Aminopeptidase A is angiotensinase A

Summary Quantitative histochemical measurements of aminopeptidase A (APA; E.C.3.4.11.7) were done kinetically in the kidney glomeruli of rat and mouse with an instrumental setup consisting of a microdensitometer and a computer-supported morphometric system. The histochemical demonstration of APA was carried out using the simultaneous azo coupling technique (purest-grade Fast Blue B as coupling agent and -l-glutamic acid-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide as substrate). The methodological studies show that APA activity is calcium-ion-dependent and increases linearly with the thickness of the tissue section (3–12 m) and that the time-course of APA activity as determined by linear regression is linear only for the first 1 to 2 min of the reaction. — Kinetic measurements indicate a 40% decrease in APA activities when -l-glutamic acid-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide (-l-Glu-MNA) is replaced by -l-aspartic acid-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide. When -l-Glu-MNA is replaced with l-alanine-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide, which is a substrate of aminopeptidase M (APM) only very low reaction rates are measurable (about 1.4% of those with -l-Glu-MNA). 100 and 130 mM NaCl in the incubation medium increase APA activities by approximately 16%–17%. — To clarify the functional importance of APA in the kidney, their activities were measured under the influence of angiotensins. The glomerulus was selected as the measuring site, for besides APA it contains no APM or other peptidases that could degrade angiotensins (the glomerular dipeptidyl peptidase IV is not inhibited by angiotensin II). Using the Lineweaver-Burk plot, we determined a K _m of 0.16 mM for the APA in rat glomeruli and 0.14 mM in mouse glomeruli. The V _max in mouse glomeruli is 1.6 times higher than in rat glomeruli. Ang iotensin I, II and III competitively inhibit APA in the rat and mouse glomeruli. — With quantitative histochemical techniques it was possible to show that APA is equivalent to angiotensinase A (splitting off the N-terminal aspartic acid from angiotensin I and II).Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 105)     

A homozygous female hemophilia A

BACKGROUND:

Hemophilia A (HA), being an X-linked recessive disorder, females are rarely affected, although they can be carriers.

AIMS:

To study the mutation in F8 gene in an extended family with a homozygous female HA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

All the seven affected members (six males and one female) were initially screened by Conformation Sensitive Gel Electrophoresis (CSGE) and direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTS:

A homozygous missense mutation c.1315G>A (p.Gly420Ser) was identified in exon 9 of F8 gene in homozygous state in the affected female born of 1° consanguinous marriage and in all the affected male members of the family. Her factor VIII levels was found to be 5.5%, vWF:Ag 120%.

CONCLUSION:

In India, as consanguineous marriages are very common in certain communities (up to 30%), the likelihood of encountering female hemophilia is higher, although this is the first case of HA out of 1600 hemophilia families registered in our Comprehensive Haemophilia Care Center. Genetic diagnosis in such cases is not necessary as all the male children will be affected and daughters obligatory carriers.     

A Tribute to Thomas A. Sebeok

According to the approach developed by Thomas A. Sebeok (1921–2001) and his ‘global semiotics,’ semiosis and life converge. This leads to his cardinal axiom: ‘semiosis is the criterial attribute of life.’ His global approach to sign life presupposes his critique of anthropocentrism and glottocentrism. Global semiotics is open to zoosemiotics, indeed, even more broadly, biosemiotics which extends its gaze to semiosis in the whole living universe to include the realms of macro- and microorganisms. In Sebeok’s conception, the sign science is not only the study of communication in culture, but of communicative behaviour from a biosemiotic perspective.     

The A.M.A. Session

The use of liquid nitrogen for the removal of warts has advantages over electrocautery in certain circumstances. Although the incidence of recurrences after liquid nitrogen is higher than after cautery, it causes considerably less scarring. It is most useful in dealing with peri-ungual and multiple warts. The technique is simple and a supply of liquid nitrogen can be kept on hand in the office at relatively low cost.     

The A.M.A. Session

The use of liquid nitrogen for the removal of warts has advantages over electrocautery in certain circumstances. Although the incidence of recurrences after liquid nitrogen is higher than after cautery, it causes considerably less scarring. It is most useful in dealing with peri-ungual and multiple warts.The technique is simple and a supply of liquid nitrogen can be kept on hand in the office at relatively low cost.     

关于一个“基细胞”的疑问

有或没有基细胞是毛鞘藻属(Bulbochaets)与枝鞘藻属(Oedocladium)的区别之一。这里叙述了Mrozinska在其专著(1985)中,将Oedocladium indicum Kama附图(即模式图)上的一个基细胞错误地移置到Oe.PrescottiiIslam上去的情况。     

COULD A ZYGOTE BE A HUMAN BEING?

This paper re‐examines the question of whether quirks of early human foetal development tell against the view (conceptionism) that we are human beings at conception. A zygote is capable of splitting to give rise to identical twins. Since the zygote cannot be identical with either human being it will become, it cannot already be a human being. Parallel concerns can be raised about chimeras in which two embryos fuse. I argue first that there are just two ways of dealing with cases of fission and fusion and both seem to be available to the conceptionist. One is the Replacement View according to which objects cease to exist when they fission or fuse. The other is the Multiple Occupancy View – both twins may be present already in the zygote and both persist in a chimera. So, is the conceptionist position tenable after all? I argue that it is not. A zygote gives rise not only to a human being but also to a placenta – it cannot already be both a human being and a placenta. Neither approach to fission and fusion can help the conceptionist with this problem. But worse is in store. Both fission and fusion can occur before and after the development of the inner cell mass of the blastocyst – the entity which becomes the embryo proper. The idea that we become human beings with the arrival of the inner cell mass leads to bizarre results however we choose to accommodate fission and fusion.     

关于一个"基细胞"的疑问

有或没有基细胞是毛鞘藻属与枝鞘藻属的区别之一。这里叙述了Ｍｒｏｚｉｎｓｋａ在其专著中,将Ｏｅｄｏｃｌａｄｉｕｍ ｉｎｄｉｃｕｍ Ｋａｍａｔ附图（即模式图）上的一个基细胞错误地移置到Ｏｅ．ｐｒｅｓｃｏｔｔｉｉ Ｉｓｌａｍ上去的情况。     

A mini-rapid-scan-spectrophotometer

The mini-rapid-scan-spectrophotometer (Mini-RSS) is a scanning single-beam spectrophotometer that has been patented. It is based on a minimum of reflections and involves exclusively mirrors as beam-deflecting components. This way stray light is minimized, which results in an excellent light-throughput, high dynamics, low cost, compactness and rigidity. The Mini-RSS has been designed as a multi-purpose instrument that allows absorption, transmission, reflection, fluorescence and luminescence measurements in a single-beam mode. Its spectral range extends from the UV and visible spectrum to the IR. This provides for the possibility to measure even optically unfavorable, highly turbid or scattering samples that would be otherwise inaccessible to investigations with commercial spectrophotometers. A miniaturized and very sensitive photomultiplier-module (PM) of high dynamics allows in the visible spectral range absorbance measurements that cover up to four OD units. The Mini-RSS is capable of scanning up to 100 spectra per second with a resolution of 12 bit and 500 points. The linear dispersion is currently 5 nm and the stray light level <0.01%.     

A METHOD FOR OBTAINING A CONTROLLED DAILY TEMPERATURE CYCLE

An apparatus is described which gives a controlled daily cycle of temperature. The hand of a 24 hr. clock is connected by a rod to the arm operating a thermostat contact and moves the contact slowly backwards and forwards. Its method of use is described and the shape of curve it produces is expressed as a mathematical formula. A method of obtaining a nearly constant relative humidity is described.     

黑蛋巢菌属的新种、新变种及国内新记录

本文报道黑蛋巢菌属Cyathus Haller:Pers.一新种——潞西黑蛋巢Cyathus luxiensis T.X.Zhou,J.Yu et Y.H.Chen,一新变种——非洲黑蛋巢宽孢变种Cyathus africanus H.J.Brodie var.latisporus Y.H.Chen et J.Yu 和一新记录型——壶黑蛋巢布诺德变型Cyathus olla (Batch) Pers .f. brodiensis Shinners et Tewari。给出了每个分类单元的宏观、微观特征图。新种、新变种的模式标本保存于西南林学院真菌标本室(MHSFC)。     

A CYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF A CHLOROPLAST INCLUSION

The chemical composition of a membrane-bound plastid inclusion observed in genetic tumor cells of the amphiploid Nicotiana suaveolens X N. langsdorffii was studied by means of electron microscope cytochemistry. Treatment with the following enzymes had no effect on the ultrastructure of the inclusion: α-amylase, DNase, lipase, papain, pronase, protease, RNase, and trypsin. The only enzyme to alter the fine structure of the inclusion was pepsin, which decreased the electron density of the granular component of the structure. These results indicate that protein is the major chemical constituent of this membrane-bound plastid inclusion. This finding is discussed in relation to the possible role of the inclusion in plastid ontogeny.     

A ZYGOTE COULD BE A HUMAN: A DEFENCE OF CONCEPTIONISM AGAINST FISSION ARGUMENTS

In this paper I defend the view that a zygote is a human from the fission objection that is widely thought to be decisive against the view. I do so, drawing upon a recent discussion of this issue by John Burgess, by explaining in detail the metaphysical position the proponent of the view should adopt in order to rebut the objection.     

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a disease of worldwide distribution which occurs in endemic and epidemic form and is transmitted primarily by person-to-person contact through the fecal-oral route. Common source epidemics due to contamination of food are relatively common, and water-borne epidemics have been described less frequently. The presumed etiologic agent of hepatitis A has now been visualized by immune electron microscopic (IEM) techniques in early acute-illness-phase stools of humans with hepatitis A as well as in chimpanzees experimentally infected with material known to contain hepatitis A virus. In addition, several new serologic tests for the detection of antibody against hepatitis A virus have been described. These include complement fixation and immune adherence techniques. Current data suggest that hepatitis A is caused by a single viral agent lacking the morphologic heterogeneity of hepatitis B viral components and that there may be relative antigenic homogeneity between strains of virus recovered from various parts of the world. Serologic studies to date also indicate that hepatitis A virus is not a major contributing cause in post-transfusion hepatitis.     

Immunoglobulin A

Although immunoglobulin (Ig) A is commonly recognized as the most prevalent antibody subclass at mucosal sites with an important role in mucosal defense, its potential as a therapeutic monoclonal antibody is less well known. However, IgA has multifaceted anti-, non-, and pro-inflammatory functions that can be exploited for different immunotherapeutical strategies, which will be the focus of this review.     

杜鼠灵作为杀鼠剂的初步研究

迄今为止,应用于鼠防工作中的化学杀鼠剂中有些品种已被广泛应用,并已取得了良好效果;但多数品种仍然存在不少缺点,主要是二次中毒现象。如长期采用具二次中毒的杀鼠剂进行灭鼠,则往往伤害鼠的天敌,从而破坏了生态平衡,给鼠害的再猖獗创造了有利条件。为了更好地开展鼠害防治工作,寻找高效安全而不伤害天敌的杀鼠剂已成为灭鼠工作者的共同愿望。笔者于1980年7月至1981年1月分别在青海省门源马场、互助县城关公社和四川省温江地区城镇和农田等地首次将杜鼠灵试用于害鼠防治工作,做了一系列试验。     

The Serotonin 1A A Receptor: A Representative Member of the Serotonin Receptor Family

1. Serotonin is an intrinsically fluorescent biogenic amine that acts as a neurotransmitter and is found in a wide variety of sites in the central and peripheral nervous system. Serotonergic signaling appears to play a key role in the generation and modulation of various cognitive and behavioral functions.2. Serotonin exerts its diverse actions by binding to distinct cell surface receptors which have been classified into many groups. The serotonin_1A (5-HT_1A) receptor is the most extensively studied of the serotonin receptors and belongs to the large family of seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled receptors.3. The tissue and sub-cellular distribution, structural characteristics, signaling of the serotonin_1A receptor and its interaction with G-proteins are discussed.4. The pharmacology of serotonin_1A receptors is reviewed in terms of binding of agonists and antagonists and sensitivity of their binding to guanine nucleotides.5. Membrane biology of 5-HT_1A receptors is presented using the bovine hippocampal serotonin_1A receptor as a model system. The ligand binding activity and G-protein coupling of the receptor is modulated by membrane cholesterol thereby indicating the requirement of cholesterol in maintaining the receptor organization and function. This, along with the reported detergent resistance characteristics of the receptor, raises important questions on the role of membrane lipids and domains in the function of this receptor.     

A comparison of human S100A12 with MRP-14 (S100A9)

MRP-8 and -14 are two S100 proteins highly expressed as a complex by neutrophils, and to a lesser extent by monocytes and certain squamous epithelia. However, less is known about the close homologue S100A12. This S100 protein is expressed by neutrophils and here we show that it is also expressed by monocytes, but not lymphocytes. An absence of coimmunoprecipitation of MRP-14 and S100A12 indicates that S100A12 is not associated with the MRP proteins in vivo. When directly compared to MRP-14, S100A12 expression by squamous epithelia is more restricted. In esophagus and psoriatic skin, S100A12 is differentially regulated, like MRP-14, but the expression pattern of the two S100 proteins is quite different.     

A role for phospholipase A2 in ARDS pathogenesis.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung injury that is characterized by arterial hypoxemia and noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema. One feature of ARDS is an alteration of pulmonary surfactant that increases surface tension at the air-liquid interface and results in alveolar collapse and the impairment of gas exchange. Type-II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-II) plays a major role in the hydrolysis of surfactant phospholipids and its expression is inhibited by surfactant. Here, we discuss the evidence that in pathological situations, such as ARDS, in which surfactant is altered, sPLA2-II production is exacerbated, leading to further surfactant alteration and the establishment of a vicious cycle.     

A

A valley mire was sampled on the flanks of Swampy Hill, east Otago, New Zealand. It formed in a narrow valley, apparently originally comprising two basins. The end of the mire nearest the outlet contained species typical of fens (i.e., rheotrophic mires). At the head of the valley there was a section of the mire with mixed vegetation cover comprising the tussock grass Chionochloa rubra, Sphagnum species, and cushion/herb/shrub cover. Ombrotrophic status of this section was indicated by a slightly raised profile, greater acidity, lower exchangeable Na and K, and lower substrate cation exchange capacity, identifying it as a bog. Total Ca:Mg molar ratios were generally above 1.0, but this rule-of-thumb for ombrotrophic status may be inapplicable here. It is not known whether New Zealand Sphagnum species are as efficient at lowering the pH as those investigated elsewhere. Macrofosssil evidence indicates that some components of the bog, such as Sphagnum and epacridaceous subshrubs, have remained constant, almost since the inception of the bog. However, Empodisma minus, currently absent from the bog and rare in the region, was present at one stage. The change from cover with Empodisma and Dracophyllum as significant components, to the present Chionochloa/Sphagnum/cushion composition, occurred a few hundred years ago, probably initiated by fire. Comparison with preliminary information for other bogs suggests that those in the eastern part of the South Island vary considerably in species composition, with individualistic assemblages of species. The site is seen as having high conservation values. To protect these values the bog needs protection from invasive exotic weeds, and from damage by wild pigs.