Changes in the plantaris muscle as an indicator of alterations in lean body mass of obese Zucker rats following prolonged energy restriction and subsequent partial recovery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the origin of the pseudointima (PI) formed in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube grafts after implantation into the inferior vena cava (IVC) of rabbits. METHODS: A segment of the IVC of rabbits was replaced by PTFE tube graft (3 cm long, 3 mm inner diameter, 30 microns internodal distance, 0.3 mm thickness). The experimental group was divided into two groups as follows: (Group A) non-wrapped, (Group B) wrapped the outer wall of PTFE with impermeable vinyl. RESULTS: Grafts were harvested at three weeks after implantation and subjected to the following studies: patency, ultrastructural studies by light microscopy (LM) and immunostaining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM & TEM). The grafts were patient but the lumen of the control group was narrowed by PI. LM and immunostaining studies revealed the presence of thick PI composed of spindle-type cells in Group A, bust almost no PI in Group B. Only few erythrocytes, macrophage and protein-fibrin matrix was found in Group B. Endothelial like cell coverage, judged by SEM, was observed in only Group A. Only some macrophages and platelets were shown in the graft surface in Group B. TEM of PI revealed the presence of VSMCs, myofibroblasts and outer surface of grafts revealed the presence of myofibroblast in Group A. CONCLUSIONS: The formation of PI suppressed by blocking the cellular migration from perigraft space suggest that PI was mainly originated by myofibroblast located in the perigraft space.     

Plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) response to liquid phase, solid phase, and meals of differing lipid composition

alpha-Keto-beta-aminoacids 5a-c can be reductively aminated with the peptide sequence H2N-Leu-Val-Phe-Phe on a solid support to afford N-carboxy alkyl peptides 1a-c. The N-carboxy alkyl lysine derivative 7 was subsequently extended from the N-terminus with glutamine and histidine residues.     

DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex culture isolates collected in Brazil and spotted onto filter paper

The usefulness of filter paper for preservation of bacterial cells was shown by mixed-linker DNA fingerprint analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from 77 Brazilian patients. DNA fingerprints of samples spotted onto filter paper and conventional culture material were identical. Thus, filter paper specimens analyzed by an amplification-based typing method provide a new resource for epidemiological studies of infectious diseases.     

Inhibition of long-chain fatty acid metabolism does not affect platelet aggregation responses

A number of anti-anginal agents (perhexiline, amiodarone, trimetazidine) have been shown to inhibit myocardial carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1, which controls access of long-chain fatty acids to mitochondrial sites of beta-oxidation. In view of clinical data suggesting that perhexiline improves symptomatic status in unstable angina pectoris, and the known role of mitochondrial beta-oxidation in platelet metabolism, we compared the platelet carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitory and putative anti-aggregatory effects of perhexiline, amiodarone and trimetazidine with those of specific carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitors: etomoxir and hydroxyphenylglyoxylate in both normal subjects and patients with stable angina. All of the compounds examined inhibited platelet carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 activity; rank order of potency etomoxir > malonyl-CoA > hydroxyphenylglyoxylate > amiodarone > or = perhexiline > trimetazidine. However, only perhexiline, amiodarone and trimetazidine inhibited platelet aggregation. We conclude that (a) the carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitors perhexiline, amiodarone and trimetazidine exert significant anti-aggregatory effects which may be therapeutically relevant and, (b) these effects are independent of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibition.     

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-related protein-1 in prostate cells

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-related protein-1 (IGFBP-rP1; also known as Mac25, TAF, and PSF) is a member of the IGFBP superfamily. It is a cysteine-rich protein that shares structural and functional similarities with the conventional IGFBPs. In situ hybridization of prostate tissue sections show intense IGFBP-rP1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in normal stroma and glandular epithelium. There was a significant loss of detectable IGFBP-rP1 mRNA in metastatic prostate tissue. IGFBP-rP1 mRNA (Northern blots) and protein (immunoblots) were detectable in primary cultures ofprostatic stromal and epithelial cells as well as in the immortalized nonmalignant prostatic human epithelial cells, P69, and in the P69 metastatic subline, M12. IGFBP-rP1 expression was not detectable in the prostatic cancer cell lines PC-3, DU145, and LNCaP. IGFBP-rP1 expression was regulated in P69 cells but not in M12 cells. Protein and mRNA expression was up-regulated by IGF-I, transforming growth factor-beta, and retinoic acid. The observations that IGFBP-rP1 expression is significantly diminished in prostate tumorigenesis and is regulated in nonmalignant prostate cells suggest IGFBP-rP1 is important in normal prostatic cell growth.     

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide towards Chinese hamster ovary cells

Two compounds found in garlic, diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DDS), were tested for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line. DDS was found to be more cytotoxic than DAS (showing a Dq of 1.6 micrograms/ml and a D0 of 0.6 microgram/ml as opposed to values of 295 and 90 micrograms/ml, respectively). Both compounds were found to induce both chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) with DDS again being more active on a weight-for-weight basis, exhibiting activity at concentrations below 10 micrograms/ml compared with the levels of 300 micrograms/ml and above required for DAS to show any effect. The addition of rat liver S-9 activation fraction to the assays modified the effects of the two compounds in a non-consistent manner. It reduced the induction of SCEs by both compounds, enhanced the generation of aberrations by DDS (but not by DAS) and radically altered the parameters of both survival curves, reducing the Dq values almost to zero but increasing the D0 values.