Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly salivary gland lysate down-regulates a Th1, but up-regulates a Th2, response in mice infected with Leishmania major

A vertebrate host becomes infected with Leishmania major when the sand fly vector injects parasites into skin along with saliva. Previous studies showed that salivary gland lysate of the New World sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis markedly enhanced L. major infection in CBA mice. However, L. major is an Old World parasite transmitted in nature by the Old World sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi. Here we examine the ability of P. papatasi salivary gland lysate to enhance infection (lesion size and parasite burden) by L. major. In addition, we examine the effects of salivary gland lysate on the immune response to L. major by monitoring the levels of cytokine mRNA from the lymph nodes draining cutaneous lesions. We found that P. papatasi salivary gland lysate dramatically exacerbated lesion development in disease-resistant CBA mice. This exacerbation of disease correlated with inhibition of the production of Thl cytokines and associated factors (IFN-gamma, IL-12, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), but with enhancement of the Th2 cytokine IL-4, whereas no changes in the levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta were noted. Importantly, salivary gland lysate directly up-regulated expression of IL-4 mRNA in mice in the absence of infection with L. major.     

How old can one become?]

We recorded the highest age at the time of death for both men and women in Norway for the years 1970 to 1995. During this period longevity increased by approximately one year; for women from 106 to 107 years and for men from 105 to 106 years. Based on Gumbel's theory, we have estimated the most probable highest age for the next 10, 20, and 100 years. For women this was found to be 109, 110 and 113 years, respectively; for men the corresponding ages were 108, 109 and 112 years. Our aim must be that as many men and women as possible live to a high age, that their latter years are meaningful, and that they enjoy a high standard of living.     

Aortopulmonary fistula in an infected Dacron graft for coarctation of the aorta: an uncommon cause of hemoptysis

Hemoptysis secondary to an aortobronchial fistula is rare and uniformly fatal when left untreated. The authors describe a case of massive hemoptysis caused by an aortopulmonary fistula in an infected Dacron graft used successfully to repair a coarctation of the aorta.     

Fast Consecutive Intramolecular Processes Involving Protein and Fe(III) in Ferri-Cytochrome-c in Aqueous Solution

The reaction of H atoms (produced by nanosecond pulse radiolysis) with ferri-cytochrome-c in aqueous solution results in the second order formation of an absorption spectrum due to the addition of H atoms to the enzyme protein. This spectrum is not specific to the iron moiety. The rate constant of the addition is 1×10¹⁰M^?1 sec^?1. This is followed by two first order intramolecular processes with specific rates of ～ 1×10⁵ sec^?1 and ～ 2×10⁴ sec^?1. In these processes, specific spectra related to the α and β bands of ferro-cytochrome-c appear. The results are interpreted to show reduction equivalent transfer through the protein to the iron moiety.     

Über die Herstellung von α-Sulfofettsäureestern

Preparation of Esters of α-Sulfo-Fatty Acids A process for the continuous α-sulfonation of saturated fatty acid esters with SO₃ was worked out and a special bleaching process was developed for these products. The conversion, i. e. the degree of sulfonation is of the order of 95–99%. Solvents, further processing steps or purification operations for the separation of by-products are not required.     

Influence of amorphous silica on the hydration of tricalcium aluminate

Amorphous silica influences tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) hydration both in pastes and in suspensions. Two heat peaks are found by isothermal calorimetry during the paste hydration of C₃A. The addition of amorphous silica causes the second heat peak to shift towards shorter reaction times and become more pronounced. In suspensions, the change in ion concentration in the water phase is not influenced by the presence of amorphous silica except that the change in concentration occurs more quickly. Quantitative X-ray analysis shows that more 3CaO.Al₂O₃.6H₂O is present in suspensions containing amorphous silica than in silica-free suspensions at equal hydration times.     

Zur oligomerenbildung bei der thermischen polymerisation von styrol

It is shown that in thermal polymerization of styrene four dimers and six trimers are formed by parallel occurring oligomerization reactions. With increasing temperature the rate of oligomerization increases more rapidly than the rate of polymerization. The relativ yields of the different oligomers depend on temperature, too.     

Phosphofructokinase from mantle tissue of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Purification and effects of phosphorylation on the enzymatic activity

Phosphofructokinase purified from mantle tissue of the sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, was phosphorylated "in vitro" by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The incorporation of phosphate gave rise to an activation of the enzyme by increasing its affinity for fructose-6-phosphate, by decreasing its sensitivity to the inhibition by ATP and by enhancing the effect of allosteric activators (5'-AMP and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate). In addition, the effects of phosphorylation on the catalytic activity are pH-dependent.