Current aspects of the short-term prognosis of meningococcal infection morbidity for the sake of epidemiological surveillance

The short-term prognosis of the epidemic situation requires the establishment of the system of constant surveillance, which takes into account the data on morbidity rates for several years, both total and in various age groups, the data on the morbidity level and its changes, induced by meningococci of the epidemic group, in the IV quarter of the year, the data on the level of carriership among the indicator groups of the population in this period, as well as the data on changes in antibody titers in the sera of donor blood samples taken in summer and in December.     

Plant-growth regulators from common starfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Asterias amurensis</Emphasis> Lütken) waste

Starfish waste has been shown to be an effective compost material not only in the promotion of plant growth but also in terms of having insecticidal activity. In the present study, plant growth regulation by chemicals from starfish was examined. The aqueous fraction from a hot water extract of the starfish Asterias amurensis Lütken showed plant-growth activity, while the aqueous fraction from a methanol extract inhibited growth of Brassica campestris. The lipophilic fraction from the methanol extract also exhibited a plant growth-promoting effect. The active components from each extract were identified. Asterubine from the hot water extract promoted plant growth. A ceramide from the lipophilic fraction showed root growth promoting effect, and three glucocerebrosides had promotive effects on the entire plant. Asterosaponins were identified as the main growth inhibitors in the aqueous fraction of the methanol extract. These active compounds from starfish waste could be analyzed as potential plant growth regulators in agricultural applications in the future.     

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) induced rapid formation of thromboxane B2 in saponin-permeabilised human platelets: mechanism of IP3 action

The mechanism of IP3-induced activation of saponin-permeabilised platelets has been examined. Saponin permeabilization resulted in the leakage of low-Mr substances into and from the cells without loss of cytoplasmic proteins. Addition of IP3 rapidly induced a dose-related formation of thromboxane B2 and release into the medium, leading to the responses of shape change, aggregation and [14C]5HT release. These responses were inhibited by the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist AH23848. The IP3-induced release of 45Ca from intracellular stores was not affected by indomethacin. Synthesis of thromboxane was inhibited if Ca2+ elevation was prevented by using Ca-EGTA buffers during permeabilization. These studies indicate that IP3-induced activation was due to Ca2+ mobilisation leading to phospholipase activation and thromboxane synthesis.