Differences between cystic fibrosis and normal cells in the degree of satellite association

Summary The degree of satellite association was found to be significantly higher in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients than from those of control individuals. PHA-stimulated lymphocytes from obligatory heterozygotes for the CF mutant allele showed an intermediate degree of satellite association. The degree of satellite association was estimated by the frequency of cells exhibiting associations, by the number of associations per cell, and by the number of chromosomes in an association. The differences in the degree of satellite association were dependent on the concentration of colchicine used for cell arrest. These findings may assist in developing a diagnostic method for the early identification of heterozygotes for the CF allele and for prenatal detection of CF homozygous fetuses.This paper is based on a portion of a dissertation to be submitted by Y. Ravia in partial fulfilment of the Ph. D. requirements in the Graduate School of Tel Aviv University     

Direct sequencing and bidirectional allele specific polymerase chain reaction of the bovine beta-casein B variant.

We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify exon VII of the bovine beta-casein gene. The mutations responsible for the B variant were identified by direct sequencing of the amplification products. A bidirectional allele-specific PCR method (BAS-PCR) has been developed using oligonucleotides overlapping the mutation site at their 3' ends. This new procedure allows a rapid and reliable discrimination between the B and non-B alleles of beta-casein.     

Skeletal biology of the Taino: a preliminary report

Preliminary data on the skeletal biology of 78 Taino skeletons belonging to Juan Dolio, an archaeological site of the Maguana province, 80 Km. east of S. Domingo, are presented. The minimum number of individuals, sex, age, stature, and morphologic and morphometric characters were determined. Dental wear and pathology of cranial and post-cranial bones were also recorded.     

A propos de quelques groupements végétaux observés entre monaco et gênes

Résumé Le climat chaud et humide de la Ligurie méditerranéenne détermine la réapparition de quelques groupements végétaux connus de la Catalogne et rares ou nuls en Languedoc: Inulo-Oryzopsietum miliaceae, Cichorio-Sporoboletum poiretii, Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis, Rubo-Coriarietum.Le caractère particulier de la végétation ligure a été exprimé par des groupements spéciaux: Pistacio-Rhamnetum alaterni, qui remplace le Quercetum cocciferae, groupements à Ostrya carpinifolia et à Brachypodium pinnatum des endroits frais, groupements buissonnants à Erica arborea et Genista germanica, à Rosmarinus et Genista cinerea, Asplenio-Campanuletum macrorhizae des rochers, etc.

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Summary The warm and humid climate of the Mediterranean Liguria determines the reappearance of some communities, known in Catalonia, and seldom or not existing in Languedoc: Inulo-Oryzopsietum miliaceae, Cichorio-Sporoboletum poiretii, Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis, Rubo-Coriarietum.The particular character of the Liguric vegetation is expressed in special communities: Pistacio-Rhamnetum alaterni, which replaces the Quercetum cocciferae, communities with Ostrya carpinifolia and with Brachypodium pinnatum in the fresh places, bushy communities with Erica arborea and Genista germanica, with Rosmarinus and Genista cinerea, Asplenio-Campanuletum macrorhizae of the rocks, and so on.

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Zusammenfassung Das warme und feuchte Klima der mediterranen Ligurie bestimmt das Wiedererscheinen einiger Pflanzengesellschaften, die in Katalonien bekannt sind, aber selten oder nicht in Languedoc vorkommen: Inulo-Oryzopsietum miliaceae, Cichorio-Sporoboletum poiretii, Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis, Rubo-Coriarietum.Der eigenartige Charakter der ligurischen Vegetation ist in besonderen Pflanzengesellschaften ausgedrückt: Pistacio-Rhamnetum alaterni, das das Quercetum cocciferae ersetzt, Gesellschaften mit Ostrya carpinifolia und mit Brachypodium pinnatum der frischen Standorte, Erica arborea-Genista germanica-Silikatbodengebüsche, Rosmarinus-Genista cinerea-Kalkbodengebüsche, Asplenio-Campanuletum macrorhizae der Felsen usw.

     

Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human skeletal muscle in vivo

Hickey, Matthew S., Charles J. Tanner, D. Sean O'Neill,Lydia J. Morgan, G. Lynis Dohm, and Joseph A. Houmard. Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human skeletal muscle invivo. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(3):718-722, 1997.The purpose of this investigation was to determinewhether insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)activity is detectable in needle biopsies of human skeletal muscle.Sixteen healthy nonobese males matched for age, percent fat, fastinginsulin, and fasting glucose participated in one of two experimentalprotocols. During an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT)protocol, insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity was determined frompercutaneous needle biopsies at 2, 5, and 15 min post-insulinadministration (0.025 U/kg). In the second group, a 2-h, 100 mU · m² · min¹euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp was performed, and biopsies wereobtained at 15, 60, and 120 min after insulin infusion was begun.Insulin stimulated PI3-kinase activity by 1.6 ± 0.2-, 2.2 ± 0.3-, and 2.2 ± 0.4-fold at 2, 5, and 15 min, respectively, duringthe IVGTT. During the clamp protocol, PI3-kinase was elevated by 5.3 ± 1.3-, 8.0 ± 2.6-, and 2.7 ± 1.4-fold abovebasal at 15, 60, and 120 min, respectively. Insulin-stimulatedPI3-kinase activity at 15 min post-insulin administration wassignificantly greater during the clamp protocol vs. the IVGTT(P < 0.05). These observations suggest that insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity is detectable inneedle biopsies of human skeletal muscle, and furthermore, that theeuglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp protocol may be a useful tool toassess insulin signaling in vivo.

     

Urinary excretion of PGE2 and renal function in acute myocardial infarction

In 17 hospitalized patients affected by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) PGE2 urinary excretion, renal function and, furthermore, cortisol urinary excretion were tested during a 21 days trial. In 12 patients all the parameters under consideration underwent a similar trend: PGE2 urinary excretion exactly like glomerular filtration rate, Na+ excretion and diuresis tended to be reduced during the first 5 days and they rapidly recovered the normality after this period. Cortisol urinary excretion displayed a characteristic pattern: i.e. the highest values were observed in the first days, followed by a progressive decrease towards physiological levels since the 4th day. Different findings were obtained in 5 cases treated with an antiinflammatory drug (Indoprophen i.m. 200 mg x2 die). In fact the low levels of urinary PGE2 on the first days did not display any increasing and GFR, urinary flow, and Na+ tubular balance underwent irregular and not significant variations. These data suggest that an impaired Prostaglandin synthesis may be related to a compromised renal function often occurring in AMI.