Biodynamic signatures from ex vivo bone marrow aspirates are associated with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in cancer-bearing dogs.

Background: Neutropenia is the most common dose-limiting side effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy in cancer-bearing dogs. Biodynamic imaging (BDI) is a functional imaging technology that measures dynamic light scattering from living, three-dimensional tissues to characterize intracellular motion within those tissues. Previous studies have associated BDI biomarkers with tumour sensitivity to chemotherapy agents in dogs with naturally occurring cancer.

Associations among albuminuria, C-reactive protein concentrations, survival predictor index scores, and survival in 78 critically ill dogs.

Background: Microalbuminuria and C-reactive protein (CRP) are predictors of morbidity and survival in critically ill human patients.

Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate results of microalbuminuria assays (untimed single-sample urine albumin concentration [U-ALB] and the urine albumin:creatinine ratio [UACR]), serum CRP, and survival predictor index (SPI2) scores as predictors of survival in critically ill dogs.

Animals: Seventy-eight dogs admitted to intensive care units at University of Tennessee (UT) and Colorado State University (CSU).

Nuclear trafficking of the human cytomegalovirus pp71 (ppUL82) tegument protein.

The human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp71 localizes to the nucleus immediately upon infection, and functions to initiate viral gene expression. Analysis of a series of random insertion mutations revealed that sequences within the mid region (MR) of pp71 are important for localization to the nucleus. Fusion of MR sequences with eGFP revealed that amino acids 94 to 300 were sufficient to target proteins to the nucleus.

Pediatric dentists' attitudes regarding parental presence during dental procedures.

A controversial aspect of pediatric dentistry today is parental presence. A number of authors report an increase in the number of parents who wish to accompany their children throughout the dental appointment. Dentists historically have excluded parents from the treatment area, while pediatricians routinely keep the parent and child together.

Heat dissociation and maceration of marine Cnidaria.

The effect of increased temperature on the tissue integrity of polyps and medusae ofPodocoryne carnea is described. Animals exposed for 10 to 20 min to a temperature of 35°C are easily dissociated into single cells. These dissociated cells round up, form reaggregates and, depending on their origin, regenerate polyp or medusa structures.

Nematocyte migration in hydra: evidence for contact guidance in vivo.

Nematocytes rapidly emigrate from normal tissue implanted into an epithelial hydra, which lacks its own nematocytes. We observed emigrating nematocytes, both in time-lapse movies and in fixed whole mounts, to learn what controls directionality. The cells migrate at speeds of 10--30 microns/min with a pseudopod forward and the capsule trailing.

Developmental roles of epithelial and interstitial cell lineages in hydra: analysis of chimeras.

Chimeric hydra were prepared by recombining epithelial and interstitial cells between 3 strains of hydra of different sizes (maxi, normal, and mini strains). The resulting chimeras generally resembled the epithelial cell parent more than the interstitial cell parent in size, budding rate, tentacle number, and form. This suggests that epithelial cells normally exert considerable influence over hydra morphogenesis.

Development of Hydra lacking nerve and interstitial cells.

Hydra attenuata were rendered free of interstitial cells (I cells) and interstitial cell derivatives by colchicine treatment. These hydra were then cloned and cultivated for 18 months and their developmental capacities were studied. Some experimental hydra possessed a few (about 1% of the normal numbers) interstitial cells and retained this low level during prolonged culture and active growth without the differentiation of I-cells into specialized cells.

Anchoring cells (Desmocytes) in the hydrozoan polyp Cordylophora.

Desmocytes or anchoring cells are present on the upright stolons of the athecate hydroid Cordylophora caspia and function to support the soft coenosarc within the rigid tube of perisarc by linking the perisarc with the mesoglea. These cells are characterized by accumulations of 70 A filaments which aggregate into dense rods at the apical end and contact the perisarc. At the base of the desmocytes the filaments are distributed within large cytoplasmic processes which interdigitate with an extension of the mesoglea.

Polarity reversal in nerve-free hydra.

Hydra experimentally depleted of all nerve cells and nerve stem cells (interstitial cells) demonstrate normal polarity reversal. Thus hydra epithelial cells are capable of controlling complex developmental patterning phenomena.