Amitriptyline in the treatment of interstitial cystitis

Limited data and an accumulated body of anecdotal experience with the tricyclic class of antidepressants suggest that this group of drugs (especially amitriptyline) may be an effective treatment modality in nonulcerative interstitial cystitis. Both the ease of administration and the relatively rapid onset of relief make these types of drugs appropriate to consider for first-line therapy after bladder distention has failed.     

A conserved mode of head segmentation in arthropods revealed by the expression pattern of Hox genes in a spider

Chelicerates constitute a basic arthropod group with fossil representatives from as early as the Cambrian period. Embryonic development and the subdivision of the segmented body region into a prosoma and an opisthosoma are very similar in all extant chelicerates. The mode of head segmentation, however, has long been controversial. Although all other arthropod groups show a subdivision of the head region into six segments, the chelicerates are thought to have the first antennal segment missing. To examine this problem on a molecular level, we have compared the expression pattern of Hox genes in the spider Cupiennius salei with the pattern known from insects. Surprisingly, we find that the anterior expression borders of the Hox genes are in the same register and the same relative segmental position as in Drosophila. This contradicts the view that the homologue of the first antennal segment is absent in the spider. Instead, our data suggest that the cheliceral segment is homologous to the first antennal segment and the pedipalpal segment is homologous to the second antennal (or intercalary) segment in arthropods. Our finding implies that chelicerates, myriapods, crustaceans, and insects share a single mode of head segmentation, reinforcing the argument for a monophyletic origin of the arthropods.     

The Foreign-Language Press in American Press History

A review of U.S. press histories reveals a common failure to consider immigration and the formation of an ethnic press as constituent elements of an American culture and addresses the need for a cultural history of the media that breaks with current practices.     

Der submikroskopische Bau der Faserzellwand beim Zugholz der Pappel

Zusammenfassung In Erg?nzung früberer Untersuchungen wurden von methacrylat-eingebettetem Zugholz- und Normalfasergewebe vonPopulus euramericana cv.regenerata ultradünne Quer- und L?ngsschnitte hergestellt. Die elektronen-mikroskopische Untersuchung zeigt, da? die Zellwand der Zugholzfaser aus Mittellamelle, Prim?rwand, den Sekund?rwandschichten 1 bis 3 sowie einer Immenseitigen Abschlu?lamelle besteht. Die S₃ stellt dabei die für Zugholzfaser charakteristische gelatin?se (G-)Schicht dar. Die Struktur dieser G-Schicht kann elektronenmikroskopisch nur durch Herausl?sen des Einbettungsmediums deutlich sichtbar gemacht werden. In solcher Weise behandelte Ultradünnschnitte lassen erkennen, da? die G-Schicht eine Wabenstruktur besitzt, in der einzelne cellulosische Lamellen durch Haftpunkte miteinander verbunden sind. Wahrscheinlich sind die Kammern des Wabensystems mit quellbaren Interlamellarsubstanzen ausgefüllt, die in Verbindung mit der Wabenstruktur die bekannten L?ngszugspannungen im Zugholz verursachen k?nnten. Die Entstehung dieser Spannungen ist sowohl als Folge einer Quellung, wie auch als Folge einer Entquellung der G-Schicht denkbar. Die M?glichkeit von Strukturver?nderungen durch die angewendeten Pr?parations vefahren wird ausführlich er?rtert. Es wird nachgewiesen, da? die beschriebeue Wabenstruktur der G-schicht nicht den wabigen Strukturen entspricht, die sich durch S?urebehandlung in der zentralen Sekund?rwandschicht normaler Faserzellen erzeugen lassen.

---

The submicroscopic structure of the fibre cellwall in poplar tensionwood

Summary In addition to preliminary investigations, ultrathin cross-and and longitudinal sections of tensionwood and normal wood tissue from Populus euramericana cv. regenerata were investigated. These tissues were embedded in methacrylate and examined with an electronmicroscope. It was found that the cell wall of tensionwood fibres of this species is composed of middle lamella, primary wall, and secondary wall. The latter consists of three layers (S₁, S₂, S₃) and is bordered on the lumen side by a terminating lamella. In tensionwood, the S₃ appears as a characteristic gelatinous (G) layer. The detailed structure of this G-layer can be clearly seen only when the embedding material is dissolved, its density being very similar to that of the cellulose lamellae of the G-layer. The methacrylate embedding material having been removed, is was found that the G-layer posseses a honeycomb-structure in which the individual cellulose lamellae are firmly connected at irregularly spaced intervals. It is supposed that the interlamellar spaces of this honeycomb-structured G-layer are filled with substances which are able to swell and shrink. It is postulated here that the inherent tensional strains and the resulting longitudinal contraction of tensionwood fibers and tissue, commonly observed, might be caused by either the swelling or shrinking of interlamellar substances within the G-layer. Swelling might cause longitudinal contraction, if these substances swell mostly in radial direction. This radial swelling results in a radial expansion and, consequently, longitudinal contraction of the individual cavities of the honeycomb structure. On the other hand, the commonly observed longitudinal confraction of tensionwood fibres and tissue might also be explained by shrinking. In this case, the interlamellar substances must be mostly isotropic, and thus their shrinking and consequently that of the tensionwood tissue would occur in all directions. The methods used to establish that the honeycomb structure of the G-layer is not an artifact of the preparation, are also described. It is proven that the G-layer structure as described in this paper is not the same as the honeycomb structure produced by the treating of fibre cells of normal wood tissue with acid.

---

---

Beitrag zu den Verhandlungen der Arbeitsgruppe Wood Quality der IUFRO-Sektion 41 in Madison, USA, vom 11. bis 13. September 1963.