Structural data for the carbohydrate of ispaghula husk ex Plantago ovata forsk

The husk from the seeds of Plantago ovata Forsk yielded two fractions when exposed to mild aikali, namely, the mucilage polysaccharide (85%, apparently a single species) and the non-polysaccharide component (15%). Methylation analysis and partial hydrolysis with acid showed the mucilage polysaccharide to be a highly branched, acidic arabinoxylan, the xylan backbone having both (1→4) and (1→3) linkages. The majority of the residues in the xylan backbone are variously substituted at O-2 and O-3 with arabinose, xylose, and an aldobiouronic acid identified as 2-O-(galactopyranosyluronic acid)-rhamnose. A structure incorporating these features for the husk polysaccharide is proposed.     

Influence of nutrition on reproduction in the ewe with special emphasis on progesterone concentration.

Influence of nutrition on lambing rate and progesterone levels was studied in Rambouillet ewes. In the first experiment, two groups of 10 ewes each were individually fed on a diet containing either high (3.04 kg/day) or low (1.89 kg/day) levels of total digestible nutrients. Ewes on the High Plane of nutrition had lower pregnancy rates and fewer lambs than the ewes on the Low Plane. Plasma progesterone concentration was not significantly different between treatment groups when compared before and after mating.In the second experiment two groups of 25 ewes each were grazed on pasture and supplemented with a pelleted concentrate. One group was fed to gain weight, while the other group was fed to maintain their body weight. There was no significant difference in lambing rate between these two groups.     

Mutant p53: it’s not all one and the same

Mutation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene is the most common genetic alteration in cancer, and almost 1000 alleles have been identified in human tumors. While virtually all TP53 mutations are thought to compromise wild type p53 activity, the prevalence and recurrence of missense TP53 alleles has motivated countless research studies aimed at understanding the function of the resulting mutant p53 protein. The data from these studies support three distinct, but perhaps not necessarily mutually exclusive, mechanisms for how different p53 mutants impact cancer: first, they lose the ability to execute wild type p53 functions to varying degrees; second, they act as a dominant negative (DN) inhibitor of wild type p53 tumor-suppressive programs; and third, they may gain oncogenic functions that go beyond mere p53 inactivation. Of these possibilities, the gain of function (GOF) hypothesis is the most controversial, in part due to the dizzying array of biological functions that have been attributed to different mutant p53 proteins. Herein we discuss the current state of understanding of TP53 allele variation in cancer and recent reports that both support and challenge the p53 GOF model. In these studies and others, researchers are turning to more systematic approaches to profile TP53 mutations, which may ultimately determine once and for all how different TP53 mutations act as cancer drivers and whether tumors harboring distinct mutations are phenotypically unique. From a clinical perspective, such information could lead to new therapeutic approaches targeting the effects of different TP53 alleles and/or better sub-stratification of patients harboring TP53 mutant cancers.Subject terms: Cancer genetics, Tumour-suppressor proteins     

Comparison of infrared coagulation and rubber band ligation for first and second degree haemorrhoids: a randomised prospective clinical trial.

One hundred and thirty seven previously untreated out-patients with first and second degree haemorrhoids were allocated at random to treatment by infrared coagulation (n=66) or rubber band ligation (n=71). Complete follow up was obtained in 122 patients (60 who had undergone infrared coagulation (group 1), and 62 rubber band ligation (group 2)) at periods from three months to one year after completion of treatment. Infrared coagulation produced a satisfactory outcome in 51 patients (85%): 34 were rendered asymptomatic and 17 improved. Rubber band ligation produced a satisfactory outcome in 57 patients (92%): 33 were rendered asymptomatic and 24 improved. Both methods were equally effective in first and second degree haemorrhoids. The incidence of side effects, particularly discomfort, during and after treatment was significantly higher in those treated by rubber band ligation (p less than 0.001). This appeared to be an appreciable deterrent to future patient compliance. The number of patients losing more than 24 hours from work was higher after rubber band ligation than after infrared coagulation. The number of treatments necessary to cure symptoms did not differ significantly between the two methods. Infrared coagulation was significantly faster than rubber band ligation (p less than 0.001). Infrared coagulation is a simple, fast, and effective outpatient method for the treatment of first and second degree haemorrhoids with fewer troublesome side effects and higher patient acceptability than rubber band ligation.     

The effect of restricted feeding on the wheel-running activity rhythms of the predatory marsupial Dasyurus viverrinus

Summary The effects of restricted feeding schedules on the circadian rhythms of wheel-running of Dasyurus viverrinus were examined under a light/dark cycle and in constant darkness (experiment 1) and in constant light (experiment 2). The results of the 2 experiments showed that: (1) in contrast to the light/dark cycle, restricted feeding is only a weak zeitgeber for the wheel-running activity rhythms of D. viverrinus; (2) restricted feeding elicits meal anticipatory activity in D. viverrinus comparable to that elicited by restricted feeding in the rat; (3) transient cycles of the anticipatory activity free-run with a period different to that of the main component of activity for several cycles after the termination of restricted feeding; and (4) activity suggestive of beating between 2 oscillators occurs during restricted feeding and after the termination of restricted feeding. Taken together the latter 3 observations suggest that the activity rhythms of D. viverrinus are controlled by at least 2 separate circadian oscillators.