Effects of Ajoene on lymphocyte and macrophage membrane-dependent functions

An increasing flow of evidences collected on elementary forms of learning processes in selected animal models evidentiates some mechanisms which can represent the basic cellular principles underlying plastic changes: 1. 5HT and second messengers of nucleotide type (like cAMP) have a pivotal role in the learning process. 2. In almost all short-term learning processes the modifications are subserved by a mechanism of protein phosphorylation. 3. In various animal models the modulation of K+ and Ca2+ channels is the molecular mechanism for learning. Experiments performed in sensory T neuron of the leech indicate that the modulation of Na+/K+ electrogenic pump is one of the fundamental mechanism for learning. 4. In long-term plastic changes, the most important finding is that newly synthesized proteins are formed. 5. In addition to what has been observed in the Aplysia model, where changes in synaptic efficacy represent the basic principles of memory storage, in the leech it has been demonstrated that a molecular machinery present in a single neuron can adapt the activity of the cell to environmental stimuli.     

Free amino acids by high performance liquid chromatography and peptides by gel electrophoresis in Mahon cheese during ripening

The free amino acids and peptides contents of Mahon cheese during four months of ripening were studied using high performance liquid chromatography and gel electrophoresis, respectively. The total content of free amino acids generally increased throughout the ripening period, except in one batch. Phenylalanine, valine, proline, glutamic acid and isoleucine were the most abundant free amino acids in all the tests throughout the four month period. They accounted for between 67 and 80% of the free amino acids. No difference was found between the pattern of traditionally made and industrially made Mahon cheeses. Electrophoresis of soluble nitrogen showed the main whey proteins as well as other bands corresponding to peptides.     

Allelic diversity at the primate Mhc-G locus: exon 3 bears stop codons in all Cercopithecinae sequences

The aim of this study was to determine whether bisaramil-an antiarrhythmic compound under clinical investigation-influences the reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and biochemical parameters characterizing occlusion-reperfusion-induced free-radical reactions. The left descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for 60 min in anaesthetized dogs followed by one hour of reperfusion. Blood samples were taken at different times of the occlusion and reperfusion for the determination of plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG); furthermore of the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Free-radical generating capacity of polymorph neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) was also measured. At the end of the experiments heart tissue samples were excised from the injured areas and from the intact part of the left ventricular muscle. In tissues samples the concentrations of MDA and GSH and the activity of SOD were determined. Bisaramil was given as an i.v. bolus injection at a dose of 2 mg kg-1 several minutes prior to the end of LAD-occlusion; then the administration was repeated in the 30th minute of reperfusion. In the control group (10 dogs) ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in seven cases which resulted in death in three. In the bisaramil-treated group, however. VF was seen in three cases and no death was recorded. Bisaramil inhibited the elevation of the plasma concentration of MDA and GSSG during the reperfusion and abolished the decrease in the plasma concentration of GSH during the occlusion and reperfusion. The activity of SOD and catalase in plasma was much better preserved in the bisaramil-treated group then in the controls. Bisaramil significantly inhibited the increase of the superoxide-radical generating capacity of PMNs during the reperfusion. The data obtained from myocardial tissue samples supported the cardioprotective effect of bisaramil. The biochemical investigation of ischemic-reperfused myocardium showed that bisaramil promoted preservation of SOD-activity and of tissue glutathione. Results of this study clearly showed that bisaramil has a significant effect on ischemiareperfusion injury. Besides its inhibitory effects on ischaemia-reperfusion induced arrhythmias it has a special benefit in influencing free-radical mediated damage leading to better preservation of membranes and to limitations of irreversible cell injuries.     

Malacoplakia of the prostate and seminal vesicle. Ultrastructural study and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES: The present study describes a case of malacoplakia of the genitourinary tract arising in the seminal vesicle and prostate and reviews similar cases previously reported in the literature. METHOD: A 67-year-old male consulted for hemospermia and voiding symptoms. Prostatic neoplasm was suspected on the basis of the clinical and radiological findings. RESULTS: The diagnosis was made only after biopsy and histological analysis. Electron microscopy is a very useful tool. Long-term antibiotic therapy may achieve optimal results. Treatment with fluoroquinolones was successful. CONCLUSION: To avoid unwarranted radical approaches, we underscore the possibility that prostatic pseudotumors may be misinterpreted as neoplasia. Malacoplakia is diagnosed only by histology and requires medical treatment.     

A Survey on the Numerics and Computations for the Landau-Lifshitz Equation of Micromagnetism

The Landau-Lifshitz (LL)equation of micromagnetism governs rich variety of the evolution of magnetization patterns in ferromagnetic media. This is due to the complexity of physical quantities appearing in the LL equation. This complexity causes also an interesting mathematical properties of the LL equation: nonlocal character for some quantities,nonconvex side-constraints, strongly nonlinear terms. These effects influence also the numerical approximations. In this work, recent developments on the approximation of weak solutions, together with the overview of well-known methods for strong solutions,are addressed. Author is supported by the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders FWO (Belgium).     

Detection of human papillomavirus gene sequences in laryngeal tumors and premalignant changes by polymerase chain reaction

Human papillomavirus gene sequences have been detected in a number of malignant and benign tumours. Non-oncogenic types 6 and 11 are etiological factors of benign mucosal tumours. Types 16 and 18 can be detected in malignancies most often but their role in the etiopathogenesis of cancers is still unclear. In our study we examined formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archive laryngeal tissues containing squamous cell carcinoma, papilloma and precancerous lesions for the presence of human papillomavirus genes. As a control we also examined tissues harbouring laryngeal nodules which represented the normal larynx in our study. After DNA preparation from the paraffin blocks we performed polymerase chain reaction to detect the DNA of human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18. In the squamous cell carcinomas, papillomas and precancerous lesions the presence of human papillomavirus gene sequences was significantly higher than in the control group. To verify the integrity of DNA we also amplified a sequence deriving from the cellular beta-globin gene. Based on the 100% positivity for this gene we declare that the combination of our DNA preparation and polymerase chain reaction is a reliable method for detecting DNA sequences from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues.