Eat the fruit earlier: Sakis (Pithecia chrysocephala) show enhanced temporal fruit resource access compared with squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) in an urban forest fragment in Brazil

Fruit availability experienced by different primate species is likely to vary due to species-specific fruit use, even within the same habitat and timeframe. Pitheciines, primates of the subfamily Pitheciinae, particularly favor the seeds of unripe fruits. Researchers consider this dietary characteristic an adaptation to increase access to fruit resources. However, the relative advantages of pitheciines over sympatric non-pitheciine non-seed-eating primates regarding species-specific fruit availability is not well studied. In a 26-ha forest within the city of Manaus, Amazonian Brazil, we assessed the wild-food feeding behavior of free-ranging groups of golden-faced sakis (Pithecia chrysocephala) and sympatric common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). We hypothesized that sakis would have greater and more consistent access to wild fruit due to (1) a wider variety of fruit species in their diet, and (2) longer consumption periods per fruit species. We recorded the plant species, part (pulp or seed), and developmental stage (ripe or unripe) of wild fruit consumed by both species. We also conducted monthly fruit censuses of 1000 trees and vines to estimate overall wild fruit abundance. As an indicator of fruit availability, we calculated the proportion of available fruiting trees and vines for each primate species separately based on their observed diet. Throughout the year, the proportion of available trees and vines was significantly higher and more temporally stable for sakis than for squirrel monkeys. This was because sakis used shared fruit species longer than squirrel monkeys by consuming both ripe and unripe fruit. Although sakis had a broader fruit repertoire than squirrel monkeys, it did not contribute to the higher fruit availability. Thus, the fruit feeding system of sakis identifies aspects of a niche that is less restricted in the timing of fruit consumption, which led to a relative advantage in fruit availability.

Seasonal variation of energy expenditure in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Animals living in seasonal environments must adapt to a wide variation of temperature changes which requires flexible adjustments of time budget and metabolic processes for efficient thermoregulation. The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) is one of only a handful of nonhuman primate species that experience seasonal climates over a wide temperature range. We used behavior observations, accelerometer sensors and the doubly-labelled water (DLW) method to measure activity and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) of M. fuscata housed in captivity but exposed to natural seasonal variations at day lengths ranging from 10 to 12 h and temperature ranging from 0° to 32°C. Although overall activity was significantly lower in winter compared to summer and autumn, we found no effect of temperature on day-time activity. However nocturnal inactivity and mean length of sleeping bouts significantly increased along a gradient of decreasing temperatures from summer through winter, suggesting the importance of adaptive behavioral thermoregulation in this species. Energy expenditure that was unaccounted for by Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and physical activity i.e. expended through diet-induced thermogenesis or thermoregulation was between 14% and 32%. This residual energy expenditure differed between summer/autumn and winter and was relatively consistent across individuals (approximately 5-8% higher in winter). The percentage of body fat and residual energy expenditure were negatively correlated, supporting that fat storage was higher when less energy was required for thermoregulation. Our results suggest that physiological mechanisms like behavioral and autonomic thermoregulation enable M. fuscata to adapt to wide fluctuations in environmental conditions which provide insights into the evolutionary adaptations of nonhuman primates in seasonal climate.

Estimating activity of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) using accelerometers

Accelerometers have been used to study both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife, mainly for mammal and bird species. In terrestrial mammals, there is a bias toward ungulates and carnivores, with fewer studies on nonhuman primates. In this study, we tested the use of accelerometers for studying the activity of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). We modeled the activity of a male and a female subject by matching continuous focal observations from video recordings to sensor parameters derived from collar-mounted accelerometers. Models achieved classification performance (AUC) of greater than 90% for both subjects, with similar results when subjects were cross-validated. Accelerometer-based estimates of activity had comparable accuracies to estimates from instantaneous sampling at 1 min and 5 min intervals. We further demonstrated the use of model estimates for analyzing circadian rhythm and night time activity of M. fuscata. Our results add support to the feasibility of using accelerometers for studying activity of nonhuman primates. We discussed the limitations, benefits and potential applications of remote-sensing technology like accelerometers for advancing primalotogical studies.

Identification of nucleolin as a binding protein for midkine (MK) and heparin-binding growth associated molecule (HB-GAM)

Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor with a molecular weight of 13 kDa, and is structurally unrelated to fibroblast growth factors (FGF). We studied MK-binding proteins in order to clarify the action mechanism of MK. A 100-kDa protein was identified in PYS-2, 3T3, and L cells as an MK-binding protein by a ligand blot experiment. This MK-binding protein was purified by affinity chromatography on an MK-agarose column followed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sequence determination of N-terminal 23 amino acid residues revealed that the MK-binding protein was nucleolin, a major nucleolar protein, which functions as a shuttle protein between the nucleus and cytoplasm and is located also on the cell surface. Heparin-binding growth associated molecule (HB-GAM), which has 50% sequence identity with MK, fused to maltose-binding protein also bound to nucleolin. On the other hand, basic FGF (bFGF) scarcely bound to nucleolin in the absence of heparin, while both MK and bFGF bound weakly to nucleolin in the presence of heparin. Nuclear localization of MK was shown in hemangioma cells by immunohistochemical staining. These findings supported the hypothesis that parts of the MK and HB-GAM are translocated to the nucleus after binding with nucleolin.

Mapping and characterization of a retinoic acid-responsive enhancer of midkine, a novel heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor with neurotrophic activity

MK is a gene that is activated by retinoic acid in embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells and is expressed temporarily during the mid-gestation period of mouse embryogenesis. Midkine, the product of the gene is a novel heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor with neurite outgrowth and neurotrophic activities. The regulatory DNA element in the retinoic acid-induced expression of the MK gene has been investigated. The 1.9 kb 5'-flanking region of the MK gene can mediate retinoic acid-responsive gene expression in F9 and HM-1 EC cells. Analysis of this region by deletion mutagenesis in F9 EC cells shows that there is a retinoic acid-responsive enhancer (designated as REM1) around 900 bp upstream from the transcription start site. This enhancer is composed of two sequence elements, which are located between -1006 and -895 and between -901 and -794. The core element of the upstream region (-971 to -955), whose deletion abolished the retinoic acid responsiveness, contained a sequence highly homologous to a binding site for retinoic acid receptors. Binding of a retinoic acid receptor heterodimer to this core element was verified by gel shift assay. Thus, retinoic acid and the receptor complex can directly induce the expression of a growth/differentiation factor gene.

Effects of 4-week treatment with gastric carcinogens and enhancing agents on proliferation of gastric mucosa cells in rats

Catechol and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) are gastric carcinogens in rats. Catechol, sodium chloride and bile salts have enhancing effects on gastric carcinogenesis induced by MNNG in rats. The effects of these compounds on proliferation of pyloric mucosa cells in male F344 rats were examined immunohistochemically using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody. Rats were given MNNG (83 micrograms/ml in their drinking water), catechol (0.8% in their diet), sodium taurocholate (0.3% in their diet), sodium taurodeoxycholate (0.3% in their diet), or sodium chloride (10% in their diet or by intragastric administration of 1 ml of saturated solution once a week) for 4 weeks. All these treatments markedly enhanced cell proliferation of the pyloric epithelium, suggesting the importance of enhanced cell proliferation in the development of gastric cancer.

Long follow-up study in patients with prior myocarditis by radionuclide methods

Ten patients with previous myocarditis were evaluated to determine cardiac conditions by T1-201 myocardial perfusion imaging and stress radionuclide ventriculography during the follow-up of 18-102 (average 56) months; the results were compared with those from ten sex- and age-matched controls. Exercise capacity by supine bicycle ergometer was reduced in patients with myocarditis. Their resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 57.5% +/- 3.9%, similar to that of controls. LVEF response to stress in myocarditis was abnormal with an increment of end-systolic volume, while in the controls LVEF increased significantly during stress. Seven of the eight patients with an abnormal ejection fraction response had constant T1-201 perfusion defects. This study indicates that latent left ventricular dysfunction is present in patients with prior myocarditis and that nuclear study is useful for long-term follow-up.

Eosinophilic disorders affecting the myocardium and endocardium: a review

A wide range of disorders give rise to eosinophil counts greater than 1.5 X 10(9)/l (hypereosinophilia) and cardiac injury. The best known of these is eosinophilic endomyocardial disease (Löffler's endomyocardial fibrosis), which occurs as a major complication of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Here the heart damage appears to be a direct result of tissue injury produced by toxic eosinophil granule proteins within the heart. However, it is not known what causes the eosinophilia in these patients, why the eosinophils degranulate, or why the endocardium is especially susceptible to this type of injury. A number of parasitic infections may give rise to eosinophilic myocarditis. This is usually the result of the presence of the parasites within the myocardium where they die within inflammatory lesions, which may be extensive. Occasionally, drug reactions and rejection of a transplanted heart may produce eosinophilic myocarditis. Allergic granulomatosis and vasculitis (the Churg-Strauss syndrome), which gives rise to granulomas involving the myocardium, and eosinophilic (hypersensitivity) myocarditis usually respond rapidly to treatment with steroids. However, diffuse myocardial involvement may lead to heart failure, and some of these patients may later develop dilated cardiomyopathy. It is concluded that the heart may be affected by a variety of diseases in which eosinophils are a prominent component in the inflammatory cell infiltrates. Eosinophils themselves may contribute to some of the myocardial cell injury which occurs in these diseases, and attempts to limit this with steroids may be worthwhile in some patients.

A clinicopathologic study on a cause of idiopathic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia and conduction disturbance employing endomyocardial biopsy

A comparative study of right ventricular histopathologic findings and clinical profiles in 174 cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 145 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 241 cases with idiopathic arrhythmia and/or conduction disturbance with significant myocardial pathology [Electric disturbance type of cardiomyopathy (ECM)], totaling 560 cases, was made in order to clarify the role of viral myocarditis in these conditions. Postmyocarditis change (PMC) was defined by assessing serial biopsy findings in nine cases with acute myocarditis. The PMC was observed in three cases with HCM (1.7%), 22 with DCM (15%), and 21 with ECM (8.7%). The incidence of PMC was significantly higher in DCM and ECM than in HCM (P less than 0.001). The typical pattern of onset of acute myocarditis, i.e., high fever, upper respiratory infection, and gastrointestinal symptoms preceding cardiac symptoms within 10 days, was recognized in one case with HCM, eight with DCM, and 6 of 123 cases with ECM. The incidence was higher in DCM and ECM than in HCM (P less than 0.05). Of 46 cases with PMC, 12 (26%) showed this pattern, on the other hand only 3 of 377 cases (0.8%) without PMC did so (P less than 0.0001). Familial occurrence was not found in any of the 46 cases with PMC but was found in 38 of the 377 cases without PMC (P less than 0.01). This study indicates that viral myocarditis may often be the causative agent of idiopathic cardiomyopathy, especially DCM and ECM. It is also noticed that familial occurrence of the cases with PMC was never seen.

A comparative ultrastructural study on the nature of interstitial cell constituents in idiopathic myocarditis and myocardial infarction

In order to observe the characteristics of interstitial cellular proliferation in cases with myocarditis of possible viral origin, a systematic ultrastructural analysis of the cell components in the interstitium was made employing endomyocardial biopsy at the acute (0-10 days after onset), subacute (11-25 days), and convalescent stages (26-167 days) of the disease in ten cases. For comparison, myocardial specimens from cases with myocardial infarction were taken from early autopsy cases or from tissue obtained during surgery. The dominant interstitial cells observed in the acute stage of myocarditis were fibroblasts (38.3% +/- 17.5%, mean +/- SD), macrophages (23.3% +/- 12.1%), and lymphocytes (18.0% +/- 18.1%); at the convalescent stage, fibrocytes (44.6% +/- 20.2%) and fibroblasts (22.5% +/- 8.0%) were commonly seen. In myocardial infarction, the dominant cells were macrophages (35.0% +/- 16.0%) and neutrophils (26.0% +/- 13.9%) at the acute stage, and lymphocytes (30.0% +/- 17.8%), plasma cells (27.1% +/- 20.0%), and macrophages (26.4% +/- 11.4%) at the late stage. Thus, some differences between the two diseases could be recognized.

Hemodynamic studies and response to a combined therapy of nitroglycerin ointment and dopamine in patients with acute myocarditis

Left ventricular performance was assessed in ten patients with acute myocarditis during the acute stage (within the first 3 days after the onset of cardiac symptoms) and during the convalescent phase (3-5 weeks later). In nine, the diagnosis was confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy during the acute stage, when left ventricular function was markedly reduced, i.e., cardiac index 1.53 +/- 0.33 l/min/m2 (mean +/- SD), left ventricular stroke work index 14.1 +/- 3.9 g/beat/m2, pulmonary capillary pressure 25.9 +/- 4.3 mm Hg, and systemic vascular resistance 27.9 +/- 9.4 R units. During convalescence, seven patients improved clinically with normal cardiac function and in three it remained impaired. Cardiovascular response to nitroglycerin ointment in three patients and a combination of dopamine and nitroglycerin ointment in five were compared. Nitroglycerin ointment reduced pulmonary capillary pressure by an average of 28.5% (P less than 0.05) and systemic vascular resistance by 26.8%, while the cardiac index increased by 34.1% (P less than 0.05) and left ventricular stroke work index by 30.3% (P less than 0.01). The combined therapy was more effective, with a reduction of pulmonary capillary pressure by 30.4% (P less than 0.05) and systemic vascular resistance by 27.5% (P less than 0.05), accompanying an increase in cardiac index by 53.5% (P less than 0.005) and left ventricular stroke work index by 63.5% (P less than 0.01), with little change in the double products. This study suggests that serial hemodynamic monitoring accurately evaluates cardiac function, selection of appropriate therapy, and the hemodynamic effects of treatment in patients with acute myocarditis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical spectrum and endomyocardial biopsy findings in eosinophilic heart disease

Fourteen cases of heart disease with hypereosinophilia were analyzed employing conventional cardiologic methods, including echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and endomyocardial biopsy. The cases were divided into four types: Acute carditic (endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis; five cases); ventricular dilation (three cases); restrictive (three cases); electric disturbance (three cases). Biopsy revealed significant changes in all cases. In one case of the ventricular dilation type, endomyocardial fibrosis with myocardial degeneration was seen, and in another case mural thrombus formation was shown to be present. In three cases of the restrictive type, endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) was observed. In two cases of the electric disturbance type, minor right ventricular myocardial degeneration was observed. In two of the three cases of the carditic type and in three of eight cases in other categories, postmyocarditic changes were observed. The course of the disease compared with the type of disorder revealed a short course in the carditic type and a longer course, ranging from 2 to 24 years, with one exception, in the other types. It is also confirmed that the various histopathologic changes can be related to particular clinical presentations. We have shown that the basic changes in eosinophilic heart disease are not restricted to the endomyocardium and that they occur in various parts of the heart causing more widespread manifestations. The more comprehensive term "eosinophilic heart disease" is a preferable description.

Histopathological findings of acute and convalescent myocarditis obtained by serial endomyocardial biopsy

Serial endomyocardial biopsy findings in 20 cases with acute myocarditis of possible viral origin were analyzed. The histopathological findings were analyzed during the acute (0-10 days after the onset: 8.3 +/- 1.9 days; 6 cases), the subacute (11-21 days: 18.2 +/- 2.2 days, 6 cases), and the convalescent stages (22-167 days: 54.5 +/- 45.4 days; 8 cases). The incidence and severity of various changes of the cardiac myocytes and interstitial changes were analyzed and compared at each stage of the disease. In the acute stage, interstitial cell infiltrations were composed of fibroblasts, macrophages and lymphocytes, taken out in descending order. In the convalescent stage, interstitial cell infiltration showed a marked increase and was replaced by fibrocytes. In the subacute stage, transitional changes between the acute and convalescent stages were observable. A controlled myocardium in 21 cases with myocardial infarction which were compared at various stages revealed that in the acute stage, neutrophils were most prominent, and in the subacute and convalescent stages, macrophages were most prominent and plasma cells were most often observed. The time course changes of the histopathological findings in acute myocarditis were as follows: In the acute stage, Interstitial cell infiltration which is composed of fibroblasts, macrophages and lymphocytes, fragmentation of the muscle bundles, myocytolytic changes, swelling and scarcity of the cytoplasm and swelling of nuclei, variation in size of the myocytes, disarrangement of the muscle bundles, interstitial edema, increased glycogen deposition in the myocytes, abnormal branching of the myocytes, and interstitial fibrosis were observable. In the convalescent stage, most of the above described findings were still observable except for the myocytolytic change, swelling of myocytes and interstitial edema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ultrastructural features of the endomyocardium in patients with eosinophilic heart disease. An endomyocardial biopsy study

In a series of studies with endomyocardial biopsy, 7 adult cases with cardiac disease and eosinophilia were studied clinically and electro-microscopy. Degranulation of the eosinophils in the peripheral blood was observed ultrastructurally in 3 of the 4 cases studied. The clinical expression of the 7 patients were, restrictive cardiomyopathy in 2, dilated cardiomyopathy in 2 and sick sinus syndrome in 1 and others in 2. Endocardial thickening was observed in 5 cases, one of whom showed a marked cellular infiltration with macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes and mast cells. One other case showed cell debris of degranulated eosinophils. Degeneration of the myocytes was manifested by an increase in Z-bands of the myofibrils as well as streaming (1 case), disarrangement of the myofibrils, and mitochondrial change (1 case) which was characterized by giant mitochondria (1 case) as well as by a numerical increase in mitochondria. Increase of atrial granules and mitochondria in a right atrial biopsy of a case with sick sinus syndrome was noteworthy. Basal lamina layering of the capillaries of the myocardium and pyknosis of an endothelial cell cytoplasm were also noted in each case. These observations may reveal that various disease processes are taking place in the endocardium and adjacent myocardium.

Ventriculographic findings in the convalescent stage in eleven cases with acute myocarditis

In order to clarify the sequelae of 11 patients who suffered from acute myocarditis of viral origin and were diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy in the early and the convalescent stage of the disease, left ventriculograms were obtained from 17 to 167 (46.5 +/- 41.2, mean +/- SD) days after the onset of the disease were analyzed. The data were compared with the biopsy findings in the convalescent stage. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 57.5 +/- 10.8% and in 3 cases the LVEF was less than 50%. In 2 cases, apparent asyneresis was observed. In all cases coronary arteriographic findings did not show significant stenosis. It is concluded that after viral myocarditis, increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume, depressed ejection fraction and asyneresis occur in some cases and it can be said that a development from myocarditis to dilated cardiomyopathy occurs.

Long-term follow-up of electrocardiographic findings in patients with acute myocarditis proven by endomyocardial biopsy

Sixteen cases of acute myocarditis, proven by endomyocardial biopsy, of possible viral origin which were described in a previous paper have been followed up for up to 5 years. The cases were divided into 3 groups according to the electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns: with conduction disturbance at the early stage (Group I, 9 cases), without conduction disturbance (Group II, 4 cases); early death cases in which the follow-up could not be carried out (Group III, 3 cases). In Group I, 2 cases revealed persistent complete A-V block, 4 showed incomplete recovery of right bundle branch and/or fascicular blocks, and 3 showed complete recovery of the ECG abnormalities. In Group II, all 4 cases showed a pseudoinfarction pattern which consisted of abnormal Q waves, poor R wave progression and ST elevation. These findings disappeared during the follow-up period. All patients of Groups I and II are still alive after a follow-up period of up to 5 years.

[Use of cefroxadine dry syrup in the management of acute skin infections in children (author's transl)]

1. Cefroxadine dry syrup was in principle administered at the dosage of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight 3 times a day. 2. Evaluation was done in 4 grades, i.e. excellent, good, fair and poor. 3. According to subjective judgement by attending doctors, 'excellent' or 'good' was recorded in 90.7%. 4. If the evaluation was partially standardized, 'excellent' or 'good' was obtained in 74.8% of total 163 cases and in 78.7% of 108 impetigo cases. 5. Side effects were observed in 3 cases (diarrhea 1, fever 2). No direct correlation of these complaints with the administration of the present drug was confirmed.

Early clinical profiles of cases with histopathologically proven acute idiopathic myocarditis and a proposal for diagnostic criteria

The early clinical features, primary care, treatment and short-term prognosis in 15 cases of acute myocarditis where diagnostic confirmation was made by endomyocardial biopsy or autopsy were analyzed. Characteristically, idiopathic myocarditis of possible viral etiology revealed preceding symptoms which consisted of flu-like symptoms, i.e., fever, upper respiratory infection (sore throat, cough), myalgia or arthralgia, general malaise, and gastrointestinal disorders (vomiting, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain and soft stool). A severe cardiac or generalized disease condition may follow. Depending upon the progress of intensive medical and cardiac care, the patients' prognosis is not always poor. Diagnostic criteria based upon our own experience have been constructed as a proposal.

Clinical and histopathological profile of sarcoidosis of the heart and acute idiopathic myocarditis. Concepts through a study employing endomyocardial biopsy. II. Myocarditis

Through an approach employing endomyocardial biopsy, early diagnosis of acute idiopathic myocarditis is possible. The histopathological findings consisted of fragmentation of muscle bundles, degenerative changes with lysis of myocytes and interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration. The cells were irregular in size and shape and contained slightly basophilic cytoplasm or were mixed with small round cells. Early clinical symptoms consisted of flu-like symptoms, i. e., higher fever, myalgia, malaise and arthralgia. Initial ECG changes consisted of complete A-V block in 9, bifascicular block in 3, and intraventricular conduction disturbance in 4 cases. Serial biopsies were performed at the early (0--2 weeks), middle (2--4 weeks), and late stages (more than 4 weeks) in 6 cases. Two of these biopsies were performed in 6 cases and all 3 were performed in one case. The numerous interstitial cell infiltration had almost disappeared by the early stage. At the late stage, either a slight or moderate degree of interstitial fibrosis was observed. These observations coincided well with the improvement of the ECG findings. Characteristic laboratory findings consisted of high LDH, GOT, and serum amylase levels. Varieties of treatments such as temporary cardiac pacing, peritoneal or hemo-dialysis, vasodilator therapy effectively to relieve the grave clinical condition. It is concluded that acute myocarditis may heal with remarkable improvement when the appropriate treatment is applied at the early stage of the disease.