Unique pattern of histogenesis of the parakeratinized epithelium on lingual prominence in the domestic goose embryos (Anser anser f. domestica)

A triangular lingual prominence (LP) is a characteristic part of the tongue in Anseriformes containing adipose tissue. The parakeratinized epithelium (PEp) covers the LP. Studies aimed to describe the histogenesis of PEp during the process of the intensive formation of the LP in domestic goose during embryonic period and to determine the structural readiness to perform a protective function. The study were conducted by using LM, SEM and TEM technique. The results revealed that on day 16th the undifferentiated epithelium of LP transformed into the typical avian multilayered epithelium. Contrary to pattern of histogenesis of parakeratinized epithelium on the lingual body, on the medial and lateral areas of the elongating and bulging LP were formed epithelial furrows. Which around 20th day, on lateral areas of LP deepened up to half of epithelium, whereas on the medial area began to fade. The ultrastructure of cells lying in furrows indicated progressive apoptosis-like degeneration. On the 25th day, shallow furrows were only present on lateral areas, where bulging of LP was continued. Whereas the epithelium on medial area started cornification by the accumulation of cytokeratin fibers. Lack of the periderm during the development of the PEp of the LP indicated its endodermal origin.

A parasitic insect on a parasitic plant: a new species of the genus Formicoccus Takahashi (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) from Ishigaki Island, Japan

A new species of the genus Formicoccus Takahashi (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) collected from the holoparasitic plant Balanophora fungosa J. R. & G. Forst (Balanophoraceae), on Ishigaki Island, Japan, is described as Formicoccus yoshinoi Tanaka, sp. nov. based on the morphology of adult females. This species is similar to F. formicarius (1900) and F. erythrinae Williams, 2004, but differs from them by having fewer than six cerarii, and only one type of ventral oral collar tubular duct distributed on the medial area of the posterior abdominal segments. Keys to the Oriental species of the genus Formicoccus are provided.

Structural Thickening of Medial Layer in Coronary Artery With Spasm in Patients With Myocardial Infarction

Background The underlying pathophysiology of coronary artery spasm (CAS) remains unclear. We aim to determine whether coronary artery medial layer thickness is associated with CAS using optical coherence tomography. Methods and Results A total of 50 patients with previous myocardial infarction underwent optical coherence tomography of the left anterior descending artery: 20 with CAS and 30 without CAS. Intimal and medial layer areas were measured by planimetric analysis of optical coherence tomography images. The medial area/external elastic membrane (EEM) area was significantly greater in patients with than without CAS (0.13±0.01 versus 0.09±0.01, respectively, P <0.01), whereas the intimal area/EEM area was similar in the 2 groups. In patients without CAS, the relationship of intimal area/EEM area with medial area/EEM area and coronary diameter response to intracoronary injection of acetylcholine was characterized by an inverted U‐shaped curve ( y =−1.85 x 2 +0.81 x +0.01, R 2 =0.43, P <0.001) and a U‐shaped curve ( y =2993.2 x 2 −1359.6 x +117.1, R 2 =0.53, P <0.001), respectively. Thus, the medial layer became thin and the contractile response became weak in coronary arteries with greater intimal area in the non‐CAS patients. In contrast, in patients with CAS, the intimal area/EEM area had no significant relationship with the medial area/EEM area in either linear correlation analysis or quadratic regression analysis. Thus, even when the intimal layer thickened, the medial layer did not thin in patients with CAS. Conclusions The structural thickness of the coronary medial layer was increased in patients with CAS, which may provide mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of CAS. Registration URL: https://www.upload.umin.ac.jp ; Unique identifier: UMIN000018432.

A new species of the genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 from Heilongjiang, China (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Acrididae)

A new species of the genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 i.e. Mongolotettix moheensis sp. nov is described from Jiangsu, China. The new species is allied to M. zhengi Li et Lian, 1994, but differs tegmina of male longer, almost almost reaching the base of epiproct, maximum width of cubital area 2.5 times maximum width of medial area, width of epiphallus equal to high, fulculae smaller and interspace of mesosternum narrowed in the middle slightly. Type specimens are deposited in the Natural Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Relationship of a thinned medial layer to the attenuated contractile response in atherosclerotic coronary arteries

Coronary arteries with advanced atherosclerosis do not necessarily have greater contractile responses than those with early atherosclerosis. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between thickness of the medial layer and the contractile response to acetylcholine (ACh) in coronary artery using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The OCT and the vasomotor response to ACh in the left anterior descending coronary artery were assessed in 32 patients with previous myocardial infarction. The intimal and medial layer areas were measured by planimetric analysis of the OCT images. The coronary contractile response to ACh had a positive linear relationship with medial area ( r = 0.61, P < 0.001). In contrast, the relationship between the coronary contractile response to ACh and intimal area was described by an inverted U-shaped curve that was fitted to a quadratic regression model ( R2 = 0.35, P = 0.002, y-axis, contraction; x-axis, intimal area). The contractile response increased as the intimal layer thickened up to the inflection point; thereafter, the contractile response declined. The relationship between medial area and intimal area was also described by an inverted U-shaped curve that was fitted to a quadratic regression model ( R2 = 0.41, P < 0.01, y-axis, medial area; x-axis, intimal area). The medial area increased as the intimal area thickened up to the inflection point; thereafter, the medial area thinned. In conclusion, the thinned medial layer was associated with the attenuated contractile response in a coronary artery with greater atherosclerosis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first clinical study to show the relationship between the contractile response and the thickness of medial smooth muscle layer in coronary artery of patients with previous myocardial infarction using OCT. The contractile response to acetylcholine was attenuated, and medial layer area was thinned in coronary artery with greater atherosclerosis compared with those in coronary artery with mild or moderate atherosclerosis. The coronary contractile response was positively correlated with thickness of the medial layer in coronary arteries with either mild or greater atherosclerosis. Thus, coronary arteries with advanced atherosclerosis do not necessarily have greater contractile responses than those with early atherosclerosis, which could be related to the thinned medial layer.

P6014The variable location of the atrioventricular conduction axis. Implications for permanent and safe His bundle pacing

Background/Introduction The deleterious effects of long-term RV apical pacing have been well recognized. Permament His bundle (HB) pacing has emerged as a promising technique for patients who need ventricular pacing. Purpose To describe the anatomy of the HB region and its variations for successfully approaching HB pacing in a safer and more efficient way and to understand selective vs non-selective HB pacing and to avoid permanent damage to it. Methods In 57 structurally normal human heart specimens (48 males, 77±7 years) we examined by dissection techniques and histological sections the course of the penetrating and non-branching His bundle in relation with the membranous septum and the tricuspid valve (TV) annulus. We correlated these anatomic findings with a series of angiographic studies in 60 patients (47% males, 45±16 years old) by recording the largest His electrogram sites within the limits of the triangle of Koch (TK) and the plane of the TV. Results The membranous septum is divided by the attachment on its right side of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve into atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular components. The AV component of the membranous septum forms the anterosuperior apex of the TK and showed in cadaveric hearts variable dimensions in length (4.6±1.5 mm, range 1–9 mm). The AV node becomes the His bundle as the AV conduction axis enters the AV component of the membranous septum and is encircled by the fibrous tissue of the central fibrous body in 100% of hearts with none of them having a “naked” entrance to it. In 30 hearts (53%) the HB penetrates the AV membranous septum at the apex of the TK at the hinge point of the septal leaflet of the TV near its commissure with the anterosuperior leaflet. However in 47% of cases the HB crossed the fibrous tissue of the central fibrous body in a lower position in the medial area of the paraseptal right atrial region of the TK with a mean distance to the AV membranous septum of 4±1.4 mm (range 1.5–8 mm) above and behind the TV annulus. These findings correlate with those obtained in patients in which the site of recording of the largest His bundle deflection does not always coincide with the anterosuperior vertex of the triangle as judged angiographically. In 51% of patients the site of the largest His bundle electrograms was found in the medial area of the triangle above (posterior-inferior) the TV annulus while in 49% of patients the His was recorded at the same level (15%) or below (anterior-inferior) the TV annulus (34% of patients) (figure). Histology of HB and catheter locations Conclusions Knowledge of the marked variability in the location of the AV conduction bundle within the paraseptal right atrial region is crucial for approaching permanent HB pacing. An anterior-inferior and ventricular HB location could yield to restriction of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve if a lead is to be deployed in the area.

A new species of Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 from Henan, China (Orthoptera: Acridoidea, Acrididae)

A new species of the genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 from Henan, China is described. The new species, Mongolotettix tongbaishanensis Yin, Ji et Dai sp. n. is similar to M. shanxiensis Shi, Liu et Li, 2016, but differs from the latter by shorter tegmina of male, which reach the hind margin of the 6th abdominal tergite, the maximumwidth of cubital area being 1.2 times wider than the maximum width of the medial area, the prozona of male being 1.5 times longer than the metazona, the tegmina of female being short, extending slightly over the hind margin of the 1st abdominal tergite, the length of tegmina being 2.5 times longer than its maximum width, the epiphallus being wider than high, and the length of the upper ovipositor valve being 4.4 times longer than its maximum width.

Abstract 569: Constitutively Active Notch4 Receptor Promotes Flow-induced Arterial Outward Remodeling

Notch is expressed in arterial but not venous endothelial cells (ECs). Notch signaling plays a critical role during vascular development and is required for postnatal arterial remodeling following ischemic injury. However, whether activated Notch is sufficient to promote arterial remodeling is unclear. Shear stress is a primary stimulus for arterial outward remodeling, and shear stress induces Notch activation. We hypothesized that activated Notch in turn promotes flow-induced arterial outward remodeling. Constitutively active Notch4 (Notch4*) was expressed in arterial ECs of the carotid artery to bypass hemodynamic perturbations caused by pan-endothelial Notch4 activation. First, we used an artery graft model: a segment of the carotid from a Notch4* donor was grafted into a control recipient. Notch4* expression was restricted to ECs of the graft; hemodynamics in the control recipient was not perturbed. Second, we targeted Notch4* expression using the arterial EC-specific Bmx(PAC)-CreER T2 . The carotid ligation model was used to examine flow-induced outward remodeling. Histological analysis showed that in high-flow Notch4* artery grafts, external elastic lamina (EEL) circumference, EEL area, medial area, and medial thickness were larger compared to controls. In high-flow Bmx-Notch4* arteries, internal elastic lamina circumference, EEL circumference, EEL area, and medial area were larger compared to controls. To bolster our findings in the carotid, we tested our hypothesis using a mesenteric artery ligation model. Post-ligation, shear stress in high-flow Notch4* and control mesenteric arteries were comparable. While high-flow arteries in both Notch4* mutants and controls were enlarged, radial enlargement was increased in Notch4* arteries compared with controls. Together, our results showed that endothelial expression of Notch4* enhanced flow-induced outward remodeling of both the large-diameter, elastic carotid artery and the small-diameter, muscular mesenteric artery. Notably, in the absence of increased flow, basal arterial diameters were comparable between Notch4* and control mice. These data suggest that, when properly targeted to the arterial endothelium, Notch4* promotes flow-induced outward remodeling.

Intermedia and Intermittency

It is commonly known that medial reflections have been initiated by attempts to secure the borders of discrete medial forms and to define the modus operandi of each essentialized medial area. Later on, the focus of study has shifted to plurimedial formations and the interactions between predefined medial genres. In the last few decades, taxonomic approaches to various multi-, inter-, and transmedial phenomena dominated the discussions, which offered invaluable support in mapping the terrain, but at the same time hindered the analysis of the ephemeral, time-dependent aspects of plurimedial operations. While we explore the properties of each medial configuration, we lose sight of the actual historical drivers that produce ever-new configurations. My thesis is that any discourse on intermediality should be paralleled by a discourse on cultural intermittency, and consequently, media studies should involve an approach that focuses on the “ecosystem” of the constantly renewing media configurations from the point of view of their vitalizing potential and capability to trigger heightened experiences. This approach draws much inspiration from K. Ludwig Pfeiffer’s media anthropology that gives orientation in my paper.