Environmental influences on the sensitization by drugs measured in peripheral blood lymphocyte chromatin

An "allergo-kinetic" method was introduced, which measures early changes of nuclear chromatin structure of lymphocyte subpopulations. The method is used as an in vitro test for drug allergy. The comparison of data from two sampling places (Budapest-Esztergom) shows the following results: The drug allergy scores (obtained from T-cells) may reflect environmental influences on the population under study. During the 13 months period after Atomic Reactor accident in Chernobyl, both the frequency of severe skin manifestations and that of organ manifestations (without skin lesions) increased. The ratio of negative test results decreased in both of drug allergic patient groups (small town = Esztergom, large city = Budapest)--tendency to polysensibilization. The scores obtained in drug related groups of generalized urticaria and Quincke's oedema increased significantly within 13 months after accident followed by a normalization in the subsequent year.     

Replication banding in the chromosomes of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The chromosomes of the European eel Anguilla anguilla have been analyzed with a replication banding technique from lymphocyte cultures treated with 5-BrdU. This technique allows us to identify with high resolution the individual chromosome pairs and to differentiate classes of chromatin by the order of replication. The replication banding obtained on the chromosomes of European eel can be related with the structural bands described in this species.     

Evaluation of the use of phase-specific gene promoters for the expression of enological enzymes in an industrial wine yeast strain

Summary Genes as POT1, HSP104 and SSA3, which are late expressed in laboratory culture conditions are expressed only during the first few days in microvinifications in wine yeast cells. This effect is probably due to the different growth conditions and leads to useless levels of enzyme activity for a reporter gene. However the ACT1 promoter, which is constitutively expressed in laboratory conditions, produces sufficient amounts of enzyme activity in late fermentation phases.     

An extended x-ray absorption fine structure study of the high-affinity cation-binding site in the purple membrane.

The structure of the high-affinity cation-binding site of bacteriorhodopsin was studied using extended x-ray absorption fine structure techniques. The results obtained for Mn2+ in aqueous solution and for the complex BR-Mn2+ (1:1 molar ratio) show great similarities, suggesting that Mn2+, when bound to this site, is coordinated with six atoms of oxygen, forming an octahedral disposition. The interatomic distance between the atoms of oxygen and the Mn2+ was found to be 2.17 A for the complex BR-Mn2+, similar to Mn2+ in solution (2.15 A). In addition, the absence of any other peak at greater distances in the Fourier-transformed spectrum indicates that neither phosphorus nor sulphur atoms are present in the second coordination shell. This suggests that this binding site is located in the protein, discarding the proximity of lipid polar headgroups.     

Narthecium ossifragum Associated Photosensitization in Sheep in The Faroe Islands

Hepatogenous photosensitization in sheep is an important problem in various parts of the world. Most photosensitization diseases are associated with ingestion of plant or fungal toxins. The lily, Narthecium ossifragum, has long been associated with photosensitization in lambs in western Norway (Ender 1955, Flåøyen 1993) and in the northern regions of the British Isles (Ford 1964).     

Lectins as markers of rumen epithelial cell differentiation

Summary Lectins of different carbohydrate specificities (GNA (Galanthus nivalis), con A (Canavalia ensiformis), VFL (Vicia faba), PSL (Pisum sativum), LCA (Lens culinaris), PNA (Arachis hypogaea; with or without prior neuraminidase treatment), WGA (Triticum vulgare), SBA (Glycine max), UEA-I (Ulex europaeus), LPA (Limulus polyphemus), BS-I B₄ (Bandeiraea simplicifolia, isolectin B₄)) were explored for use as differentiation markers of rumen epithelial cellsin vivo andin vitro. Lectins specific for mannose (GNA), mannose/glucose (con A, VFL, PSL and LCA),N-acetylglucosamine (WGA) or forN-acetylneuraminic acid (LPA) reacted generally with all types of rumen epithelial cell from both rumen tissue and cell culture. They were, therefore, not suitable markers of epithelial differentiation. SBA was unsuitable because, although it reacted with both tissue and cultured rumen epithelial cells, it was also bound to non-stratified areas of primary rumen epithelial cell cultures. Both BS-I B₄ and PNA (after neuraminidase treatment) had to be ruled out because they did not react with differentiated rumen tissue epithelial cells, although they did bind to both stratified and non-stratified cultured cells. In contrast, UEA-I reacted strongly with differentiated rumen epithelial cells both from rumen tissue and cell cultures and therefore appears to be a good general marker for rumen epithelial cell differentiation.     

Paracuaria hispanica n. sp. (Nematoda: Acuariidae), a stomach parasite of the pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus Geoffr. (Insectivora: Talpidae), with a redefinition of the genus Paracuaria Rao, 1951

Adult and fourth-stage larvae of Paracuaria hispanica n. sp., from the stomach of the Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus Geoffroy (Insectivora: Talpidae) in northern and central Spain, are described. The new species differs from the other members of the genus Paracuaria (P. adunca and P. soricis), among other morphological details, in its smaller body and spicule sizes, the presence of a cuticular ring around the tip of the female tail, and the existence of lateral alae running longitudinally along its body from the cervical region to the tail. In view of the latter feature, the genus Paracuaria is redefined. The fourth stage larva of the new species is distinguished from that of P. adunca by its monocuspid deirids. P. hispanica occurred in 45% of the 20 host specimens examined.     

Effects of vagal neuromodulation and vagotomy on control of food intake and body weight in rats.

Food induced neurohumoral signals are conduced to data processing brain centers mainly as vagal afferent discharge resulting in food intake regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of vagal nerve neuromodulation in control of food intake with fed-pattern microchip (MC) pacing. Experiments were performed on 60 rats divided on 5 groups: I group 0,05Hz left vagal pacing, II - pacing of both vagal nerves with MC 0,05Hz, III- left vagal MC 0,1Hz pacing, IV - pacing of both vagal nerves with MC 0,1 Hz was performed. In group V left vagal pacing was combined with right side abdominal vagotomy. Body weight and total food intake decreased by 12% and 14% (I), 26% and 30%(II), 8% and 21%(III), 14% and 30%(IV), 38% and 41%(IV), respectively (p<0.05). Effects of both vagal nerves stimulation on final body weight and food intake was significantly more effective than only single nerve MC pacing however most effective was stimulation with 0,1Hz combined with right vagotomy. We conclude that vagal stimulation reduce food intake and body weight by increasing vagal afferent signals. Our results suggest that information in vagal afferents can be modulated resulting in changes of feeding behaviour and body weight.     

Inhibition by trifluoperazine of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis by particulate and soluble mitochondrial F1: Competition with H2PO 4 −

The effect of trifluoperazine (TFP) on the ATPase activity of soluble and paniculate F₁ATPase and on ATP synthesis driven by succinate oxidation in submitochondrial particles from bovine heart was studied at pH 7.4 and 8.8. At the two pH. TFP inhibited ATP hydrolysis. Inorganic phosphate protected against the inhibiting action of TFP. The results on the effect of various concentrations of phosphate in the reversal of the action of TFP on hydrolysis at pH 7.4 and 8.8 showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the species that competes with TFP. The effect of TFP on oxidative phosphorylation was studied at concentrations that do not produce uncoupling or affect the aerobic oxidation of succinate (<15M). TFP inhibited oxidative phosphorylation to a higher extent at pH 8.8 than at pH 7.4; this was through a diminution in theV _max, and an increase in theK _m for phosphate. Data on phosphate uptake during oxidative phosphorylation at several pH showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the true substrate for oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, in both synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP, TFP and H₂PO ₄ ^– interact with a common site. However, there is a difference in the sensitivity to TFP of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis; this is more noticeable at pH 8.8, i.e. ATPase activity of soluble F₁ remains at about 40% of the activity of the control in a concentration range of TFP of 40–100M, whereas in oxidative phosphorylation 14M TFP produces a 60% inhibition of phosphate uptake.