Production and characterization of mammary-derived growth factor 1 in mammary epithelial cell lines.

A mammary-derived growth factor, MDGF1, which stimulates collagen synthesis and proliferation in mammary epithelial cells was previously detected and purified from human milk and primary human breast tumors. MDGF1 binds to putative cell-surface receptors of 120-140 kDa and stimulates proliferation of normal and malignant human mammary epithelial cells. Partial protein sequence (N-terminal 18 amino acid sequence) shows that MDGF1 has no homology to any other known growth-promoting peptides. Polyclonal antiserum raised against this synthetic peptide recognizes native milk-derived MDGF1. We hypothesize that MDGF1 might be an autocrine or paracrine factor produced by and acting on normal and malignant human breast epithelial cells possessing MDGF1 receptors. As a first step in testing this possibility, we examined whether human breast epithelial cells in culture produce the growth factor. A protein with the size of MDGF1 was immunologically detected in the concentrated conditioned medium prepared from human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231, the mammary-derived but nontumorigenic HBL-100 line, and the normal reduction mammoplasty-derived, nonimmortalized 184 cell strain. A competitive radioreceptor assay (RRA) was used to estimate the level of MDGF1 in the conditioned medium. MDGF1 was present in the nanogram range per 1 million cells. A 62-kDa protein was detected in the above cell lysates by Western immunoblotting or by immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cell-conditioned media. The polyclonal antisera directed against the 18 amino acid peptide sequence from milk-derived MDGF1 could adsorb MDGF1 biological activity from conditioned medium. In vitro translation of cell mRNA yielded a protein of 55 kDa which was immunoprecipitated by anti-MDGF1 antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

印度地鼠的性成熟和窝仔数

为有效地进行有害脊椎动物的控制 ,研究了栖息于巴基斯坦Punjab中部的 348只印度地鼠的繁殖模式。在所捕捉到的 10 7雄鼠和 2 4 1只雌鼠中 ,分别有 75只和 179只是性成熟的个体。性比偏雌。使用被捕个体标本的体重和体长作为指标 ,发现最小的性成熟的雄性个体体重为 70 - 89g ,体长 13 1- 14 0cm ;一窝仔里面的平均胚胎数为 2 74± 0 15 (范围 ,1- 5 ) ,而平均胎斑数为 4 2 9± 0 19(1- 11) .体重似乎对窝仔数有显著影响 ,而体长和估计的年龄对窝仔数没影响。当老鼠繁殖不活跃和不繁殖时 ,控制害兽最有效     

Novel recombinant human lactoferrin: Differential activation of oxidative stress related gene expression

Lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found in high concentrations in mammalian exocrine secretions, is an important component of the host defense system. It is also a major protein of the secondary granules of neutrophils from which is released upon activation. Due to its potential clinical utility, recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) has been produced in various eukaryotic expression systems; however, none of these are fully compatible with humans. Most of the biopharmaceuticals approved by the FDA for use in humans are produced in mammalian expression systems. The Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) have become the system of choice for proteins that require post-translational modifications, such as glycoproteins.     

The fauna of benthic sediments from the organically enriched Oslofjord,Norway

The macrobenthic fauna of the organically enriched Oslofjord was sampled in Sept.–Nov. 1977. Seventy-six stations were sampled using a stratified random plan. A total of 146 species were identified, dominated by polychaetes, molluscs and echinoderms. The faunal data were analysed by a variety of methods including diversity indices, log-normal distribution of individuals among species, factor analysis and numerical classification. The primary aim was the detection of pollution-induced disturbance and to delimit the extent of pollution on the benthic fauna of Oslofjord. All of the methods used showed a gradient from heavy pollution at the innermost part of the fjord where few species occurred, together with high dominance and low diversity, to normal unpolluted conditions at the Drøbak sill with high species diversity. From the classification analysis a combination of both site and species data revealed a trend in species groupings which were broadly similar to data from other Scandinavian fjords and from Scotland. Hydrographical and biological data taken at the turn of the century and in the 1960's compared with the present data show declining conditions in Oslofjord, due primarily to organic enrichment combined with a naturally poor water exchange which leads to stagnation of the water mass.     

Marginal lands for bioenergy in China; an outlook in status,potential and management

Energy consumption and CO₂ emissions have been increasing continuously over the past few decades in China and there is a pressing need to replace the fossil fuel‐based economy with an efficient low‐carbon system, tailor‐made to future requirements. China is starting an energy transition with the aim of building an energy system for the future. China has made tremendous progress in increasing the amount of renewable energy and reducing the cost of renewable energy over the last 20 years. According to the 14th 5 year plan, China aims to incorporate 20% of renewable energy to the primary energy mix and attain 27% reduction in CO₂ emissions. Bioenergy crops constitute a significant proportion of biomass‐based bioenergy and have recently been promoted by the Chinese Government to help overcome food and fuel conflict. Steps are being taken to promote bioenergy crops on marginal lands in China, and various regions across the country with soil marginality have been evaluated for bioenergy crop cultivation. The present paper reviews the status of bioenergy in China and the potential status of marginal lands from different regions of China. It also elaborates on some of the policies, subsidies and incentives allocated by the Chinese Government for the promotion of biomass‐based energy. Land management and plant improvement strategies were discussed, which are effective in making marginal lands suitable for bioenergy crop cultivation. Managing planting strategies, intercropping and crop rotation are effective management practices used in China for the utilization of marginal lands. A national investigation is desirable for creating an inventory of technical and economic potential of biomass feedstocks that could be planted on marginal lands. This would assist with highlighting the pros and cons of using marginal lands for bioenergy production and effective policy making.     

NOS1-mediated macrophage and endothelial cell interaction in the progression of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease arising due to an imbalance in lipid metabolism and maladaptive immune response driven by the accumulation of cholesterol-laden macrophages in the artery wall. Interactions between monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells play an essential role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In our current study, nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1)-derived nitric oxide (NO) has been identified as a regulator of macrophage and endothelial cell interaction. Oxidized LDL (OxLDL) activates NOS1, which results in the expression of CD40 ligand in macrophages. OxLDL-stimulated macrophages produce some soluble factors which increase the CD40 receptor expression in endothelial cells. This increases the interaction between the macrophages and endothelial cells, which leads to an increase in the inflammatory response. Inhibition of NOS1-derived NO might serve as an effective strategy to reduce foam cell formation and limit the extent of atherosclerotic plaque expansion.     

Correction for Irrelevant Absorption in Multicomponent Spectrophotometric Assay of Riboflavin, Formylmethylflavin, and Degradation Products: Kinetic Applications

In the spectrophotometric assay of multicomponent systems involved in drug degradation studies, some minor or unknown degradation products may be present. These products may interfere in the assay and thus invalidate the results due to their absorption in the range of analytical wavelengths. This interference may be eliminated by the application of an appropriate correction procedure to obtain reliable data for kinetic treatment. The present study is based on the application of linear and non-linear irrelevant absorption corrections in the multicomponent spectrophotometric assay of riboflavin and formylmethylflavin during the photolysis and hydrolysis studies. The correction procedures take into account the interference caused by minor or unknown products and have shown considerable improvement in the assay data in terms of the molar balance. The treatment of the corrected data has led to more accurate kinetic results in degradation studies.     

<i>Trichoderma</i>-Induced Improvement in Growth,Photosynthetic Pigments,Proline, and Glutathione Levels in <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> Seedlings under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stress in plants. However, traditional approaches are not always efficient in conferring salt tolerance. Experiments were conducted to understand the role of Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum and T. viride) in growth, chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis, and proline accumulation of C. pepo exposed to salinity stress. There were three salt stress (50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) lavels and three different Trichoderma inoculation viz. T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. harzianum + T. viride. Salt stress significantly declined the growth in terms of the shoot and root lengths; however, it was improved by the inoculation of Trichoderma spp. C. pepo inoculated with Trichoderma exhibited increased synthesis of pigments like chl a, chl b, carotenoids, and anthocyanins under normal conditions. It was interesting to observe that such positive effects were maintained under salt-stressed conditions, as reflected by the amelioration of the salinity-mediated decline in growth, physiology and antioxidant defense. The inoculation of Trichoderma spp. enhanced the synthesis of proline, glutathione, proteins and increased the relative water content. In addition, Trichoderma inoculation increased membrane stability and reduced the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, Trichoderma spp. can be exploited either individually or in combination to enhance the growth and physiology of C. pepo under saline conditions.