Photoluminescence in mammal fur: 111 years of research.

Photoluminescence in the pelage of mammals, a topic that has gained considerable recent research interest, was first documented in the 1700s and reported sporadically in the literature over the last century. The first detailed species accounts were of rabbits and humans, published 111 years ago in 1911. Recent studies have largely overlooked this earlier research into photoluminescent mammalian taxa and their luminophores.

A Heart Gone Bananas: Allergy-Induced Coronary Vasospasm due to Banana (Kounis Syndrome).

Kounis syndrome encompasses a variety of cardiovascular signs and symptoms associated with mast cell activation in the setting of allergic or hypersensitivity and anaphylactic or anaphylactoid insults. It can manifest as coronary vasospasm, coronary, or in-stent thrombosis, and acute myocardial infarction with plaque rupture. Various medications as well as foods including fish, shellfish, mushroom, kiwi, and rice pudding have been implicated as causal agents.

Diagnostic and Historical Surveys of Sweet Cherry () Virus and Virus-Like Diseases in Oregon.

There are over 35 known virus and virus-like diseases of sweet cherry (), some with potential to cause severe economic impact by reducing vegetative growth, vigor, or fruit quality. Oregon is the second-ranked state for sweet cherry production in the United States. Statewide surveys were conducted in Oregon sweet cherry orchards for virus and virus-like diversity and distribution.

[Hair growth with dupilumab in alopecia areata universalis and atopic dermatitis].

We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who has suffered from severe atopic dermatitis since early childhood and from alopecia areata totalis since she was 18 years old, which has now developed into alopecia areata universalis. After the introduction of therapy with the monoclonal antibody dupilumab, renewed hair growth of the scalp, face and lower legs was observed. Dupilumab blocks the α‑subunit of interleukin (IL)-4 receptor and prevents the signaling cascade of IL‑4 and IL-13.

Dissimilarity of Airway and Lung Tissue Microbiota in Smokers undergoing Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Human airways are continuously colonized by microaspiration of microbiota. Less is known about the presence, origin and composition of microbiota in the lung parenchyma. In a study of 13 patients undergoing surgery for peripheral lung cancer microbiota composition was comparatively evaluated in upper airway, lower airway and lung tissue samples using 16S rDNA analysis.

The Fungal Cell-Wall Integrity MAPK Cascade Is Crucial for Hyphal Network Formation and Maintenance of Restrictive Growth of Epichloë festucae in Symbiosis With Lolium perenne.

Epichloë festucae is a mutualistic symbiont that systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of Lolium perenne leaves to form a highly structured and interconnected hyphal network. In an Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA forward genetic screen, we identified a mutant TM1066 that had a severe host interaction phenotype, causing stunting and premature senescence of the host. Molecular analysis revealed that the mutation responsible for this phenotype was in the cell-wall integrity (CWI) mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), mkkA.

Major depression in young girls is related to altered cortisol awakening response.

Background: There is evidence that clinical depression is associated with elevated basal cortisol levels in adult patients.

Objective: The present investigation tries to find out, whether this relationship also holds true in adolescents with major depression.

Methods: For 131 female subjects (63 MDD, 68 controls) the cortisol awakening response (CAR) was measured at 0, 30, 45, and 60 min after awakening.

Identification of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense blends in the United States.

Synthetic cannabinoid agonists are chemically diverse with multiple analogs gaining popularity as drugs of abuse. We report on the use of thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry for the identification and quantitation of these pharmacologically active chemicals in street drug dosage forms. Using these approaches, we have identified the synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-200, JWH-210, JWH-250, CP47,497 (C=8) (cannabicyclohexanol), RCS-4, RCS-8, AM-2201, and AM-694 in various commercially available products.

Mycotoxins in foods in Lower Saxony (Germany): results of official control analyses performed in 2009.

In this presentation, the mycotoxin levels-as analysed by the analytical centre for mycotoxin surveillance of the state food laboratory (LAVES Braunschweig)-for approximately 500 food samples are reported. The samples were collected in the year 2009 at retail in the German federal state of Lower Saxony. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A were analysed in dried fruits, spices, cereals and tree nuts.

Massive light-dependent cycling of inorganic carbon between oxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms and their surroundings.

Membrane inlet mass spectrometry indicated massive light-dependent cycling of inorganic carbon between the medium and the cells of various phytoplankton species representing the main groups of aquatic primary producers. These included diatoms, symbiotic and free living dinoflagellates, a coccolithophorid, a green alga and filamentous and single cell cyanobacteria. These organisms could maintain an ambient CO(2) concentration substantially above or below that expected at chemical equilibrium with HCO(3) (-).

Signalling mechanisms of SDF-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of stromal-derived factor-1-alpha (SDF-1-alpha) on endothelial angiogenic effects. SDF-1-alpha (50 ng/ml) increased the number of cultured endothelial cells from 33,653 +/- 1183 to 55,398 +/- 2741, which significantly reduced by adding the BK(Ca)-inhibitor iberiotoxin, or the endothelial nitric oxide synthase-blocker, L-NMMA (n = 24, p < 0.05).

CO2 CONCENTRATING MECHANISMS IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC MICROORGANISMS.

Many microorganisms possess inducible mechanisms that concentrate CO2 at the carboxylation site, compensating for the relatively low affinity of Rubisco for its substrate, and allowing acclimation to a wide range of CO2 concentrations. The organization of the carboxysomes in prokaryotes and of the pyrenoids in eukaryotes, and the presence of membrane mechanisms for inorganic carbon (Ci) transport, are central to the concentrating mechanism. The presence of multiple Ci transporting systems in cyanobacteria has been indicated.

Genes encoding A-type flavoproteins are essential for photoreduction of O2 in cyanobacteria.

O(2) photoreduction by photosynthetic electron transfer, the Mehler reaction, was observed in all groups of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, but the electron transport chain mediating this reaction remains unidentified. We provide the first evidence for the involvement of A-type flavoproteins that reduce O(2) directly to water in vitro. Synechocystis sp.

[Differential diagnosis of left-sided thoracic venous catheters: case report of a persistent left superior vena cava].

The differential diagnosis of left-sided thoracic central venous catheters is discussed in context with the cannulation of a persistent left superior vena cava. In this case the catheter tip was seen lying to the left of the spine on frontal chest X-ray. In addition to the descending aorta, differential diagnoses are a persistent left-sided superior vena cava as well as other smaller veins such as the left internal thoracic vein, the left superior intercostal vein, or the pericardiophrenic vein.

Passive entry of CO2 and its energy-dependent intracellular conversion to HCO3- in cyanobacteria are driven by a photosystem I-generated deltamuH+.

CO(2) entry into Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 cells was drastically inhibited by the water channel blocker p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid suggesting that CO(2) uptake is, for the most part, passive via aquaporins with subsequent energy-dependent conversion to HCO3(-). Dependence of CO(2) uptake on photosynthetic electron transport via photosystem I (PSI) was confirmed by experiments with electron transport inhibitors, electron donors and acceptors, and a mutant lacking PSI activity.

[Persistent chylothorax after fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae].

We report on a patient who suffered chylothorax 2 months after she had undergone internal fixation of a fracture of her 12th thoracic vertebral body. The pleural effusion was treated by insertion of a chest tube. The chylothorax was managed conservatively.

Sustained net CO2 evolution during photosynthesis by marine microorganisms.

Background: Many aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms possess an inorganic-carbon-concentrating mechanism that raises the CO2 concentration at the intracellular carboxylation sites, thus compensating for the relatively low affinity of the carboxylating enzyme for its substrate. In cyanobacteria, the concentrating mechanism involves the energy-dependent influx of inorganic carbon, the accumulation of this carbon--largely in the form of HCO3(-)-in the cytoplasm, and the generation of CO2 at carbonic anhydrase sites in close proximity to the carboxylation sites.

Results: During measurements of inorganic carbon fluxes associated with the inorganic-carbon-concentrating mechanism, we observed the surprising fact that several marine photosynthetic microorganisms, including significant contributors to oceanic primary productivity, can serve as a source of CO2 rather than a sink during CO2 fixation.

Quantitative evaluation of the role of a putative CO2-scavenging entity in the cyanobacterial CO2-concentrating mechanism.

This paper assesses the contribution of a postulated CO2-scavenging system to the efficient operation of the CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in cyanobacteria. A quantitative model for the CCM is presented which incorporates an energy-dependent carbonic anhydrase-like entity located at or near the inner surface of the plasma membrane. This entity, which converts CO2 to HCO3- against the thermodynamic potential, scavenges CO2 leaking outward from the carboxysomes, and, further, converts CO2 entering from the medium to HCO3-, thus maintaining an inward diffusion gradient along which CO2 enters passively.

Low Activation State of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase in Carboxysome-Defective Synechococcus Mutants.

The high-CO2-requiring mutant of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942, EK6, was obtained after extension of the C terminus of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). The carboxysomes in EK6 were much larger than in the wild type, but the cellular distribution of the large and small sub-units of Rubisco was not affected.

Physiological and molecular aspects of the inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria.

This paper reviews progress made in elucidating the inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria at the physiological and molecular levels. Emphasis is placed on the mechanism of inorganic carbon transport, physiological and genetical analysis of high-CO(2)-requiring mutants, the polypeptides induced during adaptation to low CO(2), the functional significance of carboxysomes, and the role of carbonic anhydrase. We also make occasional reference to the green algal inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism.

Evidence for a highly specific k/h antiporter in membrane vesicles from oil-seed rape hypocotyls.

We present evidence strongly suggesting that a proton gradient (acid inside) is used to drive an electroneutral, substrate-specific, K(+)/H(+) antiport in both tonoplast and plasma membrane-enriched vesicles obtained from oilseed rape (Brassica napus) hypocotyls. Proton fluxes into and out of the vesicles were monitored both by following the quenching and restoration of quinacrine fluorescence (indicating a transmembrane pH gradient) and of oxonol V fluorescence (indicating membrane potential.) Supply of K(+) (with Cl(-) or SCN(-)) after a pH gradient had been established across the vesicle membrane by provision of ATP to the H(+)-ATPase dissipated the transmembrane pH gradient but did not depolarize the positive membrane potential.

Mitochondria Isolated from NaCl-Adapted Tobacco Cell Lines (Nicotiana tabacum/gossii) Maintain Their Phosphorylative Capacity in Highly Saline Media.

The in vivo functioning of mitochondria isolated from two tobacco cell lines in suspension culture (Nicotiana tabacum/gossii), wild type, and NaCl-adapted (A190), has been compared in the face of rising external salinity. The O(2) uptake of both state 3 and state 4 mitochondria was progressively inhibited with increasing external NaCl concentration in the case of both lines. Phosphorylation, however, was maintained at a higher level in the case of A190 mitochondria, as indicated both by stability of ADP:O ratio and rate of incorporation of (32)Pi.