Teratogenic action and embryo lethality of AY 9944R. Prevention by a hypercholesterolemia-provoking diet.

Embryomortality and teratogenesis provoked by inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis are well demonstrated. Teratogenic action is particularly reflected by holoprosencephalies, but also by uro-genital abnormalities. A hypercholesterolemia-provoking diet has been shown to be completely effective for preventing holoprosencephaly, but only partially so for preventing the uro-genital malformations and fetal mortality. It is thus possible that the two types of abnormalities are governed by different mechanisms. In addition, the diet itself, whose hypercholesterolemic effect is considerable, has certain disadvantages. It seems to have a certain effect on fetal mortality and could be responsible for several uro-genital malformations. This deserves further study.     

Paint Deterioration as a Result of the Growth of Aureobasidium pullulans on Wood

Growth of Aureobasidium was noted on both painted and unpainted wood surfaces but not on painted glass slides, indicating that the source of carbon and energy for growth was not associated with paint components but was probably supplied by the wood. Several aromatic compounds related to aromatic extractives of wood were shown to support growth of this fungus.     

Nuclear inclusions in the human adenohypophysis. A fine-structural study of nontumorous and adenomatous pituitaries.

Electron microscopy revealed the presence of nonviral nuclear inclusions in human nontumorous as well as adenomatous adenohypophysiocytes, regardless of cell type. Based on ultrastructural appearances, the inclusions have been classified as simple bodies, complex bodies and filamentous aggregates. Many transitional forms were noted between the simple and complex bodies, however, no relationship between the nuclear bodies and filamentous aggregates was found. It can be concluded that the three types of inclusions are normal nuclear constituents. Since no accumulation of these structures was observed in cells associated with enhanced secretion it appears that they are not related to hormonal hyperactivity in the human adenohypophysis.     

Mobilization of intracellular calcium and stimulation of calcium fluxes by endothelin-2 in cultured mouse swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Specific receptor-induced signal transduction mechanisms for the endothelin-2 isoform (ET-2), a potent vasoconstrictor of vascular smooth muscle, were examined in Swiss 3T3 cells. Half-maximal binding (EC₅₀) and maximal, saturable binding (B_max) were estimated from Scatchard analyses and were found to be 24.2 ± 3.3 pM and 56500 ± 1700 sites/cells, respectively. A saturating concentration of ET-2 (100 nM) increased intracellular free calcium (measured by Fura-2 fluorescence) from a resting level of 100 nM to a peak level of 600–800 nM. The initial increase in intracellular free calcium was transitory and was followed by a smaller maintained elevation (250 nM). In the absence of extracellular calcium, ET-2 induced a transitory response equal in size to the peak in the presence of extracellular calcium, but the maintained response was absent. ET-2 increased intracellular free calcium in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC₅₀ of 1 nM. In calcium free solution (2 mM EGTA), ET-2 increased the efflux of ⁴⁵Ca from cells loaded to isotopic equilibrium (3 h) with ⁴⁵Ca. The intracellular second messenger, IP₃, also increased the calcium efflux from saponin permeabilized 3T3 cells loaded with ⁴⁵Ca (pCa 6) in the presence of MgATP. In the presence of extracellular calcium, ET-2 significantly increased calcium uptake into 3T3 cells by 92 ± 36.6 pmoles/million cells/2 min (n = 8). It is suggested that ET-2 binds to specific, high affinity receptors in 3T3 cells and that this receptor interaction increases the intracellular free calcium by IP₃-induced mobilization of calcium from cellular stores and by increasing influx of extracellular calcium.     

On the reporting and review requirements of ISO 14044

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment -     

Activated p53 in the anti-apoptotic milieu of tuberous sclerosis gene mutation induced diseases leads to cell death if thioredoxin reductase is inhibited

Apoptosis - Tuberous sclerosis, angiomyolipoma and lymphangioleiomyomatosis are a group of diseases characterized by mutation in tuberous sclerosis genes (TSC 1-2). TSC mutation leads to continuous...