One of the most striking characteristics of gall-forming insects is the variability in gall position, morphology, and complexity. Our knowledge of the driving forces behind the evolutionary divergence of gall types is limited. Natural enemies, competition, and behavioral constraints might be involved. We present a cladogram, based on sequences of COI and COII (1952bp), of mitochondrial DNA for ...

BACKGROUND Nitric oxide is a major neurotransmitter in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) pathways. NANC inhibitory innervation has been shown in human gall bladder muscle in vitro; the role of nitric oxide in human gall bladder emptying however is undefined. AIMS To study the effect of glyceryl trinitrate, a nitric oxide donor, on gall bladder emptying in healthy subjects using a randomi...

We tested the enemy hypothesis for gall morphology on a model system comprising two Diplolepis rose gall wasp species and their associated parasitoids. The enemy hypothesis predicts both that gall traits will influence parasitoid attack rates within species, and that galls with contrasting morphologies will support different parasitoid communities. This hypothesis is supported by studies at bot...

Epithelial dysplasia of gall bladder is an important precancerous lesion of gall bladder carcinogenesis. To investigate the frequency of K-ras gene mutation in gall bladder carcinoma and dysplasia, K-ras codon 12 mutations were investigated by the polymerase chain reaction/restriction enzyme based method following direct sequencing. Mutation was detected in 59% (30 of 51) of gall bladder carcin...

The formation of tumors in tissues of higher plants by the crown-gall organism, (Phytomonas tumefaciens), is influenced by several factors. First, the bacteria themselves must be virulent. Avirulent strains of the crown-gall organism will not produce a gall in susceptible tissue unless that tissue is also stimulated by a growth hormone (1, 10) or by products from a gall produced by fully virule...

In a prospective study of gall stone related deaths in a single Health District, the biliary tract was examined at necropsy in 1701 cases and 8078 death certificates were searched. Gall stones were identified as the cause of death in only 21 cases (0.26%) but in 291 subjects found to have gall stones or cholecystectomy at necropsy, the mortality was 3.4%. The necropsy prevalence of gall stones ...

Hypersection of gall bladder mucus is associated with gall stone formation in animal models. Aspirin inhibits both mucus synthesis and secretion, prevents gall stone formation in animals and reduces gall stone recurrence in man after dissolution therapy. Mucus biosynthesis in human gall bladder mucosal explants is inhibited by aspirin in vitro. We have studied the effects of aspirin in vivo. Fi...

1. The human gall bladder acidifies the bile. In this respect its action is similar to that of the gall bladders of lower animals, previously described by other workers. 2. The hydrogen ion concentration of gall bladder bile is increased considerably in cases of obstruction of the common or cystic ducts. The highest values were found following complete obstruction. 3. The occurrence of gall sto...

BACKGROUND Gall bladder functions are modulated by neurones intrinsic to the organ. Data are available on the neurochemical composition of intrinsic and extrinsic nerves innervating the gall bladder but are lacking on specific functional classes of gall bladder neurones. AIMS To characterise the intrinsic motor neurones of the gall bladder and identify their roles using pharmacological techni...