining ground and becoming law. As elsewhere, consumers in Brazil are becoming increasingly knowledgeable and demanding respect for their rights. Yet many Brazilian health services--public and private--are still reluctant to accept public evaluation and criticism. But with Brazil's new consumer's code the stage is set for a more active role of patients in their health decisions and for nurses and health professionals to acquiesce to consumers' dissatisfaction and respond with improved professional performance.

A PCR assay was developed by using degenerate primers that allow amplification of a 414-bp fragment of DNA from the rickettsia-like organisms Rochalimaea henselae and R. quintana. Internal oligonucleotides were used as hybridization probes, permitting rapid differentiation of these two Rochalimaea species. DNAs from 12 different isolates of R. henselae were amplified with the PCR primers, and the resulting 414-bp PCR product hybridized only with the R. henselae-specific probe. DNAs from four different isolates of R. quintana were amplified and produced a PCR product of the same size that hybridized only with the R. quintana-specific probe. DNAs from isolates of R. elizabethae, R. vinsonii, Bartonella bacilliformis, and Afipia felis failed to amplify the 414-bp fragment in the PCR assay. This two-step assay was applied to DNAs extracted from 16 fresh (unfixed) lymph node biopsy specimens and nine aspirates from patients with clinical cat scratch disease (CSD) to assay for the presence of R. henselae or R. quintana DNA in these samples. Twenty-one (84%) of 25 lymph node samples from CSD patients were positive for R. henselae, while none were positive for R. quintana. The characteristic 414-bp fragment was not amplified from eight lymph node tissue samples from non-CSD cases. These results provide evidence that R. henselae, and not R. quintana, plays the central role in the etiology of CSD.

In their natural ecosystems, the sexes of Asian elephants,Elephas maximus, live separately. For several weeks prior to ovulation, the urine and cervical mucus of female Asian elephants contain extractable chemical agents of low volatility that elicit a high frequency of flehmen responses from bull elephants as an integral part of mating. Subsequent to flehmen responses, male sexual arousal occurs and, if the female is available, mating results. During the course of our project to determine the agent(s) and describe the responses associated with female to male sexual communication, we have identified an unusual compound. This compound, apparently the sole component of the active fraction, was identified by mass, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet/visible, and infrared spectrometries as indolo-[2,1-b] quinazoline-6,12-dione (tryptanthrine). Exhaustive and repetitive bioassays established that pure authentic (synthetic) tryptanthrine was not the compound responsible for the bioresponse. Rather a coeluting minor component, also of low volatility, elicited the male bioresponse.

Serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured at weekly intervals for six months, and correlated with daily behavioural observations in two adult female snow leopards (Panthera uncia). Three oestradiol peaks (> 21 pg ml-1; interval 3.6 weeks) were identified in a snow leopardess housed alone (two more were probably missed because of the weekly sampling schedule), and three oestradiol peaks were identified in a snow leopardess housed with a male as a breeding pair (interval 6 weeks). Daily frequencies of feline reproductive behaviour averaged 1.77 observations per observation period during weeks of high oestradiol and 0.62 during weeks of low oestradiol. Progesterone concentrations did not rise above baseline values (< 2 ng ml-1) in the isolated animal, but 6 weeks of high progesterone concentrations (4.9-38.8 ng ml-1) was recorded in the paired snow leopardess following mating. No offspring were produced. Snow leopards were observed daily for an additional 4.5 years. Sexual behaviour peaks could be clearly identified from December through April, and average daily sexual behaviour scores were higher during these months than during the rest of the year. Intervals between sexual behaviour peaks for the isolated snow leopardess averaged 3.03 weeks. The sexual behaviour of the paired snow leopards decreased for 8-9 weeks following mating when no offspring were produced, and decreased for 13 weeks in one year when a single cub was born.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in a family of dogs was found to be associated with decreased myocardial L-carnitine concentrations, when compared with those in control dogs. In 2 affected dogs, treatment with high doses of L-carnitine was associated with increased myocardial L-carnitine concentration and greatly improved health and myocardial function. Withdrawal of L-carnitine supplementation from these dogs resulted in development of myocardial dysfunction and clinical signs of dilated cardiomyopathy.

The left renal vein (LRV) has numerous tributaries including, but not limited to, the inferior phrenic, suprarenal, and gonadal veins. The resultant potential for collateral LRV outflow through these tributaries in instances of LRV division is obvious. One of us has previously reported 10 such cases of LRV division (close to its confluence with the inferior vena cava and without reanastomosis) for the purpose of facilitating proximal abdominal aortic exposure for reconstructive procedures. One of the 10 patients had moderate renal insufficiency at follow-up. We present herein an additional 19 patients who underwent LRV division predominantly for aneurysmal disease of the abdominal aorta. Sixteen patients were available for follow-up. Three patients died in the intraoperative and early postoperative periods. Multivariate analysis of variance of preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up laboratory data--serum creatinine and BUN--showed no significant change in renal function as assessed.

The metabolic and physiologic differences between low-flow and zero-flow ischemia of varying duration were compared in the isolated perfused rat heart. Hearts subjected to 60 and 90 minutes of zero-flow ischemia recovered less cardiac work than hearts subjected to low-flow ischemia. Low-flow ischemia caused a build-up of both myocardial long-chain acyl coenzyme A and acyl carnitine esters, while zero-flow ischemia produced no change in long-chain acyl carnitine and only a transient increase in long-chain acyl coenzyme A. High energy phosphate depletion was greater in zero-flow ischemia. Perfusion with excess free fatty acids decreased the recovery of cardiac work after low-flow ischemia but had no effect after repeated episodes of zero-flow ischemia. L-Acetylcarnitine improved the recovery of cardiac work after low-flow ischemia in hearts perfused with 0.4 and 1.2 mM palmitate. With zero-flow ischemia, L-acetylcarnitine had no effect on the recovery of cardiac work in hearts perfused with 0.4 mM palmitate and a slight but statistically significant effect with 1.2 mM palmitate. Possible protective mechanisms of L-acetylcarnitine against ischemic damage are discussed.

Flehmen-like responses (urine tests) are one of the characteristic behavioral reactions of male Asian elephants (Elephants maximus) to cow elephants in estrus. Components of the urine of estrous cow elephants were extracted with organic solvents and partially purified by chromatography and shown to evoke Flehmen-like responses when they were presented to adult bulls.