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Objective: to determine the specifi c number and expression intensity of gelatinase B-positive cells in the gastric surface epithelium and lamina propria (cell component) in the area of the ulcerous defect in rats with experimental acetate ulcer of the stomach.Materials and methods: 18 white Wistar rats were divided into three groups: initial (intact), experimental (modeling of an acetate ulcer) and control (falsely operated) in the experiment. Tissues were obtained from the ulceration zone or the presumed ulceration zone (in the initial and control groups) to asses morphological changes and also indicators, characterizing the activity of gelatinase B 7 days after the simulation of the experiment.Results and Discussion. It was revealed some increase in the specifi c number of gelatinase B-positive cells against the background of moderate accumulation of lymphocytes in the integument epithelium of the gastric mucosa. A signifi cant increase in the specifi c number of gelatinase B-positive cells at the maximum intensity of its expression and a moderate accumulation of eff ector cells of tissue alterations was determined in the cellular component of the lamina propria of the gastric mucosa at the same time.

The culinary quality of carioca beans is related to their market value and consumer acceptability. The depreciation of the cooking/technological quality of the product occurs mainly because of the integument browning and the longer cooking time of the grains, which are influenced by the storage time and conditions. The loss of culinary quality reduces the market value of carioca beans because consumers reject darkened grains that are attributed to a longer cooking time. As a result, cooking time (resistance to cooking), the color of the integument, and the texture of the cooked beans are determinant factors in the acceptance of carioca bean cultivars. The browning of the grain integument and the cooking time mainly depends on the environmental conditions, storage time, the tegument of each genotype, and the chemical and physical properties of the cotyledons. Therefore, this review aims to survey the scientific literature on the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that affect the culinary quality of carioca beans.

Dentre as novas tecnologias, o LED (sigla de Light Emiting Diode, em português: Diodo Emissor de Luz) é um recurso fototerápico que tem sido amplamente utilizado nas alterações cutâneas. Os diferentes comprimentos de onda são absorvidos por células específicas e esse processo recebe o nome de Fotobiomodulação, promovendo um tratamento seguro, não invasivo e indolor. A Luz na faixa do vermelho possui comprimento de onda de 610-760nm e é utilizada para acelerar o processo de cicatrização de feridas, possui poder de analgesia e anti-inflamatório. Entender os efeitos fisiológicos da Luz Vermelha de LED na pele é o objetivo principal desse trabalho de revisão da literatura e verificar se a Led Terapia tem a mesma eficácia do LASER de baixa potência, no mesmo comprimento de onda do vermelho, é um objetivo específico. A pesquisa se realiza em torno da discussão de cinco artigos científicos sendo possível verificar que, nos casos apresentados pelos autores, os resultados sobre os efeitos no tegumento, em especial o de cicatrização, analgesia e efeitos anti-inflamatórios foram positivos. O presente estudo acena ainda para a importância na continuidade de novas pesquisas para a utilização do LED, em especial, do LED Vermelho, uma vez que seus resultados benéficos foram efetivos para a pele.

The musculature architectonics of the body, the attachment organs, and the genital ducts of Gyrocotyle urna is described. It is shown that the lateral folds of the body and the rosette blades are characterized by the least amount and variety of musculature. In the integument, the position of each spine is regulated by three muscle groups. Most of the genital ducts are surrounded by a muscular plexus. The sucker-like organ is characterized by an extreme concentration of musculature. It is distinguished from the suckers of flukes by its inverse proportionality in the degree of development of the radial muscles, on the one hand, and other muscle groups, on the other. The functional load of various muscle groups and the mechanisms of helminth fixation and locomotion are discussed.

A graviola, Annona muricata L., produz sementes que podem apresentar dormência ocasionada pela impermeabilidade do tegumento à água, necessitando assim de métodos para superação desta. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de tratamentos pré-germinativos na emergência e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de graviola. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com 13 tratamentos e quatro repetições, sendo cada unidade experimental composta de 50 sementes. As sementes foram submetidas aos tratamentos com imersão por 30 minutos, os quais foram: água (26 °C testemunha), solução de giberelina a 1.000, 2.000, 3.000 e 4.000 mg.L-1, água com gelo em ponto de fusão (0 °C), congelador por 6 horas (-10 °C), geladeira por 24 horas (10 °C), água em ponto de ebulição (100 °C), solução de NaCl 9 g.L-1, solução de KCl 5 g.L-1, água de coco e suco de laranja. A semeadura ocorreu em tubetes 280 mL contendo substrato composto por solo+eterco bovino. Trinta dias após a semeadura (DAS) avaliou-se a porcentagem, índice de velocidade e tempo médio de emergência das plântulas. Sessenta dias após a semeadura foram avaliados: número de folhas; altura da planta; diâmetro do coleto; comprimento da raiz; massa verde foliar; massa seca foliar; massa verde e massa seca da raiz. O tratamento com giberelina de 4.000 mg.L-1 de GA3 foi o tratamento mais eficiente para induzir a emergência e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de graviola. Palavras-chave: Annona muricata. Giberelina. Propagação. Abstract Soursop, Annona muricata L., produces seeds that may present dormancy caused by the impermeability of the integument to water, thus requiring methods to overcome it. The objective was to evaluate the effect of pre-germinative treatments on the emergence and initial development of soursop seedlings. The experimental design used was in randomized blocks, with 13 treatments and four replications, each experimental unit consisting of 50 seeds. The seeds were submitted to immersion treatments for 30 minutes, which were: water (26°C control), 1.000 gibberellin solution, 2.000, 3.000 e 4.000 mg.L-1, water with ice at melting point (0 °C), freezer for 6 hours (-10 °C), refrigerator for 24 hours (10 °C), boiling water (100°C), NaCl 9 g.L-1 solution, KCl 5 g.L-1 solution, coconut water and orange juice. Sowing took place in 280 mL tubes containing substrate composed of soil + bovine manure. Thirty days after sowing (DAS), the percentage, speed index and mean seedling emergence time were evaluated. Sixty days after sowing the following items were evaluated: number of leaves; plant height; collar diameter; root length; leaf green mass; leaf dry mass; green mass and dry mass of the root. The treatment with gibberellin of 4.000 mg.L-1 of GA3 was the most efficient treatment to induce the emergence and initial development of soursop seedlings. Keywords: Annona muricate. Gibberellin. Propagation.

portuguesPithecellobium diversifoliumBenth. e um arbustonativo com vasta ocorrencia nos estados do Nordeste brasileiro.O crescente interesse na propagacao e no cultivo de especies florestais nativas demanda informacoes basicas sobre as caracteristicas biometricae germinativas das suas sementespara sua propagacao.Com isso,oobjetivo dotrabalho foi caracterizar as sementeseavaliar o processo germinativo de P. diversifoliumsubmetidos ametodos de superacao de dormencia.Oexperimento foi conduzido no Laboratorio de Producao Vegetal do Instituto Federal de Alagoas, localizado nomunicipio de Piranhas-AL, onde foram coletadas as sementes. Foi realizada a caracterizacao fisica das sementes, determinando-se o teor de agua, o peso de 1.000 sementes, e o comprimento, largura e espessuradas sementes.Foram utilizados cinco tratamentos para superacao de dormencia:(T1)intactas; (T2)escarificacao mecânica com lixa d’agua no 80; (T3)fragmentacao do tegumento;(T4)imersao em agua a 90 °Cpor 1 min;e (T5)imersao em agua por 24 horas. As avaliacoes do teste de germinacao foram feitas diariamente, durante 26 dias. Os parâmetros avaliados foram primeira contagem de germinacao; porcentagem de germinacao; indicede velocidade de germinacao; comprimento da parte aereae da raiz principal; massa seca da parte aereae raiz. Odelineamento experimental utilizado foi o Inteiramente Casualizadocom quatro repeticoesde 50 sementes por tratamento. Dessa forma, as sementespossuem variabilidadeem suas caracteristicas biometricas avaliadas, e a escarificacao mecânica com lixa d’agua e o metodo recomendado para superar a dormencia das sementes de P.diversifolium. EnglishPithecellobium diversifolium Benth. it is a native shrub with wide occurrence in the states of Northeast Brazil. The growing interest in the propagation and cultivation of native forest species demands basic information about the biometric and germinative characteristics of their seeds for their propagation. With that, the objective of the work was to characterize the seeds and evaluate the germinative process of P. diversifoliumsubmitted to dormancy overcoming methods.The experiment was conducted at the Vegetable Production Laboratory of the Federal Institute of Alagoas, located in the municipality of Piranhas-AL, where the seeds were collected. The physical characterization of the seeds was carried out, determining the water content, the weight of 1.000 seeds, and the length,width and thickness of the seeds.Five treatments were used to overcome dormancy: (T1) intact; (T2) mechanical scarification with sandpaper no80; (T3) fragmentation of the integument; (T4)immersion in water at 90 °C for 1 min; and (T5) immersion in water for 24 hours. The germination test evaluations were performed daily, for 26 days.The parameters evaluated were first germination count; germination percentage; germination speed index; shoot and main root length; dry mass of shoot and root. The completely randomized design was used with four replications of 50 seeds per treatment.In this way, the seeds have variability in their evaluated biometric characteristics, and mechanical scarification with sandpaper is the recommended method to overcome the dormancy of P. diversifolium seeds.

PURPOSE: Skin-related issues have a significant impact on health, activities of daily living, and quality of life among people with spina bifida. Data presented by select clinics that participate in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry reported that 26% of individuals had a history of pressure injuries with 19% having had one in the past year. The spina bifida community lack direct guidelines on prevention of these and other skin related issues. The Integument (skin) Guidelines focus on prevention, not treatment, of existing problems. METHODS: Using a consensus building methodology, the guidelines were written by experts in spina bifida and wound care. RESULTS: The guidelines include age-grouped, evidence-based guidelines written in the context of an understanding of the whole person. They are presented in table format according to the age of the person with spina bifida. CONCLUSION: These guidelines present a standardized approach to prevention of skin-related issues in spina bifida. Discovering what results in successful minimization of skin-related issues with testing of technology or prevention strategies is the next step in protecting this vulnerable population.

Fossil records of vertebrate integuments are relatively common in both rocks, as compressions, and amber, as inclusions. The integument remains, mainly the Mesozoic ones, are of great interest due to the panoply of palaeobiological information they can provide. We describe two Spanish Cretaceous amber pieces that are of taphonomic importance, one bearing avian dinosaur feather remains and the other, mammalian hair. The preserved feather remains originated from an avian dinosaur resting in contact with a stalactite-shaped resin emission for the time it took for the fresh resin to harden. The second piece shows three hair strands recorded on a surface of desiccation, with the characteristic scale pattern exceptionally well preserved and the strands aligned together, which can be considered the record of a tuft. These assemblages were recorded through a rare biostratinomic process we call “pull off vestiture” that is different from the typical resin entrapment and embedding of organisms and biological remains, and unique to resins. The peculiarity of this process is supported by actualistic observations using sticky traps in Madagascar. Lastly, we reinterpret some exceptional records from the literature in the light of that process, thus bringing new insight to the taphonomic and palaeoecological understanding of the circumstances of their origins.

New examples of convergences in the architectonics of trematode musculature are described. These include the complete reduction of the diagonal muscles in the sedentary areas of the integument, the peculiarities of distribution of the dorsoventral muscles within the ventral deepening of the body, the presence of radial parenchymal muscles in the hollow radially symmetrical areas of the body, the spatial distribution of the pharyngeal protractors, the removal of the peripheral layers of the muscles of the oral sucker, the formation of chordal muscles in the oral sucker, and some others. The validity of separating the concepts of convergence and parallelism is discussed. The disadvantages of separation criteria such as the degree of kinship of phylogenetic groups, the occupation of adaptive zones of different scales, and the formation of analogous or homologous organs on the basis of evolution are named. Raising parallelism to the rank of an independent evolutionary phenomenon is estimated as unreasonable.

Under a single field application, the long-term effect of a chitin synthesis inhibitor, Chlorfluazuron (Topron 5% EC) on spiny bollworm, Earias insulana (Boisd.) was evaluated through histological investigation on the integument as it an essential background to the action of that insecticide. After two weeks off use, samples of large-sized larvae (12 - 15 days age-old approximately) under the effect of the procedure were to represent the criterion of the long-term for the tested compound. The microscopic examination of the treated sections showed distinct changes in the tissue components of integument compared to the untreated specimens. The treated sections showed an increase in the thickness of the epidermis layer with noting that there is no new layer of cuticle or show any other signs of further development. Various specimens of the treated larval sections revealed the presence of an individual layer of cuticle, which looked thick, and the spines were rough, extra-long, and tanned. Also, in many sections, the cuticle had been seen shrinkage from the epidermis. The current study confirms and suggests that the long-term impact must be considered for such compounds when evaluated under field conditions.

Knowledge of the most common presenting complaints and diagnoses in companion animals is valuable in preparing veterinary students and veterinarians to manage the most frequently observed conditions in clinical practice. Pet insurance databases provide access to large sample populations and have been previously used to describe disease incidence in companion animals. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of presenting complaints and diagnoses in insured Australian dogs through the use of a pet insurance database. Analysis of a de-identified dataset containing pet insurance claims associated with presenting complaints and diagnoses from 488,472 insured Australian dogs insured in the years 2016 and 2017, was performed. Annual incidence rates of presenting complaints and diagnoses were calculated and expressed as, number of events per 1,000 dog years at risk. The presenting complaints with the highest incidence were vomiting (14.21 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 15.80 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017) and pruritus (8.79 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 10.30 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017). Presenting complaints affecting the gastrointestinal system were the most common (19.20 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 20.77 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017). The diagnoses with the highest incidence were otitis externa (34.12 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 34.82 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017) and dermatitis (28.05 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 29.99 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017). Diagnoses affecting the integument were the most common (216.56 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2016, 219.06 events per 1,000 dog years at risk in 2017). The results from this study can aid in the design of relevant veterinary curricula and may be helpful in prioritising research on common clinical conditions.

Long considered both physiologic and inevitable, skin aging is a degenerative phenomenon whereby both intrinsic and environmental factors conspire to produce an authentic disease. The consequences of this disorder are many and varied, ranging from atrophy and fragility to defective repair to deficient immunity and vulnerability to certain infections. The pathobiologic basis for skin aging remains poorly understood. At a cellular level, stem cell dysfunction and attrition appear to be key events, and both genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in a complex interplay that over time results in deterioration of our main protective interface with the external environment. Past and current understanding of the cellular and molecular intricacies of skin aging provide a foundation for future approaches designed to thwart the aging phenotype. Herein, the authors provide a review of current insights into skin aging, including the mechanisms of skin aging, the role of stem cells in skin aging and the implications of skin aging for the microbiome and for the development of cancer. Conquest of the oft overlooked disease of skin aging should have broad implications that transcend the integument and inform novel approaches to retarding aging and age-related dysfunction in those internal organs that youthful skin was designed to envelop and safeguard.

Phylogenetic relationships in Styracaceae are well understood, but embryological characters and the ontogeny of integument(s) are still uncertain in many species. The goals of this study are to evaluate the systematic implications of embryological characters in Styracaceae, clarify the character evolution of the number of integuments and suggest a mechanism for the transition between unitegmic and bitegmic ovules. We examined the embryological characters of four genera and five species of Styracaceae, most of which were shared across taxa. However, Styrax has specific embryological features including bitegmic ovules, a multiplicative and sclerotic outer mesotesta and vascular bundles in the testa, all possible autapomorphies. The other three genera of Styracaceae share a unitegmic ovule, a parenchymatous mesotesta and a seed coat without vascular bundles, possible plesiomorphies with Diapensiaceae and Symplocaceae. The transition from a unitegmic to a bitegmic condition can be interpreted to be caused by a downwards shift of the boundary between the inner and outer integument, due to reduced activity in the subdermal initials and increased activity in the dermal initials of the outer integument at its base.

Introduction: Ultraviolet radiation can be harmful to the skin and can create serious problems when a protective substance or equipment is not used regularly, for this reason the present study set out to evaluate the photoprotective effect of the hydroalcoholic extracts of the integument of the red and black varieties of pop beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Materials and Method: The extracts were obtained by macerating the tegument of the two varieties of pop beans, black and red, in an ethanol/water (80:20) solution. The thin-layer chromatographic method was used to observe anti-tyrosinase activity, using the 0.05% kojic acid standard as a positive control. The photoprotective effect was evaluated in female mice of seven-week-old, Mus musculus Balb/c, with shaved back and exposed to UV-C radiation for 30 minutes once a day for thirty days to induce photo-damage in the skin. The treatments consisted in the application of extracts at 2% and 5% W/V in gel on the shaved area. Only the gel formulation, sunscreen or no treatment at all was used for the control group. Acute photodamage was quantified using the Draize scale, measuring the degree of erythema and edema; and the degree of photoaging using the Glogau scale at 7 days and 30 days. Results: It was found that the ethanolic extracts of the integument of both varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris, red and black, are practically non-toxic in mice by oral and dermal routes at a limit dose of 5000 mg/kg. The anti-tyrosinase effect at a qualitative level, evaluated by thin layer chromatography, showed the black variety were more active than the red one and both can be compared to the activity of the kojic acid. The two extracts of the two varieties showed photoprotective effect, however the extracts in 5% gel to a greater degree. Conclusions: It was concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract of the pop black beans tegument at 5% in gel has photoprotective effect.

A new genus and species, Geminispermum virginiense, is described based on a well-preserved coalified cupulate reproductive unit recovered from the Early Cretaceous (early–middle Albian) Puddledock locality, Virginia, U.S.A. The reproductive unit is bisymmetrical and consists of an axis that bifurcates into two cupule-bearing stalks, each in the axil of a bract. Each cupule stalk bears a single non-valvate cupule recurved towards the center of the reproductive unit. The cupule opens distally by a short transverse slit with a distinct upper margin. Each cupule almost completely encloses a single orthotropous seed that is free from the cupule except at the base. The nucellus is also free from the integument except at the basal point of attachment. Geminispermum combines features of the ovulate structures of Caytoniales, Umkomasiales (= Corystospermales, including Doyleales) and Petriellales, but cannot be included in any of these existing orders as they are currently understood. The recurved, closed, non-valvate cupules are particularly similar to those of Caytonia, Petriellaea and Reymanownaea in external morphology, but differ in being one-seeded. The cupules of Geminispermum differ from the one-seeded cupules of Umkomasiales in being non-valvate and in having only a single cupule per bract. Geminispermum is perhaps most similar to the one- or two-seeded non-valvate cupules of Ktalenia from the Early Cretaceous of Argentina, but Ktalenia is poorly preserved, details of cupule architecture are uncertain, and the cupules appear to be associated with a single strongly dissected bract. Geminispermum is currently the only unequivocal seed plant cupule recovered from the Early Cretaceous Potomac Group and is distinct from all previously described cupulate reproductive structures.

In order for entomopathogenic fungi to colonize an insect host, they must first attach to, and penetrate, the cuticle layers of the integument. Herein, we explored the interactions between the fungal pathogen Metarhizium brunneum ARSEF 4556 and two immunologically distinct morphs, melanic (M) and non-melanic (NM), of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. We first interrogated the cuticular compositions of both insect morphs to reveal substantial differences in their physiochemical properties. Enhanced melanin accumulation, fewer hydrocarbons, and higher L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) decarboxylase activity were evident in the cuticle of the M larvae. This “hostile” terrain proved challenging for M. brunneum – reflected in poor conidial attachment and germination, and elevated expression of stress-associated genes (e.g., Hsp30, Hsp70). Lack of adherence to the cuticle impacted negatively on the speed of kill and overall host mortality; a dose of 107 conidia killed ~30% of M larvae over a 12-day period, whereas a 100-fold lower dose (105 conidia) achieved a similar result for NM larvae. Candidate gene expression patterns between the insect morphs indicated that M larvae are primed to “switch-on” immunity-associated genes (e.g., phenoloxidase) within 6–12 h of conidia exposure and can sustain a “defense” response. Critically, M. brunneum responds to the distinct physiochemical cues of both hosts and adjusts the expression of pathogenicity-related genes accordingly (e.g., Pr2, Mad1, Mad2). We reveal previously uncharacterized mechanisms of attack and defence in fungal-insect antibiosis.

— Gulls (Aves: Larinae) are among the best-studied of birds, yet prior attempts to reconstruct gull relationships have met with little success. In the present study I use 117 characters from the skeleton and 64 from the integument to test gull monophyly and estimate gull phylogeny. One shortest tree, requiring 9747 unweighted changes and having a CI of 0.267, wasLarusis polyphyletic. Although the tree is fully resolved, support for many of the inferred clades is poor. In a comparison of osteological and integumentary evidence, I found that incongruence between the osteological and integumentary character sets accounts for only a minority of the total incongruence observed, and suggest that low between-set incongruence may be a consequence of the low signal-to-noise ratio in each set of characters. I also found that osteological evidence is particularly important for determining higher-level structure, whereas integumentary evidence is important for resolving lower-level relationships within the gull group. Finally, I found that integumentary characters are not dramatically more homoplasious than osteological characters, and argue that casual dismissal of integumentary characters as “too labile” is unwarranted.

The species Pinus taeda is largely used in intensive silviculture worldwide. This species has propagation through seeds, which requires determining seeds viability for their commercialization. The germination test recommended for this species usually requires up to 63 days to provide results on the quality of freshly harvested seeds, delaying commercialization and favoring contamination during the conduction of the test. The authors of this study aimed to establish the developmental stages of P. taeda seedlings to determine a criterion for interpreting the germination test with greater speed and efficiency to obtain results. The seeds were sown in transparent plastic boxes on two sheets of blotting paper and placed in a germinator at 22 °C with constant lighting. Five morphological stages of seedling development were defined with daily counts of the number of normal seedlings for each criterion, distribution in time, and the accumulated percentage of normal seedlings adjusted to time-to-event nonlinear regression. The new interpretation criterion proposed in this study is efficient, and P. taeda seedlings can be considered normal when cotyledon leaves differ by approximately 3 mm between the integument and hypocotyl, reducing the time to conduct the germination test by up to ten days compared to the criterion usually used in the routine analysis of seed laboratories. Made available in DSpace on 2022-07-05T15:19:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ScientiaAgricola-2022PinusTaedaSeedsGermination.pdf: 1065280 bytes, checksum: 6aaef2c61393f74c3953e52cee9607bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2022

Resume- En plus des keratinocytes, l'epiderme contient des cellules residentes de morphologie dendritique. Ce sont principalement la cellule de Langerhans, la cellule de Merkel et le melanocyte. Ces cellules ont des fonctions diverses dans le tegument. Le melanocyte assure la pigmentation cutanee et la protection contre les radiations U.V., et pourrait intervenir egalement dans la modulation de l'inflammation cutanee. La cellule de Langerhans intervient dans la surveillance immunologique des surfaces corporelles ecternes. La cellule de Merkel a des fonctions neuroendocrines. Cet article donne un apercu de la structure et de la fonction de ces trois importantes populations cellulaires dans la peau. [Resident dentritic cells in the epidermis: Langerhans cells, Merkel cells and melanocytes (Cellules dentritiques residentes de l'epiderme: cellules de Langerhans, cellules de Merkel et melanocytes). Resumen- La epidermis contiene, ademas de los queratinocitos, celulas residentes de morfologia dendria dendritica. Estas son principalmente las celulas de Langerhans, las celulas de Merkel y los melanocitos. Estas celulas tienen varias funciones en el integumento. Los melanocitos se encargan de la pigmentacion y proteccion de la piel contra la radiacion ultravioleta y tarrtbien participan en la regulacion de la inflamacion cutanea. Las celulas de Langerhans ayudan en la regulacion inmunologica en la superficie externa. Las celulas de Merkel tienen funciones neuroendocrinas. Esta revision da un repaso general a la estructura y funcion de tres importantes celulas de la piel. [Resident dendsuitic cells in the epidermis: Langerhans cells, Merkel cells and Melanocytes (Celulas residentes en la epidermis: celulas de Langerhans, celulas de Merkel y melanocitos). Abstract- In addition to the keratinocytes, the epidermis contains resident cells of dendritic morphology. These are principally the Langerhans cell, Merkel cell and melanocyte. These cells have a number of different functions in the integument. The melanocyte is responsible for skin pigmentation and protection against UV radiation, and may also play a role in the modulation of cutaneous inflammation. The Langerhans cell aids in the immunological monitoring of the body's external surfaces. The Merkel cell has neuroendocrine functions. This review gives an overview of the structure and function of these three important cells of the skin.

A prepupa is a non-feeding stage that occurs between the final feeding larval instar and the pupa. It is less common in Lepidoptera because most species pass relatively directly from feeding cessation to pupation. This paper describes the occurrence of such a stage in the thyridid moth, Calindoea trifascialis (Moore). The prepupa is primarily a functional designation based on attributes associated with an extended wandering phase. The distinctness of this stage was demarcated by observed changes in the integument at the transition point to the prepupa. It was also corroborated by morphometric comparisons of length and mass with the final feeding instar. Measures of head capsule width indicated a potential stage-based departure from the Brooks-Dyar rule. The model fit changed with the number of instars assigned to the life cycle and depending on whether the prepupa was considered as a distinct instar. In the latter case the deviation was marked; but with the prepupa excluded, the growth curves still hinted at compensatory adjustments to growth increment prior to the non-feeding period. Molting was cryptic as a result of the use of leaf shelters and the consumption of exuviae after ecdysis.

OBJECTIVES The symptoms associated with microtia are ever-changing and not to stick to 1 pattern. The symptoms associated with microtia are constantly changing and are not set in stone. The aim of this article was to describe the various phenotypes from multiple systems found in microtitis patients included in the DatabasE of genomiC varIation and Phenotype in Humans using Ensembl Resources database, and to analyze possible pathogenic mutations. METHODS DatabasE of genomiC varIation and Phenotype in Humans using Ensembl Resources is an interactive web-based database, which incorporates a suite of tools designed to aid the interpretation of genomic variants. The term "microtia" was used as the search term, and the data extracted from the DatabasE of genomiC varIation and Phenotype in Humans using Ensembl Resources for this study was updated until October 2020. Pearson chi-squared test was used to test associations between types of genomic variants and the pathogenicity of variants. RESULTS Of the 386 cases enrolled in the study, 99% (n = 382) had 1 or more associated abnormalities. The most frequently detected abnormalities were those of the face and neck (n = 362 [93.8% of all cases]); musculoskeletal system (n = 337 [87.3%]); and nervous system (n = 334 [86.5%]), followed by abnormalities of limbs (n = 252 [65.3%]); the eye (n = 212 [54.9%]); and the integument (n = 200 [51.8%]). Besides, a total of 479 genomic variants were determined, including sequence variants and copy number variants (loss and gain). The pathogenicity of loss-type variants was significantly higher among other types (P

Summary:. From early on in the development of plastic surgery, it was quickly realized that utilizing locally adjacent tissue, or “matching like with like,” yielded superior aesthetic reconstructions to those in which the tissue was derived from a distant location. In many cases, the use of a local perforator flap is a simpler procedure with less patient morbidity and a quicker recovery from surgery. The difficulty with local perforator flaps has been locating the supplying perforators, ensuring that the flap has a robust and reliable blood supply, and that sufficient tissue is able to be transferred. The recent reappraisal of our understanding of the blood supply of the integument has allowed, for the first time, the capacity to accurately and inexpensively, without the need for “high tech equipment,” locate perforators, as they emerge from the deep fascia into the overlying integument, and through a better understanding of the interconnecting anastomotic vessels between perforators reliably predict how much tissue can be safely raised on a single perforator, before surgery. Further, through the use of strategic “delay,” it is possible to manipulate the interconnecting vessels between the selected perforator and its surrounding neighbors to design a flap of tissue of any dimension, composed of whatever tissue we require, and safely transfer that tissue locally, or if required, distantly, as a free flap. This article will highlight these advances, explain their relevance in raising reliable local perforator flaps, and will, where possible, call attention to any pearls and pitfalls, and how to avoid complications.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:29:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-01 Four species of pumpkin toadlets are currently recognized by the extreme condition of hyperossification in the skull and vertebral column within the genus Brachycephalus. In addition to their larger body size, relative to other congeneric species, Brachycephalus darkside, Brachycephalus ephippium, Brachycephalus garbeanus, and Brachycephalus margaritatus share remarkable osteological features, such as the large paravertebral plates forming an ornamented dorsal bone shield, visible through the integument. We add to the current knowledge of this group by analyzing its diversity and describing a new hyperossified species from some important Atlantic Forest remnants in southeastern Brazil, including those bordering São Paulo, the largest and most populous city in South America. The new species is diagnosed by a combination of morphological, osteological, and bioacoustic characters, with further evidence of mtDNA sequences to confirm its distinction from the other congeners. The parotic and paravertebral bone plates externally bordered with a rough and pale contour can readily distinguish the new species from the other hyperossified species within Brachycephalus. The new species is widely distributed along the Serra do Mar mountain range, including the regionally named Serra de Paranapiacaba, in elevations from 700 to 1000 m above sea level (a.s.l.), in the central coast of the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. We discuss valuable morphological characters within this group of species, reinforce the need for further studies, and highlight the relevance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation in metropolitan regions. Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica (INMA) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP) Fundacao Para A Conservacao e A Producao Florestal Do Estado de Sao Paulo Parque Estadual da Serra Do Mar Núcleo São Sebastião Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas Instituto Butantan Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos Www.cbro.org.br Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Laboratório de Herpetologia Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP)

The effects of the 5′-(4-ethoxybenzoyl)-5′,7′-dihydrospiro[cyclopentane-1,6′-[1,2,3]-triazolo[5,1-b][1,3,4]-thiadiazine]-3′-carboxylic acid ethyl ester oon the healing of linear skin wounds were studied in rats. This compound was found to have a stimulatory action on skin fibroblast proliferation, increasing the regenerative potential of damaged tissue. Assessment of the course of the wound process showed that use of test substance clearly accelerated the course of repair regeneration of the integument as compared with controls; inflammatory processes were moderate, without involvement of the deep layers of the skin; a cellular and fibrous component formed in the lesion zone.

In late April 2015, the River Dee Trust informed Marine Scotland Science, Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), that there had been observations of dead and moribund European eels on the River Dee. Later in May, the Spey Fishery Board also reported a number of moribund European eels in a rotary screw smolt trap on the River Spey. In total, 10 cases involving moribund eels were investigated in 2015 and one case in 2016. In addition, a health screen was conducted to investigate the potential presence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in healthy eels and Atlantic salmon from the River Dee in 2015. Externally, the diseased eels demonstrated white patches in different locations of the body. In all cases, F. psychrophilum was detected by bacterial isolation and/or molecular methods. Three isolates were further characterized by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as belonging to sequence type 15 (ST15). Histological examination of diseased European eels revealed lesions at the level of the integument. The pathogen screen for F. psychrophilum in wild healthy fish tested negative by PCR. Further investigation is required to understand the pathogenicity of this bacterium on the health of eels and the potential impact on the wild salmonid population.

Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) from a research colony presented with multifocal, white chalky to gray skin lesions, a diffuse whitish to blue hue to the integument, and friable gill filaments. Skin scrapings and wet mounts revealed Chilodonella, Ichthyobodo, and a trichodinid species. The average overall burden (that is, all 3 species) per axolotl ranged from 0 to 25 parasites per 40 × field (p40f; mean ± 1 SD, 2.6 ± 5.5), with a prevalence of 12%, 60%, and 48%, respectively. Concurrent with husbandry modifications, axolotls were treated with an 8-h static immersion bath that contained 0.025 mL/L 37% formaldehyde. Chilodonella organisms were no longer observed after the initial treatment, and Ichthyobodo decreased from 2.4 ± 5.6 to 0.6 ± 1.8 organisms p40f. However, the average overall burden increased 4-fold to 10.5 ± 9.8 parasites p40f, and the trichodinid organisms increased 13-fold from 0.8 ± 2.3 to 10.4 ± 9.2 organisms p40f. A second treatment consisted of an 8-h immersion bath that contained 0.05 mL/L 37% formaldehyde on 2 consecutive days. A significant change was noted in the average overall burden of 0.5 ± 1.1 parasites p40f, a greater than 5- and 21-fold decrease from pretreatment and after the initial treatment, respectively. No significant change between the first and second treatment was observed for Ichthyobodo, with 0.6 ± 1.2 organisms p40f, but this number represented a significant decrease from pretreatment. After the second treatment, the trichodinid organism was detected in only one axolotl, with a low overall burden of 0.2 ± 0.4 organisms p40f and resulting in a significant decrease in the trichodinid count to 0.01 ± 0.04 organisms p40f. Treatment with formalin (37% formaldehyde), in conjunction with husbandry improvements, was effective in significantly reducing ectoparasite burden and eliminating clinical symptoms in axolotls but did not fully eliminate all protozoa.

The morphology of the body wall is described for five trematode species belonging to four families of the order Paramphistomatida. In all the species under study, the thickness of the outer plate of the tegument is minimal in the sucker cavities and is constant in other areas of the integument, the number and sequence of the muscle layers (circular, longitudinal, and diagonal) coincide. The layers consist either of individual muscle fibers or of muscle bundles. The longitudinal parenchimal muscles, topographically close to the integument, can be mistakenly assigned as the peripheral musculature. The thickness and sparseness of the circular and longitudinal layers vary considerably in different parts of the integument. Diagonal muscles are characterized by an oblique angle of intersection, high regularity of location, and slight changes in thickness.

A wide variety of animals—from insects to snakes—crucially depend on their ability to inject venom into their target, be it their prey or their predator. To effectively deliver their venom, venomous animals use a specialized biomechanical element whose tip must penetrate through the integument of the target. During this process, the tip of the venom-injection element (VIE) is subject to local forces, which may deform it and cause considerable structural damage to the VIE, with devastating consequences for the survival of the animal or, in the case of eusocial insects, to the colony. Hence, it is plausible that millions of years of evolution have carefully ‘shaped’ the architecture of VIEs across different taxa toward a similar mechanical function, namely, to effectively resist the mechanical forces exerted on the tip. The present study aims to identify such a common architecture by analyzing the form–function relationships in various biological VIEs. A universal structural modeling, which quantifies the fundamental geometrical characteristics of a wide range of VIEs is constituted, and a theoretical mechanical framework that analytically correlates these characteristics with the material stress fields is introduced. This investigation reveals that the architecture of biological VIEs reduces the magnitude of applied stresses and confines the maximal stress to the near-tip region of the element. The presented analytical approach and modeling can be straightforwardly applied to various other types of bio-mechanical elements and can potentially be employed for developing a new class of microscopic injection elements for bio-medical and engineering applications. Statement of Significance Venomous animals—both vertebrate and invertebrate—use an extremely wide variety of venom-injection elements to incapacitate their prey or predator. Despite the clear differences in their typical dimensions, shapes, and evolutionary paths, all venom-injection elements have evolved to perform a single mechanical function, namely, to penetrate a target surface. Accordingly, the architecture of many such elements appears to follow similar principles and their material exhibits similar stress characteristics upon biologically relevant mechanical loadings. The current study introduces a theoretical model that draws connections between the ‘universal’ structural characteristics of such elements and their bio-mechanical functions. It is found that all examined venom-injection elements provide extreme load-bearing capabilities and unusual post-failure functionalities, which are in good agreement with the wide range of numerical and experimental findings from the literature. The emerging theoretical insights from this study thus shed light on the biomechanical origins of the naturally evolved forms of various biological organisms, including bee and wasp stingers, spider and snake fangs, porcupine fish spines, and scorpion stingers.

Facultative air-breathing fish can exchange respiratory gases using an air-breathing organ (ABO), such as the oral cavity of the integument, during environmental hypoxia. The goby Gobionellus oceanicus inhabits areas subject to environmental hypoxia; however, its ABO is unknown. To investigate the respiratory potential of G. oceanicus, the gill and integument surface area, diffusion capacity, and their diffusion barrier thickness were measured. Our results show that although gill surface area is smaller than observed in other facultative air-breathing fish, but it has all features necessary to perform aquatic gas exchange. Additionally the integument of the palate has a short diffusion barrier thickness and a large calculated O2 -diffusion capacity suggesting that it functions as the ABO.

Anomalous pigmentations have been reported in several groups of reptiles. Among these, albinism is one of the most striking aberrations of body coloration. This pigmentary anomaly is caused by the absence of melanin in the integument. Many cases of albinism have been reported in snakes, primarily in species with cryptozoic habits, and several reports are available for the Dipsadidae family from South America. Geophis is one of the most diverse genera in this family, with 50 species distributed mainly in Mesoamerica. The Yellow-bellied Earth Snake (Geophis godmani) is known only from the mountain ranges of Costa Rica and western Panama. In September, 2020 we encountered an albino individual of the Yellow-bellied Earth Snake at Palmira de Zarcero, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. Here we report on this finding and discuss possible consequences of albinism in snakes. Snakes affected by albinism have red eyes and a yellow or pink coloration due to the presence of xanthophores and erythrophores. As a result, aspects such as thermoregulation can be affected, and jeopardize the snake's survival. However, some individuals can have traits that potentially preclude the negative effects of albinism. These characteristics would allow for the survival of individual snakes to the adult stage, such as the albino individual of Geophis godmani we found in central Costa Rica.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of slow and fast-darkening carioca beans during storage, and the profile of phenolics and saponins, aiming to identify which compounds may be involved in the browning process of the integument of these grains. Cultivars Madreperola and Dama presented the lowest total color difference (AE) and the highest luminosity (L*) values during storage time indicating to be slow-darkening cultivars. In contrast, the cultivars Notavel and Imperador rapidly darkened with storage time, evidenced by the highest AE and lowest L*. Regarding the content of phenolic during storage, it was observed a reduction for free phenolics in fast-darkening beans and the maintenance/increase in slow-darkening beans. In the PCA of the phenolic profile, Notavel and Imperador were similar, differing from Dama and Madreperola, indicating that fast-darkening grains have similar phenolic profile. The OPLS/DA indicated that aged grains from bright beans had more kaempferol than darker beans. For saponins, the cultivars Imperador and Notavel presented higher content of Soyasaponin Bd, which might be related to the darkening process. Besides, kaempferol was found at higher concentrations in slow-darkening aged grains and can be a chemical marker of darkening in carioca beans. Made available in DSpace on 2022-05-19T11:12:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ART21042.pdf: 3786275 bytes, checksum: 617647b82581275ad9191b29fa50b8bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Biochemical composition and energy content of the body wall of the holothuroid Neopentadactyla mixta (Echinodermata) The body wall of an average individual of Neopentadactyla mixta (mean weight of body wall: 1539 ± 465 mg dry wt; range: 541 to 2394 mg dry wt; number of individuals: 50; period of sampling: March 1986 to February 1987) consists of 74% ash-free organic matter which corresponds to ca. 17.4 kJ g dry wt. The obtained results suggest the total energy content of the body wall increases from the end of the hibernation period up to the starting of the gonadal growth and decreases from the latter period up to the end of the next hibernation period. It is suggested N. mixta uses part of the energy content of its body wall for reproduction, and that the energy cost of the hibernation period could be entirely supported by the integument.

Objective: to study the anthelmintic properties of medicinal plants from the literatureand make a list of such plants (wild and cultivated) that are common in Ukraine.Material and methods. The material was Domestic and foreign scientific publications,processed using the methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, systematization andgeneralization, served as the material of studying.. The lists of plants with anthelminticproperties are compiled on the basis of an analysis of reference information fromspecial pharmacognostic reports.Results. The anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants is due to the presence of terpenes, phenols, nitrogen-containing compounds in their composition, that can negatively affectthe functioning of the integument, the digestion of parasitic worms, their mobility, growthand reproduction. The natural and cultivated flora of Ukraine has more than 50 speciesof medicinal plants with an anthelmintic effect.Conclusions. Herbal preparations with an anthelmintic effect have a number ofadvantages over synthetic ones (effectiveness, relative safety, availability, low cost),however, experimental studies of such drugs are needed for their possible negative effectson the human body.

Metastasis is generally considered a characteristic of malignant tumors. Herein, we describe a patient with more than one hundred discrete Spitz nevi scattered all over her skin. Molecular analysis from three of the lesions identified a ROS1 fusion oncogene with identical genomic breakpoints, indicating that the nevi arose from a single transformed melanocyte and then disseminated throughout the integument. The demonstration of widespread distribution of a benign tumor with limited proliferative capability indicates that metastatic dissemination is not contingent on full malignant transformation. Thus, eruptive Spitz nevus is a striking example of benign metastasis, demonstrating that metastasis can occur before malignant transformation.

The constant association of bacteria with the cuticular formations of the integument and those of the digestive tract of Leptosynapta galliennei was displayed by means of transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electronic microscopy. It is the first time such an association is brought up in an holothurian. A cuticle consisting of two layers of filamentous material and of an external mucous coat is located at the top of the microvillies of the epithelial cells of the integument and of certain parts of the digestive tract. A subcuticular space is formed between the inside of the cuticle and the apex of the cells. Bacteria of two morphological types are associated with the integument. In the digestive tract, two similar morphological types can be observed in the pharynx and the oesophagus, a third type occurs within the cuticle itself. The distribution of the bacteria is heterogenous, they are generally observed in the subcuticular space, though some of them can be found in the external mucous coat. Some hypothesis on the functions of the cuticle and on the association holothurian/ bacteria are considered.

International audience; The skin of the foot provides the interface between the bird and the substrate. Thefoot morphology involves the bone shape and the integument that is in contact withthe substrate. The podotheca is a layer of keratinized epidermis forming scales thatextends from the tarsometatarsus to the toe extremities. It varies in size, shape,amount of overlap and interacts with the degree of fusion of the toes (syndactyly). Astudy of toe shape and the podotheca provides insights on the adaptations ofperching birds. Our analysis is based on micro-CT scans and scanning electronmicroscopy images of 21 species from 17 families, and includes examples with differentorientations of the toes: zygodactyl (toes II and III forward), anisodactyl (toes II,III, and IV forward), and heterodactyl (toes III and IV forward). We show that in thesethree groups, the skin forms part of a perching adaptation that involves syndactyly todifferent degrees. However, syndactyly does not occur in Psittacidae that use theirtoes also for food manipulation. The syndactyly increases the sole surface and mayreinforce adherence with the substrate. Scale shape and toe orientation are involvedin functional adaptations to perch. Thus, both bone and skin features combine toform a pincer-like foot.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are agricultural pests of increasing significance in the North Central Region of the United States, posing a threat to major crops such as soybean. Biological control can reduce the need for insecticides to manage these pests, but the parasitism of stink bugs by Tachinidae (Diptera) is poorly characterized in this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of parasitism of stink bugs by tachinids over 2 yr from nine states across the North Central Region. Parasitism was assessed by quantifying tachinid eggs on the integument of stink bug adults. Parasitism rates (i.e., percent of adult stink bugs with tachinid eggs) were compared across stink bug species, states, stink bug sex, and years. The mean percent parasitism of stink bugs by tachinids was about 6% across the region and did not differ among stink bug species. Mean percent parasitism was significantly higher in Missouri than in northern and western states. In addition, male stink bugs had significantly higher mean percent parasitism than females. Stink bug species commonly found in soybean in the region showed some parasitism and are therefore potentially vulnerable to oviposition by these parasitoids. This is the first study to characterize the level of parasitism of stink bugs by tachinids across the North Central Region.

Amphibians' integument is a multifunctional organ offering protection from the exterior surroundings and facilitating the physiological change of gas, water and salts with the environment, which is a natural biomaterial with multifunctional features. Interspecies comparison of biomechanical characters and microstructure possibly related to them were performed on the integument of three species of amphibians, two anurans(Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis) and one urodeles(Ambystoma mexicanum) using tensile testing and morphological characterization. It was found that the integument of Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis was covered by polygonal epidermal cells, while the trunk surface of Ambystoma mexicanum presented irregular microstructure with the lack of keratinization. The integument of Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis exhibited good performance on stiffness and strength, which showed quite high mean elastic modulus, 931MPa and 1048MPa,respectively.

High temperature, moisture content and radiation conditions, common in the tropics, accelerate the physiological post-harvest disorders in beans, affect integument color and bean hardness. This study explored the darkening and hardening mechanisms in carioca type beans during storage. The contrasting genotypes for bean darkening and hardening (BRS Estilo and BRS Pontal: rapid darkening and hardening; BRSMG Madreperola and CNFC 10467: slow darkening and partially resistant to hardening; and a Canadian genotype of the Pinto Bean type resistant to darkening (negative control)) were evaluated right after harvest and after six months storage at 20.3 ± 0.2 °C and 78.9 ± 6.0% RH, with respect to their physicochemical, biochemical and morphological attributes. All the samples hardened with time, but the velocity of darkening did not always parallel the degree of hardening of the beans (that increase linearly with time), which indicates that the color of the bean integument was not a safe indicator to predict the culinary quality of carioca beans. During storage, the SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and LP (lipid peroxidation) in the cotyledon increased, and the increase was more significant in the integument of the rapid-darkening genotypes. The oxidative stress detected in the beans apparently started in the green bean formation phase, continuing during post-harvest, especially for the rapid-darkening beans. Quantification of the bivalent ions in the bean fractions, together with the degree of membrane damage was positively associated with bean darkening, independent of the group. Thus, aging of the carioca beans could be triggered by a complex mechanism involving diverse intrinsic factors in different degrees according to the genotype and the post-harvest period, but some parameters could serve as indicators, as cooking time, hardness and color, to differentiate between rapid and slow darkening beans.

Not only is the skin the largest organ by the surface area of the body, the integument has multiple essential functions such as preventing dehydration, acting as a first-line barrier to infection, permitting unrestricted movement of joints, as well as sustaining a normal profile and appearance. Occasionally, the treatment of breast cancer requires the removal of the breast while also leaving a large chest skin deficit. Especially if radiation has been done or is planned, the best way to restore the missing skin to preserve its essential function would be by the use of a vascularized flap. Sometimes this can be achieved while simultaneously providing a reconstruction of a very aesthetic breast mound. Depending on circumstances and the extent of disease, a simpler solution might be to just close only the chest wound that has been created. A “workhorse” flap alternative that is almost always available to achieve this is the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle from the back, as this can be moved to almost all regions of the chest. The LD muscle usually can be swung to the chest about its blood vessels that remain attached to the armpit, and so would be called a local flap that as such avoids the complexities of a transfer requiring microsurgery to reconnect the blood supply. The long-term experience by reconstructive surgeons in using the LD muscle as a local flap, not just for the chest but also the back, head, and neck, has proven its deserved accolade to be a versatile flap unparalleled by most other donor sites.

Reduced skin barrier properties in patients with atopic dermatitis (AtD) are largely caused by microbiome changes and extensive Staphylococcus aureus colonisation of the skin. In this regard, the integument of patients with AtD requires constant care and the use of various emollients. The inclusion of lysates of non-pathogenic microorganisms and prebiotics in the composition of emollients ensures the normalisation of the microbiome composition and the immunological barrier of the skin. The article presents the results of our own observations on the application of two cosmetic scin-care products for damaged skin with vitamin F in children with AtD complicated by a secondary infection, while the composition of one of the products is additionally enriched with ceramides and prebiotics. The safety and high efficacy of both products have been shown, however, the presence of ceramides and prebiotics in the emollient composition makes it possible to achieve a marked decrease in the degree of S. aureus colonisation of the skin.

Our recent goal for the Plant Ontology (PO) is to have it integrated with the Gene Ontology (GO). The simplest aspect of this is to link morphological and anatomical images of structures for PO terms with genes involved in the development of those structures (GO terms). This, also, would include images of expression analyses by in situ hybridization. By using a process of reciprocal illumination, we will be able to clarify and/or redefine PO terms. In particular, an example of this is the integument development during ovule maturation in seed plants. Gymnosperms have one integument; whereas, Angiosperms (flowering plants) have two integuments, i.e., an inner integument surrounded by an outer integument. The question that arises is which of the two integuments in the Angiosperms is the equivalent of the single integument in the gymnosperms? In Angiosperms, the gene INNER NO OUTER (INO) is involved in the proper development of the outer integument but not in the inner integument and in ino mutants there is no outer integument. INO genes are angiosperm specific as no orthologs have been found in gymnosperms. Thus, it appears that the inner integument of the Angiosperms is equivalent –homologous- to the single integument of the gymnosperms and the PO terms can be revised accordingly. Keywords: Angiosperm, Gene ontology, Gymnosperm, Integument, Ontology, Ovule, Plant ontology

This review summarises available information about adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. Much of the published information on the pathogenesis of adverse food reactions in these species is transferred from what is known in mice and human beings. Clinical signs affect mostly the integument and gastrointestinal system. Pruritus of the distal limbs, face, ears and ventrum is the most common cutaneous presentation in dogs, although urticaria has also been reported. In cats, all so-called 'cutaneous reaction patterns' may be due to adverse food reactions. The most common gastrointestinal signs in both species are diarrhoea and vomiting. An elimination diet over several weeks using a protein source and a carbohydrate source previously not fed is still the diagnostic tool of choice. Improvement on such a diet, deterioration on re-challenge with the old food and improvement again on the elimination diet confirms the diagnosis of adverse food reaction, whereas alternative tests of blood, serum, saliva and hair have been found to be unsatisfactory. Patch testing with food antigens has been recommended as an aid to choose the elimination diet ingredients, since it has a reasonable negative predictability and likelihood ratio, but is laborious and costly.

The ovuliferous organs Trisquama valentinii Gordenko et Broushkin, gen. et sp. nov. from the Bathonian deposits of the Mikhailovskii Rudnik locality (Kursk Region) are described. The ovuliferous organs consist of three scales fused at the base. The long scale, together with the stalk of ovuliferous organ compose a sterile structure, which is vascularized by C-shaped in section collateral vascular bundle, and bears a lobed fertile structure of ovuliferous organ on its anatomically abaxial side. The latter consists of two short scales and an outgrowth between them, and is vascularized by concentric amphicribral vascular bundle, which is divided in its distal part into three separate collateral plates. These plates are associated with the lobes of fertile structure and three small orthotropous seeds situated from xylem side of these vascular bundles. Seeds are ellipsoidal, with not protruding micropyle; the integument is sclerified, megaspore membrane is thick. The ovuliferous organs under description possess unique features, which preclude their assignment to any large group of gymnosperms; authors place them in a separate order, Trisquamales ordo. nov., systematic position of which within Gymnospermae is uncertain.

Electrochemotherapy is a new therapeutic option for patients with locally spread melanoma. It is based on the phenomenon of reversible electroporation, i.e. a transient increase in permeability of cell membranes under the influence of an appropriately modulated electric field. This allows multiplication of toxicity of a cytostatic agent entering the tumour cell. It is highly effective, especially in the palliative treatment of cancers located in the integument of the human body (skin and subcutaneous tissue). Available literature provides a mandate both for the application of this method in the aforementioned cases as well as for further work on its development. This paper focuses on reviewing the literature concerning the use of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of melanoma.

The possibility of analyzing the structure and the developmental stage of small parasites as exemplified by Demodex mites is considered. The analysis is based on the method of hyperspectral holography in the near infrared region. It is shown that the optical density of the mite structure can be registered in the wavelength range ≥0.7 μm. The amplitude–phase distribution of the structure in the short wavelength spectral region is obtained. Registration of the amplitude–phase information in the shorter wavelength range is complicated by the diffuse structure of the integument, which leads to image speckling.