Specimen records of benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected by Norman H. Anderson in the vicinity of Mount St. Helens, 1980-1990

A private collection of 903 vials containing mostly aquatic macroinvertebrates is presented from Dr. Norman Herbert Anderson, Professor of Entomology at Oregon State University from 1962-1995. The majority of these specimens were collected from multiple freshwater streams during his research at Mount St. Helens (WA, USA) soon after the May 18, 1980 eruption. This collection also includes 15 vials containing specimens collected by Luis A. Fusté from the Muddy River (WA, USA) on March 29, 1980, less than 2 months before the eruption. The vast majority of these vials include a label indicating the sampling location, the date collected, and taxonomic identification

Angiopoietin-1 Treatment Reduces Inflammation but Does Not Prevent Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury

Background: Loss of integrity of the epithelial and endothelial barriers is thought to be a prominent feature of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Based on its function in vascular integrity, we hypothesize that the angiopoietin (Ang)-Tie2 system plays a role in the development of VILI. The present study was designed to examine the effects of mechanical ventilation on the Ang-Tie2 system in lung tissue. Moreover, we evaluated whether treatment with Ang-1, a Tie2 receptor agonist, protects against inflammation, vascular leakage and impaired gas exchange induced by mechanical ventilation. Methods: Mice were anesthetized, tracheotomized and mechanically ventilated for 5 hours with either an inspiratory pressure of 10 cmH(2)O ('low' tidal volume similar to 7.5 ml/kg; LVT) or 18 cmH(2)O ('high' tidal volume similar to 15 ml/kg; HVT). At initiation of HVT-ventilation, recombinant human Ang-1 was intravenously administered (1 or 4 mu g per animal). Non-ventilated mice served as controls. Results: HVT-ventilation influenced the Ang-Tie2 system in lungs of healthy mice since Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie2 mRNA were decreased. Treatment with Ang-1 increased Akt-phosphorylation indicating Tie2 signaling. Ang-1 treatment reduced infiltration of granulocytes and expression of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and interleukin (IL)-1 beta caused by HVT-ventilation. Importantly, Ang-1 treatment did not prevent vascular leakage and impaired gas exchange in HVT-ventilated mice despite inhibition of inflammation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Ang-2 expression. Conclusions: Ang-1 treatment downregulates pulmonary inflammation, VEGF and Ang-2 expression but does not protect against vascular leakage and impaired gas exchange induced by HVT-ventilatio

PI3Kinase signaling in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary tumor of the CNS in the adult. It is characterized by exponential growth and diffuse invasiveness. Among many different genetic alterations in GBM, e.g., mutations of PTEN, EGFR, p16/p19 and p53 and their impact on aberrant signaling have been thoroughly characterized. A major barrier to develop a common therapeutic strategy is founded on the fact that each tumor has its individual genetic fingerprint. Nonetheless, the PI3K pathway may represent a common therapeutic target to most GBM due to its central position in the signaling cascade affecting proliferation, apoptosis and migration. The read-out of blocking PI3K alone or in combination with other cancer pathways should mainly focus, besides the cytostatic effect, on cell death induction since sublethal damage may induce selection of more malignant clones. Targeting more than one pathway instead of a single agent approach may be more promising to kill GBM cells

Van Camp: Kumeyaay Pottery—Paddle and Anvil Techniques of Southern California.

Kumeyaay Pottery—Paddle and A nvil Techniques of Southern California.Gena R. Van Camp. Socorro, New Mexico: Ballena Press Anthropological Papers No, 15, 1979, 104 pp., 15 illustrations, 3 maps, $6.95 (paper)

Van Camp: Kumeyaay Pottery—Paddle and Anvil Techniques of Southern California.

Kumeyaay Pottery—Paddle and A nvil Techniques of Southern California.Gena R. Van Camp. Socorro, New Mexico: Ballena Press Anthropological Papers No, 15, 1979, 104 pp., 15 illustrations, 3 maps, $6.95 (paper)

Effect of Pretransplant Hepatitis C Virus RNA Status on Posttransplant Outcome

Undetectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA [RNA(−)] before liver transplantation (OLT) has been shown to decrease the rates of disease recurrence. We sought to determine whether RNA(−) subjects differ in post-OLT recurrence (virological/VR, histological/HR), graft failure (GF), or patient survival from RNA(+) patients using a retrospective review. From 1995 to 2004, a total of 49 patients were RNA(−) at OLT as a result of interferon-based therapy: 22 SVR and 27 with end-of-treatment response (ETR) transplanted when RNA(−) within 6 months of ET. Forty-eight RNA(+) patients were analyzed as controls. Virological recurrence (VR) was seen in 55% of RNA(−) subjects with no difference in HR between RNA(−) vs (+) groups, namely 36.7% versus 56.3% ( P = .068), respectively. The RNA(+) subjects showed a lower time to HR (5.6 vs 11 months; P = .027). The SVR subjects displayed lower VR (36.4%) and histological recurrence (HR) (13.6%) compared to ETR (VR 70.4%, P = .023; HR 55.6%, P = .003) or RNA(+) (HR 56%, P = .0008). The SVR subjects, who were identified with a sensitive assay (SVR(S), lower limit <600 IU/mL) showed no VR, HR, or GF. The 1- and 5-year survivals were 87.8%/75.6% and 89.6%/77.8% for RNA(−) and (+) groups, respectively ( P = .77). In conclusion, RNA(−)-transplanted patients displayed lower VR and longer time to HR. The SVR patients showed lower VR and HR compared to ETR and RNA(+) patients