New cell attachment peptide sequences from conserved epitopes in the carboxy termini of fibrinogen

Fibrinogen seems to contribute significantly to cell binding and recruitment into wounds besides its major role in clot formation. We describe 19- to 21-mer cell-binding (haptotactic) peptides from the C-termini of fibrinogen beta-chain (Cbeta), the extended alphaE chain, and near the C-terminal of the gamma-chain. When these peptides were covalently bound to a biologically inert matrix such as Sepharose beads (SB), they elicited beads attachment to cells, mostly of mesenchymal origin (including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells) as well as some transformed cell lines. Based on such haptotactic activity, these peptides were termed "haptides." By contrast, peptides homologous to fibrinogen C-termini alpha- and gamma-chains elicited no such activity. The haptide Cbeta could not block the interaction of fibroblasts with antibodies directed against integrins beta(1), alpha(v), alpha(v)beta(1), alpha(v)beta(3), and alphaIIbeta(3). Moreover, GRGDS peptide could not inhibit enhanced cell binding to SB-Cbeta, as expected from an integrin-mediated process. In soluble form the haptides were accumulated in cells with nonsaturable kinetics without any toxic or proproliferative effects in concentrations up to 80 microM. These findings suggest that the conserved haptidic sequences within fibrin(ogen) can be associated with the adhesion and migration of cells into fibrin clots and may have a significant role in normal wound healing and in various pathological conditions.     

Can the presence of curved forms of the diatom Aulacoseira ambigua in the Nile (Egypt) and Vaal (South Africa) Rivers be ascribed to similar water quality conditions?

Spiral colonies of the diatom Aulacoseira ambigua were assigned the rank of forma (Aulacoseira ambigua f. japonica). This spiral-shaped, colonial, centric diatom has limited geographical distribution and is currently reported to occur in only a few countries in the world. In Africa this species was described for the first time from the Vaal River, South Africa, but recent research on the Nile River also revealed its presence in Egypt. Physical and chemical data on water quality in these two river systems were compared to determine whether the presence of this uncommon ‘phenoecodeme’ could be ascribed to similar environmental conditions. Results indicate that the rivers are dissimilar with regard to many variables, but both rivers provide turbid, warm and eutrophic waters with medium to high mineral content and it was concluded that these factors favour and sustain the growth of this curved form.     

Intracellular serine proteinase of Bacillus subtilis strain Marburg 168. Comparison with the homologous enzyme from Bacillus subtilis strain A-50.

Intracellular serine proteinase was isolated from sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis Marburg 168 by gramicidin S-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The enzymological characteristics, the amino acid composition and the 19 residues of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme are reported. The isolated proteinase was closely related to, but not completely identical with, the intracellular serine proteinase of B. subtilis A-50. The divergence between these two intracellular enzymes was less than that between the corresponding extracellular serine proteinases (subtilisins) of types Carlsberg and BPN', produced by these bacterial strains. This may be connected with the more strict selection constraints imposed in intracellular enzymes during evolution.     

菲律宾Boracay岛和Mambukal岛三种共栖狐蝠对人类活动的行为和激素反应

栖息地丧失和捕猎导致许多大型狐蝠濒危。尽管在东半球热带地区已经禁止捕猎和采伐,狐蝠的数量仍然在下降。既能维护当地居民利益又能保护狐蝠的折衷对策是生态旅游。然而,人类活动对狐蝠的影响还是未知的。菲律宾Boracay和Mambukal都是旅游区,前者游人少而稳定,后者游人密集且变异较大。我们用非损伤取样法研究了这两个旅游区三种狐蝠的生理紧张情况。在Mambukal,当狐蝠外出采食时,采集狐蝠的粪样,实验室分析粪样肾上腺皮质激素代谢物(GCM)浓度。我们观察记录了紧张反应等一些行为,同时记录了环境因素和人类活动情况。结果表明狐蝠已经习惯了游人的活动,表现在:(1)我们发现两个旅游区游人数量和活动强度差异显著,但是两地狐蝠的行为没有明显的差异;并且在有干扰和无干扰的日期之间,狐蝠的行为也无显著差异;两个旅游区的狐蝠行为表达一致;(2)各种行为与测定的粪样GCM浓度都不相关;(3)尽管在不同研究地点人类活动变异很大,我们发现人类活动并未影响粪样GCM浓度;不过,栖息在狐蝠群中心位置个体的粪样GCM浓度低于在群外围个体的GCM浓度;(4)一些环境因素(如干扰以及与栖息群的距离)影响狐蝠一些行为(如不安、身体护理和哈欠)的表达。如果干扰没有造成狐蝠紧张反应,那么生态旅游将不失为一种保护濒危狐蝠栖息地的理想方案。不过,我们还应认识到,人类干扰对狐蝠行为的影响可能比本研究观察到的更加复杂。因此,对于保护濒危狐蝠,时刻保持干扰最小是最好的选择。     

The PINE study: rationale and design of a randomised comparison of epidural injection of local anaesthetics and steroids versus care-as-usual to prevent postherpetic neuralgia in the elderly [ISRCTN32866390]

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is by far the most common complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and one of the most intractable pain disorders. Since PHN is seen most often in the elderly, the number of patients with this disorder is expected to increase in our ageing society. PHN may last for months to years and has a high impact on the quality of life. The results of PHN treatment are rather disappointing. Epidural injection of local anaesthetics and steroids in the acute phase of HZ is a promising therapy for the prevention of PHN. Since randomised trials on the effectiveness of this intervention are lacking, the PINE (Prevention by epidural Injection of postherpetic Neuralgia in the Elderly) study was set up. The PINE study compares the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a single epidural injection of local anaesthetics and steroids during the acute phase of HZ with that of care-as-usual (i.e. antivirals and analgesics) in preventing PHN in elderly patients. METHODS / DESIGN: The PINE study is an open, multicenter clinical trial in which 550 elderly (age >/= 50 yr.) patients who consult their general practitioner in the acute phase of HZ (rash < 7 days) are randomised to one of the treatment groups. The primary clinical endpoint is the presence of HZ-related pain one month after the onset of the rash. Secondary endpoints include duration and severity of pain, re-interventions aiming to treat the existing pain, side effects, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The PINE study is aimed to quantify the (cost-) effectiveness of a single epidural injection during the acute phase of HZ on the prevention of PHN.     

ACUTE EFFECTS OF MOVEMENT VELOCITY ON BLOOD LACTATE AND GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES AFTER ECCENTRIC BENCH PRESS EXERCISE IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED MEN

This study aimed to compare the effects of different velocities of eccentric muscle actions on acute blood lactate and serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations following free weight bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy men were divided into two groups: slow eccentric velocity (SEV; n = 8) and fast eccentric velocity (FEV; n = 8). Both groups performed four sets of eight eccentric repetitions at an intensity of 70% of their one repetition maximum eccentric (1RMecc) test, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. The eccentric velocity was controlled to 3 seconds per range of motion for SEV and 0.5 seconds for the FEV group. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the kinetics of blood lactate removal (at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20 min) and higher mean values for peak blood lactate (P = 0.001) for the SEV group (9.1 ± 0.5 mM) compared to the FEV group (6.1 ± 0.4 mM). Additionally, serum GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) at 15 minutes after bench press exercise in the SEV group (1.7 ± 0.6 ng · mL⁻¹) relative to the FEV group (0.1 ± 0.0 ng · mL⁻¹). In conclusion, the velocity of eccentric muscle action influences acute responses following bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men using a slow velocity resulting in a greater metabolic stress and hormone response.     

Kinetics of uranous iron and ferrous iron oxidation by thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Archives of Microbiology -     

Synthesis and biological effects of aromatic analogs of abscisic acid

Thirty six different 3-methyl-5-aryl-2,4-pentadienoic acids and esters were synthesized using the Reformatsky and Wittig reactions. The different geometrical isomers were conveniently separated by the dry column technique. Assignment of configuration of the pentadienoic side chain was based on NMR and UV properties. The biological activities of the aromatic analogs of ABA were determined in four bioassays. Most of the analogs were less active than the natural hormone. Only 3-methyl-5-p-chlorophenyl Δ²-trans, Δ⁴-trans-pentadienoic acid exhibited high ABA-like activity in all four bioassays.