Distribution of six transplasma membrane NADH-dehydrogenases in rat brain tissue

Transplasma membrane redox plays a significant role in cellular activation and growth. Six isoenzymes could be prepared from purified rat brain synaptic plasma membrane. Polyclonal antibodies have been prepared against six transplasma membrane oxydoreductases (PMO-I to PMO-VI) and the tissue distribution of the various iso-enzymes have been investigated in adult rat brains by means of immunohistochemistry. PMO-I is densely observed in layers I, IV and V of the parietal cortex, in CA1 of the hippocampus (except for the molecular layer), in the caudate putamen, in the dorsal, granular and ventral parts of the auditory nuclei, in some loci of the vestibular nuclei as well as in the deep cerebellar nucleus and in the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex. PMO-II is mainly located in the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus and in the deep cerebellar nucleus and in the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex. PMO-III is abundant in the piriform cortex, in the pyramidal layers of both CA1 and CA2, in the diagonal band of the basal ganglia, in the supraoptic nucleus and in various loci of the magnetocellular paraventricular nucleus of the hippothalamus as well as in the vestibular nuclei from the brain stem. In addition PMO-III is also densely present in motor nuclei (oculomotor, facial, hypoglossal and ambiguus nuclei), in the reticular formation and in the deep cerebellar nucleus as well as in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellar cortex. PMO-IV has a similar location but is less abundant in the vestibular nuclei of the sensory brain stem and in the motor nucleus. PMO-V in contrast is poorly present in most brain areas compared to the other iso-enzymes, apart of the Purkinje layer of the cerebellar cortex. Finally PMO-VI is mainly present in the oriens layer and in the stratum radiatum of the hippocampus formation, in the supraoptic and lateral magnocellular nucleus of the hypothalamus, in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, in the ventral auditory nucleus and in the facial nucleus of the brain stem as well as in red nucleus of the reticular formation and in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellar cortex. These data show that the iso-enzymes are located in specific brain nuclei. The significance of the results in respect to the yet very poorly defined function of PMO's is discussed.     

Introduction to the special section on cognitive processes and psychotherapy.

Theoretical models featuring cognitive processes have played a fundamental role in advancing knowledge of psychopathology and its treatment and have emphasized the importance of cognition in psychotherapy. Recognition of the importance of cognition in psychotherapy has led to a number of questions that are addressed by the articles in this special section of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Cognitive therapy is well represented in the articles in this special section, but therapeutic procedures that do not represent typical cognitive therapy are also examined. The articles in this special section focus on homework in the modification of cognition, cognition in the treatment of anxiety in adults and in children, change in depressive cognitions in children, cognition and rapid change in the treatment of depression, and the role of cognition in the treatment and prevention of depression that is recurrent. Examination of these types of questions holds the possibility of advances in existing treatments and the possibility of innovations in new treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Overview and regional and temporal differences of heavy metals in Arctic whales and ringed seals in the Canadian Arctic

Concentrations of mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals in tissues of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from across the Canadian Arctic are reported. Published and new information is used to provide an overview of metals in tissues of these animals, to delineate the existence of a spatial trend of mercury and cadmium in belugas and ringed seals, and to show a temporal trend is superimposed on the geochemical trend. Mercury concentrations in tissues of Arctic whales and ringed seals were high relative to the Canadian guideline of 0.5 micrograms/g wet wt., for mercury in fish, except in the skin of belugas (0.59-0.78 micrograms/g wet wt.) and flesh of ringed seals (0.39-0.41 micrograms/g wet wt.). In the flesh of belugas (0.94-1.34 micrograms/g wet wt.), and in the liver of ringed seals, tissues that are also consumed by Native people in the Arctic (8.34-27.5 micrograms/g wet wt.), the guideline value was significantly exceeded. Mean lead concentrations in tissues of belugas, narwhal and ringed seals were generally low (0.002-0.028 micrograms/g wet wt.), except in tissues of belugas in the St. Lawrence River (0.10-0.15 micrograms/g wet wt.). The concentration of zinc in the skin of whales was two to three times higher than in other tissues. The concentration of cadmium in organs was highest in narwhal. There was a positive correlation between mercury and selenium in the liver of all three species. The concentration of mercury in tissues of belugas and ringed seals was higher in the western than the eastern Arctic. This was attributed to different natural background concentrations in the western and eastern Arctic of Canada dictated by different geological formations in the two regions. Cadmium concentrations in tissues of belugas and ringed seals were higher in the eastern than the western Arctic. Zinc and copper in some tissues of belugas and ringed seals were also higher in the eastern than the western Arctic. Mercury in the liver of belugas was found to have increased in the western and eastern Arctic over 10-12 years. Mercury in the liver of ringed seals in the western Arctic and narwhal in the eastern Arctic showed similar increases. In recently collected belugas, the rate of accumulation of mercury in the liver was approximately twice that in belugas collected 10-12 years ago. In ringed seals, the rate was three times higher in recent samples compared to 15-20 years ago. There was no temporal change in cadmium levels in tissues of belugas, ringed seals or narwhal.     

Polyclonal T cell elimination by prolonged immunostimulation in an experimental model

Acute radiation and combined radiation-thermal injuries (CRTIs) were modelled in the experiments on CBA x C57B16 mice. Changes in the concentrations of endogenic and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha in the blood serum were measured in 3 to 24 h after gamma-irradiation at a dose of 7 Gy and a combined radiation-thermal injury. The status of mature and reserve pools of the bone marrow granulocytes was determined from the reaction of leukocytes mobilization to blood in response to the administration of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in 48 h after Irradiation and CRTI. The contents of IL-3 and IL-6 in the blood serum, the level of cytokine secretion by the bone marrow cells were determined in vitro in the peak phases of acute radiation and combined injuries. No significant changes in the reaction of the bone marrow cells and in the level of pancytopenia were revealed after acute radiation and CRTIs, which could help in understanding an increase in the death rates after CRTIs. Also, quantitative changes in the TNF and IL-6 concentrations in the blood serum were estimated along with those in the level of secretion of IL-3 by the bone marrow cells of mice exposed to radiation and CRTIs.     

Advantages and disadvantages of various access routes in sonographic diagnosis of dysplasia and luxation in the infant hip

Changes in copper concentration in the arterial wall are important because of cross-linkage formation in collagen and elastin. The breakdown of the elastic layer is characteristic for aneurysm and is affected by the abnormalities in copper metabolism. This study was undertaken to evaluate Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu concentrations and their relationships in the arterial wall, serum and calcified plaque in atherosclerosis obliterans (AO) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AA). Samples of the aorta wall were obtained at the endarterectomy in AO and the vascular reconstruction in AA. Elements were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum concentrations of Zn and Cu were higher and that of Ca lower in AO as compared to AA and the controls. Arterial concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mg were higher in AO as compared to AA. The ratios of element concentrations in serum (Ca/Mg, Ca/Zn and Mg/Cu) were higher in serum in AA than in AO. Positive correlations were calculated for Ca and Mg (r > or = 0.74), Ca and Zn (r > or = 0.73), Mg and Zn (r > or = 0.90) in the arterial wall in AO and AA. Low but significant correlation was calculated for Cu concentrations between serum and the arterial wall in AA (r = 0.43). Concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu were higher in plaque than in the surrounding tissue. The results indicate differences in arterial and serum concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu between AO and AA and the accumulation of these elements in the plaque rather than in the surrounding vascular tissue.     

Comparative studies on the effects of the combination drug lorazepam plus diphenhydramine (Somnium) versus lorazepam on the noopsyche, thymopsyche and psychophysiology in nonorganic insomnia related to generalized anxiety disorder

The immunohistochemical localization of type II and type I collagens was examined in the articular cartilage of the femoral head of growing rats injected systemically with 5 mg kg-1 dexamethasone for 2 weeks every other day. The intensities of immunostaining for type II collagen, measured by microphotometry, was highest in the flattened cell layer and high in the hypertrophic cell layer, moderate in the proliferative cell and transitional cell layers and low in the superficial layer. After dexamethasone administration, the intensities decreased markedly in the flattened cell layer and slightly in the hypertrophic cell layer, although the decreases in other layers were negligible. The staining intensities for type I collagen were highest in the flattened cell layer, low in the superficial and transitional cell layers and very low in the proliferative and hypertrophic cell layers. After dexamethasone administration, the intensities increased markedly in the flattened cell layer and slightly in the superficial and proliferative cell layers, but did not change in the transitional and hypertrophic cell layers. Thus, dexamethasone administration caused a decrease in type II collagen and an increase in type I collagen in the matrix of the surface portion of articular cartilage. The composition of isoforms of collagen in the matrix changed after the steroid administration. The results strongly that the shift in collagen composition from type II to type I predominance is a cause of the degeneration of the articular cartilage after glucocorticoid administration.     

某铀矿区水稻土—地表水铀含量对稻米铀含量的影响

以水稻土—地表水铀含量为视角,从水稻土剖面铀含量分布规律、水稻土与下伏岩体稀土元素特征、不同河流不同河段水稻土—地表水—稻米铀含量特征、水稻土与稻米铀含量关系4个方面研究721铀矿区稻米铀含量成因。结果表明,水稻土剖面铀含量从表层至半风化花岗质基岩层呈明显降低的特征,说明水稻土铀含量高的原因不是土壤母质铀含量高;岩石与水稻土稀土元素标准化模式均表现为向右倾斜型,均属轻稀土富集型,轻稀土分馏明显,表明水稻土为还原环境,吸附作用较强;不同河流不同河段水稻土—地表水—稻米铀含量平均值的特性均为上游最低、中游最高、下游次之。铀矿区地表水环境符合铀元素在水稻土中被平衡吸附的动力学条件,有利于铀元素在矿区内河流中游地区的水稻土中沉淀富集;正在采矿区水稻土与稻米铀含量具有高度的空间耦合性,呈指数正相关关系,相关系数0.749。矿区内河流沿岸稻米铀含量的分布特征是由铀元素的迁移途径决定的"采矿活动(铀尾矿露天堆放)→地表水→水稻土"。     

Diagnostic value of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in infertile women

Tubal pathology with tubal blockage due to the pelvic inflammatory diseases is one of the most frequent causes of infertility in a woman [1]. The two most important diagnostic procedures which are used for evaluation of tubal patency are hysterosalpingography and laparoscopic hydrotubation [4]. SUBJECT: The aim of the study was the comparison of hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic findings and determination of accuracy of these two procedures in the diagnosis of tubal patency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied and compared the results of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in 102 infertile women who were operated on at the Narodni Front Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Belgrade during 1993 and 1994. Of 102 operated women 47 women were with primary infertility and 55 with secondary infertility. The patients were from 20 to 41 years of age, the average 28 +/- 2.4 years. RESULTS: Of one hundred and two operated women tubal blockage was found in 94 (92.1%) patients. Unilateral hydrosalpinx was found by hysterosalpingography in 16 (15.7%) subjects and bilateral hydrosalpinx in 30 (29.4%) women. Unilateral hydrosalpinx was found by laparoscopy in 17 (16.1%) patients and bilateral hydrosalpinx in 32 (31.4%) subjects. The concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in the diagnostics of unilateral hydrosalpinx were found in 76.5% of cases, and in bilateral hydrosalpinx in 70.4%. This difference was not statistically significant. Unilateral tubal blockage was identified by laparoscopy in 26 (25.5%) patients and bilateral in 27 (26.5%) subjects. The concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in unilateral tubal blockage were found in 61.5% of cases, and in bilateral tubal blockage in 70.4% of women. The total concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in tubal blockage were found in 65.7 of cases, and concordant findings after hysterosalpingography and surgery were noted in 61.7% cases. The findings by laparoscopy and surgery were in harmony in 86.3% patients. Ovarian abnormalities were found by laparoscopy and surgery in 22 (21.6%) women. Pelvic adhesions were found by laparoscopy in 42 women of 49 patients in whom pelvic adhesions were found during the operation. Uterine congenital anomalies were found by laparoscopy in 3 (2.9%), women and by hysterosalpingography in 6 (5.9%) patients. DISCUSSION: Of 102 operated women tubal blockage was found in 94 (92.2%) women. Unilateral tubal blockage was found in 38 (40.4%) patients, and bilateral tubal blockage in 56 (59.6%) subjects. Hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic hydrotubation findings in the diagnosis of tubal patency were concordant in 65% of cases, hysterosalpingographic and operative findings in 61.7% of patients, and laparoscopic and operative findings in 86.3% of subjects. Although concordant findings of 65.7% were noted in this study, which were similar to findings of other authors, the percentage of 62.5% [4], and 76% was observed [5]. During the operation pelvic adhesions were found in 49 patients, and laparoscopic in 42 women only. Ovarian abnormalities were found by laparoscopy in 22 (21.6%) patients, while uterine fibroid was found in 10 (9.8%) subjects. Uterine congenital anomalies were found by hysterosalpingography in 6 (5.9%) cases and by laparoscopy only in 3 (2.9%) patients. The advantage of visual hysterosalpingography seems to be in identification of some congenital uterine anomalies. However, the advantage of laparoscopy is identified by the possibility of visualisation of some other pelvic abnormalities which may be the cause of infertility. CONCLUSION: There are some hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic advantages and disadvantages in the diagnosis of infertility in women. Only by using both procedures accurate results can be achieved in the tubes, the uterus and the ovary, that can be a cause of infertility in women.     

Sex hormones and metabolism of glycosaminoglycans. I. Effect of orchidectomy and administration of testosterone in rabbits

The effect of orchidectomy in male rabbits and administration of testosterone to orchidectomized animals on the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) has been studied. The response of the different GAG fractions in the aorta varies with the nature of the GAG, and in some cases is different in different segments of the aorta. Orchidectomy produced an increase in hyaluronic acid fraction, decrease in heparin sulphate fraction, and no response in the chondroitin sulphate A fraction in the aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta. Chondroitin sulphate C and chondroitin sulphate B fractions decreased only in the abdominal aorta and were not significantly altered in the other two segments, while heparin fraction decreased only in the thoracic aorta and was not affected in the other segments. Administration of testosterone to the orchidectomized animals counteracted these changes in the aortic GAG fractures. The enzymes concerned with the synthesis of precursors of GAG--L-glutamine:D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase, UDPG dehydrogenase, and UDPG pyrophosphorylase-- all decreased in the orchidectomized animals; testosterone administration increased their activity in the orchidectomized animals. Enzymes concerned with degradation of GAG--beta-glucuronidase, beta-hexosaminidase, aryl sulphatase, cathepsin, and hyaluronidase--increased in the orchidectomized and decreased on administration of testosterone. Concentration of PAPS and activity of sulphate-activating system and sulphotransferase also decreased in the orchidectomized animals, and testosterone administration tended to restore this decrease to normal levels.