TRH analogue with C-terminal thioamide group. Synthesis, receptor binding, TSH-releasing activity and alpha-MSH-releasing activity

A new TRH analogue containing a C-terminal thioamide group was synthesized. This peptide was shown to have receptor-binding affinity, and TSH- as well as alpha-MSH-releasing activities very similar to native TRH.     

The effect of intraventricular thyroxine administration on body temperature in dogs at rest and during physical exercise

Summary Infusion of 1 g thyroxine into the left cerebral ventricle of the dog did not change body temperature at rest, but it caused significantly higher increases in T_re during physical exercise.     

Insulin secretion and (pro)insulin biosynthesis of cultured mice islets after glibenclamide loading in vitro

Summary Isolated islets from C57B1/6J mice exposed to 10 mmoles/1 glucose supplemented with 5 g/ml glibenclamide for 48 h released significantly less insulin in the subsequent short-time incubation thanuntreated controls (without glibenclamide), whereas insulin biosynthesis was not suppressed by glibenclamide treatment.Investigations were carried out as a part of the ForschungsprojektDiabetes mellitus und Fettstoffwechselstörungen, supported by the Ministry of Health of the GDR.     

Organoselenides as potential immunostimulants and inducers of interferon gamma and other cytokines in human peripheral blood leukocytes

Summary A number of organoselenium compounds have been described as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase-like agents and inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis. Here we report that bis [2-(N-phenyl-carboxamido)]phenyl diselenide, 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one (Ebselen) and related compounds are inducers of interferon gamma (IFN-) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in human peripheral blood leukocytes. The IFN and TNF response was rapid, occurring within 20 h, and high-up to 1000 and 2000 units ml^–1-and was clearly related to the dosage and the structure of the compounds. The action of the compounds and phytohemagglutinin was synergistic. The IFN gamma and TNF production was reduced after removing adherent cells. Although the mode of action of the compounds is not known, they appear to interact directly or indirectly with both adherent and non-adherent leukocytes, and stimulate the synthesis of a set of different cytokines including factors controlling the cell proliferation. Therefore, organoselenides may be regarded as the biological response modifiers.     

Using oligonucleotide suspension arrays for laboratory identification of bacteria responsible for bacteremia

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an oligonucleotide suspension array for rapid identification of 15 bacterial species responsible for bacteremia, particularly prevalent in Chinese hospitals. The multiplexed array, based on the QIAGEN LiquiChip Workstation, included 15 oligonucleotide probes which were covalently bound to different bead sets. PCR amplicons of a variable region of the bacterial 23S rRNA genes were hybridized to the bead-bound probes. Thirty-eight strains belonging to 15 species were correctly identified on the basis of their corresponding species-specific hybridization profiles. The results show that the suspension array, in a single assay, can differentiate isolates over a wide range of strains and species, and suggest the potential utility of suspension array system to clinical laboratory diagnosis.     

From in vivo to in silico biology and back

The massive acquisition of data in molecular and cellular biology has led to the renaissance of an old topic: simulations of biological systems. Simulations, increasingly paired with experiments, are being successfully and routinely used by computational biologists to understand and predict the quantitative behaviour of complex systems, and to drive new experiments. Nevertheless, many experimentalists still consider simulations an esoteric discipline only for initiates. Suspicion towards simulations should dissipate as the limitations and advantages of their application are better appreciated, opening the door to their permanent adoption in everyday research.