Andorphins implicated in stereotypies of tethred sows

Summary The study presents evidence that the stereotypies of tethered sows are associated with the release of endorphins. This is the first indication that stereotypies may be an effective coping strategy.     

Fibrocytes: a unique cell population implicated in wound healing

Following tissue damage, host wound healing ensues. This process requires an elaborate interplay between numerous cell types which orchestrate a series of regulated and overlapping events. These events include the initiation of an antigen-specific host immune response, blood vessel formation, as well as the production of critical extracellular matrix molecules, cytokines and growth factors which mediate tissue repair and wound closure. Connective tissue fibroblasts are considered essential for successful wound healing; however, their origin remains a mystery. A unique cell population, known as fibrocytes, has been identified and characterized. One of the unique features of these blood-borne cells is their ability to home to sites of tissue damage. This article reviews the identification and characterization of fibrocytes, summarizes the potential role of fibrocytes in the numerous steps of the wound-healing process and highlights the potential role of fibrocytes in fibrotic disease pathogenesis.Received 25 November 2002; received after revision 31 December 2002; accepted 16 January 2003     

In vitro study of Fe-cystine chelate implicated in fusariose wilt of cotton

Zusammenfassung Die Möglichkeit einer Chelatbildung zwischen Cystin, Fusarinsäure und Eisenin vitro wurde untersucht. Während Fusarinsäure und Eisen einen stabilen Komplex bilden, ergaben kolorimetrische, chromatographische und spektrophotometrische Untersuchungen wenig Anhaltspunkte für eine Chelierung von Cystin und Eisen.

---

---

I am most grateful to ProfessorT. S. Sadasivan for guidance and encouragement and to Dr.S. Suryanarayanan for valuable suggestions. I thank the University Grants Commission for the award of a Fellowship.     

Effects of feeding corn infested by Fusarium to sows]

The effects of feeding Gilts with mouldy Corn containing 3,61 mg/kg zearalenone were tested. Ingestion of this mycotoxin by puberous Gilts blocked the sexual cycles in more than half of the animals. Uterine horns were enlarged and corpora lutea didn't regress into corpora albicantia. The presence of zearalenone in the diet of pregnant Gilts had no effect on embryonic mortality at 80 days of pregnancy, but reduced foetal weight by 26%.     

CHFR: a key checkpoint component implicated in a wide range of cancers

CHFR (Checkpoint with Forkhead-associated and RING finger domains) has been implicated in a checkpoint regulating entry into mitosis. However, the details underlying its roles and regulation are unclear due to conflicting lines of evidence supporting different notions of its functions. We provide here an overview of how CHFR is thought to contribute towards regulating mitotic entry and present possible explanations for contradictory observations published on the functions and regulation of CHFR. Furthermore, we survey key data showing correlations between promoter hypermethylation or down-regulation of CHFR and cancers, with a view on the likely reasons why different extents of correlations have been reported. Lastly, we explore the possibilities of exploiting CHFR promoter hypermethylation status in diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer patients. With keen interest currently focused on the association between hypermethylation of CHFR and cancers, details of how CHFR functions require further study to reveal how its absence might possibly contribute to tumorigenesis.     

Connexin 43 a check-point component of cell proliferation implicated in a wide range of human testis diseases

Gap junction channels link cytoplasms of adjacent cells. Connexins, their constitutive proteins, are essential in cell homeostasis and are implicated in numerous physiological processes. Spermatogenesis is a sophisticated model of germ cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis, in which a connexin isotype, connexin 43, plays a crucial role as evidenced by genomic approaches based on gene deletion. The balance between cell proliferation/differentiation/apoptosis is a prerequisite for maintaining levels of spermatozoa essential for fertility and for limiting anarchic cell proliferation, a major risk of testis tumor. The present review highlights the emerging role of connexins in testis pathogenesis, focusing specifically on two intimately interconnected human testicular diseases (azoospermia with impaired spermatogenesis and testicular germ cell tumors), whose incidence increased during the last decades. This work proposes connexin 43 as a potential cancer diagnostic and prognostic marker, as well as a promising therapeutic target for testicular diseases.     

Formation of proviruses in acute infection in vitro and in vivo

Summary Formation of DNA proviruses of RNA viruses, Sendai and Newcastle disease, was studied. DNA provirus of NDV was shown to be formed in mouse L-cells and Sendai DNA provirus in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells within 2–3 days post infection.     

Role of bile in intestinal absorption of203Pb in rats

Summary The author studied absorption of²⁰³Pb after administering intraduodenally²⁰³Pb eliminated with bile. The results obtained were compared with absorption of203Pb administered into the duodenum as²⁰³PbCl₂ in rats forming 2 groups, one with bile ducts cannulated, the other intact. It was found that bile played an important role in absorption of Pb from the gastrointestinal tract. Absorption of Pb²⁰³ is significantly reduced if the bile is drained off by means of a canula.     

Absence of recovery in the dark of chloroplast formation in UV-irradiatedEuglena

Summary UV-irradiatedEuglena showed recovery of liquid holding, as indicated by cell survival, but not of chloroplast formation. The addition of caffeine after UV-irradiation decreased the fraction of cells surviving, but had no effect on the chloroplast formation.     

Occurrence of dictyosteliaceae in the rhizosphere of plants in Southern India

Zusammenfassung Sechs Arten von Dictycosteliaceae sind in Indien zum ersten Mal aus bebautem und unbebautem Boden isoliert worden. Ihr Vorkommen in nichtkultivierten Böden war bis jetzt unbekannt. Die Rhizosphäre der Pflanzen scheint ein wichtiges Habitat dieser Organismen zu sein.     

中国城市化进程中的环境抗争

城市化是经济社会发展的必然选择。然而,随着中国城市化飞速发展,也产生了城市水、大气、固体废弃物和噪声污染等一系列生态环境问题。同时,随着环境意识的增强,人们对居住环境质量的要求不断提高,致使城市化过程中环境抗争事件不断涌现。本文回顾了已有研究文献,以国外环境抗争、国内农村环境抗争与城市环境抗争作对比,突出城市环境抗争的特点;从抗争的情感基础、精英力量、弱组织化和互动过程四个方面对城市的环境抗争进行建构;从抗争力量、制度化因素、发展观念和社会力量四个方面分析当前环境抗争所面临的一系列困境。培育公民社会、更新地方政府的发展观念、加强社会科学与自然科学和管理科学之间的交叉研究等是应对当前困境最根本的出路。     

Changes in binding of JH-III in hemolymph of adult femaleLocusta migratoria

Summary Hemolymph from adult femaleLocusta migratoria migratorioides was analyzed for binding of juvenile hormone III (JH-III) after allatectomy and transection of thenervus corporis allati 1 (NCA-I). These operations did not affect the apparent dissociation constant of the binding (Kd=3.3 10^–8 M). The concentration of binding sites exhibited fluctuations in relation to age and type of operation: an increased concentration of binding sites in females with disconnected corpora allata and a decreased concentration in allatectomized females. The changes in concentration of binding sites was not due to differences in water content or hemolymph volume in operated animals. The hemolymph protein concentration was reduced after NCA-I transection and even more after allatectomy. However, variations in protein concentration did not correlate with changes in concentration of JH-III binding sites. The changes in binding site concentration were related to changes in JH-titer.