Large-scale sequence analysis of avian influenza isolates

The spread of H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from China to Europe has raised global concern about their potential to infect humans and cause a pandemic. In spite of their substantial threat to human health, remarkably little AIV whole-genome information is available. We report here a preliminary analysis of the first large-scale sequencing of AIVs, including 2196 AIV genes and 169 complete genomes. We combine this new information with public AIV data to identify new gene alleles, persistent genotypes, compensatory mutations, and a potential virulence determinant.     

Unconventional sequence of fractional quantum Hall states in suspended graphene

Graphene provides a rich platform to study many-body effects, owing to its massless chiral charge carriers and the fourfold degeneracy arising from their spin and valley degrees of freedom. We use a scanning single-electron transistor to measure the local electronic compressibility of suspended graphene, and we observed an unusual pattern of incompressible fractional quantum Hall states that follows the standard composite fermion sequence between filling factors ν = 0 and 1 but involves only even-numerator fractions between ν = 1 and 2. We further investigated this surprising hierarchy by extracting the corresponding energy gaps as a function of the magnetic field. The sequence and relative strengths of the fractional quantum Hall states provide insight into the interplay between electronic correlations and the inherent symmetries of graphene.     

Influence of environmental temperature on growth, muscle and adipose tissue metabolism, and meat quality in swine.

An experiment involving 32 individually housed, castrated male pigs was conducted to determine the effects of environmental temperature (12 degrees C = T12 or 28 degrees C = T28) on the performance, carcass characteristics, muscle and adipose tissue metabolism, and meat quality of pigs fed to achieve equal rates of weight gain between 8 and 92 kg live weight. The T12 pigs had less muscle (P less than .01) and more subcutaneous fat (P less than .01) in the ham than did T28 animals. Thyroids and adrenals were heavier (P less than .01) in T12 than in T28 pigs. Percentage of type I muscle fibers was higher (P less than .01) and fiber cross-sectional areas smaller (P less than .01) in semispinalis muscle (SS) of T12 pigs, whereas no effect of temperature was noticed in longissimus muscle (LD). Cold exposure induced a larger increase in oxidative metabolism in SS (+30 to 32%, P less than .001) than in LD (+14 to 17%, P less than .10) and an enhanced glycolytic metabolism in LD (P less than .05). Lipid concentration was higher in SS of T12 than in that of T28 pigs. Lipogenic enzyme activities and unsaturation of backfat were higher in T12 than in T28 pigs, whereas no effect of temperature was noticed in leaf fat. Cold treatment resulted in a faster postmortem pH decline (P less than .01), higher glycolytic potential (P less than .01), and lower ultimate pH (P less than .01) in LD. The results indicate that 12 degrees C vs 28 degrees C induced detrimental effects on growth, ham composition, and muscle and adipose tissue quality.     

An apolipoprotein influencing triglycerides in humans and mice revealed by comparative sequencing

Comparison of genomic DNA sequences from human and mouse revealed a new apolipoprotein (APO) gene (APOAV) located proximal to the well-characterized APOAI/CIII/AIV gene cluster on human 11q23. Mice expressing a human APOAV transgene showed a decrease in plasma triglyceride concentrations to one-third of those in control mice; conversely, knockout mice lacking Apoav had four times as much plasma triglycerides as controls. In humans, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the APOAV locus were found to be significantly associated with plasma triglyceride levels in two independent studies. These findings indicate that APOAV is an important determinant of plasma triglyceride levels, a major risk factor for coronary artery disease.     

Correction of CD18-deficient lymphocytes by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is an inherited disorder of leukocyte function caused by derangements in CD18 expression. The genetic and functional abnormalities in a lymphocyte cell line from a patient with LAD have been corrected by retrovirus-mediated transduction of a functional CD18 gene. Lymphocytes from patients with LAD were exposed to CD18-expressing retrovirus and enriched for cells that express CD11a and CD18 (LFA-1) on the cell surface. Molecular and functional analyses of these cells revealed (i) one copy of proviral sequence per cell, (ii) viral-directed CD18 RNA that exceeded normal endogenous levels, (iii) normal quantities of CD11a and CD18 protein on the cell surface, and (iv) reconstitution of LFA-1-dependent adhesive function.     

Treatment of spinal fractures using Lubra plates. A retrospective clinical and radiological evaluation of 15 cases

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the clinical use along with the short- and long-term outcome in patients treated with Lubra plates to stabilize spinal fracture and dislocations that were considered unstable at time of surgery according to the 'three compartment theory'. The data that were collected included breed, age, gender, body weight of the patients, cause of injury, neurological grade (pre- and postoperative), radiographic findings, surgical treatment, and clinical and radiological outcome. Thirteen dogs and two cats were included with thoracic (1 case), thoracolumbar (3 cases), midlumbar (5 cases) and caudal lumbar (6 cases) vertebral fractures. For stabilization, the small-sized (3 cases), medium-sized (6 cases), and large-sized (6 cases) Lubra plates were used. The clinical outcome was excellent in 10/15 patients, functional in 2/15 and poor in 3/15 with a median follow-up period of nine years (range 2 months to 12 years). The fractures eventually stabilized by ventral spondylosis. No implant failure was seen, however demineralization of the spinous processes necessitated implant removal in one case. Our results suggest that Lubra plating is an appropriate technique for thoracolumbar and lumbar vertebral fractures as well as luxations in dogs and cats. The prognosis for neurological recovery was excellent when the animal had a neurological grade of 3 and was not paralyzed.