Feeding causes thermophily in the woodhouse's toad (Bufo woodhousii)

(1) We placed 12 toads (Bufo woodhousii) in linear thermal gradients with floor temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 degrees C and monitored body temperatures (T(b)'s) with chromega-alomega thermocouples interfaced with a datalogger. (2) We measured T(b)'s at 10min intervals over a 24h period in toads that had eaten an equivalent of 5% of their body mass or had fasted for 5 days. (3) The mean 24h T(b) did not differ significantly between the fed and fasted groups. (4) Hourly mean T(b)'s of fed toads differed significantly over the 24h, but those of fasted toads did not. Fed toads selected highest T(b)'s during late afternoon and evening.

Gray scale sonography of breast masses in adolescent girls

OBJECTIVE

To assess the sonographic findings of breast masses in adolescents and the usefulness of sonographic patterns for suggesting a specific diagnosis.

METHODS

The sonograms and medical records of 57 girls (mean age, 15.4 years) with palpable breast masses were retrospectively reviewed. Three observers reviewed the sonograms for multiple sonographic findings. Surgery or clinical findings established diagnoses. Statistical analysis was done to determine how well sonographic findings alone and in combination agreed with final histologic diagnoses.

RESULTS

Diagnoses included cysts (n = 12), abscesses (n = 7), fibroadenomas (n = 36), a lactating adenoma (n = 1), and a phyllodes tumor (n = 1). The sonographic findings varied significantly among lesion types (P < or = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience suggests that virtually all breast masses in a pediatric population are benign and that sonography has the ability to differentiate among cystic, inflammatory, and solid masses.

Inhibition of calcium/calmodulin kinase II alpha subunit expression results in epileptiform activity in cultured hippocampal neurons

Several models that develop epileptiform discharges and epilepsy have been associated with a decrease in the activity of calmodulin-dependent kinase II. However, none of these studies has demonstrated a causal relationship between a decrease in calcium/calmodulin kinase II activity and the development of seizure activity. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of directly reducing calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase activity on the development of epileptiform discharges in hippocampal neurons in culture. Complimentary oligonucleotides specific for the alpha subunit of the calcium/calmodulin kinase were used to decrease the expression of the enzyme. Reduction in kinase expression was confirmed by Western analysis, immunocytochemistry, and exogenous substrate phosphorylation. Increased neuronal excitability and frank epileptiform discharges were observed after a significant reduction in calmodulin kinase II expression. The epileptiform activity was a synchronous event and was not caused by random neuronal firing. Furthermore, the magnitude of decreased kinase expression correlated with the increased neuronal excitability. The data suggest that decreased calmodulin kinase II activity may play a role in epileptogenesis and the long-term plasticity changes associated with the development of pathological seizure activity and epilepsy.