Thomas Makris, Georgios Stavroulakis, Demetrios Papadopoulos, Ioannis Paizis, Panagiota Krespi, Caterina Tsoukala, Antonios Hatzizacharias, Vasilios Votteas

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 137-141, 2006

Abstract White coat hypertension (WCH) or isolated clinic hypertension is generally accepted to be a benign condition, although some reports have suggested that it may be associated with an increased cardiovascular event rate or other cardiovascular alterations. It has been previously shown that essential hypertension (EH) is associated with abnormalities in haemostatic/fibrinolytic balance and endothelial function. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of WCH on fibrinolytic balance and endothelial function by measuring plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA), fibrinogen, and thrombomodulin. These markers were determined in More >

D. Lewinshtein, M. McCormack, F. Peloquin, M. Poljicak, P. Karakiewicz, F. Saad

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 2988-2989, 2006

Abstract Rectourethral fistula is a rare, but documented complication of rectal cancer. To our knowledge this is the first report of a recto- cavernosal fistula after chemo-radiotherapy for cancer of the rectum. More >

Marcelo A. Orvieto, Kevin C. Zorn, Ofer N. Gofrit, James Anderson, Gregory P. Zagaja, Charles B. Brendler

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 3353-3357, 2006

Abstract Purpose: We describe surgical modifications in radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) which have significantly reduced the incidence of bladder neck contractures (BNC).
Materials and methods: Between March 1994-July 2005, 977 men underwent a RRP by a single surgeon. Group I comprised 548 patients operated upon July 1994-December 1999, without the modifications described below. Group II comprised 429 men operated upon January 2000-December 2004, with the following surgical modifications: 1) reconstruction of the bladder neck (BN) to a diameter of 28 French; 2) placement of the posterior (6 o'clock) vesicourethral suture on mild traction before placing this suture into… More >

R. B. SCIURANO, M.S. MERANI, JIMENA BUSTOS, A.J. SOLARI

BIOCELL, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 57-66, 2006, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2006.30.057

Abstract Spermatocytes from the two armadillo species, C. villosus and D. hybridus were studied in microspreads for synaptonemal complexes (SCs) and in thin sections for electron microscopy (EM). The complete SC karyotype generally agrees with previous reports on mitotic chromosomes, except for the sex chromosomes. The X chromosome is submetacentric in both species and the Y is the shortest one in C. villosus and the second shortest in D. hybridus, and an extremely acrocentric one. A SC is formed along the total length of the Y chromosome, and this SC persists along all the pachytene substages. A single recombination nodule… More >

ZONG-YUN LI^1,2*, MEI-LI FU¹, FANG-FANG HU¹, SHU-FENG HUANG¹, YUN-CHUN SONG²

BIOCELL, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 27-32, 2006, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2006.30.027

Abstract The ribosomal DNA (45S rDNA) behaviors during the cell cycle were analyzed on interphase nuclei, prophases, metaphases, pachytene chromosomes and extended DNA fibers in rice (Oryza,sativa ssp.indica cv.Guangluai No.4) by using high-resolution fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The results show that 45S rDNA is located at the ends of short arms of chromosomes 9 and 10. But the signals are much more intense on chromosome 9 than on chromosome 10 in metaphase. Pachytene chromosome has rDNA signal arrays on chromosome 9. Different phases are described and discussed. These results indicate that the activity of rDNA at individual More >

Reuven Laskov¹, Nir Berger¹, Marshall S. Horwitz^2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.4, pp. 267-276, 2005

Abstract Interaction between the CD40 ligand and its cognate receptor is known to affect various aspects of B-cell biology. Less is known about the biological consequences of B-cell signaling through tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its two receptors. We have used Ramos germinal center (GC)-derived Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) cells as a model system to compare some of the early signaling events of TNF-α and CD40L on the NF-jB and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. We have previously found that both TNF-α and CD40L induced enhanced cell aggregation, adherence and modified cell surface morphology of Ramos… More >

Thomas B. McGregor¹, John G. Pike², Michael P. Leonard²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 2598-2602, 2005

Abstract Introduction: Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the foreskin. Differentiating between physiological phimosis and pathological phimosis is important, as the former is managed conservatively and the latter requires surgical intervention. Referrals of patients with physiological phimosis to urology clinics may create anxiety regarding the need for surgery amongst patients and parents, while unnecessarily expanding the waiting list for specialty assessment.
Objectives: To determine the ability of referring physicians to differentiate physiological from pathological phimosis, and to see whether there is any difference in this ability between generalists versus specialists.
Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review… More >

KARINA SAYURI UTSUNOMIYA*, MARIA SUELY PAGLIARINI*, CACILDA BORGES DO VALLE**

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 295-301, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.295

Abstract The genus Brachiaria (Trin.) Griseb. has achieved considerable importance to cattle production systems, as a result of the good production and adaptation of a few cultivars to poor and acid soils of the Brazilian savannas. Many of its species and accessions are polyploid and apomictic, which limits direct hybridization. To assist the breeding program, cytogenetic characterization has been undertaken on the accessions of Brachiaria collection at the Embrapa Beef Cattle Research Center. In this study, chromosome number and meiotic behavior are reported for the Brachiaria nigropedata (Ficalho & Hiern) Stapf collection. The 20 available accessions are tetraploid… More >

CHEN FENG*, CHEN XIANG-MING**, CHEN ZHI*, JIANG HAN-LIANG*, PAN XIAO-PING*, HU ZHONG-RONG*, LIU RONG-HUA*, CHEN XIAO-MING*

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 253-259, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.253

Abstract We want to construct a yeast expression system for thymosin α1 (Tα1) to make the orally administered Tα1 preparation possible. The whole Tα1 DNA fragment was obtained by PCR. After being digested with restriction enzymes, it was cloned into pYES2 vector. Sequencing was performed to identify the recombinant. The sequence of Tα1 in recombinant coincided with the original one reported in Genbank. When pYES2-Tα1 plasmid was transformed into yeast, galactose instead of glucose was used to induce Tα1 expression. Western blot was performed to identify the quality of the expressed Tα1. Dried yeast containing pYEST2-Tα1… More >

JOEL ARNEODO*, SOLEDAD DE BREUIL*, SERGIO LENARDON**, LUIS CONCI**

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 205-207, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.205

Abstract Plants of Viola cornuta displaying typical virus symptoms were observed during spring 2003 in a plant nursery in Córdoba, central Argentina. Electron microscopic examinations of symptomatic leaf samples revealed the presence of isometric virus-like particles about 30 nm in diameter. Subsequent serological analysis allowed the identification of the pathogen as a subgroup I strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). These results were confirmed by antigen capture - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction with specific CMV primers, and digestion with a restriction enzyme. This is the first report of CMV infecting V. cornuta in Argentina. More >