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R Foglia

Publications and source records attributed to R Foglia.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Real-time ultrasound measure of the fetal eye (vitreous body) for prediction of parturition date in small ponies.

Ultrasonographic fetal eye measures have been used to estimate gestational age of the fetus in light horse mares. However, fetal eye measures have not been published for smaller pony breeds. This study was conducted to develop reference ranges for ultrasonographic measures of fetal eyes in small ponies for the purpose of predicting days before parturition (DBP) when breeding or ovulation dates are unknown. Twenty-three Shetland-type pony mares were studied across one (n = 10) or two (n = 13) gestations in 2004 (18 pregnancies) and 2005 (18 pregnancies). Measurements of fetal eyes were obtained during transrectal ultrasound examination. Examinations were conducted once monthly in a field situation beginning in December (2003) or August (2004) until mares foaled (March through July). The length (from sclera to sclera) and width (from retina to cornea) of the vitreous body were measured. For the 273 examinations in which gestation age was greater than 2 months, eye measures were obtainable in 248 (91%). Mixed-effects linear regression modeling was used to account for serial growth measures within pregnancy, repeated measurements across mares, and unbalanced study design. Independent variables evaluated included vitreous body length, vitreous body width, the ratio of length to width, parity, and mare height at the withers at parturition. Eye length was the best single predictor of days before parturition, with almost no additional predictive value of the other variables considered. Our resulting regression equation is: days before parturition=265.16-0.21*(vitreous body length in mm)(2). This study suggests that measure of the fetal eye is a practical on-farm procedure for estimating days before parturition in small ponies.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Crypt1, an active Ac-like transposon from the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica.

A moderately repetitive element was identified previously in the nuclear genome of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, and has been used as a probe for population studies of the fungus. We report here that the repetitive element is a class II transposon of the hAT family of Activator (Ac)-like transposable elements. The element, named Crypt1, has a size of 3563 bp, including 21-bp terminal inverted repeats. A unique 8-bp direct repeat sequence flanking Crypt1 was identified in each of three clones examined. A single large ORF with the potential to encode a putative transposase of 946 amino acid residues was deduced from the sequence of Crypt1. Based on amino acid sequence alignments, Crypt1 is most closely related to other Ac-like transposons of filamentous ascomycetes. A single transcript of approximately 3.0 kb was identified by Northern hybridization experiments from Crypt1-containing isolates, suggesting that Crypt1 is an active element. An isolate containing a single, possibly defective, copy of Crypt1 was identified in C. parasitica isolates from China; no Crypt1 transcript was identified in this isolate. Transposition of Crypt1 was inferred from Southern and inverse PCR analyses of C. parasitica isolates maintained in the laboratory, but transposition appears to be a rare event.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Satellite and defective RNAs of Cryphonectria hypovirus 3-grand haven 2, a virus species in the family Hypoviridae with a single open reading frame.

Cryphonectria parasitica hypovirus 3-Grand Haven 2 (CHV3-GH2) is the most recently characterized member of the Hypoviridae family of viruses associated with hypovirulence of the chestnut blight fungus. Isolates of CHV3-GH2 contain either three or four double-stranded (ds) RNAs that are visible on ethidium bromide-stained agarose or polyacrylamide gels. Only the largest dsRNA appears to be required for virus infectivity, and was characterized previously (C. D. Smart et al., 1999, Virology 265, 66-73). In this study, we report the cloning, sequencing, and analysis of the other three dsRNAs. Sizes of the accessory dsRNAs are 3.6 kb (dsRNA 2), 1.9 kb (dsRNA 3), and 0.9 kb (dsRNA 4), compared to 9.8 kb for the genomic dsRNA segment (dsRNA 1). All three accessory dsRNA species are polyadenylated on the 3'-end of one strand, as is genomic dsRNA. DsRNA 2 represents a defective form of dsRNA 1, with the 5'-terminal 1.4 kb derived from the 5'-end of dsRNA 1 and the 3'-terminal 2.2 kb from the 3'-end of dsRNA 1. A single major open reading frame (ORF) is evident from deduced translations of dsRNA 2. The deduced translation product is a 91-kDa protein that represents a fusion consisting of the entire N-terminal protease and the entire putative helicase domain. DsRNAs 3 and 4 represent satellite RNAs that share very little sequence with dsRNA 1 and 2. DsRNA 4 is 937 nucleotides, excluding the poly(A)(+). The first AUG of the polyadenylated strand of dsRNA 4 occurs eight residues in from the 5'-terminus and would initiate the largest ORF on dsRNA 4, with the coding capacity for a 9.4-kDa protein. Within the deduced ORF and approximately 100 nucleotides from the 5'-end of dsRNA 4 is a 22-base sequence that is identical to sequences found in the nontranslated leaders of dsRNAs 1 and 2. DsRNA 3 accumulation in infected cultures varied, but it was less abundant than dsRNA 4. DsRNA 3 was found to represent a head-to-tail dimer of dsRNA 4 linked by a poly(A)/(U) stretch of 40-70 residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Cryphonectria hypovirus 3, a virus species in the family hypoviridae with a single open reading frame.

Isolate Grand Haven (GH) 2 is a naturally occurring isolate of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, that is greatly reduced in virulence due to the presence of a double-stranded RNA virus. Unlike many other virus-infected, hypovirulent isolates, GH2 is not substantially reduced in pigmentation, conidiation, or laccase expression compared to its virus-free counterpart. The dsRNA genome of the GH2 virus was cloned, sequenced, and compared to hypovirulence-associated viruses of the family Hypoviridae. GH2 dsRNA is considerably smaller than previously characterized members of the family, 9.8 kb compared to 12.5-12.7 kb for other members. The genome organization of GH2 dsRNA reflected the substantial difference in genome size. Like other members of the family, one strand contained a poly(A)(+) tail at the 3' end and a long sequence with several minicistrons at the 5' end of the same strand. Only a single open reading frame (ORF) of 8622 nucleotides was predicted from deduced translations of the poly(A)(+)-containing strand, however. This contrasts with the two-ORF structures of previously characterized members. Analysis of the deduced ORF of GH2 dsRNA revealed putative proteinase, RNA polymerase, and helicase domains similar to those previously identified in confirmed members of the virus family Hypoviridae. GH2 dsRNA was more distantly related to Cryphonectria hypovirus (CHV) 1-EP713 and CHV2-NB58 than the latter two were to each other but has features in common with each of those viruses. We propose that the GH2 virus be included in this taxon as a member of the genus Hypovirus, representing a strain of a new species, CHV3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Serine acetyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana can functionally complement the cysteine requirement of a cysE mutant strain of Escherichia coli.

Serine acetyltransferase, a key enzyme in the L-cysteine biosynthetic pathway of sulfate assimilating organisms, catalyzes the formation of O-acetylserine, the immediate precursor of L-cysteine. In higher plants, it is thought that sulfur assimilation occurs primarily in leaf chloroplasts; however, serine acetyltransferase is not localized exclusively in this tissue and organelle. At least three genes for serine acetyltransferase have been identified in the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Reported here is a cDNA corresponding to one of these genes, SAT1, a 1,079 bp clone with an open reading frame predicted to encode a 34-kDa protein that is able to functionally complement a serine acetyltransferase mutant strain of Escherichia coli. The predicted amino acid sequence of SAT1 shows significant homology with bacterial serine acetyltransferases. SAT1, expressed as a recombinant protein, shows serine acetyltransferase enzyme activity and cross-reacts with an antibody against the homologous E. coli enzyme. The first 40 amino acids of the SAT1 polypeptide resembles a plastid transit peptide, but the polypeptide is probably not plastid localized. Genomic DNA blot analysis of A. thaliana showed that SAT1 is a single copy gene and RNA blot analysis revealed that SAT1 is expressed in both leaves and roots.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1981

"Antral dysmotility". An unrecognized cause of chronic vomiting during infancy.

Ten infants who were less than nine months of age and had chronic nonbilious vomiting were evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux. Upper gastrointestinal series in all showed delayed gastric emptying, a funnel-shaped antrum, absent antral peristalsis, and gastroesophageal reflux. None had evidence of anatomic obstruction in the stomach or duodenum. Manometric studies of the esophagus revealed either normal (4 patients) or elevated (6 patients) lower esophageal sphincter pressures. One-hour esophageal pH probe tests were negative in seven of the ten infants. This obstruction to gastric emptying appears to represent a disorder of antral motility. Medical management, which consisted of small frequent feedings and postural therapy, was successful in six of the infants. The remaining four patients required pyloroplasty. All of the infants are now asymptomatic and gaining weight at either a normal or accelerated rate for their ages. Familiarity with this previously undescribed disorder should prevent the incorrect diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux secondary to lower esophageal sphincter incompetence and the resulting inappropriate surgical reconstruction.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1980

Superiority of blood cardioplegia over asanguinous cardioplegia--an experimental and clinical study.

This study compares experimental and clinical results using both an asanguinous and sanguinous vehicle for delivering the cardioplegic solution. Animals receiving blood cardioplegia had better left ventricular function after unclamping, significantly less post-ischemic myocardial edema, and a better ability to augment flow and oxygen consumption. Patients receiving blood cardioplegia had also better myocardial performance with high cardiac outputs and lower left atrial pressure, and showed less evidence of myocardial damage. We conclude that oxygenation of the cardioplegic solution provides superior myocardial protection to that seen when the same solution is used in an asanguinous vehicle.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Effects of pulsatile assistance and nonpulsatile flow on subendocardial perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass.

We compared the effects of pulsatile and nonpulsatile perfusion in 12 dogs on extracorporeal circulation. In beating empty and fibrillating hearts at 37 degrees and 28 degrees C, coronary blood flow was measured by flowmeter and microspheres at diastolic pressures ranging between 50 and 130 mm Hg. At fixed systemic flow rates (range, 600 to 2,400 ml/min), pulsatile perfusion produced a transient (3 to 4 second) augmentation of diastolic pressure and then resulted in the following: (1) decreased peripheral vascular resistance (p less than 0.05); (2) unchanged peak diastolic pressure (compared with nonpulsatile perfusion); (3) decreased mean aortic pressure (6 to 37%) (p less than 0.05); (4) decreased coronary blood flow (10 to 45%) (p less than 0.05); and (5) decreased subendocardial blood flow (from 512 to 438 ml/100 gm/min) (p less than 0.05). Pulsatile perfusion in beating hearts (37 degrees or 28 degrees C) did not reduce subendocardial vascular resistance, but did improve subendocardial perfusion by 27% and 36% in fibrillating hearts at 37 degrees and 28 degrees C, respectively. We conclude that with the exception of ventricular fibrillation, pulsatile assistance offers no advantage over nonpulsatile perfusion and has the potential disadvantage of requiring higher pump flow rates to achieve any desired level of coronary and subendocardial flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Advantages of intermittent blood cardioplegia over intermittent ischemia during prolonged hypothermic aortic clamping.

Ten dogs underwent 2 hours of hypothermic (22 degrees C) aortic clamping. Arrest was produced by ischemia in five dogs, with 150 ml of 22 degrees C unmodified blood reperfused every 20 minutes. Five others underwent cardioplegic arrest (500 cc pH 7.8 blood containing 30 mEq/L KCl, 0.6 mEq/L Ca++) with 150 ml of blood cardioplegia solution replenished each 20 minutes. Seven additional dogs underwent 4 hours of continuous coronary perfusion without ischemia. Continuous coronary perfusion did not change myocardial ATP or water content, but reduced left ventricular contractility (maximum positive dP/dt, peak systolic pressure) 16% (P < 0.05) and decreased left ventricular compliance moderately (50%). Hypothermic ischemic arrest reduced myocardial ATP 39% (P < 0.05), raised myocardial water 3.2% (P < 0.05), reduced compliance 83% (P < 0.05), and depressed left ventricular performance 64% (P < 0.05), despite intermittent reinfusion of unmodified blood each 20 minutes. In contrast, blood cardioplegia reduced postischemic left ventricular compliance only slightly 17%, P < 0.05) and resulted in normal postischemic ATP, water, and contractility.

Animals↗