Tissue ascorbic acid and a liver dehydroascorbatase in guinea-pigs

Summary The extraction, partial purification and assay of a dehydroascorbatase from guinea-pig liver is described. There was no evidence that changes in dehydroascorbatase activity could account for the modified tissue ascorbic acid concentrations associated with ageing or with the ingestion of fluoride, flavonoids or anthocyanin material.Supported by a Beechams Products grant.     

Fluorogenic amines in the notochords of chick embryos treated by cholinergics]

The investigation of 3 day old notochords by the fluorescence method of Falck and Owman showed an increase of the fluorescence after treatment of the chick embryos at 48 hrs of incubation, with nicotine sulfate or carbachol. The addition of norepinephrine or L-Dopa emphasized the formaldehyde induced fluorescence. The simultaneous treatment with a cholinergic agent and atropine, propranolol or reserpine decreased or suppressed the fluorescence. These results demonstrate the existence of a relationship between the treatment with a cholinergic agent and the amount of chordal biogenic amines.     

Maturation of the female Tetrix undulata (Swrb) (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae): influence of the male and copulation:parthenogenetic egg-laying]

The percentage of laying females and laying time, are compared between mature females (diapause break by chilling) and diapause strain females (diapause not broken by chilling) reared with mature male or diapause male or without male. For the same physiological state of the females (mature or diapause) there is no difference in the percentage of females laying, when they are reared with mature male or with diapause one or none; but the laying time is shortest with mature male, longer with male in diapause, even longer without male. Parthenogenetic egg-pods can be obtain. Rearing with mature males does not break the reproductive diapause of females. In parthenogenetic egg-pods the number of eggs is short for low diapause females; greater for mature ones and greatest for females with strong diapause broken by a corpus allatum implant of mature female of Locusta migratoria. Corpus allatum of the low diapause strain of females of Tetrix undulata have less activity than that of mature females. Few parthenogenetic eggs develop, even less hatch. In Tetrix undulata parthenogenesis is accidental.     

Inhibition of the reinitiation of meiosis in Xenopus laevis oocytes by three natural antiproteases: antipain, chymostatin, and leupeptin]

Oocytes incubated for 1 hr. in saline containing 1 mg/ml of antipain, leupeptin or chymostatin do not reinstate meiosis when progesterone or ionophore A 23187 are added. On the contrary such oocytes remain able to undergo meiosis when injected with cytoplasm of maturing oocytes (MPF), with Rabbit phosphorylase kinase or with Beef protein kinase. These results demonstrate that the loss of responsiveness to progesterone or ionophore is not due to toxic effects but rather to some interference with a key event which occurs prior to MPF action.     

Cryoprotection of human bone marrow committed stem cells (CFU-c) by dextran,glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide

Summary Dextran, glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), alone or in combination, were used for cryoprotection of human bone marrow cells. The viability of cryopreserved cells was assessed by culture of myelopoiesis-committed stem cells (CFU-c) in vitro. A significantly better protection against freezing injury was obtained by 9% dextran in combination with 3 or 5% DMSO, and also with 5 or 10% DMSO alone, than with either 15% glycerol or 9% dextran with 1% DMSO.Acknowledgments. This work has been supported by the grant Nr. 140.AK-79 (5) from the Swiss Cancer League.     

Granulocyte adhesion to nephritic glomeruli through recognition of activated C4 and C3 in immune deposits

Summary Sections of rat kidney with bovine serum albumin nephritis were incubated either with a single component of complement or with several components in sequence and then reacted with granulocytes. The average number of granulocytes bound to a nephritic glomerulus was elevated in sections incubated with C4 or C3 and increases were most significant when C14, C142 or C1423 were incubated.     

Granulocyte adhesion to nephritic glomeruli through recognition of activated C4 and C3 in immune deposits

Sections of rat kidney with bovine serum albumin nephritis were incubated either with a single component of complement or with several components in sequence and then reacted with granulocytes. The average number of granulocytes bound to a nephritic glomerulus was elevated in sections incubated with C4 or C3 and increases were most significant when C14, C142 or C1423 were incubated.     

Little effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on blood-brain barrier to dopamine

Summary Rats were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) intraperitoneally or intravenously, and simultaneously with dopamine (DA). The presence of DMSO resulted in small or no increases in brain levels of DA or its metabolites.Acknowledgments. Supported in part by the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and by a Peggy Engl Fellowship to Dr Walters.     

Role of plasminogen activator-plasmin system in tumor angiogenesis

New blood formation or angiogenesis has become a key target in therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting tumor growth and other diseases associated with neovascularization. Angiogenesis is associated with important extracellular remodeling involving different proteolytic systems among which the plasminogen system plays an essential role. It belongs to the large serine proteinase family and can act directly or indirectly by activating matrix metalloproteinases or by liberating growth factors and cytokines sequestered within the extracellular matrix. Migration of endothelial cells is associated with significant upregulation of proteolysis and, conversely, immunoneutralization or chemical inhibition of the system reduces angiogenesis in vitro. On the other hand, genetically altered mice developed normally without overt vascular anomalies indicating the possibility of compensation by other proteases in vivo. Nevertheless, they have in some experimental settings revealed unanticipated roles for previously characterized proteinases or their inhibitors. In this review, the complex mechanisms of action of the serine proteases in pathological angiogenesis are summarized alongside possible therapeutic applications.     

L-arginine and pancreatic islet blood flow in anesthetized rats

The aim of the present study was to see if L-arginine, which induces insulin release and is a precursor of the endothelial-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide, affects whole pancreatic and/or islet blood flow. For this purpose, anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with either saline or L-arginine (25, 100 or 250 mg/kg body weight). All doses of arginine caused a slight increase in blood glucose concentration, while the highest dose (250 mg/kg body weight) also increased insulin concentration. However, no changes in either mean arterial blood pressure, whole pancreatic or islet blood flow could be discerned with any of the doses of arginine used. It is concluded that insulin release is not necessarily associated with an increased islet blood perfusion.     

Firewalking

Firewalking is known throughout recorded history and around the world. Ordinarily it is associated with religious beliefs or mystical states of mind in which the gods or unusual mental powers provide extraordinary protection for true believers or those with proper training. However, firewalking commonly involves hot materials of low heat capacity and poor thermal conductivity and sometimes the use of insulation. The excited or trance-like states of firewalkers contribute to the firewalkers' subjective experience but are not required for a successful walk. We conclude that elementary knowledge of physics and psychology is sufficient to explain the known observations of firewalking.     

The role of vitamin E in preventing the hemolysis of kid and chick erythrocytes with Tween 20

Summary Erythrocytes of vitamin E-deficient kids and chicks were hemolyzed at concentrations of Tween 20 above 1%. In vivo or in vitro uptake of vitamin E by the erythrocytes, or the addition of dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol, prevented the hemolysis with Tween 20.     

Firewalking

Summary Firewalking is known throughout recorded history and around the world. Ordinarily it is associated with religious beliefs or mystical states of mind in which the gods or unusual mental powers provide extraordinary protection for true believers or those with proper training. However, firewalking commonly involves hot materials of low heat capacity and poor thermal conductivity and sometimes the use of insulation. The excited or trance-like states of firewalkers contribute to the firewalkers' subjective experience but are not required for a successful walk. We conclude that elementary knowledge of physics and psychology is sufficient to explain the known observations of firewalking.     

Effect of histones from brain on DNA-synthesis in vitro

The results of these experiments demonstrate that histones from brain inhibit the replication of DNA in vitro. A similar effect is observed with polylysine or polyarginine. The reversion of inhibition by polyglutamic acid or acidic proteins is completed in all cases except when the DNA is previously complexed with histones, polyarginine or polylysine. This suggest that histones masking of DNA towards the polymerases involves electrostatic forces.     

The effect of moderate hemodilution with fluosol-DA or normal saline on acetaminophen disposition in the rat

Hemodilution with 40 ml/kg of Fluosol or saline reduced the acetaminophen Vd and the acetaminophen sulfate ClM at 48 or 72 h, respectively. Fluosol hemodilution increased the acetaminophen renal excretion at 24 and 72 h. But at 48 h, Fluosol hemodilution either inhibited the renal secretion of acetaminophen or enhanced its reabsorption.     

黄群藻目分类系统述评及主要分类特征的评价

黄群藻目Synurales是主要根据光合色素和亚显微结构特征建立的一个目,也是淡水金藻中较大的一个目,包括约160种。该目的植物体为自由运动的单细胞或群体,细胞的表质上覆盖许多硅质的鳞片,以覆瓦状、甲胄状排列或自由附着于表质上,鳞片具刺毛或无,具1条或2条不等长鞭毛。黄群藻目植物区别于其它金藻植物的主要特征为,它们的色素体仅含有叶绿素C1,鞭毛基部平行排列,并且形成硅质鳞片的硅质沉积孢囊与叶绿体外膜相连。自建立至今,该目的分类系统几经变化。本文综述了黄群藻目分类系统的研究进展,并对其主要形态特征的分类价值进行了分析。     

Nitric oxide synthases: targets for therapeutic strategies in neurological diseases

Glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunctions are common features leading to neuronal death in cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nitric oxide (NO) alone or in cooperation with superoxide anion and peroxynitrite is emerging as a predominant effector of neurodegeneration The use of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors and mutant mice lacking each NOS isoform have provided evidence for the injurious effects of NO derived from neuronal or inducible isoforms. New neuroprotective strategies have been proposed with selective NOS inhibitors for the neuronal (ARL17477) or the inducible (1400 W) isoforms or with compounds combining in one molecule selective nNOS inhibition and antioxidant properties (BN 80933), in experimental ischemia-induced acute neuronal damage. The efficacy of these new strategies is well established in acute neuronal injury but remains to be determined in more chronic neurological diseases.     

Hsp70: a carrier molecule with built-in adjuvanticity

One problem associated with the development of subunit vaccines is their limited immunogenicity, due to their physico-chemical structure, their inability to encounter the correct MHC restriction element, or the need for strong adjuvants to be delivered along with them. These problems are usually solved by conjugating target epitopes (peptides or oligosaccharides) with carrier proteins which provide a source of T-cell epitopes recognised by a large proportion of the vaccinated individuals. We have shown that mycobacterial hsp65 and hsp70 exert a strong helper effect in vivo when conjugated to synthetic peptides or oligosaccharides. Interestingly, this helper effect did not require the need for any adjuvant, either in mice or in monkeys. The helper effect mediated by the hsp65 required that animals were previously primed with either live BCG or the hsp65 alone; on the other hand, such a priming was not required when the hsp70 was used in the conjugates. Similar results were obtained with HSP molecules fromEscherichia coli. This may suggest that the adjuvant-free helper effect observed applies not only to mycobacterial HSP, but also to HSP from other prokaryotes. These findings suggest that microbial hsp70 could be considered for the design of conjugated vaccine constructs for eventual human use.