Myocardial S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase is important for adenosine production during normoxia

The coronary vasodilator adenosine can be formed in the heart by breakdown of AMP or S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAdoHcy). The purpose of this study was to get insight into the relative importance of these routes of adenosine formation in both the normoxic and the ischemic heart. A novel HPLC method was used to determine myocardial adenosine and SAdoHcy. Accumulation of SAdoHcy was induced in isolated rat hearts by perfusion with L-homocysteine thiolactone or L-homocysteine. The release of adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid was determined. Additional in vitro experiments were performed to determine the kinetic parameters of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. During normoxia the thiolactone caused a concentration-dependent increase in SAdoHcy. At 2000 microM of the thiolactone an SAdoHcy accumulation of 0.49 nmol/min per g wet weight was found during normoxia. L-Homocysteine (200 microM) caused an increase of 0.37 and 4.17 nmol SAdoHcy/min per g wet weight during normoxia and ischemia, respectively. The adenosine concentration in ischemic hearts was significantly lower when homocysteine was infused (6.2 vs. 11.5 nmol/g; P less than 0.05). Purine release was increased 4-fold during ischemia. The Km for hydrolysis of SAdoHcy was about 12 microM. At in vitro conditions favoring near-maximal SAdoHcy synthesis (72 microM adenosine, 1.8 mM homocysteine), the synthesis rate in homogenates was 10 nmol/min per g wet weight. From the combined in vitro and perfusion studies, we conclude that S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase can contribute significantly to adenosine production in normoxic rat heart, but not during ischemia.     

Myocardial S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase is important for adenosine production during normoxia

(1) The coronary vasodilator adenosine can be formed in the heart by breakdown of AMP or S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAdoHcy). The purpose of this study was to get insight into the relative importance of these routes of adenosine formation in both the normoxic and the ischemic heart. (2) A novel HPLC method was used to determine myocardial adenosine and SAdoHcy. Accumulation of SAdoHcy was induced in isolated rat hearts by perfusion with L-homocysteine thiolactone or L-homocysteine. The release of adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid was determined. Additional in vitro experiments were performed to determine the kinteic parameters of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. (3) During normoxia the thiolactone caused a concentration-dependent increase in SAdoHcy. At 2000 μM of the thiolactone an SAdoHcy accumulation of 0.49 nmol/min per g wet weight was found during normoxia. L-Homocysteine (200 μM) caused an increased of 0.37 and 4.17 nmol SAdony/soc per g wet weight during normaxia and ischemia, respectively. (4) The adenosine concentration in ischemic hearts was significantly lower when homocysteine was infused (6.2 vs. 115 nmol/g; P < 0.05). Purine release was increased 4-fold during ischemia. (5) The K_m for hydrolysis of SAdoHcy was about 12 μM. At in vitro conditions favoring near-maximal SAdoHcy synthesis (72 μM adenosine, 1.8 mM homocysteine), the synthesis rate in homogenates was 10 nmol/min per g wet weight. (6) From the combined in vitro and perfusion studies, we comclude that S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase can contribute significantly to adenosine production in normoxic rat heart, but not during ischemia.     

Myocardial xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase

High-energy phosphates in heart muscle deprived of oxygen are rapidly broken down to purine nucleosides and oxypurines. We studied the role of xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.3.2/EC 1.2.1.37) in this process with novel high-pressure liquid chromatographic techniques. Under various conditions, including ischemia and anoxia, the isolated perfused rat heart released adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine, and also substantial amounts of xanthine and urate. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, greatly enhanced the release of hypoxanthine. From the purine release we calculated that the rat heart contained about 18 mU xanthine oxidase per g wet weight. Subsequently, we measured a xanthine oxidase activity of 9 mU/g wet wt. in rat-heart homogenate. When endogenous low molecular weight inhibitors were removed by gel-filtration, the activity increased to 31 mU/g wet wt. Rat myocardial xanthine oxidase seems to be present mainly in the dehydrogenase form, which upon storage at -20 degrees C is converted to the oxidase form.     

Effect of immune system imagery on secretory IgA

This study was an investigation of the effects of physiologically-oriented mental imagery on immune functioning. College students with normal medical histories were randomly selected to one of three groups. Subjects in Group 1 participated in short educational training on the production of secretory immunoglobulin A. They were then tested on salivary IgA, skin temperature, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before and after listening to a 17-minute tape of imagery instructions with specially composed background entrainment music designed to enhance imagery. Subjects in Group 2 (placebo controls) listened to the same music but received nor formal training on the immune system. Group 3 acted as a control and subjects were tested before and after 17 minutes of no activity. Treatment groups listened to their tapes at home on a bi-daily basis for six weeks All groups were again tested at Weeks 3 and 6. Secretory IgA was analyzed using standard radial immunodiffusion techniques. Repeated measures analyses of variance with planned orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate the data. Significant overall increases (p<0.05) were found between pre- and posttests for all three trials. Groups 1 and 2 combined (treatment groups) yielded significantly greater increases in sIgA over Group 3 (control) for all three trials. Group 1 (imagery) was significantly higher than Group 2 (music) in antibody production for Trials 2 and 3. Symptomatology, recorded by subjects at Weeks 3 and 6, was significantly lower for three symptoms (rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulty, and jaw clenching), favoring both treatment groups over the control group.     

Revision of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera,Braconidae) from Hunan (China), including thirty-six new species and two new genera

The species of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Hunan (Oriental China) are revised and illustrated. Thirty-six new species are described: Apodesmia bruniclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Apodesmia melliclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes albiferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes carinuliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes striatiferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Coleopioides diversinotum Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Coleopioides postpectalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Fopius dorsopiferus Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Indiopius chenae Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opiognathus aulaciferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opiognathus brevibasalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius crenuliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius malarator Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Opius monilipalpis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius pachymerus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius songi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius youi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius zengi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma acuticlypeata Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma angiclypeata Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma antenervalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma depressiclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma flavisoma Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma nigrisoma Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma protuberator Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma rugulifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Li & van Achterberg,Phaedrotoma striatinota Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma vermiculifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis latipennis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis longicaudifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis maculosa Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Rhogadopsis obliqua Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis sculpturator Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Utetes longicarinatus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n. and Xynobius notauliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n. Areotetes van Achterberg & Li, gen. n. (type species: Areotetes carinuliferus sp. n.) and Coleopioides van Achterberg & Li, gen. n. (type species: Coleopioides postpectalis sp. n. are described. All species are illustrated and keyed. In total 30 species of Opiinae are sequenced and the cladograms are presented. Neopius Gahan, 1917, Opiognathus Fischer, 1972, Opiostomus Fischer, 1972, and Rhogadopsis Brèthes, 1913, are treated as a valid genera based on molecular and morphological differences. Opius vittata Chen & Weng, 2005 (not Opius vittatus Ruschka, 1915), Opius ambiguus Weng & Chen, 2005 (not Wesmael, 1835) and Opius mitis Chen & Weng, 2005 (not Fischer, 1963) are primary homonymsandarerenamed into Phaedrotoma depressa Li & van Achterberg, nom. n., Opius cheni Li & van Achterberg, nom. n. andOpius wengi Li & van Achterberg, nom. n., respectively. Phaedrotoma terga (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n.,Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) and Biosteres pavitita Chen & Weng, 2005, are reported new for Hunan, Opiostomus aureliae (Fischer, 1957) comb. n. is new for China and Hunan; Xynobius maculipennis(Enderlein, 1912) comb. n. is new for Hunan and continental China and Rhogadopsis longuria (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n. is new for Hunan. The following new combinations are given: Apodesmia puncta (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Apodesmia tracta (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Areotetes laevigatus (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma dimidia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma improcera (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma amputata (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma larga (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma osculas (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma postuma (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma rugulosa (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma tabularis (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis apii (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis dimidia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis diutia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis longuria (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis pratellae(Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis pratensis (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis sculpta (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis sulcifer (Fischer, 1975) comb. n., Rhogadopsis tabidula(Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius complexus (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius indagatrix (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius multiarculatus (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n.The following (sub)genera are synonymised: Snoflakopius Fischer, 1972, Jucundopius Fischer, 1984, Opiotenes Fischer, 1998, and Oetztalotenes Fischer, 1998, with Opiostomus Fischer, 1971; Xynobiotenes Fischer, 1998, with Xynobius Foerster, 1862; Allotypus Foerster, 1862, Lemnaphilopius Fischer, 1972, Agnopius Fischer, 1982, and Cryptognathopius Fischer, 1984, with Apodesmia Foerster, 1862; Nosopoea Foerster, 1862, Tolbia Cameron, 1907, Brachycentrus Szépligeti, 1907, Baeocentrum Schulz, 1911, Hexaulax Cameron, 1910, Coeloreuteus Roman, 1910, Neodiospilus Szépligeti, 1911, Euopius Fischer, 1967, Gerius Fischer, 1972, Grimnirus Fischer, 1972, Hoenirus Fischer, 1972, Mimirus Fischer, 1972, Gastrosema Fischer, 1972, Merotrachys Fischer, 1972, Phlebosema Fischer, 1972, Neoephedrus Samanta, Tamili, Saha & Raychaudhuri, 1983, Adontopius Fischer, 1984, Kainopaeopius Fischer, 1986, Millenniopius Fischer, 1996, and Neotropopius Fischer, 1999, with Phaedrotoma Foerster, 1862.     

Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI): a review of international research on the psychometric qualities and effects of implementation in nursing homes

This article is a review of the available literature on psychometric qualities and effects of implementation of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) on quality of care and health of nursing homes residents. The RAI was developed in the USA to assess the needs of nursing home residents. It consists of a comprehensive assessment of the resident (the Minimum Data Set) and 18 protocols (Resident Assessment Protocols) for further analysis of major problem areas. RAI is implemented in nursing homes in the United States, Canada, Japan and several European countries. The interrater reliability was adequate for clinical use in several studies. The validity is good for the appraisal of ADL- and cognitive functions, but moderate for mood and behaviour. In Japan and the United States positive effects were found after implementation of the RAI, especially on the care process. Implementation of RAI has shown to have positive effects on the physical and cognitive function of the resident, but there were negative effects on a number of psychosocial domains. Fourteen Dutch nursing homes have recently implemented the RAI. Studies concerning reliability, validity and effects on quality of care and quality of life are underway.     

Gene expression profiling of resting and activated vascular smooth muscle cells by serial analysis of gene expression and clustering analysis

Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are key events in atherosclerosis. However, little is known about alterations in gene expression upon transition of the quiescent, contractile SMC to the proliferative SMC. We performed serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) of cultured, human SMCs, either grown under resting circumstances or activated with an atherogenic stimulus. Analysis of tags, representing 47,209 and 47,259 mRNAs from a library of resting and activated SMCs, respectively, identified 105 tags induced and 52 tags repressed greater than fivefold. To evaluate the relevance in SMC biology of unmatched, regulated tags, we performed hierarchical clustering analysis, based on their expression profiles in public SAGE databases, and clustered these novel genes in distinct groups. The regulation in SMCs was confirmed by Northern blotting for representative genes of these groups. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 has not been associated with atherosclerosis before and was localized to atherosclerotic lesions.     

Parasitic hymenoptera fauna on agromyzidae (diptera) colonizing weeds in ecological compensation areas in northern Italian agroecosystems

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with agromyzid leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) were studied in three rural farms located in northern Italy. The parasitoids were reared from mined foliage of weeds growing in field margins. We reared 998 Hymenoptera specimens, representing five families, 23 genera, and 53 species, from leafminers infesting weeds. Eulophidae was the most abundant family (67.64%), followed by Braconidae (28.86%), Eucoilinae (1.40%), Tetracampidae (1.40%), and Pteromalidae (0.7%). Braconids was the most species rich family, accounting for 28 species; eulophids were represented by 19 species, pteromalids by four species, and eucoilins and tetracampids by one species each. The dominant parasitoid was the eulophid Pediobius metallicus (Nees), representing 18.17% of the total, followed by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (12.73%), and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (10.82%). The most abundant braconid parasitoid was Dacnusa maculipes Thomson (9.62%). More than 80% of parasitoids were recovered from 10 plant species: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Plantago lanceolata L., Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Papaver rhoeas L., Picris echioides L., Lactuca serriola L., Myagrum perfoliatum L., Ranunculus velutinus Tenore, Arctium lappa L., and Medicago sativa L. The retention and the management of wild plants within field margins can be crucial tools to enhance the populations of biological control agents of agromyzids and to conserve rare parasitic wasp species.