Concentration of monoamines in the brain of minks differing in their reaction to man

Content of dopamine in the striatum; of serotonin, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and noradrenaline in the hypothalamus, striatum and midbrain was studied in three groups of minks from population of an animal farm, differing by their reaction to humans (cowardly, calm, aggressive). The reaction to humans was estimated by a system of marks at the attempt to catch the mink with a mitten. Aggressive animals had a lowered level of serotonin in the hypothalamus and striatum, a lesser content of serotonin metabolite--5-hydroxyindolacetic acid in the striatum. Minks of different groups did not differ by noradrenaline content, but dopamine level in the striatum of cowardly minks was higher than in calm and aggressive animals. Conclusion is made that polymorphism of behaviour corresponds to polymorphism of the state of monoaminergic systems.     

Changes in the amino acid sequence of hemagglutinin during sequential adaptation of human influenza virus A to replication in mice

The primary structure of hemagglutinin (HA) gene of Influenza virus A/USSR/90/77 (H1N1) variants after 3 and 11 passages has been determined. In the HA1 coding region of mice-adapted virus (11 passages) there are two amino acid substitutions: Thr 89----Ala and Asn 127----Asp. At the first stage of adaptation (3-rd passage) only a single mutation was detected: Asn 127----Asp. The adaptation is accompanied by the loss of specific carbohydrate attachment sites adjacent to the receptor-binding site located at HA1 subunit with a concomitant variation in antigenicity.     

Thermal inhibition of repair of methylmethane sulfonate-damaged DNA in chick embryo fibroblasts

Chick embryo fibroblasts were treated with the monofunctional alkylating agent methylmethane sulfonate at various concentrations for 1 h at 42°C, rinsed and then incubated post-treatment at various temperatures at which the kinetics of alkali-labile bond disappearance was followed. Growth experiments showed that these cells grew similarly at temperatures of either 37°C or 42°C. Repair as assessed by removal of alkali-labile bond was also similar for postincubation in the temperature range 37–42°C for damage due to methylmethane sulfonate treatment at concentrations less than 1.5 mM. When the postincubation temperature was raised higher than 42.5–43°C, this type of repair was stopped. The normal internal body temperature of adult chickens is about 41.6°C. Hence the present finding indicates that chick cells are much more severely restricted in DNA repair at temperatures above normal than are mammalian cells, which can function in this respect for several deg. C above 37°C.     

Lymphocyte migration in internally irradiated animals. Effect of internal gamma radiation on the migration properties of spleen lymphocytes labeled with 51Cr

In experiments on CBA mice it was shown that migration of 51Cr-labeled spleen lymphocytes, injected intravenously, to lymph nodes of intact recipients was suppressed 6-24 months after the administration of a radiopharmaceutic preparation of selenium-75-selenomethionine in a quantity forming the doses of 1 Gy and 1.5 Gy absorbed within the whole body and lymphoid organs, respectively. Migration of labeled lymphocytes to the liver, kidneys and lungs, as well as their retention in the circulating blood, were increased. As the result of the migration disorders the specific affinity of lymphocytes for peripheral lymphoid tissue decreased.     

Apport de la tomographie par émission de positons au 18F-fluorodéoxyglucose (TEP-FDG) dans la prise en charge du cancer du canal anal

ObjectiveTo evaluate the contribution of FDG-PET in the management of anal carcinoma, with special emphasis on its impact on therapeutic strategy.Materials and methodsFrom March 2005 to August 2008, 48 PET were performed on 43 patients with anal epidermoid carcinoma, in initial staging (IS: 20 exams), therapeutic response assessment (TRA: 11), and recurrence assessment (RA: 17). We compared initial therapeutic strategies defined on conventional assessment results, to final ones chosen after PET.ResultsPET revealed lesions that were undetected by conventional investigation in 23% of cases (IS: 25%; TRA: 18%; RA: 23%) and cleared suspicious lesions in 21% of cases (IS: 10%; TRA: 18%; RA: 35%). It influenced the therapeutic strategy, and sometimes even modified it radically, in 44% of cases (IS: 35%; TRA: 54%; RA: 47%). This therapeutic impact was stronger in settings with diagnostic ambiguity, in which PET allowed to specify the diagnosis and to orientate consequently the therapeutic choice.ConclusionPET is interesting in the management of anal carcinoma, especially in uncertain diagnostic settings, in which the metabolic information brought allows to influence the therapeutic choice in almost half of the cases.     

A new, transportable ergometer for the measurement of musculotendinous stiffness during wrist flexion.

We present here a new, dedicated mechanical device for monitoring quick-release movements of the wrist. The ergometer was designed to easily assess musculotendinous properties during wrist flexion. Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and quick-release (QR) movements during wrist flexion were performed on 14 subjects. A validation of the ergometer, using a test-retest methodology, was performed to assess its reliability and sensitivity. The device has been technically and biomechanically validated in a range of situations, including inertia measurement (mean inertia was found 0.0119+/-0.0012 N m s(2) rad(-1)) and appearance of the unloading reflex. Our results indicate that the device provides highly reliable, sensitive evaluation of wrist muscle stiffness (intraclass correlation coefficient for inertia, maximal voluntary contraction and stiffness index were 0.873, 0.994 and 0.930, respectively). Its portability facilitates measurement of the influence of repetitive, occupational activity on the musculotendinous complex of the wrist flexors.     

Habitat selection in rock pool corixids: the effect of local density on dispersal

The corixid species breeding in temporary rock pools of Baltic archipelago live in a highly fragmented and unpredictable habitat. Shallow rock pools can dry out and be refilled repeatedly during a summer causing high mortality of immatures. In deeper pools, young nymphs face intense competition by older stages including cannibalism. The adult corixids move frequently between rock pools and are thus able to use currently available habitat for reproduction. In this dispersal behaviour, the ability to assess the local population density and hence select the more suitable low density patches would be advantageous. We studied the effect of local population density on the frequency of dispersive flights of Arctocorisa carinata (Sahlberg) and Callicorixa producta (Reuter) experimentally, using rock pools from which nymphs of both species were removed. The dispersal rates of marked C. producta adults were significantly lower from experimental rock pools than from normal density controls, leading to a concentration of C. producta adults in the experimental rock pools. Indications of immigration rate differences between the experimental and control pools were also observed. No clear differences were found in the superior competitor A. carinata.