The metabolic network of the last bacterial common ancestor.

Bacteria are the most abundant cells on Earth. They are generally regarded as ancient, but due to striking diversity in their metabolic capacities and widespread lateral gene transfer, the physiology of the first bacteria is unknown. From 1089 reference genomes of bacterial anaerobes, we identified 146 protein families that trace to the last bacterial common ancestor, LBCA, and form the conserved predicted core of its metabolic network, which requires only nine genes to encompass all universal metabolites.

Gene Duplications Trace Mitochondria to the Onset of Eukaryote Complexity.

The last eukaryote common ancestor (LECA) possessed mitochondria and all key traits that make eukaryotic cells more complex than their prokaryotic ancestors, yet the timing of mitochondrial acquisition and the role of mitochondria in the origin of eukaryote complexity remain debated. Here, we report evidence from gene duplications in LECA indicating an early origin of mitochondria. Among 163,545 duplications in 24,571 gene trees spanning 150 sequenced eukaryotic genomes, we identify 713 gene duplication events that occurred in LECA.

A spectrum of verticality across genes.

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) has impacted prokaryotic genome evolution, yet the extent to which LGT compromises vertical evolution across individual genes and individual phyla is unknown, as are the factors that govern LGT frequency across genes. Estimating LGT frequency from tree comparisons is problematic when thousands of genomes are compared, because LGT becomes difficult to distinguish from phylogenetic artefacts. Here we report quantitative estimates for verticality across all genes and genomes, leveraging a well-known property of phylogenetic inference: phylogeny works best at the tips of trees.

Bacterial Genes Outnumber Archaeal Genes in Eukaryotic Genomes.

Eukaryotes are typically depicted as descendants of archaea, but their genomes are evolutionary chimeras with genes stemming from archaea and bacteria. Which prokaryotic heritage predominates? Here, we have clustered 19,050,992 protein sequences from 5,443 bacteria and 212 archaea with 3,420,731 protein sequences from 150 eukaryotes spanning six eukaryotic supergroups. By downsampling, we obtain estimates for the bacterial and archaeal proportions.

Over-the-scope clip in peptic ulcer bleeding: clinical success in primary and secondary treatment and factors associated with treatment failure.

 It is unclear if the clinical success rate of the over-the-scope-clip (OTSC) in peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) is comparable when it is used in the first- or in the second-line of treatment.  Data on endoscopic treatment (first- vs. second-line) in PUB with OTSC and clinical data were analyzed.

Double incision and snare resection in symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum: a modification of the stag beetle knife technique.

Background And Study Aim: Relief from dysphagia and regurgitation are the main goals of therapy in symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum. Flexible endoscopic treatment has proved to be an effective and safe method in control of these symptoms. The aim of our study was to further improve the resection of the cricopharyngeal muscle using a new technique, the double incision and snare resection (DISR) procedure, to reduce the recurrence rate.

Endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum with the stag beetle knife (sb knife) - feasibility and follow-up.

Background And Aims: Flexible endoscopic treatment of symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is an established treatment option. This study reports the first large cohort of ZD patients treated with the stag beetle knife (sb knife, a new scissor-like device) regarding feasibility, safety, and sustainability of mucomyotomy using this technique.

Methods: From August 2013 to January 2016, n = 52 patients (pts) were treated at Klinikum Augsburg, a tertiary referral center, with the sb knife junior or standard.

Endoscopic hemostasis state of the art - Nonvariceal bleeding.

New endoscopic techniques for hemostasis in nonvariceal bleeding were introduced and known methods further improved. Hemospray and Endoclot are two new compounds for topical treatment of bleeding. Initial studies in this area have shown a good hemostatic effect, especially in active large scale oozing bleeding, e.

Clinical Experience with the PillCam Patency Capsule prior to Video Capsule Endoscopy: A Real-World Experience.

Background. In patients with known or suspected risk factors for gastrointestinal stenosis, the PillCam patency capsule (PC) is given before a video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in order to minimize the risk of capsule retention (CR). CR is considered unlikely upon excretion of the PC within 30 hours, excretion in an undamaged state after 30 hours, or radiological projection to the colon.

Long-term symptomatic control of Zenker diverticulum by flexible endoscopic mucomyotomy with the hook knife and predisposing factors for clinical recurrence.

Objective: Flexible endoscopic treatment for Zenker diverticulum (ZD) is well established. Although recurrence of symptoms is relatively frequent, it has hardly been studied. In the present study, we analyse the long-term development of ZD patients' symptoms after successful endoscopic mucomyotomy, as well as interventional safety, sustainability of success, and predisposing factors for clinical recurrence.

Cortical spreading depolarization stimulates gliogenesis in the rat entorhinal cortex.

Recently, we showed that cortical spreading depolarizations (CSDs) are a potent trigger of hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we evaluated CSD-induced cytogenesis in the entorhinal cortex (EC), which provides the major afferent input to the dentate gyrus. Cortical spreading depolarizations were induced by epidural application of 3 mol/L KCl, controls received equimolar NaCl.

Coagulopathy during cardiac arrest and resuscitation in a swine model of electrically induced ventricular fibrillation.

Aims: Coagulopathy is often present after resuscitation from cardiac arrest but plays an undefined role in the post cardiac arrest syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterize coagulation changes during cardiac arrest and post-resuscitation care in order to direct further focused study.

Methods: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced electrically in immature male swine, followed by normothermic American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support and a uniform post-resuscitation goal-directed resuscitation protocol.

A "Second Life" for gross anatomy: applications for multiuser virtual environments in teaching the anatomical sciences.

This article describes the emerging role of educational multiuser virtual environments, specifically Second Life™, in anatomical sciences education. Virtual worlds promote inquiry-based learning and conceptual understanding, potentially making them applicable for teaching and learning gross anatomy. A short introduction to Second Life as an anatomical educational tool is provided, along with description of existing anatomy applications and future directions for this innovative teaching modality.

Sensory innervation of mandibular teeth by the nerve to the mylohyoid: implications in local anesthesia.

Traditionally, the nerve to the mylohyoid has been considered a motor nerve. However, dissection and clinical studies have challenged this dogma implicating the nerve to the mylohyoid as a nerve of accessory sensory innervation to mandibular teeth. Within the infratemporal fossa, the nerve to the mylohyoid branches from the inferior alveolar nerve and may be anesthetized with an inferior alveolar nerve block.

Using audience response technology for pretest reviews in an undergraduate nursing course.

Implementing strategies to promote classroom interaction has been shown to enhance learning. In this study, we used an audience response system (ARS), an emerging technology, to actively engage students in examination reviews in an undergraduate nursing anatomy and physiology course. The reviews, set up as a pre-test of 25 questions in a format similar to that of the game Jeopardy!, were used before six of the eight examinations.

Students' responses to the introduction of a digital laboratory guide in medical neuroscience.

This study investigated student acceptance of a digital laboratory guide in a medical neuroscience course. The guide was created in Macromedia Authorware 5.2 by transforming a text-based lab manual into a comprehensive multimedia program.

Benefits from peer teaching in the dental gross anatomy laboratory.

This study examined the impact of implementing a rotating dissection schedule on the attitudes and performance of first-year dental students in the gross anatomy laboratory at the University of Kentucky. In 2002-2003, half of the students assigned to each cadaver dissected the assigned objectives during the first 90 min of the laboratory session. During the last 30 min, the non-dissecting group members came into the laboratory and had the day's dissection demonstrated and explained to them via peer instruction.

Enhancing the dental histology curriculum using computer technology.

The predominant difference between the histology offered to dental students and that taken by other health care professionals is the emphasis placed on the oral tissues. The oral histology component of the dental curriculum is commonly handled in one of three ways, all delivering far more detailed information than the often less than one hour that a typical medical histology course spends on the oral cavity and its component tissues. Overall, three general curricular styles can be defined: 1) dental histology is taught by medical or dental faculty as a separate course, the oral histology component being a separate course taught by either faculty group; 2) medical and dental students take histology together in a single class with the oral histology component taught separately by faculty from either college; and 3) both basic and oral histology is taught within a single semester, the format used at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.

Vestibulo-ocular pathways modulate extraocular muscle myosin expression patterns.

The genetic and epigenetic influences that establish and maintain the unique phenotype of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) are poorly understood. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) represents an important input into the EOMs, as it stabilizes eye position relative to the environment and provides a platform for function of all other eye movement systems. A role for vestibular cues in shaping EOM maturation was assessed in these studies using the ototoxic nitrile compound 3',3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) to eliminate the receptor hair cells that drive the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Visual system maldevelopment disrupts extraocular muscle-specific myosin expression.

The genetic and epigenetic influences that are responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the unique phenotype of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) are poorly understood. A role for visual cues in shaping EOM maturation was assessed in rats by using two visual deprivation paradigms, dark rearing and monocular deprivation. Isoforms of the contractile protein myosin heavy chain (MHC) were used as an index of phenotypic change in developing and adult EOMs after these visual insults.

The sparing of extraocular muscle in dystrophinopathy is lost in mice lacking utrophin and dystrophin.

The extraocular muscles are one of few skeletal muscles that are structurally and functionally intact in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Little is known about the mechanisms responsible for differential sparing or targeting of muscle groups in neuromuscular disease. One hypothesis is that constitutive or adaptive properties of the unique extraocular muscle phenotype may underlie their protection in dystrophinopathy.

The oculomotor periphery: the clinician's focus is no longer a basic science stepchild.

The study of the oculomotor periphery, the extraocular muscles and their orbital attachments, is undergoing a rapid expansion. This is an important progression for both basic and clinical communities as, for too long, the ophthalmologist has worked primarily in the periphery and the basic researcher has been occupied with study of the central components of the oculomotor system. From recent studies, it is clear that the morphology, cell and molecular biology, and genetics of the eye muscles and their corresponding motoneuron pools, and muscle attachments within the orbit are more complex than has heretofore been appreciated.

Reliability of the Medtrac MDI Chronolog.

Background: The Medtrac MDI Chronolog is an electronic device for monitoring adherence to metered-dose inhalers. It replaces previous models of the Nebulizer Chronolog and uses a different mechanism of recording actuations.

Objective: This study was carried out to determine whether the new model can accurately record and report the date, time, and number of metered-dose inhaler actuations.

Spatial and temporal patterns of myosin heavy chain expression in developing rat extraocular muscle.

The present study describes transitions in myosin heavy chain expression in the extraocular muscles of rats between the ages of E17 and adult. The unique phenotype of the extraocular muscle is reflected in its fibre type composition, which is comprised by six distinct profiles, each defined by location (orbital versus global layer) and innervation pattern (single versus multiple terminals). During extraocular muscle myogenesis, developmental myosin heavy chains were expressed in both primary and secondary fibres from embryonic day E17 through the first postnatal week.

The neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel, Scn8a, is essential for postnatal maturation of spinal, but not oculomotor, motor units.

Mice with a nontargeted transgene insertion at the motor endplate disease (med) locus (med(tg)) contain a deletion of a novel gene encoding a neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel, designated Scn8a. We characterized severe skeletal muscle atrophy beginning by Postnatal Day 10 (P10) and death by P20 in the med(tg) mouse. Denervation was functional, rather than structural, since the Scn8a mutation was not accompanied by retraction of neuromuscular contacts, motoneuron death, or decreased motoneuron soma diameter.