Simulating Microdosimetry in a Virtual Hepatic Lobule

The liver plays a key role in removing harmful chemicals from the body and is therefore often the first tissue to suffer potentially adverse consequences. To protect public health it is necessary to quantitatively estimate the risk of long-term low dose exposure to environmental pollutants. Animal testing is the primary tool for extrapolating human risk but it is fraught with uncertainty, necessitating novel alternative approaches. Our goal is to integrate in vitro liver experiments with agent-based cellular models to simulate a spatially extended hepatic lobule. Here we describe a graphical model of the sinusoidal network that efficiently simulates portal to centrilobular mass transfer in the hepatic lobule. We analyzed the effects of vascular topology and metabolism on the cell-level distribution following oral exposure to chemicals. The spatial distribution of metabolically inactive chemicals was similar across different vascular networks and a baseline well-mixed compartment. When chemicals were rapidly metabolized, concentration heterogeneity of the parent compound increased across the vascular network. As a result, our spatially extended lobule generated greater variability in dose-dependent cellular responses, in this case apoptosis, than were observed in the classical well-mixed liver or in a parallel tubes model. The mass-balanced graphical approach to modeling the hepatic lobule is computationally efficient for simulating long-term exposure, modular for incorporating complex cellular interactions, and flexible for dealing with evolving tissues.     

Serum antioxidant enzyme activity in Parkinson's disease

Summary The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHP_x; EC 1.11.1.9.), the enzymes that metabolize the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, were measured in serum from healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The activities of SOD and GSHP_x in patients with PD were higher than those in normal healthy individuals. These results suggest that the increased activities of these enzymes could be due to oxidative stress in the initial stages of this disease.     

Does the MRCGP examination discriminate against Asian doctors?

OBJECTIVE--To ascertain whether the membership examination for the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) discriminates against doctors of Indian subcontinent ethnic origin ("Asian doctors"). DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of data from five administrations of the MRCGP examination (December 1988-December 1990). SETTING--United Kingdom national examination body. SUBJECTS--3686 doctors taking the examination for the first time, 244 of whom were classified as Asian, the remainder as non-Asian. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Comparison of performance in each of the written and oral components of the examination between Asian doctors, identified by their names and classified into subgroups by countries of birth and primary medical training from data provided at registration, and non-Asian doctors. RESULTS--On written components of the examination (multiple choice paper mean score Asians versus non-Asians 42.3 v 48.6, modified essay paper 40.9 v 48.9, practice topic/critical reading paper 41.5 v 48.7, all p less than 0.001 by t testing). But analysis by countries of birth and primary training showed that these differences were due largely to poor performance by certain groups of Asian doctors, especially those born and trained in the Indian subcontinent or elsewhere outside the United Kingdom. Asian doctors born and trained in the United Kingdom and those born in Africa or the West Indies and trained in the United Kingdom performed similarly to the non-Asian doctors. CONCLUSIONS--The examination does not systematically discriminate against Asian doctors, but the poor performance of the two subgroups of Asians is cause for serious concern and requires investigation.     

Cross reactivity and enzyme sensitivity of immunoaffinity purified Sm/RNP antigens

Immunoaffinity purified Sm/RNP antigens from buffalo and goat liver were studied to determine the role of RNA and proteins towards the antigenicity of Sm and RNP antigens. A more direct approach using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on nylon beads has been utilized to look into the problem. The effect of enzyme treatment and the role of RNA and protein fractions in influencing antigenicity have been described. RNA seems to be involved in the maintenance of RNP specific polypeptides in suitable conformation so as to keep them in solution. Removal of RNA leads to insolubilization of RNP specific polypeptides. Antibodies to Sm and RNP antigens have been shown to cross react with poly A containing heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein with no cross reactivity with thymus RNA or DNA.     

Effects of Corticotropin-(1–24)-Tetracosapeptide on Polyphosphoinositide Metabolism and Protein Phosphorylation in Rabbit Iris Subcellular Fractions

Abstract: Effects of the neuropeptide corticotropin-(1–24) -tetracosapeptide (ACTH) on the endogenous and exogenous phosphorylation of lipids and endogenous phosphorylation of proteins were investigated in microsomes and a 110,000 ×g supernatant fraction [30–50% (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitate; ASP_30–50] obtained from rabbit iris smooth muscle. Subcellular distribution studies revealed that both of these fractions are enriched in diphosphoinositide (DPI) kinase. The ³²P labeling of lipids and proteins was measured by incubation of the subcellular fractions with [γ-³²P]ATP. The labeled lipids, which consisted of triphosphoinositide (TPI), DPI, and phosphatidic acid (PA) were isolated by TLC. The microsomal and ASP_30–50 fractions were resolved into six and nine labeled phosphoprotein bands, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The basal labeling of both lipids and proteins was rapid (30–60 s), and it was dependent on the presence of Mg²⁺ in the incubation medium; in general it was inhibited by high concentrations (>0.2 mM) of Ca²⁺. ACTH stimulated the labeling of TPI and inhibited that of PA in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal effect observed at 50–100 μ of the peptide. ACTH appears to increase TPI labeling by stimulating the DPI kinase. Under the same experimental conditions ACTH (100 μM) inhibited significantly the endogenous phosphorylation of six microsomal phosphoproteins (100K, 84K, 65K, 53K, 48K, and 17K). In the ASP_30–50 fraction, ACTH inhibited the phosphorylation of three phosphoproteins (53K, 48K, and 17K) and stimulated the labeling of six phosphoprotein bands (117K, 100K, 84K, 65K, 42K, and 35K). The effects of ACTH on lipid and protein phosphorylation are probably Ca²⁺-independent; thus the neuropeptide effects were not influenced by either 1 μM EGTA or low concentrations of Ca²⁺ (50 μ.M). We conclude that a relationship may exist between polyphosphoinositide metabolism and protein phosphorylation in the rabbit iris smooth muscle.     

Anatomy of the stimulative sequences flanking the ARS consensus sequence of chromosome VI in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have analyzed the relationship between autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) structure and function for three ARS (ARS605, ARS607 and ARS609) from chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by systematic XhoI-linker mutation in the ARS consensus sequence (ACS) and flanking sequences. All mutations that encroached upon the ACS destroyed ARS activity. DNA sequences stimulative for ARS function were identified on either side of the ACS of ARS605 and only on the 3'-side of the ACS of ARS607. In ARS609, however, no such stimulative sequences were observed. Base substitutions complementary to the wild-type sequence of those stimulative regions, in ARS605 and ARS607, that did not change the AG of unwinding nor affected ARS activity suggests that these regions have, at least, a function as DNA-unwinding elements (DUE). ARS605, ARS607 and ARS609 DNA are of low AG value and showed hypersensitivity to single-strand-specific nuclease when inserted in negatively supercoiled plasmid. Linker mutations inhibitory for ARS activity (5L11 and 7L14) also caused significant changes in local nucleotide (nt) sensitivity within the ACS and its adjoining regions. Complementary base substitutions, however, did not affect these changes in local nt sensitivity. These results imply that the stimulative regions flanking the ACS are necessary to produce an optimum conformation around the ACS which may be important for full ARS activity.     

Location and characterization of autonomously replicating sequences from chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have reported the isolation of linking clones of HindIII and EcoRI fragments, altogether spanning a 230-kb continuous stretch of chromosome VI. The presence or absence of autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) activities in all of these fragments has been determined by using ARS searching vectors containing CEN4. Nine ARS fragments were identified, and their positions were mapped on the chromosome. Structures essential for and/or stimulative to ARS activity were determined for the ARS fragments by deletions and mutations. The organization of functional elements composed of core and stimulative sequences was found to be variable. Single core sequences were identified in eight of nine ARSs. The remaining ARS (ARS603) essential element is composed of two core-like sequences. The lengths of 3'- and 5'-flanking stimulative sequences required for the full activity of ARSs varied from ARS to ARS. Five ARSs required more than 100 bp of the 3'-flanking sequence as stimulative sequences, while not more than 79 bp of the 3' sequence was required by the other three ARSs. In addition, five ARSs had stimulative sequences varying from 127 to 312 bp in the 5'-flanking region of the core sequence. In general, these stimulative activities were correlated with low local delta Gs of unwinding, suggesting that the low local delta G of an ARS is an important element for determining the efficiency of initiation of replication of ARS plasmids.     

Niche breadth explains the range size of European-centred butterflies,but dispersal ability does not

Aim

The breadth of ecological niches and dispersal abilities have long been discussed as important determinants of species' range sizes. However, studies directly comparing the relative effects of both factors are rare, taxonomically biased and revealed inconsistent results.

Location

Europe.

Time Period

Cenozoic.

Major Taxa

Butterflies, Lepidoptera.

Methods

We relate climate, diet and habitat niche breadth and two indicators of dispersal ability, wingspan and a dispersal tendency index, to the global range size of 369 European-centred butterfly species. The relative effects of these five predictors and their variation across the butterfly phylogeny were assessed by means of phylogenetic generalized least squares models and phylogenetically weighted regressions respectively.

Results

Climate niche breadth was the most important single predictor, followed by habitat and diet niche breadth, while dispersal tendency and wingspan showed no relation to species' range size. All predictors together explained 59% of the variation in butterfly range size. However, the effects of each predictor varied considerably across families and genera.

Main Conclusions

Range sizes of European-centred butterflies are strongly correlated with ecological niche breadth but apparently independent of dispersal ability. The magnitude of range size–niche breadth relationships is not stationary across the phylogeny and is often negatively correlated across the different dimensions of the ecological niche. This variation limits the generalizability of range size–trait relationships across broad taxonomic groups.     

Nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical detection of amoxicillin antibiotic

The penicillin derivative amoxicillin (AMX) plays an important role in treating various types of infections caused by bacteria. However, excessive use of AMX may have negative health effects. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to detect and quantify the AMX in pharmaceutical drugs, biological fluids, and environmental samples with high sensitivity. Therefore, this review article provides valuable and up-to-date information on nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical sensors to detect AMX in various biological and chemical samples. The role of using different nanostructured materials on the performance of important optical sensors such as colorimetric sensors, fluorescence sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors, chemiluminescence/electroluminescence sensors, optical immunosensors, optical fibre-based sensors, and several important electrochemical sensors based on different electrode types have been discussed. Moreover, nanocomposites, polymer, and MXenes-based electrochemical sensors have also been discussed, in which such materials are being used to further enhance the sensitivity of these sensors. Furthermore, nanocomposite-based photo-electrochemical sensors and the market availability of biosensors including AMX have also been discussed briefly. Finally, the conclusion, challenges, and future perspectives of the above-mentioned sensing techniques for AMX detection are presented.     

Fecal pellet measurements of manipur brow-antlered deer with respect to sex and age classes

Measurements were made of fecal pellets for captive brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) from different age and sex classes. Pellet measurements increased linearly with increases in age, except for length and width measurements in males. Differences in dimensions were statistically significant between sexes and among some age classes. This procedure may be useful in differentiating between the sexes, and to some extent between ages, of wild-living individuals. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.