Specificity of the binding of trifluoperazine to the calcium-dependent activator of phosphodiesterase and to a series of other calcium-binding proteins

Trifluoperazine inhibits the activation of phosphodiesterase by binding to the calcium-dependent activator. To determine further the specificity by which trifluoperazine binds to activator, we compared the binding of trifluoperazine to activator prepared from several species and tissues and to a number of other calcium-binding proteins devoid of activator activity.Trifluoperazine binds to activator prepared from human, bovine, rat and rabbit brain and from chick embryo fibroblasts. In each case, the binding of trifluoperazine to activator was qualitatively similar and related quantitatively to the ability of the preparation to activate phosphodiesterase.Of the other calcium-binding proteins examined, namely, troponin-C, S-100 protein, phospholipase A, phospholipase B and myosin light chain, only troponin-C displayed any significant calcium-specific binding of trifluoperazine. The binding to troponin-C, however, appeared to be different from the binding to activator; whereas the binding of trifluoperazine to actovator showed no cooperativity, the binding to troponin-C showed positive cooperatively.These results and earlier data showing that trifluoperazine fails to bind to a variety of other proteins, indicate that the binding of trifluoperazine to the calcium-dependent activator of phosphodiesterase is selective and suggest that this binding may explain some of the biochemical and pharmacological actions of this antipsychotic agent.     

西双版纳热带雨林蚁科昆虫区系分析

在西双版纳热带雨林已鉴定蚊科昆虫９亚科７６属２６７种。西双版纳地区的蚂蚁区系以热带至亚热带分布的东洋界成分最为丰富。在属级水平上,与马来西亚界关系最为密切。与澳洲界关系较密切;与非洲界和马拉加西界的关系知中。与新北界,新热带界和古北界的关系最为疏远。可见西双版纳的蚂蚁区系具有典型的热带亚洲起源特征,同时与澳洲和非洲的热带区系有一定的渊源关系。     

Localization of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase binding sites on bacteriophage S13 and 0X174 DNAs by electron microscopy.

Complexes between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and bacteriophage S13 and phage phiX174 replicative form III DNAs have been shown to form at specific locations on the phage genomes. The major locations on S13 have been mapped at 8 to 10 and 92 to 96% of the genome length, starting from the unique Pst I cleavage site. The locations correspond to the beginnings of genes D and B, respectively. Four minor locations map at 18 to 22, 28 to 32, 50 to 56, and 70 to 74% of the genome. The 70 to 74% site corresponds to the beginning of the A gene. The major locations on phiX174 are at 8 to 10, 50 to 54, and 92 to 94% of the genome. The 50 to 54% site is at the start of the H gene and has an equivalent minor site on S13, but it is not a promoter site. Three minor sites on phiX174, at 20 to 24, 26 to 32, and 68 to 74% of the genome, correspond to sites on S13. The data confirm the locations of sites identified by restriction fragment binding experiments (E. Rassart and J. H. Spencer, J. Virol. 27:677--687, 1978) and the assignment of putative promoters at the start of genes A, B and D.     

激光采血的分析研究

本文根据激光与皮肤组织的作用规律对紫外激光,可见激光和红外激光的采血效果进行了系统地分析研究,研究结果表明：CO2激光与Er:YAG激光是采血的理想工具。并对红外激光采血的参娄进行了定量地分析与计算,为激光采血设备的研制和应用提供一个参考。     

Bacteria and phytoremediation: new uses for endophytic bacteria in plants

The use of plants and bacterial to clean up environmental pollutants has gained momentum in past years. A limitation to phytoremediation of solvents has been toxicity of the compounds to plants, and the uncertainty as to the fate of many of the compounds. In a recent study, engineered endophytes have been shown to increase plant tolerance to toluene, and to decrease the transpiration of toluene to the atmosphere. This type of work has the potential to increase the use of phytoremediation by decreasing toxicity and increasing degradation of toxins.     

Specific residues within the alpha 2 integrin subunit cytoplasmic domain regulate migration and cell cycle progression via distinct MAPK pathways.

The alpha(2) integrin subunit cytoplasmic domain is necessary for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated chemotactic migration and insulin-dependent entry into S-phase of mammary epithelial cells adherent to type I collagen. Truncation mutants revealed that the seven amino acids, KYEKMTK, in addition to the GFFKR motif were sufficient for these functions. Mutation of tyrosine 1134 to alanine inhibited the ability of the cells to phosphorylate p38 MAPK and to migrate in response to EGF but had only a modest effect on the ability of the cells to induce sustained phosphorylation of the ERK MAPK, to up-regulate cyclin E and cdk2 expression, and to enter S-phase when adherent to type I collagen. Conversely, mutation of the lysine 1136 inhibited the ability of the cells to increase cyclin E and cdk2 expression, to maintain long term phosphorylation of the ERK MAPK, and to enter S-phase but had no effect on the ability of the cells to phosphorylate the p38 MAPK or to migrate on type I collagen in response to EGF. Methionine 1137 was essential for both migration and entry into S-phase. Thus, distinctly different structural elements of the alpha(2) integrin cytoplasmic domain are required to engage the signaling pathways leading to cell migration or cell cycle progression.     

上下视野空间选择性注意的ERP研究

该文主要研究上、下视野空间选择性注意早期所诱发的ＥＲＰ反应,探讨注意上、下视野视觉信息处理的特征与差别。１０名被试的主要实验果为：１）对上、下视野的选择注意产生类似于注意左、右视野时Ｐ１、Ｎ１,Ｐ２的相对增强;２）偶极子定位显示,上、下视野刺激的早期注意反应（Ｐ１）以交叉方式投射到枕区,即下视野刺激的注意反应偏向枕区的背侧,而上视野刺激的注意反应偏向枕区的腹侧;３）上下视野的早期注意反应（Ｐ１）具     

A Biosemiotic Perspective of the Resource Criterion: Toward a General Theory of Resources

Describing resources and their relationships with organisms seems to be a useful approach to a ‘unified ecology’, contributing to fill the gap between natural and human oriented processes, and opening new perspectives in dealing with biological complexity. This Resource Criterion defines the main properties of resources, describes the mechanisms that link them to individual species, and gives a particular emphasis to the biosemiotic approach that allows resources to be identified inside a heterogeneous ecological medium adopting the eco-field model. In particular, this Criterion allows to couple matter, structured energy and information composing the ecological systems to the biosemiotic and cognitive mechanisms adopted by individual species to track resources, transforming neutral surroundings into meaningful species-specific Umwelten. The expansion of the human semiotic niche that is a relevant evolutionary process of the present time, assigns the role of powerful and efficient agency to the Resources Criterion to evaluate the effect of human intrusion into the natural systems with habits of key stone species, under the challenge of a growing use of alloctonous, immaterial and symbolic resources of the actual globalized societal models. The Resource Criterion interprets the ecological dynamics contributing to complete the epistemology of the ecology, to open a bridge toward economy and other societal sciences, and to contribute to formulate a General Theory of Resources.     

The effect of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens attR mutation on attachment and root colonization differs between legumes and other dicots

Infections of wound sites on dicot plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens result in the formation of crown gall tumors. An early step in tumor formation is bacterial attachment to the plant cells. AttR mutants failed to attach to wound sites of both legumes and nonlegumes and were avirulent on both groups of plants. AttR mutants also failed to attach to the root epidermis and root hairs of nonlegumes and had a markedly reduced ability to colonize the roots of these plants. However, AttR mutants were able to attach to the root epidermis and root hairs of alfalfa, garden bean, and pea. The mutant showed little reduction in its ability to colonize these roots. Thus, A. tumefaciens appears to possess two systems for binding to plant cells. One system is AttR dependent and is required for virulence on all of the plants tested and for colonization of the roots of all of the plants tested except legumes. Attachment to root hairs through this system can be blocked by the acetylated capsular polysaccharide. The second system is AttR independent, is not inhibited by the acetylated capsular polysaccharide, and allows the bacteria to bind to the roots of legumes.     

Phagocytosis of chloramine B sensitive and resistant staphylococci isolated from healthy persons and patients

Phagocytic reaction with respect to antibiotic and chloramine B sensitive and resistant staphylococci isolated from healthy persons and patients, air and stock of medical institutions was studied on albino mice. It was shown that the staphylococcal isolates included strains simultaneously sensitive to antibiotics and chloramine, sensitive to antibiotics and resistant to chloramine, resistant to antibiotics and sensitive to chloramine and simultaneously resistant to antibiotics and chloramine. Activity, intensity and completeness of phagocytosis by leucocytes from mouse abdominal cavity exudates with respect to the staphylococcal strains sensitive to antibiotics and resistant to chloramine, resistant to antibiotics and sensitive to chloramine and simultaneously resistant to antibiotics and chloramine were lower than the values of the phagocytic reaction with respect to the isolates simultaneously sensitive to antibiotics and chloramine. This suggested that not only antibiotic resistance of microbes but also their resistance to disinfectants could be referred to complicating factors of hospital infections.     

The paradox of the adventurous young and the cautious old: natural selection vs. rational calculation.

Younger people are more adventurous and less willing to reduce the risk to life. This seems to be fitness reducing since the gene cannot be passed on if one dies before leaving offsprings. However, due to the cumulative nature of knowledge and the complementarity of learning and adventurousness, it is shown in a simple model that it enhances fitness. Nevertheless, the higher willingness of the old to pay to reduce the risk to life may also be due to the rational calculation of expected utility maximization. A positive real rate of interest makes accumulation of wealth desirable and hence may make the dollar value of life increase dramatically until a fairly old age. Even if the lifetime earnings of everyone are the same and everyone can lend and borrow at the same rate of interest, the old may be willing to pay much more to reduce the risk to life.     

Making change last: applying the NHS institute for innovation and improvement sustainability model to healthcare improvement

The implementation of evidence-based treatments to deliver high-quality care is essential to meet the healthcare demands of aging populations. However, the sustainable application of recommended practice is difficult to achieve and variable outcomes well recognised. The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement Sustainability Model (SM) was designed to help healthcare teams recognise determinants of sustainability and take action to embed new practice in routine care. This article describes a formative evaluation of the application of the SM by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Northwest London (CLAHRC NWL).Data from project teams’ responses to the SM and formal reviews was used to assess acceptability of the SM and the extent to which it prompted teams to take action. Projects were classified as ‘engaged,’ ‘partially engaged’ and ‘non-engaged.’ Quarterly survey feedback data was used to explore reasons for variation in engagement. Score patterns were compared against formal review data and a ‘diversity of opinion’ measure was derived to assess response variance over time.Of the 19 teams, six were categorized as ‘engaged,’ six ‘partially engaged,’ and seven as ‘non-engaged.’ Twelve teams found the model acceptable to some extent. Diversity of opinion reduced over time. A minority of teams used the SM consistently to take action to promote sustainability but for the majority SM use was sporadic. Feedback from some team members indicates difficulty in understanding and applying the model and negative views regarding its usefulness.The SM is an important attempt to enable teams to systematically consider determinants of sustainability, provide timely data to assess progress, and prompt action to create conditions for sustained practice. Tools such as these need to be tested in healthcare settings to assess strengths and weaknesses and findings disseminated to aid development. This study indicates the SM provides a potentially useful approach to measuring teams’ views on the likelihood of sustainability and prompting action. Securing engagement of teams with the SM was challenging and redesign of elements may need to be considered. Capacity building and facilitation appears necessary for teams to effectively deploy the SM.     

Transmitter-Induced Calcium Responses Differ in Astrocytes Acutely Isolated from Rat Brain and in Culture

Abstract: Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes isolated from the cerebral cortices of 3–10-day-old rats frequently showed increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration responses to l -glutamate and glutamate analogues. However, few of the acutely isolated cells responded to ATP, and no such cells responded to serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)]. The same cell that failed to respond to ATP or 5-HT often responded to glutamate. Culturing acutely isolated cells in media containing horse serum decreased Ca²⁺ responses to glutamate but increased the responses to ATP and induced responses to 5-HT. In primary cultures prepared from the cerebral cortices of 1-day-old rats and cultured in horse serum, fewer of the cells responded to glutamate, but almost all cells responded to ATP and 5-HT. The lack of, or limited response to, 5-HT or ATP in the acutely isolated cells seems unlikely to be due to selective damage to the respective receptors because acutely isolated GFAP-negative cells showed responses to ATP, several different proteases and mechanical dissociation yielded cells that also responded to glutamate but not to ATP, and exposure of primary cultures to papain did not abolish Ca²⁺ responses to several transmitters. The responses of the acutely isolated cells to glutamate but limited or lack of responses to ATP and 5-HT also correspond to what has been seen so far for astrocytes in situ. Thus, the present studies provide direct evidence that some of the receptors seen in primary astrocyte cultures may reflect a response to culture conditions and that, in the context of the relevant information so far available, acutely isolated astrocytes seem to reflect better the in vivo state.     

细菌抵抗消毒剂及其对抗生素共耐药

消毒剂是一种可杀灭物体表面、器材设备、皮肤、空气和水源等传播媒介上携带的病原微生物的有机分子。它在体外能杀灭病原微生物,切断其传播途径,进而达到控制污染的目的,在生命安全防控中起着重要的作用。但是不合理地使用消毒剂导致细菌对消毒剂产生耐药。消毒剂耐药基因在不同种属间的水平转移加剧其传播风险,使消毒剂耐药情况进一步恶化。更令人担忧的是,细菌对消毒剂的耐药可能会导致对抗生素产生共耐药,给公共安全带来巨大的威胁。但目前为止,对消毒剂耐药以及共耐药的认识还不够全面。本文总结了关于细菌对消毒剂耐药的研究报道,对消毒剂的作用机制、细菌对消毒剂的耐药机制进行了论述,另外针对消毒剂耐药基因的传播以及细菌对消毒剂和抗生素的共耐药进行了综述,为减少消毒剂耐药性的产生和制定合理的消毒剂使用规范奠定基础。     

Characterization of monocyte adherence to human macrovascular and microvascular endothelial cells

The interaction of monocytes with cultured large vessel venous and arterial endothelial cells (EC) and with cultured microvascular EC was studied. Analysis of time-lapse microcinematographic video recordings showed that monocytes adhere rapidly to the surface of EC and subsequently remain spherical and fixed to the initial site of adherence. Some monocytes adherent to EC stretch out within 30 to 90 min and migrate over the EC surface or become stretched for about 10 to 30 min and then detach from the EC surface and move rapidly over the EC monolayer. It was shown that the interaction of monocytes with EC is dynamic, that the morphology of monocytes adherent to EC changes constantly, and that stretching of the monocytes over the surface of the EC is not an inevitable and irreversible consequence of binding. A quantitative adherence assay was developed in which both the morphology and the number of monocytes bound to EC were determined. For each type of EC the number of monocytes bound to a single EC was found to be linearly related to the number of monocytes added and was lower for smaller EC. The adherence of monocytes to venous and arterial EC followed a different time course than the adherence to capillary EC and adherence to both types of macrovascular EC was higher than adherence to microvascular EC was higher than adherence to microvascular EC. The percentage of adherent monocytes with a stretched morphology was lower when these cells were adherent to capillary EC than to both types of macrovascular EC and increased upon addition of serum. Adherence of monocytes to venous, arterial, and capillary EC was partially inhibited by mAb directed against the alpha-chain of lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 or C3bi receptor (with mAb LM2/1, but not with mAb OKM1) and by mAb against the common beta-chain of the three leukocyte adhesion molecules. The degree of inhibition of monocyte adherence to EC by mAb against lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 alpha and the common beta-chain was dependent on the type of EC and was higher for venous EC (57 to 70% inhibition) than for arterial (40 to 44% inhibition) and capillary (44 to 49% inhibition) EC. Inhibition of monocyte adherence obtained with anti-C3bi receptor-alpha mAb was similar for each EC type. mAb against p150, 95 did not affect adherence. None of the mAb could block binding completely; combinations of the mAb also did not result in increased inhibition of monocyte adherence to EC.     

Specificity of the binding of trifluoperazine to the calcium-dependent activator of phosphodiesterase and to a series of other calcium-binding proteins.

Trifluoperazine inhibits the activation of phosphodiesterase by binding to the calcium-dependent activator. To determine further the specificity by which trifluoperazine binds to activator, we compared the binding of trifluoperazine to activator prepared from several species and tissues and to a number of other calcium-binding proteins devoid of activator activity. Trifluoperazine binds to activator prepared from human, bovine, rat and rabbit brain and from chick embryo fibroblasts. In each case, the binding of trifluoperazine to activator was qualitatively similar and related quantitatively to the ability of the preparation to activate phosphodiesterase. Of the other calcium-binding proteins examined, namely, troponin-C, S-100 protein, phospholipase A, phospholipase B and myosin light chain, only troponin-C displayed any significant calcium-specific binding of trifluoperazine. The binding to troponin-C, however, appeared to be different from the binding to activator; whereas the binding of trifluoperazine to actovator showed no cooperativity, the binding to troponin-C showed positive cooperatively. These results and earlier data showing that trifluoperazine fails to bind to a variety of other proteins, indicate that the binding of trifluoperazine to the calcium-dependent activator of phosphodiesterase is selective and suggest that this binding may explain some of the biochemical and pharmacological actions of this antipsychotic agent.     

Effects of estrogen-depletion on rat casein gene expression

Mammary tissue from rats that had been ovariectomized and adrenalectomized 4 weeks previously was compared to that from intact rats in terms of epithelial content and hormone-responsiveness in vitro. The endocrinectomy resulted in about a 30% enlargement of the gland, but led to a loss of only about 12% of the epithelium. This estrogen-depleted epithelium was able to acquire full responsiveness in vitro to insulin in terms of the accumulation of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, and induction of glucose-6-phosphate and gluconate-6-phosphate dehydrogenases. It was also fully responsive to cortisol in relation to the induction of NADH-cytochrome C reductase, and to prolactin in terms of total RNA synthesis. However, estrogen-depletion led to an 82% loss in the ability of a unit amount of the epithelium to synthesize casein in response to these 3 hormones, and to a similar loss in relation to the accumulation of 25K casein mRNA. Estrogen administration in vivo could prevent and reverse the casein lesion. The disparity between constitutive and casein hormone-responsiveness in the absence of estrogen is discussed in relation to cell commitment.     

Survival and feeding responses of Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Hodotermitidae: Isoptera) to local and imported wood

Forty-six local and imported wood were tested for resistance to feeding damage by the termite Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister), the most dominant species in the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Gulf region. Wood was used for construction, wall paneling, and furniture. Wood was evaluated in a 4-wk forced feeding bioassay. Each wood block was graded by the amount of termite damage by using a damage rating index (DRI) of 0 to 5 and wood rating index from very resistant to very susceptible wood. Local wood was mostly susceptible to feeding of termites; imported wood varied in resistance to feeding damage. Wood was placed in groups according to the percentages of weight loss (WL), termite survival (TS), and DRI. Wood was classified as very resistant (%WL from 0.0 to 0.3, %TS from 0.01 to 0.5, and DRI of 0.01), resistant (%WL from 1.1 to 4.9, %TS from 0.8 to 4.8, and DRI of 1.0), moderately resistant (%WL from 6.6 to 9.3, %TS from 6.3 to 8.3, and DRI of 2.0-2.3), slightly resistant (%WL from 10.1 to 19.9, %TS from 9.5 to 28.0, and DRI of 2.5-3.5), susceptible (%WL from 21.5 to 48.6, %TS from 37.3 to 64.8, and DRI of 4.0-4.3) and very susceptible (%WL from 50.0 to 59.8, %TS from 72.8 to 79.0, and DRI of 4.5-5.0). The characterization of the extracts of resistant wood may prove of economic value and lead to the development of new chemicals (repellents or antifeedants) for termite control.