Chemiluminescent assay of lipid peroxide in plasma using cytochrome c heme peptide

A convenient assay specific to lipid hydroperoxide in plasma is presented. Cytochrome c heme peptide obtained from Saccharomyces was found to emit a strong chemiluminescence with any hydroperoxide, but not with TBA-reactive substances. The benefit of measuring this luminescence using photon counting is discussed with respect to in vivo lipid peroxidation.     

Brain transfer of a new neuromodulating ACTH analog, ebiratide, in rats.

The transfer of ebiratide into the brain was examined in rats. Its brain levels after intravenous administration (2-20 mg/kg), determined by radioimmunoassay, peaked at 5 min and declined almost in parallel with the plasma levels. Brain/plasma ratios (B/P) were constantly about 0.05 ml/g at all doses. Brain distribution study at 5 min after 125I-ebiratide at an effective dose (0.4 microgram/kg) revealed that unchanged ebiratide had larger B/P than the metabolites and region selectivity. The combined use with unlabeled ebiratide resulted in marked decreases in B/P, particularly in the hippocampus, suggesting a specific uptake of this peptide.     

Effects of soil water conditions on the morphology, phenology, and photosynthesis of Betula ermanii in the boreal forest

Four 2-year watering treatments were applied to Betula ermanii seedlings to investigate their responses to soil water conditions: ID [irrigated well (I) in the previous year and water deficit (D) in the current year], DD, DI, and II. RGR of the seedlings in current-year water deficit without experiencing previous-year water deficit (ID) was smaller than that of seedlings irrigated well in both years (II). Surprisingly, RGR did not differ between 2-year-water-deficited (DD) and -well-irrigated (II) treatments. There was no difference in the area-based photosynthetic rate of the late leaves, which are formed in the current-year environment, between the four water treatments, but their leaf longevity was shortened by water deficit. Area-based photosynthetic rate of the early leaves, whose buds are formed in the previous year environment, was smaller in ID than in II, but it did not differ between DD and II. The de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle was greater in ID than in DD. Leaf mass per area (leaf dry weight/leaf area) did not differ among the four water treatments. Specific root length (root total length/root dry weight) did not differ between ID and II. It was greater in DD than in II, probably resulting in increased water uptake efficiency. Photoprotective systems such as xanthophyll contents and antioxidant enzyme activities did not differ among the four treatments. Morphological responses of B. ermanii roots seem to be important as whole-plant-level responses to water deficit for maintaining RGR, in addition to leaf-level photosynthetic and phenological responses of two types of leaves. Our results partly explain how B. ermanii seedlings survive and maintain growth even under varying soil water conditions in the boreal forest.     

Traditional medicine in Turkey VIII. Folk medicine in east anatolia; Erzurum, Erzíncan, Ağri, Kars, Iğdir provinces

Traditional drugs used in the east Anatolia including Erzurum, Erzincan, A?ri, Kars, I?dir, and Ardahan provinces have been surveyed. In this report, 169 remedies obtained from 87 plant species belonging to 38 families and 10 animal species are listed with their vernacular names, parts used, methods of preparing drugs, and traditional usages.     

R3: Invasive salivary duct carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a teaching case giving rise to the genuine diagnostic difficulty on an inadequate cytology specimen

ABSTRACT: A history of a recent rapid increase in long-standing swelling mass was presented in the right parotid gland of an 85-year-old male. The inadequate cytologic specimens contained few small clusters of three-dimensional malignant epithelial cells having hyperchromatic pleomorphic nuclei and prominent nucleoli, adjacent to a cluster of benign monomorphic myoepithelial cells. We first interpreted it merely as an adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified. A radical parotidectomy was performed, and gross examination revealed an encapsulated and firm tumor lesion, looking grayish-blue to yellowish-white, focally associated with extracapsular invasion. On microscopic examination, the tumor was predominantly composed of a proliferation of highly atypical epithelial cells having abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, often arranged in a Roman-bridge appearance with foci of comedo necrosis, alternating with extensive infiltration to adjacent stroma in a trabecular or alveolar fashion with severe vessel permeation. Within the background of pleomorphic adenoma, the carcinoma cells sometimes replaced ductal luminal cells while retaining an intact-like myoepithelial layer. Therefore, we finally made a diagnosis of invasive salivary duct carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. We should be aware that owing to its characteristic features, cytopathologists might be able to determine correct diagnosis, based on multiple and adequate samplings. Virtual slides The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2126158270695815.     

Noncontact dipole effects on channel permeation. III. Anomalous proton conductance effects in gramicidin

Proton transport on water wires, of interest for many problems in membrane biology, is analyzed in side-chain analogs of gramicidin A channels. In symmetrical 0.1 N HCl solutions, fluorination of channel Trp(11), Trp-(13), or Trp(15) side chains is found to inhibit proton transport, and replacement of one or more Trps with Phe enhances proton transport, the opposite of the effects on K(+) transport in lecithin bilayers. The current-voltage relations are superlinear, indicating that some membrane field-dependent process is rate limiting. The interfacial dipole effects are usually assumed to affect the rate of cation translocation across the channel. For proton conductance, however, water reorientation after proton translocation is anticipated to be rate limiting. We propose that the findings reported here are most readily interpreted as the result of dipole-dipole interactions between channel waters and polar side chains or lipid headgroups. In particular, if reorientation of the water column begins with the water nearest the channel exit, this hypothesis explains the negative impact of fluorination and the positive impact of headgroup dipole on proton conductance.     

A useful approach for the screening of active neural-inducing factors

The present study suggests that the membrane-binding molecules of mesodermal cells and/or the modulated extracellular matrix (ECM) with them play an important role in induction of the central nervous system. Artificially mesodermalized ectoderm (mE) or chordamesoderm (cM) was placed on a collagen and flbronectin (CF)-coated dish for 24 h. After mechanical removal of the mesoderm sheet, competent ectoderm of early gastrulae was placed on the same spot. Many melanocytes and neuronal cells were observed after 1 week, along with many cells which reacted specifically with a neuralspecific monoclonal antibody. However, when presumptive ectoderm (pE) instead of mE or cM was used as the control, only epidermal cells with cilia were observed in the competent ectoderm, except for a few melanocytes in rare cases. The proteins synthesized and remaining on the CF substrate during placement of the mE and pE were analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) fluorography. The fluorography indicated that there were significant differences between the polypeptides spots of mE and pE. Correspondence to: A.S. Suzuki