Role of gastrin in duodenal mechanisms of inhibition of gastric secretion in the dog and man

Gastrin serum levels after acidification of the second portion of the duodenum were studied, in dogs and humans, while simultaneously measuring secretin levels and gastric acid secretion. After duodenal acidification in dogs, a 50% inhibition of gastric acid secretion with parallel 100% increases in the serum secretin levels was noted whereas gastrin serum levels did not change (after duodenal acidification). In humans, a 25% inhibition of gastric acid secretion with parallel 50% (not significative) increases in the secretin serum levels was noted. In the entire group gastrin levels did not change, but in 35.2% of the subjects a little increment without statistical significance was noted. It is concluded that the inhibition mechanism of gastric acid secretion after duodenal acidification is more important in dog than in man, and that, probably, gastrin does not play an important role in this mechanism.     

Binding of homologous polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid by Streptomyces griseus

Germaine, G. R. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis), and D. L. Anderson. Binding of homologous polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid by Streptomyces griseus. J. Bacteriol. 92:662-667. 1966-An irreversible P(32) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding system is described for Streptomyces griseus S104. The 69% guanine plus cytosine (GC) S. griseus DNA was bound by late exponential -early stationary phase cultures. Simultaneous addition of deoxyribonuclease with the P(32)-DNA to maximally receptive cultures reduced the uptake by 98%. Saturation of the binding ability occurred after 20-min incubation of cells with P(32)-DNA. Preparative cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation of the P(32)-DNA revealed that 98% of the label banded in the position expected for S. griseus DNA. Sedimentation of the P(32)-DNA at both 23 and 37 mug/ml indicated a molecular weight of 10.8 million. Attempts to transform S. griseus S104 auxotrophs to prototrophy by use of immediate and delayed selective procedures were unsuccessful.     

Chronobiologic approach to beat-to-beat variations of cultured murine myocardial cells

An earlier demonstration of a circadian rhythm in rat atria by others is complemented herein by observations in culture: A single murine myocardial cell and two sets of grouped cells beating in culture for several days reveal several features of an anticipated, presumably built-in spectrum of multifrequency rhythms and trends, the chronome. Circadian and about 12-h (circasemidian) components are modulated by an approximately 84-h (circasemiseptan) component, which cannot be separated from trends in view of the brevity of the series. The circumstance under which the culture is aging and in which fibroblasts proliferate is a further complication that limits the findings to a single cycle reproduced in three separate cultures. Whether it is a rhythm that repeats itself or a response to placement into culture, an approximately 3.5-d component in the beating of myocardial cells in culture is to be aligned with a very prominent similar component found in the incidence of 85,819 human myocardial infarctions.     

Simple filter paper procedure for estimation of glucose uptake via group translocation by whole-cell suspensions of bacteria.

A simple and rapid filter paper technique is described for processing samples from glucose uptake studies with whole cells of gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria that transport glucose via group translocation. The procedure yields results equivalent to those obtained with a conventional membrane filtration method and requires no special filtration equipment or source of vacuum.     

Les échos de la phase aquitano-burdigalienne dans la coupe de Dellaca Bianca (Val Scrivia,bassin Liguro-piémontais,Italie)

The geologic section of the Torrente Scrivia in 061 the vicinity of Rigoroso is generally reported as an conformable sequence in Oligocene and Miocene strata.In fact, it has suffered important reworkingsduring Lower Miocene and this event is not only evident in sedimentology but also in paleontology. Locally, these events reflect tectonic motions more strongly marked in the north-eastern part of the ligurian piemontese basin.Consequently, the result is that the geologicsection concerned could not be satisfactory referring to Lower Miocene.     

The structure of cyanobacterial phycobilisomes: a model

Phycobilisomes, supramolecular complexes of water-soluble accessory pigments, serve as the major light-harvesting antennae in cyanobacteria and red algae. Regular arrays of these organelles are found on the surface of the thylakoid membranes of these organisms. In the present study, the hemi-discoidal phycobilisomes of several species of cyanobacteria were examined in thin sections of cells and by negative staining after isolation and fixation. Their fundamental structures were found to be the same. Isolated phycobilisomes possessed a triangular core assembled from three stacks of disc-shaped subunits. Each stack contained two discs which were 12 nm in diameter and 6–7 nm thick. Each of these discs was probably subdivided into halves 3–3.5 nm thick. Radiating from each of two sides of the triangular core were three rods 12 nm in diameter. Each rod consisted of stacks of 2 to 6 disc-shaped subunits 6 nm thick. These discs were subdivided into halves 3 nm thick.The average number of discs of 6 nm thickness forming the peripheral rods varied among the strains studied. For certain chromatically adapting strains, the average rod length was dependent upon the wavelength of light to which cells were exposed during growth. Analyses of phycobilisomes by spectroscopic techniques, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and electron microscopy were compared. These analyses suggested that the triangular core was composed of allophycocyanin and that the peripheral rods contained phycocyanin and phycoerythrin (when present). A detailed model of the hemi-discoidal phycobilisome is proposed. This model can account for many aspects of phycobiliprotein assembly and energy transfer.Abbreviations PBS phycobilisome(s) - PBP phycobiliprotein(s) - AP allophycocyanin - PC phycocyanin - PE phycoerythrin - PEC phycoerythrocyanin - AP-B allophycocyanin B - C- cyanobacterial - R- rhodophytan - B- Bangiophycean - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - LPP Lyngbya-Plectonema-Phormidium group - Na-KPO₄ buffers NaH₂PO₄ titrated with a solution of KH₂PO₄ of equivalent molarity to a given pH     

Alta prevalencia de obesidad en una población laboral en España

Background and objectivesTo report the prevalence of obesity in a Spanish working population and its changes in recent years.Material and methodsData were collected from routine medical examinations performed on workers by a national mutual insurance society for occupational accidents and diseases (Ibermutuamur). A structured questionnaire was completed and physical examinations were performed. Overweight was defined as BMI ranging from 25 and 29.9, obesity as BMI of 30-39.9, and morbid obesity as BMI ≥ 40 kg/m².ResultsData from 1,336,055 medical examinations performed from May 2004 to November 2007 were collected. Prevalence rates in the population examined in 2004 (n = 230,684; 73% males; average age, 36.4 years) were: morbid obesity, 0.5% (0.6% males, 0.5% females); obesity, 14.5% (17.0% males, 7.7% females); overweight, 38.4% (44.8% males, 21.3% females). Prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were higher in blue-collar workers (16.4% and 40.5% respectively) as compared to white-collar workers (10.9% and 34.4% respectively). There was a progressive increase in prevalence of obesity during the 4-year study (2004-2007) in both males (17.0%, 17.6%, 17.9%, 18.2%) and females (7.6%, 8.0%, 8.4%, 8.7%).ConclusionsPrevalence of obesity and overweight in the Spanish working population is high, especially in male blue-collar workers, and is increasing. There is a need to promote early prevention programs and specific treatments for obesity.     

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Modulates Cellular Vimentin for Virus Survival

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), the causative agent of foot-and-mouth disease, is an Aphthovirus within the Picornaviridae family. During infection with FMDV, several host cell membrane rearrangements occur to form sites of viral replication. FMDV protein 2C is part of the replication complex and thought to have multiple roles during virus replication. To better understand the role of 2C in the process of virus replication, we have been using a yeast two-hybrid approach to identify host proteins that interact with 2C. We recently reported that cellular Beclin1 is a natural ligand of 2C and that it is involved in the autophagy pathway, which was shown to be important for FMDV replication. Here, we report that cellular vimentin is also a specific host binding partner for 2C. The 2C-vimentin interaction was further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining to occur in FMDV-infected cells. It was shown that upon infection a vimentin structure forms around 2C and that this structure is later resolved or disappears. Interestingly, overexpression of vimentin had no effect on virus replication; however, overexpression of a truncated dominant-negative form of vimentin resulted in a significant decrease in viral yield. Acrylamide, which causes disruption of vimentin filaments, also inhibited viral yield. Alanine scanning mutagenesis was used to map the specific amino acid residues in 2C critical for vimentin binding. Using reverse genetics, we identified 2C residues that are necessary for virus growth, suggesting that the interaction between FMDV 2C and cellular vimentin is essential for virus replication.     

Inhibition of VEGF-C Modulates Distal Lymphatic Remodeling and Secondary Metastasis

Tumor-associated lymphatics are postulated to provide a transit route for disseminating metastatic cells. This notion is supported by preclinical findings that inhibition of pro-lymphangiogenic signaling during tumor development reduces cell spread to sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). However, it is unclear how lymphatics downstream of SLNs contribute to metastatic spread into distal organs, or if modulating distal lymph transport impacts disease progression. Utilizing murine models of metastasis, longitudinal in vivo imaging of lymph transport, and function blocking antibodies against two VEGF family members, we provide evidence that distal lymphatics undergo disease course-dependent up-regulation of lymph transport coincidental with structural remodeling. Inhibition of VEGF-C activity with antibodies against VEGF-C or NRP2 prevented these disease-associated changes. Furthermore, utilizing a novel model of adjuvant treatment, we demonstrate that antagonism of VEGF-C or NRP2 decreases post SLN metastasis. These data support a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting distant metastatic dissemination via targeting tumor-associated lymphatic remodeling.