Fluctuations of grass pollen content in the atmosphere of East Perugia and meteorological correlations (year 1989)

Summary Gramineae pollination from a pollen monitoring station located in the eastern suburb of Perugia and meteorological correlations are reported. The data refers to the year 1989. Grass pollen peak pollination was from May to July; in this period the influence of relative humidity and of temperature on pollen concentration was very high. Phenological observations, to identify the time of maximum stamen extension in the most common genera in the area, are also reported. During the period of investigation the counts of pollen grains over four-hour periods showed a regular diurnal rhythm with peaks of concentration in the four-hour period 16.00–20.00. Aerosporological data and meteorological data related to four-hour periods were correlated following different criteria.     

Palaenutritional studies on skeletal remains of ancient populations from the Mediterranean area: an attempt to interpretation

As indicators of dietary status, standardised levels of strontium and zinc in specimens of bones from several prehistoric and historic sites in Europe are compared. The bone level of strontium reflects the vegetable intake in the diet, the level of zinc that of foods of animal origin. The large quantities of plants in the diet of palaeolitic hunters gave way in the mesolithic to an almost exclusively vegetarian diet, but then an increase in meat consumption in the neolithic. Agricultural economies characterised classical Greece and Rome, but the big towns were able to maintain a mixed diet. In the early centuries AD there was a decline in agricultural consumption.     

Pollinosis in trentino (Northern Italy). Aerobiological and clinical research

Summary A study to evaluate and define the atmospheric pollen concentration in Trentino was carried out through the aerobiologic sampling in three localities chosen according to their different climatic conditions.1375 patients with pollinosis living in Trentino were studied retrospectively over the period ranging from 1986 to 1988 and selected according to the area they came from.Results have proved that the most allergenic pollen types are the following: Poaceae, Urticaceae (Parietaria), Compositae (Artemisia) and the tree pollen of Betulaceae and Corylaceae (Alnus, Betula, Corylus), and that pollinosis caused by such pollen, types has different features and frequencies according to the different localities.As far as symptoms are concerned, our data shows that rhinoconjuntivitis is more frequent in those patients who are allergic toParietaria while asthma results being more frequent in patients who are allergic to tree pollen.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

Cooperative effect of inositol hexakisphosphate, bezafibrate, and clofibric acid on the spectroscopic properties of the nitric oxide derivative of ferrous human hemoglobin

The cooperative effect of inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP), bezafibrate (BZF), and clofibric acid (CFA) on the spectroscopic (EPR and absorbance) properties of the nitric oxide derivative of ferrous human hemoglobin (HbNO) has been investigated quantitatively. In the presence of IHP, BZF, and CFA, the X-band EPR spectra and the absorption spectra in the Soret region of HbNO display the same basic characteristics described in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), which have been attributed to a low affinity conformation of the tetramer. Addition to HbNO of two allosteric effectors together (such as IHP and BZF, or IHP and CFA) further stabilizes the low affinity conformation of the ligated hemoprotein (i.e., HbNO). Moreover, in the presence of saturating amounts of IHP, the affinity of BZF and CFA for HbNO increases by about fifteenfold. Likewise, in the presence of both IHP and BZF, as well as in IHP and CFA, the oxygen affinity for ferrous human hemoglobin (Hb) is reduced with respect to that observed in the presence of IHP, BZF, or CFA alone, which in turn is lower than that reported in the absence of any allosteric effector. All the data were obtained at pH 7.0 (in 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N′-[2-ethanesulfonic acid]/NaOH buffer system plus 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M NaCl), as well as at 100 K and/or 20°C. The results here reported represent clearcut evidence for the cooperative and specific (i.e., functionally relevant) binding of IHP, BZF, and CFA to Hb.     

Cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase/nucleoside phosphotransferase: A nucleoside analog activating enzyme?

Nucleoside phosphotransferase acting on inosine and deoxyinosine has been partially purified from cultured Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79). The activity is associated with a cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase acting on IMP and deoxyIMP. The transfer of the phosphate group from IMP to inosine catalyzed by this enzyme was activated by ATP and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Inosine, deoxyinosine, guanosine, deoxyguanosine, and the nucleoside analogs 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine and 8-azaguanosine are substrates, while adenosine and deoxyadenosine are not. IMP, deoxyIMP, GMP, and deoxyGMP are the best phosphate donors. The cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase/phosphotransferase substrate, 8-azaguanosine, was found to be very toxic for cultured fibroblasts (LD₅₀ = 0.32 μM). Mutants resistant to either 8-azaguanosine and the correspondent base 8-azaguanine were isolated and characterized. Our results indicated that the 8-azaguanosine-resistant cells were lacking both cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase, while 8-azaguanine resistant cells were lacking only the latter enzyme. Despite this observation, both mutants displayed 8-azaguanosine resistance, thus indicating that cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase is not essential for the activation of this nucleoside analog.     

The Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptor Ligands [3H]Ro 5-4864 and [3H]PK 11195 Bind to the Retina of Rabbit, but Not of Turtle

Abstract: The binding of [³H]flunitrazepam, [³H]RO 5-4864, and [³H]PK 11195 to membrane preparations of the retina was studied in the turtle and rabbit. Only a single population of [³H]flunitrazepam binding sites was detected in the turtle, whereas two populations appeared to be present in the rabbit. No specific binding for [³H]RO 5-4864 and [³H]PK 11195 could be detected in the turtle. In rabbit, both ligands bound with high affinity, revealing a significant population of binding sites (K_D values of 24 ± 2.3 and 2.2 ± 0.8 nM, and B_max values of 440 ± 35 and 1,482 ± 110 fmol/mg of protein, respectively). The binding was temperature - and protein-dependent. Displacement studies showed a similar rank order of potency of various unlabeled ligands against both [³H]RO 5-4864 and [³H]PK 11195 (PK 11195 > Ro 5-4864 > flunitrazepam > flumazenil). These results suggest that peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors are present in the retina of the rabbit, but not of the turtle.     

Studies of mercurated derivatives of acetylacetone and ethyl acetoacetate by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance and vibrational spectroscopies

Seven new mono- and/or dimercurated compounds involving acetylacetone (2,4-pentanedione) or ethyl acetoacetate (3-ethyl ketobutanoate) were synthesized in aqueous medium. In all cases, mercuration occurred at methylene carbon atoms. All compounds were carefully analyzed by solid state carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance. Assignments were confirmed by using selective sequences, which allowed a total editing of the spectra. It was shown that deshielding of ¹³C mercurated sites occurred when the rate of mercuration increased. It was also possible to measure direct ¹J(¹⁹⁹Hg¹³C) coupling constants. The main bands of the vibrational spectra (infrared and Raman) were assigned. It was proved that v(C = O) and δ(C(γ)-H) could be directly related to the mercuration rate of molecules.     

Time linkages between pollination onsets of different taxa over an 11-year period in Perugia,Central Italy

Times of pollination of different taxa in the atmosphere of Perugia (Central Italy) over an 11-year period (1982–1992) were recorded and analysed by means of a 7-day volumetric Hirst-type pollen trap. For some taxa, the pollination period varied from year to year from a chronological and/or quantitative point of view. Several taxa showed a linkage in their starting dates of pollination. Knowledge of this kind of linkage allows us to build a forecasting model.