The effect of cell excision and microelectrode perforation on membrane resistance measurements of Nitella translucens

The effect of cell excision and microelectrode perforation on the membrane resistance measurements of Nitella translucens was determined by direct experiment. From the results it is concluded that perforation has no effect on cells as short as 1 cm. Current leakage though the node of an excised cell has however to be given some consideration. The method used for determining the resistance recovery to insertion has a wide application and its simplicity will encourage its use in other biological systems.     

Water Flow Through Vessel Perforation Plates--The Effects of Plate Angle and Thickness for Liriodendron tulipifera

The effects of scalariform perforation plate thickness and anglewithin vessel elements of Liriodendron tulipifera were studiedwith a computational fluid dynamical model. The pressure gradientand hence resistance to flow through the plate increased asthe perforation plate increased in thickness. Increasing theangle of the plate relative to the axis of the vessel (samenumber of pores) also increased the pressure gradient alongthe modelled cell. For the model matching the actual vesselelement, the plate contributed 8% to the flow resistance ofthe vessel element. This contribution increased only to 11%for doubled plate thickness, and to 14% for a plate at an angleof 60° to the vessel axis. The perforation plate alteredthe velocity profile across the vessel element, but to a differentextent depending on the angle of the plate. A plate at an acuteangle to the vessel axis has little effect on the paraboloidprofile as found upstream from the plate, while obtuse angleplates change the flow profile such that fluid through poresnear the wall is accelerated to a greater velocity than foundin the centre of the cell. Key words: Conductance, perforation plate, vessel, water flow     

Elimination of the nucleolus from the nucleus of a living cell by centrifugation (a literature review)

The following effects involving the nucleolus take place during centrifugation of living cells at centrifugal forces of several thousand g to several hundred thousand g: settling of the nucleolus in centrifugal direction on the nuclear envelope; pulling the latter as a long stalk with the nucleolus at its end (or alternatively an easy perforation of the nuclear envelope by the nucleolus); release of the nucleolus into the cytoplasm or its expulsion out of the cell; occasional stratification of the nucleolus in the nucleus; fusion of many nucleoli together under centrifugal pressure. The asymmetric topography of the nuclear envelope is considered to be one of the causes of its different resistance to the penetration of the nucleolus. Elimination of the nucleolus from cancer cell nuclei to test the nucleolar contribution to cell malignancy is suggested as one conceivable application of the centrifugal technique of cell enucleolation.     

PRIMARY XYLEM ELEMENTS AND ELEMENT ASSOCIATIONS OF ANGIOSPERMS

Observations based on a study of more than 1350 species distributed among 165 families of angiosperms are presented. The tracheary elements which mature later than the helical ones in the protoxylem-metaxylem transition are described in terms of a 2-phase wall deposition process. These elements have a helical framework (first-order secondary wall) between the gyres of which is deposited additional secondary wall material in the form of sheets or strands or both (second-order framework). This is indicated both by the sequence of mature elements throughout the primary xylem and by the ontogeny of later maturing elements. Elements in which the second-order system of the secondary wall is deposited more or less synchronously and in which the sheets or strands are restricted to cell edges, i.e., lines of intersection of adjacent cell faces, are interpreted as primitive. Elements in which the second-order sheets and strands appear nonsynchronously and with less regard for cell edges are interpreted as advanced. Alternate pitting results from the appearance of oblique second-order strands with subsequent wall deposition maintaining strand orientation such that pit axes are tilted. In certain elements second-order strands are deposited before, and wall deposition continues after, the cessation of cell elongation. This results in an alternate pit pattern and may explain certain irregular patterns. Branching of the first-order helix seems to be relatively insignificant in the development of more elaborate wall patterns. It is more significant in perforation plate elaboration. “Open pits” occur in a number of dicotyledons. These are pit-like openings which are extended laterally as the thin areas between the gyres of a helix or comparable openings in a reticulum. They constitute a conspicuous feature of the entire protoxylem-metaxylem transition in certain species. The simple perforation plate of only certain angiosperms seems to be the result of bar breakdown in a multipored plate. Reduction in pore number is also the result of fusions in the first-order framework lateral to a multipored plate. In dicots this trend rarely culminates in a simple perforation plate, but it frequently does so in monocots. This type of pore number reduction and enlargement frequently accompanies bar breakdown in dicots and certain monocots. The perforation plate is often simple as the result of a terminalization on the cell, in which case the pore does not intersect the first-order framework. This type of perforation plate occurs in species with and without more obliquely oriented simple perforation plates subject to a breakdown interpretation. Complex multiperforate plates are interpreted as falling into 3 categories : Plates in which a reticulum has resulted from introduction of second-order secondary wall strands at various orientations and with variable amounts of distortion following deposition; plates in which a reticulum has resulted from ramification and fusion of the strands of the first-order framework ; and plates which are multiperforate as the result of the presence of a number of separate loci of breakdown within a single pore membrane. Possible ontogenetic complexities in the development of perforation plates subject to breakdown interpretation are discussed. Protoxylem-metaxylem transitions are described in terms of the sequence of types of perforation plates. Most sequences with various types of plates support the concept of progressively earlier ontogenetic expression of specialized features with progressive elimination of primitive ones. The concept is contradicted by those species in which nearly all perforation plates are simple. Non-simple plates in these species are found from early protoxylem through mid-metaxylem but not in the earliest protoxylem. If non-simple plates are uncommon in a species, they may have a different ontogenetic history in terms of procambial divisions and apical cell growth. In the monocots with a variety of perforation plate types, the probability that a given element will be imperforate or perforate in one way or another will depend on its diameter, not on its position within the sequence. The occurrence of vessels of very limited extent is discussed. It has been calculated that vessels in the stem of Scleria average from 2 to nearly 50 cells in length depending on their diameter.     

Functional anatomy and xylem cavitation resistance of three species of monocotyledons grown on flooded substrates

There are few investigations that analyze the xylem functional anatomy of monocotyledons, as the methods have been developed for woody plants. This study describes the root, rhizome and aerial stem xylem anatomy and functional anatomy of Canna indica, Cyperus papyrus and Phragmites communis grown on flooded substrates; and it aims to evaluate the relationship between the xylem anatomy and its cavitation resistance. To calculate the indexes of vulnerability, mesomorphy, collapse and relative hydraulic conductivity in the three organs mentioned, the diameter, number of vessels per mm², thickness of the walls and the length of the tracheal elements were recorded. In addition, the xylem specific conductivity of the aerial stem was measured with the pipette method, and its resistance to cavitation was determined experimentally by the air injection technique. The protoxylem is xeromorphic, it has longer vessel elements, smaller diameters, thin walls and scalariform perforation plates, whereas the metaxylem is mesomorphic, with shorter vessel elements, larger diameters, thicker walls and simple perforation plates. Both present low collapse resistance but have a high relative hydraulic conductivity. P. communis recorded the highest cavitation resistance, and the number of vessels per mm² was related to xylem cavitation resistance in Canna indica and Cyperus papyrus. The experimental results of this investigation match partially the anatomical indexes and showed that the xylem of these species has a low specific conductivity and is more vulnerable to cavitation than that of other monocots.     

Resistances to fluid flow of model xylem vessels with simple and scalariform perforation plates

The resistances of xylem vessel walls and perforation plates has been investigated using 18 large-scale physical models made of plastic tubing into which scale models of plates were inserted. Flow of water through vessels was modelled using glycerol instead of water to keep the Reynolds number below 0.1. The technique proved easy, cheap and reliable.Results showed that perforation plate resistance is low compared with the resistance of the walls, whatever the plate morphology; plates only provided 0.6-18.6% extra resistance. Simple plates provided less resistance than scalariform plates, but because they are arranged closer together in vessels, resistance values (1.7-5.1%) overlap with those of scalariform plates. The resistance of scalariform plates varied in a systematic way with their morphology. For a given plate angle, increasing the number of bars increased resistance. For a given bar number, increasing the angle of the plate to the vessel axis also increased the resistance. However, for a given gap between bars, increasing the angle of the plate to the vessel axis decreased resistance. These results are discussed in the light of theories about the function of perforation plates.Keywords: Flow, xylem vessel, perforation plate, models.      

The importance of N-acetylneuraminic acid and of its interaction with Ca++ in the stability of the erythrocytic membrane

The aim of this paper is to draw information about influence of human red cell N-acetyl-neuraminic acid and its interaction with Ca++ on membrane itself stability. Then, changes of red cell behavior in reply to osmotic stress with and without Ca++ after treatment with neuraminidase has been studied. We noted that the treatment with neuraminidase causes spontaneous hemolysis (about 9%), independently of medium osmolarity. As regards membrane resistance to osmotic stretching, N-acetyl-neuraminic acid has a destabilizing effect on most erythrocytes whereas its interaction with Ca++ don't influences significantly membrane resistance to osmotic stretching. Nevertheless, in extreme conditions of osmolarity (i.e. when hemolysis of younger red cells occurs), destabilizing effect of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid is no longer observable and, on the contrary, when it interacts with Ca++, it increases the osmotic resistance of red cells.     

Water Flow Through Vessel Perforation Plates--A Fluid Mechanical Approach

The effect of scalariform perforation plates on the flow ofwater through plant vessels remains poorly understood. In thisstudy, a new computational tool based on finite element methodsolutions to the Navier-Stokes equation was applied to modellingfluid flow through these structures in plant vessels. Modelsdeveloped for Liriodendron tulipifera vessel elements were solvedfor cells with and without the perforation plate to study effectsof the plate on the pressure drop along the cell. Results indicatethat the pressure gradient was 5-fold greater through the platethan for regions before and after the plate. However, the perforationplate in this species accounts for only about 8% of the resistanceto flow through typical vessels because the plate influencesflow for only a short distance along the cell relative to itslength. Details of the flow characteristics through pores ofthe perforation plate are also described. Key words: Conductance, finite element method, perforation plate, vessel, water flow     

An epidermal growth factor-ricin A chain (EGF-RTA)-resistant mutant and an epidermal growth factor-Pseudomonas endotoxin (EGF-PE)-resistant mutant have distinct phenotypes

H2Oe12 is a mutant HeLa cell line selected for resistance to the toxicity of a chimeric protein conjugate composed of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the toxic A chain of ricin (RTA). ET-28 is a mutant KB cell line selected for resistance to the toxicity of a chimeric protein conjugate composed of EGF and Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). In this report we describe the presence or absence, in these mutants, of cross-resistance to the two toxic conjugates and the effects of ammonium chloride, leupeptin, and adenovirus cotreatments on toxin efficacies. ET-28 cells, the EGF-PE-resistant cells, are resistant to both EGF-PE and EGF-RTA. In contrast, H2Oe12 cells, the EGF-RTA-resistant cells, are as sensitive to EGF-PE toxicity as are their parent HeLa cells. Ammonium chloride cotreatment substantially reduces the resistance of H2Oe12 cells to EGF-RTA but has little or no effect on the resistance of ET-28 cells to either EGF-RTA or EGF-PE. Leupeptin has no effect on the toxicity of either chimeric conjugate on any of the four cell lines, effect on the toxicity of either chimeric conjugate on any of the four cell lines, despite its demonstrated ability to inhibit cellular degradation of EGF. In contrast, adenovirus cotreatment enhances the toxicity of EGF-RTA and EGF-PE on all cells tested, and completely nullifies the relative resistance of H2Oe12 and ET-28 cells to these toxic conjugates. H2Oe12 and ET-28 cells appear to be altered in distinct, possibly endosomal, functions.     

Water flow through a 20-pore perforation plate in vessels of Liquidambar styraciflua

The flow of water through perforation plates of Liquidambar styraciflua vessels was studied through a computational fluid dynamics approach together with a large-scale physical model of the perforation plate. For the computational approach, a finite elements model was constructed of a 20-pore perforation plate and the region around the plate. Solutions of this model describe pressures and velocities for points within the model. The pressure gradient within the pores of the plate was about 40-fold greater than for regions away from the plate. However the influence of the plate on flow extends for only a very short distance before and after the plate. Overall, the perforation plate in this model was calculated to account for 23% of the total resistance to flow encountered along the vessel. Calculations from the physical model provided a similar estimate of 21% for the contribution of the perforation plate to flow resistance.      

Rap1 and Rap2 Antagonistically Control Endothelial Barrier Resistance

Rap1 and Rap2 are closely related proteins of the Ras family of small G-proteins. Rap1 is well known to regulate cell-cell adhesion. Here, we have analysed the effect of Rap-mediated signalling on endothelial permeability using electrical impedance measurements of HUVEC monolayers and subsequent determination of the barrier resistance, which is a measure for the ease with which ions can pass cell junctions. In line with its well-established effect on cell-cell junctions, depletion of Rap1 decreases, whereas activation of Rap1 increases barrier resistance. Despite its high sequence homology with Rap1, depletion of Rap2 has an opposite, enhancing, effect on barrier resistance. This effect can be mimicked by depletion of the Rap2 specific activator RasGEF1C and the Rap2 effector MAP4K4, establishing Rap2 signalling as an independent pathway controlling barrier resistance. As simultaneous depletion or activation of both Rap1 and Rap2 results in a barrier resistance comparable to control cells, Rap1 and Rap2 control barrier resistance in a reciprocal manner. This Rap1-antagonizing effect of Rap2 is established independent of junctional actin formation. These data establish that endothelial barrier resistance is determined by the combined antagonistic actions of Rap1 and Rap2.     

倒刺线在经脐单孔腹腔镜穿孔修补术治疗老年胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔的疗效分析及对肠道屏障功能的影响

目的:探讨倒刺线在经脐单孔腹腔镜胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔修补术中治疗老年患者的临床效果及对肠道屏障功能的影响。方法:回顾性分析南方医科大学附属东莞石龙人民医院收治的行经脐单孔腹腔镜穿孔修补术的老年胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔患者108例的临床资料,按照穿孔缝线的不同分为两组,对照组采用普通可吸收缝线修补穿孔(n=57例),观察组采用倒刺线缝合修补穿孔(n=51例)。比较两组手术指标、术后恢复指标、疼痛指标、术后1个月并发症的发生情况、肠道屏障功能指标的变化。结果:观察组较对照组穿孔缝合时间和手术时间明显缩短(P<0.05),但两组术中出血量、住院时间、肠蠕动恢复时间、肛门恢复排气时间、术后疼痛和并发症发生率比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。对照组术后肠道屏障功能指标血浆D-乳酸(D-Lac)、二胺氧化酶(DAO)均高于观察组(P<0.05)。结论:经脐单孔腹腔镜穿孔修补术使用倒刺线缝合老年胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔患者,能够一定程度降低腹腔镜下穿孔的缝合难度,并且可显著减少缝合和手术时间,从而加快肠道功能恢复,提高术后康复效率。     

The role of free radical processes and redox-signalization in adaptation of the organism to changes in oxygen level

Data are presented on participation of free-radical oxygenation in development of the organism adaptation. The redox-signalization concept is discussed in the aspect of its responsibility for the initial stage of external signal transmission to the cell genetic apparatus. The pro- and antioxidant system ratio is noted as important for assessment of formation of the cell structure and the tissue resistance. A protective effect of periodic hyperoxia was shown as well as regularities of its development similar formation of adaptation to the periodic hyperoxia.     

Testosterone and oxidative stress: the oxidation handicap hypothesis

Secondary sexual traits (SST) are usually thought to have evolved as honest signals of individual quality during mate choice. Honesty of SST is guaranteed by the cost of producing/maintaining them. In males, the expression of many SST is testosterone-dependent. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis has been proposed as a possible mechanism ensuring honesty of SST on the basis that testosterone, in addition to its effect on sexual signals, also has an immunosuppressive effect. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis has received mixed support. However, the cost of testosterone-based signalling is not limited to immunosuppression and might involve other physiological functions such as the antioxidant machinery. Here, we tested the hypothesis that testosterone depresses resistance to oxidative stress in a species with a testosterone-dependent sexual signal, the zebra finch. Male zebra finches received subcutaneous implants filled with flutamide (an anti-androgen) or testosterone, or kept empty (control). In agreement with the prediction, we found that red blood cell resistance to a free radical attack was the highest in males implanted with flutamide and the lowest in males implanted with testosterone. We also found that cell-mediated immune response was depressed in testosterone-treated birds, supporting the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis. The recent finding that red blood cell resistance to free radicals is negatively associated with mortality in this species suggests that benefits of sexual signalling might trade against the costs derived from oxidation.     

Small intestinal presentation of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma with T cell/histiocyte-rich B cell lymphoma-like areas-with review of literature on extranodal presentation of this disease

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), accounts for ～5% of all cases of Hodgkin lymphoma and is characterized by involvement of the peripheral lymph nodes. NLPHL occurs in young adults and is associated with frequent relapses. In 3% to 7% of cases, NLPHL progresses to a diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Furthermore, a proportion of NLPHL also have areas with features of T cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma (THRLBCL), either at presentation or on follow-up. Here, we describe a 32-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with small bowel perforation. The resected small bowel showed full-thickness mural ulceration and involvement by a lymphoma with features of NLPHL that also had areas resembling THRLBCL. The patient had axillary lymphadenopathy, biopsy of which showed NLPHL with focal THRLBCL-like areas. Such a lymphoma presenting as small intestinal lesion/perforation has not been reported in the literature before. We take this opportunity to review the literature on extranodal presentations of NLPHL and discuss the natural history of this disease.     

环状细菌素研究进展

细菌素是一类由细菌核糖体合成的抗菌肽,是产生菌获得生存优势的重要手段。与大多数线性细菌素不同,环状细菌素具有N端和C端共价连接的特殊结构。这种环状结构赋予环状细菌素良好的耐热性、广泛的pH适应性和抗蛋白酶降解能力,在食品防腐和对治耐药性细菌领域表现出巨大的应用潜能。通过对已发现的环状细菌素结构分析发现,相对于一级结构,其三级结构的相似性更高,可以作为环状细菌素归类的依据。环状细菌素的生物合成机制尚不清楚,但其环化机制是最具价值的研究热点,可为其他一些肽类物质的合成提供支架,从而提高应用潜能。环状细菌素抑菌机制主要是在目标菌株的细胞膜上穿孔,使胞内物质外流,进而导致目标细菌死亡。其有类似于抗生素的抑菌活性和有别于抗生素的抑菌机制,为治疗日益严重的耐药性病原菌提供了可靠备选资源。本文综述了环状细菌素的构效关系、生物合成和抑菌机制方面的研究进展,希望能够对环状细菌素的深入研究和应用提供有价值的参考。     

New insights into the protective effect of manganese against oxidative stress

Manganese has emerged as an important trace element in bacterial physiology. The correlation between manganese accumulation and resistance to oxidative stress has led to the suggestion that, in addition to a role as a prosthetic group in superoxide dismutase, manganese could exert its antioxidant effect via non-enzymatic redox reactions. The article by Anjem et al. in the current issue of Molecular Microbiology investigates the role of manganese ions in the defence against hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli . The results indicate that the redox activity of manganese is not linked to its protective effect. Instead, it is suggested that manganese replaces ferrous iron in enzymes that contain divalent cations at their active site. This enables the cell to avoid oxidative stress associated with iron release in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.     

The effect of acquired resistance to mercury on the phage sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and its adherence to buccal epithelial cells

Abstract The study on the effect of acquired resistance to mercury on the phage sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and its adherence to buccal epithelial cells showed increased lag period in growth and inverse relationship between the mercury resistance and cell wall teichoic acid, protein A and binding of cells to normal humal buccal cells. The phage pattern was found to change with the development of mercury resistance.     

Microwounding is a pivotal factor for the induction of actin-dependent penetration resistance against fungal attack

Induced penetration resistance is triggered by failed penetration attempts of nonpathogenic fungi. The resistance mechanism is an important nonhost reaction in plants that can block the invasion of filamentous pathogens such as fungi and oomycetes. However, it remains unclear whether the mechanical stimuli accompanying fungal penetration play a role in induced penetration resistance, whereas the perforation of the cell wall may provide significant stimuli to plant cells. Here, we used microneedles or biolistic bombardment to mimic fungal penetration pegs and a micromanipulation transfer technique of the bio-probe, a germling of Blumeria graminis hordei, to the wounded cells to demonstrate that microwounds derived from fungal penetration attempts may trigger induced penetration resistance in plant cells. When preinoculated with the nonpathogenic fungi Erysiphe pisi and Colletotrichum orbiculare, which were unable to penetrate a barley cell, the penetration of a bio-probe that was transferred by micromanipulation onto the same cell was completely blocked. Fungal penetration was essential to the triggering of induced penetration resistance because a penetration-peg-defective mutant of C. orbiculare completely lacked the ability to trigger resistance. The artificial microwounds significantly, but not completely, blocked the penetration of the bio-probe. Treatment with the actin polymerization inhibitor cytochalasin A or expression of the actin depolymerizing protein HvPro1 caused complete ablation of the induced penetration resistance triggered by either failed fungal penetration or artificial microwounds. These results strongly suggest that microwounding may trigger actin-dependent induced penetration resistance. Manipulation of induced penetration resistance may be a promising target to improve basic disease resistance in plants.