Regional specialization in pyramidal cell structure in the limbic cortex of the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus pygerythrus): an intracellular injection study of the anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus

The pyramidal cell phenotype varies quite dramatically in structure among different cortical areas in the primate brain. Comparative studies in visual cortex, in particular, but also in sensorimotor and prefrontal cortex, reveal systematic trends for pyramidal cell specialization in functionally related cortical areas. Moreover, there are systematic differences in the extent of these trends between different primate species. Recently we demonstrated differences in pyramidal cell structure in the cingulate cortex of the macaque monkey; however, in the absence of other comparative data it remains unknown as to whether the neuronal phenotype differs in cingulate cortex between species. Here we extend the basis for comparison by studying the structure of the basal dendritic trees of layer III pyramidal cells in the posterior and anterior cingulate gyrus of the vervet monkey (Brodmann's areas 23 and 24, respectively). Cells were injected with Lucifer Yellow in flat-mounted cortical slices, and processed for a light-stable DAB reaction product. Size, branching pattern, and spine density of basal dendritic arbors were determined, and somal areas measured. As in the macaque monkey, we found that pyramidal cells in anterior cingulate gyrus (area 24) were more branched and more spinous than those in posterior cingulate gyrus (area 23). In addition, the extent of the difference in pyramidal cell structure between these two cortical regions was less in the vervet monkey than in the macaque monkey.

Preparation of immuno-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs) by ether injection

preparation of liposomes, as a new, continuous and potentially scaleable method for the preparation of ISCOMs. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (Chol) were dissolved in ether, which was injected into an aqueous solution, maintained at 55 degrees C, containing Quil A. The influences of the following variables on ISCOM formation were investigated: ratio of PC:Quil A:Chol used, pumping rate, total lipid mass and concentration of buffer salts and Quil A in the aqueous phase. All samples were characterized by negative stain transmission electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy and sucrose ultracentrifugation gradient. It was demonstrated that ISCOMs could be produced by this method but the homogeneity of the preparation was influenced by the conditions used. Homogeneous ISCOM preparations were consistently produced only when the weight ratio of PC:Quil A:Chol was 5:3:2 with a total lipid mass of 20 mg, the Quil A dissolved in a 0.01 M phosphate buffer at a concentration of 6 mg in 4 ml, and the ether solution injected into the warmed buffer solution at a rate of 0.2 ml/min. Changing any of these variables resulted in more heterogeneous preparations in which ISCOMs typically co-existed with other colloidal structures such as worm-like and helical micelles, liposomes, lamellae and lipidic particles. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An integrated analysis of five double-blind, randomized controlled trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of a hyaluronan product for intra-articular injection in osteoarthritis of the kneel

Objective: Five double-blind, randomized, saline-controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the United States marketing application for an intra-articular hyaluronan (IA-HA) product for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. We report an integrated analysis of the primary Case Report Form (CRF) data from these trials. Method. Trials were similar in design, patient population and outcome measures - all included the Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LI), a validated composite index of pain and function, evaluating treatment over 3 months. Individual patient data were pooled; a repeated measures analysis of covariance was performed in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Analyses utilized both fixed and random effects models. Safety data from the five RCTs were summarized. Results: A total of 1155 patients with radiologically confirmed knee OA were enrolled: 619 received three or five IA-HA injections; 536 received. placebo saline injections. In the active and control groups, mean ages were 61.8 and 61.4 years; 62.4% and 58.8% were women; baseline total Lequesne scores 11.03 and 11.30, respectively. Integrated analysis of the pooled data set found a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001) in total Lequesne score with hyaluronan (HA) (-2.68) vs placebo (-2.00); estimated difference -0.68 (95% CI: -0.56 to -0.79), effect size 0.20. Additional modeling approaches confirmed robustness of the analyses. Conclusions: This integrated analysis demonstrates that multiple design factors influence the results of RCTs assessing efficacy of intra-articular (IA) therapies, and that integrated analyses based on primary data differ from meta-analyses using transformed data. (C) 2006 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus uptake from green manures and phosphate fertilizers applied in an acid tropical soil

Quantifying the relative contribution of different phosphorus (P) sources to P uptake can lead to greater understanding of the mechanisms that increase available P in integrated P management systems. The P-32-P-33 double isotope labeling technique was used to determine the relative contribution of green manures (GMs) and P fertilizers to P uptake by Setaria grass (Setaria sphacelata) grown in an amended tropical acid soil (Bungor series) in a glasshouse study. The amendments were factorial combinations of GMs (Calopogonium caeruleum , Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica) and P fertilizers [phosphate rocks (PRs) from North Carolina (NCPR), China (CPR) and Algeria (APR), and triple superphosphate (TSP)]. Dry matter yield, P uptake, and P utilization from the amendments were monitored at 4, 8, and 15 weeks after establishment (WAE). The GMs alone or in combination with P fertilizers contributed less than 5% to total P uptake in this soil, but total P uptake into Setaria plants in the GM treatments was three to four times that of the P fertilizers because the GMs mobilized more soil P. Also, the GMs markedly increased fertilizer P utilization in the combined treatments, from 3% to 39% with CPR, from 6-9% to 19-48% with reactive PRs, and from 6% to 37% with TSP in this soil. Both P GM and the other decomposition products were probably involved in reducing soil P-retention capacity. Mobilization of soil P was most likely the result of the action of the other decomposition products. These results demonstrate the high potential of integrating GMs and PRs for managing P in tropical soils and the importance of the soil P mobilization capacity of the organic components. Even the low-quality Imperata GM enhanced the effectiveness of the reactive APR more than fourfold.

Performance of a scramjet combustor with combined normal and tangential fuel injection

The performance of a scramjet combustor with combined normal and tangential injection was experimentally investigated. Experiments were performed on a 500-mm cylindrical scramjet combustor at a freestream Mach number of 4.5, a nozzle supply pressure of 35.8 MPa, and a nozzle supply enthalpy of 5.8 MJ/kg. Hydrogen fuel was injected normally through portholes to promote combustion and tangentially through a slot to reduce viscous drag. A series of fuel injectors were used to vary the proportion of tangential to normal fuel between 45 and 100%. Reductions in the viscous drag of up to 25% were observed with the greatest reductions occurring at the lowest total equivalence ratio tested for each injector. However, the average pressure produced by combustion with combined normal and tangential injection was approximately 50% less than that produced by normal injection alone. An analysis of the change in specific impulse of the scramjet combustor indicated that the best overall performance was produced by 100% normal injection.