Changes in parameters of tachography and heart rate variability in students differing in the level of psychoemotional stress and type of temperament during an academic test week

Female students were examined to evaluate the effect of a test week on the parameters of tachography and heart rate variability depending on their initial psychoemotional stress level and type of temperament. A test week was shown to be a rather weak stressor, which virtually did not affect the psychological status of the students. However, their autonomic status clearly changed during the test week. This was caused by activation of the sympathetic autonomic system and was observed in both the students with a favorable psychoemotional state and choleric and sanguine subjects.     

Studies on the experimental cardiac involvement and cell-mediated immunity in germ-free mice sensitized with killed group A streptococci.

Electrocardiographic changes and cell-mediated immunity in germ-free mice sensitized with formalin-killed group A streptococci were studied. In germ-free mice sensitized with formalin-killed group A streptococci, a marked prolongation of the PQ interval in electrocardiogram (ECG) was observed at the fourth and seventh week of the sensitization, and significant increases of [³H] thymidine uptake of lymphoid cells by stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA-M), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and streptococcal mucopeptide were observed at the second, third and sixth week of the sensitization. Moreover, in macrophage migration inhibition test, migration inhibition of macrophages by streptococcal mucopeptide antigen was seen at the third, fifth and sixth week, and by heat-killed streptococci at the first and third week of the sensitization. In contrast, no electrocardiographic change and slight increases of [³H] thymidine uptake of lymphoid cells by stimulation with mitogens or streptococcal antigens were observed in non-sensitized germ-free mice and also in germ-free mice sensitized with formalin-killed staphylococci or treated with physiological saline. In germ-free mice sensitized with streptococci, their body weight did not increase and cyanosis on lips or extremities of the mice was noted throughout the experimental period. Light microscopic histological examination could not reveal any changes that suggest damage of the myocardial tissue.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism of the murine eosinophil. II. Involvement of the lipoxygenase pathway in the response to the lymphokine eosinophil stimulation promoter

Eosinophil stimulation promoter (ESP) is a murine lymphokine that enhances the migration of eosinophils. Exogenous arachidonic acid between 0.5 and 2 micrograms/ml potentiated the activity of ESP on murine eosinophil migration, whereas such concentrations did not affect migration in the absence of ESP. Among the lipoxygenase products identified from an enriched population of murine eosinophils, leukotriene B4 (optimal activity at 100 ng/ml) and 12-HETE (optimal activity at 2 micrograms/ml) stimulated migration of these cells. Another lipoxygenase product from these cells 15-HETE inhibited ESP-induced migration; between 5 and 10 micrograms/ml 15-HETE decreased by one-half both stimulated migration and 12-HETE biosynthesis. Structurally diverse drugs at concentrations that inhibited HETE biosynthesis inhibited ESP-induced migration. The concentrations that decreased migration activity by one-half were 5 microM NDGA, 10 microM ETYA, and 150 microM BW755C. Aspirin and indomethacin at concentrations reported to inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis did not substantially inhibit ESP activity, but concentrations of indomethacin above 20 microM caused concentration-dependent inhibition of migration. The selective lipoxygenases inhibitor 134,7,10,13-eicosatetraynoic acid was more potent than ETYA in inhibition of ESP-induced migration, and the selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor 6,9,12-octadecatriynoic acid did not effect inhibition. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that stimulation of eosinophils by the lymphokine ESP involves the generation of lipoxygenase products from arachidonic acid, which positively and negatively regulate the migratory activities of these cells.     

Leucocyte migration inhibition test as an index of immunological response to measles virus I. Effect of the environment and measles virus on migration of monkey leucocytes.

The parameters of migration inhibition test of leucocytes isolated both from the peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes of monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops were determined. Concentration of measles virus that does not produce nonspecific migration inhibition of leucocyte obtained from sero-negative animals was also defined.     

Rosette Inhibition Test in Severely Burned Patients

The rosette inhibition test has been advocated as a test of immune reactivity in patients given transplants. We have done the test in lymphocytes from patients with severe burns, non-burnt control patients, and normal subjects. There was no correlation with the period of immunosuppression which follows a severe burn, though both groups of patients showed a wider range of minimal inhibitory concentrations (M.I.C.) than the normal group. Wide day-to-day variation of M.I.C. in burn and control patients was noted; this seemed to correlate with the ratio of sodium to potassium excreted in the urine. In-vitro experiments suggest that the M.I.C. is correlated with a plasma constituent which may be similar in action to hydrocortisone and that the rosette inhibition test is not a direct measure of immune reactivity.     

Measurement of ultraviolet radiation-induced suppression of recall contact and delayed-type hypersensitivity in humans

This article describes methodology used for assessment of ultraviolet radiation-induced suppression of recall responses in humans. Nickel allergy is common in the general population and patch testing of nickel-allergic volunteers provides a convenient model of contact hypersensitivity. Similarly, Mantoux-positive volunteers, recruited from within hospital staff, are used as a model for delayed-type hypersensitivity. Use of secondary rather than primary immune responses allows placement of multiple test sites on each volunteer. Further, each volunteer acts as his or her own unirradiated control. This enables UV immunosuppression to be studied with relatively few human volunteers, and makes determination of UV immunosuppression dose responses feasible in human subjects. The method can also be used for assessment of the level of immune protection afforded by agents such as sunscreens or biologically active substances.     

Restoration of antineoplastic reactivity of the leukocytes after preincubation]

Specific antitumor sensitization in patients with carcinoma of the stomach was revealed by means of the leukocyte migration inhibition test. After 24-hour preincubation at 4 degrees C in a serum-free medium the areactive leukocytes from patients with carcinoma of the stomach (stages III--IV) acquired the ability to react specifically to allogeneic antigens of the tumor of the same localization. Preincubation did not influence the inhibition of migration of leukocytes in non-tumor patients by stomach carcinoma antigens. The supernatant of preincubated leukocytes of tumor patients contained substances that inhibited migration of indicator leukocytes.     

Migration inhibition test with thyroid membrane antigen in Graves-Basedow disease and nodular goiter]

The evaluation of the migration inhibition test with thyroid membrane antigen was carried out in 20 patients with Graves' disease, 13 patients with neutral nodular goiter and 13 healthy subjects. A significant inhibition of migration by thyroid antigen as compared to the control group was demonstrated only in the patients with Graves' disease (the value of the migration index was 0.57 +/- 0.07). The respective value was 0.79 +/- 0.16 in patients with nodular goiter and 0.85 +/- 0.11 in healthy subjects. The results obtained indicate the practical value of the migration inhibition test in diagnosing the thyroid diseases having an autoimmune background.     

Role of T- and B-lymphocytes in the heterogeneity of human cell-mediated reactions to bacterial antigens]

Leucocytes from 30 patients with allergy to tuberculin and bacterial antigens were treated with antithymus (ATS) and anti-immune globulin (AIGS) sera. The leucocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) was performed with these antigens. ATS abolished the LMIT induced by tuberculin and sometimes by bacterial antigens (staphylococcal, streptococcal etc.). AIGS frequently abolished the LMIT induced by bacterial antigens, but not by tuberculin. In some cases the treatment with any serum abolished the LMIT induced by the antigens, or, on the contrary, it was abolished only by a successive treatment with both sera. The lymphocyte types (T or B) determining the secondary immune response to the same antigen are different in various patients, as well as they differ in the same patients in relation to diverse antigens. Five types of lymphocyte - antigen interrelation in the LMIT have been distinguished.     

A comparison of peritoneal exudate cells and peripheral blood leukocytes in direct and indirect migration inhibition tests as in vitro assays for tuberculin hypersensitivity in guinea pigs.

Peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) are most frequently used in the migration inhibition test. The aim o this work was to compare the ability of these two types of cells to reflect tuberculin hypersensitivity in the migration inhibition test. We sensitized 36 guinea pigs with complete Freund's adjuvant and 20 controls were injected with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Migration of PEC in medium containing 5, 15, or 75 μg of PPD/ml was assessed after 30 min, and 1, 2, 4, 18, 24, and 48 hr of incubation. The migration of PEC from sensitized animals was inhibited, the inhibition being dose dependent and, with lower concentrations of the antigen, becoming significant only after 4 hr or later. With both PEC and PBL from the same sensitized animal we observed virtually identical migration inhibition in the presence of 75 μg of PPD/ml. A correlation was found between the migration inhibition indices of PEC and PBL. In the indirect test, active supernatants containing lymphokines caused nearly identical migration inhibition of PEC and PBL from normal animals. It follows that in the guinea pig PEC and PBL behave alike both in the direct and in the indirect migration inhibition tests. Thus, PEC and PBL appear to be equally valuable sources of cells for migration inhibition tests.     

Development of specific cellular immunoreactivity in typhoid fever.

Development of cellular immunoreactivity to Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi-A was studied by the leukocyte migration inhibition test in 9 patients with typhoid fever and in 2 patients with paratyphoid fever. Cellular reactivity could be demonstrated from the first days of the disease in all the subjects. The most pronounced migration inhibition was observed during the febrile period. It is suggested that specific cellular reactivity may play a pathogenetic role in typhoid fever.     

Release of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(s) from lymphocytes stimulated by streptococcal preparations

Lymphocytes from apparently healthy subjects, incubated for 5 hours with cellular components or extracellular products of group A streptococci and then washed and reincubated, were found to release factor(s) capable of inhibiting guinea pig lung macrophage migration (“indirect method”). Inhibitition of macrophage migration was also obtained when the same preparations were tested directly on guinea pig lung cells, a macrophage-lymphocyte population (“direct method”). The guinea pigs had not been experimentally sensitized. The inhibition of migration appeared to depend on the presence of lymphocytes among the macrophages, since macrophages purified by repeatedly discarding nonadherent cells proved resistant to the migration inhibiting activity of the most active Streptococcal preparation, a 20 × concentrated filtrate. Reconstitution of the original lymphocyte-macrophage mixture reestablished the reactivity. The macrophage migration inhibition did not correlate with the age of the guinea pigs. It could not be obtained with preparations of group D streptococci or of Salmonella paratyphi. Group C streptococci did not inhibit the macrophage migration with the indirect method, but it did with the direct one.The factor(s) released into the medium on stimulation of apparently normal lymphocytes by Streptococcal preparations was relatively heat resistant, nondialyzable, and DNase and RNase resistant; its release was inhibited by puromycin. Pretreatment of the cells with trypsin prevented the absorption of the factor(s) and left migration unaffected. These characteristics are similar to those previously described for the migration inhibitory factor (MIF) produced by the interaction of sensitized lymphocytes and specific antigens. Whether or not these similarities indicate an identity remains to be determined.     

Individual variation in migration speed of upriver-migrating sockeye salmon in the Fraser River in relation to their physiological and energetic status at marine approach

Little research has examined individual variation in migration speeds of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) in natural river systems or attempted to link migratory behavior with physiological and energetic status on a large spatial scale in the wild. As a model, we used three stocks of summer-run sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from the Fraser River watershed, British Columbia, to test the hypothesis that individual variation in migration speed is determined by a combination of environmental factors (i.e., water temperature), intrinsic biological differences (sex and population), and physiological and energetic condition. Before the freshwater portion of the migration, sockeye salmon (Quesnel, Chilcotin, and Nechako stock complexes) were captured in Johnstone Strait ( approximately 215 km from river entry), gastrically implanted with radio transmitters, and sampled for blood, gill tissue, and energetic status before release. Analyses focused solely on individuals that successfully reached natal subwatersheds. Migration speeds were assessed by an extensive radiotelemetry array. Individuals from the stock complex that migrated the longest distance (Nechako) traveled at speeds slower than those of other stock complexes. Females traveled slower than males. An elevated energetic status of fish in the ocean was negatively correlated with migration speed in most river segments. During the transition from the ocean to the river, migration speed was negatively correlated with mean maximum water temperature; however, for the majority of river segments, it was positively correlated with migration speed. Physiological status measured in the ocean did not explain among-individual variability in river migration speeds. Collectively, these findings suggest that there could be extensive variation in migration behavior among individuals, sexes, and populations and that physiological condition in the ocean explained little of this variation relative to in-river environmental conditions and energetic status. Interestingly, individual fish generally retained their rank in swimming speed across different segments, except when transiting a challenging canyon midway during the migration.     

In vitro locomotion of allosensitized T lymphocyte clones in response to metabolites of arachidonic acid is subset specific

The effects of the arachidonic acid metabolites prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on the in vitro random migration of cloned murine T lymphocytes (derived from limiting dilution analysis of a C57BL/6 anti-DBA/2 mixed leukocyte culture) were examined. Experiments were also performed to study the effects of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin on both random lymphocyte migration and lymphocyte migration in the presence of PGE2. The responses of cloned lymphocytes to PGE2 and LTB4 were compared with those of unsensitized lymph node lymphocytes. PGE2 at 100 ng/ml significantly inhibited (p less than 0.001) the in vitro migration of helper clones of T lymphocytes, but had no effect on random migration of cytotoxic T cells or helper independent cytotoxic (HIT) cloned cells. In contrast, LTB4 significantly (p less than 0.001) enhanced the random locomotion of helper, cytotoxic, and "HIT" cloned cells at 0.1 and 0.3 ng/ml. The effects of both PGE2 and LTB4 were found to be completely reversible by cell washing. Indomethacin (10(-7) M) did not alter random migration of any of the clones, and in particular, did not affect the inhibition of helper lymphocyte migration induced by PGE2. Unsensitized bulk lymph node lymphocyte migration was not affected by either PGE2 or LTB4. The results suggest that modulation of lymphocyte locomotor function by environmental stimuli may depend on cellular activation, and the locomotor responses of activated lymphocytes to arachidonic acid metabolites may be subset specific.     

Experimental evolution of slowed cognitive aging in Drosophila melanogaster

Reproductive output and cognitive performance decline in parallel during aging, but it is unknown whether this reflects a shared genetic architecture or merely the declining force of natural selection acting independently on both traits. We used experimental evolution in Drosophila melanogaster to test for the presence of genetic variation for slowed cognitive aging, and assess its independence from that responsible for other traits’ decline with age. Replicate experimental populations experienced either joint selection on learning and reproduction at old age (Old + Learning), selection on late‐life reproduction alone (Old), or a standard two‐week culture regime (Young). Within 20 generations, the Old + Learning populations evolved a slower decline in learning with age than both the Old and Young populations, revealing genetic variation for cognitive aging. We found little evidence for a genetic correlation between cognitive and demographic aging: although the Old + Learning populations tended to show higher late‐life fecundity than Old populations, they did not live longer. Likewise, selection for late reproduction alone did not result in improved late‐life learning. Our results demonstrate that Drosophila harbor genetic variation for cognitive aging that is largely independent from genetic variation for demographic aging and suggest that these two aspects of aging may not necessarily follow the same trajectories.     

Trifluoperazine inhibits thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated TSH secretion

In previous work changes of the thyrotropic secretion after administration of some substances affecting the calcium content in the cytosol were demonstrated. The object of the present investigation was to assess the hormonal response to the administration of trifluoperazine, a psychopharmaceutical preparation, the main mechanism of its action being the inactivation of the cytosol receptor for the calcium signal - calmodulin. The poor utilization of intracellular calcium of the secretory cell is then the factor which inhibits secretion proper. The thyrotropic secretory reserve (delta TSH) was assessed in the same subjects before and after trifluoperazine administration by the TRH test as the difference of values at rest and TRH-stimulated TSH levels during the 20th, 30th, 40th and 60th minute following intravenous administration of 200 micrograms TRH. It was revealed that this calmodulin antagonist administered for one week in amounts of 6-12 mg per day by mouth significantly inhibits the secretory response of TSH to TRH in healthy subjects during the 20th and 40th min. (P less than 0.05). The reproducibility of the TRH test repeated in a group of subjects not treated with trifluoperazine, however, under equal conditions and after the same time intervals as in the experiment with trifluoperazine was very satisfactory and thus physiological inhibition caused by repeated TRH administration could be ruled out. The inhibition of the secretory TSH response to TRH can be therefore considered the consequence of the direct effect of trifluoperazine on the thyrotropic secretory mechanism. Trifluoperazine significantly reduced serum calcium levels and raised phosphate levels, while it did not affect the blood levels of magnesium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Chemotaxis or migration inhibition of rabbit peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes caused by chemoattractants at various concentrations

Purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Veillonella incubated in normal rabbit serum was tested for chemotactic activity on rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in modified Boyden chambers. In doses above those giving optimal response (over-optimal dose), a decrease of the PMN migration activity was found. This decrease also correlated well with an increase in the migration inhibition of the PMNs as demonstrated with the capillary tube assay. The PMN chemotactic factor isolated from LPS-induced inflammatory exudate (LPS-CF) in rabbits, produced both a decrease in chemotactic response and a migration inhibition of PMNs in over-optimal doses. This inhibitory effect was not due to cytotoxicity, proved by the trypan blue exclusion test. Also, a reduced locomotion of PMNs first preincubated with chemoattractants and then reactivated, was shown when the same PMNs were restimulated to migration using the same chemoattractants. This was interpreted as a deactivation of the cells. A cross-deactivation was demonstrated between LPS-CF and casein. The results from the experiments reported show that the Boyden chamber may be used to disciminate directional chemotaxis and migration inhibition. It may also be concluded from the study that the reduced migration activity of PMNs at over-optimal doses of chemoattractants is not due to cytotoxicity, but most probably is caused by a deactivation of the cells.     

Spatial variation in frequency and intensity of antibiotic interactions among Streptomycetes from prairie soil

Antibiotic interactions are believed to be significant to microbial fitness in soil, yet little is known of the frequency, intensity, and diversity of antibiotic inhibition and resistance among indigenous microbes. To begin to address these issues, we studied the abilities of streptomycete isolates from prairie soil to inhibit growth and display resistance to antibiotics produced by a test collection of 10 streptomycete isolates. Wide variations in antibiotic inhibition and resistance for prairie isolates among three locations and four soil depths within a 1-m2 plot were revealed. Fewer than 10% of 153 prairie isolates inhibited all 10 test isolates, while more than 40% of the isolates did not inhibit any of the test isolates. No field isolate was resistant to all of the test isolates, nor was any isolate susceptible to all of the test isolates. No correlation between inhibition and resistance phenotypes was found, suggesting that inhibition and resistance are under independent selection. The significant spatial variation in the frequency and intensity of antibiotic inhibition implies that the fitness benefits of antibiotic production are not the same among locations in soil. In contrast, the consistency of resistance over space indicates that its significance to fitness across locations is stable or the costs of maintaining resistance in the absence of selection are small or nonexistent. The spatial clustering of antibiotic inhibitory activity suggests a variable matrix of selection pressures and microbial responses across the soil landscape.     

Partial Altitudinal Migration of a Himalayan Forest Pheasant

Background

Altitudinal migration systems are poorly understood. Recent advances in animal telemetry which enables tracking of migrants across their annual cycles will help illustrate unknown migration patterns and test existing hypotheses. Using telemetry, we show the existence of a complex partial altitudinal migration system in the Himalayas and discuss our findings to help better understand partial and altitudinal migration.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We used GPS/accelerometer tags to monitor the migration of Satyr tragopan (Tragopan satyra) in the Bhutan Himalayas. We tagged 38 birds from 2009 – 2011 and found that tragopans are partially migratory. Fall migration lasted from the 3^rd week of September till the 3^rd week of November with migrants traveling distances ranging from 1.25 km to 13.5 km over 1 to 32 days. Snowfall did not influence the onset of migration. Return migration started by the 1^st week of March and lasted until the 1^st week of April. Individuals returned within 4 to 10 days and displayed site fidelity. One bird switched from being a migrant to a non-migrant. Tragopans displayed three main migration patterns: 1) crossing multiple mountains; 2) descending/ascending longitudinally; 3) moving higher up in winter and lower down in summer. More females migrated than males; but, within males, body size was not a factor for predicting migrants.

Conclusions/Significance

Our observations of migrants traversing over multiple mountain ridges and even of others climbing to higher elevations is novel. We support the need for existing hypotheses to consider how best to explain inter- as well as intra-sexual differences. Most importantly, having shown that the patterns of an altitudinal migration system are complex and not a simple up and down slope movement, we hope our findings will influence the way altitudinal migrations are perceived and thereby contribute to a better understanding of how species may respond to climate change.