High Blood Flow Into the Femur Indicates Elevated Aerobic Capacity in Synapsids Since the Synapsida-Sauropsida Split

Varanids are the only non-avian sauropsids that are known to approach the warm-blooded mammals in stamina. Furthermore, a much higher maximum metabolic rate (MMR) gives endotherms (including birds) higher stamina than crocodiles, turtles, and non-varanid lepidosaurs. This has led researchers to hypothesize that mammalian endothermy evolved as a second step after the acquisition of elevated MMR in non-mammalian therapsids from a plesiomorphic state of low metabolic rates. In recent amniotes, MMR correlates with the index of blood flow into the femur (Qi), which is calculated from femoral length and the cross-sectional area of the nutrient foramen. Thus, Qi may serve as an indicator of MMR range in extinct animals. Using the Qi proxy and phylogenetic eigenvector maps, here we show that elevated MMRs evolved near the base of Synapsida. Non-mammalian synapsids, including caseids, edaphosaurids, sphenacodontids, dicynodonts, gorgonopsids, and non-mammalian cynodonts, show Qi values in the range of recent endotherms and varanids, suggesting that raised MMRs either evolved in synapsids shortly after the Synapsida-Sauropsida split in the Mississippian or that the low MMR of lepidosaurs and turtles is apomorphic, as has been postulated for crocodiles.Peer Reviewe

SAPS 3—From evaluation of the patient to evaluation of the intensive care unit. Part 1: Objectives, methods and cohort description

OBJECTIVE: Risk adjustment systems now in use were developed more than a decade ago and lack prognostic performance. Objective of the SAPS 3 study was to collect data about risk factors and outcomes in a heterogeneous cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, in order to develop a new, improved model for risk adjustment. DESIGN: Prospective multicentre, multinational cohort study. PATIENTS AND SETTING: A total of 19,577 patients consecutively admitted to 307 ICUs from 14 October to 15 December 2002. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Data were collected at ICU admission, on days 1, 2 and 3, and the last day of the ICU stay. Data included sociodemographics, chronic conditions, diagnostic information, physiological derangement at ICU admission, number and severity of organ dysfunctions, length of ICU and hospital stay, and vital status at ICU and hospital discharge. Data reliability was tested with use of kappa statistics and intraclass-correlation coefficients, which were >0.85 for the majority of variables. Completeness of the data was also satisfactory, with 1 [0–3] SAPS II parameter missing per patient. Prognostic performance of the SAPS II was poor, with significant differences between observed and expected mortality rates for the overall cohort and four (of seven) defined regions, and poor calibration for most tested subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The SAPS 3 study was able to provide a high-quality multinational database, reflecting heterogeneity of current ICU case-mix and typology. The poor performance of SAPS II in this cohort underscores the need for development of a new risk adjustment system for critically ill patients. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Electronic supplementary material is included in the online fulltext version of this article and accessible for authorised users: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2762-

Dual alpha2C/5HT1A receptor agonist allyphenyline induces gastroprotection and inhibits fundic and colonic contractility

Allyphenyline, a novel α2-adrenoceptor (AR) ligand, has been shown to selectively activate α2C-adrenoceptors (AR) and 5HT1A receptors, but also to behave as a neutral antagonist of α2A-ARs. We exploited this unique pharmacological profile to analyze the role of α2C-ARs and 5HT1A receptors in the regulation of gastric mucosal integrity and gastrointestinal motility

α2-Adrenoceptor action on cell proliferation and mammary tumour growth in mice

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women in most countries, is a highly stressful disease. Catecholamines released during stress bind to adrenoceptors and we have recently described alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in human breast cell lines, linked to enhanced cell proliferation. The purpose was to assess the in vivo effects of compounds acting on alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in a reliable model of breast cancer. The expression of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors was confirmed by immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-PCR in the mouse mammary tumour cell line MC4-L5. Proliferation was assessed by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and tumours were measured daily. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP digoxigenin nick-end labelling.Fil: Bruzzone, Ariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, L. F.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Sarappa, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rojas, Paola Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Lanari, Claudia Lee Malvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Luthy, Isabel Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin