Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855), an introduced species in the Cauca River Basin, Colombia.

Reportamos la introducción de Pterygoplichthys pardalis- una especie íctica de agua dulce de la cuenca del río Amazonas- en la cuenca del río Cauca y en las represas de Salvajina y Calima, Colombia. Alcance: Registramos y evaluamos taxonómicamente a P. pardalis para verificar su identificación, evitando que se eliminen especies nativas morfológicamente similares. Metodología empleada: Se examinó material depositado en algunas colecciones de ictiología, evaluando 35 caracteres morfométricos para su identificación siguiendo las claves de Armbruster. Estos resultados se compararon con la literatura disponible para el género Pterygoplichthys. Conclusiones: Este artículo reporta algunos errores en identificación, principalmente de Pterygoplichthys undecimalis, que en realidad corresponden a ejemplares de P. pardalis. También sugiere dos posibles mecanismos que explican su introducción en cuencas nacionales: i) descuidos durante el comercio de especies ornamentales de peces y por parte de sus compradores y ii) proyectos de acuicultura que pretenden “mejorar” la economía regional sin considerar las características e idoneidad de las especies que buscan fomentar. Finalmente, este artículo alerta sobre la introducción de P. pardalis en cuencas nacionales, y sus posibles efectos sobre especies y ecosistemas nativos.We report Pterygoplichthys pardalis introduction - a freshwater fish species from the Amazon river basin - in the Cauca river basin and in Salvajina and Calima dams, Colombia. Scope: We registered and taxonomically evaluated P. pardalis to verify its identification, seeking to avoid the elimination of native morphologically similar species. Methodology: Material deposited in some ichthyology collections was examined, evaluating 35 morphometric characters for identification following Armbruster’s keys. These results were compared with the available literature for Pterygoplichthys genus. Conclusions: This article reports some identification errors, mainly regarding Pterygoplichthys undecimalis, which actually correspond to P. pardalis. We also suggest two possible mechanisms that explain P. pardalis introduction into national basins: i) oversights during ornamental fish species trade and by their buyers, and ii) aquaculture projects that, seeking to “improve” regional economy, not take into consideration characteristics and suitability of the species they seek to promote. Finally, this article alerts about P. pardalis introduction in national basins and their possible effects on native species and ecosystems

Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity identifies possible catecholaminergic fibers in the organ of Corti

Antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase. dopamine [beta]-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase were used in an immunocytochemical examination of catecholamines in the cochlea. In cryostat sections, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine [beta]-hydroxylase-like immunoreactivities fibers were seen in the modiolus that did not extend to the organ of Corti. These corresponded to blood vessel-associated and non-blood vessel-associated fibers that have been previously described with histofluorescence. In surface preparations, tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity was seen in the organ of Corti. in the inner and tunnel spiral bundles, suggesting an efferent component may be catecholaminergic.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26856/1/0000421.pd

Opioid precursor protein isoform is targeted to the cell nuclei in the human brain

Background: Neuropeptide precursors are traditionally viewed as proteins giving rise to small neuropeptide molecules. Prodynorphin (PDYN) is the precursor protein to dynorphins, endogenous ligands for the kappa-opioid receptor. Alternative mRNA splicing of neuropeptide genes may regulate cell- and tissue-specific neuropeptide expression and produce novel protein isoforms. We here searched for novel PDYN mRNA and their protein product in the human brain. Methods: Novel PDYN transcripts were identified using nested PCR amplification of oligo(dT) selected full-length capped mRNA. Gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR, PDYN protein by western blotting and confocal imaging, dynorphin peptides by radioimmunoassay. Neuronal nuclei were isolated using fluorescence activated nuclei sorting (FANS) from postmortem human striatal tissue. lmmunofluorescence staining and con focal microscopy was performed for human caudate nucleus. Results: Two novel human PDYN mRNA splicing variants were identified. Expression of one of them was confined to the striatum where its levels constituted up to 30% of total PDYN mRNA. This transcript may be translated into ASP-PDYN protein lacking 13 N-terminal amino acids, a fragment of signal peptide (SP). Delta SP-PDYN was not processed to mature dynorphins and surprisingly, was targeted to the cell nuclei in a model cellular system. The endogenous PDYN protein was identified in the cell nuclei in human striatum by western blotting of isolated neuronal nuclei, and by confocal imaging. Conclusions and general significance: High levels of alternatively spliced Delta SP-PDYN mRNA and nuclear localization of PDYN protein suggests a nuclear function for this isoform of the opioid peptide precursor in human striatum. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Monoclonal antibodies to inner ear antigens: II Antigens expressed in sensory cell stereocilia

To develop biological reagents for investigating structure-function relationships in the organ of Corti, we have raised monoclonal antibodies, (MAb) to inner ear tissues. Our first series of antibodies prepared after intrasplenic immunization of mice with guinea pig tissues, identified antigens restricted to supporting cell structures, but no hair cell specific antibodies were developed [Zajic et al., Hear. Res. 52, 59-72, 1991]. In this report we describe the isolation, binding specificity and initial characterization of the stereocilia-binding monoclonal antibodies, KHRI-4, and KHRI-5. Mice were immunized with avian, amphibian and mammalian sensory hair cell-containing tissues and antibodies were screened for selective binding to cochlear extracts in ELISA. In the inner ear, KHRI-4 and KHRI-5 bind specifically to stereocilia in both avian and mammalian cochlear and vestibular tissue preparations using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase assays. In other tissues only certain cells of mesothelial origin, such as smooth muscle in gut and the arteriolar vasculature, were stained by KHRI-4 indicating that the antigenic structure defined by this antibody has limited distribution. KHRI-5 binding could be detected in other tissues only at high antibody concentrations suggesting that the gene product identified by this antibody is also weakly expressed in other cell lineages. Western blot analysis showed that KHRI-4 and -5 detect different protein complexes. KHRI-4 identifies an antigenic structure common to gut, cochlea, vestibular tissue and cultured fibroblasts consisting of a ~ 195 and a 230 kDa heterodimer designated p195/230. KHRI-5 binds to a prominent ~ 200-210 kDa band in Western blots of cochlear tissues, gut and fibroblasts. In immunoprecipitation experiments, KHRI-5 precipitated three proteins of Mr ~ 200-210, 230 and 260 kDa indicating that the ~ 200-210 kDa protein carrying the epitope for this antibody is a member of a heterotrimer complex. Our results show that these protein complexes are structural components of stereocilia and that the same proteins are arrayed in conjunction with the actin stress fibers of cultured mesothelial cells. Thus, they are likely to be important for maintaining the actin structure of stereocilia essential to transduction in sensory hair cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28991/1/0000019.pd

The psychosocial impact of home use medical devices on the lives of older people: a qualitative study

Background Increased life expectancy and the accompanying prevalence of chronic conditions have led to the focus and delivery of health care migrating from the hospital and into people’s homes. While previous studies have investigated the integration of particular types of medical devices into the home, it was our intention to describe how medical devices are integrated into the lives of older people. Methods Adopting a qualitative study design, 12 older people, who used medical devices in the home, took part in in-depth, semi structured interviews. In 7 of the interviews participants and their partners were interviewed together. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Results Two themes were constructed that describe how medical devices that are used in the home present certain challenges to older people and their partners in how the device is adopted and the personal adaptations that they are required to make. The first theme of 'self-esteem’ highlighted the psychological impact on users. The second theme of 'the social device' illustrated the social impact of these devices on the user and the people around them. Conclusions We found that these devices had both a positive and negative psychosocial impact on users’ lives. An improved understanding of these psychological and social issues may assist both designers of medical devices and the professionals who issue them to better facilitate the integration of medical devices into the homes and lives of older people

Substrate Micropatterning as a New in Vitro Cell Culture System to Study Myelination

Artículo de publicación ISIMyelination is a highly regulated developmental process whereby oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system ensheathe axons with a multilayered concentric membrane. Axonal myelination increases the velocity of nerve impulse propagation. In this work, we present a novel in vitro system for coculturing primary dorsal root ganglia neurons along with myelinating cells on a highly restrictive and micropatterned substrate. In this new coculture system, neurons survive for several weeks, extending long axons on defined Matrigel tracks. On these axons, myelinating cells can achieve robust myelination, as demonstrated by the distribution of compact myelin and nodal markers. Under these conditions, neurites and associated myelinating cells are easily accessible for studies on the mechanisms of myelin formation and on the effects of axonal damage on the myelin sheath.Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine Initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) RMF-7028 FONDECYT 1080252 CIHR Ministry of Industry of Canada Rio Tinto Alcan Molson Foundatio

Alterations in psychosocial health of people affected by asbestos poisoning

OBJECTIVE To analyze the state of psychosocial and mental health of professionals affected by asbestos. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 professionals working in the Ferrolterra region of Spain, who were affected by asbestos poisoning. This group was compared with a group of 70 shipyard workers with no manifestation of work-related diseases. All the participants were male with a mean age of 67 years. This study was conducted in 2013, between January and June, and used the SCL-90 questionnaire by Derogatis as its primary measure for research. This questionnaire consists of 9 variables that measure psychosomatic symptoms. In addition, an overall index of psychosomatic gravity was calculated. The participants were also asked two questions concerning their overall perception of feeling good. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and logistic regression. RESULTS Participants affected by asbestos poisoning showed high occurrence rates of psychological health variables such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and global severity index. CONCLUSIONS Social interaction as a differentiating factor between workers affected by work-related chronic syndromes as compared to healthy participants will possibly aid in the development of intervention programs by improving the social network of affected individuals

Correlation of the score for subjective pain with physical disability, clinical and radiographic scores in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: To analyse the relationship between subjective pain score and other measures of clinical, radiographic and functional status; in particular Larsen radiographic scores and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a disease duration of less than 3 years. METHODS: In this cross sectional study of 105 patients with RA (76 women, 29 men: mean age 50.93; mean disease duration 15.86 months; 71% rheumatoid factor positive) subjective pain was assessed according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Correlation coefficients between pain score and disease activity measures (patients' global assessment of disease by VAS, number of tender and swollen joints, morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP] and titre of rheumatoid factor, radiographic evaluations (Larsen-Dale scores for radiographic damage of the small joints of the hands, wrist and feet), disability measures (health assessment questionnaire [HAQ]), and demographic variables were calculated; hierarchical regression analysis was done with subjective pain score as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The Spearman's correlation coefficient comparing subjective pain and HAQ was 0.421 (p < 0.001), between subjective pain and global assessment of disease and morning stiffness was 0.573 (p < 0.001) and 0.427 (p < 0.001) respectively, and between pain and number of tender and swollen joints 0.037 and 0.050 respectively (p > 0.05). In regression analysis, global assessment of disease by patients explained 32.8% of the variation in pain intensity score, morning stiffness 10.7%, CRP 4.0%, HAQ 3.8% and Larsen-Dale scores explained 2.1%; other variables were not significant in the model. CONCLUSIONS: Pain scores of patients with early severe rheumatoid arthritis are correlated at higher levels with patients' global assessment of disease and with morning stiffness rather than with radiographic or other clinical variables such as number of tender and swollen joints