The effects of morphine on the release of noradrenaline from the mouse vas deferens

Electrical field stimulation of the mouse vas deferens (TO and C57/BL strains) caused the release of noradrenaline into the bathing medium. 2 Phenoxybenzamine (30 muM) or phentolamine (36 muM) plus cocaine (13 muM) caused a considerable increase in the noradrenaline output. 3 In the vasa deferentia from TO mice the output per pulse of noradrenaline was constant at frequencies of stimulation from 0.5 to 15 Hz whereas in the vasa deferentia from C57/BL mice the output per pulse of noradrenaline increased two-fold from 1.5 to 15 Hz. 4 Morphine (2 muM) inhibited the contractions of the vasa deferentia from TO mice. This effect was greater at low (0.1-1 Hz) than at high (10 Hz) frequencies of stimulation. Morphine (2 muM) did not inhibit the response of the tissue to exogenous noradrenaline. 5 Morphine (1 muM) reduced the noradrenaline output from the vasa deferentia of TO mice stimulated at 1.5 Hz but did not reduce the noradrenaline output at 15 Hz. At 1.5 Hz the reduction of noradrenaline output was reversed by naloxone (0.05 muM). 6 Morphine (5 muM) did not inhibit the uptake of [3H]-noradrenaline into the vasa deferentia from TO mice. 7 Only in high concentrations (ID50 30.88 muM) did morphine inhibit the contractions of the vasa deferentia from C57/BL mice. 8 Normorphine (100 muM) did not reduce the noradrenaline output from vasa deferentia of C57/BL mice.     

Substrate specificities of alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases produced by two species of Aspergillus niger

Precise substrate specificities of alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases from Aspergillus niger 5-16 and Aspergillus niger (Megazyme) were investigated. Both enzymes hydrolyzed arabinan and debranched-arabinan at almost the same rate. The alpha-L-Arabinofuranosidase from A. niger (Megazyme) preferentially released arabinosyl side-chains of arabinan. The enzyme tore off both arabinoses attached to O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1--> 4)-D-xylopyranose and O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[O-alpha-L- arabinofuranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose, but did not tear off xylosyl-arabinose from O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->3) -O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D- xylopyranose. The enzyme from A. niger (Megazyme) hydrolyzed methyl 2-O-, methyl 3-O- and methyl 5-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosides to arabinose and methyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside in the order of (1-->5)->(1-->2)->(1-->3)-linkages. On the other hand, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase from A. niger 5-16 successively liberated the arabinose of arabinan from non-reducing terminals. The enzyme hydrolyzed in the order of (1-->2- > (1-->3)- > (1-->5)-linkages. Both of the enzymes hydrolyzed the (1-->3)-linkage more than the (1-->5)-linkage of methyl 3,5-di-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside.     

Application of random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis for detection of Salmonella spp. in foods

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) band patterns from 23 Salmonella spp. produced by use of an oligonucleotide primer (called du primer) designed on the basis of the N-terminal sequence of dulcitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase (5'-GTGGTGACCCAGGATGGCCAGGTG-3') were different from those from 16 non-Salmonella spp. The bands at 460 and 700 bp were produced in all Salmonella strains tested. These RAPD fragments obtained from Salmonella typhimurium strongly hybridized with the corresponding RAPD bands from the other strains of Salmonella, but not with those from non-Salmonella spp. in Southern blot analysis. The RAPD bands were detected by ethidium bromide staining even when genomic DNA prepared from as few as 2.8 x 10(3) cells was used. The minimum detectable cell number in the initial inoculum of S. typhimurium was 4 x 10(-1) CFU/25 g of raw beef after the preenrichment in Enterobacteriaceae enrichment mannitol (EEM) broth for 6 h and the selective enrichment in dulcitol-magnesium chloride-pyridinesulfonic acid-brilliant green-novobiocin (DMPBN) medium for 18 h at 42 degrees C. Seven raw foods inoculated with S. typhimurium at numbers from 4 x 10(-1) to 2.6 x 10(2) CFU/25 g of food were positive in both the RAPD analysis and the conventional culture method.     

Effects of gastrin on the histamine-secretory and proliferative activity of cultured carcinoid cells derived from the stomach of the rodent Mastomys natalensis

In order to estimate the distribution of Salmonella including Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and SE-antibodies in commercial layer hen flocks in Hokkaido, the northern prefecture of Japan, a survey of spent layer hens was performed, from August 1996 to January 1997. From the three spent hen processing plants, samples of intestines and sera were collected from 740 birds presented for slaughter from 37 flocks of 22 layer hen farms. Intestines from each birds were cultured for Salmonella including Salmonella enteritidis. Serum from each bird was examined for SE-antibody with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Salmonella (any serotype) and Salmonella enteritidis were isolated from 50 (6.8%) and three (0.4%) of 740 birds, respectively, and SE-antibody positive values were recorded from seven birds (0.9%). SE-antibody positive birds did not always indicate isolation of Salmonella enteritidis, however SE-antibody positive hens were demonstrated only from Salmonella enteritidis positive flocks. Salmonellae were isolated from the birds of ten layer hen farms, all of these hens were raised in houses without windows and with automatic feeders. No isolations of salmonella were made from birds raised in houses with windows. From the windowless houses, Salmonellae were isolated from 46 (21.8%) of 260 birds in houses with four to six cages piled up vertically, and from six (2.5%) of 240 samples from the houses with four to five cages piled in a slanting manner.     

Effectiveness of computer-assisted attention training of schizophrenic patients

Rats experimentally infected with Taenia taeniaeformis were followed-up until 14 weeks post inoculation with eggs (PIE) by hepatic ultrasonographic (US) image and serum antibody response analyses. Parasitic cysts could be imaged as small (2 mm in diameter) anechoic areas with or without a parenthesis-like echogenic small line from two weeks PIE. Immunoblot analysis using antigens from oncospheres (TtO), 30-day-old (TtM-30) and 300-day-old metacestodes (TtM-300) revealed that: (1) these three different developmental stages showed their own unique patterns suggesting the presence of stage-specific antigens; (2) faint IgM antibody responses to some components of TtO and TtM-30 or TtM-300 could be detected from one and two weeks PIE, respectively, and (3) IgG responses to some major components of both TtO and TtM-300, and TtM-30 were easily detected from four and five weeks PIE onwards, respectively. Both TtO and TtM (especially TtM-300) appeared to be highly useful for detection of antibody responses in experimentally infected rats. Due to the easiness in preparation of antigens, fully developed metacestodes may be the best candidate antigens for serodiagnosis. These results strongly suggest that both US image and antibody analyses using antigens from fully developed metacestodes are useful for detection of the early stage of cysticercosis in laboratory animal model.     

Examination of coping resources and family adaptation in mothers and daughters of incestuous versus nonclinical families.

Mother–daughter dyads from incestuous vs nonclinical families were compared in terms of (1) family life stress, (2) problem-solving appraisal, (3) direct coping behaviors, (4) mother–daughter communication, and (5) family adaptation and cohesion. 15 mother–daughter pairs from an incestuous family involving an adult male caretaker were matched on several variables to 16 mother–daughter pairs from a nonclinical family. The results revealed that mothers from the incest group (compared with the nonclinical group) reported greater amounts of family life stress, had more negative perceptions of their problem-solving appraisal, and reported more communication difficulties. The daughters from the incest group appeared to be quite similar to the nonclinical group daughters, although they did acknowledge more family stress. Implications of the results for therapeutic interventions as well as future research were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The position of nitrate respiration in evolution

Egami's hypothesis that oxygen respiration evolved from nitrate respiration, and this from nitrate fermentation, is not accepted. The reasons are: (1) Presumably there was no nitrate before O2 in the biosphere. (2) On mechanistic grounds, respiration (oxidative phosphorylation) is to be derived directly from photosynthesis (photosynthetic phosphorylation) rather than from any form of fermentation.     

Non linear behavior of vocal fold vibration in an experimental model of asymmetric larynx: role of coupling between the two folds

Morphometric evaluation of 54 dry cervical spines from C3 to C7 (a total of 270 cervical vertebrae) was performed to determine the bony boundaries of the uncinate process for resection of the uncinate process for access to posterolateral osteophytes or herniated disks at the time of anterior cervical diskectomy. The uncinate processes were significantly higher (p < 0.01) at the C4-C6 levels (5.8 +/- 1.1 mm to 6.1 +/- 1.3 mm) than at the C3 or C7 levels. The distance between the medial and lateral margins of the base of the uncinate process was significantly smaller (p < 0.01) at the C3 level (4.9 +/- 0.7 mm) than at the C7 level (6.3 +/- 0.7 mm). The anteroposterior diameter of the medial margin of the uncinate process decreased gradually from the C5 (12.5 +/- 1.5 mm) to C7 levels (11.6 +/- 1.3 mm) (p < 0.05). The inter-uncinate distance widened from the C3 (19.2 +/- 1.5 mm) to the C7 (24.6 +/- 2.1 mm) levels (p < 0.01). The mid-anteroposterior diameter of vertebral body increased gradually from the C3 (14.7 +/- 1.1 mm) to the C7 levels (16.1 +/- 1.5 mm) (p < 0.01). The width of the vertebra increased gradually from C3 to C7 (from 19.2 +/- 1.8 mm at C3 to 25.6 +/- 2.0 mm at C7) (p < 0.01). Knowledge of all the aforementioned data may be helpful during anterolateral cervical uncosectomy or uncoforaminotomy.     

Group structure of prison officers' perceptions of inmates.

Factor analyzed 11 prison officers' ratings of 10 inmates on 31 items about personality, interpersonal relations, and institutional management and behavior. 3 factors emerged which distinguished (a) the assertively negative inmates from their more amenable peers, (b) inmates who represented management problems from those who did not, and (c) inmates who attracted an officer's friendship from those who did not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Extraction equilibrium of beryllium and aluminum and recovery of beryllium from Egyptian beryl solution using CYANEX 921

Extraction of Be(II) and Al(III) from aqueous sulfate solution by CYANEX 921 (commercial trioctylphospine oxide) in kerosene was separately studied. The parameters affecting the extraction process, such as hydrogen ion, sulfate ion, and CYANEX 921 concentrations, and temperature were investigated. It was found that Be(II) was highly extracted by CYANEX 921 from an aqueous medium of 0.001 M sulfate and pH 9.0, while Al(III) was highly extracted from a similar solution at pH 5.0. Be(II) extraction was found to decrease with temperature (exothermic), while Al(III) extraction increased with temperature (endothermic). The different species that might be extracted are given and discussed. Extraction of Be(II) and Al(III) by purified TOPO under similar experimental conditions showed that purified TOPO gives relatively less extraction, especially for Al(III) in the pH range 4.0–6.0.Based on the obtained results, separation of beryllium from aluminum and recovery of pure beryllium from beryl mineral were studied. Removal of iron as the main interfering ion in the beryl solution was investigated. A flow chart for the Be/Al separation process was developed and applied to recover pure Be(II) from Egyptian beryl.     

Phase transformations of the rhombohedral modification of boron nitride with shock compression

Features of crystal-orientated transformations of the rhombohedral modification of boron nitride (rBN) into dense modifications of the wurtzite (wBN) and sphalerite (spBN) types with shock compression in the range from 15 to 50 GPa are studied. Three compression schemes are used: in annular ampules (～15 GPa); in the ampules of K. M. Rabinin (25–35 GPa); in a plane shock wave (～50 GPa). With an increase in pressure from 15 to 50 GPa and a corresponding change in the loading scheme the degree of rBN transformation into dense modifications increases from 0 to 40%. There is a change in the rBN transformation mechanism: from longitudinal bending of layers (as a result of which wBN forms, and spBN is formed from it) to corrugation leading to spBN formation directly from rBN.     

Cu－Zn－Al合金中贝氏体的有序性

本文用Ｘ射线研究了Ｃｕ－２０Ｚｎ－６Ａｌ（ｗｔ％）合金中贝氏体结构的有序性，并与马氏体结构进行了比较，实验表明，从高温Ｂ２母相和低温Ｌ２１母相生成的贝氏体中（１１５）和（２０５）衍射峰或（１２１０）和（２０１０）衍射峰是重叠的，对生成的贝氏体进行一段时间的保温或缓慢冷却处理，其衍射峰的特征并不改变，这与马氏体（１１５）和（２０５）衍射峰或（１２１０）和（２０１０）衍射峰的分离特性不相符合。说明贝氏体结构有序度与马氏体明显不同，它的形成不可能继承母相的有序度。     

Detection of rifampin resistance by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculosis of the central nervous system

Mutations in a 69-bp region of the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are associated with rifampin resistance (Rif[r]). These have been detected with mycobacterial DNA extracted from bacterial suspensions or respiratory specimens that were acid-fast smear positive. We experimented with a strategy for the rapid detection of Rif(r) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The strategy involves the amplification of the 69-bp region of rpoB by means of PCR and the identification of nucleotide mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the amplification products. Sixty-five CSF specimens collected from 29 patients (19 patients were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus) with culture or autopsy-confirmed (22 patients) or highly probable (7 patients) tuberculosis of the central nervous system (CNS-TB) were processed. Amplified products suitable for evaluation by SSCP analysis were obtained from 37 CSF specimens from 25 subjects (86.2%). PCR-SSCP of CSF correctly identified the rifampin susceptibility phenotype of isolates from all 17 patients for whom the results of susceptibility tests carried out with strains cultured from CSF or respiratory samples were available. Moreover, this assay revealed the rifampin susceptibility genotype of isolates from the eight patients (three patients with culture-confirmed CNS-TB and five patients in whom CNS-TB was highly probable) for whom no susceptibility test results were available; the PCR-SSCP data obtained for these patients were concordant with the outcome after a standard antituberculosis treatment. The evolution of a mutation in the rpoB gene was documented in a patient during the course of treatment. PCR-SSCP analysis of CSF seems to be an efficacious method of predicting Rif(r) and would reduce the time required for susceptibility testing from approximately 4 to 8 weeks to a few days.     

The validity of basal blood glucose in the control of non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: To validate basal glucemia as a control method for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and to determine the cut-off point that best characterizes good control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A transversal, observational study of 256 patients who participated in a diabetes mellitus follow-up program during 1993. In the study, glucemia validity indicators were evaluated after making 2 X 2 tables and ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves for the different values. Control values of glycated hemoglobin was used as to define a good (< 6.5%) and moderate (< 8%). RESULTS: The values of glucemia considered to be "good" as regards control (from 80 to 110 mg/dl, 4.4-6.05 mmol/dl) have good sensitivity (from 97.3% to 100%) and negative predictive values (from 85.7% to 100%) but extremely bad specificity (from 3.8% to 22.7%) and only moderate positive predictive values (from 59.5% to 64.1%) in reference to values of glycated hemoglobin of 6.5%. The same occurs for 8% as regards sensitivity (from 98.6% to 100%), negative predictive value (from 96.4% to 100%) and specificity from 2.1% to 14.5%). Positive predictive value worsens (from 27.8% to 30.3%). The most effective and most accurate values of glucemia in the ROC curves are 150 mg/dl (8.25 mmol/l) if the control of glycated hemoglobin is good, and 170 mg/dl (9.35 mmol/l) if it is moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The glucemia control figures recommended by consensus produce false positives when they are compared to glycated hemoglobin. In the analysis of effectiveness and ROC curves greater accuracy is obtained with glucemia values that are slightly higher than those recommended.     

Advances in the study of neurohumors regulation of cerebrovascular circulation

During two outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, 68 children with acute respiratory illnesses were cultured for RSV using a Rhino-Probe (RP) nasal curette and either a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or a nasal wash (NW). In the first outbreak isolations of RSV by the RP nasal curette and NP swab methods were compared. RSV was cultured from 25 of 42 (60%) subjects using the RP nasal curette and from 20 of 42 (48%) subjects using the NP swab. In the second outbreak the RP nasal curette and the NW collection techniques were compared. RSV was isolated from 15 of 26 (58%) children evaluated. RSV was cultured from 14 of 15 (93%) patients by RP and 13 of 15 (87%) when using NW. In the group of culture-positive subjects, the TESTPACK RSV rapid antigen test was positive in 10 of 15 (67%) using the RP and in 6 of 15 (40%) using the NW. Like the NP swab the RP nasal curette was simple, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive, yet it was as sensitive as the NW for detection of RSV.     

Efficiency of application of various dimensionality watch facilities for analyzing the morphology of the ductile fracture surfaces of heat treatable steels

The boundaries of effective application (and possible error sources) of synthesis of 3D pictures from several 2D frames (stereophotogrammetry) and an indirect analysis of 3D features from “flat” images (2D frames) and fractal dimension (from the measurement of a relief trajectory) performed to reveal the differences in fracture structures are estimated. The morphology of ductile fracture elements and the mechanism of fracture along grain-boundary clusters (conchoidal fracture) are studied by performing direct numerous measurements of the geometry of a ductile fracture surface using watch facilities of various dimensions.     

Heterogeneous effects of protamine on human mast cells and basophils

To investigate the mechanisms of anaphylactoid reactions to protamine, we have examined the in vitro effects of increasing concentrations of protamine (10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) mol litre-1) on the release of preformed (histamine and tryptase) and de novo synthesized (peptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4) or prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)) mediators from human basophils and mast cells isolated from lung parenchyma, heart, skin and synovial tissues. Protamine 10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) mol litre-1 induced release of histamine, but not de novo synthesis of LTC4 from basophils. At concentrations from 10(-5) to 3 x 10(-4) mol litre-1 it induced histamine release from human heart (mean 6.5 (SEM 1.5)%), skin (17.7 (4.1)%) and to a lesser extent from synovial mast cells, but not from lung mast cells. Protamine also caused the release of tryptase from heart mast cells (12.8 (3.2) micrograms/10(7) cells), but did not induce de novo synthesis of LTC4 and PGD2 from lung and skin mast cells. In these experiments cross-linking of IgE by anti-IgE caused release of LTC4 or PGD2 from human basophils or mast cells. These results demonstrate that protamine acted as an incomplete secretagogue, causing the release of preformed mediators from human basophils and mast cells.     

Home traction of femoral shaft fractures in younger children

Radiation doses of occupational personnel exposed from diagnostic x rays, therapeutic installations, and patients were measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters. The monthly occupational doses from diagnostic x ray ranged from 0.1076 mSv to 0.5774 mSv, and those from therapeutic treatment ranged from 0.365 mSv to 0.657 mSv, which is within the dose limit recommended by ICRP 60. The patient organ doses were evaluated and found to range from 0.0615 mSv s(-1) to 2.8823 mSv s(-1) for gonad, 0.3676 mSv s(-1) to 2.1088 mSv s(-1) for thyroid, and 0.00972 mSv s(-1) to 4.01 mSv s(-1) for eyes.     

Capillarovenous angioma of the maxillary sinus. Apropos of a case with review of the literature

Metabolic side-effects of antihypertensive drugs may increase the risk of coronary heart disease despite an adequate blood pressure reduction. Since combinations of different antihypertensive drugs are often necessary and frequently used, we performed a randomized study comparing the effects of a fixed combination of hydrochlorothiazide and sotalol (group A), or hydrochlorothiazide and captopril (group B) on blood pressure and on lipid and glucose metabolism in 40 men with essential hypertension over 1 year. Significant blood pressure reductions (p < 0.001) were achieved in both treatment groups: from 160/105 to 128/88 mmHg in group A (mean doses: hydrochlorothiazide 33 and sotalol 197 mg) and from 162/106 to 135/89 mmHg in group B (hydrochlorothiazide 33 and captopril 64 mg) after 12 months, respectively. No significant changes in body weight were observed in either treatment group. Triglycerides increased (p < 0.05) in both treatment groups (from 183 to 262 mg/dl in A, and from 160 to 196 mg/dl in B) and HDL cholesterol decreased (p < 0.001 and < 0.05) in both groups (from 45.1 to 35.7 mg/dl in A, and from 49.3 to 46.3 mg/dl in B), whereas LDL cholesterol increased significantly (p < 0.05) only in group A from 153 to 164 mg/dl. No significant changes were observed in total cholesterol nor in lipoprotein(a) concentrations in either treatment group. Fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1 increased significantly (p < 0.05) only in group A after 1 year of treatment (from 91.6 to 98.0 mg/dl, and from 6.3 to 6.9%, respectively). Serum levels of creatinine and potassium decreased, and uric acid increased significantly under either combination. Our data show that the diuretic/beta-blocker combination has adverse effects on lipid and glucose metabolism after long-term therapy. The effects of the diuretic/ACE inhibitor combination on lipid metabolism are less pronounced and there are no adverse effects on glucose metabolism. However, the ACE inhibitor component could not completely counteract the metabolic effects of the diuretic. Both combinations have no effects on Lp(a). We conclude that the combination of hydrochlorothiazide with an ACE inhibitor has a better metabolic profile for the treatment of essential hypertension than the combination with a beta-blocker.     

Expression of keratin 13, 14 and 19 in oral squamous cell carcinomas from Sudanese snuff dippers: lack of association with human papillomavirus infection

In stratified squamous epithelia, altered expression of keratins (Ks) is one possible marker of malignant potential. In the epithelium of the uterine cervix, presence of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is increasingly regarded as a marker of risk for cervical cancer. However, a similar role in oral cancer and precancer remains controversial. To address these questions, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded oral carcinomas from Sudanese snuff dippers (n=14) and oral carcinomas from Sudanese (n=14), Swedish (n=19) and Norwegian (n=41) non-snuff dippers were examined by immunohistochemistry for expression of K types 13, 14 and 19 using monoclonal antibodies. HPV infection was searched for in all the carcinomas by in situ hybridization (ISH) using the cocktail HPV OmniProbe and the ViraType probe. Carcinomas from Sudanese (snuff dippers/non-snuff dippers) were also examined for HPV infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the general HPV primers GP5+/GP6+. For the oral carcinomas from snuff dippers, moderate to intense expression of K13 (71%; 10/14), K14 (86%; 12/14) and K19 (93%; 13/14) was found. For the oral carcinomas from non-snuff dippers, weak to moderate expression of K13 (64%; 47/74), K14 (43%; 32/74) and K19 (45%; 33/74) was found. HPV DNA was not detected in any of the carcinomas from three countries when examined by ISH. The Sudanese (from snuff dippers/non-snuff dippers) oral carcinomas were also negative for HPV DNA with the PCR. The present study shows that (i) there is a high level of expression of K13, K14 and K19 in oral carcinomas from snuff dippers compared to those from non-snuff dippers, (ii) this high level of expression may arise from dysregulation of keratinocyte proliferation and maturation caused by damaging effects of snuff, (iii) the HPV genome is not found in Sudanese (snuff dippers/non-snuff dippers), Swedish or Norwegian oral carcinomas, and (iv) this may suggest that these viruses do not play a prominent role in the aetiology of oral carcinomas from these countries.