Interaction of L-glutamic acid with human T-lymphocytes

A specific interaction of [3H]Glu with T lymphocytes from the blood of healthy donors (Kd = 0.236 microM) was revealed and described. It was found that unlabeled quisqualate, a structural analogue of L-glutamic acid, and unlabeled dipeptides Ala-Glu, Glu-Ala, and Glu-Glu competitively inhibit the specific binding of [3H]Glu to T lymphocytes (with Ki 0.19, 2.4, 3.4, and 1.2 microM, respectively). Binding experiments with conjugates of labeled and unlabeled glutamic acid with dextran showed that the receptors of [3H]Glu are localized on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of T lymphocytes.     

Clinical manifestations and treatment of intestinal dysbacteriosis in patients with Flexner's dysentery

Flexner's dysentery is often accompanied with intestinal dysbacteriosis. Disbiotic changes in the intestine contribute to specific shigella endotoxins entering blood flow thus prolonging clinical symptoms of the underlying disease. Administration of bacterial biological preparations (bifidumbacterin forte, lactobacterin) relieves specific endotoxemia, reduces the duration of the disease and has an immunomodulating action.     

Variability in function measurements of three sensory foot nerves in neuropathic diabetic patients

Although most short, linear peptide fragments of proteins are unstructured in aqueous solution, a number of immunogenic and antigenic peptides have been shown to have conformational preferences for structured forms. By using mainly NMR and CD spectroscopy, it has been possible to detect and quantify quite small populations of beta-turn, helical, and nascent helical conformations. Recent studies have been published indicating that the presence of structured forms is correlated with the location of T cell and/or B cell epitopes in peptide sequences. X-ray crystal structures of complexes between peptides and anti-peptide antibodies frequently show the peptides bound in beta-turn conformations, and the presence of helix in one peptide-antibody complex has been shown by NMR spectroscopy. Studies of peptides free in solution and bound to anti-peptide antibodies in the crystal indicate that the structure of the principal neutralizing determinant of HIV-1 probably includes at least one beta-turn in a highly conserved region. These results can potentially be used in the design of peptide-based vaccines.     

Some Features of Leaching of Two-Phase Alkali Borosilicate Glass Containing PbO

The paper reports the results of a comparative investigation into the leaching kinetics of two-phase alkali borosilicate glasses containing lead oxide in 3 M HCl solution at 100°C and the glasses free from lead oxide. It is revealed that the mechanisms of leaching of the studied glasses exhibit a common feature which resides in the fact that the temporary precipitation of the products of dissolution of the glass components within the leached layer occurs as an intermediate stage of the glass leaching. Unlike glasses free from PbO, the precipitation within the porous layer of a leached lead-containing glass is observed visually, and the presence of crystalline boron-containing precipitates in this layer is confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Compared to glasses prepared from two-phase alkali borosilicate glasses free from PbO, the porous glasses produced from two-phase glasses containing PbO are characterized by considerably smaller sizes of micropores and their larger specific surface at the same total porosity.     

Aluminum Alloy Matrix Composite Reinforced with Metallic Glasses Particles Using Hot-Roll Bonding

Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals - Composite materials (CMs) exhibit high hardness, mechanical strength, and wear resistance, but their processing properties are limited. The most popular...     

Suppression of inward-rectifying K+ channels KAT1 and AKT2 by dominant negative point mutations in the KAT1 alpha-subunit

Na(+)-glucose transport and transepithelial permeability were investigated during symptomatic acute cryptosporidiosis in newborn rats. The infection resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the ileal short-circuit current and a nonsignificant fall in the transepithelial potential difference and conductance. In glucose-stimulated conditions, the rise in ileal short-circuit current and transepithelial permeability were significantly lower in Cryptosporidium parvum-infected rats than in controls (delta Isc = 3.24 +/- 1.21 microA.cm-2 vs delta Isc = 5.09 +/- 2.23 microA.cm-2 in infected and control animals, respectively; P < 0.001; delta PD = -0.35 +/- 0.13 mV vs delta PD = -0.44 +/- 0.14 mV for infected and control animals, respectively; P < 0.01). Electrical parameters were not affected by addition of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin in either Cryptosporidium-infected newborn rats or controls. Horseradish peroxidase and mannitol flux studies demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in transepithelial molecular permeability in infected enterocyte rats, HRP flux = 380, range 68-5570 ng.cm-2, and mannitol flux = 1.06, range, 0.34-1.44%.cm-2.min-1, compared with controls rats, HRP flux = 4446 range, 1121-124,363 ng.cm-2, and mannitol flux = 1.99, range, 0.57-5.09%.cm-2.min-1; P < 0.05. These effects could originate from C. parvum-induced alteration of intracellular trafficking of pinocytosis vesicles and therefore account for the decrease in permeability to solute and macromolecules, together with impaired transcellular nutrient transport, in suckling rats.