Effect of dihydroergocristine infusion on tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion in man

Summary The insulinemic response to 1 g of tolbutamide i.v. is greatly enhanced (+145%) after a 60-min infusion of the -lytic dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid, dihydroergocristine (83.3 m/min, corresponding to a total dose of 5 mg) in 7 healthy subjects. No differences are observed in the glycemic responses.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Mr Franco Della Sala, M.D., for his skillful technical assistance.     

0957 + 561 A, B: twin quasistellar objects or gravitational lens?

0957 + 561 A, B are two QSOs of mag 17 with 5.7 arc s separation at redshift 1.405. Their spectra leave little doubt that they are associated. Difficulties arise in describing them as two distinct objects and the possibility that they are two images of the same object formed by a gravitational lens is discussed.     

Serum enzyme activities in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Summary The serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase have been measured in the African elephant. In general, the values were broadly comparable with those of man except that alanine aminotransferase was much lower and creatine phosphokinase higher. No variation due to age, sex, season or location was observed.     

Effect of air ionization on blood serotonin in vitro

Summary The effect of negative and positive air ionisation on siliconized blood serotonin was studied in vitro. The experiments showed that within 10 min positive ionisation increased serotonin levels in total blood (+40%), plasma (+90%), erythrocytes (+50%) and thrombocytes (+200%). On the other hand, negative ionization (10 min) lowered the serotonin content of total blood (–30%), plasma (–42.5%), erythrocytes (–41.7%) and thrombocytes (–72.3%), thus confirming the Krueger Effect in vitro.This research was generously supported by a grant from the Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah, and Dr. and Mrs.Leonard Appleby of Palmbeach, Florida.Acknowledgment: Our thanks are due to Mr.B. Shalita, Mrs.Zippora Adar and Mrs.Olga Fradkin for devoted technical assistance.     

RNA synthesis in α-amanitin-poisoned rats: Prevention of recovery by inhibition of protein synthesis

Summary The treatment with cycloheximide of rats previously poisoned with -amanitin hinders the recovery of RNA synthesis observed in the liver of rats treated with -amanitin alone. The recovery of RNA synthesis can be ascribed to the capability of poisoned rats to synthesize new RNA-polymerase II.Acknowledgments: We thank ProfessorT. Wieland for the generous gift of -amanitin. This work was supported by grants from C.N.R., Rome, and by Pallotti's legacy for Cancer Research.     

Induction of autotomy in the American bird grasshopperSchistocerca americana (Drury) by the ecdysone agonist RH-5849 and investigation of its mode of action

The non-steroidal ecdysone agonist RH-5849 (1,2-dibenzoyl-l-tert-butylhydrazine) was found to be an effective neurotoxicant on injection into the American bird grasshopper,Schistocerca americana (Drury). Treated grasshoppers became immediately hyperactive, followed by loss of coordination, paralysis and eventually death. We also discovered that this compound induced bilateral autotomy of the metathoracic legs during the early stages of intoxication. However, no evidence of ecdysonergic or morphogenetic activities was observed. Synergism studies with neurotoxins of known mode of action suggested that RH-5849 has a mechanism of action similar to that of 4-amino pyridine, which blocks potassium channels.     

双(3-甲氧基-4-羟基)苯甲醛合氢氧化锌配合物的晶体结构

合成双 ( 3-甲氧基 - 4-羟基 )苯甲醛合氢氧化锌配合物 ,测定红外光谱、热重、单晶结构 ,晶体C16H18O8Zn属单斜晶系 ,空间群为Cc ,晶胞参数 :a =2 .2 1 6 7( 4 )nm ,b =1 .0 540 ( 2 )nm ,c =0 .780 0 ( 2 )nm ,β =1 0 6 .9°,Z =4。结构解析最终一致性因子R1=0 .0 390 ,wR2 =0 .0 91 6。中心Zn原子通过 6个O原子形成八面体结构的配合物。分子间通过氢键和范德华力形成 3D网状超分子结构