Modification of vascular responses in xenotransplantation: inflammation and apoptosis

We report a case of progressive dementia and prolonged gait disturbance correlated with influenza A/H3N2 infection in 91-year-old female patient, admitted because of in ability to take care of herself due to aging and cerebral infarction. At admission, conversation and comprehension were not significantly impaired, and she was able to walk by herself. Flu symptoms such as high grade fever, chills, arthralgia, and cough appeared after a short stay at home. Influenza A/ H3N2 was confirmed serologically. Delirium occurred on the sixth day after influenza onset, persisted for three weeks, followed by recovery. Dementia symptoms such as memory defects and disorientation continued and did not improve. Due to this febrile episode, she was unable to walk unassisted. The results of computed tomography performed before and after the influenza episode were unremarkable for additional cellebro-vascular events during the observed period. Influenza infection may be an important risk factor for reducing the quality of life in the elderly. In geriatric cases, influenza should not be treated as a mere transient illness, but rather one which has important consequences for the elderly population, including the possibility of life threatening complications.     

Monoclonal antibodies to a 100-kd protein reveal abundant A beta-negative plaques throughout gray matter of Alzheimer''s disease brains

Methionine metabolism and transmethylation are central to the metabolism and differentiation of all known cells. In enkaryotic organisms, methionine metabolism and transmethylation are of paramount importance in modification and regulation of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The differential methylation of genes regulates their expression in the myriad of cells in eukaryotic organisms. Disruption and abnormalities in methionine metabolism and transmethylation seems to be associated with the major diseases of mankind, including cancer, heart disease, aging, obesity, and Parkinson's disease. In this review, we describe how aberrant and abnormal methionine metabolism and transmethylation are related to these major diseases. Most importantly, we review and hypothesize how the developing therapeutic recombination methioninase (rMETase) can be utilized to cure or prevent all of these diseases.     

Identification and assessment of the slowly growing child

Reliable measurements taken by trained personnel using appropriate equipment are essential in assessment of the slowly growing child. Linear growth plotted on appropriate statistical charts and expected growth based on parental heights are indicators of inappropriately reduced linear growth. Children older than three years of age who grow less than 1.75 in (4.5 cm) per year should be evaluated. Family and personal medical history (including prenatal and birth information) are important in the identification of familial short stature, constitutional delay and other causes of proportionate growth disorders. Other conditions, including chromosomal disorder, systemic disease and endocrine dysfunction, may be discovered during physical examination or appropriate laboratory investigation. Disproportionate growth of the limbs and trunk suggests the presence of a bone or collagen disorder. Bone age data based on radiographs of the left hand may assist in predicting the child's final height.     

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and arrestin phosphorylation in Limulus eyes

In rhabdomeral photoreceptors, light stimulates the phosphorylation of arrestin, a protein critical for quenching the photoresponse, by activating a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM PK). Here we present biochemical evidence that a CaM PK that phosphorylates arrestin in Limulus eyes is structurally similar to mammalian CaM PK II. In addition, cDNAs encoding proteins homologous to mammalian and Drosophila CaM PK II in the catalytic and regulatory domains were cloned and sequenced from a Limulus lateral eye cDNA library. The Limulus sequences are unique, however, in that they lack most of the association domain. The proteins encoded by these sequences may phosphorylate arrestin.     

Similarity of clozapine's and olanzapine's acute effects on rats' lapping behavior

As a way of further comparing the behavioral effects of clozapine and olanzapine, dose ranges of these drugs were studied in a task emphasizing fine motor detail of rats' tongue movements during lapping behavior. Rats lapped drops of tap water from a force-sensing disk. From this behavior four variables were derived: peak-force of tongue strikes, duration of tongue contact, number of separate tongue contacts in 2 min, and the rhythm of the lapping behavior as quantified by Fourier analysis. Both clozapine (0.5-4.0 mg/kg, IP, 45 min) and olanzapine (0.25-2.0 mg/kg, IP, 45 min) dose dependently reduced all four measures of behavior. With respect to lick rhythm, a behavioral marker which clearly distinguishes haloperidol from clozapine in this behavioral paradigm, olanzapine was about twice as potent as clozapine, with the two drugs having parallel dose-effect functions. Within-session decrements in behavior previously reported for haloperidol in the lick task were not produced by clozapine nor by olanzapine. Taken together, these data strengthen the idea that the behavioral effects of clozapine and olanzapine are strikingly similar, and thereby emphasize the potential of olanzapine as an atypical anti-psychotic agent.     

Evaluation of different rodenticidal baits against rodent population in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) crop fields

The baits used consisted of 2% zinc phosphide and 0.005% bromadiolone. The baitings were carried out at the flowering stage of cucumber crop. Double baiting treatments comprising zinc phosphide and bromadiolone in different combinations resulted in better reduction of rodent population and crop damage. Deployment of different rodenticidal treatments saved yield loss from 7.00 to 11.82q/ha. Thus, accomplishing cost benefit ratio of 1:88 to 1:107. Bromadiolone followed by bromadiolone, the most profitable combination is suggested for control of rodent population in cucumber crop fields.     

Competitive inhibition of the glycine-induced current by pregnenolone sulfate in cultured chick spinal cord neurons

The effect of the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate (PS) on the glycine receptor-mediated response was studied in cultured chick spinal cord neurons using the whole-cell voltage-clamp recording technique. PS rapidly and reversibly inhibits the glycine-induced current in a dose-dependent manner, with an EC50 of 3.7 microM and a maximal inhibition of 100%. The fact that antagonism of the glycine response by PS is neither voltage- nor agonist-dependent indicates that PS does not act as an open-channel blocker. Furthermore, inhibition by PS of the glycine-induced current appears to be of a competitive type since the drug induces a parallel, rightward shift of the glycine dose-response curve.     

Validity of self-obtained vaginal specimens for diagnosis of trichomoniasis

A comparison of self- and clinician-collected vaginal specimens for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis was conducted. The sensitivities of culture methods using self- and clinician-collected specimens were 84.6 and 88.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the sensitivities of culture methods using self- and clinician-collected vaginal specimens for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis.