The metabolism of higher chlorinated benzene isomers.

The metabolism of the isomeric tri- and tetrachlorobenzene isomers, penta- and hexachlorobenzene was investigated in the rabbit. The major urinary metabolites of the isomeric tri- and tetrachlorobenzenes were identified as the corresponding tri- and tetrachlorophenols whose structures were confirmed by chromatographic analyses. The genesis of the formation of metabolites is discussed in terms of their possible arene oxide intermediates in which the NIH shift of a chlorine atom is observed in the oxidation of many of the isomers. Pentachlorobenzene is metabolized to give both pentachlorophenol and a dechlorination-hydroxylation product which was identified as 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol. The hexachlorobenzene substrate did not give any phenolic metabolites.     

Microwave absorption by folded DNA chains

Absorption of radiation by DNA polymer is calculated for the case of bent polymer chains. The molecule is assumed to be straight except for localized bends. The region between two bends is studied in particular. The vibrational properties of the bends are parameterized by a transmission and a reflection coefficient. A general Green function expression for absorption is studied for various values of the damping rate, as well as the transmission/reflection coefficients. Curves of absorption vs frequency are shown for a number of cases.     

Short- and long-term effects of IL-1 and TNF antagonists on periodontal wound healing

The present study tested the effects of local injection of IL-1 and TNF soluble receptors on a periodontal wound-healing model in nonhuman primates. In this model, periodontal lesions were developed for 16 wk, followed by open flap surgery. Starting at the time of surgery, groups of animals received localized injections of both soluble cytokine receptors or else PBS three times per week for 3, 14, or 35 days. Periodontal wound healing was analyzed for each group at the end of the treatment regimen. Fourteen days after surgery, a significant decrease was observed between the animals treated with soluble receptors and the untreated group with respect to recruitment of inflammatory cells in deep gingival connective tissue. Concurrent apoptosis of inflammatory cells in those tissues increased significantly in treated animals compared with untreated animals. All other outcome parameters of periodontal wound healing were likewise significantly improved in treated animals compared with untreated animals. In marked contrast, however, 35 days after surgery, there was a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells that had infiltrated into deep gingival connective tissue in treated compared with untreated animals. Outcome parameters of periodontal wound healing worsened in treated animals when compared with untreated. These results indicate that proinflammatory cytokines may play different functional roles in early vs late phases of periodontal wound healing. Short-term blockade of IL-1 and TNF may facilitate periodontal wound healing, whereas prolonged blockade may have adverse effects.     

Helium-neon laser preirradiation induces protection against UVC radiation in wild-type E. coli strain K12AB1157

We have observed that preirradiation with a helium-neon laser (632.8 nm) induces protection against UVC radiation in wild-type E. coli strain K12AB1157. The magnitude of protection was found to depend on the helium-neon laser irradiance, exposure time, and period of incubation between helium-neon laser exposure and subsequent UVC irradiation. The optimum values for dose, irradiance and interval between the two exposures were found to be 7 kJ/m(2), 100 W/m(2) and 1 h, respectively. The possible involvement of singlet oxygen in the helium-neon laser-induced protection is also discussed.     

Cyclooxygenase 2 plays a pivotal role in the resolution of acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe illness with excess mortality and no specific therapy. In its early exudative phase, neutrophil activation and accumulation in the lung lead to hypoxemia, widespread tissue damage, and respiratory failure. In clinical trials, inhibition of proinflammatory mediators has not proven effective. In this study, we pursued a new investigative strategy that emphasizes mediators promoting resolution from lung injury. A new spontaneously resolving experimental murine model of ALI from acid aspiration was developed to identify endogenous proresolving mechanisms. ALI increased cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in murine lung. Selective pharmacologic inhibition or gene disruption of COX-2 blocked resolution of ALI. COX-2-derived products increased levels of the proresolving lipid mediators lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and, in the presence of aspirin, 15-epi-LXA4. Both LXA4 and 15-epi-LXA4 interact with the LXA4 receptor (ALX) to mediate anti-inflammatory actions. ALX expression was markedly induced by acid injury and transgenic mice with increased ALX expression displayed dramatic protection from ALI. Together, these findings indicate a protective role in ALI for COX-2-derived mediators, in part via enhanced lipoxin signaling, and carry potential therapeutic implications for this devastating clinical disorder.     

Potential targets of transforming growth factor-beta1 during inhibition of oocyte maturation in zebrafish

Background  

TGF-beta is a multifunctional growth factor involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. Unlike mammals, the function of TGF-beta in the reproduction of lower vertebrates, such as fish, is not clear. Recently, we showed that TGF-beta1 inhibits gonadotropin- and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP)-induced maturation in zebrafish. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying this action.     

Frequencies of virus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes secreting gamma interferon after acute natural rotavirus infection in children and adults

Human rotavirus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied using a flow cytometric assay that detects the intracellular accumulation of cytokines after short-term in vitro antigen stimulation. The frequencies of virus-specific T cells that secrete gamma interferon and interleukin-13 (IL-13) were determined in adults and children during the acute or convalescent phase of rotavirus-induced diarrhea, in asymptomatically infected adults and laboratory workers who worked with human stool samples containing rotavirus, and in healthy adults. Significantly higher frequencies of rotavirus-specific interferon gamma-secreting CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells, but not IL-13-secreting T cells, were detected in symptomatically infected adults and exposed laboratory workers than in healthy adults and children with acute rotavirus diarrhea. The levels of rotavirus-specific T cells returned to levels found in healthy adults by 32 days after the onset of rotavirus diarrhea in most adult subjects. Children with rotavirus diarrhea had undetectable or very low levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that secrete gamma interferon. Adult cytomegalovirus-seropositive individuals had frequencies of cytomegalovirus-specific T cells that secrete gamma interferon that were approximately 20 times the level of rotavirus-specific T cells. This result suggests that rotavirus is a relatively poor inducer of circulating memory T cells that secrete gamma interferon. The frequencies of gamma interferon-secreting CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and the frequencies of IL-13-secreting CD4(+) T cells responding to the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) were lower in children than in adults. In both adults and children, the frequencies of CD4(+) cells secreting gamma interferon in response to SEB were higher than the frequencies of cells secreting IL-13.     

He-Ne laser irradiation protects B-lymphoblasts from UVA-induced DNA damage

The effect of He-Ne laser (632.8 nm) pre-irradiation on UVA (343 nm)-induced DNA damage in the human B-lymphoblast cell line NC37 was investigated using the comet assay. He-Ne laser pre-irradiation was observed to result in a dose-dependent decrease in UVA-induced DNA damage. This effect was also found to be dependent on the incubation period between He-Ne laser pre-irradiation and the UVA exposure. Whereas the control cells with a higher DNA damage point to an initial ability of faster repair, both the control and the He-Ne laser pre-irradiated cells subsequently show the same rate of DNA repair. The results suggest that He-Ne laser irradiation protect the cells from UVA-induced DNA damage primarily through an influence on processes that prevent an initial DNA damage. Received: 10 April 2000 / Accepted: 24 November 2000