Evaluating Support for the Current Classification of Eukaryotic Diversity

Perspectives on the classification of eukaryotic diversity have changed rapidly in recent years, as the four eukaryotic groups within the five-kingdom classification—plants, animals, fungi, and protists—have been transformed through numerous permutations into the current system of six “supergroups.” The intent of the supergroup classification system is to unite microbial and macroscopic eukaryotes based on phylogenetic inference. This supergroup approach is increasing in popularity in the literature and is appearing in introductory biology textbooks. We evaluate the stability and support for the current six-supergroup classification of eukaryotes based on molecular genealogies. We assess three aspects of each supergroup: (1) the stability of its taxonomy, (2) the support for monophyly (single evolutionary origin) in molecular analyses targeting a supergroup, and (3) the support for monophyly when a supergroup is included as an out-group in phylogenetic studies targeting other taxa. Our analysis demonstrates that supergroup taxonomies are unstable and that support for groups varies tremendously, indicating that the current classification scheme of eukaryotes is likely premature. We highlight several trends contributing to the instability and discuss the requirements for establishing robust clades within the eukaryotic tree of life

Nonviral gene-delivery by highly fluorinated gemini bispyridinium surfactant-based DNA nanoparticles

Biological and thermodynamic properties of a new homologous series of highly fluorinated bispyridinium cationic gemini surfactants, differing in the length of the spacer bridging the pyridinium polar heads in 1,10 position, are reported for the first time. Interestingly, gene delivery ability is closely associated with the spacer length due to a structural change of the molecule in solution. This conformation change is allowed when the spacer reaches the right length, and it is suggested by the trends of the apparent and partial molar enthalpies vs molality. To assess the compounds’ biological activity, they were tested with an agarose gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), MTT proliferation assay and Transient Transfection assays on a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line. Data from atomic force microscopy (AFM) allow for morphological characterization of DNA nanoparticles. Dilution enthalpies, measured at 298 K, enabled the determination of apparent and partial molar enthalpies vs molality. All tested compounds (except that with the longest spacer), at different levels, can deliver the plasmid when co-formulated with 1,2-dioleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). The compound with a spacer formed by eight carbon atoms gives rise to a gene delivery ability that is comparable to that of the commercial reagent. The compound with the longest spacer compacts DNA in loosely condensed structures by forming bows, which are not suitable for transfection. Regarding the compounds’ hydrogenated counterparts, the tight relationship between the solutio

Is there life on the airway tree? A pilot study of bronchial cell vitality and tissue morphology in the ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) era of lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a relevant procedure to increase the lung donor pool but could potentially increase the airway tree ischemic injury risk. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the direct effect of EVLP on the airway tree by evaluating bronchial cell vitality and tissue signs of injury on a series of 117 bronchial rings collected from 40 conventional and 19 EVLP‐treated lung grafts. Bronchial rings and related scraped bronchial epithelial cells were collected before the EVLP procedure and surgical anastomosis. RESULTS: The preimplantation interval was significantly increased in the EVLP graft group (p < 0.01). Conventional grafts presented cell viability percentages of 47.07 ± 23.41 and 49.65 ± 21.25 in the first and second grafts which did not differ significantly from the EVLP group (first graft 50.54 ± 25.83 and second graft 50.22 ± 20.90 cell viability percentage). No significant differences in terms of histopathological features (edema, inflammatory infiltrate, and mucosa ulceration) were observed comparing conventional and EVLP samples. A comparison of bronchial cell viability and histopathology of EVLP samples retrieved at different time intervals revealed no significant differences. Accordingly, major bronchial complications after lung transplant were not observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these data, we observed that EVLP did not significantly impact bronchial cell vitality and airway tissue preservation nor interfere with bronchial anastomosis healing, further supporting it as a safe and useful procedure

Association between preoperative evaluation with lung ultrasound and outcome in frail elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery for hip fractures: study protocol for an Italian multicenter observational prospective study (LUSHIP)

Hip fracture is one of the most common orthopedic causes of hospital admission in frail elderly patients. Hip fracture fixation in this class of patients is considered a high-risk procedure. Preoperative physical examination, plasma natriuretic peptide levels (BNP, Pro-BNP), and cardiovascular scoring systems (ASA-PS, RCRI, NSQIP-MICA) have all been demonstrated to underestimate the risk of postoperative complications. We designed a prospective multicenter observational study to assess whether preoperative lung ultrasound examination can predict better postoperative events thanks to the additional information they provide in the form of "indirect" and "direct" cardiac and pulmonary lung ultrasound signs

Histologic Grade Is Predictive of Incidence of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma

Activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are associated with a high response rate to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). The current guidelines recommend routine EGFR mutational analysis prior to initiating first line systemic therapy. The clinical characteristics including smoking status, histologic type, sex and ethnicity are known to be associated with the incidence of EGFR mutations. We retrospectively analyzed 277 patients with metastatic NSCLC within Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC); among these patients, 83 were positive for EGFR mutations. We performed both univariate and multivariable logistic regressions to identify predictors of EGFR mutations. We found that histologic grade was significantly associated with the incidence of EGFR mutation, regardless of ethnicity, sex and smoking status. In grade I (well differentiated) and II (moderately differentiated), histology was associated with significantly higher incidence of EGFR mutations compared to grade II–III (moderate-to-poorly differentiated) and III (poorly differentiated). Ever-smokers with grade III lung adenocarcinoma had 1.8% incidence of EGFR mutations. This study indicates that histologic grade is a predictive factor for the incidence of EGFR mutations and suggests that for patients with grade II–III or III lung adenocarcinoma, prompt initiation of first-line chemotherapy or immunotherapy is appropriate while awaiting results of EGFR mutational analysis, particularly for patients with history of smoking

Versatilidad clínica del pseudotumor inflamatorio en Urología

Objetivo: El pseudotumor inflamatorio es una lesión rara, de comportamiento benigno y cierta heterogeneidad histológica que aparece en el tracto genitourinario. Se revisan una serie de pseudotumores inflamatorios urogenitales poniendo especial énfasis en sus características clínico-patológicas e inmunohistoquímicas. Material y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de la casuística tratada entre enero de 1981 y diciembre de 2010 que identifica los casos de pseudotumor inflamatorio de localización urogenital. Se analizan las variables edad, sexo, clínica, topografía y tratamiento, y las características anatomopatológicas e inmunohistoquímicas de cada caso. Resultados: Se describen un total de 8 casos de pseudotumor inflamatorio de localización urogenital, de los cuales 6 se localizaron en la vejiga, uno en el riñón y uno en el epidídimo. La edad media de los pacientes fue 46,75 (± 19,84) años. Los síntomas de presentación tumoral fueron hematuria macroscópica, monosintomática o acompañada de sintomatología del tracto urinario inferior y masa inguino-escrotal. En cuanto al tratamiento en los casos de localización vesical se realizó resección transuretral ± cistectomía; el caso de localización renal se trató mediante pielotomía y exéresis y el de localización epididimaria mediante exéresis simple. El estudio anatomopatológico evidenció pseudotumor inflamatorio en todos los casos, de aspecto mesenquimal y mixoide con células fusiformes de citoplasma eosinófilo, con presencia de frecuentes células inflamatorias. El patrón inmunohistoquímico más común mostró positividad para actina músculo-específica (HHF-35), vimentina y negatividad para proteína S-100. ALK-1 resultó positivo en el 87,5% de los casos. Conclusión: El pseudotumor inflamatorio es una entidad de buen pronóstico que, con un buen diagnóstico histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico, todo urólogo debe conocer y distinguir para realizar un tratamiento quirúrgico tan conservador como sea posible.1.144 JCR (2012) Q4, 57/73 Urology & nephrolog

Solution Thermodynamics of highly fluorinated gemini bispyridinium surfactants for biomedical applications

Abstract Highly fluorinated gemini surfactants are relevant in pharmaceutical field, owing their ability to deliver genes to the respiratory or to the biliar epithelium, where hydrogenated interfering surfactants are present. We report for the first time the thermodynamic properties of the solutions of 1,1′-Bis(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl)-2,2 n-methylenebispyridinium dichloride (n = 4, 8, 12). The gene delivery ability of the dichlorides and the structure of the DNA nanoparticles are strictly related to their solution enthalpic properties, resulting in a very sensitive probe of the behaviour of the molecule in solution. Dilution enthalpies, density and sound velocities vs. molality for dichlorides and dimethanesulfonates with different spacer length, n, were measured. The evaluation of apparent and partial molar enthalpies as a function of concentration of the dimethanesulfonate suggests that the effect of the counterion is additive and the values obtained for the hydrogenated surfactants can be transferred to the fluorinated ones, allowing the prediction of enthalpic properties in solution. No evidence of the structure change in solution is found in the trends of volumetric properties vs. m. and the group contribution of the single bondCH2 single bond for both the dichlorides and the dimethanesulfonates results additive as well as the effect of the counterion. The adiabatic molar compressibilities seem to be independent from the counterion and show in micellar region a plateau value much greater than in the case of the more traditional hydrogenated gemini surfactants, indicating a less compact structure of the micelles, probably due to the repulsion between hydrogenated and fluorinated moieties of the molecules