Boron trifluoride monohydrate,a highly efficient catalyst for thioacetalrzation [1]

Boron trifluoride monohydrate, an inexpensive superacid, was found to be an efficient catalyst for thioacetalization.     

Molecular-biologic aspects of interaction between nervous and immune systems

The problem of the neuro-immuno interactions on the level of the protein trans-factors, stimulating interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression was discussed. The physico-chemical and functional parameters of the low molecular nuclear proteins (SP and BP- 14, 18, 19 kDs) isolated from splenic and brain cells of immunized rats were studied. The binding of these proteins to the regulatory region of IL-2 gene in vitro and stimulation of the IL-2mRNA synthesis in splenic T-lymphocytes culture in normal conditions were shown. The protective effect of SP and BP on the IL-2mRNA synthesis in stressful conditions and by the T-cells treatment with the CsA was demonstrated.     

Effect of exogamy on morbidity among children during the first three years of life

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA capping enzyme is composed of two subunits of alpha (52 kDa, mRNA guanylyltransferase) and beta (80 kDa, RNA 5'-triphosphatase). We have isolated the alpha subunit gene (CEG1) by immunological screening. In this report, with the aid of partial amino acid sequences of purified yeast capping enzyme, we isolated the gene, designated CET1, encoding the S. cerevisiae capping enzyme beta subunit. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the gene encodes for 549 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 61,800 which is unexpectedly smaller than the size estimated by SDS-PAGE. Gene disruption experiment showed that CET1 is essential for yeast cell growth. The purified recombinant CET1 gene product, Cet1, exhibited an RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity which specifically removed the gamma-phosphate from the triphosphate-terminated RNA substrate, but not from nucleoside triphosphates, confirming the identity of the gene. Interaction between the Cet1 and the Ceg1 was also studied by the West-Western procedure using recombinant Ceg1-[32P]GMP as probe.     

Bone densitometry of proximal femur in Chinese subjects: gender differences in bone mass and bone areas

Whether an association exists between cystopathy and progression of diabetic nephropathy has never been clarified. The aim of the present study was to measure the degree of cystopathy in relation to the rate of progression of diabetic nephropathy. To that end, 17 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy but without voiding symptoms were investigated urodynamically. The median age of the patients was 45 years (range 27-67 years), diabetes duration 23 years (range 14-44 years) and the serum creatinine level was 162 mumol/L (median, range 65-449 mumol/L) at the time of the study. The progression rate of diabetic nephropathy was analysed retrospectively by measuring changes in yearly mean values of Log10 serum creatinine for a period of 13 years (3-15 years) before the investigation. The progression rate was 0.028 mumol/L/year (median). Patients with a progression rate above and below the median rate were considered to be rapid (n = 8) and slow (n = 9) progressors, respectively. More women than men had a rapid progression rate of nephropathy. Rapid progressors were found to have smaller volume or residual urine (90 vs 165 ml; p < 0.05), larger volume voided (440 vs 270 ml; p < 0.05), lower opening pressure (18 vs 48 cm H2O; p < 0.05) and lower pressure at maximum flow (37 vs 64 cm H2O; p < 0.05) compared to slow progressors. However, these variables were not related to the progression rate of nephropathy (MANOVA). Furthermore, these results should be interpreted with caution because of the natural gender differences in pressure conditions. In conclusion, rapid progression of diabetic nephropathy does not seem to be associated with dysfunction of the urinary bladder measured with cystometry and pressure flow.     

Neurokinin induced inositol phosphate production in guinea pig bladder

PURPOSE: To examine second messenger pathways involved in neurokinin induced bladder contractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neurokinin induced changes in inositol phosphate production and in adenylyl cyclase activity are measured in the guinea pig bladder. RESULTS: Substance P, substance P methyl ester, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B each increase [3H]-inositol phosphate production in the guinea pig bladder. Substance P (10(-6) M) increases [3H]-inositol trisphosphate levels within 30 sec. Substance P and neurokinin A have an additive effect on inositol phosphate production, however substance P (10(-5) M) or neurokinin A (10(-5) M) induced inositol phosphate production is less than that induced by carbachol (10(-5) M). Neurokinin B and to a lesser extent neurokinin A inhibit forskolin-activated adenylyl cyclase activity. CONCLUSIONS: These data are compatible with neurokinin-induced inositol phosphate production being coupled to increases in contractile force of the guinea pig urinary bladder, however more than one second messenger pathway may be involved.     

Effect of cadmium on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in a freshwater field crab, Barytelphusa guerini

The kinetics of efflux of calcium mobilized from intracellular stores following activation of human neutrophils with the synthetic chemotactic tripeptide, fMLP (1 microM), as well as that of the subsequent store-operated influx of this cation, has been measured by radiometric procedures using 45Ca. These procedures enabled distinction between net efflux and influx of 45Ca. Preincubation of neutrophils in medium containing 45Ca as the sole source of Ca2+, followed by activation with fMLP, resulted in a rapid efflux of the cation, which coincided with its release from intracellular stores. Efflux terminated at approximately 30 s after addition of fMLP to neutrophils and resulted in the loss of 42 +/- 3% (P < 0.005) of cell-associated 45Ca. Net influx of 45Ca, which was insensitive to the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockading agent, verapamil (20 microM), could only be detected at 30-60 s after the addition of fMLP to neutrophils, and proceeded for about 5 min, resulting in intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ which were 27 +/- 3% (P<0.05) higher than preactivation levels. These results demonstrate that the efflux of cytoplasmic Ca2+ mobilized from intracellular stores during activation of neutrophils by fMLP, and the subsequent influx of extracellular Ca2+ to replete these stores, are chronologically distinct events in fMLP-activated neutrophils.