Frequency of large granular lymphocytes in peripheral blood of healthy persons and breast cancer patients

Summary The frequency of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in the peripheral blood of healthy persons (n=56) and breast cancer patients (31 cases with stage-I and -II disease and 42 cases with stage-III and -IV disease) was studied. The frequency of LGL in peripheral blood was significantly depressed in cancer patients, and particularly in patients with advanced breast cancer.     

Do terrestrial gastropods use olfactory cues to locate and select food actively?

Having been investigated for over 40 years, some aspects of the biology of terrestrial gastropod’s olfactory system have been challenging and highly contentious, while others still remain unresolved. For example, a number of terrestrial gastropod species can track the odor of food, while others have no strong preferences toward food odor; rather they find it by random encounter. Here, while assessing the most recent findings and comparing them with earlier studies, the aspects of the food selection based on olfactory cues are examined critically to highlight the speculations and controversies that have arisen. We analyzed and compared the potential role of airborne odors in the feeding behavior of several terrestrial gastropod species. The available results indicate that in the foraging of most of the terrestrial gastropod species odor cues contribute substantially to food finding and selection. The results also suggest, however, that what they will actually consume largely depends on where they live and the species of gastropod that they are. Due to the voluminous literature relevant to this object, this review is not intended to be exhaustive. Instead, I selected what I consider to be the most important or critical in studies regarding the role of the olfaction in feeding of terrestrial gastropods.     

Reconstitution and crystallisation experiments with isolated split proteins from Bacillus stearothermophilus ribosomes

Six proteins (B-L1, B-L6, B-L10, B-L11, B-L12 and B-L16) were removed from 50S ribosomal subunits of Bacillus stearothermophilus by treatment with ethanol and ammonium chloride. The proteins were isolated in a pure form, and one of them (B-L6) was crystallized. Five of the six proteins (in various combinations) were added back to the core particles, resulting in 50S subunits lacking one protein. The biological activities of these ribosomal particles as determined in the poly(U)-system varied over a wide range, depending on the protein which was omitted. The particles lacking one protein provide useful tools for heavy-atom derivation necessary for our crystallographic studies on the 50S subunits of Bacillus stearothermophilus.     

Interrelationships among various measures of upper body strength assessed by different contraction modes Evidence for a general strength component

Two studies were conducted in 83 college men to determine the degree of generality of individual differences in upper body muscular strength assessed by different testing modes. In study 1 (N = 43), correlations were computed between four measures of upper body strength using the bench press movement, maximal isokinetic (0.09 rad.s-1), maximal fast (0.126 m.s-1) and slow (0.037 m.s-1) hydraulic, and one repetition maximum (1-RM) free weight bench press (BP). Compared to free weight BP, maximal strength during isokinetic and slow hydraulic BP was approximately 29% and approximately 8% larger, and fast hydraulic BP strength was approximately 63% lower (p less than 0.05). Simple linear regression of isokinetic BP on 1-RM BP yielded r = 0.79, error of prediction (SE) = 12%, and generality = 81%. The corresponding averaged values for the regression of slow and fast hydraulic BP on free weight 1-RM BP were r = 0.77, SE = 13.5%, and generality = 84%. In Study 2 (N = 40), testing included maximal isokinetic concentric and eccentric arm flexion and extension at 0.524, 1.570, and 2.094 rad.s-1. The ratio of concentric to eccentric torque at the 3 speeds averaged 0.68 (flexion) and 0.70 (extension), and eccentric torques were 32% and 30% greater than concentric torques (p less than 0.05). The linear regression between concentric vs. eccentric flexion and extension torques at the three velocities yielded an average r = 0.80, SE = 13.7%, and generality = 73%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of ionic milieu to the free radicals generated by phenizine methosulphate (PMS)

The effect of free radicals generated by PMS was studied for membrane damage in the presence of different ions in the erythrocyte model. The degree of membrane damage depended on the quality of ionic composition in the incubation medium. We supposed that the degree of membrane damage depends on the average life and concentration and/or reactivity of the free radicals generated. For control of this supposition free radicals were generated by PMS in the presence of Sodium-di-thionite in isosmotic, waterly systems with different ionic composition. At different time intervals the concentration of free radicals was measured by the ESR method. It seams that concentration of radicals depends on the qualitative composition of ionic milieu. The increase of the average life of free radicals generated by PMS is accompanied by decrease in their reactivity. This is reflected by a moderate membrane damage.     

In vitro method for measurement of free radical effects: effect of PMS (phenazine methosulphate) on red blood cell membrane

The aim of this study was to elaborate a simple in vitro model for rapid and quantitative measurement of free radical effects. Free radical generating characteristics of PMS were measured in the case of red blood cell (RBC) membrane. The mechanism of free radical action was investigated in MgCl2, CaCl2, BaCl2 and in Verapamil HCl medium. The most important result of the investigations is as follows: Membrane damage of RBC provoked by the mechanism of free radical generation of PMS is proportional to the intracellular K+-efflux and to the extracellular Na+-influx. The PMS dependent K+-efflux in a NaCl containing medium in the presence of CaCl2 increases significantly, while it remains unchanged in MgCl2 medium. The PMS dependent K+-efflux and Na+-influx were considerably decreased by Verapamil HCl in NaCl containing solution. We have come to the conclusion that new, non-selective pores are formed in the membrane. The measure of the damage increases in the presence of Ca2+ions and decreases in the medium containing Verapamil HCl.     

ITP in pregnancy: use of the bleeding time as an indicator for treatment

ITP is a relatively common disorder seen in pregnancy. Current recommendations for management of patient with ITP recommend maintaining the platelet count above 50 x 10(9)/L and the bleeding time less than 20 min. It has been well documented that the bleeding time in ITP is disproportionately shortened in many patients relative to the platelet count. We present a prospective study of 24 ITP patients in whom the bleeding time was used as an indicator for therapeutic intervention in pregnancy. Indications for therapy with prednisone and/or intravenous gammaglobulin were the following: significant clinical hemorrhage due to thrombocytopenia; bleeding time of greater than 20 min at the baseline platelet count; for normalization of hemostasis prior to delivery or surgical procedure. Caesarean section was performed only in cases in which there were obstetrical indications for this mode of delivery or when the fetal platelet count (obtained by fetal scalp vein sample) was less than 50 x 10(9)/L. Of 24 patients with ITP, eight had significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 50 x 10(9)/L) throughout pregnancy. Only two patients required prolonged prednisone therapy. Both suffered side effects of chronic prednisone administration. Four patients were treated with prednisone for a short course (10-14 days) at term to improve hemostasis for delivery. One patient was treated with intravenous gammaglobulin at term in an effort to prevent severe neonatal thrombocytopenia. Seven patients required caesarean section; the remaining 17 patients underwent vaginal delivery. Only one minor bleeding complication was seen - a small wound hematoma post caesarean section. In summary, using the bleeding time as an indicator for therapeutic intervention, treatment of ITP in pregnancy can be minimized. Thus, therapy related toxicity can be avoided.     

Modulation of the beta-adrenergic response in cultured rat heart cells

Incubation of rocker-cultured neonatal rat heart cells with 3 mM L(+)-lactate led to a sharp increase in the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline, as measured by their chronotropic response. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in the arachidonic acid content of the total phospholipids. The phospholipase A₂-activator melittin as well as free arachidonic acid induced this supersensitivity to the same degree. On the other hand, the L(+)-lactate-evoked supersensitivity could be blocked by the phospholipase A₂ inhibitors mepacrine and n-bromophenacyl-bromide, suggesting an involvement of phospholipase A₂ in the process of beta-adrenergic sensitization. The sensitizing action of arachidonic acid was blocked by the lipoxygenase inhibitors esculetin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, but not by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Supersensitivity was likewise evoked by 15-S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-S-HETE), but not by 5-S-HPETE or 5-S-HETE. These findings suggest that the phospholipase A₂-15-lipoxygenase pathway plays a role in the induction of beta-adrenergic supersensitivity in the cultured cardiomyocytes and point to a new physiological role of the lipoxygenase product 15-S-HETE.Abbreviations NDGA nordihydroguaiaretic acid - HETE hydroeicosatetraenoic acid - HPETE hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid     

Taurine Levels in Discrete Brain Nuclei of Rats

Concentrations of taurine have been measured in 44 microdissected rat brain nuclei or areas. Taurine is ubiquitously present and distributed unevenly in the rat brain: the ratio of the highest (pyriform cortex) to lowest (midbrain reticular formation) concentrations is 4.7:1. High taurine levels were found in cerebral cortical areas, caudate-putamen, cerebellum, median eminence, and supraoptic nucleus. Acute pain stress reduced taurine levels in the hypothalamus and the lower brainstem nuclei but not in cortical areas. Increased locomotor and behavioral activities following a high dose of amphetamine elevated taurine concentrations significantly in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus.