Thrombomodulin is found on endothelium of arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatics, and on syncytiotrophoblast of human placenta

We have used antibodies to human thrombomodulin isolated from placenta to investigate the distribution of this cofactor for protein C activation in human tissues. Thrombomodulin was found on endothelial cells of arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatics by immunocytochemical staining using an avidin-biotin peroxidase method. Thrombomodulin was not detected on sinusoidal lining cells of liver or on postcapillary high-endothelial venules of lymph node, although the latter contained another endothelial antigen, von Willebrand factor. Other cells noted to contain thrombomodulin antigen are those of the syncytiotrophoblast in placenta. The thrombomodulin in syncytiotrophoblast was primarily on the plasma membrane surface that forms the maternal blood sinus. Syncytiotrophoblast also stained with antibodies to von Willebrand factor, which implies that these cells have multiple endothelial functions. Thrombomodulin antigen was found in all organs studied, with the notable exception of brain.     

Studies on the effects of certain salts on germination,on growth of root,and on metabolism

Summary The effects of different concentrations of KCl, K₂SO₄, MgCl₂ and MgSO₄ on the growth in length of the first seminal root of wheat, and on the change in fresh and oven-dry weight of the seedling and its component parts have been studied. The effect of mannitol was also investigated for comparison and to study the osmotic action. The effect of salts on root growth was dependent on salt species; all effects were specific to ions and not due to osmotic activity of solution. The growth of wheat roots was suppressed by concentrations of salts much lower than those required to suppress germination. All solutions of KCl from 0.1 to 50 me/l checked the growth of the root; the retardation increased with increase of concentration. In K₂SO₄ there was a slight activation of root growth for one day in 0.1 and 0.5 me/l; then the growth was suppressed after that. In all other concentrations from 1 to 50 me/l the growth was retarded. In MgCl₂ or MgSO₄ there was some activation of root elongation in 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 me/l; but higher concentrations retarded root growth.     

Influence of temperature on bionomics of cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, on cotton

Life table parameters of Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Gossypium hirsutum L. were determined at six temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 ± 0.5°C) in the laboratory. Relationships of life table parameters with temperature were described with mathematical equations. Development was fastest at 30°C, with a pre-larviposition period of 4.6 d. Survival to adult was greatest at 25°C (81%). Fecundity was highest at 25°C, with a total fecundity of 28.3 nymphs per female and a mean reproductive rate of 3.1 nymphs per female per day. Threshold temperatures for development in the first through fourth instar and the adult were 8.2, 8.0, 7.2, 6.2 and 7.9°C, respectively. The durations of these stages, expressed as temperature sums above these thresholds, were 24.2, 23.7, 23.0, 25.5 and 168.8 degree-days (D°), respectively. A. gossypii achieved its maximum net reproductive number (24.4 nymphs per female) and greatest intrinsic rate of increase (0.386 d–1) at 25°C. The high relative rate of population increase at 25°C results in a daily population increase of 47% and a doubling time of only 1.8 d, illustrating the tremendous growth capacity of A. gossypii populations under favourable conditions. Compared to literature sources, our source of A. gossypii, fed on cotton, showed a comparatively great heat tolerance.     

Effects of streptomycin,cycloheximide, Fungizone,captan, carbofuran,cygon, and PCNB on soil microorganisms

Eight biocides were chosen to determine whether they had any effects on nontarget organisms in soil and to what extent they would reduce their target populations under laboratory experimental conditions. A simplified microcosm system was utilized in which reduced species arrays that included field populations of either only bacteria and fungi, or bacteria, fungi, and protozoa (no nematodes, arthropods, or plants) were inoculated into sterilized soil. In a second set of experiments, plants were grown in sterilized soil. A bactericide-streptomycin-four fungicides-cycloheximide, Fungizone (amphotericin B), captan, and PCNB (quintozene)-an acaricide-cygon-an insecticide-nematicide-carbofuran-and an insecticide-diazinon-were used. Each biocide had effects on nontarget organisms although the increases or decreases, with respect to the control, were of only limited duration. Reductions in target groups were typically of longer duration. Streptomycin, applied at 1 mg·g^–1 soil, did not decrease bacterial populations during the experimental incubation. At 3 mg·g^–1 soil, streptomycin decreased the numbers of bacteria that grew on tryptone agar, but also reduced active hyphae. Fungizone was the most effective of the 4 fungicides tested in reducing active hyphae. Increased bacterial populations were usually observed following fungal reductions. Carbofuran had the fewest effects on the test organisms (bacteria, fungi, and protozoa). Only an initial stimulation of bacterial and fungal populations was observed with cygon although it also increased NH₄ ⁺-N concentrations in soil during most of the incubation, as did streptomycin and cycloheximide. A transitory increase in fungal populations following a decrease in ciliate numbers was observed in the cygon with grazers treatments. Diazinon reduced all microbial populations and inorganic nitrogen concentrations measured. Cygon and PCNB decreased growth of blue grama plants, while streptomycin reduced shoot weights of blue grama. These results should be useful in assessing the effects of these biocides when applied to more complex systems.     

Evidence of predation on a young tuatara,Sphenodon punctatus,by kiore,Rattus exulans,on Lady Alice Island

Abstract

Wounds on a juvenile tuatara discovered dead on Lady Alice Island, Chickens group, Hauraki Gulf, appear to have been inflicted by kiore. Flesh was stripped from the right abdominal wall of the tuatara exposing its ribs and liver, and part of its tail and eight digits were missing.     

Effects of density,season, and food intake on sika deer nutrition on Yakushima Island,Japan

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) suffer severe winter food limitation in northern Japan; however, plant food resources are available during winter in southern Japan and, consequently, deer nutritional status may not decrease there. To test this hypothesis, we measured seasonal changes in Riney’s kidney fat index (RKFI) and stomach intake in 74 culled deer individuals from five areas with different deer densities on Yakushima Island, Japan. The average RKFI differed significantly among populations and ranged from 22.91 ± 11.91 to 76.23 ± 15.99. There was no significant correlation between RKFI and deer density. The total fresh weight of rumen contents also differed significantly among populations, ranging from 0.51 to 3.51 kg. Food intake and RKFI exhibited an L-shaped distribution in the vicinity of a town ranch. However, we found that food intake had a significantly positive effect in populations at the other four locations, suggesting that changes in nutritional status were related to the quantity of deer rumen contents. Neither deer density nor season were significantly correlated with RKFI values. The average RKFI values exceeded 20 in all five locations. These findings indicate that the deer were not in a poor nutritional condition even in high density areas of >70 head/km², which supports the above hypothesis. Notably, food intake varied among individuals in the same area, but was independent of body weight and age, which suggests that food selectivity differs between deer individuals.     

Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, split-face study on the clinical efficacy of Tricutan on skin firmness.

Tricutan is a combination product of herbal extracts traditionally used for treatment of skin conditions, together with dimethylaminoethanol. The effectiveness of Tricutan in improving skin firmness and elasticity in photoaged facial skin was examined in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, split-face study in 28 women, 34-67 years old. Treatment with Tricutan and placebo was given for 4 weeks. Skin firmness and elasticity was evaluated using the speed of propagation of ultrasound shear waves in the skin as end point (Reviscometer RVM 600). The study was completed by 25 women. The Tricutan treatment resulted in a significantly reduced propagation speed indicating increased firmness. There was no immediate effect by Tricutan application on propagation speed. At self evaluation the women evaluated the treatment effect of Tricutan to be significantly better than the treatment effect of placebo. The clinical evaluation also showed Tricutan to give a significantly better treatment result than placebo. Tolerance to Tricutan was generally good. However, three women did not complete the study because of mild irritative contact dermatitis. The results show that Tricutan can increase skin firmness both objectively and subjectively. Further studies are warranted, especially to investigate if Tricutan can delay the need for surgical face-lift procedures.     

Effects of berberine,glaucine, stephaglabrine,and sanguirythrine on neuromuscular transmission

The effects of certain alkaloid (glaucine, stephaglabrine, and sanguirythrine) on parameters of neuromuscular transmission follow a complex pattern and are thought likely to operate via two or more different mechanisms. These alkaloids, in common with berberine, reduced the amplitude of miniature potentials at the frog neuromuscular junction. All four concentrations reduced and raised miniature potential rate at low and high concentrations respectively — a very marked action in the case of sanguirythrine, producing virtually a 100-fold increase, probably due to its uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation at the mitochondria of the nerve endings. Sanguirythrine and stephaglabrine both gave rise to repeated muscular contraction which matches their anticholinesterase activity. High glaucine concentrations also induced contraction of the muscles.Institute for Hydrobiontic Substance Research, Soviet Ministry of Health, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 131–135, March–April, 1991.     

精氨酸、精氨酸盐酸、半胱氨酸、胱氨酸对重组人tPA蛋白复性的影响

以重组人tPA蛋白为材料研究了精氨酸、精氨酸盐酸盐、半胱氨酸、胱氨酸对蛋白质复性效果的影响,重组tPA蛋白包涵体经尿素变性溶解后,在精氨酸、精氨酸盐酸盐、半胱氨酸、胱氨酸存在的条件下进行复性,结果表明,碱性的精氨酸在质量分数0.2%时可减少蛋白质凝聚,显著提高复性效果,tPA复性后的活性可提高50%以上,半胱氨酸单独使用具有类似β-巯基乙醇的作用,精氨酸盐酸盐和胱氨酸单独使用对复性无影响,而半胱氨酸和胱氨酸联合使用,有类似氧化-还原系统作用。可提高活性20%。