0000000000501405
AUTHOR
Stephen J. Russell
Assessing the use of the mitochondrial cox1 marker for use in DNA barcoding of red algae (Rhodophyta)
The red algae, a remarkably diverse group of organisms, are difficult to identify using morphology alone. Following the proposal to use the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) for DNA barcoding animals, we assessed the use of this, ne in the identification of red algae using 48 samples plus 31 sequences obtained from GenBank. The data set spanned six gene orders of red algae: the Bangiales, Ceramiales, Corallinales, Gigartinales, Gracilariales and Rhodymeniales. The results indicated that species could be discriminated. Intraspecific variation was between 0 and 4 bp over 539 bp analyzed except in Mastocarpus stellatus (0-14 bp) and Gracilaria gracilis (0-11 bp). Cryptic dive…
Asymptomatic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) at the time of diagnostic bone marrow biopsy in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma and smoldering myeloma. A series of 144 cases and a review of the literature
The rate of asymptomatic amyloidosis (AL) among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is unknown. We evaluated number and clinical significance of asymptomatic AL in consecutive MM and SMM patients, not having recognition of symptomatic AL at the time of their diagnostic bone marrow biopsy. Bone marrow biopsies were stained with Congo red and considered diagnostic for AL in case of positive Congo red staining with apple-green birefringence. Biopsies from 144 patients were evaluated: 77 had a diagnosis of MM and 67 of SMM. The median age was 59 (range 26–84) years; the median follow-up was 76 months (range 0–216). Immunoglobulin isotypes wer…
The monophyly and evolution of Cynara L. (Asteraceae) sensu lato: evidence from the Internal Transcribed Spacer region of nrDNA
The monophyly and evolution of Cynara was investigated using ITS sequence data. Parsimony analysis supports the monophyly of Cynara sensu lato, i.e. including the distinctive taxa C. humilis and C. tournefortii. This contradicts the recent decision to create a new monotypic genus Arcyna for C. tournefortii. A hypothesised close relationship between C. tournefortii and Silybum Adans. is also refuted. Four of the five species of Cynara, for which multiple accessions were sequenced, were shown to be monophyletic but C. baetica was found to be non-monophyletic. Free energy estimates for ITS1 secondary structure and conservation of the 5.8S region suggest that this is not due to the occurrence o…
Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) for Pan-genomic Evolutionary Studies of Non-model Organisms
BackgroundHigh-throughput tools for pan-genomic study, especially the DNA microarray platform, have sparked a remarkable increase in data production and enabled a shift in the scale at which biological investigation is possible. The use of microarrays to examine evolutionary relationships and processes, however, is predominantly restricted to model or near-model organisms.Methodology/principal findingsThis study explores the utility of Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) in evolutionary studies of non-model organisms. DArT is a hybridization-based genotyping method that uses microarray technology to identify and type DNA polymorphism. Theoretically applicable to any organism (even one for wh…
Asymptomatic Amyloidosis at the Time of Diagnostic Bone Marrow Biopsy in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma.
Abstract Abstract 2803 Poster Board II-779 Background. The rate of asymptomatic amyloidosis (asym-amyloidosis) detected in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is unknown. This topic is significant because unrecognized AL may be associated with increased mortality may change the patient's management. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the number and clinical significance of asym-amyloidosis in MM and SM patients at the time of the diagnostic bone marrow (BM) biopsy for MM. Materials and Methods. The study population was selected from the Mayo Clinic Dysproteinemia database and consisted of consecutive patients with …
Long-term cardiac pro-B-type natriuretic peptide gene delivery prevents the development of hypertensive heart disease in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Background— Diastolic dysfunction associated with high blood pressure (BP) leads to cardiac remodeling and fibrosis and progression to congestive heart failure. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has BP-lowering, antifibrotic, and antihypertrophic properties, which makes BNP an attractive agent for attenuating the adverse cardiac remodeling associated with hypertension. In the current study, we tested the effects of sustained cardiac proBNP gene delivery on BP, cardiac function, and remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods and Results— We used the myocardium-tropic adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vector to achieve continuously enhanced cardiac rat proBNP expressi…