Thoracic aortic aneurysm is an independent factor associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

Aims

Although we often encounter patients with an aortic aneurysm who also have diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), there are no reports to date of an association between these two conditions and the pathogenesis of DISH remains unknown. This study therefore evaluated the prevalence of DISH in patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm (AA).

Patients and Methods

The medical records of 298 patients who underwent CT scans for a diagnosis of an AA or following high-energy trauma were retrospectively examined. A total of 204 patients underwent surgery for an AA and 94 had a high-energy injury and formed the non-AA group. The prevalence of DISH was assessed on CT scans of the chest and abdomen and the relationship between DISH and AA by comparison between the AA and non-AA groups.

Results

The prevalence of DISH in the AA group (114/204; 55.9%) was higher than that in the non-AA group (31/94; 33.0%). On multivariate analysis, the factors of AA, male gender, and ageing were independent predictors of the existence of DISH, with odds ratios of 2.9, 1.9, and 1.03, respectively.

Conclusion

This study revealed that the prevalence of DISH is higher in patients with an AA than in those without an AA, and that the presence of an AA significantly influenced the prevalence of DISH. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:617-21.

Increase in Diffusible Auxin after Treatment with Gibberellin

When dwarf pea plants, normal pea plants, and sunflower plants were treated with gibberellin, they yielded 3, 2, and 10 times more auxin, respectively, than untreated plants.

Aluminum-Induced Rapid Root Inhibition and Changes in Cell-Wall Components of Squash Seedlings

Growth of squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) roots was significantly inhibited by 1 mM AlCl3 as early as 1 h after the treatment. The growth inhibition was confined to the elongating zone (1-6 mm from the root tip). Chemical analysis of cell-wall polysaccharides from roots revealed that aluminum increased pectin, hemi-cellulose, and cellulose contents after 3 h of treatment. The effect of aluminum on pectin content was found in the elongating zone including the root tip, whereas change in cellulose content was confined to only nonelongating zones. Hemicellulose content increased in all of the regions along the root axis. The increase in the pectin fraction was due to the increases in uronic acids, galactose, and arabinose constituents, whereas hemicellulose content changed due to increases in glucose, xylose, galactose, and arabinose. The results clearly indicate that aluminum rapidly reduced squash root growth by inhibiting cell elongation and altering metabolism of cell-wall polysaccharides in the nonelongating zone as well as in the elongating zone.

Culm Brittleness of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Mutants Is Caused by Smaller Number of Cellulose Molecules in Cell Wall

The physicochemical nature of the cell wall was determined in the fourth internode of three isogenic brittle mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corresponding nonbrittle strains. Cellulose contents of the brittle culms were 17.5 to 20.3% of those of corresponding nonbrittle strains. No major difference was found in lignin and noncellulose components (except glucose) between brittle and nonbrittle strains. Maximum bending stresses of brittle culms were 38.0 to 54.2% of those of corresponding nonbrittle strains. The degree of polymerization of cellulose, measured by viscometry, was similar between the brittle and the nonbrittle strains. Mole number of cellulose molecules in a unit length of brittle culms, calculated by dividing cellulose mass by molecular weight, was 7.7 to 17.3% of those of the nonbrittle strains. These results indicate that brittleness of mutant culms is due to fewer numbers of cellulose molecules in the cell walls.

Novel Technique for Measuring Tissue Firmness within Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruit

Developmental changes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit tissues during maturation were analyzed by a physically defined method (stress-relaxation analysis). The tip of a conical probe connected to a load sensor was positioned on the cut surface of a sliced tomato fruit, and the decay of the imposed stress was monitored. Stress-relaxation data thus obtained were used for the calculation of three stress-relaxation parameters. Different zones within tomato fruit harvested at six different ripening stages were analyzed. One of the stress-relaxation parameters, minimum stress-relaxation time (T(0)), decreased as the fruits matured. The decrease in T(0) was first found in the core of the carpel junction within the endopericarp at the blossom end during the breaker stage. The decrease in T(0) progressed from the blossom end, through the equatorial region and finally throughout the shoulder, as the fruit matured. In mature green fruit, T(0) values within the placenta and the proximal carpel junction were lower than those by other parts of the fruit. For all measurements the maximum stress-relaxation time was not substantially changed during maturation, nor were their changes observed in different regions of the fruit. The observed relaxation rate was therefore correlated with softening. The results indicate that fruit softening may be physically associated with the stress-relaxation parameter, T(0), and the extent of softening is a function of position within the fruit. Decreases in T(0) value appear to be correlated with the reported regional variation in the appearance of polygalacturonase.

Differential Effect of Auxin on Molecular Weight Distributions of Xyloglucans in Cell Walls of Outer and Inner Tissues from Segments of Dark Grown Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) Hypocotyls

Effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on the mechanical properties of cell walls and structures of cell wall polysaccharides in outer and inner tissues of segments of dark grown squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) hypocotyls were investigated. IAA induced the elongation of unpeeled, intact segments, but had no effect on the elongation of peeled segments. IAA induced the cell wall loosening in outer tissues as studied by the stress-relaxation analysis but not in inner tissues. IAA-induced changes in the net sugar content of cell wall fractions in outer and inner tissues were very small. Extracted hemicellulosic xyloglucans derived from outer tissues had a molecular weight about two times as large as in inner tissues, and the molecular weight of xyloglucans in both outer and inner tissues decreased during incubation. IAA substantially accelerated the depolymerization of xyloglucans in outer tissues, while it prevented that in inner tissues. These results suggest that IAA-induced growth in intact segments is due to the cell wall loosening in outer tissues, and that IAA-accelerated depolymerization of hemicellulosic xyloglucans in outer tissues is involved in the cell wall loosening processes.

Sugar Composition and Molecular Weight Distribution of Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Outer and Inner Tissues from Segments of Dark Grown Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) Hypocotyls

The elongation growth of stem segments is determined by the outer cell layers (epidermis and collenchyma). We measured the sugar composition and molecular weight distribution of pectin and hemicellulose fractions obtained from inner and outer tissues of squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) hypocotyls. In addition, we studied the changes in these parameters after a 9 hour period of incubation of the segments. The results show that outer tissues have higher molecular weight pectin and hemicellulose compared to inner tissues (2-3 times higher). Incubation results in a 13 to 25% decrease in the amount of pectin and hemicellulose in inner tissues and an increase of 11 to 32% in the outer tissues. This increase in the outer tissues is accompanied by a decrease in the molecular weight of some of the components. These results clearly show that cell wall metabolism during elongation growth differs markedly in inner and outer tissues, and that future studies on the effect of auxin need to take these differences into account.

[A case of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with prominent splenomegaly and high serum titer of cold agglutinin]

The case of 37-year-old male with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with prominent splenomegaly is presented. The spleen that was removed for analysis had a weight of 2690 grams and a section inspection revealed multiple, whitish, small nodules that were disseminated throughout the entire spleen. It was microscopically demonstrated to be a B-Cell lymphoma of diffuse, medium-sized cells and an IgM.kappa Type. This case also was complicated by a high serum titer of cold agglutinin that was decreased by chemotherapy.

Culm strength of barley : correlation among maximum bending stress, cell wall dimensions, and cellulose content

Grass culms are known to differ in breaking strength, but there is little physicochemical data to explain the response. The fourth internode of four brittle and two nonbrittle barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) strains were used for physical and chemical studies of culm strength. Inner and outer culm diameters of brittle strains (3.6 +/- 0.2 and 5.0 +/- 0.1 millimeters) were not significantly different from those of nonbrittle strains (3.9 +/- 0.2 and 5.2 +/- 0.2 millimeters). Maximum bending stress, at which the culm was broken, was 192 +/- 34 g/mm(2) for brittle and 490 +/- 38 g/mm(2) for nonbrittle strains. Wall thickness and cell dimensions of epidermal, sclerenchyma, and parenchyma cells were measured in culm cross sections. The area of cell wall per unit cell area for each tissue was significantly correlated with the maximum bending stress (r = 0.93 for epidermis, 0.90 for sclerenchyma, and 0.84 for parenchyma). Cell walls of brittle culms had 6 to 64% as much cellulose content as those of nonbrittle culms. Maximum bending stress correlated significantly with cellulose content of the cell walls (r = 0.93), but not with the contents of noncellulosic compounds. The lower cellulose content of the brittle culm was significantly correlated with brittleness.

Importance of RNA synthesis whthin the lag phase preceding benzyladenine-induced growth of cucumber cotyledons in the dark

Changes in the rate of synthesis of cellular constituents were studied in detached cucumber cotyledons (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Ohio) after treatment with benzyladenine (BA). BA treatment stimulated RNA and DNA syntheses. The stimulation of RNA synthesis occurred within the lag phase preceding BA-induced growth, while that of DNA synthesis came during the growth. On the other hand, the stimulation by BA was not detected for protein and lipid syntheses. 5-Fluorouracil (FU, 10(-3) m) plus thymidine (T, 10(-4) m) did not inhibit the fresh weight increase in both water- and BA-treated cotyledons, while α-amanitin (AM, 10 µg/ml) inhibited it in both. AM added during the first 4 hr effectively inhibited the growth stimulation by BA, but AM added 6 hr or more after BA had almost no effect. FU+T strongly inhibited the incorporation of (3)H-uridine into cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and brought about labelling in regions other than those of the regular rRNA species on gel electrophoresis. On the other hand, AM had less influence on the synthesis of cytoplasmic rRNA than FU+T. These results indicate that BA stimulates cotyledon growth in the dark through its effect on messenger RNA synthesis within the lag phase of growth and the synthesis of cytoplasmic rRNA is not always necessary for cotyledon growth.

An improvement of auxin extraction procedure and its application to cultured plant cells

The senescent cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cells, XD6S, when extracted with customary procedure, contained much auxin. The use of new extraction procedure using dichloromethane which does not extract much indolepyruvic acid revealed that the cultured tobacco cells do not contain measurable auxin at any stage of culture.

Oxidized and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate levels of plants hardened and unhardened against chilling injury

Pea plants (Pisum sativum L. var. Alaska) subjected to low temperature (5 degrees ) in the light acquired resistance against chilling injury.Unhardened plants maintained high NADP and low NADPH levels during illumination at 25 degrees but hardened plants had low NADP and high NADPH levels in the light. When the unhardened plants were transferred to the dark room at 25 degrees , their NADPH levels decreased immediately. On the other hand, hardened plants maintained a high NADPH level for a few hours even in the dark.