RAPD profile variation amongst provenances of neem

Neem, described as a tree for solving global problems, is an evergreen, long-lived, multipurpose tree of the tropics with a wide distribution range in India. It is believed to be highly cross-pollinated. Inter-provenance variations have been reported in neem in case of morphological and physiological characters. Yet no reports about the genetic determinism for these variations are available to our knowledge. In order to have an idea about the extent and/or nature of genetic (DNA) variation in neem, the powerful RAPD technique has been employed. RAPD profiles of 34 accessions/provenances of neem were generated with 200 decamer random primers, of which the data from the 49 primers, that resulted in reproducible amplification products, were considered for analysis. Based on the presence/absence of bands, a similarity matrix was computed. Dendrogram was constructed by UPGMA method based on the pairwise similarities amongst the RAPD profiles. The similarities in RAPD profiles amongst the different DNAs was more than that expected due to the cross-pollinated nature of the tree and furthermore, these more-than-expected similarities were not due to random chance. These results suggest that neem may have a narrow genetic base.     

The Database of Ribosomal Cross-links: an update

The Database of Ribosomal Cross-links (DRC) was created in 1997. Here we describe new data incorporated into this database and several new features of the DRC. The DRC is freely available via World Wide Web at http://visitweb.com/database/ or http://www. mpimg-berlin-dahlem.mpg.de/ approximately ag_ribo/ag_brimacombe/drc/     

Effects of dietary Spirulina maxima on endothelium dependent vasomotor responses of rat aortic rings

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Spirulina maxima on vasomotor responses of aorta rings from male Wistar rats fed on a purified diet. For this purpose, the animals (weighing 200-240 g) were allocated randomly in two groups. One receiving purified control diet (A) and the other receiving purified diet containing 5% Spirulina (B). Purified diets were according to American Institute of Nutrition guidelines and adjusted to Spirulina protein content. All animals were fed (20 g/day/rat) during two weeks, receiving water ad libitum and 12 h. light-dark cycles. Spirulina maxima effects were evaluated by concentration-response (CR) curves of aorta rings with or without endothelium to phenylephrine (PE), both in presence and absence of indomethacin (Indom) or indomethacin plus L-NAME (Indom. + L-NAME), and to carbachol (CCh). Aorta rings with endothelium from group B showed, relative to corresponding rings from group A: 1) a significant decrease in the maximal tension developed in response to PE. 2) this decrease was reverted by Indom. 3) Indom. + L-NAME induced an additional increase in the contractile responses to PE. 4) a significant shift to the left of the CR curve to CCh. No significant differences were observed in the tension developed in response to PE in rings without endothelium from either group. These results suggest that Spirulina maxima may decrease vascular tone by increasing the synthesis and release of both a vasodilating cyclooxygenase-dependent product of arachidonic acid and nitric oxide, as well as by decreasing the synthesis and release of a vasoconstricting eicosanoid from the endothelial cells.     

Purification and characterization of aminopeptidase P from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils, platelets, and cytokines are thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced lung injury which resembles features of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). For initiation of this pathological process, neutrophils and platelets are activated and adhere to pulmonary endothelium. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits adhesion and activation of these cells and decreases the cytokine level in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from patients with ARDS. Limited data are available on the effect of NO treatment before and after endotoxin on the development and advance of ARDS. The aim of the current study was to determine whether NO inhalation prevents acute lung injury. METHODS: Thirty-two male anaesthetized rabbits were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments (n = 8 each); Group S-N received saline with nitrogen (N2), Group S-NO received saline infusion with NO (20 p.p.m.) inhalation, Group E-N received an infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin 100 micrograms/ kg over 60 min with inhalation of N2, and Group E-NO received endotoxin with NO (20 p.p.m.) inhalation. The lungs of the rabbits were ventilated with 40% oxygen until 6 h after the start of endotoxin or saline administration. Haemodynamics and PaO2 were recorded during the ventilation period. After observation, the lung wet-to dry-(W/D) weight ratio, lung mechanics, and cell fraction, activated complements, cytokines, arachidonic acid metabolites, and albumin concentrations in the BAL fluid were measured and analysed. Light microscopic findings were compared among the four groups. RESULTS: Pulmonary hypertension and deterioration of oxygenation by endotoxin were less pronounced in rabbits receiving NO. The lung compliance after endotoxin was similar in Groups E-NO and E-N. The W/D weight ratio and neutrophils and albumin concentrations in the BAL fluid increased in Groups E-NO and E-N. The BAL fluid concentrations of interleukin-8, thromboxane A2, and prostacyclin were similar in the two endotoxin-treated groups. Endotoxin caused extensive morphologic lung damage regardless of NO inhalation. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and deterioration of oxygenation were less in endotoxin-exposed rabbits receiving NO inhalation compared with those receiving N2. Accumulation of neutrophils and platelets in the lung, morphological lung damage, and the release of cytokines and prostanoids were observed in the E-NO group. However, we are unable to extrapolate these results directly to the human clinical setting because of the short observation period, the use of only one dose of NO, and the species difference.     

Laparoscopic approach excision of mesenteric cysts

The authors reports a case of a young woman suffering from mesenteric cyst. The incidence of these lesions is 1 to 100,000 admissions in adult patients and 1 to 20,000 admissions in pediatric age. These cysts, with retroperitoneal and omental cysts, have a similar etiopathogenesis as lymphatic ectopic tissue. In the majority of cases these cysts are asymptomatic and often the diagnosis is intraoperative. In this case the cyst was removed successfully with laparoscopic approach. This mini-invasive method allows a complete and radical excision of the cyst and reduces postoperative hospital stay and morbidity.     

The Hydrachnidae water mites of southwestern Siberia in relation to their participation in arbovirus circulation

The phenomenon of Hydrachnidae association with the tick-borne encephalitic viruses complex has been found out during the study of the role of the Hydrachnidae in the arboviruses circulation. We investigated the fauna, studied the quantity variation and trophic relations of these arthropods and blood-sucking Diptera. It was revealed no trophic relations between blood-sucking Diptera and mite species, where TBE strains were isolated from. On the basis of faunistic and virological study we suppose, that Hydroacarinae got an infection with the virus in the nymphal and imago stages, as well as larvae of mosquitos. Authors also note, that trophic relations between blood-sucking Diptera and chiggers (Trombidiidae) may be important in the arboviruses ecology.     

Dental materials: 1996 literature review. Part 2

This critical review of the published literature on dental materials for the year 1996 has been compiled by the Dental Materials Panel of the UK. It continues the series of annual reviews started in 1973 and published in the Journal of Dentistry. Emphasis has been placed upon publications which report upon the materials science or clinical performance of the materials. The review has been divided by accepted materials classifications (fissure sealants, glass polyalkenoate cements, dentine bonding, dental amalgam, endodontic materials, casting alloys, resin-bonded bridges and ceramo-metallic restorations, ceramics, denture base resins and soft lining materials, impression materials, implants materials, orthodontic materials, biomechanics and image processing, resin composites and casting investment materials and waxes). Three hundred and thirteen articles have been reviewed.     

Changes in the intensity of effect and spectrum of action on quantitative traits of genes in Arabidopsis under varying conditions of cultivation

Three experiments were performed in different years to study a pleiotropic effect of two marker genes A and B on quantitative traits in Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Heynh.) Experiments differed in their conditions for plant growth (light intensity and soil fertility). In experiment 1, substitution of B- by bb did not affect the duration of the sowing-flowering period, whereas substitution of A- by aa caused a 2-day delay in flowering. Experiment 2 showed that both genes affected this trait. The delay in flowering was one, two, or three days when B- was substituted by bb, A- by aa, or A-B- by aabb, respectively. Therefore, these genes were additive. Data of experiments 3 were opposite to those of experiment 1: substitution of A- by aa did not affect the trait studied, whereas substitution of B- by bb caused a 2-day elongation of the sowing-flowering period. Thus, variations in growth conditions transformed the effects of the marker genes duration of the sowing-flowering period and changed a set of genes that determined this trait. Note that effects of A and B genes on other qualitative and quantitative traits (for example, plant height) were constant in all experiments. Therefore, transformation of a gene set, which influenced the sowing-flowering period, was not related to the repression or derepression of A and B genes.