Histomorphologic assessment of the effectiveness of anesthesia during tooth preparation

The efficacy of conduction anesthesia with 2% solutions of novocain, celnovocain, trimecain, lidocain during the preparation of teeth for metal crowns was studied in experiments on 16 dogs by neurohistological and histochemical examination of the Gasserian and superior cervical ganglions, the nodose ganglion, teeth and pericoronal tissues. It was established that in terms of the degree of anesthesia efficacy increase, the test anesthetics can be arranged as follows: novocain, celnovocain, trimecain, lidocain.     

A G protein gamma subunit-like domain shared between RGS11 and other RGS proteins specifies binding to Gbeta5 subunits

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins act as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) toward the alpha subunits of heterotrimeric, signal-transducing G proteins. RGS11 contains a G protein gamma subunit-like (GGL) domain between its Dishevelled/Egl-10/Pleckstrin and RGS domains. GGL domains are also found in RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, and the Caenorhabditis elegans protein EGL-10. Coexpression of RGS11 with different Gbeta subunits reveals specific interaction between RGS11 and Gbeta5. The expression of mRNA for RGS11 and Gbeta5 in human tissues overlaps. The Gbeta5/RGS11 heterodimer acts as a GAP on Galphao, apparently selectively. RGS proteins that contain GGL domains appear to act as GAPs for Galpha proteins and form complexes with specific Gbeta subunits, adding to the combinatorial complexity of G protein-mediated signaling pathways.     

Maxillary sinus augmentation in the non-human primate: a comparative radiographic and histologic study between recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 and natural bone mineral

The posterior maxilla has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to poor bone quality and close approximation to the maxillary sinus. Sinus augmentation procedures have become a viable means of assuring adequate bone for the placement of dental implants in this area. However, with the techniques currently employed, a considerable variation in the quality of bone attained with the sinus augmentation procedure exists. The purpose of this in vivo study was to evaluate the healing response and bone formation stimulated by 3 doses of recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (rhOP-1), 0.25, 0.6, and 2.5 mg OP-1 per gram of collagen matrix; natural bone mineral; or collagen matrix alone (control) placed in the maxillary sinus of adult chimpanzees. Results were assessed using clinical, histologic, and radiographic techniques. Radiographic analysis of the computed tomography scans taken at 1 week, and 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5 months revealed a more rapid mineralization with the 2.5 mg OP-1/g collagen matrix and natural bone mineral treatment groups. The incremental bone mineral density (BMD) increase for these 2 treatments from 1 week to 2.5 months was over 2.5 times the increase found with the collagen matrix alone; these 2 treatments also had a higher BMD at the most superior slices evaluated when compared to the other 3 groups. Biopsy specimens were taken at 3.5, 5.5, and 7.5 months and for all 5 treatment groups bone formation was observed at all time points in the majority of the specimens. At 7.5 months the 2.5 and 0.6 mg OP-1/g collagen matrix treatment groups had an increase in the percent bone area when compared to the matrix alone control. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that sinus augmentation with natural bone mineral or 2.5 mg OP-1/g collagen matrix induce comparable radiographic and histologic evidence of bone formation and that both of these treatments performed superior to the control group of collagen matrix alone based upon all methods of evaluation.     

The number and biodiversity of the parasites from small mammals in the evacuation area of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station

The study of the micromammalian parasite complexes in the Belorussian part of the evacuation zone of the Chernobyl nuclear station revealed 13 species of Coccidia and 30 species of ectoparasitic Arthropoda. Total increase of abundance and biodiversity of both parasites and their hosts was observed. The part of ectoparasites being epidemically hazardous was significantly increased. An analysis of a long-term dynamics of parasite abundance reveals their adaptation to new conditions in the Belorussia.     

Sweet-tasting protein monellin is related to the cystatin family of thiol proteinase inhibitors

The structure of the intensely sweet protein monellin, isolated from an African berry, and the structures of two thiol proteinase inhibitors, cystatin and stefin B, are found to be very similar. An alignment of sequences of monellin and the inhibitors, deduced from the structural comparisons, has been extended to include other members of the cystatin superfamily. There is a significant homology (up to 23% identical residues) with oryzacystatins, the only well defined plant cystatins. These results clearly indicate that monellin is a close relative of cystatins. Monellin and cystatins do not have the same sequence in the regions homologous to the cystatin active site. It is suggested here, however, that this region in monellin may be essential for a function in situ, because one of the loops comprising this part of the structure is found to be cleaved.     

The secondary structure of phospholamban: a two-dimensional NMR study

Phospholamban (PLN) is an intrinsic membrane protein of 52 amino acids which regulates the Ca2+ pump of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of heart, slow-twitch and smooth muscle (SR): it is normally assumed to exist in the membrane as a homopentamer. A monomeric analogue of phospholamban PLN(C41F), in which Cys41 was replaced by a Phe, was synthesized and its conformation studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy in a 1:1 mixture of chloroform/methanol. Most of the resonances in the 1H NMR spectra were assigned. The work has shown that the C-terminal hydrophobic portion forms a very stable alpha-helix. The hydrophilic N-terminal part adopts an alpha-helix configuration which is much less stable except for the stretch containing the phosphorylation sites.