A redeseription of Reighardia sternae diesing 1864 (Pentastomida: Cephalobaenida) with some observations on the glandular systems of pentastomids

Summary Adult males and females of the pentastomid Reighardia sternae Diesing 1864 from the body cavity and air sacs of Larus argentatus are described. The species resembles other Cephalobaenid pentastomids closely, the main differences being the lack of abdominal annuli and the poorly developed hook-bearing podia.Attention is paid to the secretory systems of this organism and these are compared to those described for other species. Possible functions are discussed.     

Interferon and Interferon Inducers in the Treatment of Malignancies

The mechanism of the antitumor action of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid is probably multifaceted. The compound induces the synthesis of interferon, and interferon probably is active against some tumors. Poly I:poly C alters protein and RNA synthesis in tissue culture. It specifically inhibits such macromolecule synthesis in tumors in vivo, while having less inhibitory action on synthesis in normal organs, or it may actually enhance. Finally, poly I:poly C strongly enhances graft vs. host rejection mechanisms, which may play a role in the rejection of some tumors.     

The pancreatic -cell recognition of insulin secretagogues. VII. Binding and permeation of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid in the plasma membrane of pancreatic -cells

The uptake of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid (CMBS) was studied in microdissected pancreatic islets of ob/ob-mice. After rapid initial binding, the uptake increased linearly with time, suggesting that CMBS diffused into the plasma membrane. The binding of CMBS was rapidly reversed on exposure to l-cysteine. Whereas glibenclamide had no effect, glucose and 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid (SITS) inhibited diffusion without affecting the initial binding. SITS, but not glucose, also inhibited CMBS-induced insulin release. The results support the hypothesis that CMBS stimulates insulin release by reacting with thiol groups in the β-cell plasma membrane. These thiol groups may be located in an anion diffusion channel, entrance to which is blocked by SITS and exit from which is inhibited by glucose. In comparison with erythrocytes, the β-cells contain a large number of superficial thiol groups, which may explain why these cells accumulate alloxan.     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL BASIS OF BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS IN A SERIES OF LETHAL ALLELES IN THE MOUSE : Neonatal and Developmental Studies

The fine structure of newborn and fetal mouse liver and of newborn kidney cells homozygous for any of three albino alleles known to have multiple biochemical effects was investigated. Electron microscope studies of mutant cells revealed dilation and vesiculation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in parenchymal liver cells, as well as dilation and other anomalies of the Golgi apparatus. These abnormalities were observed in all newborn mutants but never in littermate controls. Although they were most pronounced in liver parenchymal cells, they were found also to a lesser degree in kidney cells, but they were absent altogether in other cell types of the mutant newborn. Homozygous fetuses showed similar anomalies in the liver at 19 days of gestational age. In one of the alleles studied, mutant liver parenchymal cells were found to be abnormal as early as the 18th day of gestation. There appears to be a striking parallelism between the biochemical defects and those of the cellular membranes in homozygous mutant newborn and fetuses. Although the specific nature of the mutational effect on membrane structure remains unknown, the results are compatible with the assumption that a mutationally caused defect in a membrane component interferes with a mechanism vital in the integration of morphological and biochemical differentiation.     

Large and deep perialpine lakes: a paleolimnological perspective for the advance of ecosystem science

The present paper aims at reviewing general knowledge of large European perialpine lakes as provided by sediment studies, and at outlining the contribution, from several lines of evidence, of modern paleolimnology in both interpreting past lake ecological evolution and forecasting lake responses to future human impacts. A literature survey mainly based on papers published in international journals indexed on ISI-Wos and Scopus from 1975 to April 2017 has been conducted on the 20 perialpine lakes with z_max?≥?100 m and lake area?≥?10 km², and on 4 shallower perialpine lakes representing hotspots of extensive neo- and paleo-limnological research. By pinpointing temporal and spatial differences in paleolimnological studies conducted in the Alpine countries, the review identifies knowledge gaps in the perialpine area, and shows how sediment-based reconstructions represent a powerful tool, in mutual support with limnological surveys, to help predicting future scenarios through the “past-forward” principle, which consists in reconstructing past lake responses to conditions comparable to those to come. The most recent methodological developments of sediment studies show the potential to cope with the increasing ecosystem variability induced by climate change, and to produce innovative and crucial information for tuning future management and sustainable use of Alpine waters.