Lifelong testicular differentiation in Pleurodeles waltl (Amphibia, Caudata)

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Clinical features and predictors of mortality in admitted patients with community- and hospital-acquired legionellosis: A Danish historical cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Legionella is a common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Community-acquired [CAL] and hospital-acquired legionellosis [HAL] may have different presentations and outcome. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and examine predictors of mortality for CAL and HAL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We identified hospitalized cases of legionellosis in 4 Danish counties from January 1995 to December 2005 using the Danish national surveillance system and databases at departments of clinical microbiology. Clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from medical records; vital status was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. We calculated 30- and 90-day case fatality rates and identified independent predictors of mortality using logistic regression analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We included 272 cases of CAL and 60 cases of HAL. Signs and symptoms of HAL were less pronounced than for CAL and time from in-hospital symptoms to legionellosis diagnosis was shorter for CAL than for HAL (5.5 days vs. 12 days p < 0.001). Thirty-day case fatality was 12.9% for CAL and 33.3% for HAL; similarly 90-day case fatalities in the two groups were 15.8% and 55.0%, respectively. In a logistic regression analysis (excluding symptoms and laboratory tests) age >65 years (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-5.9) and Charlson comorbidty index ≥2 (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.5) were associated with an increased risk of death in CAL. We identified no statistically significant predictors of 30-day mortality in HAL.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Signs and symptoms were less pronounced in HAL compared to CAL. Conversely, 30-day case fatality was almost 3 times higher. Clinical awareness is important for the timely diagnosis and treatment especially of HAL. There is a need for further studies of prognostic factors in order to improve the therapeutic approach to legionellosis and potentially reduce mortality.</p

In Vitro Thermal Effects on Embryonic Cells of Endangered Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata

The hawksbill turtle is an ectotherm, whose sex is determined by temperature during embryonic development. This study aimed to determine whether embryonic hawksbill turtle cells respond differently to temperature than mammalian cells. Embryonic hawksbill turtle cells were established in culture, and thermal effects on these cells were investigated in vitro. Cells were maintained in Dulbecco\u27s Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with non-essential amino acids, vitamin solution, sodium pyruvate, and 10% fetal bovine serum at 33°C and cell proliferation occurred at 25-33°C. When cells were incubated at 37°C (the temperature of mammalian cell culture) for 24 h, cell growth was completely inhibited. This growth inhibition was evidently recovered by changing the incubation temperature back to 33°C. Expression of heat shock protein was found to increase with elevating culture temperature from 25 to 33°C

Sex-linked peptidase-1 patterns in Pleurodeles waltlii Michah. (Urodele Amphibian) : genetic evidence for a new codominant allele on the W sex chromosome and identification of ZZ, ZW and WW sexual genotypes

International audienc

Grafts of ovaries in males and females of Pleurodeles waltl (urodele amphibia): evidence of a long-term tolerance of allografts; application following a space biology experiment

International audienc

Expression d'une protéine liée au sexe, la peptidase-1, chez des Pleurodcles femelles soumises à un vol orbital et recherche d'anomalies génétiques dans leurs descendances

The "Experience Triton" embarked on board of Biosatellite Cosmos 2229 (or Bion 10) pooled several experiments engaged by different teams. Our laboratories have to study in the amphibian urodele Pleurodeles waltl : 1- the expression of a sex-linked enzyme, the peptidase-1, in embarked and synchrone control females. The electrophoretical patterns of the enzyme in ovary, gut and muscles of flight samples were similar to erythrocyte controls but they were slightly different for kidney and heart. 2- the detection of possible genetic abnormalities in the offspring of females submitted to space environment. Embarked females and synchrone females were used as donors of ovaries both to castrated adult females and juveniles males. In may 1994, one recipient female and 6 recipient males are alive in may 1994. Laparotomy of the host animals allowed to oversee the success of the graft for all the surviving animals excepted one male which had received an ovary of an embarked female.Because of the slow development of ovaries in Pleurodeles , the success of this space experiment cannot be ascertain before the reproduction of these animals which will conduct in some monthsL' "Expérience Triton" embarquée à bord du Biosatellite Cosmos 2229 (ou Bion 10) regroupait plusieurs équipes scientifiques russes et françaises. Nos laboratoires avaient à étudier chez FAmphibien Urodèle Pleurodeles waltl : 1-l'expression d'une enzyme liée au sexe, la peptidase-1, chez des femelles spatialisées et chez leurs contrôles synchrones au sol. Les patterns électrophorétiques de l'enzyme obtenus pour l'ovaire, l'intestin et les muscles abdominaux sont semblables au pattern de référence établi à partir des érythrocytes d'animaux témoins. En revanche, le pattern est différent pour le rein et le coeur. Aucune différence majeure n'a été décelée entre les patterns des animaux du vol orbital et ceux de leurs contrôles synchrones. L'activité enzymatique spécifique ne présente pas de différences significatives entre les animaux du vol et ceux du lot synchrone pour l'ovaire, l'intestin, le coeur et les muscles; dans les reins, l'activité parait plus élevée pour les femelles du vol que pour celles du lot synchrone. 2- la recherche d'anomalies génétiques dans la descendance des femelles soumises aux contraintes de l'environnement spatial, et plus particulièrement à la microgravité et au rayonnement cosmique. Selon le protocole retenu pour la mission, toutes les femelles embarquées devaient être sacrifiées après leur retour sur Terre. Aussi leurs ovaires ont été transplantés dans des femelles adultes castrées ou des mâles juvéniles castrés. En mai 1994, une femelle et 6 mâles greffés sont en vie. Chez la femelle et 5 mâles, le succès des greffes a été constaté à partir de laparotomies pratiquées sur les animaux. Le développement des ovaires étant très lent chez le Pleurodèle, l'obtention et l'analyse des descendances des animaux greffés ne peuvent pas être envisagées avant quelques moi