A lea-class gene of tomato confers salt and freezing tolerance when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Although less cytotoxic, the new platinum complex [meso-1,2-bis(2,6-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylenediamine]sulfatopl atinum (II) (2) is equipotent to cisplatin (1) in the oestrogen-dependent MXT mammary tumour of the mouse. As this may be due to oestrogen level-lowering properties, we compared the effect of 1 and 2 on steroidogenesis in the rat. A single dose of 1 and 2 (20 mumol/kg s.c.) decreased plasma testosterone level in male rats by 90% (1, day 3) and 80% (2, day 7). Luteinizing hormone level remained unchanged in intact and in ovariectomized rats. The activities of the following testicular enzymes were decreased (day 7): cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (1: 33%; 2: 36%), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 4,delta 5-isomerase (1: 31%; 2: 48%) and 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (1: 21%; 2: 15%). Testicular microsomal cytochrome P450 content was also diminished (1: 60%; 2: 49%, day 7). Corticosterone level in plasma and biosynthesis in adrenal explants was not affected, indicating the selectivity of action at the gonadal level. In vitro, neither 1 nor 2 (2 and 20 microM) influenced binding of human chorionic gonadotropin to testis interstitial cells during an observation period up to 21 h. These results suggest that 1 and 2 act at the gonadal level by inhibiting the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes. They do not, however, inactivate the luteinizing hormone receptor.     

Absence or reduction of Fhit expression in most clear cell renal carcinomas

The FHIT gene at human chromosome region 3p14.2 straddles the common fragile site, FRA3B, and numerous homozygous deletions in cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Also, the 3p14.2 chromosome breakpoint of the familial clear cell kidney carcinoma-associated translocation, t(3;8)(p14.2;q24), disrupts one FHIT allele between exons 3 and 4, fulfilling one criterion for a familial tumor suppressor gene: that one allele is constitutionally inactivated. Because the FHIT gene sustains biallelic intragenic deletions rather than mutations, there has not been evidence that the FHIT gene frequently plays a role in kidney cancer, although replacement of Fhit expression in a Fhit-negative renal carcinoma cell line suppressed tumor growth in nude mice. We have now assessed 41 clear cell renal carcinomas for expression of Fhit by immunohistochemistry. Normal renal tubule epithelial cells express Fhit uniformly and strongly, whereas 51% of the tumors are completely negative, 34% of tumors show a mixture of positive and negative cells, and 14% are uniformly positive, although usually less strongly positive than the normal epithelial cells. Most interestingly, there was a correlation between complete absence of Fhit and the G1 morphological grade and early clinical stage. Morphological grades G2 and G3 exhibited a mixture of positive and negative cells with a tendency for a higher fraction of negative cells in G3. Fhit inactivation is likely to be an early event in G1 tumors and may be associated with progression in G2 and G3 tumors.     

Conformation-function relationship of vitamin D: conformational analysis predicts potential side-chain structure

In previous studies, we have grouped regions in space occupied by the vitamin D side chain into four: A, G, EA, and EG. We showed that the receptor (VDR) affinity of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 derivatives increases, in terms of side-chain region, in the order EG, G, A, and EA. We called this the active space group concept. In the present study, we used this active space group concept to analyze the conformation-activity relationship of about 40 representative potent 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues. We initially listed structural modifications in the side chain of potent vitamin D analogues and estimated their potency factor. Possible side-chain conformations of representative analogues were calculated by the molecular mechanics method and plotted on a dot map compared with the regions A, G, EA, and EG. The cell-differentiating potency of the analogues was correlated with our active space group concept with few exceptions. Among potent analogues with a natural configuration at C(20), the side chains of those with a 22-oxa, 22-ene, 16-ene, or a 18-nor modification were located in front of region EA (termed F). The side chains of the most potent 20-epi-22-oxa-24-homovitamin D analogues were concentrated at the left side of the EA region (L-EA). Thus, the side chains of almost all potent analogues were distributed around the EA region, and potency increased in the order A, F, EA, and L-EA.     

Influence of γ Irradiation on the Mechanical Strength and In Vitro Biodegradation of Porous Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Composite

Gamma irradiation treatment (GIT) is the most widely used sterilization method for biomaterials in spite of the potential to degrade polymers. The adverse effects of GIT on the mechanical properties and biological stabilities of porous hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) composites were investigated in this study. Those properties of a porous HAp/Col composite stabilized by dehydrothermal treatment (DHT) drastically decreased by GIT in the same manner as conventional pure Col materials. DHT after GIT could partially eliminate the adverse effects, due to the introduction of cross-linkage among the degraded Col molecules.     

Incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa of the patients participating in an in vitro fertilization program

Vagal primary afferent neurons have their cell bodies located in the nodose (inferior) and jugular (superior) vagal ganglia and send terminals into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) which lies in the dorsomedial medulla. The presence of glutamate (Glu)-containing neurons in the rat nodose ganglion was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Glu-immunoreactivity on nodose sections was found in neuronal perikarya and nerve fibers, but not in non-neuronal elements such as Schwann cells and satellite cells. Both immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive ganglion cells were observed. The immunoreactive ganglion cells amounted to about 60% of the nodose population. No specific intraganglionic localization was observed for the non-immunoreactive cells. Immunoreactive perikarya were slightly smaller than the non-immunoreactive ones, but no relationship was found between size and staining intensities of immunoreactive neurons. The present data indicate that immunodetectable Glu is present in a large population of vagal afferent neurons. They therefore add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Glu may be the main neurotransmitter released by vagal afferent terminals within the nucleus tractus solitarii.     

Some thoughts about the hydrogen civilization and the culture development

Civilization is defined as an aggregate achievement of inventions for realizing lofty human ideas, and culture is defined as the intellectual side. The realization of human ideas is the sustainable development (SD), and one of these pillars is the energy system. The main current of the human energy carriers has made the transition from coal to petroleum, and from petroleum to natural gas. This trend means the transition from the fuels with a larger ratio of carbon to those with a larger ratio of hydrogen. Ultimately, the main energy current will be converged to hydrogen. The hydrogen civilization is about to emerge today. The centripetal force acting upon every fuel toward hydrogen has an intellectual analogy to Brownian motion, which is one of the main topics of the concerned complexity science. Moreover, Ashby's requisite variety law indicates that the civilization must wear the cloth of the culture in order to build up the endlessly sustainable civilization.