Improved Controlled-Release Formulations for a New Trap Design for Male Mediterranean Fruit Flies: The C&C Trap

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a major pest of fruits and vegetables in the world. With the help of an extensive trapping program, the continental United States has remained free of established medfly populations. In an effort to increase trapping efficiency, controlled-release polymeric panels with trimedlure and ceralure were developed in conjunction with the development of a new trap, the C&C trap. This study contrasts the effectiveness of different panel formulations with the standard trimedlure polymeric plug and describes the use of the panels in the C&C trap. Field tests in Hawaii using released sterile flies showed consistently higher male medfly catches with panels in C&C traps than with the standard trimedlure polymeric plug in Jackson traps.     

Inducible nitric-oxide synthase generates superoxide from the reductase domain

In the absence of L-arginine, the heme center of the oxygenase domain of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase reduces molecular oxygen to superoxide (O-2). Our recent work has provided evidence that inducible NOS (iNOS) may also catalyze O-2 formation in macrophages. However, there has been a lack of direct evidence of superoxide generation from the purified iNOS, and it was previously hypothesized that significant O-2 production does not occur. Moreover, the mechanism and enzyme site responsible for O-2 generation is unknown. To determine whether iNOS produces O-2 and to identify the mechanism of this process, we performed electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on purified iNOS using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. In the presence of NADPH, prominent O-2 adduct signals were detected from iNOS. These signals were totally abolished by superoxide dismutase but not affected by catalase. High concentrations of L-arginine decreased this O-2 formation, whereas its enantiomer D-arginine did not. Pre-incubation of iNOS with the flavoprotein inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium totally blocked these O-2 signals. Conversely, pretreatment of the enzyme with the heme blocker cyanide had no effect on O-2 generation. Furthermore, strong O-2 generation was directly detected from the isolated iNOS reductase domain. Together, these data demonstrate that iNOS does generate O-2, and this mainly occurs at the flavin-binding sites of the reductase domain.     

Immunosuppressive therapy with microemulsion cyclosporine A shortens the hospitalization of pediatric liver transplant recipients

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from S. typhimurium on exposure to gamma-radiation resulted in decrease in toxicity and was less mitogenic, Silver stained profiles of irradiated LPS on polyacrylamide gels revealed complete loss of its heteropolysaccharides which was confirmed further by analysing lipid A and LPS from Salmonella minnesota Re mutants on SDS-PAGE. Glucosamine and 2-keto 3-deoxy-octonate(Kdo) contents were significantly decreased on treatment. Lipid A obtained by removal of heteropolysaccharides from LPS was less toxic on exposure to gamma radiations.     

Chronic gastrointestinal problems and bowel dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury

In the treatment of diabetes, the importance of kinesitherapy increases steadily. In fact, a prospective study (1996) which was done on 897 Finnish middle-aged males over a period of 4 years, showed that the risk of diabetes can be reduced to 50% by moderate physical exercise of 40 minutes per week compared with less active persons of the same age. The amount of kinesitherapeutic measures depends on the physiological resilience of the diabetes patient and on the extent of existing diabetes-induced lesions. An endurance kinesitherapy activates the carbohydrate metabolism and affects the glucosensitive receptors situated in peripheral and central organs. A muscle activity of ten minutes can already multiply by fifteen the increase of glucose absorption from the blood. Another positive result by physical effort is to be seen in the preventine and therapeutic effect of an increased insuline action. The individually adapted kinesitherapeutic endurance stimulation should last from five to ten minutes each day and reach at least 50% of maximum capacity but not more than 70%. This maximum capacity can among other things be gauged from the heart rate as well as from the breathing rate.     

Carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing

Numerous modalities have been used to achieve facial rejuvenation. The carbon dioxide laser is an instrument long familiar to the soft tissue surgeon that has recently been adapted for use in facial rejuvenation. The laser achieves this goal by ablating the epidermis and superficial dermis, while producing a limited amount of thermal damage in the underlying dermis. Actinic damage and certain forms of dyspigmentation and scarring may be improved or eliminated, and skin tone is improved. Although portions of the face may be treated in certain situations, the best aesthetic results are generally achieved with full-face treatment. Clinical results are excellent, but both patient and physician must anticipate a 12 to 16 week period of erythema in the treated region. Early complications including infection, hyperpigmentation, and scarring have been recognized for several years, but late complications such as significant hypopigmentation have been recognized more recently.     

Localization of substance P and leucine enkephalin in the nerve terminals of the guinea pig paracervical ganglion

Immunoreactivities (IR) of substance P and leucine enkephalin have been demonstrated in the guinea-pig paracervical ganglion by an immunogold electron microscope method. Both substance P-IR and leucine enkephalin-IR were detected in large synaptic vesicles with electron-dense cores. The former neuropeptide was detected in nerve terminals and varicosities comprised mainly of large vesicles with electron-dense cores; the latter was detected in nerve terminals and varicosities that also included small, clear synaptic vesicles. In a minority of nerve terminals and varicosities coexistence of both immunoreactivities could be demonstrated within vesicles with an electron-dense core. Also present in these nerve terminals and varicosities were small, clear synaptic vesicles, though these were unreactive.