Changes in ovarian follicles and in vitro sex hormone release in the lizard Podarcis sicula sicula

An in vitro superfusion method was used to test sex hormone release from different kinds of ovarian follicle (growing follicles, postovulatory follicles, and atretic follicles) in the lizard Podarcis sicula sicula. Sex hormone output changes with the stage of follicle evolution and sexual cycle. Previtellogenetic follicles prevail in early-spring quiescent ovaries and secrete mainly progesterone, which is probably utilized at that phase to delay ovarian resumption. In the active ovary, progesterone output from previtellogenetic follicles decreases, whereas vitellogenetic follicles produce a significant amount of 17β-estradiol, which is necessary for sustaining vitellogenin synthesis by the liver and oviduct growth. As follicles become ripe, progesterone production is resumed, and it increases in young postovulatory follicles. This is in line with the functions assigned to the hormone at that phase of the sexual cycle, i.e., the induction of oocyte maturation and the regulation of egg retention in the oviduct. Postovulatory follicles can also synthetize 17β-estradiol. After oviposition, this hormone, which is secreted by the old postovulatory follicles, can reinitiate vitellogenin synthesis, allowing the development of a new oocyte set. Our data confirm that active, although ephemeral, corpora lutea are also formed in oviparous species. A limited contribution to ovarian sex steroid production derives also from atretic follicles, at least at the early stages of the breeding cycle. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP与胃癌根治术患者术后复发风险的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清癌胚抗原（CEA）、胃泌素17（G-17）、中期因子（MK）、胃泌素释放肽前体（ProGRP）与胃癌根治术（RG）患者术后复发风险的关系。方法：选取2018年1月～2020年8月新疆医科大学第一附属医院普外科收治的156例胃癌患者为胃癌组,根据RG后是否复发分为复发组和无复发组,另选取同期我院52名健康体检志愿者为对照组。收集胃癌患者临床资料,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP水平。通过单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析RG患者术后复发的影响因素,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP水平对RG患者术后复发的预测价值。结果：与对照组比较,胃癌组血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP水平升高（P＜0.05）。随访2年,失访2例,154例RG患者术后复发率为28.57%（44/154）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP升高、TNM分期Ⅲ期、分化程度为低分化、淋巴结转移为RG患者术后复发的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP水平联合预测RG患者术后复发的曲线下面积（AUC）大于CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP单独预测。结论：血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP水平升高与RG患者术后复发密切相关,可能成为RG患者术后复发的辅助预测指标,且血清CEA、G-17、MK、ProGRP联合预测RG患者术后复发的价值较高。     

慢性牙周炎患者血清CGRP、PGE2、CCL20与牙周临床指标和Th17/Treg失衡的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探究慢性牙周炎患者血清降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）、前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）、CC趋化因子配体20（CCL20）与牙周临床指标和辅助性T淋巴细胞17/调节性T淋巴细胞（Th17/Treg）失衡的相关性。方法：选取2020年5月-2022年5月海南省妇女儿童医学中心收治的91例慢性牙周炎患者,根据其严重程度分为轻度组（39例）、中度组（36例）、重度组（16例）,比较三组血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20、牙周临床指标[出血指数（BI）、探诊深度（PD）、附着丧失（AL）、菌斑指数（PLI）]、外周血Th17细胞比例、Treg细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值,采用Pearson相关分析血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20与牙周临床指标和Th17/Treg失衡的相关性。结果：与轻度组比较,中度组、重度组血清CGRP、Treg细胞比例显著降低（P＜0.05）,血清PGE₂、CCL20、BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值显著增高（P＜0.05）;与中度组比较,重度组血清CGRP、Treg细胞比例显著降低（P＜0.05）,血清PGE₂、CCL20、BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值显著增高（P＜0.05）。相关性结果提示,血清PGE₂、CCL20水平与BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与Treg细胞比例呈负相关（P＜0.05）;血清CGRP水平与BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与Treg细胞比例呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：慢性牙周炎患者血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20水平与疾病严重程度、牙周临床指标及Th17/Treg失衡显著相关,血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20可能通过影响Th17/Treg平衡参与慢性牙周炎的发生和发展。     

The Total Chemical Synthesis of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1)

The affinity-based N^α-amino protecting group tetrabenzo [a,c,g,i]fluorenyl-17-methoxycarbonyl (Tbfmoc) has been utilized as a hydrophobic probe to allow the simple, quick and highly effective isolation of a 76 residue cysteine-containing protein (MCP-1). The base-labile Tbfmoc group can be removed under very mild conditions, which preserve the thiol-con taining protein in the reduced state. Oxidative folding was then used to furnish the biologically active β-chemokine MCP-1.     

15β-hydroxysteroids (Part IV). Steroids of the human perinatal period: The synthesis of 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one and its A/B-ring configurational isomers

In recent years several 15β-hydroxysteroids have emerged pathognomonic of adrenal disorders in human neonates of which 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (2) was the first to be identified in the urine of newborn infants affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In this investigation we report the synthesis of the three remaining 3ξ,5ξ-isomers, namely 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3), 3β,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (7) and 3β,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (8) for their definitive identification in pathological conditions in human neonates. 3β,15β-Diacetoxy-17α-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (11), a product of chemical synthesis was converted to the isomeric 3 and 7, while conversion of 15β,17α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione (4), a product of microbiological transformation, resulted in the preparation of 8. In brief, selective acetate hydrolysis of 11 gave 15β-acetoxy-3β,17α-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (12) which on catalytic hydrogenation gave 15β-acetoxy-3β,17α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (13) a common intermediate for the synthesis of the 3β(and α),5α-isomers. Hydrolysis of the 15β-acetate gave 7, whereas oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate gave 15β-acetoxy-17α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-3,20-dione (14) which on reduction with -Selectride and hydrolysis of the 15β-acetate gave 3. Finally, hydrogenation of 4 gave 15β,17α-dihydroxy-5β-pregnan-3,20-dione (10) which on reduction with -Selectride gave 8.     

Fatty acid composition of vitellogenin from four teleost species

The fatty acid compositions of vitellogenin and liver from cod (Gadus morhua), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) were determined. Vitellogenin was isolated from plasma of estradiol-17-treated fish by precipitation with EDTA-Mg²⁺ and distilled water or by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. In all investigated species, vitellogenin contained 16–18% (w/w) lipid, in which polyunsaturated fatty acids, predominantly 20:5 (n-3) and 22:6 (n-3), comprised about 50% of the total fatty acids. The proportions of saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and (n-3) fatty acids in vitellogenin of the different species were generally similar, although the relative content of specific fatty acids was distinctive for each species. The distribution of fatty acids in total lipids of vitellogenin was highly consistent among individual females of each species. In contrast, liver fatty acid composition varied considerably, both within and between species. Altogether, the differences in the fatty acid composition of vitellogenin and liver from each species indicate that a specific selection of fatty acids occurs during the lipidation of vitellogenin.Abbreviations BHT butylated hydroxytoluene - E-17 estradiol-17 - EDTA ethylenedinitrilo tetra-acetic acid disodium salt dihydrate - FA fatty acids - FAME fatty acid methyl esters - HDL high density lipoproteins - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids - SD standard deviation - TLC thin-layer chromatography - VHDL very high density lipoproteins - VLDL very low density lipoproteins - v/v volume per volume - w/v weight per volume - w/w weight per weight     

Thein vitro effect of theophylline on 17α, 20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one-induced germinal vesicle breakdown in the catfish,Clarias batrachus

The effects of theophylline (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and cAMP on 17α, 20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one-induced germinal vesicle breakdown was investigatedin vitro in catfish (Clarias batrachus) oocytes. Folliculated oocytes incubated with 17α, 20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one at the concentration of 1 μg/ml induced 93.2 ± 2.23% germinal vesicle breakdown. When the oocytes were prestimulated with 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one for 6 h and then treated with different concentrations of theophylline, there was a significant drop in the frequency of germinal vesicle breakdown at the concentrations 2.0, 1.5 and 1.0 mM. However, theophylline was found to be incapable of inhibiting germinal vesicle breakdown at its lowest concentration (0.5 inM). In the time course study, significant inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown was recorded when 1 mM theophylline was added up to 30 h of 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one Stimulation but the inhibitory effect of theophylline gradually (time dependent manner) declined if the stimulatory time of 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one was increased. A similar inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown was also recorded with various concentrations of cAMP. Except 0.5 mM, all the higher concentrations of cAMP significantly inhibited 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one induced germinal vesicle breakdown.     

Sex differentiation in the European eel: histological analysis of the effects of sex steroids on the gonad

The effects of sex steroids on sex differentiation in the European eel were studied. The steroids, 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE), were given in the diet to 6–8 cm elvers and to 15–18 cm and 22–25 cm yellow eels. In our rearing conditions a very large percentage of the untreated eels developed as males. No masculinizing effect of MT could be demonstrated. The EE, administered at a dose of 10 mg kg^-1 of diet to 6–8 cm elvers and 15–18 cm eels, induced ovarian differentiation in about 90 and 65% of eels respectively, while in the control <5% of females was recorded. In 22–25 cm yellow eels a moderated feminizing effect was observed.
Histological analysis of the gonads of treated eels showed that sex steroids affect the gonadal structure. The androgen stimulates hypertrophy of compact connective tissue, early differentiation of Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and early formation of the spermatic duct. Oestrogen inhibits the differentiation of these structural components and stimulates the differentiation of follicular cells and an ovarian structure.
The involvement of gonadal structural components is discussed in relation to the effect of steroid treatment and to the peculiarities of sex differentiation in the European eel.     

Three Antigenic Regions in p17 of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Revealed by Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies and Human Antibodies in HIV-1 Carrier Sera

We investigated the murine antibody response to recombinant p17 (rp17) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the human antibody response directed to p17 in HIV-1 infection. Three large peptides covering residues 12-29, 53-87 and 87-115 of p17 were synthesized. The cysteine residues 57 and 87 of peptide 53-87 were reoxidized to form a disulfide bridge. Eighteen out of 19 murine monoclonal anti-rp17 antibodies had relatively high affinities (K_A = 1.9 × 10⁵?1.4 × 10⁸ M^?1) with one of the 3 p17 peptides in the liquid phase. Each monoclonal antibody reacted only with one particular peptide and had no reactivity with the other 2 p17 peptides. All the monoclonal antibodies reacted with rp17 in the liquid phase with a reasonable degree of affinity (K_A = 2.0 × 10⁵?1.8 × 10⁷ M^?1). Four HIV-1 carrier sera, which were positive in ELISA using rp17 as the antigen, reacted positively in an ELISA using 3 p17 peptides which were used to titrate murine monoclonal antibodies. Murine monoclonal antibodies having specificity for the 3 p17 peptides stained live HIV-1-infected cells by means of indirect membrane immunofluorescence, irrespective of their specificity. This suggests that the various portions of p17 (at least 3 regions of p17) were exposed on the surface of live infected cells, probably as short polypeptide chains.     

Synthesis and evaluation of azaproline peptides as potential inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and prolyl oligopeptidase

Summary A series of azaproline dipeptides with various N-substituents were synthesized as possible active-site-directed inhibitors of two proline-specific serine proteases, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and prolyl oligopeptidase. Compounds with semicarbazide, carbazate, acylhydrazine and sulphonylhydrazine structures were tested. Some compounds show moderate activity, i.e., in the millimolar range.