RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to identify thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in saliva and to investigate the correlation between TAFI levels in saliva and plasma. Subjects included were healthy adults without diseases or medication that could affect coagulation. Samples of stimulated saliva and blood samples were obtained from 33 subjects. Levels of TAFI in saliva and plasma were analysed. The association between levels of TAFI in saliva and plasma was calculated using linear regression. Low levels of TAFIa/TAFIai were found in most saliva samples but only one sample had levels that were above the lower limit of detection of the assay used. TAFI (proenzyme) was not found in saliva, so no correlations could be calculated. In this study there was no indication that there is TAFI present in secreted saliva. Either TAFIa/TAFIai in saliva were much lower than in plasma and under the detection limit of the assay used, or there was no TAFIa/TAFIai in the saliva tested.
Asunto(s)
Carboxipeptidasa B2 , Adulto , Coagulación Sanguínea , Fibrinólisis , Humanos , Saliva , TrombinaRESUMEN
In viviparous species, a conflict over maternal resource allocation may arise between mothers and embryos, between siblings, and between maternal and paternal genes within an embryo due to relatedness asymmetries. We performed two experiments to study the effects of polyandry and brood relatedness on offspring growth in a placental fish (Heterandria formosa). Polyandry was beneficial as it increased the probability of pregnancy, possibly to avoid genetic incompatibility. However, females mated to four males produced offspring that had a longer maturation time than those of monandrous females. When within-brood relatedness was manipulated, the size of the newborn offspring decreased with time in low-relatedness treatment, whereas in highly related broods, offspring size was constant. Low within-brood relatedness may lead to less cooperative offspring in terms of resource extraction from the mother, which may lead to impaired development during gestation. Offspring conflict may thus reduce the benefits of polyandry in viviparous species.
Asunto(s)
Ciprinodontiformes/fisiología , Placentación , Conducta Sexual Animal/fisiología , Viviparidad de Animales no Mamíferos , Alelos , Animales , Tamaño Corporal , Cruzamientos Genéticos , Ciprinodontiformes/genética , Femenino , Genotipo , Masculino , EmbarazoRESUMEN
Postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) may increase breast cancer risk and influence tumor characteristics. We investigated 321 postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years, with breast cancer, diagnosed and treated at Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, during 1993-1997. In women using HT (n =90) estrogen receptor concentration (ER) at diagnosis were lower than in non-users (n =135) (1.17 vs 1.70 fmol/microg; p <0.05). HT users also had a tendency to less multifocal (5 vs 12%) (p <0.05) and metastatic disease (5% vs 2%) however this was not statistically significant. The estrogen receptor expression is always considered in the judgement on hormone dependency and the clinical decision on adjuvant endocrine therapy. A suppression of ER during HT could tentatively influence the treatment decisions in breast cancer patients and maybe disregard patients from endocrine treatment.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Terapia de Reemplazo de Estrógeno/efectos adversos , Receptores de Estrógenos/antagonistas & inhibidores , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Regulación hacia Abajo , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Posmenopausia , Receptores de Estrógenos/análisisRESUMEN
Arthrobotrys oligospora captures and digests nematodes by means of adhesive networks. These traps are formed in the presence of nematodes but can also be induced by low nutrient media containing amino acids. Influence of phosphate on growth and development of A. oligospora was studied in a liquid culture system known to allow heavy trap formation. Substrate-induced but not nematode-induced trap, formation was inhibited by phosphate at concentrations above 30 mu M. High numbers of chlamydospores were formed in aging cultures irrespective of phosphate concentration.
Asunto(s)
Hongos Mitospóricos/fisiología , Nematodos , Fosfatos/farmacología , Animales , Medios de CultivoRESUMEN
Hyphal fusion during initial stages of trap formation by Arthrobotrys oligospora was studied by video-enhanced contrast and electron microscopy. Trap initials grew perpendicularly to the parent hypha, then curved around and anastomosed with a peg that developed on the hypha. Trap initials usually developed 40-140 microns apart while the anastomosis occurred 20-25 microns from the initial. Vigorous cytoplasmic movements in trap initials and developed traps corresponded to intense staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) of these cells. In addition, bundles of microfilaments were seen in developing loops of traps. On fusion organelle migration took place from the tip cell of the trap into the peg. Later on a septum was formed at the site of fusion.