Role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the generation of the acute-phase response in rats with talc-induced granulomatosis

Subcutaneous injection of nonspecific irritants such as magnesium silicate (talc) provokes granulomatous inflammation in the rat. Part of the acute phase response (APR) in these animals is the loss of trabecular bone at sites distant from the site of inflammation. To assess the possible involvement of vitamin D in the bone loss, we studied the development of the acute phase response in vitamin D-deprived rats. The serum APR provoked by subcutaneous inflammation in rachitic rats consisted of hypozincemia, hypercupremia, increased, alkaline phosphatase activity and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration, and was similar to that in control animals except for the absence of hypoferremia. Control rats with talc-induced subcutaneous inflammation also had splenomegaly and decreased total and mononuclear peripheral blood cell counts, while subcutaneous inflammation did not induce spleen changes in rachitic rats. Subcutaneous inflammation induced the loss of trabecular bone and decreased the osteoblastic cell count in tibial metaphyses in control animals. Rachitic rats had abundant osteoid on trabecular surfaces, and the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts was comparable to that of the controls. Subcutaneous inflammation did not affect any of the bone parameters in rachitic rats. These results indicate that vitamin D plays an important role in the generation of the acute phase response during inflammation, particularly in the induction of spleen and bone cell changes. The discrepancy of the blood on one hand and bone and spleen indices of the APR on the other, indicate that there may be divergent pathways in the generation of the inflammatory response, some of which may be dependent on vitamin D.     

Transiting circumbinary planets Kepler-34 b and Kepler-35 b

Most Sun-like stars in the Galaxy reside in gravitationally bound pairs of stars (binaries). Although long anticipated, the existence of a 'circumbinary planet' orbiting such a pair of normal stars was not definitively established until the discovery of the planet transiting (that is, passing in front of) Kepler-16. Questions remained, however, about the prevalence of circumbinary planets and their range of orbital and physical properties. Here we report two additional transiting circumbinary planets: Kepler-34 (AB)b and Kepler-35 (AB)b, referred to here as Kepler-34 b and Kepler-35 b, respectively. Each is a low-density gas-giant planet on an orbit closely aligned with that of its parent stars. Kepler-34 b orbits two Sun-like stars every 289?days, whereas Kepler-35 b orbits a pair of smaller stars (89% and 81% of the Sun's mass) every 131?days. The planets experience large multi-periodic variations in incident stellar radiation arising from the orbital motion of the stars. The observed rate of circumbinary planets in our sample implies that more than ～1% of close binary stars have giant planets in nearly coplanar orbits, yielding a Galactic population of at least several million.     

Critical Self-Evaluation: An Attribute of Systemic Behavior: Authors of Natural Science Learning Materials as Evaluators

Social responsibility (SR) requires critical self-evaluating personalities. Here is a case of self-measurement. Some basic content-, methodology- and implementation-related characteristics of evaluation in education are presented. Particularly emphasized are attributes of good evaluation and good evaluators. The study empirically surveys the cognitive and emotional–motivational preparedness of e.g. authors of natural sciences learning materials for evaluation of their authored materials. Data analysis shows that authors hesitate. They worry about their objectivity, lack of time, and insufficient methodological training. Authors more generally confirmed their cooperation in the planning of evaluation in terms of content and methodology and evaluation report generation. Method may be usable in other cases, too, and may help its users improve their SR in self-measurement.     

A paper strip electrophoretic examination of the action of dextran in colloidal solution on human serum

Zusammenfassung Eine 6% ige kolloidale Dextranlösung,in vivo infundiert oder dem Serumin vitro zugesetzt ändert dessen Lipidogramm. Zwischen Startpunkt und -Globulinen entsteht eine neue mit DL bezeichnete Fettfraktion. Im Verlauf der Experimente unterblieb eine Trübung des Serums und Änderung des Elektrophorese-Proteinogramms.     

Depression of experimental gastric ulcers and acute pancreatitis in rats treated by 5-azacytosine, 5-azacytidine and their N-methyl derivatives

Summary 5-Azacytosine, 1-methyl-5-azacytosine and 5-azacytidine administered to rats with a ligated pylorus block gastric secretion, gastric acidity, the extent of hemorrhage and the number and size of gastric defects. The same drugs also depress the development of experimental acute pancreatitis mediated in rats by interstitial administration of 7.5% natrium cholate into the pancreas in vivo. The drugs affected the amount of abdominal fluid and 6 h after the treatment the pathological changes were significantly decreased.     

Monoamine-containing structures in the nerve cord of some representatives of diptera (Insecta)

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe einer fluoreszenzmikroskopischen Methode wird an zwei Nematocera (S. argyreatum undP. contaminata) gezeigt, dass bestimmte Stellen des Unterschlundganglions und die Ventralganglien biogene Monoamine (wahrscheinlich Dopamin und Noradrenalin) enthalten. Adrenergische Nervenfasern wurden auch in den Konnektiven nachgewiesen.     

Über neue chemotherapeutisch wirksame Sulfonamide

Summary Some new 2- and 4-sulfanilamido-5-alkoxy-pirimidines and their hydroxy-, methoxy-, methylmercapto-and methyl-derivatives were prepared. All of the substances described were tested on white mice infected withStreptococcus pyogenes.     

Potassium-stimulated respiration of cerebral cortex of rats poisoned with phosphamidone

Résumé Chez le rat intoxiqué par des doses léthales de phosphamidone, la consommation in vitro d'oxygène des tranches du cortex cérébral stimulées par KCl est plus élevée que celles des témoins ou des rats intoxiqués au paraoxon ou au TEPP.     

Polarographic study of the reaction of pyridoxal with hydroxylamine

Zusammenfassung Es wurde polarographisch die Kinetik der Reaktion des Pyridoxals mit Hydroxylamin verfolgt. Die pH-Abhängigkeit der Geschwindigkeitskonstante der Kondensierung konnte auf Grund verschiedener Reaktivität einzelner dissoziierter Formen des Pyridoxals mit nichtprotonisiertem Hydroxylamin erklärt werden.     

On the participation of the zona glomerulosa on the adrenal response to stress

Zusammenfassung Zwei Serien Ratten wurden durch Formalininjektion belastet. Die Zona glomerulosa der Nebennierenrinde reagierte durch Lipoidausscheidung nur in jener Serie, die durch hohe Lymphozytenzahl des Blutes, hohen Lipoidgehalt der Fasciculata, kleinere Aktivität der Lymphknötchen der Milz und auffallend intensive Stressreaktion der Fasciculata charakterisiert war. Bei Ratten, deren Glomerulosa ihre Lipoide ausgeschieden hatte, trat weder Schwellung noch Desintegration des lymphatischen Gewebes der Milz auf.