Haemoglobin, serum albumin and transferrin variants of Bali (Banteng) cattle, Bos (Bibos) javanicus

1. Individual blood samples from 144 Bali (Banteng) cattle [Bos (Bibos) javanicus] in the Northern Territory of Australia and from 61 Bali cross cattle, were examined by zone electrophoresis to determine the variants of haemoglobin, serum albumin and transferrin that are present. 2. Of the common cattle haemoglobin variants (A and B) only variant B occurs in the Bali cattle samples. A second variant, designated CBali, occurs in Bali cattle either as the heterozygote (B CBali) or as the homozygote, the frequencies of occurrence indicating a two-allele system of inheritance without dominance. The CBali cross samples may exhibit the homozygous or heterozygous A variant. 3. The CBali variant has an electrophoretic mobility intermediate between those of the A and B variants at pH 8.6 and 9.1 but closer to B than to A (B greater than C greater than A). It appears to be similar in mobility to the C variants found in Indian Khillan (CKhillan) by Naik, Sukumaran and Sanghvi (Anim. Prodn, 1965 I, 275-277), and in Asian cattle by Oishi, Abe and Namikama (Immunogenet. Lett., 1968 5, 170-173) and Abe, Mogi, Oishi, Tanaka and Suzuki (Proc. XIIth Europ. Conf. Anim. Blood Groups Biochem. Polymorphisms 1972, pp. 225-228), but appreciably different from those in Kenyan and Rhodesian cattle (CRhodesia) found by Braend (Anim. Blood Grps Biochem. Genet., 1971 2, 15-21) and Carr (Rhod. J. agric. Res., 1964 3, 62-62A), respectively. It is also different in mobility from the C variant found by Winter, Mayr, Schleger, Dworak, Krutzler and Burger (Res. vet. Sci., 1984 36, 276-283) in the mithun.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Insulin Receptor Substrate 2-mediated Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Signaling Selectively Inhibits Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β to Regulate Aerobic Glycolysis

Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-2 are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that mediate the activation of signaling pathways in response to ligand stimulation of upstream cell surface receptors. Despite sharing a high level of homology and the ability to activate PI3K, only Irs-2 positively regulates aerobic glycolysis in mammary tumor cells. To determine the contribution of Irs-2-dependent PI3K signaling to this selective regulation, we generated an Irs-2 mutant deficient in the recruitment of PI3K. We identified four tyrosine residues (Tyr-649, Tyr-671, Tyr-734, and Tyr-814) that are essential for the association of PI3K with Irs-2 and demonstrate that combined mutation of these tyrosines inhibits glucose uptake and lactate production, two measures of aerobic glycolysis. Irs-2-dependent activation of PI3K regulates the phosphorylation of specific Akt substrates, most notably glycogen synthase kinase 3β (Gsk-3β). Inhibition of Gsk-3β by Irs-2-dependent PI3K signaling promotes glucose uptake and aerobic glycolysis. The regulation of unique subsets of Akt substrates by Irs-1 and Irs-2 may explain their non-redundant roles in mammary tumor biology. Taken together, our study reveals a novel mechanism by which Irs-2 signaling preferentially regulates tumor cell metabolism and adds to our understanding of how this adaptor protein contributes to breast cancer progression.     

Biological activity of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia lipopolysaccharide

Abstract Burkholderia cepacia has emerged as an important multiresistant pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF), associated in 20% of colonised patients with a rapid and fatal decline in lung function. Although knowledge of B. cepacia epidemiology has improved, the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis remain obscure. In this study, B. cepacia lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was assessed for endotoxic potential and the capacity to induce tumour necrosis factor (TNF). LPS preparations from clinical and environmental isolates of B. cepacia and from the closely related species Burkholderia gladioli exhibited a higher endotoxic activity and more pronounced cytokine response in vitro compared to preparations from the major CF pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This study may help to explain the vicious host immune response observed during pulmonary exacerbations in CF patients colonised by B. cepacia and lead to therapeutic advances in clinical management.     

Comparative morphology of the venom apparatus in the braconid wasp subfamily Rogadinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and related taxa

Zaldivar‐River ó n, A., Areekul, B., Shaw, M. R. & Quicke, D. L. J. (2004). Comparative morphology of the venom apparatus in the braconid wasp subfamily Rogadinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and related taxa. —Zoologica Scripta, 33, 223–237. The morphology of the venom apparatus intima in representatives of 38 genera of the problematic braconid wasp subfamily Rogadinae and other cyclostome braconids was investigated and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis for the group was performed with the information obtained. Despite the limited number of characters, the data suggest several relationships at various taxonomic levels. The venom apparatus in the Clinocentrini and the Stiropiini is relatively unmodified and similar to that found in other genera previously placed within a broader concept of the Rogadinae (e.g. genera of Lysitermini, Pentatermini, Tetratermini, Hormiini) and also to that of the Betylobraconinae. The presence of a cone of filaments located inside the secondary venom duct near to its insertion on the venom reservoir/primary venom duct is proposed as a synapomorphy for the tribe Rogadini to the exclusion of Stiropiini, Clinocentrini and Yeliconini. Other features of the secondary venom duct and its insertion on the venom reservoir/primary venom duct support a number of relationships between the genera of the Rogadini and also within the large genus Aleiodes. A clade containing 15 Rogadini genera (Bathoteca, Bathotecoides, Bulborogas, Canalirogas, Colastomion, Conspinaria, Cystomastacoides, Macrostomion, Megarhogas, Myocron, Pholichora, Rectivena, Rogas, Spinaria and Triraphis) is supported by the presence of a thickened and short secondary venom duct, whereas the different members of Aleiodes (excluding members of the subgenus Heterogamus) and Cordylorhogas are distinguished by having a recessed secondary venom duct with well‐defined and numerous internal filaments. New World Rogas species exhibit a unique venom apparatus and may not be closely related to the Old World ones. Features of the venom apparatus of the enigmatic genus Telengaia and the exothecine genera Shawiana and Colastes suggest that the Telengainae and Exothecinae are both closely related to the Braconinae, Gnamptodontinae, and possibly to the Opiinae and Alysiinae. An unsculptured venom reservoir was found in one specimen of the type species of Avga, A. choaspes, which is consistent with it occupying either a very basal position within the cyclostome braconids or belonging to a recently recognized ‘Gondwanan’ clade that also includes the Aphidiinae.     

Pycnogenol® and vitamin E inhibit ethanol‐induced apoptosis in rat cerebellar granule cells

Pycnogenol® (PYC), a patented combination of bioflavonoids extracted from the bark of French maritime pine (Pinus maritima), scavenges free radicals and promotes cellular health. The protective capacity of PYC against ethanol toxicity of neurons has not previously been explored. The present study demonstrates that in postnatal day 9 (P9) rat cerebellar granule cells the antioxidants vitamin E (VE) and PYC (1) dose dependently block cell death following 400, 800, and 1600 mg/dL ethanol exposure (2) inhibit the ethanol‐induced activation of caspase‐3 in the same model system; and (3) reduce neuronal membrane disruption as assayed by phosphatidylserine translocation to the cell surface. These results suggest that both PYC and VE have the potential to act as therapeutic agents, antagonizing the induction of neuronal cell death by ethanol exposure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 59: 261–271, 2004     

Prevalence and Morbidity of Heart Block in Devon

In a survey in the Exeter area 139 patients with some degrees of abnormal atrioventricular conduction were notified by 282 family doctors. Per 100,000 of the population the prevalence of second-degree and thrid-degree heart block was estimated to be 17·3, of complete block past or present 15·6, and of complete block at the time of survey 13·1. Heart block was commoner in men than women, the sex ratio being 1·4 to 1; its prevalence increased steeply with age, and the morbidity rate was less than that reported by others. If the morbidity figures quoted in this survey are representative of the general population, it reaffirms the policy that pacemakers should be recommended for selected patients only.