Binding of 11-cis retinaldehyde to the partially purified cellular retinaldehyde binding protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Summary 11-cis retinaldehyde binding analysis was performed on a bovine retinal pigment epithelium preparation of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), whose purity degree was estimated as 75%. Equilibrium binding studies were carried out measuring the replacement of tritium-labeled with unlabeled 11-cis retinaldehyde at 25°C. Analysis of the experimental data both by a direct curve-fitting procedure utilizing a non linear least square regression analysis and by a conventional Scatchard plot revealed a single non-interacting binding site with an apparent equilibrium constant of 0.9×10^–7 M.A binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of 11-cis retinaldehyde/mol of binding protein can be calculated from the experimental data. Competition studies carried out in the presence of unlabeled trans and cis isomers of Vitamin A derivatives confirm the high degree of specificity of the 11-cis retinaldehyde binding.     

基于脑涨落图和抑郁评分系统评价中医综合治疗抑郁症的疗效

以DEP患者作为研究对象,利用脑涨落图仪（EFG）的客观检查方法及DEP现代医学评分系统,评价解郁合欢汤+五行音乐疗法的中医综合治疗方式对DEP的疗效。指标包括EFG检测大脑神经递质相对功率值、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）以及蒙哥马利抑郁评定量表（MADRS）。EFG结果显示,患者治疗后脑内γ-氨基丁酸的相对功率值较治疗前显著降低（P<0.001）,去甲肾上腺素（P<0.001）、多巴胺相对功率值（P<0.001）较治疗前显著提高,患者治疗后的HAMD(P<0.001)、MADRS(P<0.001)较治疗前显著降低。说明中医综合疗法对DEP的疗效确切,可通过对大脑神经递质的调节作用而发挥抗抑郁疗效。     

Disruption of mitochondrial function as the basis of the trypanocidal effect of trifluoperazine onTrypanosoma cruzi

Summary The tricyclic anti-calmodulin drug trifluoperazine (TFP) inhibited growth and motility of epimastigotes ofTrypanosoma cruzi, at concentrations lower than 100 M, and motility and infectivity of the bloodstream trypomastigote form at 200 M. Electron microscopy of TFP-treated epimastigotes showed that the major effect was at the mitochondrial level, with gross swelling and disorganization. The oligomycin-sensitive, mitochondrial ATPase was completely inhibited by 20 M TFP, and the same drug concentration caused a 60% decrease in intracellular ATP content. The results suggest that the trypanocidal effect of TFP may be related more to mitochondrial damage than to the well-known anticalmodulin effect of the drug.