Sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes of normal and alcoholic subjects.

The effects of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and age on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in human lymphocytes were assessed by means of multiple linear regression. An increase in SCE rates was associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.0231), and, to a small extent (p = 0.057), age. These three confounding factors explain 48% of the inter-personal variation in SCE rates among subjects studied.     

Genotype-specific reduction in methyl nitrosourea (MNU) induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in vivo during aging

Summary We studied mice from five strains (BALB/c, C3H/HeSnJ, C57BL/6J, Cs^b and 129/ReJ) at two ages (young, 10±1 weeks; and old, 67±3 weeks) for the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in vivo by methyl nitrosourea (MNU). The SCE frequency is genotype-specific. The F₁ phenotype resembles the low responding parent. SCE induction is significantly lower in the older animals of each strain than their younger counterparts, and the reduction of SCE/cell with old age is strain-specific. A general explanation for these results must include strain differences in relative mutagenic sensitivity, genotype-specific pattern of reduction in DNA repair and other such factors affecting SCE formation, with old age.     

Distribution of sister chromatid exchanges in different types of chromatin in the X chromosome ofMicrotus cabrerae

We used the X chromosomes ofMicrotus cabrerae as a model to analyze the distribution of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) on different types of chromatin, because of the marked heterogeneity of the heterochromatin in the entire short arm and a portion of the long arm of this chromosome. Computer-simulated distributions, according to an algorithm that makes it possible to modify the distribution on the basis of any possible hypothesis, were compared with real distributions by log-linear models. We found that the frequency of SCEs in different types of heterochromatin was higher than that expected for a random distribution, and located an SCE hot-spot at the junction between euchromatin and heterochromatin. The possible relationship between the distribution of SCEs and base composition or chromatin accessibility are discussed.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes exposed to 8-methoxypsoralen and long wave UV radiation prior to incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine

Summary Human lymphocytes exposed to the effects of long wave UV radiation in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen prior to stimulation by PHA show dose related sister chromatid exchanges after 2 replication cycles in vitro. This has implications for interpreting the repair processes involved and for monitoring DNA damaging agents in vivo.     

Preimplantation mouse embryos cultured in mouse,rat and human sera: differentiation and sister chromatid exchange

Summary Development of 4-cell and of 8-cell mouse embryos and of morulae and blastocysts is inhibited in vitro by mouse serum but not by rat or human sera which also do not influence sister chromatid exchange in cultured morulae and blastocysts.     

Beta-adrenergic-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in normal and EBV-transformed lymphocytes

Summary Beta-adrenergic-associated cyclic AMP accumulation was studied in intact lymphocytes before and after transformation with Epstein-Barr virus into immortal cell lines. Although a marked reduction in isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis was observed in transformed cells, forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was preserved. A parallel loss of¹²⁵-iodocyanopindolol binding sites suggests that the reduction in beta-adrenergic-stimulated AMP synthesis is due to receptor down regulation.     

Effect of high doses of somatostatin on adenylate cyclase activity in peripheral mononuclear leukocytes from normal subjects and from acute leukemia patients

Summary In normal lymphocytes somatostatin non-competitively inhibited basal (ID₅₀ 5×10^–4 M) and isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (Ac). In acute leukemia blasts, non-responsive to isoproterenol, forskolin, which activates the catalytic subunit, stimulated and somatostatin inhibited Ac, thus indicating the leukemic enzyme, though defective, retains the inhibitory pathway and catalyst function.     

香烟烟雾提取物对人内皮细胞细胞色素C氧化酶活性及细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨香烟烟雾提取物（cigarette smoking extract,CSE）对内皮细胞细胞色素C氧化酶（cytochmme Coxidase,COX）活性及凋亡的影响。方法体外培养ECV304,分别给予0％、0．5％、1％、5％CSE刺激12h,及5％CSE刺激0h、6h、12h、24h后,生化法检测COX活性;投射电镜和流式细胞仪观察细胞凋亡情况。结果CSE引起COX活性下降,且随着刺激浓度和时间的增加而下降（P〈0．05）;电镜示CSE干预组细胞出现明显的凋亡形态学改变;流式细胞仪结果示不同浓度CSE分别作用12h后凋亡率依次增高,除O％CSE组和0．5％CSE组间比较无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,余各组间比较均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;5％CSE作用不同时间后,随着干预时间的延长细胞凋亡率逐渐升高（P〈0．05）。结论CSE抑制内皮细胞COX活性,呈浓度和时间依赖性;CSE诱导内皮细胞凋亡,呈浓度和时间依赖性;COX活性的下降可能在CSE所致的内皮细胞凋亡中具有重要作用。     

Hormone and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in human lymphocytes: reliability of longitudinal time measurements

Summary Reliability of measurement of lymphocyte cyclic AMP synthesis in intact cells was estimated by taking 3 successive blood samples during a one-month period from 11 healthy volunteers. Isoproterenol and prostaglandin E₁-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation were used to evaluate the activity of these two receptor activities in human lymphocytes. Forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was used to evaluate the activity of the Ns/catalytic subunit. Only for forskolin was significant reliability observed. For isoproterenol and prostaglandin E₁ significant reliability was observed only for male subjects.Acknowledgment. This work was supported in part by the following organizations: Chief Scientist's Office, Israel Ministry of Health; Herman Goldman Foundation, New York; United Jewish Endowment Fund of Greater Washington-Pollinger Foundation.     

Transfer of oligosaccharide from oligosaccharide pyrophosphoryl dolichol to endogenous acceptor proteins in human breast malignant and normal tissues

Summary We have prepared dolichylpyrophosphoryl-[¹⁴C]-oligosaccharide (Dol-PP-oligosaccharide) from calf thyroid. Microsomal fractions from human breast tissues catalyzed the transfer of labeled oligosaccharide to endogenous acceptor proteins. Malignant tumors showed higher activity of the oligosaccharide transferring enzyme than normal tissue. With kojibiose (Kj), and inhibitor of (Glc₃)-glucosidase, an increase in the radioactivity associated with glycoprotein was observed.     

Distribution of HIV-1 in the genomes of AIDS patients

The localization of HIV-1 proviruses in compositional DNA fractions from 27 AIDS patients during the chronic phase of the disease with depletion of CD4+ and different levels of viremia showed the following. (1) At low viremia, proviruses are predominantly localized in the GC-richest isochores, which are characterized by an open chromatin structure; this result mimics findings on HIV-1 integration in early infected cells in culture. (2) At higher viremia, an increased distribution of proviruses in GC-poor isochores (which match the GC poorness of HIV-1) was found; this suggests a selection of cells in which the isopycnic localization leads to a higher expression of proviruses and, in turn, to higher viremia. (3) At the highest viremia, integrations in GC-rich isochores are often predominant again, but generally not at the same level as in (1); this may be the consequence of new integrations from the extremely abundant RNA copies.Received 21 November 2003; received after revision 13 January 2004: accepted 15 January 2004     

基于粗糙集与灰色动态预测模型在电力负荷短期预测的应用

针对电力系统多因素负荷预测问题的复杂性,结合粗糙集理论与GM（1,N）模型各自的优势,提出一种基于粗糙集理论的GM（1,N）预测模型.采取粗糙集理论对影响负荷预测因素进行简约,利用GM（1,N）建立简约后的因素变量和负荷之间的关系建立模型,并与GM（1,1）预测模型进行了比较,结果反映基于粗糙集理论的GM（1,N）预测模型的优越性,精准度达到94.055%.     

金银藤挥发油成分的气-质联用分析与化学计量学解析

目的 定性、定量分析金银藤挥发油成分.方法 采用气相色谱-质谱进行检测,通过化学计量学解析法对二雏色谱/质谱数据进行解析,得到各组分的纯色谱曲线和质谱,从而实现对金银藤挥发油成分的定性、定量分析,并结合程序升温保留指数来鉴定化合物.结果 金银藤的挥发油鉴定了39个成分,定性组分含量占金银藤挥发油成分总含量的94.54%.结论 全银藤挥发油的主要成分为十六烷酸（45.86%）、9,12-十八碳二烯政乙酯（39.02%）、十四烷酸（1.8%）、十五烷酸（1.07%）、十八烷酸（1.02%）.     

CD20-related signaling pathway is differently activated in normal and dystrophic circulating CD133+ stem cells

Among the heterogeneous population of circulating hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors, we identified a subpopulation of CD133⁺ cells displaying myogenic properties. Unexpectedly, we observed the expression of the B-cell marker CD20 in blood-derived CD133⁺ stem cells. The CD20 antigen plays a role in the modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis through signaling pathways activation. Several observations suggest that an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) could be involved in the etiology of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here, we show that a CD20-related signaling pathway able to induce an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i is differently activated after brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulation of normal and dystrophic blood-derived CD133⁺ stem cells, supporting the assumption of a “CD20-related calcium impairment-affecting dystrophic cells. Presented findings represent the starting point toward the expansion of knowledge on pathways involved in the pathology of DMD and in the behavior of dystrophic blood-derived CD133⁺ stem cells. Received 15 October 2008; received after revision 27 November 2008; accepted 05 December 2008     

The comparative biology of neuromelanin and lipofuscin in the human brain

Neuromelanin and lipofuscin are two pigments produced within the human brain that, until recently, were considered inert cellular waste products of little interest to neuroscience. Recent research has increased our understanding of the nature and interactions of these pigments with their cellular environment and suggests that these pigments may, indeed, influence cellular function. The physical appearance and distribution of the pigments within the human brain differ, but both accumulate in the aging brain and the pigments share some structural features. Lipofuscin accumulation has been implicated in postmitotic cell aging, while neuromelanin is suggested to function as an iron-regulatory molecule with possible protective functions within the cells which produce this pigment. This review presents comparative aspects of the biology of neuromelanin and lipofuscin, as well as a discussion of their hypothesized functions in brain and their possible roles in aging and neurodegenerative disease.     

Comparison of the time courses of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion rates during continuous stimulation by LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in vivo and in vitro

Summary The patterns of LH secretion during constant stimulation of the pituitary glands of estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats with a maximally stimulating amount of LH-RH in vivo and in vitro correspond with each other qualitatively and quantitatively. In vitro the changes with time of the LH secretion rate are somewhat retarded, especially the occurrence of desensitization.     

Developmental actions of natriuretic peptides in the brain and skeleton

The concept that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the closely related peptides BNP and CNP might be involved in the ontogeny of several organ systems emerged in the late 1980s. While many of the reported in vitro actions have not been examined in the context of organ development in vivo, recent studies demonstrate that mice which lack or overexpress natriuretic peptides or receptors exhibit pronounced skeletal growth defects. This article discusses how natriuretic peptides and other factors appear to regulate bone growth as an example of how natriuretic peptides might participate in the ontogeny of other organ systems. Evidence indicating that natriuretic peptides regulate neural development is then reviewed. Natriuretic peptides and receptors exhibit complex expression patterns in the developing nervous system, where they have been shown to act on neural cells as early as at the embryonic neural tube stage. Interestingly, both bone and brain growth appear to utilize primarily CNP and the CNP-specific type B receptor, and perhaps the type C receptor. In vitro data indicate that CNP may act on developing neurons, astrocytes and Schwann cells like a classical growth factor, regulating proliferation, patterning, phenotypic specification, survival and axonal pathfinding. Natriuretic peptides might also have roles in the vascularization of the embryonic brain, establishment of the blood-brain and blood-nerve barriers, and perhaps in nerve regeneration.Received 13 April 2004; received after revision 20 May 2004; accepted 27 May 2004     

西部退耕还林在生态环境建设中的地位与作用

根据中国西部由于自然和人为因素的影响,森林破坏严重,生态环境日趋恶化,经济基础薄弱。自然生态条件较差,发展水平仍然较低,西部各省人均国内生产总值无一达到全国平均水平,已严重的制约国民经济的发展和社会的安定团结的实际情况,分析了森林遭到破坏之后所造成的恶果对整个国民经济持续、快速和健康发展的影响,研究了退耕还林在整治国土中的巨大作用。     

Mathematical method and Newtonian science in the philosophy of Christian Wolff

This paper aims to illuminate Christian Wolff’s view of mathematical reasoning, and its use in metaphysics, by comparing his and Leibniz’s responses to Newton’s work. Both Wolff and Leibniz object that Newton’s metaphysics is based on ideas of sense and imagination that are suitable only for mathematics. Yet Wolff expresses more regard (than Leibniz) for Newton’s scientific achievement. Wolff’s approval of the use of imaginative ideas in Newtonian mathematical science seems to commit him to an inconsistent triad. For he rejects their use in metaphysics, and also holds that every scientific discipline must follow mathematics’ method. A facile resolution would be to suppose Wolff identifies the method of mathematics with the order in which propositions are deduced, or with “analysis” that reveals the structure of concepts. This would be to assimilate Wolff’s view to Leibniz’s (on which all mathematical propositions are ultimately derived from definitions, and definitions are justified by conceptual analysis). On this construal, mathematical reasoning involves only the understanding. But Wolff conceives mathematics’ method more broadly, to include processes of concept-formation which involve perception and imagination. Thus my way of resolving the tension is to find roles for perception and imagination in the formation of metaphysical concepts.