The cytokine portion of p43 occupies a central position within the eukaryotic multisynthetase complex

Multicellular eukaryotes contain a macromolecular assembly of nine aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities and three auxiliary proteins. One of these, p43, is the precursor of endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAP II), an inflammatory cytokine involved in apoptotic processes. As a step toward understanding this paradoxical association, the EMAP II portion of p43 has been localized within the rabbit reticulocyte multisynthetase complex. Immunoblot analysis demonstrates strong reaction of anti-EMAP II antiserum with p43, as well as cross-reactivity with isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. Electron microscopic images of immunocomplexes show two antibody binding sites. The primary site is near the midpoint of the multisynthetase complex at the intersection of the arms with the base. This site near the lower edge of the central cleft is assigned to the C-terminal cytokine portion of p43. The secondary site of antibody binding is in the base of the particle and maps the location of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. These data allow refinement of the three-domain model of polypeptide distribution within the multisynthetase complex. Moreover, the central location of p43/EMAP II suggests a role for this polypeptide in optimizing normal function and in rapid disruption of essential cellular machinery when apoptosis is signaled.     

Testicular size at weaning in tropically-adapted beef bulls as influenced by breed of sire and dam

This study was conducted to evaluate testicular size at weaning for bulls representing diverse tropically-adapted genotypes. Calves from 2 locations were weighed and castrated at weaning. In one herd, calves were born to Brahman dams and Angus, Tuli, and Brahman sires. Body weights and paired testes weights were heavier (P < 0.01) for Angus x Brahman (AB) genotype than for Tuli x Brahman (TB) and purebred Brahman (BB) genotype calves. The testes:body weight ratio was greater (P < 0.01) for AB than for TB and BB calves. In a second herd, calves were born to Angus cows and Brahman, Tuli, and Senepol sires. Means were similar between Brahman- (BA), Tuli-(TA), and Senepol-sired (SA) calves for body weight and testes:body weight ratio. Paired testes weight was heavier (P < 0.05) for SA than BA calves. Across locations, paired testes weights were heavier (P < 0.01) for TA than TB calves but their body weights were similar. Within-herd deviations were greater (P < 0.01) for AB than BA calves for paired testes weight and testes:body weight ratio. The correlation between the proportion of Bos indicus genetic contribution and testes:body weight ratio was significantly negative. Tropically-adapted calves differed in testicular size at weaning due to breed of sire and dam effects.     

Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Antibodies: I. “Passive” Hemagglutination Test

A passive hemagglutination test has been developed to detect and measure foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antibody by using glutaraldehyde as a coupling reagent. An optimal concentration of 10 to 40 mug of virus per ml with 0.25% glutaraldehyde at 25 C for 1 hr was established for the sensitization of sheep erythrocytes. A reaction time of 18 hr at 4 C or 2 hr at 37 C induced good agglutination in the presence of specific antibody. Sensitization was carried out in phosphate buffer, whereas agglutination and preadsorption of nonspecific agglutinins from sera were performed in gelatin (0.1%, w/v)-stabilized, phosphate-buffered saline. An optimal pH of 7.2 was also established for all reactions. Antibodies derived from guinea pigs hyperimmunized by infecting with FMDV, types A, O, and C were both virus-and type-specific. Preliminary experiments showed that strain A-119 and strain A-24 Cruzeiro could also be distinguished by hemagglutination. Parallel hemagglutination and complement-fixation tests showed the former to be two to four times more sensitive than the latter.     

Myriophyllum quitense and myriophyllum ussuriense (Haloragaceae) in British Columbia,Canada

Myriophyllum quitense andM. ussuriense are added to the flora of British Columbia, Canada.Myriophyllum quitense has not been previously reported in Canada, and this is the first report ofM. ussuriense for the North American continent. Problems with the identification of these species, and their distributions and habitats are discussed. The somatic chromosome numbers of 2n=42 forM. quitense and 2n=21 forM. ussuriense were found. A key for the identification ofMyriophyllum taxa growing in British Columbia is given.     

The production of immunoregulatory factors by a human macrophage-like cell line: I. Characterization of an inhibitor of lymphocyte DNA synthesis

Stimulation of the human histiocytic lymphoma, U937, with the lectins concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin, results in the production of an inhibitor of mitogen-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation. This inhibitor of DNA synthesis (IDS) has an apparent molecular weight of ~65,000, is heat (56 °C) and acid (pH 2.0) labile, but is resistant to 10^?4M 2-mercaptoethanol treatment. The mechanism of action is nontoxic and reversible within 24 hr of removal of the cells from IDS-containing supernatants. A variety of lymphoid and lymphoblastoid cell lines of B and T lymphocyte origin are sensitive to the effects of IDS. In contrast, the nonlymphoid cell lines HeLa, L929, MCF-7, and T47-D are unaffected by exposures to high concentrations of IDS preparations. The relationship of the IDS to other macrophage-derived inhibitory factors is discussed.     

Evaluation of the prevalence and economic burden of adverse drug reactions presenting to the medical emergency department of a tertiary referral centre: a prospective study

Background  

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are now recognized as an important cause of hospital admissions, with a proportion ranging from 0.9–7.9%. They also constitute a significant economic burden. We thus aimed at determining the prevalence and the economic burden of ADRs presenting to Medical Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary referral center in India     

A comparison of fine root distribution and water consumption of mature Caragana korshinkii Kom grown in two soils in a semiarid region, China

Water is a key limiting factor for vegetation restoration in the semi-arid areas of China. Caragana korshinkii Kom is a shrub that is widely planted in this region to control soil erosion and land desertification. The objective of this study was to investigate the fine root distribution of mature C. korshinkii and its water consumption, when grown in either silt loam or sandy soils, in order to understand differences between the water cycles of two such soils found in the transition zone between fertile loess hills and desert of the Northern Loess Plateau. Fine root distributions were measured using the trench-profile method. Soil water dynamics were monitored with a neutron probe during two growing seasons. The results showed that fine root area density (FRAD) declined with increasing soil depth in both soils, with 70.7% and 96.6% of the total fine roots being concentrated in the upper 1-m layer of the silt loam and sandy soils, respectively. Water consumption by C. korshinkii in the silt loam was close to that in the sandy soil. Most water consumption in both soil types was from the upper 1-m layer. Little variation in plant available water (PAW) occurred in the 3–6 m soil layer during the whole study period. However, in this layer, the PAW was significantly lower in the silt loam soil than in the sandy soil. Total actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) was slightly higher from the sandy soil plots than from those of the silt loam soil during both growing seasons. Our study indicated that mature C. korshinkii effectively uses about the same amount of water from either the silt loam or sandy soils, but that more soil water at depth was extracted from silt loam soil than from sandy soil.