Helical complexes of polyriboinosinic acid with copolymers of polyribocytidylic acid containing inosine, adenosine and uridine residues

The consequences of incorporating non-complementary residues into the poly (I) · poly (C) helix have been investigated. Complexes of poly (I) and copolymers of C with different mole-ratios of I, A and U residues have been prepared and denatured in a variety of solvents. The results of both denaturation and analysis of the stoichiometry of the reactions suggest that in poly (I)· poly (C, I_x) complexes, the I residues are excluded from the helix matrix, whereas in the poly (I) · poly (C, U_x) and poly (I) · poly (C, A_x) systems the minor component bases are retained. Preliminaries to a quantitative analysis of the transition data are presented, permitting rough estimates of the difference in stability between poly (I) · poly (C) and poly (I) · poly (U) or poly (I) · poly (A) pairs in these complexes—the results being 1.7 kcal./mole and 1.3 kcal./mole, respectively. The differences in behavior of poly (I) · poly (C, I) complexes are found to be most evident in the presence of 8 m-urea.     

The effects of ammonia on the fermentation of chopped sugarcane

Chopped sugarcane was ensiled with and without the addition of aqueous ammonia (28% NH₃) in laboratory silos (4.5 kg NH₃/t sugarcane). The effect of the NH₃ on the pattern of fermentation was studied over a period of 42 days. Addition of NH₃ resulted in: (a) an initial decrease in the population of yeasts and moulds, and Lactobacillus organisms; (b) a reduction (47.9%) in weight loss; (c) a reduction (46.4%) in the loss of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC); (d) increased levels of lactic acid; and (e) lower levels of acid detergent fibre (ADF) when compared with untreated canelage (fermented, whole-plant sugarcane).In another experiment in which 205-litre drums were used as silos, addition of NH₃ (1.25 kg NH₃/t sugarcane) to chopped sugarcane also produced canelage with higher levels of lactic acid, more WSC, lower levels of ADF and a reduction in weight loss when compared with the control canelage.     

Metal chelates in the storage and transport of neurotransmitters: formation of mixed ligand chelates of Mg 2+ -ATP with biogenic amines

Abstract— Quantitative studies on the interactions of adenosine-triphosphate and several biogenic amines with magnesium ion have been carried out in an attempt to correlate the thermodynamic stabilities of the metal-binding of the amines with the in vivo affinities of the amines for granule-binding. Equilibrium data indicate that in each of the ternary chelate systems (viz. Mg²⁺-ATP-amine), the predominant reaction in the pH range 3.0–7.0 is the formation of a magnesium-ATP chelate with a stability constant, log K_ML=3.22 ± 0.02. Each of the biogenic amines coordinates with Mg²⁺-ATP system in the pH range 7.0–10.5 to form the mixed ligand chelate (or ternary chelate), Mg²⁺-ATP-amine(1:1:1). The stability constants for the binding of the amines with Mg²⁺-ATP are: (i) norepinephrine (NE) = 2.34 ± 0.32; (ii) epinephrine (E) = 2.95 ± 0.08; (iii) dopamine (DA) = 3.05 ± 0.06; (iv) octopamine (OA) = 1.93 ± 0.12; (v) 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HDA) = 2.42 ± 0.14; (vi) 3-methoxynorephedrine (MeN) =2.76 ± 0.09; (vii) amphetamine (AA) =2.09 ± 0.05; (viii) tyramine (TA) = 2.60 ± 0.04; (ix) phenylethylamine (PEA) = 0. A general correlation is indicated between the stability constants (binding strengths) of the amine chelates and the metal-binding functionalities of the amines on the one hand and their vesicular binding characteristics in in vivo systems on the other (Carlsson and Waldeck , 1966). The Mg²⁺-ATP-dependant amine storage mechanism of KIRSHNER (1962a;b) and Carlsson , Hillårp and Waldeck (1963) is discussed both in the light of the data on metal chelate stability and of a significant modification of metal coordination hypothesis.     

Synthesis of two heptasaccharide analogues of the lentinan repeating unit

beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp (18) and the allyl glycoside of beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)[-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-alpha-D-Glcp (29) were synthesized as the analogues of the lentinan repeating heptaose by building the pentasaccharide backbones first, followed by attaching the side chains. 4,6-O-benzylidenated mono-13 or disaccharide 8 were used as the acceptor to ensure the beta linkage in the synthesis of 18, while 4,6-O-benzylidenated disaccharides 21 and 23 were used as the donor and acceptor, respectively, to ensure the beta linkage in the synthesis of 29.     

Distribution of enzymes that catalyse reactions of glutathione with αβ-unsaturated compounds

1. A study of the distribution of glutathione S-alkenetransferases in the livers of vertebrate species suggests that different enzymes may catalyse reactions of GSH with (i) trans-benzylideneacetone, (ii) 2,3-dimethyl-4(2-methylenebutyryl)phenoxyacetic acid, (iii) cinnamonitrile, (iv) o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile, (v) methyl vinyl sulphone, and (vi) 3-(β-nitrovinyl)indole. 2. Glutathione S-alkenetransferase activity was generally greatest in rat liver, but the enzyme in hamster liver was more active towards o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile, and the enzyme in rabbit, hamster, guinea-pig and mouse livers was more active towards methyl vinyl sulphone. 3. Results from studies of the distribution of activities in rat liver and rat kidney, heat inactivation of rat liver supernatants, and (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation and acid-precipitation experiments, differentiated further between some of the enzymes concerned with substrates (i)–(vi). 4. The infrequent detection of mercapturic acids in vivo is discussed.     

Ferric Ion and Oxygen Reduction at the Surface of Protoplasts and Cells of Acer pseudoplatanus

This work was undertaken to verify whether surface NADH oxidases or peroxidases are involved in the apoplastic reduction of Fe(III). The reduction of Fe(III)-ADP, linked to NADH-dependent activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), protoplasts and cells of Acer pseudoplatanus, was measured as Fe(II)-bathophenanthrolinedisulfonate (BPDS) chelate formation. In the presence of BPDS in the incubation medium (method 1), NADH-dependent HRP activity was associated with a rapid Fe(III)-ADP reduction that was almost completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), while catalase only slowed down the rate of reduction. A. pseudoplatanus protoplasts and cells reduced extracellular Fe(III)-ADP in the absence of exogenously supplied NADH. The addition of NADH stimulated the reduction. SOD and catalase only inhibited the NADH-dependent Fe(III)-ADP reduction. Mn(II), known for its ability to scavenge O^?₂, inhibited both the independent and NADH-dependent Fe(III)-ADP reduction. The reductase activity of protoplasts and cells was also monitored in the absence of BPDS (method 2). The latter was added only at the end of the reaction to evaluate Fe(II) formed. Also, in this case, both preparations reduced Fe(III)-ADP. However, the addition of NADH did not stimulate Fe(III)-ADP reduction but, instead, lowered it. This may be related to a re-oxidation of Fe(II) by H₂O₂ that could also be produced during NADH-dependent peroxidase activity. Catalase and SOD made the Fe(III)-ADP reduction more efficient because, by removing H₂O₂ (catalase) or preventing H₂O₂ formation (SOD), they hindered the re-oxidation of Fe(II) not chelated by BPDS. As with the result obtained by method 1, Mn(II) inhibited Fe(III)-ADP reduction carried out in the presence or absence of NADH. The different effects of SOD and Mn(II), both scavengers of O^?₂, may depend on the ability of Mn(II) to permeate the cells more easily than SOD. These results show that A. pseudoplatanus protoplasts and cells reduce extracellular Fe(III)-ADP. Exogenously supplied NADH induces an additional reduction of Fe(III) by the activity of NADH peroxidases of the plasmalemma or cell wall. However, the latter can also trigger the formation of H₂O₂ that, reacting with Fe(II) (not chelated by BPDS), generates hydroxyl radicals and converts Fe(II) to Fe(III) (Fenton's reaction).     

Synthesis of aminoethyl glycosides of the carbohydrate chains of glycolipids Gb3, Gb4 i Gb5

4-O-Glycosylation of 2-azidoethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta- D-glucopyranoside with ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl- and ethyl 3-O-acetyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-D-galactopyranoside in the presence of methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate led to trisaccharide 2-azidoethyl (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)- (2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)2,3,6-tri-O- benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its 3"-O-acetylated analogue, 2-azidoethyl (3-O-acetyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl- alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-(2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, in yields of 85 and 83%, respectively. Deacetylation of the latter compound and subsequent glycosylation with 4-trichloroacetamidophenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-1-thio-2-trichloroacetamido-beta-D- galactopyranoside and 4-trichloroacetamidophenyl 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O- acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-1-thio-2-trichloroacetamido-beta-D- galactopyranoside in dichloromethane in the presence of N-iodosuccinimide and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid resulted in the corresponding selectively protected derivatives of tetrasaccharide GalNAc(beta 1-->3)Gal(alpha 1-->4)Gal(beta 1-->4)Glc beta-OCH2CH2N3 and pentasaccharide Gal(beta 1-->3)GalNAc(beta 1-->3)Gal(alpha 1-->4)Gal(beta 1-->4)Glc beta-OCH2CH2N3 in 88 and 73% yields, respectively. Removal of O-protecting groups, substitution of acetyl group for N-trichloroacetyl group, and reduction of the aglycone azide group resulted in the target 2-aminoethyl globo-tri-, -tetra-, and -pentasaccharide, respectively.     

Comparison of the effects of cationic porphyrins on DNA properties: influence of GC content of native and synthetic polymers

Interactions of meso-tetra(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin [TMpyP(4)], meso-tetra(2-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin [TMpyP(2)], and meso-tetra(para-N-trimethylanilinium)porphyrin (TMAP) with several native and synthetic DNAs were studied by a variety of physical techniques: nmr (³¹P and ¹H), absorption spectroscopy, viscosity, and flow dichroism (FD). Of the three porphyrins studied, only the interaction of TMpyP(4) with poly [d(G-C)₂] was fully consistent with intercalation. In particular, a large increase in viscosity, a downfield ³¹P-nmr signal (ca. -1 ppm), and upfield imino proton signals (11 to 12 ppm range) were observed. Comparison of the effects of TMpyP(4) on DNAs of different GC contents revealed larger changes in solution viscosity with increased GC content. However, the characteristic changes in ³¹P- and ¹H-nmr spectra were not observed. The viscosity increases observed in studies with poly[d(A-C)(G-T)] and C. Perf. DNA were much lower than with poly[d(G-C)₂], M. Lys. DNA, and calf thymus DNA. Thus, GC sequence and content are clearly important. The principal change in the ³¹P-nmr signal of native DNA is the appearance of a very broad shoulder centered at ca. -2.0 ppm, which is larger in M. Lys. DNA than in C. Perf. DNA. FD studies indicate highly ordered TMpyP(4) cations arranged perpendicular to the DNA axis of calf thymus DNA. Together, these results suggest the major effects of TMpyP(4) on DNA properties are due to strong GC-binding interactions that influence DNA structure. The data are consistent with combined intercalative and outside binding interactions of TMpyP(4) with GC regions of DNA. In contrast, similar studies with TMAP suggest that it influences AT regions of DNA by an outside binding mode. On the other hand, TMpyP(2) effects on DNA properties are consistent with nonselective outside binding.     

A critique of the utility of the prediction of protein secondary structure

The Chou-Fasman predictive algorithm for determining the secondary structure of proteins from the primary sequence is reviewed. Many examples of its use are presented which illustrate its wide applicability, such as predicting (a) regions with the potential for conformational change, (b) sequences which are capable of assuming several conformations in different environments, (c) effects of single amino acid mutations, (d) amino acid replacements in synthesis of peptides to bring about a change in conformation, (e) guide to the synthesis of polypeptides with definitive secondary structure,e.g. signal sequences, (f) conformational homologues from varying sequences and (g) the amino acid requirements for amphiphilicα-helical peptides.     

Effects of Exogenous Recombinant APC in Mouse Models of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury and of Atherosclerosis

Activated protein C (APC) is a serine protease that has both anticoagulant and cytoprotective properties. The cytoprotective effects are protease activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) dependent and likely underlie protective effects of APC in animal models of sepsis, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. S360A-(A)PC, a variant (A)PC that has no catalytic activity, binds EPCR and shifts pro-inflammatory signaling of the thrombin-PAR-1 complex to anti-inflammatory signaling. In this study we investigated effects of human (h)wt-PC, hS360A-PC, hwt-APC and hS360A-APC in acute (mouse model of acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury) and chronic inflammation (apoE^−/− mouse model of atherosclerosis). All h(A)PC variants significantly reduced myocardial infarct area (p<0.05) following I/R injury. IL-6 levels in heart homogenates did not differ significantly between sham, placebo and treatment groups in I/R injury. None of the h(A)PC variants decreased number and size of atherosclerotic plaques in apoE^−/− mice. Only hS360A-APC slightly affected phenotype of plaques. IL-6 levels in plasma were significantly (p<0.001) decreased in hwt-APC and hS360A-PC treated mice. In the last group levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) were significantly increased (p<0.05). In this study we show that both hwt and hS360A-(A)PC protect against acute myocardial I/R injury, which implies that protection from I/R injury is independent of the proteolytic activity of APC. However, in the chronic atherosclerosis model hwt and hS360-(A)PC had only minor effects. When the dose, species and mode of (A)PC administration will be adjusted, we believe that (A)PC will have potential to influence development of chronic inflammation as occurring during atherosclerosis as well.     

Comparative estimation of the neurotropicity of trace elements in the organism of children living in industrial towns of Ukraine

In 10- to 16-year-old children, inhabitants of industrial towns of Ukraine, an X-ray fluorescence analysis of the content of some chemical elements in hair samples allowed us to find a deficiency of Zn and Cu against the background of excesses of Ca, Cr, Ni, Mo, and Cd. Comparison of the parameters of EEG frequency components and levels of Ca, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sr, Pb, and Cd showed that there are significant correlations between the normalized values of spectral powers of many frequency components of the ongoing EEG recorded in different functional states (eyes closed/open, solving an arithmetic task, and phono-/photostimulation) and concentrations of ten of the above-mentioned trace elements. Comparative estimation of the neurotropicity of the elements showed the following sequence of numbers of significant correlations (shown in parentheses) from the total set of possible comparisons: Cd (35) > Ni (31) > Cr (19) > Sr (17) > Pb (16) > > Ca (10) > Cu (7) > Mo (3) > Zn (2) > Fe (1). The intensity of correlations (values of the correlation coefficients) varied from 0.26 to 0.42 at 0.05 < P < 0.001; more frequently, such correlations were observed under conditions of EEG recording with the eyes closed (39) and upon solving an arithmetic task (33).     

葛根素对大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位的影响

目的:从电生理角度探讨葛根素抗心律失常的可能机制。方法:采用膜片钳技术记录大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位(AP)、转染的人胚胎肾细胞缓慢延迟整流钾电流(IKs),观察加药前、后葛根素对AP和IKs的影响。结果:0.01、0.1、1 mmol/L葛根素可浓度依赖性地延长动作电位时程,分别使APD50从(71.8±11.8)ms延长至(86.9±10.7)ms、(100.5±14.1)ms和(123.6±25.4)ms;使APD90从(164.6±21.4)ms延长至(188.3±11.5)ms、(221.6±25.7)ms和(278.7±38.2)ms(n=6,均P0.05),而对RMP、APA和APD20无显著影响。此外,0.01、0.1、1 mmol/L葛根素对IKs抑制率分别为(17.8±2.5)%、(40.4±1.9)%和(60.9±3.2)%(n=6,均P0.05)。结论:葛根素可能通过抑制IKs来延长动作电位时程,发挥抗心律失常作用。     

Roles of phosphoinositides in regulation of stomatal movements

Guard cells sense various environmental and internal stimuli and, in response, modulate the stomatal aperture to a size optimal for growth and adaptation. Among the many factors involved in the fine regulation of stomata, we have focused our studies on the role of phosphoinositides. Our recent study published in the Plant Journal (52:803–16) provides evidence for an important role for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bis-phosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P₂) in inducing stomatal opening. Light induces translocation of a PtdIns(4,5)P₂-binding protein from the cytosol to the plasma membrane and treatments that increase the intracellular PtdIns(4,5)P₂ level induce stomatal opening in the absence of light irradiation. Inhibition of anion channel activity, a negative regulator for stomatal opening, was suggested as a mechanism of PtdIns(4,5)P₂-induced stomatal opening. We also reported that phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) regulate actin dynamics in guard cells. The effects of the phosphoinositides were specific, and were not induced by other lipids with similar structures. The roles of different interacting partners are likely to be important for these lipids to produce specific changes in guard cell activity.Key words: PtdIns(4,5)P₂; PtdIns(4)P; Ins(1,4,5)P₃; anion channel; PIP kinase; phospholipase C; stomatal opening; guard cells     

Reproductive factors and the risk of incident dementia: A cohort study of UK Biobank participants

BackgroundWomen’s reproductive factors have been associated with the risk of dementia; however, these findings remain uncertain. This study aimed to examine the risk of incident all-cause dementia associated with reproductive factors in women and the number of children in both sexes and whether the associations vary by age, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking status, and body mass index (BMI) in the UK Biobank.Methods and findingsA total of 273,240 women and 228,957 men without prevalent dementia from the UK Biobank were included in the analyses. Cox proportional hazard regressions estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for reproductive factors with incident all-cause dementia. Multiple adjusted models included age at study entry, SES, ethnicity, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, BMI, history of diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, antihypertensive drugs, and lipid-lowering drugs. Over a median of 11.8 years follow-up, 1,866 dementia cases were recorded in women and 2,202 in men. Multiple adjusted HRs ((95% confidence intervals (CIs)), p-value) for dementia were 1.20 (1.08, 1.34) (p = 0.016) for menarche <12 years and 1.19 (1.07, 1.34) (p = 0.024) for menarche >14 years compared to 13 years; 0.85 (0.74, 0.98) (p = 0.026) for ever been pregnant; 1.43 (1.26, 1.62) (p < 0.001) for age at first live birth <21 compared to 25 to 26 years; 0.82 (0.71, 0.94) (p = 0.006) for each abortion; 1.32 (1.15, 1.51) (p = 0.008) for natural menopause at <47 compared to 50 years; 1.12 (1.01, 1.25) (p = 0.039) for hysterectomy; 2.35 (1.06, 5.23) (p = 0.037) for hysterectomy with previous oophorectomy; and 0.80 (0.72, 0.88) (p < 0.001) for oral contraceptive pills use. The U-shaped associations between the number of children and the risk of dementia were similar for both sexes: Compared with those with 2 children, for those without children, the multiple adjusted HR ((95% CIs), p-value) was 1.18 (1.04, 1.33) (p = 0.027) for women and 1.10 (0.98, 1.23) (p = 0.164) for men, and the women-to-men ratio of HRs was 1.09 (0.92, 1.28) (p = 0.403); for those with 4 or more children, the HR was 1.14 (0.98, 1.33) (p = 0.132) for women and 1.26 (1.10, 1.45) (p = 0.003) for men, and the women-to-men ratio of HRs was 0.93 (0.76, 1.14) (p = 0.530). There was evidence that hysterectomy (HR, 1.31 (1.09, 1.59), p = 0.013) and oophorectomy (HR, 1.39 (1.08, 1.78), p = 0.002) were associated with a higher risk of dementia among women of relatively lower SES only. Limitations of the study include potential residual confounding and self-reported measures of reproductive factors, as well as the limited representativeness of the UK Biobank population.ConclusionsIn this study, we observed that some reproductive events related to shorter cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure in women were associated with higher dementia risk, and there was a similar association between the number of children and dementia risk between women and men.

In a cohort study, Jessica Gong and colleagues investigate associations between reproductive factors, number of children, and dementia among individuals in the UK Biobank.     

Antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bacteremic patients in oncohematology

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of antibiotic resistance genes as well as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI macrorestriction fragments of genomic DNA were used to characterize 45 methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) isolates responsible of bacteremia recovered in patients at the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre of Tunisia in 1998–2007. Among the 45 MRCoNS isolates, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most prevalent species (75.6%) followed by Staphylococcus haemolyticus (22.2%) and Staphylococcus hominis (2.2%). Extended susceptibility profiles were generated for MRCoNS against 16 antimicrobial agents. Out of 45 mecA-positive strains, 43 (95.6%) were phenotypically methicillin-resistant and two (4.4%) were methicillin-susceptible. The msr(A) was the most prevalent gene (13 isolates; 48.1%) among erythromycin-resistant isolates. The erm(C) was found alone in seven (25.9%) or in combination with both erm(A) and erm(B) in two (7.4%) isolates. The aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia was the most prevalent gene among aminoglycoside-resistant isolates, detected alone in 14 isolates (33.3%) isolates, in combination with ant(4′)-Ia in 18 (42.8%) isolates, in combination with aph(3′)-IIIa in four (9.5%) or with both ant(4′)-Ia and aph(3′)-IIIa in two (4.7%) isolates. The ant(4′)-Ia was detected in three (7.1%) isolates and the aph(3′)-IIIa in one (2.4%) isolate. Among tetracycline-resistant isolates, six (85.7%) strains harbored the tet(K) gene and one (14.3%) strain carried tet(K) and tet(M) genes. SCCmec types IV (31%) and III (24.5%), the most prevalent types detected, were found to be more resistant to non-β-lactam antibiotics. A wide diversity of isolates was observed by PFGE among MRCoNS.     

Effects of level of food intake on ovarian follicle number,size and steroidogenic capacity in the ewe

The effect of high (H) or low (L) levels of food intake, during the preceding 4 weeks, on ovarian follicle numbers and steroidogenic capacity were investigated in groups of 12 adult Scottish Blackface ewes. Ewes of the two treatments had similar levels of body condition at the time of study but there was a twofold difference in levels of food intake. Ovaries were surgically removed on day 11 or 12 of the oestrous cycle (luteal phase; n=6 per nutritional treatment) or at 30 h after injection (i.m.) of prostaglandin F_2α analogue on day 11 or 12 of the cycle (follicular phase; n=6 per nutritional treatment). Ovarian follicles >1 mm diameter were dissected out and incubated individually for 2 h at 37°C, in 1 ml of medium 199 which was then assayed to determine concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone. There were significantly more small follicles (1–2.5 mm diameter) in (H) than (L) ewes (P<0.05) but no treatment difference in the numbers of large follicles (>2.5 mm diameter) during either phase of the cycle and no difference in the mean diameters (mm) of the two largest follicles in each animal. However, although there were higher rates of synthesis of both oestrogen (P<0.05) and testosterone (P<0.01) in the large follicles of (L) ewes as compared with (H) ewes, there was a lower oestrogen/testosterone ratio in (L) than (H) follicles which may indicate a lower level of aromatase activity in (L) follicles. It is concluded that the effects of level of food intake on ovulation rate are expressed through differences in late stages of follicle development, probably through effects on the intrafollicular steroid milieux.     

The peculiarities of polymorphism of XPD and XRCC1 repair genes in cells of down and Ehlers-Danlo syndrome patients characterized by increased radiosensitivity

Codon 312 and 751 polymorphisms of XPD gene and codon 399 polymorphism of XRCC1 gene of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Down syndrome (DS) (46 individuals) and Ehlers-Danlo syndrome (EDS) (47 individuals) and in a group of healthy donors (control) (40 individuals) were studied. The frequency of XPD genotype (G312G) coding for the most effectively functioning form of XPD protein was lower in patients with DS (26%) than in the group of healthy donors (42.5%) (p = 0.035), whereas no significant differences with the control were revealed for this codon in patients with EDS. No patients with XPD genotype (C751C) (p = 0.036) were revealed in the group of EDS patients, while this genotype was found in 16% of the group of healthy donors and in 17% of patients with DS. A trend of XRCC1 genotype frequency reduction (A399A) (p = 0.085) in EDS patients (3.9%) compared with the group of healthy donors (13.5%) and DS patients (13.3%) was obtained. These data showed that polymorphisms of the excision repair genes under study were accompanied by an elevated individual radiosensitivity in patients with DS. Genes investigated (their polymorphic variants) did not participate in the mechanisms for radiosensitive phenotype formation in EDS patients.     

Use of poly(amido)amine dendrimers in prevention of early non-enzymatic modifications of biomacromolecules

Hyperglycaemia triggers the formation of both ‘early’ and advanced glycation end products, which are considered the major factors responsible for the complications of diabetes. Poly(amido)amine (PAMAM) dendrimers are relatively new class of materials with unique molecular structure predisposing them for the use as anti-glycation agents. The ability of poly(amido)amine (PAMAM) dendrimers G2 (MW 3256, 120 μmol/l) and G4 (MW 14215, 30 μmol/l) to inhibit the modification of proteins by high glucose (30 mmol/l, 37 °C, 72 h) was investigated using radiometric and spectrofluorometric assays. We monitored (a) non-enzymatic modifications of primary amino groups in BSA and polyamine compounds, and (b) the impact of anti-glycation agents on BSA conformation. Both PAMAM dendrimers and poly(l-lysine) (MW 70 kDa) effectively reduced BSA glycation, while undergoing the time-dependent modification themselves. Such a modification was a function of a number of available free amino groups per molecule, however, both dendrimers and poly(l-lysine) were equally effective in glucose scavenging. PAMAMs neither affected BSA conformation nor formed stable complexes with a protein, while non-glycated poly(l-lysine) significantly quenched BSA fluorescence. Our results encourage raising the hypothesis that PAMAM dendrimers may be considered effective and safe chemical competitors for non-enzymatic modification by glucose, thus confirming the earlier in vivo study showing the inhibition of protein modification in experimental diabetes in the presence of PAMAM dendrimers.     

不同海拔牦牛骨骼肌中乳酸脱氢酶三种亚基基因表达的比较

为了阐明高原低氧对牦牛（Bos mutus）骨骼肌中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）三种亚基基因（LDHA、LDHB和LDHC）表达的影响,本实验分别选取高海拔（4 200 m）、中海拔（3 200 m）和低海拔（1 900 m）三个海拔位置养殖的临床健康成年雄性牦牛各5头,采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)和蛋白质印迹法检测牦牛骨骼肌中LDH三种亚基基因的m RNA表达和蛋白表达水平。结果表明,随海拔的升高,牦牛骨骼肌中LDHA m RNA的表达逐渐下降;LDHB m RNA先降低后升高,在高海拔组牦牛中表达最高,相对表达量为2.82±0.12,与低海拔组（1.01±0.07）、中海拔组（0.73±0.06）牦牛LDHB mRNA表达量差异显著（P <0.05）;LDHC mRNA的表达量随海拔的升高呈下降趋势,且低海拔组（1.10±0.16）、中海拔组（0.86±0.16）、高海拔组（0.69±0.12）组间两两相比均差异显著（P <0.05）。LDHA和LDHC蛋白表达量随海拔的升高呈下降趋势,且LDHA蛋白表达量在低海拔组（1.00±0.00）、中海拔组（0.88±0.0...     

Balanced expression of mitochondrial apoptosis regulatory proteins correlates with long-term survival of cardiac allografts

Abnormal regulation of apoptosis is observed in ischemic injury and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, its role in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), the fundamental lesion of chronic rejection (CR) in heart transplantation, remains uncertain. To clarify this issue, apoptosis was quantitated in myocardium and coronary arteries from 5 cardiac allograft donors (NL) and explanted hearts of 24 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IsCM) and 15 patients with CR. Tissue samples were analyzed via end-labeling fragmented DNA [via deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)] and immunoblotting for activated caspase-3 and -9. Myocyte apoptosis assessed by TUNEL was similarly increased over NL (0.21%) in both the CR (0.88%; P < 0.01) and IsCM (0.88%; P < 0.01) groups. Activated caspase-9 levels were significantly higher in CR (14.7%) compared with IsCM (6.9%; P < 0.01) and NL (0%) groups, whereas activated caspase-3 levels were similarly elevated in both CR and IsCM (7.8 and 6.5% vs. 0% in NL; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) groups. Expression of myocardial Bcl-2 and Bax was increased in CR compared with both NL (Bax, 4.3-fold; P < 0.01; Bcl-2, 5.9-fold; P < 0.01) and IsCM (IsCM: Bax, 2.2-fold; P < 0.05; Bcl-2, 3.2-fold; P < 0.01) groups. The rate of apoptosis and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio independently correlated to graft survival in CR (activation of caspase-9: r = 0.87; P < 0.01; Bcl-2/Bax: r = 0.57; P = 0.05). Compared with native atherosclerosis, coronary arteries with CAV showed more medial apoptosis (7.8-fold; P < 0.01) and higher Bcl-2 levels (5.1-fold; P < 0.01) with lower Bax levels (threefold; P < 0.05) in the intima. These results indicate that abnormal Bcl-2 and Bax expression in myocardium and coronary arteries of cardiac allografts with CR is distinct from that in IsCM and suggest that balancing Bcl-2 to Bax in transplanted hearts promotes long-term graft survival.