Immunohistochemical evaluation of ras oncogene expression in pulmonary and pleural neoplasms

We undertook an immunohistochemical analysis of human bronchopulmonary epithelial neoplasms and pleural mesotheliomas using a monoclonal antibody which recognizes ras oncogene products (p21ras). The monoclonal antibody, RAP-5, recognizes both unaltered and certain mutated p21ras. Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue samples of 187 lung epithelial tumors and 27 pleural mesotheliomas were investigated; normal and bronchiectatic lungs were similarly studied. Normal lung and pleural tissue did not immunostain except for occasional type II pneumocytes. Reactive type II pneumocytes adjacent to carcinomas and bronchiectasis immunostained consistently. Twenty four/34 (71%) squamous carcinomas immunostained. Only 8/50 (16%) adenocarcinomas immunostained focally and weakly whereas 19/24 (79%) bronchioloalveolar carcinomas immunostained. Eleven/18 (61%) large cell carcinomas immunostained with variable intensity. Eleven/13 (85%) carcinoids, 6/7 (85%) well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, and 18/21 (86%) intermediate cell neuroendocrine carcinomas immunostained while none of 20 small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas immunostained. Only a few mesotheliomas were immunostained focally. Two/14 (14%) epithelial type and 1/9 (11%) biphasic type mesotheliomas immunostained weakly; none of 4 spindle cell mesotheliomas immunostained. We conclude that while at least occasional cases of most types of pulmonary epithelial neoplasms express p21ras, the frequency and intensity of the expression are distinctly greater in certain tumor types such as squamous, bronchioloalveolar, and neuroendocrine neoplasm except for the small cell type. Contrary to these lung epithelial neoplasms, most mesotheliomas did not immunostain for p21ras. Whether the enhanced p21ras expression may point to a different mechanism of transformation or may merely reflect differentiation features remains undetermined.     

A catalogue of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum monococcum</Emphasis> genes encoding toxic and immunogenic peptides for celiac disease patients

The celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory condition characterized by injury to the lining of the small-intestine on exposure to the gluten of wheat, barley and rye. The involvement of gluten in the CD syndrome has been studied in detail in bread wheat, where a set of “toxic” and “immunogenic” peptides has been defined. For wheat diploid species, information on CD epitopes is poor. In the present paper, we have adopted a genomic approach in order to understand the potential CD danger represented by storage proteins in diploid wheat and sequenced a sufficiently large number of cDNA clones related to storage protein genes of Triticum monococcum. Four bona fide toxic peptides and 13 immunogenic peptides were found. All the classes of storage proteins were shown to contain harmful sequences. The major conclusion is that einkorn has the full potential to induce the CD syndrome, as already evident for polyploid wheats. In addition, a complete overview of the storage protein gene arsenal in T. monococcum is provided, including a full-length HMW x-type sequence and two partial HMW y-type sequences. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Modulating effect of cerulein on benzodiazepine receptors

Subcutaneous administration of caerulein (100-500 micrograms/kg) significantly reduced the development of picrotoxin (8 mg/kg) seizures in male mice. The same doses of caerulein inhibited 3H-flunitrazepam binding in in vivo experiments. Proglumide, an antagonist of cholecystokinin receptors, in low dose (5 mg/kg) potentiated the effects of caerulein (100 micrograms/kg), whereas the administration of proglumide in high dose (25 mg/kg) reduced the action of caerulein on 3H-flunitrazepam binding and picrotoxin seizures. Caerulein (5-1000 nM) decreased 3H-flunitrazepam binding in in vitro experiments only after supplementation of the binding medium with 120 mM NaCl and 5mM KCl. The results suggest the possible interaction of caerulein with chloride ionophor. It seems probable that the direct interaction of caerulein with chloride ionophor in involved in the inhibitory effect of caerulein on picrotoxin seizures and 3H-flunitrazepam binding.     

Global introductions of salmon and trout in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus</Emphasis>: 1870–2007

The purpose of this review is to provide a global perspective on Oncorhynchus salmonine introductions and put-and-take fisheries based on modern stocking programs, with special emphasis on freshwater ecosystems. We survey the global introductions of nine selected salmonines of the genus Oncorhynchus: golden trout, cutthroat trout, pink salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, masu/cherry salmon, rainbow trout/steelhead, sockeye salmon/kokanee, and chinook salmon. The information is organized on a geographical basis by continent, and then by species and chronology. Two different objectives and associated definitions of ‘success’ for introductions are distinguished: (a) seed introduction: release of individuals with the purpose of creating a wild-reproducing, self-sustaining population; and (b) put-and-take introduction: release of individuals with the purpose of maintaining some level of wild population abundance, regardless of wild reproduction. We identify four major phenomena regarding global salmonine introductions: (1) general inadequacy of documentation regarding introductions; (2) a fundamental disconnect between management actions and ecological consequences of introductions; (3) the importance of global climate change on success of previous and future introductions; and (4) the significance of aquaculture as a key uncertainty in accidental introductions. We conclude this review with a recognition of the need to terminate ongoing stocking programs for introduced salmonines worldwide.     

Interaction of ethanol with opiate receptors

Addition of ethanol to rat brain homogenate containing opiate receptors inhibits at a concentration of 50 mM the stereospecific binding of 3H-naloxone at 37 degrees C but not at 0 degree C, with the ID50 being 462 mM under these conditions. The temperature-dependent inhibition of the ligand binding suggests that ethanol does not compete with naloxone for specific binding sites of opiate receptors and changes the structure of lipids in biological membranes. Scatchard's analysis has demonstrated that apart from a decrease in the number of highly affinity binding sites of 3H-naloxone, the total amount of the binding sites remains unchanged both in the presence and absence of ethanol and constitutes 453 and 549 fmol/mg protein. It is assumed that ethanol might interconvert highly and low-affinity binding sites. Analysis of the effect of ethanol on 3H-naloxone binding with opiate receptors contained by synaptic membranes obtained from animals with varying predisposition to voluntary alcoholization has shown that ethanol inhibits to a greater degree ligand binding with membranes obtained from rats predisposed to alcoholization. The possibility of the involvement of receptors in the biochemical mechanisms by which the initial alcoholic motivation is effected is under discussion.