The desmosome and pemphigus

Desmosomes are patch-like intercellular adhering junctions (“maculae adherentes”), which, in concert with the related adherens junctions, provide the mechanical strength to intercellular adhesion. Therefore, it is not surprising that desmosomes are abundant in tissues subjected to significant mechanical stress such as stratified epithelia and myocardium. Desmosomal adhesion is based on the Ca2+-dependent, homo- and heterophilic transinteraction of cadherin-type adhesion molecules. Desmosomal cadherins are anchored to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton by adaptor proteins of the armadillo and plakin families. Desmosomes are dynamic structures subjected to regulation and are therefore targets of signalling pathways, which control their molecular composition and adhesive properties. Moreover, evidence is emerging that desmosomal components themselves take part in outside-in signalling under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Disturbed desmosomal adhesion contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of diseases such as pemphigus, which is caused by autoantibodies against desmosomal cadherins. Beside pemphigus, desmosome-associated diseases are caused by other mechanisms such as genetic defects or bacterial toxins. Because most of these diseases affect the skin, desmosomes are interesting not only for cell biologists who are inspired by their complex structure and molecular composition, but also for clinical physicians who are confronted with patients suffering from severe blistering skin diseases such as pemphigus. To develop disease-specific therapeutic approaches, more insights into the molecular composition and regulation of desmosomes are required

Paleontology of leaf beetles

`The rate of evolution in any large group is not uniform; there are periods of relatise stability, and periods of comparatively rapid change.' Cockerell and LeVeque, 1931 To Yenli Ych, my beloved wife, a most wonderful person! The fossil record of the Chrysomelidae can be tentatively traced back to the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic Triassic. Mesozoic records at least 9 subfamilies, 19 genera, and 35 species, are represented by the Sagrinae, the exclusively Mesozoic Proto scelinae, Clytrinae, Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae, Chrysomelinae. Galerucinac, Alticinae, and Cassidinae. Cenozoic records at least 12 subfamilies- 63 % of the extant- 12! genera, and 325 species, include the same extant subfamilies as well as the Donaciinae, Zeugophorinae, Criocerinae, and Hispinae and can be frequently identified to genus, especially if preserved in amber. Quaternary records are often identified to extant species. tn total, at least t3! genera about 4 % of total extant, and 357 species < 1 % have been reported. At least, 24 genera <1 % of the extant seem to be extinct. Although reliable biological information associated with the fossil chrysomelids is very scarce, it seems that most of the modern host-plant associations were established, at least, in the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic. As a whole, stasis seems to be the general rule of the chrysomelid fossil record. Together with other faunal elements, chrysomelids, especially donaciines, have been used as biogeographic and paleoclimatological indicators in the Holocene. I

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease

Delírio de infestação parasitária e folie à deux: relato de caso Delusional parasitic and folie à deux: case report

Quadros de transtorno psiquiátrico induzido (folie à deux) são raros. Porém, sua prevalência pode ser de 5-25% nos casos de delírio de infestação parasitária. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 62 anos de idade com sintomas psicóticos que, há cerca de 15 anos, está vivendo com sua irmã mais nova. Como a paciente não estava mais apresentando sintomas, sua irmã decidiu não administrar-lhe mais antipsicótico. A paciente voltou a apresentar quadro psicótico marcado por delírio de infestação parasitária, acompanhado por alucinações visuais. Sua irmã, que não tinha história de qualquer transtorno psiquiátrico prévio, passou a acreditar que realmente a paciente estava infestada e que ela mesma fora contaminada. Esse relato de caso objetiva discutir a associação existente entre folie à deux e delírio de infestação parasitária.<br>Shared psychiatric disorder (folie à deux) is a rare condition. But its prevalence can be 5-25% in patients with delusional parasitic infestation. We report the a case of a 62 years-old female with psychotic symptoms. For 15 years, she has lived with her younger sister. Since the patient was well-controled, her sister interrupted her antipsychotic drug administration. So, the patient initiated delusional parasitic infestation accompanied by visual hallucinations. Her sister, who did not have psychiatric history, initiated to believe that the patient was really infested. Moreover, she started to believe that was infested by the patient. This case report aims to discuss the relation between folie à deux and delusional parasitic infestation

Nora and her sisters: Lu Xun's reflections on the role of women in Chinese society with particular reference to Elfriede Jelinek's What happened after Nora left her husband or pillars of society (1979)

In the context of Lu Xun’s critical pre-occupation with Chinese society and its cultural foundations, the socio-economic plight of women constitutes, without doubt, a lifelong concern of his artistic endeavour and social outlook. It is not only reflected in his literary oeuvre, but also in his scholarly writings, personal reminiscences, correspondences and public statements (e.g. “Talk at Peking Women’s Normal College”, December 26, 1923). While Lu Xun’s public position, albeit conservative and pessimistic in some respects, is generally one of unambiguous sympathy and support, his literary representation of women in Chinese society is less forthright and convincing as far as fair and just solutions are concerned. Like many progressive Chinese intellectuals of his time, Lu Xun was greatly inspired by the enormous success of Henrik Ibsen’s plays such as A Doll’s House, among others, and their forceful advocacy of women’s interests and the right to individual freedom, claims which found considerable resonance in the educated sections of Chinese society and leading intellectuals of the May Fourth Movement such as Lu Xun himself and Hu Shi, whose literary articulation and representation of social injustice and discrimination against women led to public debates and open protests with sometimes fatal consequences. This study focuses on Lu Xun’s artistic exploration and interpretation of the socio-economic plight of Chinese women in the first half of the twentieth century with particular reference to current Chinese and Western feminist criticism and the recent feminist dramatisation of Ibsen’s (and Lu Xun’s) ominous question concerning Nora’s future in the brave new world of twentieth century capitalism and male domination, exploitation and abuse