The mechanisms for the development of bronchiectasis and airway hyperreactivity have not been fully elucidated. Although genetic, acquired diseases and environmental influences may play a role, it is ...also possible that motile cilia can influence this disease process. We hypothesized that deletion of a key intraflagellar transport molecule, IFT88, in mature mice causes loss of cilia, resulting in airway remodeling. Airway cilia were deleted by knockout of IFT88, and airway remodeling and pulmonary function were evaluated. In IFT88(-) mice there was a substantial loss of airway cilia on respiratory epithelium. Three months after the deletion of cilia, there was clear evidence for bronchial remodeling that was not associated with inflammation or apparent defects in mucus clearance. There was evidence for airway epithelial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia. IFT88(-) mice exhibited increased airway reactivity to a methacholine challenge and decreased ciliary beat frequency in the few remaining cells that possessed cilia. With deletion of respiratory cilia there was a marked increase in the number of club cells as seen by scanning electron microscopy. We suggest that airway remodeling may be exacerbated by the presence of club cells, since these cells are involved in airway repair. Club cells may be prevented from differentiating into respiratory epithelial cells because of a lack of IFT88 protein that is necessary to form a single nonmotile cilium. This monocilium is a prerequisite for these progenitor cells to transition into respiratory epithelial cells. In conclusion, motile cilia may play an important role in controlling airway structure and function.
Background
Accurate erythrocyte measurements with ADVIA hematology analyzers require isovolumetric cell sphering in one reaction and hemolysis in another. However, camelid erythrocytes are resistant ...to sphering and osmotic lysis, and no published evaluation of ADVIA methods for camelids exists.
Objectives
The objectives were to demonstrate whether camelid erythrocytes sphere in the ADVIA red blood cell/platelet (RBC/PLT) reagent and lyse in the ADVIA cyanide HGB reagent, and to determine optimal ADVIA settings for camelids.
Methods
Camelid and canine blood were diluted to 1:625 in RBC/PLT reagent and evaluated microscopically for erythrocyte sphering. A camelid sample was incubated with the hemoglobin (HGB) reagent at varying dilutions to evaluate hemolysis. The RBC, hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) using three ADVIA species settings (equine, bovine, and caprine) were compared to their respective reference methods: Z2 Coulter impedance counter, packed cell volume, calculated MCV (PCV × 10/Coulter RBC), and calculated MCHC (HGB × 100/PCV). Reference MCV was also compared to MCV calculated using the ADVIA equine RBC count. Comparisons were assessed using Passing‐Bablok regression and Bland‐Altman difference plots.
Results
Camelid erythrocytes did not sphere in the RBC/PLT reagent, but did lyse in the HGB reagent. The ADVIA equine setting RBC count was acceptably close to the Coulter count. Hematocrit, MCV, and MCHC from all settings were significantly different from the reference methods. Mean cell volumes calculated using the equine setting RBC counts were acceptably close to the reference MCV.
Conclusions
Camelid ADVIA erythrogram results should be reported as follows: RBC counts and HGB concentrations using the equine setting, spun PCVs, MCVs calculated using the PCV and equine setting RBC, and MCHCs calculated using the PCV and equine setting HGB.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The purpose of this study was to determine how proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental characteristics interact to influence obesity in early and middle adolescents.
This was a ...descriptive, cross-sectional study using the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NCSH). Participants were 39,542 children ages 11 to 17 years. Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between adolescent obesity and environmental factors, the relative strength of these factors, and the influence of age and gender.
Proximal environmental factors were stronger correlates of adolescent obesity than distal environmental factors. Sedentary behavior related to TV watching time at home was the strongest correlate of adolescent obesity overall (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.15). Parks and playgrounds (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.08-0.92), as well as recreation centers (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97) were significant distal environmental factor correlates. Girls and middle adolescents were at less risk for obesity than boys and early adolescents (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.68-0.82; OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.96).
The results of this study reveal the importance of proximal environmental characteristics on adolescent obesity relative to distal environmental characteristics. Obesity intervention strategies for adolescents should target sedentary behavior and opportunities for physical activity with a focus on early adolescents and boys.
Objective— To evaluate the effect of perioperative and operative variables on survival time in dogs with aortic body tumors.
Study Design— Retrospective study.
Sample Population— Twenty‐four ...client‐owned dogs with histologically confirmed aortic body tumor.
Methods— Seventy‐eight patient records of dogs seen at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1989 and 1999 with a diagnosis of a heart‐base mass were reviewed. Dogs without histologic conformation of an aortic body tumor were excluded. Age; sex; breed; the presence of pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or abdominal effusion; evidence of cardiac arrhythmias; evidence of distant metastasis; treatment with pericardectomy; treatment with chemotherapy; and time from diagnosis until euthanasia or death were recorded on a spreadsheet. Cox proportional‐hazard ratios were used to calculate the relationship of risk variables to survival time. Median survival time was determined using life‐table analysis.
Results— Twenty‐four dogs met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The median age of dogs with aortic body tumors was 9 years. All dogs had a surgical biopsy performed. Fourteen dogs had a pericardectomy at the time of the biopsy procedure. Of all factors analyzed, only treatment with pericardectomy had a significant influence on survival (P= .0029). Dogs that had pericardectomy survived longer (median survival, 730 days; range, 1–1,621 days) compared with dogs that did not have pericardectomy (median survival, 42 days; range, 1–180 days). This finding was independent of the presence or absence of pericardial effusion at the time of surgery.
Clinical Relevance— Dogs that are diagnosed with aortic body tumors may benefit from a pericardectomy at the time of surgical biopsy.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Fanning the Sacred Flame: Mesoamerican Studies in Honor of H. B. Nicholson contains twenty-two original papers in tribute to H. B. "Nick" Nicholson, a pioneer of Mesoamerican research. His ...intellectual legacy is recognized by Mesoamerican archaeologists, art historians, ethnohistorians, and ethnographers--students, colleagues, and friends who derived inspiration and encouragement from him throughout their own careers. Each chapter, which presents original research inspired by Nicholson, pays tribute to the teacher, writer, lecturer, friend, and mentor who became a legend within his own lifetime. Covering all of Mesoamerica across all time periods, contributors include Patricia R. Anawalt, Alfredo Lopez Austin, Anthony Aveni, Robert M. Carmack, David C. Grove, Richard D. Hansen, Leonardo Lopez Lujan, Kevin Terraciano, and more. Eloise Quinones Keber provides a thorough biographical sketch, detailing Nicholson's academic and professional journey.
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