Cytogenetic studies of dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) by an extended tissue culture technique

Zusammenfassung Modifizierte. Gewebekulturtechnik fÜr Chromosomenuntersuchungen aus peripherem Blut beim DelphinTursiops truncatus.     

Observation of stimulated emission by direct three-photon excitation

Multiphoton processes, predicted theoretically in 1931, were for a long time considered to be mainly of academic interest. This view changed when it was shown that a two-photon absorption process could, because of a quadratic dependence of excitation on intensity, produce a spatially confined excitation useful for three-dimensional data storage and imaging. Two-photon absorption has received considerable attention recently because of the development of highly efficient two-photon-sensitive materials, leading to numerous technological applications. These successes have created interest in exploring applications based on three-photon excitations. For a three-photon process, a longer excitation wavelength such as those common in optical communications can be used. Also, the cubic dependence of the three-photon process on the input light intensity provides a stronger spatial confinement, so that a higher contrast in imaging can be obtained. Here we report the observation of a highly directional and up-converted stimulated emission as an amplified spontaneous emission, produced in an organic chromophore solution by a strong simultaneous three-photon absorption at 1.3 microm. This achievement suggests opportunities for a three-photon process in frequency-upconversion lasing, short-pulse optical communications, and the emerging field of biophotonics.     

The lyase activity of the DNA repair protein beta-polymerase protects from DNA-damage-induced cytotoxicity

Small DNA lesions such as oxidized or alkylated bases are repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway. BER includes removal of the damaged base by a lesion-specific DNA glycosylase, strand scission by apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease, DNA resynthesis and ligation. BER may be further subdivided into DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol)-dependent single-nucleotide repair and beta-pol-dependent or -independent long patch repair subpathways. Two important enzymatic steps in mammalian single-nucleotide BER are contributed by beta-pol: DNA resynthesis of the repair patch and lyase removal of 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP). Fibroblasts from beta-pol null mice are hypersensitive to mono-functional DNA-methylating agents, resulting in increases in chromosomal damage, apoptosis and necrotic cell death. Here we show that only the dRP lyase activity of beta-pol is required to reverse methylating agent hypersensitivity in beta-pol null cells. These results indicate that removal of the dRP group is a pivotal step in BER in vivo. Persistence of the dRP moiety in DNA results in the hypersensitivity phenotype of beta-pol null cells and may signal downstream events such as apoptosis and necrotic cell death.     

Stable isotopic compositions of precipitation events from Kathmandu,southern slope of the Himalayas

Investigation of temporal variations in the stable δ^18O and δD isotopes from Kathmandu＇s precipitation events shows that the relatively enriched δ^18O and δD values in the winter （the dry season, dominated by the westerlies） were positively correlated with temperature, indicating a temperature effect controlling the changes of δ^18O and δD. However, the δ^18O and δD values were depleted in the summer （the wet season, dominated by the Indian monsoon）, which were negatively correlated with precipitation amount, indicating an amount effect. In addition, the comparison of stable isotopes in precipitation from Kathmandu and Mawlong （near the Bay of Bengal） shows that the overall trends of δ^18O and δD values at Kathmandu generally approximate those at Mawlong. However, there remain many differences between the details of the isotopic changes at Kathmandu versus those at Mawlong. Compared with those at Mawlong, the further rainout effect and the more intense lift effect of the oceanic moisture by the high mountains resulted in the more depleted δ^18O and δD values in summer precipitation at Kathmandu. A deuterium excess and the local meteoric water lines reveal that evaporation at Kathmandu exceeds that at Mawlong. The data also show that the Indian monsoon activities at Mawlong are more intense than those at Kathmandu.     

In vitro response of human leukocytes to anti-human-thymocyte globulin

Résumé La faculté qu'ont le sérum (ALS) antithymocyte du cheval et son dérivé IgG (ALG) de stimuler la synthèse du DNA avec les leukocytes péripheriques humains a été contrôlée in vitro. Sauf déviation même faible de dosage, l'ALS et l'ALG stimulent la synthèse du DNA. Une forte concentration de ALG inhibe l'effet stimulant de la phytohémagglutinine. Cela peut contribuer en partie à la mort de la cellule ou à sa dégradation à cause de la grande concentration de l'ALS ou de l'ALG.     

The role of neuropeptides in adverse myocardial remodeling and heart failure

In addition to traditional neurotransmitters of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, the heart also contains numerous neuropeptides. These neuropeptides not only modulate the effects of neurotransmitters, but also have independent effects on cardiac function. While in most cases the physiological actions of these neuropeptides are well defined, their contributions to cardiac pathology are less appreciated. Some neuropeptides are cardioprotective, some promote adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure, and in the case of others their functions are unclear. Some have both cardioprotective and adverse effects depending on the specific cardiac pathology and progression of that pathology. In this review, we briefly describe the actions of several neuropeptides on normal cardiac physiology, before describing in more detail their role in adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. It is our goal to bring more focus toward understanding the contribution of neuropeptides to the pathogenesis of heart failure, and to consider them as potential therapeutic targets.