Immunostaining of spores and plasmodia of disparate myxozoan genera with comments on the properties of the sporular mucus envelope

Species of the phylum Myxozoa are common parasites of fish and can cause severe losses in cultured species. Although a number of myxozoan life-cycles have now been elucidated, little is known about the biology of these organisms in the fish host. Monoclonal antibody B4 raised to the myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae has been previously noted to react with a number of species infecting fish kidney. We present the results of a survey of 55 myxosporean species that determined that this antibody detects an antigen on the spore surface of 33 of these species in the genera Myxobolus, Sphaerospora and Thelohanellus. However, there appears to be no clear relationship between those spores that contain the MAb B4 reactive antigen and the host or organ in which they are detected. The antigen appears to be synthesized in the plasmodial cytoplasm and is intimately associated with the surface of the spore capsules and, where present, the mucus envelope. The nature of this envelope is further discussed in relation to its formation and distinctive properties

Quantum Transport in an Array of Mesoscopic Rings: Effect of Interface Geometry

Electron transport properties are investigated in an array of mesoscopic rings, where each ring is threaded by a magnetic flux $\phi$. The array is attached to two semi-infinite one-dimensional metallic electrodes, namely, source and drain, where the rings are considered either in series or in parallel configuration. A simple tight-binding model is used to describe the system and all the calculations are done based on the Green's function formalism. Here, we present conductance-energy and current-voltage characteristics in terms of ring-to-electrode coupling strength, ring-electrode interface geometry and magnetic flux. Most interestingly it is observed that, typical current amplitude in an array of mesoscopic rings in the series configuration is much larger compared to that in parallel configuration of those rings. This feature is completely different from the classical analogy which may provide an important signature in designing nano-scale electronic devices.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure

The pathogenic c.1171A>G (p.Arg391Gly) and c.2359G>A (p.Val787Ile) ABCC6 variants display incomplete penetrance causing pseudoxanthoma elasticum in a subset of individuals

ABCC6 promotes ATP efflux from hepatocytes to bloodstream. ATP is metabolized to pyrophosphate, an inhibitor of ectopic calcification. Pathogenic variants of ABCC6 cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a highly variable recessive ectopic calcification disorder. Incomplete penetrance may initiate disease heterogeneity, hence symptoms may not, or differently manifest in carriers. Here, we investigated whether incomplete penetrance is a source of heterogeneity in pseudoxanthoma elasticum. By integrating clinical and genetic data of 589 patients, we created the largest European cohort. Based on allele frequency alterations, we identified two incomplete penetrant pathogenic variants, c.2359G>A (p.Val787Ile) and c.1171A>G (p.Arg391Gly), with 6.5% and 2% penetrance, respectively. However, when penetrant, the c.1171A>G (p.Arg391Gly) manifested a clinically unaltered severity. After applying in silico and in vitro characterization, we suggest that incomplete penetrant variants are only deleterious if a yet unknown interacting partner of ABCC6 is mutated simultaneously. The low penetrance of these variants should be contemplated in genetic counseling

Gastrointestinal bleeding risk of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors by level of kidney function: A population-based cohort study.

AIM: To estimate the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by level of kidney function. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked to Hospital Episode Statistics. We identified patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD; estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml min-1  1.73 m-2 for ≥3 months), and a comparison group of patients without it. Patients with CKD were further classified as stage 3a (eGFR 45-59 ml min-1  1.73 m-2 ), 3b (30-44 ml min-1  1.73 m-2 ) and 4/5 (<30 ml min-1  1.73 m-2 ). We excluded prevalent SSRI users at cohort entry. Exposure was time-dependent SSRI prescription and outcome was first hospitalization for GI bleeding. We estimated adjusted rate ratio (aRR) and rate difference (aRD) of GI bleeding comparing periods with and without SSRI prescription at each level of kidney function. RESULTS: The aRRs and aRDs were: (i) no CKD (n = 202 121) aRR: 1.66 (95%CI 1.37-2.01), aRD: 2.0/1000 person-years (5.5 vs. 3.5/1000 person-years in period with and without SSRIs); (ii) CKD stage 3a (n = 153 316) aRR: 1.86 (1.62-2.15), aRD: 4.2/1000 person-years (8.3 vs. 4.1/1000 person-years); (iii) CKD stage 3b (n = 46 482) aRR: 1.61 (1.27-2.04), aRD: 4.8/1000 person-years (9.9 vs. 5.1/1000 person-years); and (iv) CKD stage 4/5 (n = 11 197) aRR: 1.84 (1.14-2.96), aRD: 7.9/1000 person-years (15.3 vs. 7.4/1000 person-years). While there was no evidence of increase in the aRR (P = 0.922), there was strong evidence that the aRD increased as kidney function deteriorated (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While the relative risk was constant, the excess risk of GI bleeding associated with SSRIs markedly increased among patients with decreased kidney function

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

Sports nutrition is a constantly evolving field with hundreds of research papers published annually. For this reason, keeping up to date with the literature is often difficult. This paper is a five year update of the sports nutrition review article published as the lead paper to launch the JISSN in 2004 and presents a well-referenced overview of the current state of the science related to how to optimize training and athletic performance through nutrition. More specifically, this paper provides an overview of: 1.) The definitional category of ergogenic aids and dietary supplements; 2.) How dietary supplements are legally regulated; 3.) How to evaluate the scientific merit of nutritional supplements; 4.) General nutritional strategies to optimize performance and enhance recovery; and, 5.) An overview of our current understanding of the ergogenic value of nutrition and dietary supplementation in regards to weight gain, weight loss, and performance enhancement. Our hope is that ISSN members and individuals interested in sports nutrition find this review useful in their daily practice and consultation with their clients

Synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) described between 2005 and 2013

A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) described between 2005 and 2013 is presented, including 112 nominal species. For each species the most important morphological and morphometric features are indicated in tabulated format. Included are also accession numbers for molecular data (when available), site of the infection within the host, features of the vegetative stage, organ infected, etc., plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species.A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) described between 2005 and 2013 is presented, including 112 nominal species. For each species the most important morphological and morphometric features are indicated in tabulated format. Included are also accession numbers for molecular data (when available), site of the infection within the host, features of the vegetative stage, organ infected, etc., plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species