Euclein: A new binaphthaquinone from Euclea pseudebenus

7-MethyljugIone, 8,8′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxy-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-binaphthyl-1,1′-quinone, 2-methylnaphthazarin, mamegakinone and euclein have been isolated from Euclea pseudebenus. Euclein is the 3,6′-dimer of 7-methyljuglone.     

Effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of different types of commercial teeth to acrylic resin

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00333.x
Effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of different types of commercial teeth to acrylic resin Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of microwave treatment on the shear bond strength of commercial types of teeth to acrylic resin, when the glossy ridge laps were unmodified (groups 1 and 5), bur abraded (groups 2 and 6), bur grooved (groups 3 and 7) or etched by monomer (groups 4 and 8). Background: Controversial findings have shown that mechanical or chemical changes in ridge‐lap surface of the tooth increase or decrease the bond strength between tooth and acrylic resin, and the microwave disinfection may cause different changes on this bond strength. Materials and methods: Eighty specimens (n = 10) were made with the acrylic resin bonded to tooth glossy ridge lap, polymerised in water at 74°C for 9 h, and deflasked after flask cooling. Specimens of the groups 5, 6, 7 and 8 were individually immersed in 150 ml of water and submitted to microwave treatment in an oven at 650 W for 3 min. Control specimens (groups 1, 2, 3 and 4) were not microwave treated. Shear bond strength test was performed in an Instron machine with a cross‐speed of 1 mm/min. Collected data were submitted to anova and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Results: Microwave treatment decreased the shear bond strength values of the tooth/resin bond. In the microwaved and non‐microwaved procedures, mechanical retention improved the shear bond strength when compared with the control and monomer treatments. Conclusion: Shear bond strength of the tooth/resin bond was influenced by the microwave treatment and different commercial teeth association, and was lower for the Biotone tooth.     

Antitumour activities of levans produced by Zymomonas mobilis strains

Levans produced by four Zymomonas mobilis strains showed antitumour activity against sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. Levans from two strains (ZAP and CP4) had the highest effects. NMR analysis showed that the polymers were composed only of fructose units. The results suggested that the antineoplasic effect is associated to the polysaccharide molecular weight and that a particular molecular weight range may be responsible for this effect.     

Differential effects of cAMP and cGMP on in vitro epidermal cell growth.

Primary keratinocyte cultures free of dermal fibroblasts were used to investigate the effect of varying cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations on epidermal cell function. Addition of 10^?3, 10^?4 or 10^?5 M dibutyryl cAMP to plated cells (day 1) results by day 5 in a dose dependent increase of [³H]TdR incorporation into DNA as determined by increases in both the labeling index and incorporation of ³H label into an isolated DNA fraction. 8-Bromo cAMP, another cAMP analogue, likewise induced keratinocyte proliferation. The proliferative response was dose and time dependent, and 5- to 6-fold increases in ³H label incorporated into DNA were seen at day 6, 8 and up until day 15 of culture. Moreover, elevation of cellular cAMP by addition of cholera toxin, an irreversible stimulator of adenylate cyclase, also demonstrated a time dependent stimulation of [³H]TdR uptake into DNA and increased the labeling index. Specific histochemical staining for keratinaceous protein (Kreyberg technique) demonstrated that elevated cAMP levels also enhance the production of specialized (differentiated) epidermal cells. Determination of the level of cAMP and cyclic GMP (cGMP) by RIA of partially purified fractions of the cultures revealed that addition of 8-bromo cAMP or cholera toxin to the cultures increased the levels of cAMP but not of cGMP. Addition of 8-bromo cGMP to the keratinocytes on day 1 at concentrations of 10^?6, 10^?7 or 10^?8 M had no effect on culture proliferation on days 4, 6 and 8, although qualitative changes in the electron microscopic pattern of the culture stratification and specialization were observed. The results indicate (1) both large and moderate increases in cellular cAMP levels induce keratinocyte culture proliferation and specialization in the absence of fibroblasts or dermal influences, (2) the quantitative enhancement of keratinocyte growth and specialization occurs without apparent participation of cGMP, (3) cGMP may be a qualitative effector of epidermal cell differentiation.     

Choricotyle anisotremi n. sp. (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) parasitic on Anisotremus scapularis (Tschudi) from the northern Chilean coast

Choricotyle anisotremi n. sp. is described from the gills and on the inner surface of the operculum of Anisotremus scapularis (Pomadasyidae) from the Chilean coast. Distinct characteristics of the new species are: presence of an oval accessory sclerite on the inner quadrant of the clamp adjacent to the accessory sucker; 12 genital hooks; short and stout peduncles, the last pair of which are closely apposed; a lobed seminal receptacle; and a fan-like posthaptor without a terminal lappet.     

Volume regulation in the early proximal tubule of theNecturus kidney

Summary The ability of early proximal tubule cells of theNecturus kidney to regulate volume was evaluated using light microscopy, video analysis and conventional microelectrodes.Necturus proximal tubule cells regulate volume in both hyperand hyposmotic solutions. Volume regulation in hyperosmotic fluids is HCO ₃ ^– dependent and is associated with a decrease in the relative K⁺ conductance of the basolateral cell membrane and a decrease in the resistance ratio,R _a /R _bl . Volume regulation in hyposmotic solutions is also dependent upon the presence of HCO ₃ ^– but is also inhibited by 2mm Ba²⁺ in the basolateral solution. Hyposmotic regulation is accompanied by an increase in the relative K⁺ conductance of the basolateral cell membrane and an increase inR _a /R _bl . Neither hypo- nor hyposmotic regulation have any affect on the depolarization of the basolateral cell membrane potential induced by HCO ₃ ^– removal. We conclude that volume regulation in the early proximal tubule of the kidney involves both HCO ₃ ^– -dependent transport systems and the basolateral K⁺ conductance.