Effect of copper on inhibition by nitrapyrin of growth ofNitrosomonas europaea

Exponentially growing cultures ofNitrosomonas europaea were inhibited by addition of 0.5 g nitrapyrin ml^–1. This inhibition was increased by simultaneous addition of 0.046 g Cu²⁺ ml^–1 as copper sulfate. This contradicts a previous report that copper relieves inhibition of ammonia oxidation by nitrapyrin, which report has formed the basis for hypotheses regarding the mechanism of action of this inhibitor.     

Recommendations from the Consensus Conference on Hypertension in the Elderly.

Since 1978 there have been dramatic advances in the understanding of the pathophysiologic features of unstable angina pectoris and in the availability of new therapies of proven efficacy. Coronary artery spasm has been shown to be an important mechanism of acute myocardial ischemia in patients with unstable angina, and coronary thrombosis has been established as an early event in the development of acute myocardial infarction and, possibly, sudden death. Intravenous nitrates and oral calcium antagonists have been made available and are now widely used. Acetylsalicylic acid has been shown to be of benefit. Improved techniques of myocardial preservation and the introduction of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty have modified the surgical management of coronary artery disease.     

Comparisons of warfarin metabolism by liver microsomes of rats treated with a series of polybrominated biphenyl congeners and by the component-purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes

R- and S-warfarin metabolite profiles (regio- and stereoselectivity) have been determined with hepatic microsomes from untreated rats and rats treated with nine individual polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners, a commercial mixture of PBBs, and, for comparison with phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene. The metabolic rates have been correlated with cytochrome P-450 (P-450) isozyme concentrations in the microsomes determined by immunochemical quantitation techniques (G. A. Dannan, F. P. Guengerich, L. S. Kaminsky, and S. D. Aust, (1983) J. Biol. Chem., 258, 1282–1288). The warfarin hydroxylase activities of the P-450 isozyme components of the various microsomal preparations (F. P. Guengerich, G. A. Dannan, S. T. Wright, M. V. Martin, and L. S. Kaminsky (1982) Biochemistry, 21, 6019–6030) were multiplied by the corresponding isozyme concentrations to obtain an assessment of the potential warfarin hydroxylase capacity of the microsomes, and the results were compared with actual activities. The results of these studies and comparisons indicate that substrate regio- and stereoselectivities of microsomal-bound P-450s are essentially retained on purification of the isozymes to homogeneity and reconstitution, that warfarin metabolism by microsomal preparations can be used to predict microsomal P-450 isozyme compositions, and that microsomal warfarin hydroxylase activity is greater than would be predicted based on the approx 20:1 ratio of P-450 to NADPH-P-450 reductase in the microsomes and on the known activities of constituent isozymes. Two P-450 isozymes which are induced by treatment of rats with phenobarbital appear to be more tightly linked to NADPH-P-450 reductase than does an isozyme induced by β-naphthoflavone.     

Properties of narrow-range ampholytes isolated from wide-range ampholyte preparations

A simple procedure for obtaining useful narrow-pH-range ampholytes from inexpensive laboratory-synthesized ampholytes by preparative isoelectric focusing in Pevikon is described. The narrow range ampholytes prepared in this way are comparable to commercial ampholyte preparation as judged by conductivity, buffer capacity, pH gradient formation, and resolving power. These inexpensive narrow-range ampholytes are particularly well suited to preparative isoelectric focusing applications requiring large quantities of ampholytes.     

The met-enkephalin analog FK 33-824 and naloxone do not directly influence cortisol secretion by cultured human adrenocortical cells

Systemic administration of the enkephalin analog FK 33.824 was previously shown to inhibit ACTH secretion in man. In this study, the direct action of this analog on cortisol release was studied. The enkephalin analog (1 uM and 10 uM) did not influence basal or ACTH-stimulated cortisol production by cultured isolated adrenocortical cells prepared from the hyperplastic adrenal glands from three patients with Cushing's disease. Naloxone (10 uM) had also no direct effect on cortisol release. It is concluded that the met-enkephalin analog used in this study and naloxone do affect the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis via a central effect.     

Passive Avoidance Training Increases Fucokinase Activity in Right Forebrain Base of Day-Old Chicks

Fucokinase (EC 2.7.1.52) activity was estimated in supernatants of homogenate from day-old chick forebrain. Enzyme kinetic studies gave a Km of 4.5 X 10(-6) M and Vmax of 3.72 nmol fucose converted into fucose-1-phosphate/mg prot/h. The pH optimum was 7.5. The enzyme is thus considerably more active than was reported for other species and tissues. There were no differences in enzyme activity between the four forebrain regions studied. One hour after chicks were trained on a one-trial passive avoidance learning paradigm, enzyme activity in the right forebrain base increased 14% over control values (p less than 0.02). The 11.3% increase in activity in the left forebrain base and 10.3% increase in the left roof were not statistically significant. The relationship of this change to the increased fucose incorporation into glycoproteins known to occur over a similar time period and the significance of the lateralization of the increase are discussed.     

Phagocytosis of bacteria by human leukocytes measured by flow cytometry

A new method has been developed for the evaluation of the phagocytic activity of human leukocytes using fluorescently labeled bacteria and flow cytometry. By simultaneous measurement of cellular light scatter and fluorescence, extracellular bacteria, phagocytes, and nonphagocytes could be discriminated and quantified. All leukocytes assumed to be capable of phagocytosis were phagocytosing, and about 90% of these cells were polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes. Within 15 min 85% of the bacteria were phagocytosed and each phagocyte contained an average of 15-20 bacteria. The phagocytic capacity of the leukocytes from healthy individuals showed minor interindividual and day-to-day variations. This method facilitates a rapid and accurate in vitro evaluation of the phagocytic activity of human leukocytes.     

On the complexity of graphs and molecules

A new formula for the complexity of graphs is proposed and applied to the points lines and ‘connections’ of some chemically relevant graphs.