An analysis of amino acid composition of a few oxidoreductases by different methods

1. All methods used to analyze amino acid composition of different enzymes agree well with each other.
2. They lead to a relationship between amino acid composition and function of proteins.
3. Cytochrome oxidase is in a class by itself; copper-containing oxidases are closely related as expected.

     

Antioxidant enzymes and trace elements in hemodialyzed patients

Antioxidant enzymes together with trace elements in 26 patients with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis and 25 healthy subjects were investigated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in plasma and erythrocytes were examined immediately before and after hemodialysis. The results are summarized as follows:

1. A significant decrease in plasma SOD, CAT, and GSHPx and erythrocyte GSHPx were found in patients before hemodialysis.
2. Erythrocyte CAT and GSHPx were significantly lower in the patients after hemodialysis than in the controls.
3. Plasma GSHPx was significantly higher after a single hemodialysis than before hemodialysis.
4. A good correlation between erythrocyte SOD and copper (Cu) in patients before hemodialysis was found.
5. A good correlation of GSHPx in erythrocytes and plasma was found before hemodialysis, whereas an even better correlation was found after hemodialysis.
6. Abnormalities of trace elements were found in hamodialyzed patients.
7. There is indirect evidence for increased oxidizing stress in uremic patients with hemodialysis. Dialysis treatment may improve some abnormalities (e.g., Hb, P), but may also induce some deleterious effects of free radicals or lipid peroxidation.

     

Composition chimique elementaire des populations naturelles de Sphaeroma hookeri (Crustace: Isopode Flabellifere). Aspect spatio-temporel

1. Elemental chemical composition of Sphaeroma hookeri Leach of different natural populations from Camargue (Rhône delta) and from the Bassin de Berre (near Marseilles), was studied on samples taken the same day in different populations and on samples collected at different seasons in the same population.
2. Individual analyses of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen were performed with a Perkin Elmer elemental analyzer. Total inorganic content was obtained for each specimen by weighing the residue after the output of the analyzer.
3. Relative growth in ash, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content of the different populations samples was compared by means of Reeve's statistical method.
4. Chemical allometry lines of each population are given. Variability of growth coefficients or mean values in a given population appears from several samples taken in the course of the year.
5. The differences in slope and position have been tested and their significance stated.
6. Growth coefficients of ash, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents show a certain variability among the different populations. But these differences are not always significant owing to the dispersion of the data, a result of the wide individual variation within a population.
7. Much greater significant differences appear from relative positions of the growth lines, and these seem to be due to some ecological factors, among which, for instance, nutriment can lead to a large difference in carbon content.
8. Within a given population no significant difference appears in the growth coefficients of ash, carbon, hydrogen or nitrogen content and therefore the obtained values characterize each population.

     

Uptake of radionuclides by some aquatic macrophytes of Ismailia Canal,Egypt

1. Uptake of the radionuclides Co-60, Cs-134, Sr-89 and P-32 by different aquatic plants present in Ismailia Canal was found to increase at increasing initial concentrations of the radionuclides in the water.
2. Maximum uptake was reached by most of the aquatic plants after different periods of contamination, ranging from 1 to 4 days.
3. Ceratophyllum was found to be the most favourable biological indicator for strontium radioisotopes in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 µCi/1 and for contamination periods up to 16 days.
4. Elodea was found to serve as a biological indicator for either strontium or phosphorus radioisotopes for limited contamination periods of 2 to 16 days for Sr and to 2 days for P isotopes.
5. Potamogeton was also found to serve as a biological indicator for limited contamination periods for strontium, phosphorus and cesium radioisotopes: 0 to 2 days for Sr, 2 to 16 days for P. and 0 to 2 days for Cs isotopes.

     

Time-course of changes in plasma levels of trace elements after thrombolysis during the acute phase of myocardial infarction in humans

It has been suggested that the injury induced by reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium could result, in part, from the cytotoxic effects of oxygen free radicals. Since various trace elements are involved in several of the reactions leading to free radical production, we have measured plasma levels of copper, zinc, selenium, and iron:

1. In 18 patients (mean age 60 yr old) subjected to thrombolytic therapy within 6 h after the onset of a myocardial infarction (G1);
2. In 16 patients with coronary artery disease, but without a history of a previous myocardial infarction (MI) (mean age 50 yr old, G2); and
3. In 50 healthy volunteers divided into two subgroups according to age (mean age 33 yr old, G3 and 55 yr old, G4).

Plasma myosin levels were used to estimate quantitatively the extent of the infarcted mass. Plasma trace element levels were measured in blood samples following centrifugation and storage at ?80°C. The main results were as followed: In G1 patients who have been subjected to thrombolysis, an important release of myosin was measured in plasma, with a peak at D6 (1678 vs 95 μU/L at H0). In those G1 patients after MI:

1. A significant increase in plasma copper levels was observed from day 4 to day 10 postinfarction (×1.15 in reference to the baseline data at H0);
2. A decrease in plasma zinc levels was observed and was maximum 12 h after the onset of the thrombolytic treatment;
3. A decrease in selenium concentration was observed in G1, as well as in G2 patients, compared to the control groups (80% of G3 and G4 values); and
4. A significant decrease in plasma iron levels was observed in G1 (67.8% of G3 and G4 control values) and was significant from H0 to day 7 (p<0.01).

In conclusion, this study underlined the time-course evolution of plasma trace element levels in the followup of patients who have been subjected to thrombolysis following a MI and the potential prognostic implication of such variations.     

Effet des androgènes sur l’activité sportive

Androgenic hormones seem to be of beneficial effects on sports performance:

- they increase motivation, will, aggressiveness, resistance to the stress and to the fatigue, leading to an increase of the training quantity,

- they increase bone mineralization and probably mechanical resistance,

- they stimulate the bone marrow and so, with the erythropoietin, the erythropoiesis,

- they increase the tendancy to hyperglycemia, but with a decrease of the tolerance to the glucose,

- they stimulate the fatty acids mobilization from the adipose tissue, for their utilization in the muscle during the exercise,

- they participate, for the trained sportmen, to a better gestion of the muscle glycogen storage: their utilization during exercise is decreased,

- they increase the lean body mass, with an increase of the protein synthesis and a decrease of the protein catabolism, leading also to an increase of the muscle force under training. There is no beneficial effect upon the tendons,

- they have an immunomodulation action.

     

An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary in Singapore

1. An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary was conducted from July 1965 to June 1966 and the seasonal data on physical, chemical and biological characteristics were presented.
2. The Ponggol River represents a short, narrow and shallow estuary in Singapore. The river mouth is open throughout the year and water from eastern Johore Straits drains in twice a day at high tide. The upper reach, however, is left exposed at low tide.
3. The Ponggol River was classified as a vertically and laterally homogeneous estuary and was found to exhibit a mesohaline to polyhaline environment.
4. Significant hydrological gradients from the river mouth 10 the upper reach were noted in the river system. Salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH increased towards the mouth of the river and other parameters such as nutrients, dissolved organic matter and turbidity increased towards the source.
5. Although the river received organic pollutants at the upper reach the estuary was able to discharge them fairly rapidly through regular flushing by the tides. The transient rise of organic matter did not appear to impart any serious affect on the biota in the estuary.
6. Over 98% of the phytoplankton consisted of diatoms, most of which were brought into the estuary from eastern Johore Straits. Freshwater forms were relatively few.
7. Phytoplankton biomass was considerably higher than the adjoining waters. and was reduced at the upper reach due to high turbidity of the water.
8. 80% of the zooplankton was composed of dinoflagellates,Difflugia, copepods and bivalve larvae dominating at all sections of the estuary.
9. Percentage composition of the zooplankton showed that dinoflagellates and copepod nauplii predominated at high tide whileDifflugia and bivalve larvae were abundant at low tide.
10. Zooplankton standing crop, in general, was higher towards the source at high tide but the reverse was found at low tide, i.e. standing crop increased towards the river mouth. This was attributed to the process of concentration.
11. Species composition of zooplankton was found to be more or less similar to that of the eastern Johore Straits.
12. The nekton consisted predominantly of small and juvenile fish. Close correlation of fish and copepods was found to be statistically valid and it was concluded that the fish entered the estuary to feed rather than to spawn.
13. The squids formed an important catch of the beach seine unit and were caught throughout the year.
14. The fish population could be grouped into four categories: estuarine components, euryhaline components, marine components and migratory components.
15. Benthic invertebrates were abundant. Commercially important species consisted of prawns,Metapenaeus andPenaeus, and crabs,Neptunus pelagicus andScylla serrata.
16. The river bed was inhabited predominantly by molluscs and the distribution resembled that of the sheltered shore of muddy-sand type.

     

Iranian Breast Cancer Bio-Bank: the activity and challenging issues

The information gained from the Human Genome Project has facilitated molecular as well as cellular studies not only to find the origins of Breast Cancer (BC), but also to create novel, and effective treatments. In order to provide an infrastructure for local and international research in this area, Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC) has established a Bio-Bank (BB) for BC. This article describes the aim, structure, and activities in general, and the challenging issues confronting the bank as a model for the establishment of Bio-Banks in developing countries in particular. The methods employed by the Bank could be explained in the following categories:

• Blood and Tissue sampling,
• Preparation and Banking of collected Samples,
• Clinical and Histopathology data collection,
• Collaboration Protocol,
• Challenging issues, and the programs to confront the problems.

During the five-year activity of the bank, 110 families were enrolled for genetic counseling, from whom 600 biologic samples were obtained, including 387 blood samples and 213 tissue samples. Of 387 blood samples, 317 (82%) were found to belong to the BC patients and the remaining 70 (18%) belonged to their available relatives. The number of samples increased over the study period partly as a result of the programs designed to confront the problems. During the study period, there were some finished research studies using the samples of BB, and many other studies which are still ongoing. ICBC-BB is a model of biologic sample banking which provides a significant number of biological samples for local and international collaborative research projects regarding molecular and cellular aspects of BC. In establishing the ICBC-BB we have experienced problems and challenges, some general and some local. Some were expected and others not, but we have identified solutions.     

Floristic composition and phenology of temperate grasslands of Western Himalaya as affected by scraping,fire and heavy grazing

This paper reports the analysis of floristic composition and phenology of protected, annually scraped and fired, and heavily grazed grasslands community of Western Himalaya.

1. A total of 19, 20 and 23 species were recorded at protected (S₁), annually scraped and fired (S₂) and heavily grazed (S₃) sites respectively.
2. Domination of therophytic flora as indicated by biological spectrum study, was noted in all the three sites.
3. Density of plants reached a maximum in the rainy season and amounted to be 4300.5, 3439.8 and 3298.0 tillers/m² on S₁, S₂ and S₃ respectively.
4. Maximum total basal cover was also recorded in the rainy season and amounted to be 769.9, 3390.6 and 2295.7 cm²/m² on S₁, S₂ and S₃ respectively.
5. Correlation between density and basal cover was positive on all three sites.

     

Experimental problems using electronic particle counters

The following scheme lists the problems which have been and will continue to be encountered in grazing experiments on natural particle assemblages. In some cases there are solutions, but many of the problems listed below remain intractable. To solve them will require innovative approaches, most probably combining the use of particle counters with other techniques to approach the problem to be solved from several angles at once. Variance between samples due to

- statistical causes (especially caused by large particles) and

- differences between experimental bottles and between experimentals and controls at start of experiment. Shifts in particle distribution during experiment due to

- increase in small particles

- growth of bacteria and other organisms due to excretion of grazers and

- breakage during handling by grazers into fragments. Processes, independent of grazing, leading to changes in particle size distribution due to

- primary production

- grazing by additional components and

- bacterial growth on detrital particles and the formation of detrital flocs.

     

Storage of ethyl methanesulphonate-treated barley seeds with 15 per cent moisture. Influence of treatment and washing conditions

Barley seeds were treated with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), washed for 24 h, redried to 15 per cent moisture and stored at 25°C. The criteria used for expressing the effect of storage were chromosomal aberrations in root tips, M₁ germination, M₁ seedling height, M₁ survival and the frequency of M₂ chlorophyll mutants. The increase of the M₁ biological injury due to storage was not influenced:

1. by applying EMS solutions at pH 2, pH 7 and pH 10,
2. by lowering the EMS concentration and increasing the treatment time,
3. by different variations of washing with water and by washings with 0.005 N NaOH, 200 mM cysteine or 200 mM thiourea. The rate of the increase of the M₁ injury due to storage depends on the EMS dose. With a decrease in the EMS dose the storage effect is more delayed.

     

Erecteur a dépression (Vacuum erection device): Mise au point

The vacuum erection device (VED) is a nonsurgical alternative for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This method is based on 2 phenomena:

1. an erection-like state occurs when the penis is placed in a vacuum
2. this state can be maintained by a constricting band placed around the base of the penis

The erection-like state thus obtained differs from a normal erection in the following ways:

1. blood flow into the penis decreases
2. penile skin temperature falls
3. congestion of extra-corporeal penile tissues occurs
4. the penis pivots at its base
5. the ejaculate is trapped in the proximal urethra

About 30 to 60% of men who trie the device at home purchase it for continued use. The others are unable to achieve sufficient rigidity, experience side-effects or dislike the use of the device despite good result. About 60 to 80% of the men who purchased the device continue to use it regulary at short or middle term. The VED seems to have lesser drop-out rate than the self injection therapy. The most frequently encountered side-effects of the device are pain, petechiaes, bruising and ecchymosis.     

Charkterisierung eines phagenähnlichen Partikels aus Zellen von Nitrobacter

1. Phage-like particles Nb₁ isolated from cells of Nitrobacter agilis were characterized after freeze etching and after treatment by fixation agents.
2. Ethanol-acetic acid fixed particles can be digested by the proteolytic enzyme papain.
3. Ethanol-acetic acid fixed particles show a loss in mass and volume after treatment with DNase. Under the same conditions RNase has no influence.
4. The chemical composition of the phage-like particle Nb₁ is discussed.

     

Effects of the discharge of thermal effluent from a power station on Lake Wabamun,Alberta, Canada — The epipelic and epipsamic algal communities

1. The epipelic algal standing crops were increased by the discharge of thermal effluent into Lake Wabamun, particularly in the discharge canal at station (03–04) and 05.
2. The increase in the standing crop size of the epipelon was due to Oscillatoria amoena and O. borneti in the heated area, while the discharge canal provided the inoculum of the algae for the heated area of the lake.
3. At station (03–04) the increased standing crop size was also a function of increased light penetration to the sediment due to the heated effluent keeping an area of the lake free of ice during the winter.
4. The species composition of the diatoms was similar at all stations except in the discharge canal where there was a reduction in the number of diatom species.
5. Navicula cuspidate developed best in the discharge canal in the summer where water temperatures of 31°C were recorded.
6. Amphora ovalis var. pediculus was the dominant diatom species during the winter under ice-cover.
7. The heated effluent had no effect upon the standing crop or species composition of the epipsammon.
8. Results obtained from the sediment core study showed that the shallow littoral zone of the lake is very disturbed due to wind-induced wave action.

     

A study on the rate of water transport of the clam katelysia opima in relation to environmental conditions

1. The neutral red technique was employed to study the rate of filtration in Katelysia opima.
2. The weight specific water filtration was found to be greater for younger clams compared to the older ones.
3. The rate of water filtration increased with decreasing salinity.
4. Water filtration was found to increase as temperature increased, reaching a maximum at 35°C. but then sharply decreasing at 39°C.
5. Light had no significant effect on the rate of filtration.
6. Suspended matter was found to affect the rate of water filtration.
7. The rate of filtration was low at high pH and high in low pH.
8. The rate of water filtration was found to be faster during high tide than during low tide.
9. The presence of the parasitic crab, Pennotheris sp., in the mantle cavity of clams had a marked effect on the particle filtration.
10. Accidental cut of the siphon tips had no effect on the rate of filtration.

     

Growth of a floating aquatic weed,Salvinia under standard conditions

1. Growth of the floating aquatic weed, Salvinia, in sterile culture was exponential for at least 2 weeks under standardized conditions.
2. Increase in light intensity or in CO₂ resulted in increases in growth rate, but did not extend the exponential period of growth.
3. This aquatic plant, like many others, discriminates against calcium relative to strontium.
4. In culture Salvinia exhibited luxury consumption of N and P.
5. Because of high C/N ratios, Salvinia may not be a favorable source of animal food, but might be useful in nutrient removal schemes.
6. In sterile culture, S. molesta produced fewer leaves than S. minima, but maintained a significant increase in leaf area and dry weight. This may be correlated with the ability of the first species to rapidly spread over tropical waterways.

     

Water quality studies on Buckingham Canal (Madras,India) — A discriminant analysis

Stepwise multiple discriminant analysis was applied to a two year water quality monitoring study of the Buckingham Canal at Madras, India. The variables were divided into

1. physical and chemical
2. pollutants; and
3. biological

to test which group is efficient in discriminating stations which differ in water quality. Biological variables obtained higher loadings on the discriminant functions than the other two groups. The derived discriminant functions were tested for their discriminating power through the classification phase with the same raw data. The \lsHit and Misses\rs tables of classification indicate that 81.660% of the samples were correctly classified by the biological variables, against only 46.660% of the samples in the case of physical and chemical variables and 48.33% in the case of pollutants.     

Iodine deficiency,other trace elements,and goitrogenic factors in the etiopathogeny of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD)

Severe goiter, cretinism, and the other iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) have their main cause in the lack of availability of iodine from the soil linked to a severe limitation of food exchanges. Apart from the degrees of severity of the iodine deficiency, the frequencies and symptomatologies of cretinism and the other IDD are influenced by other goitrogenic factors and trace elements. Thiocyanate overload originating from consumption of poorly detoxified cassava is such deficiency. Very recently, a severe selenium deficiency has also been associated with IDD in the human population, whereas in animals, it has been proven to play a role in thyroid function either through a thyroidal or extrathyroidal mechanism. The former involves oxidative damages mediated by free radicals, whereas the latter implies an inhibition of the deiodinase responsible for the utilization of T4 into T3. One concludes that:

1. Goiter has a multifactorial origin
2. IDD are an important public health problem; and
3. IDD are a good model to study the effects of other trace elements whose actions in many human metabolisms have been somewhat underestimated.

     

The reproductive cycle in a typical estuarine mollusc Nausitora hedleyi Schepman based on a study of the Gonad Index

1. Previous work on the methods employed for the determination of the breeding season of shipworms is briefly reviewed.
2. The method adopted for studying the reproductive cycle by using the “gonad index” is described.
3. The reproductive cycle of Nausitora hedleyi is described in detail based on a study of the gonad index of different sexes collected at monthly intervals from the estuarine environment of Cochin harbour.
4. The fact that breeding is restricted as marked by seasonal activity is shown from the size and activity of the gonad during the different months of the year.
5. The environment, and the hydrographic conditions prevailing in the habitat of N. hedleyi in the Cochin harbour are described.

     

Studies on the origin of the tip potential of glass microelectrode

1. Tip potential (TP) of glass microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCl increased remarkably with the increase in the storage period in 3 M KCl solution at 37? C, while the electrode resistances decreased gradually.
2. The electrical conductivity through the thin glass wall near the tip was found to increase in parallel with the TP increase.
3. The e.m.f. across the thin glass wall in the tip region was directly measured. This seems to contribute to the TP generation of the microelectrode when the conductivity of the glass wall is significantly high in the tip region.
4. Effects of the acid treatment of glass employed and the acidification of fillant electrolyte solution suggested that fixed negative charges on the glass wall play a fundamental role in the TP formation.
5. Based on these experimental results, it was concluded that not only the diffusion potential through the tip pore but also the interfacial potential through the thin glass wall near the tip contributes to the TP generation, and the contribution of the latter increases with a long exposure period of the electrodes to electrolyte solution.
6. In this connection, technical problems related to reduction of the tip potential were also discussed.