The calibration of rabbit tissue thromboplastins: experience of the Dutch Reference Laboratory for anticoagulant control

A number of commercial rabbit tissue thromboplastins used in oral anticoagulant control have been calibrated against the first International Reference Preparation for thromboplastins. This was done in a three-stage procedure by one laboratory, each stage representing a different level of thromboplastin comparability. The calibration model recently recommended by ICTH and ICSH was tested. This model proved to be suitable, although a statistically significant aberration was observed for some of the thromboplastins. The bias introduced by using the model in these non-ideal cases was small compared to the overall variation of the International Normalized Ratio, being the universal scale for reporting the prothrombin time during oral anticoagulant control. Batch-to-batch calibration using lyophilized pooled plasmas could be reliably performed for several commercial thromboplastins.     

Thrombotic thrombocytopenia associated with COVID-19 infection or vaccination: Possible paths to platelet factor 4 autoimmunity

Michel Goldman and Cédric Hermans discuss thrombotic mechanisms in COVID-19 and rare adverse reactions to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations.     

The molecular organization of the beta-globin complex of the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus

Recombinant DNA clones have been isolated that contain 80 kb of the beta-globin complex from the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus. Comparisons of this complex with that from the laboratory mouse, Mus domesticus (with an order 5'-Hbby, Hbb-bhO, Hbb-bhl, Hbb-bh2, Hbb-bh3, Hbb-bl, Hbb-b2 3') highlight organizational trends in the beta-globin complex since the two species diverged. Unlike other mammals studied thus far, the deer mouse possesses three adult genes. Partial sequence analysis indicates that each of the three adult genes is intact and hence may be functional. Hybridization of one of the two Mus pseudogenes, Hbb-bh3, to genomic blots from Peromyscus reveals that it has a homologous counterpart in Peromyscus. Homologous genes to the two gamma-like Mus genes, Hbb-bhO and Hbb-bhl, are also found in Peromyscus. The strong hybridization between the Hbb-bhl genes and significant nucleotide similarity between the Hbb-bhO genes suggest that both pairs are important for the ontogeny of these mice although no known product has been identified for the Hbb-bhO genes. The presence of Hbb-bhO and Hbb-bhl in Peromyscus suggests that the duplication that created this related gene set occurred before the two lineages diverged. A single gene for Hbb-y has been isolated from Peromyscus. The adult region in Peromyscus has undergone significant divergence from the same region in Mus, having three rather than two adult genes, the acquisition of at least 15 kb of extra DNA relative to Mus, and possibly the loss of the Hbb-bh2 pseudogene. The nonadult region of the complex, in contrast, contains the same set of genes apparently distributed over the same amount of DNA as in the Mus beta- globin complex. This observation suggests that the embryonic region of the complex is more evolutionarily stable than the adult region.      

Representation of a protein molecule as a tree and application to modular computer programs which calculate and modify atomic coordinates

The concept and representation of a logical tree as defined in computer science is applied to obtain a suitable representation of protein molecules in computer programs which handle or calculate atomic coordinates of protein molecules. On the basis of this analysis and of the analysis of the calculation and modification of the structure of a protein from bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles, which is reproduced in an appendix, program modules which accomplish the various required computations are described. Three such modules are given in Iverson notation; in fact, it is hoped that this article will serve as a reasonably complete basis for the preparation of machine programs by moderately proficient programmers.     

Biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome: influence of selected foodstuffs,containing bioactive components

The influence of various non-nutritive bioactive foodstuffs and food components on the biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome in humans is critically reviewed. Tea, coffee, cocoa, soy, olive oil, fruit and nuts are most of the time found to be effective in improving lipid profiles, CRP and adiponectin. Spices (garlic, curcumin and cinnamon), carotenoids and the phytosterol/-stanols are frequently related to lower risk of metabolic syndrome and improved biomarkers. Since food is a complex matrix and the heterogeneity of studied population and served diets are not always well-defined, this could explain some contradictory results found in literature. Other factors jeopardizing definite conclusions are mentioned.     

650. CYNORKIS GUTTATA

Cynorkis guttata Hermans & P. J. Cribb in Cynorkis sect. Gibbosorchis , a recently-described orchid from Madagascar, is illustrated. The identities of Cynorkis purpurascens Lindl., C. calanthoides Kraenzlin and the artificial hybrid C . 'Kewensis' are explained.     

Lack of Rapid Desensitization of Ca2+ Responses in Transfected CHO Cells Expressing the Rat Neurotensin Receptor Despite Agonist-Induced Internalization

Abstract: Transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells were used as a model for the study of the desensitization of the neurotensin receptor at the second messenger level. Stimulation with nanomolar concentrations of neurotensin elicited rapid rises in the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), which remained elevated throughout the peptide application. A significant response was already detected with neurotensin concentrations as low as 0.01 nM. This high efficiency of neurotensin in mediating this calcium response contrasts with the nanomolar affinity of the peptide for its receptor measured in binding experiments. Evidence indicated that the initial elevation of the [Ca²⁺]_i resulted from release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores, whereas the sustained response involved an influx of extracellular origin. Return to the basal level was only reached after extensive washing of the peptide or its displacement with the neurotensin receptor antagonist SR48692. After washing, further stimulations were still able to mediate an increase in the [Ca²⁺]_i, indicating an apparent absence of rapid desensitization of the intracellular signaling pathway that mediates calcium mobilization. In contrast with this absence of response desensitization, the neurotensin receptors were found to internalize after stimulation with the peptide. This internalization was maximal after 30 min and accounted for ～70% of the number of neurotensin binding sites located at the cell surface. These results indicate that despite the functional properties of the rat neurotensin receptor present in Chinese hamster ovary cells after transfection, the intracellular signaling pathway triggered by stimulation with neurotensin seems to be resistant to desensitization. This might be related to the high efficiency of the intracellular signaling pathway coupled to the neurotensin receptor observed in these cells. A possible absence of desensitization of the neurotensin receptor itself is also discussed.