Neurotensin enhances estradiol induced DNA synthesis in immature rat uterus

Systemic administration of Neurotensin, a tridecapeptide, in immature rats treated with estradiol benzoate significantly enhances uterine DNA synthesis as reflected by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. The peptide may have a direct action on the uterus. Substance P, a related peptide, had no effect on uterine DNA synthesis.     

In vivo oestrogenicity and binding characteristics of alpha-zearalanol (P-1496) to different classes of oestrogen binding proteins in rat liver

It is now well established that the mycotoxin zearalenone and some of its derivatives possess oestrogenic activity. In the present study, the binding characteristics of [3H]zearalanol (P-1496) to different classes of sites including [1] the oestrogen receptor, [2] the higher capacity lower affinity (HCLA) sites, [3] the antioestrogen sites and [4] a new class of binding sites apparently specific for P-1496 were examined in rat liver. Analysis of the binding by sucrose density gradient centrifugation confirmed that P-1496 binds to the oestrogen receptor but not to the higher capacity lower affinity sites for oestradiol-17 beta. Furthermore, saturation experiments using partially-purified fractions showed that P-1496 binds to the oestrogen receptor with an affinity very similar to that of oestradiol-17 beta (apparent dissociation constants ranged from 0.1-0.3 nM). Competition studies using partially purified cytosolic oestrogen receptor suggested that P-1496 binds to a second high affinity site distinct from the oestrogen receptor. This binding site was further characterized as selective for P-1496 by saturation analysis following the complete occupancy of oestrogen receptor by oestradiol-17 beta. The in vitro binding characteristics of P-1496 were then compared with in vivo effects on concentrations of serum triglycerides. Treatment of ovariectomized female rats daily with 1.5 or 2 mg P-1496/kg body weight resulted in marked increases in the concentrations of serum triglycerides associated with the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction. Dose-response studies indicated that there was no sex difference with respect to the dose necessary to produce significant increases in serum triglycerides. The present study shows striking similarities between the binding of P-1496 and oestradiol-17 beta to liver oestrogen receptor in vitro. However, differences are observed with respect to their binding to other cytoplasmic components of liver. In addition, although P-1496 is capable of eliciting in vivo oestrogenic effects in liver, it is much less potent than oestradiol-17 beta.     

Abnormal high density lipoproteins from patients with liver disease regulate cholesterol metabolism in cultured human skin fibroblasts

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) binds to high affinity receptors on many cell types. A minor subclass of high density lipoproteins (HDL), termed HDL1, which contains apoE but lacks apoB, binds to the same receptor. Bound lipoproteins are engulfed, degraded, and regulate intracellular cholesterol metabolism and receptor activity. The HDL of many patients with liver disease is rich in apoE. We tested the hypothesis that such patient HDL would reduce LDL binding and would themselves regulate cellular cholesterol metabolism. Normal HDL had little effect on binding, uptake, and degradation of 125I-labeled LDL by cultured human skin fibroblasts. Patient HDL (d 1.063-1.21 g/ml) inhibited these processes, and in 15 of the 25 samples studied there was more than 50% inhibition at 125I-labeled LDL and HDL protein concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml and 25 micrograms/ml, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the percentage of 125I-labeled LDL bound and the apoE content of the competing HDL (r = -0.54, P less than 0.01). Patient 125I-labeled HDL was also taken up and degraded by the fibroblasts, apparently through the LDL-receptor pathway, stimulated cellular cholesterol esterification, increased cell cholesteryl ester content, and suppressed cholesterol synthesis and receptor activity. We conclude that LDL catabolism by the receptor-mediated pathway may be impaired in liver disease and that patient HDL may deliver cholesterol to cells.     

Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of Erythrina trypsin inhibitor

Crystals of an inhibitor of trypsin and tissue plasminogen activator from seeds of the legume Erythrina caffra have been obtained by vapour diffusion. The crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6(1)22 (or its enantiomorph P6(5)22) with cell parameters 73.4 A and 143.0 A. There is one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to beyond 2.5 A resolution.     

Differences in genotypes of Helicobacter pylori from different human populations

DNA motifs at several informative loci in more than 500 strains of Helicobacter pylori from five continents were studied by PCR and sequencing to gain insights into the evolution of this gastric pathogen. Five types of deletion, insertion, and substitution motifs were found at the right end of the H. pylori cag pathogenicity island. Of the three most common motifs, type I predominated in Spaniards, native Peruvians, and Guatemalan Ladinos (mixed Amerindian-European ancestry) and also in native Africans and U.S. residents; type II predominated among Japanese and Chinese; and type III predominated in Indians from Calcutta. Sequences in the cagA gene and in vacAm1 type alleles of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene (vacA) of strains from native Peruvians were also more like those from Spaniards than those from Asians. These indications of relatedness of Latin American and Spanish strains, despite the closer genetic relatedness of Amerindian and Asian people themselves, lead us to suggest that H. pylori may have been brought to the New World by European conquerors and colonists about 500 years ago. This thinking, in turn, suggests that H. pylori infection might have become widespread in people quite recently in human evolution.     

Has Metal-On-Metal Resurfacing Been a Cost-Effective Intervention for Health Care Providers?—A Registry Based Study

BackgroundTotal hip replacement for end stage arthritis of the hip is currently the most common elective surgical procedure. In 2007 about 7.5% of UK implants were metal-on-metal joint resurfacing (MoM RS) procedures. Due to poor revision performance and concerns about metal debris, the use of RS had declined by 2012 to about a 1% share of UK hip procedures. This study estimated the lifetime cost-effectiveness of metal-on-metal resurfacing (RS) procedures versus commonly employed total hip replacement (THR) methods.Conclusion/SignificanceOur results imply that in most cases RS has not been a cost-effective resource and should probably not be adopted by decision makers concerned with the cost effectiveness of hip replacement, or by patients concerned about the likelihood of revision, regardless of patient age or gender.     

Production of ethanol by Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum: I. Effect of cell recycle and environmental parameters

The direct microbial conversion (DMC) process for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is limited by low volumetric ethanol production rates due to the low cell densities of Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum which is a key organism for ethanol production in this process. Hence, this study focuses on the use of a continuous- culture cell recycle system to improve the volumetric ethanol productivity and yield of the fermentation of xylose by C. thermosaccharolyticum. Early experiments with the continuous-culture cell recycle system showed a two-fold improvement in volumetric ethanol productivity. However, the ethanol yield at the higher dilution rates suffered because of the large amount of lactate produced. The manipulation of two environmental parameters-iron concentration in the nutrient medium and the N(2) purge rate of the fermentor headspace-allowed a dramatic reduction in the lactate production and a simultaneous improvement in the ethanol titer and yield. Under the improved conditions of increased iron concentration (12.5 mg/L FeSO(4) . 7H(2)O) and decreased N(2) purge rate (0.1 L/min), a continuous culture of C. thermosaccharolyticum operating at a dilution rate of 0.24 h(-1) and 50% cell recycle produced 8.6 g/L ethanol and less than 1 g/L each of acetate and lactate. The volumetric ethanol productivity was 2.2 g/L/h, which is 8 times larger than obtained for a continuous culture operated with no cell recycle and the same specific growth rate.     

Anti-implantation role for substance P and neurotensin in rat.

Substance P (SP) and neurotensin (NT), two structurally related peptides with contrasting biological actions, have been shown to have some role in peripheral reproductive processes. Intrauterine microinjection of SP or NT on day 4 or 5 of pregnancy in the rat significantly reduced the number of viable fetuses, weight and glycogen content of the uterus. The number of viable fetuses, uterine weight or glycogen content were not modified when SP/NT was microinjected on day 8, 9, 10 or on day 14, 15 and 16. The results indicate that the peptides possibly exert a direct local alteration in uterine vascular permeability causing failure in implantation.     

Is the atherosclerotic phenotype of preeclamptic placentas due to altered lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptors? Role of a small-for-gestational-age phenotype

Atherosis of spiral arteries in uteroplacental beds from preeclamptic women resemble those of atherosclerosis, characterized by increased plasma lipids and lipoproteins. We hypothesized that: 1) lipoprotein receptors/transporters in the placenta would be upregulated in preeclampsia, associated with increased maternal and fetal lipoprotein concentrations; and 2) expression of these would be reduced in preeclamptic placentae from women delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Placental biopsies and maternal and umbilical serum samples were taken from 27 normotensive and 24 preeclamptic women. Maternal/umbilical cord serum LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Placental mRNA expression of lipoprotein receptors/transporters were quantified using quantitative RT-PCR. Protein localization/expression of LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) in the preeclamptic placentae with/without SGA was measured by immunohistochemistry. Placental mRNA expression of all genes except paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), and protein disulfide isomerase family A member 2 (PDIA2) were observed. No differences for any lipoprotein receptors/transporters were found between groups; however, in the preeclamptic group placental LRP-1 expression was lower in SGA delivering mothers (n = 7; P = 0.036). LRP-1 protein was localized around fetal vessels and Hofbauer cells. This is the first detailed study of maternal/fetal lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptor mRNA expression in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies. These findings do not support a role of altered lipid metabolism in preeclampsia, but may be involved in fetal growth.