Eigenschaften des Elektronentransportsystem von Mitochondrien des Protisten Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff. I. Zum Einfluß von Hemmstoffen auf verschiedene Akzeptorsysteme, getested mit einer modifizierten Thunbergtechnik

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG. Die Reduktionsgeschwindigkeit künstlicher Elektronenakzeptoren wurde mittels einer modifizierten Thunbergtechnik in Gegenwart isolierter Mitochondrien des Protisten Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff photometrisch gemessen. Die mit verschiedenen Elektronenakzeptoren und Atmungsketteninhibitoren gewonnenen Meßergebnisse erlauben uns folgendes Bild von der Konstitution der Atmungskette zu entwerfen: a) Der Elektronentransport läuft mindestens bis zum Cytochrom b /Coenzym Q-Komplex auf zwei verschiedenen Wegen ab. b) Eine Stimulierung sowohl des Succinat-Jodnitrotetrazolium-chlorid als auch des NADH-Ferricyanid Reduktasekomplexes unter dem Einfluß von Antimycin A läßt vermuten, daß in der Atmungskette dieses Protisten gewisse Nebengleise des Elektronentransports besonders gangbar sind.
SYNOPSIS. The reduction of artificial electron acceptors by isolated mitochondria of Acanthamoeba castellanii was measured by a modified Thunberg technic. The results with different electron acceptors and respiratory chain inhibitors suggest the following scheme for the constitution of the respiratory chain: a) the chain is divided into 2 different sequences, at least up to the cytochrome b /coenzyme Q complex. b) As seen from the stimulation of the succinate-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride and NADH-ferricyanide reductase complexes by antimycin A, certain alternate pathways of electron transport become more important than the normal one.     

Ex-Situ Cultivation of Medicinal Plant Species in High Altitudes at Swat, Pakistan

IntroductionMan has long been using various plants to cure diseases and to provide relief fromhealth prob-lems.Primitive peoples fromall ages and in all locations had knowledge of medicinal plants,whichthey acquiredthroughlong experience of trial and error.The knowledge is still alive,for many plantsare still used in herbal remedies and in indigenous medicine systems all over the world(Khan,1985).A medicinal plant is any plant that contains chemical substances in one or more of its parts(root…     

Heat-Induced Production of Human Growth Hormone by High Cell Density Cultivation of Recombinant Escherichia Coli

The temperature-induced, over-expression of the human growth hormone gene in a recombinant E. coli during high cell density cultivation is reported. Human growth hormone (hGH) production and stability were tested under different heat shock conditions. Cell densities were 25 and 60 g l(-1) in a pH-stat fed-batch mode in defined and complex medium, respectively, and the fermentation time was decreased from 41 to 32 h. hGH was produced at 2 g l(-1) in complex medium. By using glycerol as main carbon source in the complex medium with exponential feeding, cell density and hGH production were increased to 100 g l(-1) and 2.7 g l(-1), respectively.     

Psychopathology in 7‐year‐old children with familial high risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum psychosis or bipolar disorder – The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study ‐ VIA 7, a population‐based cohort study

This study aimed to compare the psychopathological profiles of children at familial high risk of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis (FHR‐SZ) or bipolar disorder (FHR‐BP) with population‐based controls. We used Danish nationwide registers to retrieve a cohort of 522 seven‐year‐old children of parents with schizophrenia spectrum psychosis (N=202), bipolar disorder (N=120) or none of these disorders (N=200). Psychopathology was assessed by reports from multiple informants, including children, parents and teachers. Lifetime DSM‐IV diagnoses were ascertained by blinded raters through the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School‐Age Children. The dimensional assessment of psychopathology was performed by the Child Behavior Checklist, the Teacher's Report Form, a modified version of the ADHD‐Rating Scale, the Test Observation Form, and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Current level of functioning was evaluated using the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). The prevalence of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses was significantly higher in both FHR‐SZ children (38.7%, odds ratio, OR=3.5, 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.2‐5.7, p < 0.001) and FHR‐BP children (35.6%, OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.8‐5.3, p < 0.001) compared with controls (15.2%). FHR‐SZ children displayed significantly more dimensional psychopathology on all scales and subscales compared with controls except for the Anxious subscale of the Test Observation Form. FHR‐BP children showed higher levels of dimensional psychopathology on several scales and subscales compared with controls, but lower levels compared with FHR‐SZ children. Level of functioning was lower in both FHR‐SZ children (CGAS mean score = 68.2; 95% CI: 66.3‐70.2, p < 0.0001) and FHR‐BP children (73.7; 95% CI: 71.2‐76.3, p < 0.05) compared with controls (77.9; 95% CI: 75.9‐79.9). In conclusion, already at the age of seven, FHR‐SZ and FHR‐BP children show a higher prevalence of a broad spectrum of categorical and dimensional psychopathology compared with controls. These results emphasize the need for developing early intervention strategies towards this vulnerable group of children.     

Influence of age on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus at Merja Zerga lagoon,Morocco

The influence of age and sex on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus was studied in Merja Zerga lagoon in northern Morocco. Five trace metal elements (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu and Fe) were quantitatively analyzed by Varian AA 240 atomic absorption spectroscopy with graphite furnace in three organs (Liver, Kidney and Heart) from animals of different age and sex. The maximum metal level of the analyzed samples was recorded in adults and was limited to 46.62 μg/g for Pb and 35.1 μg/g for Cu, while it reached 22.69 μg/g, 7.59 μg/g and 6.78 μg/g for Cr, Zn and Fe, respectively. Highly significant differences were found for bioaccumulation of heavy metals according to animal ages and no significant differences were observed between the two sexes among the studied animals. Our results revealed also the existence of a strong correlation (r > 0.65) between the majority of biometric parameters and the trace element concentrations. In general, we found that age is a critical factor in estimating the level of heavy metal pollution. Other characteristics such as habitat, feeding habits and anti-predator behavior of the species need to be studied.