Ribosomal DNA representation in the Orbach-Sachs and Vollmer-Yanofsky N. crassa cosmid libraries

We have been employing the Orbach-Sachs (1991 Fungal Genetics Newsl. 38:97) and Vollmer-Yanofsky (Vollmer and Yanofsky 1986 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4869-4873) N. crassa cosmid libraries (obtained from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center) in subtractive hybridization experiments designed to identify genes induced under conditions of oxidative stress. Because cosmids containing the 17S and 26S ribosomal RNA genes produce false positives in these experiments, it was necessary for us to identify cosmids in the Orbach-Sachs containing these genes

Neurospora crassa chromosome walks

Chromosome walks have been executed for all seven chromosomes of N. crassa, but the amount of coverage varies greatly, from less than 3% (LG V) to about 25% (LG VII). Overall, about 10% of the genome has been covered by chromosome walks (Table 1). All chromosome walks are shown with respect to the position on the chromosome, oriented from the left telomere to the right. The standard nomenclature for these genomic libraries is followed: pSV50 (Vollmer and Yanofsky 1986 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4869-4873), pMOcosX (Orbach 1994 Gene 150:159-162), EMBL3 (Yeadon and Catcheside 1995 Curr. Genet. 28:155-163), pCRD103 (Davis et al. 1994 Genetics 136:1297-1306), CBM1 (Cabibbo et al. 1991 Fungal Genet. Newsl. 38:68-70), CBM2 (Ballario et al. 1996 EMBO J. 15:1650-1657) and yeast artificial chromosome (YAC; Centola et al. 1994 Fungal Genet. Newsl. 41:23-33). For precise map positions of the cited alleles, refer to Perkins et al.(1982 Microbiol. Rev. 46:426-570) and Perkins (1992 Fungal Genet. Newsl. 39:61-70)

Linkage group assignments for two Neurospora crassa catalase genes: the Metzenberg RFLP mapping kit applied to an enzyme polymorphism.

Linkage group assignments for two Neurospora crassa catalase genes: the Metzenberg RFLP mapping kit applied to an enzyme polymorphism

Restriction polymorphism maps of Neurospora crassa: 1998 update.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) can be used to determine the approximate map location of any cloned piece of DNA. To establish an RFLP mapping system for N. crassa, R.L. Metzenberg and coworkers crossed strains with multiple sequence differences, Oak Ridge laboratory strains (designated O ) and a Mauriceville-1c wild-collected strain (designated M ; Metzenberg et al. 1984 Neurospora Newsl. 31:35-39; ibid. 1985 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.82:2067-2071; Metzenberg and Grotelueschen 1995 Fungal Genet. Newsl. 42:82-90). Progeny from two separate crosses have been widely distributed and used for mapping. For the first cross, 38 progeny from ordered asci were analyzed; since nonsister spores from the same half of the ascus were selected, first-division segregation can be distinguished from second-division. For the second cross only 18 random ascospore progeny were analyzed, and the small numbers limit resolution capabilities. Given this limitation, we encourage researchers to use the first cross for RFLP mapping. However, updated maps for both crosses are presented here

Pain in the lumbar, thoracic or cervical regions: do age and gender matter? A population-based study of 34,902 Danish twins 20–71 years of age

Background. It is unclear to what extent spinal pain varies between genders and in relation to age. It was the purpose of this study to describe the self-reported prevalence of 1) pain ever and pain in the past year in each of the three spinal regions, 2) the duration of such pain over the past year, 3) pain radiating from these areas, and 4) pain in one, two or three areas. In addition, 5) to investigate if spinal pain reporting is affected by gender and 6) to see if it increases gradually with increasing age. Method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2002 on 34,902 twin individuals, aged 20 to 71 years, representative of the general Danish population. Identical questions on pain were asked for the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions. Results. Low back pain was most common, followed by neck pain with thoracic pain being least common. Pain for at least 30 days in the past year was reported by 12%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. The one-yr prevalence estimates of radiating pain were 22% (leg), 16% (arm), and 5% (chest). Pain in one area only last year was reported by 20%, followed by two (13%) and three areas (8%). Women were always more likely to report pain and they were also more likely to have had pain for longer periods. Lumbar and cervical pain peaked somewhat around the middle years but the curves were flatter for thoracic pain. Similar patterns were noted for radiating pain. Older people did not have pain in a larger number of areas but their pain lasted longer. Conclusion. Pain reported for and from the lumbar and cervical spines was found to be relatively common whereas pain in the thoracic spine and pain radiating into the chest was much less common. Women were, generally, more likely to report pain than men. The prevalence estimates changed surprisingly little over age and were certainly not more common in the oldest groups, although the pain was reported as more long-lasting in the older group

Adverse events from spinal manipulation in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a critical review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The safety of spinal manipulation during pregnancy and the postpartum periods has been a matter of debate among manual therapists. Spinal manipulative therapy during these periods is a commonly performed intervention as musculoskeletal pain is common in these patients. To date there has not been an evaluation of the literature on this topic exclusively.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A literature search was conducted on PubMed, CINAHL and the Index to Chiropractic Literature along with reference searching for articles published in English and French in the peer-reviewed literature that documented adverse effects of spinal manipulation during either pregnancy or postpartum. Case reports, case series, and any other clinical study designs were deemed acceptable for inclusion, as were systematic reviews. The appropriate Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) tools were used to rate included articles for quality when applicable.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five articles identifying adverse events in seven subjects following spinal manipulation were included in this review, along with two systematic reviews. The articles were published between 1978 and 2009. Two articles describing adverse effects from spinal manipulation on two postpartum patients were included, while the remaining three articles on five patients with adverse effects following spinal manipulation were on pregnant patients. Injury severity ranged from minor injury such as increasing pain after treatment that resolved within a few days to more severe injuries including fracture, stroke, and epidural hematoma. SIGN scores of the prospective observational cohort study and systematic reviews indicated acceptable quality.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There are only a few reported cases of adverse events following spinal manipulation during pregnancy and the postpartum period identified in the literature. While improved reporting of such events is required in the future, it may be that such injuries are relatively rare.</p