Prostaglandin release from human cervical tissue in the first trimester of pregnancy after preoperative dilatation with hygroscopic tents

Preoperative dilatation with hygroscopic tents before first trimester abortion by vacuum aspiration is widely accepted and reduces the risk of early and late complications. A softening effect and a reduced compliance to mechanical dilatation occurs in addition to pure mechanical dilatation of the cervix. If this softening is an effect of local prostaglandin release, however, is unknown. Prostaglandin (PG) release in vitro from cervical biopsies following dilatation in vivo by a synthetic hygroscopic tent (Dilapan) for periods of 4 h and 18 h was compared with that of biopsies from untreated women. No difference was observed between the release of PGE₂, PGF_2α, or 6-keto-PGF_1α. No significant difference was found in the tissue water content between treated and untreated women (83.8% versus 83.2%). Prostaglandins were also extracted from an alternative cervical dilator, Lamicel (a polyvinyl sponge impregnated with magnesium sulfate), and compared with the corresponding values from women pretreated with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin before application of the tent. Significantly higher concentrations of PGE₂ and PGF_2α but not of 6-keto-PGF_1α were found in women who had not been indomethacin-treated compared with indomethacin-treated women. Slices of the cervix from non-pregnant women operated upon for benign conditions were divided into an outer stromal layer and an inner layer, including the mucosa, and the PG-release in vitro was measured. The inner layer of the cervix showed a significantly higher release of PGE₂ and PGF_2α compared with the outer layer. Lamicel treatment before first trimester abortion results in a significant dilatation of the cervix and a reduced complaince to mechanical dilatation, and this study supports the hypothesis that this effect is mediated via a local PG-release from the cervix. It seems reasonable to believe that Dilapan treatment too has the capacity to induce PG-release from the cervix, but this could not be demonstrated in this study, probably because needle biopsies taken mainly from the outer cervical layers were analyzed.     

Serum antibody responses against human papillomavirus in relation to tumor characteristics,response to treatment,and survival in carcinoma of the uterine cervix

To investigate whether the serum antibody responses to human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical carcinoma were related to the clinical and histopathological features of the tumors and how the antibody responses were affected by treatment, pretreatment serum samples from 66 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were studied for the presence of IgA or IgG responses against six defined HPV epitopes. Posttreatment serum samples were drawn from the same patients 2–24 months after initiation of treatment. There was no significant correlation between pretreatment level of any of the investigated antibodies and clinical stage or differentiation of tumor. For the IgA responses to the epitopes 24516 and 24518 in the E2 protein there was a significant correlation between an increased pretreatment antibody level and a shortened survival. A high pretreatment value of IgA against 24516 was also associated with the absence of any complete response after therapy. The antibody levels declined dramatically after therapy for most of the antigens studied. However, this decline was seen both among the 53 patients with complete remission and among the 13 patients with remaining or progressive disease. Thus, the investigated serological responses were not useful as tumor markers, since patients with progressive, latestage disease may fail to mount an antibody response to these proteins. However, pretreatment levels of the serological responses to the HPV epitopes 24516 and 24518 were associated with prognosis in cervical cancer.     

Co-localization of nitric oxide synthase and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunoreactivity in neurons of the major pelvic ganglion projecting to the rat rectum and penis

We demonstrate the existence of nerve fibers possessing substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in the mouse cervical ventral roots. The distribution of the SP and CGRP fibers was similar, but CGRP fibers were generally more numerous. Both types entered the ventral pia mater or formed hairpin loops, but they did not enter the spinal cord directly through these roots. SP and CGRP fibers in the ventral roots were thin and had many varicosities. We suggest that these SP and CGRP fibers are involved not only in a sensory mechanism, but also in other functions, via the release of SP and CGRP from varicosities in the ventral roots.     

Involvement of ethylene in the regulation of growth and development of the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr.

Application of ethephon slightly increased the growth of hyphae of Botrytis cinerea. A competitive inhibitor of ethylene binding, 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD), inhibited growth of hyphae and mycelium and retarded the development of Botrytis cinerea. Transfer of the mycelium from an atmosphere containing NBD to air relieved the inhibition, indicating that the NBD effects were non-toxic and reversible. Addition of exogenous ethylene to an atmosphere containing NBD (20 ml 1^-1) effectively reduced the inhibition. Inhibition due to 40 ml 1^–1 NBD was not relieved by ethylene at any of the concentrations tested; however, a positive effect of ethylene appeared following transfer of the mycelia to air. The results suggest that ethylene may be required for the growth and development of Botrytis cinerea.Abbreviations NBD 2,5-norbornadiene - ethephon 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid - PDA potato dextrose agar     

Comparison of Populations of Pratylenchus brachyurus Based on Isozyme Phenotypes

Enzymes from females of five Pratylenchus brachyurus populations and one P. scribneri population were analyzed by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. Of the 18 enzyme systems investigated, only malate dehydrogenase (MDH), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), and phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) were detected from all five P. brachyurus populations and P. scribneri. Faint bands were detected for isocitrate dehydrogenase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from one P. brachyurus population. Three distinct phenotypic groups were found in the MDH and PGM systems for P. brachyurus populations, but only a single electromorph was detected for PGI. Multiple electromorphs for MDH, PGM, and PGI were detected for P. scribneri; there was no similarity among these patterns with those from P. brachyurus. No phenotypic differences in PGI were observed between females and mixed juveniles of one population of P. brachyurus.     

Vertical Distribution of Plant-parasitic Nematodes in Sandy Soil under Soybean

Vertical distribution of five plant-parasitic nematodes was examined in two north Florida soybean fields in 1987 and 1988. Soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, and 30-45 cm deep at each site. Soil at the three depths consisted of approximately 96% sand. More than 50% of Belonolaimus longicaudatus population densities occurred in the upper 15-cm soil layer at planting, but the species became more evenly distributed through the other depths as the season progressed. Criconemella sphaerocephala was evenly distributed among the three depths in one field but was low (< 20% of the total density) in the upper 15 cm at a second site. Maximum population densities of Pratylenchus brachyurus were observed at 15-30 cm on most sampling dates. Vertical distributions of Meloidogyne incognita and Paratrichodorus minor were erratic and showed seasonal variation. A diagnostic sample from the upper 0-15 cm of these soybean fields revealed only a minority of the populations of most of the phytoparasitic species present.     

Reproduction of Pratylenchus penetrans on Potato and Crops Grown in Rotation with Potato

The relative suitability of potato and crops frequently grown in rotation with potato as hosts for Pratylenchus penetrans was evaluated. Suitability of rye, wheat, corn, oat, sorgho-sudangrass, and potato were compared in pot studies based on ratios of final population : initial population density and densities of nematodes in roots at harvest. Population densities increased more on potato, oat, and corn than on rye, wheat, and sorgho-sudangrass. There were no differences among the four rye cultivars or between the two oat cultivars in host suitability. Population increases were not related to root weight or consistently to nematode densities in roots. Although rye and wheat were equally suitable hosts in pot studies, P. penetrans increased more on wheat than on rye in a field study, indicating that reproduction was reduced or mortality was increased on rye under field conditions.     

Neuronal co-processing of course deviation and head movements in locusts

Summary Descending deviation detector neurons (DDNs) of Locusta migratoria are characterized physiologically by their responses to light on/off stimuli, simulated course deviation (rotation of an artificial horizon), passive rotation of the head, frontal wind, and flight activity. The investigation emphasises on the co-processing of exteroceptive input signalling course deviation (mainly movement of the retinal image, but also wind), and proprioceptive input signalling head movement and position. Stimuli were presented in combinations as expected during natural behavior. Eight DDNs are described for the first time, and 3 previously described DDNs are characterized further. Responses to horizon rotation and imposed head movements are assigned to one of 4 response types: (1) the horizon-only type codes retinal slip and/or the position of the horizon in the visual field but ignores cervical proprioception; (2) the head-only type ignores visually simulated course deviation but codes for movement or position of the head; (3) in the compensating type, head rolling causes visual input and cervical proprioceptive input of opposite signs, so that head movements themselves are ignored, whereas course deviations are recognized; (4) in the amplifying type, head rolling causes visual input and cervical proprioceptive input of the same sign, i.e. one input amplifies the other. This classification does not take the various responses to wind into account. In several DDNs, responses to phasic and tonic stimuli of the same modality, and/or responses to deviations about different axes could be assigned to different response types. Activity in DDNs has been shown previously to result in steering responses of wings, legs, abdomen and/or the head. It is proposed that different kinds of flight steering (e.g. corrective course control, intentional steering, orientation towards or away from a target) may be controlled by selective enhancement or suppression of responses or motor effects of DDN-subpopulations.Abbreviations AP action potential - DDN descending deviation detector neuron - DNI, DNC, DNM descending deviation detector neurons receiving major input from the ipsilateral, contralateral, and median ocellus respectively - PDDSMD protocerebral, descending direction-selective motion-detecting neuron - PI(2)5 descending deviation detector neuron with the cell body in the pars intercerebralis medialis - TCG tritocerebral commissure giant neuron     

Changes in cytoskeletal protein synthesis following axon injury and during axon regeneration

Injury to the axons of facial motoneurons stimulates increases in the synthesis of actin, tubulins, and GAP-43, and decreases in the synthesis of neurofilament proteins: mRNA levels change correspondingly. In contrast to this robust response of peripheral neurons to axotomy, injured central nervous system neurons show either an attenuated response that is subsequently aborted (rubrospinal neurons) or overall decreases in cytoskeletal protein mRNA expression (corticospinal and retinal ganglion neurons). There is evidence that these changes in synthesis are regulated by a variety of factors, including loss of endoneurially or target-derived trophic factors, positive signals arising from the site of injury, changes in the intraaxonal turnover of proteins, and substitution of target-derived trophic support by factors produced by glial cells. It is concluded that there is, as yet, no coherent explanation for the upregulation or downregulation of any of the cytoskeletal proteins following axotomy or during regeneration. In considering the relevance of these changes in cytoskeletal protein synthesis to regeneration, it is emphasized that they are unlikely to be involved in the initial outgrowth of the injured axons, both because transit times between cell body and injury site are too long, and because sprouting can occur in isolated axons. Injuryinduced acceleration of the axonal transport of tubulin and actin in the proximal axon is likely to be more important in providing the cytoskeletal protein required for initial axonal outgrowth. Subsequently, the increased synthesis and transport velocity for actin and tubulin increase the delivery of these proteins to support the increased volume of the maturing regenerating axons. Reduction in neurofilament synthesis and changes in neurofilament phosphorylation may permit the increased transport velocity of the other cytoskeletal proteins. There is little direct evidence that alterations in cytoskeletal protein synthesis are necessary for successful regeneration, nor are they sufficient in the absence of a supportive environment. Nevertheless, the correlation that exists between a robust cell body response and successful regeneration suggests that an understanding of the regulation of cytoskeletal protein synthesis following axon injury must be a part of any successful strategy to improve the regenerative capacity of the central nervous system.     

人精浆,厌氧菌培养液在HSV—2诱导宫颈癌中的作用

本实验应用HSV-Z诱导小鼠宫颈癌的动物模型,发现人精浆或厌氧菌培养液只引起宫颈上皮轻度增生,二者混合(SB)不仅可致宫颈癌(11.5％),而且使HSV-2诱癌率从23.1％提高到50％,同时发现SB具有抑制机体细胞免疫功能的作用,抑制ConA刺激的淋巴细胞转化及NK细胞的活性。上述结果提示SB具有促癌作用,因而也讨论了SB促癌的可能机制。