Role of lipid peroxidation in changes in the structure of Ca-ATPase in skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum during hypercholesterolemia

Using the method of spin labels it was shown that in hypercholesterolemia (HCh), the following parameters decreased: the velocity of maleimide spin label binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase of rabbit skeletal muscles, the accessibility of spin-labeled thiol groups of the enzyme to potassium ferricyanide and sodium ascorbate, and the mobility of the Ca-ATPase molecule fragment to which the spin label was attached. In addition, intensification of lipid peroxidation was demonstrated in SR membranes. Supplementation of the high-cholesterol diet with alpha-tocopherol resulted in the decreased rates of lipid peroxidation in SR membranes and increased values of the above parameters relative to the values found under HCh. It is concluded that the effect of alpha-tocopherol in vivo on the structure of the Ca-ATPase proteolipid complex in HCh is due mainly to antioxidant properties of the diet-supplementing substance.     

Reactogenicity of a group A and C meningococcal polysaccharide bivalent vaccine

A total of 1 968 persons aged 18-20 years belonging to organized groups were immunized with different doses of polysaccharide meningococcal divaccine, groups A and C, by means of syringes and jet injectors under the conditions of a controlled epidemiological trial. Systemic reactions to the injection of the preparation were found to be absent. Local reactions manifested by inflammation, swelling and tenderness at the site of injection were faintly pronounced and disappeared in 48 hours, which is indicative of low reactogenicity of the preparation under study.     

Synthesis of nucleosides labeled with tritium at the 5'-carbon atom of the ribose residue

Chemical and enzymatic syntheses of [5'-3H]adenosine, [5'-3H]guanosine, and [5'-3H]uridine have been developed. The reduction of beta-D-ribo-pentadialdo-1,4-furanosyl derivatives of corresponding bases is used in the chemical synthesis. The maximum molar activity of the labelled products was 220 TBk/mol in reactions with [3H]NaBH4 and 370-740 TBk/mol in reactions with gaseous tritium. The enzymatic synthesis was performed by the rebosylation of heterocyclic bases with nucleoside phosphorylase and [5'-3H]uridine as a ribosyl donor. Nucleoside phosphorylase is proposed to be used in the immobilized form to avoid the decrease of molar activity. Nucleosides labelled with tritium both in ribosyl and heterocyclic moieties were synthesised enzymatically.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Gene expression and the evolution of phenotypic diversity in social wasps

Background  

Organisms are capable of developing different phenotypes by altering the genes they express. This phenotypic plasticity provides a means for species to respond effectively to environmental conditions. One of the most dramatic examples of phenotypic plasticity occurs in the highly social hymenopteran insects (ants, social bees, and social wasps), where distinct castes and sexes all arise from the same genes. To elucidate how variation in patterns of gene expression affects phenotypic variation, we conducted a study to simultaneously address the influence of developmental stage, sex, and caste on patterns of gene expression in Vespula wasps. Furthermore, we compared the patterns found in this species to those found in other taxa in order to investigate how variation in gene expression leads to phenotypic evolution.     

Effect of anabol on the functional activity indices of mononuclear phagocytes

Anabol is a biopolymer from the complex of components extracted from the surface layer of the Lactobacillus bulgaricus cell wall. Its effect on certain indices of the functional activity of mononuclear phagocytes was studied. Administration of the preparation in a dose of 20 mg/kg 24 hours before the investigation resulted in lowering of the stain half-life in the general blood flow and increasing of the fibronectin levels in blood plasma of rats. Activation of the metabolic activity estimated by nitroblue tetrazolium test as well as resident cells and induced macrophages was observed. 24 hours after the anabol administration there was noted a marked increase in the pool of the precursors of granulocytes and macrophages, the stimulating effect being preserved for up to 3 days. The results showed that anabol had an effect on various elements of the system of mononuclear phagocytes. It may be useful in complex therapy aimed at increasing the host resistance to diverse toxic substances and bacterial infection.     

Effect of electronic homeopathic copy of biohumus fertilizer on tomato sprout development

Electronic homeopathic copies (EHC) are remedies prepared without traditional dilution/potentiation but by means of so-called "imprinting" of initial substance to water (or other carriers) with the help of M. Ray's devices. EHC are interpreted by modern homeopathic medicine as functional analogs of biologically active substances (BAS) in supersmall doses (SSD). The authors have undertaken 3 blind randomised experiments concerning BAS aqueous solution of fertilizer biohumus, its EHC and placebo influence on tomatoes' sprouts development. Filtered and intermixed water have been encapsulated in 1.5-liter polyethylene containers. The solution of fertilizer has been prepared in accordance with the instruction. EHC has been "transferred" from the concentrated fertilizer with the help of Simulator (Metabolics, GB) apparatus. "Deleting" of information have been made for placebo. Seed of tomatoes (kind "Yasniye") have been pre-soaked in preparations and landed in accordingly numbered plastic boxes (97 x 15 x 14 sm) by 40-44 plants in each one. The seedbed was from one well intermixed portion. The plants were top-dressed by preparations (200-300 ml) one time per week. The boxes were exposed in one room (rotation was made twice per week). The plants have been cut up on the 38th day from pre-soaking. The height of a green part and its mass have been measured for each plant. The differences between independent samples (preparations studied) have been estimated. The differences between EHC and placebo have appeared to be reliable, in the first experiment (p < 2 x 10(-4)--mass, p < 10(-9)--height), in the second one (p = 0.014--mass), in the third one (p < 3 x 10(-6)--mass, p = 0.028--height) The results obtained verify a reality of EHC phenomenon. Thus it is quite within reason to suggest an existence of uniform physical (instead of chemical) mechanism of BAS's EHC/SSD structuring and acting on biological objects.     

Peculiarities of carbohydrate energy and nitrogen metabolism in rat brain affected by magnetic fields of commercial frequency

Carbohydrate oxidation, the coupling of oxidation with phosphorylation and the level of nucleic acids in the brain tissue were studied as affected by variable magnetic fields of commercial frequency (50 Hz) depending on intensity and regime of generation. A repeated effect (15-seances) of the 32 kA/m continuous magnetic field decreases the content of glycogen, creatine phosphate, intensity of oxygen uptake and etherification of inorganic phosphate, glutamine and increases the DNA content. The 7.5 kA/m continuous magnetic field has no effect on the studied metabolic indices in the brain whereas the interrupted field (1s impulse duration, 2s interimpulse interval) of the same intensity and exposition lowers the amount of glycogen, glucose, creatine phosphate, the RNA and DNA exposition lowers the amount of glycogen, glucose, creatine phosphate, the RNA and DNA levels, activates the oxidation processes, intensifies their coupling with phosphorylation.