Acutely administered melatonin reduces oxidative damage in lung and brain induced by hyperbaric oxygen

Pablos, Marta I., Russel J. Reiter, Jin-Ing Chuang, GenaroG. Ortiz, Juan M. Guerrero, Ewa Sewerynek, Maria T. Agapito, DanielaMelchiorri, Richard Lawrence, and Susan M. Deneke. Acutely administered melatonin reduces oxidative damage in lung and brain induced by hyperbaric oxygen. J. Appl.Physiol. 83(2): 354-358, 1997.Hyperbaric oxygenexposure rapidly induces lipid peroxidation and cellular damage in avariety of organs. In this study, we demonstrate that the exposure ofrats to 4 atmospheres of 100% oxygen for 90 min is associated withincreased levels of lipid peroxidation products [malonaldehyde(MDA) and 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HDA)] and withchanges in the activities of two antioxidative enzymes[glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR)], as well as in the glutathione status in the lungs and in the brain. Products of lipid peroxidation increased after hyperbaric hyperoxia, both GPX and GR activities were decreased, and levels oftotal glutathione (reduced+oxidized) and glutathione disulfide (oxidized glutathione) increased in both lung and brain areas (cerebralcortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and cerebellum) but not inliver. When animals were injected with melatonin (10 mg/kg) immediatelybefore the 90-min hyperbaric oxygen exposure, all measurements ofoxidative damage were prevented and were similar to those in untreatedcontrol animals. Melatonin's actions may be related to a variety ofmechanisms, some of which remain to be identified, including itsability to directly scavenge free radicals and its induction ofantioxidative enzymes via specific melatonin receptors.

     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Human talus bones from the Middle Pleistocene site of Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca,Burgos, Spain)

Here we present and describe comparatively 25 talus bones from the Middle Pleistocene site of the Sima de los Huesos (SH) (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain). These tali belong to 14 individuals (11 adult and three immature). Although variation among Middle and Late Pleistocene tali tends to be subtle, this study has identified unique morphological characteristics of the SH tali. They are vertically shorter than those of Late Pleistocene Homo sapiens, and show a shorter head and a broader lateral malleolar facet than all of the samples. Moreover, a few shared characters with Neanderthals are consistent with the hypothesis that the SH population and Neanderthals are sister groups. These shared characters are a broad lateral malleolar facet, a trochlear height intermediate between modern humans and Late Pleistocene H. sapiens, and a short middle calcaneal facet. It has been possible to propose sex assignment for the SH tali based on their size. Stature estimates based on these fossils give a mean stature of 174.4 cm for males and 161.9 cm for females, similar to that obtained based on the long bones from this same site.     

Characterization and the broad cross‐species applicability of 20 anonymous nuclear loci isolated from the Taiwan Hwamei (Garrulax taewanus)

We isolated 20 anonymous nuclear loci (8556 bp in total) from the Taiwan Hwamei (Garrulax taewanus), an endemic songbird of Taiwan. A panel of nine to 15 individuals with unknown relationship was used to characterize polymorphism of these loci. We identified 46 single nucleotide polymorphic sites (SNPs) in 15 polymorphic loci. Frequency of SNPs was one per every 186 bp in average. Nucleotide diversity, θ, ranged from 0.00054 to 0.00371 per locus. We also tested cross‐species applicability of these loci on 17 species from eight different passerine families. All 20 loci could be successfully amplified (ranged from one to 16 species, mean = 7.9 species).     

Deadlift muscle force and activation under stable and unstable conditions

The objective of this study was to compare the production of force and paraspinal muscle activity between deadlifts carried out in a standard way and with different instability devices (Bosu and T-Bow). Deadlifts involve the performance of muscle activities with dynamic and isometric characteristics. Thirty-one subjects participated voluntarily in the study. Initially, they performed an isometric test for 5 seconds in each condition. After that, they performed a set of 5 repetitions with 70% of the maximum isometric force obtained in each one of the previously evaluated conditions. During the isometric tests, records of electromyographic activity and force production were obtained, whereas during the dynamic tests, only the electromyographic activity was registered. The subjects produced more force and muscle activity on the stable surface than under the other conditions during the isometric test (p < 0.05), and the same differences in muscle activity were observed during the dynamic test (p < 0.05). These data show that the performance of deadlifts under stable conditions favors a higher production of maximum strength and muscle activity. Therefore, we conclude that the use of instability devices in deadlift training does not increase performance, nor does it provide greater activation of the paraspinal muscles, leading us to question their value in the performance of other types of exercises.     

Biodegradation of photo-degraded mulching films based on polyethylenes and stearates of calcium and iron as pro-oxidant additives

Polyethylene film materials persist in the environment for a long time. Several bacterial species have been isolated from films buried in soil located in Murcia, Spain. Bacterial strains were characterized with a combination of culture-dependent methods and sequencing of part of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three bacterial species common in soil were found attached to the polymer and identified as Bacillus. cereus, B. megaterium, and B. subtilis. These microorganisms, as well as Brevibacillus borstelensis, were tested for biodegradation susceptibility at 30 and 45 °C on highly photo-degraded polyethylene films (500 h under irradiation of Xe-Lamp-solar filter) that contained calcium and iron stearates as pro-oxidant additives. Biofilm formation developed on the photo-degraded materials after one week of bacterial treatment. Biodegradation of the polyethylene films was studied by chemiluminescence, ATR-FTIR, and GC-product analysis and the data confirm a more efficient biodegradation on the bioassays carried out at higher temperature. The CL emissions due to decomposition of oxidation species take place at lower temperatures; the decrease of carbonyl index and the disappearance of photogenerated low-molecular products with biodegradation were more efficient on the biodegraded films at 45 °C. Also, mineralization was evaluated by carbon dioxide measurements using an indirect impedance technique. Biodegradation by B. borstelensis and MIX at 30 °C was slow and in the range of 0.7-1.2% of mineralization after 90 days of bacterial bioassay. At 45 °C biodegradation was more efficient and in particular in the more photo-degraded films containing Ca and Fe stearates where mineralization extents reached values of 11.5% with B. borstelensis and 7-10% with the mixture of Bacillus (MIX).