Temperature changes and the ATP concentration of the soil microbial biomass

Two soils from temperate sites (UK; arable and grassland) were incubated aerobically at 0, 5, 15 or 258C for up to 23 days. During this period both soils were analysed for soil microbial biomass carbon (biomass C) and adenosine 5' triphosphate contents (ATP). Biomass C did not change signi\uaecantly in either soil at any temperature throughout, except during days 0 to 1 in the grassland soil. Soil ATP contents increased slowly throughout the 23 days of incubation, from 2.2 to a maximum of 3.1 nmol ATP g \uff1 soil in the arable soil (a 40% increase) and from 6.2 to a maximum of 11.2 nmol ATP g \uff1 soil in the grassland soil (an increase of 81%), both at 258C. Since biomass C did not change either with increasing temperature or increasing time of incubation, it was concluded that an increase in ATP was either due to an increase in adenylate energy charge or de novo synthesis of ATP, or both. During the incubation, biomass ATP concentrations ranged from about 5 to 12 mmol ATP g \uff1 biomass C but trends between biomass ATP and incubation temperatures were not very obvious until about day 13. On day 23, biomass ATP concentrations were positively and linearly related to temperature: (mmol ATP g \uff1 biomass C = 6.9820.35 + 0.13420.023 T0 (r 2 = 0.77) with no signi\uaecant di erence in the slope between the grassland and arable soils. At 258C the biomass ATP concentration was 10.3 mmol g \uff1 biomass C, remarkably close to many other published values. It was concluded that, although the biomass increased its ATP concentration in response to increasing temperature, the increase was comparatively small. Also, at all temperatures tested, the biomass maintained its ATP concentration within the range commonly reported for micro-organisms growing expontentially in vitro. This is despite the fact that the biomass normally exhibits other features more typical of a ``resting'' or dormant population 0 a paradox which still is not resolved

Прогресс в классификации неходжкинских лимфом

We present the review of literature related to the classification of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, which form the group of morphologically and biologically heterogeneous malignant disorders of lymphoid tissue. The conceptions about these lymphomas have repeatedly undergone changes depending on interpretation of the origin of cells, which constitute the morphological substrate of the tumor. As far as the new data about morphological, immunological and cytogenetic features of lymphoid cells has been accumulated, the classifications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas have been elaborated with respect to histological types and subtypes, which are of clinical significance. The evolution and progress of classification of these tumors are analyzed in this article. The clearly outlined histological types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas were stipulated on the basis of morphological, immunophenotyping, cytogenetic and clinical patterns in the last classification, adopted by World Health Organization in 2001. Those changed the approaches to the examination and differentiated treatment of patients with such pathology.Приведен литературный обзор по классификациям неходжкинских лимфом, представляющих собой группу злокачественных процессов лимфатической ткани неоднородных с точки зрения морфологии и биологии. Концепции об этих лимфомах неоднократно менялись в зависимости от интерпретации происхождения клеток, образующих морфологический субстрат опухоли. По мере накопления новых данных о морфологии лимфоидных клеток, об их иммунологических и цитогенетических особенностях, были разработаны классификации с отражением вариантов и подвариантов неходжкинских лимфом, имеющих клиническую значимость. В этой работе проанализирована эволюция и прогресс классификаций этих опухолей. В самой последней классификации неходжкинских лимфом, принятой ВОЗ в 2001 году, сформулированы хорошо очерченные варианты на основании характеристики морфологии, иммунофенотипирования, цитогенетики и клиники, изменивших подход к исследованию и дифференцированному лечению больных, страдающих этой патологией

Diabetes mellitus en pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer: descripción clínica y correlación con el genotipo APOE en una muestra de población del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia

Introduction. Alzheimer’s disease is a multifactorial disease affecting approximately twenty million people worldwide. Numerous variables are associated with increased risk of developing this severe neurological disorder. Among the risk factors, diabetes mellitus, and the ε4 isoform of the APOE gene have been amply demonstrated as increasing the risk of developing this disease.Objective. To determine if a correlation exists between APOE genotype, diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease.Materials and methods. Clinical studies were carried out by surveying the clinical histories in a group of patients in the province of Antioquia, Colombia. Forty-three Alzheimer’s patients were compared with 43 control subjects, paired by age and gender. Commercially available methods were used to determine whether the patients had diabetes, and restriction enzyme-based genotyping was used to determine the APOE genotypes.Results. The most common non-neurological comorbidities were: arterial hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypothyroidism. From the many variables investigated, two were conclusive: (1) the presence of Alzheimer’s disease was higher in patients with diabetes mellitus, and (2) no correlation between late-onset sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and APOE was found in the target population.Conclusions. To detect any association with the APOE genotype, a study involving much a larger population samples must be undertaken.Introducción. La enfermedad de Alzheimer es compleja y afecta, aproximadamente, a 20 millones de personas en todo el mundo. Muchas variables parecen aumentar el riesgo de desarrollar esta alteración neurológica. Entre los factores de riesgo, se ha demostrado ampliamente que la diabetes mellitus y la isoforma ε4 del gen APOE tienen incidencia positiva en el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Se reporta un estudio en el cual se investigó la posible correlación entre APOE, diabetes mellitus yla enfermedad de Alzheimer, en un grupo específico de pacientes del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia.Objetivo. Determinar si existe una correlación entre APOE, diabetes mellitus y la enfermedad de Alzheimer, en un grupo de pacientes de Antioquia, Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se buscaron y analizaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de enfermedad de Alzheimer. Se seleccionaron aquellos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión. Se utilizaron métodos comercialmente disponibles para confirmar la presencia de diabetes mellitus. La genotipificación de APOE se hizo con un método basado en la PCR y la digestión con enzimas de restricción, en muestras de todos los participantes en el estudio.Resultados. En este estudio se analizan 43 casos de enfermedad de Alzheimer y 43 individuos sanos controles, pareados por edad y sexo. Las enfermedades concomitantes no neurológicas más comunes fueron: hipertensión arterial, infarto agudo del miocardio, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica e hipotiroidismo.Conclusiones. De las diferentes variables investigadas, dos arrojaron resultados concluyentes: i) la presencia de la enfermedad de Alzheimer es más frecuente en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, y 2) no se encontró correlación entre la enfermedad de Alzheimer de inicio tardío esporádico y el genotipo de APOE. Es importante indicar que debe llevarse a cabo un estudio con un tamaño de población mayor, para determinar cualquier posible correlación o inferencia con el genotipo de APOE. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v32i2.579

Do looks matter? The role of the Electronic Residency Application Service photograph in dermatology residency selection

Background: There is a lack of research on the impact of the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) photograph on the residency selection process.Objective: We sought to elucidate the role of the ERAS photograph in the dermatology residency selection outcome and to determine if photographs submitted by matched applicants differ from those of unmatched applicants.Methods: We analyzed ERAS photographs submitted by dermatology residency applicants based on photograph characteristics related to composition, attire, facial expression, hairstyle, and accessories.Results: Candidates who smiled, wore glasses, and wore jackets in their photographs were more likely to match. There was no difference in the rate of matching among applicants depending on whether their photograph was of professional quality or whether they wore formal attire in their pictures. Gender specific characteristics were not found to be influential in the match outcome for male applicants. Among female applicants, having hair to the shoulders or longer was associated with a positive match outcome.Conclusion: Certain characteristics of the ERAS photographs were found to be associated with a more favorable match outcome. Further biases inferred from these photographs might be present in the dermatology selection process. We suggest blinding the selection committees to ERAS application photographs prior to granting residency interviews

Do looks matter? The role of the Electronic Residency Application Service photograph in dermatology residency selection

Background: There is a lack of research on the impact of the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) photograph on the residency selection process.Objective: We sought to elucidate the role of the ERAS photograph in the dermatology residency selection outcome and to determine if photographs submitted by matched applicants differ from those of unmatched applicants.Methods: We analyzed ERAS photographs submitted by dermatology residency applicants based on photograph characteristics related to composition, attire, facial expression, hairstyle, and accessories.Results: Candidates who smiled, wore glasses, and wore jackets in their photographs were more likely to match. There was no difference in the rate of matching among applicants depending on whether their photograph was of professional quality or whether they wore formal attire in their pictures. Gender specific characteristics were not found to be influential in the match outcome for male applicants. Among female applicants, having hair to the shoulders or longer was associated with a positive match outcome.Conclusion: Certain characteristics of the ERAS photographs were found to be associated with a more favorable match outcome. Further biases inferred from these photographs might be present in the dermatology selection process. We suggest blinding the selection committees to ERAS application photographs prior to granting residency interviews