Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Carbocyclic 5-Substituted Uridines and Cytidines

Abstract

Some carbocyclic uridines and cytidines have been prepared in a palladium-catalyzed reaction between 5-substituted uracils and cytosines and diacetoxymethylcyclopentene, prepared in a Prins reaction. The antiviral activity of the nucleoside analogues have been tested.     

An age-dependent epidemic model with application to measles

A combined epidemic-demographic model is developed which models the spread of an infectious disease throughout a population of constant size. The model allows for births, deaths, temporary or permanent immunity, and immunization. The relationship of this model to previously studied epidemic and demographic models is illustrated. An advantage of this model is that all epidemic and demographic parameters may be estimated. The stability of the equilibrium point corresponding to the elimination of the disease is studied and a threshold value is found which indicates whether the disease will die out or remain endemic in the population. The application of the model to measles indicates that immunization levels needed to reduce the incidence to near zero may not be as high as previously predicted.     

Comparison of liposome entrapment parameters by optical and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Methods for the complete characterization of liposomes prepared by ether-injection are described in detail. The validity of atomic absorption spectrophotometry Ior measuring markers of trapped volume was checked by comparative determinations of markers with established optical spectrophotometrical methods. The favorable results usingl atomic absorption spectrophotometry to quantitate the marker Mn²⁺ are of particular relevance as manganese ion is also the paramagnetic probe in n.m.r, measurements of water permeability of lipo-somes; our results indicate that in such measurements no other marker need be incorporated.     

Water exchange through erythrocyte membranes: p-choloromercuribenzene sulfonate inhibition of water diffusion in ghosts studied by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique

A comparison of water diffusion in human erythrocytes and ghosts revealed a longer relaxation time in ghosts, A comparison of water diffusion in human erythrocytes and ghosts revealed a longer relaxation time in ghosts, corresponding to a decreased exchange rate. However, the diffusional permeability of ghosts was not significantly different from that of erythrocytes . The changes in water diffusion following exposure to p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) have been studied on ghosts suspended in isotonic solutions. It was found that a significant inhibitory effect of PCMBS on water diffusion occurred only after several minutes of incubation at 37°C. No inhibition was noticed after short incubation at 0°C as previously used in some labelling experiments. This indicates the location in the membrane interior of the SH groups involved in water diffusion across human erythrocyte membranes. The nuclear magnetic resonance ( n . m . r . ) method appears as a useful tool for studying changes in water diffusiofl in erythrocyte ghosts with the aim of locating the water channel.     

Cytogenetic evaluation of boars with a low prolificacy: two new types of chromosome translocation

Using the National Program for Sow Herd Management, two hypoprolific boars have been identified. The first one, a Large White, had produced on an average 7.2 piglets per litter in 24 litters. The second one, a Pietrain, had produced 6.11 piglets per litter in 28 litters. These animals are carrying two new chromosome translocations involving chromosomes 1 and 15 and 4 and 15, respectively. The animal production consequences of the chromosome translocations are discussed.     

Simulation of Some Plasmonic Biosensors for Detection of Hemoglobin Concentration in Human Blood

Three recently published plasmonic biosensors based on a birefringent solid-core or a partial-solid-core microstructured optical fiber are simulated for detection of hemoglobin concentration in human blood. For a larger value of the number of holes n _h but for the same value of the gold radius, the resonance spectral width and the difference between maximal amplitude sensitivity and resonant wavelengths are decreased, when the refractive index of the analyte is n _a = 1.357. Also, the loss and maximum of the amplitude sensitivity are increased in the same conditions. At the resonant wavelength λ = 0.6496 μm for the devices with n _h = 14, 17, and 35 holes and n _a = 1.357, the hemoglobin concentration is close to the mean value (157.5 g/l) of a man.     

Sulfate restriction induces hyposecretion of the adhesion proteoglycan and cell hypomotility associated with increased 35SO42− uptake and expression of a band 3 like protein in the marine sponge,Microciona prolifera

Sulfate is an important component relating to normal proteoglycan secretion and normal motility in the marine sponge, Microciona prolifera. The following alterations were observed in sponge cells when sulfate free artificial sea water was used as the suspension medium: (1) impairment of aggregation, (2) loss of cell movements, (3) a marked reduction in the secretion of the adhesion proteoglycan (AP). Reversal of this effect occurred if sulfate depleted cells were again rotated in sulfate containing artificial sea water. Motility and reaggregation of sulfate deprived cells could be completely restored by purified AP, but only if cells were first pre-conditioned in normal sea water. Comparisons of ³⁵SO₄^2? uptake between normal and sulfate deprived cells which had been treated to reduce preformed secretions showed a marked increase in ³⁵SO₄^2? uptake and incorporation which could be greatly augmented in the presence of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺. Excessive retention of AP in sulfate starved cells demonstrated by immunostaining suggested that AP secretion and cellular motility may be controlled by a sulfate dependent secretogogue or that undersulfated AP itself had developed a secretory defect. SDS-PAGE of Triton treated cellular extracts demonstrated a 116 kDa ³⁵SO₄^2? sulfated band which co-migrated with AP, but only in extracts derived from sulfate starved cells. Western blots prepared from such extracts incubated in the presence of a monoclonal anti-band 3 antibody demonstrated labelling of a single 97 kDa band only in material from sulfate deprived cells. The absence of this component in normal cell extracts indicated that this protein may be involved in facilitated sulfate transport. This study lends support to a heretofore unrecognized role for sulfate in cell motility and secretion.