Radiation sensitization by thiol-binding agents of radio-resistant and radiosensitive Escherichia coli and the oxygen effect

Dose-survival curves of four strains of E. coli-B/r her- try-, Bs-1, B/r CSH, and 15T-were obtained in the presence and in the absence of non-toxic levels of several thiol-binding agents-N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), iodoacetamide (IA), and hydroxymercuribenzoate (HMB). The degree of radiosensitization by these agents was estimated from the increase in slope of the dose-survival curve, under anoxic and aerobic conditions. Chemical sensitization of both radioresistant and radiosensitive strains of bacteria with the thiol-binding enzyme poisons NEM, IA, and HMB has been observed. NEM sensitized only under anoxic conditions, IA sensitized under both anoxic and aerobic conditions, although to a much greater extent aerobically, and HMB sensitized only under aerobic conditions. The formation of long-lived radiolytic products toxic to bacteria is observed in sensitization by IA. When sensitization occurs, the magnitude of the dose-modifying factor is equal to or greater than the oxygen enhancement ratio. Inhibition of an energy-requiring enzymic repair process does not seem to be involved as a primary mechanism of sensitization. Interference by thiol-binding agents with a "rapid repair" process which is different from the usual "enzymic repair," and which operates in radio-sensitive as well as in radioresistant bacteria, is suggested.     

Synchronization of estrus in suckled postpartum beef cows with melengestrol acetate, 48-hour calf removal and PGF2alpha

One hundred and sixty-five suckled postpartum beef cows were utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 estrus synchronization systems for the initiation and synchronization of estrus. The treatment groups consisted of 1) melengestrol acetate (MGA)-PGF2alpha (cows were given 0.5 mg MGA/head/day for 14 d with 25 mg PGF2alpha injected 17 d after the last day of MGA administration); 2) MGA-48-h calf removal (CR)-PGF2alpha (cows were given 0.5 mg MGA/head/day for 14 d with 48-h calf removal starting on the second day after completion of the MGA regimen plus 25 mg PGF2alpha administered 17 d after the last day of MGA); and 3) unsynchronized controls. Cows were assigned to treatments by the numbers of days post partum, body condition, age, and breed of sire. The cows were observed for estrus at 12-h intervals for 5 d after PGF2alpha administration and were artificially inseminated 12 to 18 h after the observed estrus. Both the MGA-PGF2alpha and MGA-CR-PGF2alpha treatments (64.8 and 61.8%) had greater (P < 0.05) 5-d estrus rates than the control treatments (34.5%). The synchronized pregnancy rate was greater (P < 0.05) for the MGA-CR-PGF2alpha than the control treatment.(52.7 vs 30.9%, respectively). The MGA-CR-PGF2alpha cows had a higher 25-d pregnancy rate than either the MGA-PGF2alpha (P < 0.05) or control cows (P < 0.08). Of the anestrous cows at the beginning of treatment, more MGA-CR-PGF2alpha (P = 0.1) and MGA-PGF2alpha cows were cyclic posttreatment than control cows (58.7 and 55.1 vs 44.7%, respectively), suggesting that treatment initiated estrous cycles in only a small number of the anestrous cows. Both MGA-PGF2alpha and MGA-CR-PGF2alpha treatments appear to be effective methods of synchronizing estrus in suckled postpartum beef cows. However, MGA-CR-PGF2alpha was more effective in establishing pregnancy earlier in the breeding season than MGA-PGF2alpha.     

凤尾菇与平菇的鉴别及其分类地位

凤尾菇韧伞（Ｌｅｎｔｉｎｕｓ ｓａｊｏｒ－ｃａｊｕ）和糙皮侧耳（Ｐｌｅｕｒｏｔｕｓ ｏｓｔｒｅａｔｕｓ）为两种广泛栽培的食用菌,在中文文献中经常与侧耳属（Ｐｌｅｕｒｏｔｕｓ）的其它几种食用菌统称为平菇。为了种类鉴别和澄清分类上的关系,本文对两种真菌进行了详细的形态描述和特征比较,确认凤尾菇是韧伞属（Ｌｅｎｔｉｎｕｓ）的成员,不应归放在侧耳属内。凤尾菇韧伞与糙皮侧耳,或韧伞属与侧耳属的最显蓍的差异在     

Factors affecting the induction of secondary dormancy in lettuce

The relationship between the temperature at which germination of 50% of the seeds is inhibited in the light (GT₅₀ Light) and secondary dormancy was investigated in three cultivars of Lactuca sativa L. Seeds were incubated for varying periods under non-germinating conditions and subsequent germination in response to red light (R) was determined over a wide range of temperatures. Dark incubation at 32 C reduced the GT₅₀ Light of cv. New York but did not affect germination at temperatures below 24 C. Dark, 32 C incubation had no effect on the GT₅₀ Light of cv. Great Lakes. In cv. Grand Rapids, dark incubation at 15, 24, 32, or 35 C initially reduced the GT₅₀ Light. However, longer incubations induced a secondary dormancy, i.e., the seeds became unable to germinate at all temperatures in response to R given after the high temperature incubation. A single exposure to R at the beginning of a 32 C incubation slowed the induction of secondary dormancy. Repeated exposures to R prevented the induction of secondary dormancy, but did not prevent a decline in the GT₅₀ Light. GA₃ mimicked the effect of repeated R.     

电针诱导心肌缺血大鼠延髓头端腹外侧区nNOS和iNOS差异表达

许多研究表明,延髓头端腹外侧区(rostral ventrolateml medulla,RVLM)的NO/NOS系统参与心血管活动的中枢调节.本实验以结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉前降支法建立急性心肌缺血(acute myocardial ischemia,AMI)动物模型,观察针刺"内关"穴改善AMI大鼠的心功能作用,同时检测大鼠RVLM区神经元型一氧化氮合酶(neuronal nitric oxide synthase,nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)表达的变化,进而探讨针刺治疗AMI的中枢机制.实验观察显示,AMI大鼠心功能各项指标减弱,伴随外周血去甲肾上腺素(norepinephrine,NE)和脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)水平显著升高,同时RVLM区nNOS阳性神经元数和nNOS mRNA表达升高,而iNOS水平则降低.针刺"内关"穴(Pe 6)(每天30 min,连续5天)改善心功能,降低AMI大鼠血清中NE和BNP的水平,同时升高iNOS并降低nNOS在RVLM的表达.以上结果提示,针刺治疗心肌缺血的同时可以调节iNOS/NO和nNOS/NO在RVLM的变化,这可能与针刺通过调节RVLM区的NO含量进而降低交感传出,从而改善AMI大鼠的心功能有关.     

Genetic alterations in gastric precancerous lesions

To investigate the occurrence of 17p (p53) loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and increased 4N or aneuploidy in gastric precancerous lesions (GPL), and their association with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection. A total of 78 gastric mucosal biopsy specimens, including 10 normal mucosa and 68 gastric precancerous lesions [chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG, n = 20), intestinal metaplasia (IM, n = 12), low grade dysplasia (LGD, n = 15), and high grade dysplasia (HGD, n = 21)] were studied using PCR and flow cytometry. A modified Giemsa staining technique was used to detect H pylori. The study was performed in Erzurum Numune Hospital between 2007 and 2009. 17p (p53) LOH was observed in (1/20) 5% of CAG, in (2/12) 16% of IM, in (3/15) 20% of LGD and in (11/21) 53% of HGD. There was correlation between prevalence of 17p (p53) LOH and histological type of GPL (P = 0.004). Similarly, increased 4N or aneuploidy was detected in (1/20) 5% of CAG, in (1/12) 8% of IM, in (2/15) 13% of LGD and in (9/21) 43% of HGD. The correlation was found between aneuploidy and histological type of GPL (P = 0.009). However, there was no correlation between presence of H pylori infection in histological type of GPL (P = 0.921). On the other hand, a significant association was found between increased 4N or aneuploidy and 17p (p53) LOH in all of GPL (P = 0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant association between H pylori infection and 17p (p53) LOH or increased 4N/aneuplody in GPL. 17p (p53) LOH and increased 4N or aneuploidy are closely related to the early stages of gastric carcinogenesis.     

Multifunctional roles of a bacteriophage phi 29 morphogenetic factor in assembly and infection

Low copy number proteins within macromolecular complexes, such as viruses, can be critical to biological function while comprising a minimal mass fraction of the complex. The Bacillus subtilis double-stranded DNA bacteriophage phi 29 gene 13 product (gp13), previously undetected in the virion, was identified and localized to the distal tip of the tail knob. Western blots and immuno-electron microscopy detected a few copies of gp13 in phi 29, DNA-free particles, purified tails, and defective particles produced in suppressor-sensitive (sus) mutant sus13(330) infections. Particles assembled in the absence of intact gp13 (sus13(342) and sus13(330)) had the gross morphology of phi 29 but were not infectious. gp13 has predicted structural homology and sequence similarity to the M23 metalloprotease LytM. Poised at the tip of the phi 29 tail knob, gp13 may serve as a plug to help restrain the highly pressurized packaged genome. Also, in this position, gp13 may be the first virion protein to contact the cell wall in infection, acting as a pilot protein to depolymerize the cell wall. gp13 may facilitate juxtaposition of the tail knob onto the cytoplasmic membrane and the triggering of genome injection.