Antagonism of the trypanocide,berenil, and the nematocide,morantel, by tubocurarine

Summary The tubocurarine antagonism, (pA₂ values) of acetylcholine, suxamethonium, morantel and berenil were calculated as 6.5, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.2 respectively with the toad rectus abdominis muscle. It is suggested that tubocurarine competitively inhibits the morantel and berenil induced contracture of the toad rectus abdominis muscle.     

Henri Moissan: the man, the collector, the teacher

On December 10 1906, Henri Moissan was in Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his isolation of fluorine in 1886 and for his electric arc furnace he described for the first time in 1892 then later improved and which opened the way to the new field of high-temperature chemistry. This was the first Nobel Prize for chemistry awarded to a Frenchman and Moissan was the only French pharmacist to have received this high distinction. He died suddenly at the age of 54 years, two months after receiving his Nobel Prize. In this presentation, we report the main elements of his biography, recalling the man, the teacher and the great collector of paintings and autographs, particularly from the period of the French revolution. We have used several unpublished or little known documents concerning this great scientist who with is broad culture and malicious humor always found the time, despite his many obligations, to satisfy his literary and artistic tastes.     

CAR在乳鼠肠、肝、心、脑、肾、肺组织的表达

目的检测柯萨奇-腺病毒受体(CAR)在乳鼠肠、肝、心、脑、肾、肺组织中的表达变化,为研究CVB感染引发病毒性疾病与组织中CAR表达水平的关联性提供参考。方法采用荧光实时定量PCR和Western blot法测定正常BALB/c乳鼠肠、肝、心、脑、肾、肺组织中CAR受体在核酸水平和蛋白水平的相对表达量。结果定量PCR显示CAR在乳鼠脑、肺、肠组织中表达显著高于肝、肾、心组织,差异均有显著性(P<0.01)。Western blot检测发现与定量PCR结果基本一致。结论 CAR的表达存在组织特异分布的特点。     

Hypertension, the Kuna, and the epidemiology of flavanols

A low sodium diet has often been implicated in the protection of low blood pressure populations from hypertension, but several other dietary factors, including those as yet unidentified, may also be involved. The Kuna Indians of Panama are free of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, but this is changing with migration to urban areas. We compared the indigenous diet of Kuna Indians living on remote islands in Panama (Ailigandi), whose lifestyle is largely hunter-gatherer, with those who have moved to a suburb of Panama City (Vera Cruz). Between April and October 1999, members of a Kuna research team administered a 118-item food frequency questionnaire to133 adult Kuna from Ailigandi and 183 from Vera Cruz. Single 24-hour urine collections and nonfasting blood samples were obtained. The Kuna in Ailigandi reported consuming a 10-fold higher amount of cocoa-containing beverages, 4 times the amount of fish, and twice the amount of fruit as urban Kuna (P<0.05 by t test). Salt added was ample among those living in Ailigandi and Vera Cruz according to both self-report (7.1+/-1.1 and 4.6+/-0.3 tsp weekly) and urinary sodium levels (177+/-9 and 160+/-7 mEq Na/g creatinine), respectively. The low blood pressure of island-dwelling Kuna does not seem to be related to a low salt diet. Among dietary factors that varied among migrating Kuna, the notably higher intake of flavanol-rich cocoa is a potential candidate for further study.     

Inositol,lithium, and the brain

This review of the background and present state of knowledge of the interactions of inositol metabolism and lithium commemorates the 150th anniversaries of the discovery of inositol and, independently, of first attempts to use lithium as a therapeutic agent. We review the inositol depletion hypothesis, which proposes that lithium's beneficial action in the treatment of bipolar disorder is attributable to its inhibition of the enzymatic breakdown of inositol phosphates to free inositol. A resulting reduction in free intracellular inositol is proposed to slow the recycling of inositol-containing metabolites required for signal transduction. We offer an alternative hypothesis, which is also based on lithium's blockade of inositol phosphatase, but proposes that neural signal transduction is suppressed as a consequence of lithium-induced inositol phosphate accumulation rather than of inositol depletion.     

NSAIDs, coxibs, and the intestine

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are capable of damaging the whole gastrointestinal tract. Small and large intestinal injuries manifest as acute changes in permeability with endoscopic erosions, chronic erosions and ulcers, diaphragms in the small bowel, and an increase in small and large bowel complications including perforation and diverticular bleeding. It is quite likely, though not proven, that such lesions contribute to anemia in patients taking them. A growing body of data shows that selective inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme have much reduced toxicity in this respect. In addition, NSAID use has also been associated with development or relapse of ulcerative colitis. Whether the same is true of Crohn's disease, particularly of the small bowel, is less clear. An important point is that there are data that suggest that paracetamol may also not be devoid of toxicity. This makes use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors attractive. There have been a number of reports of their use in inflammatory bowel disease. However, many of these have principally involved Crohn's disease and there have not been enough to be clear whether they affect the influence of relapse of ulcerative colitis.     

Radiation hormesis: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Three aspects of hormesis with low doses of ionizing radiation are presented: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good is acceptance by France, Japan, and China of the thousands of studies showing stimulation and/or benefit, with no harm, from low dose irradiation. This includes thousands of people who live in good health with high background radiation. The bad is the nonacceptance of radiation hormesis by the U. S. and most other governments; their linear no threshold (LNT) concept promulgates fear of all radiation and produces laws which have no basis in mammalian physiology. The LNT concept leads to poor health, unreasonable medicine and oppressed industries. The ugly is decades of deception by medical and radiation committees which refuse to consider valid evidence of radiation hormesis in cancer, other diseases, and health. Specific examples are provided for the good, the bad, and the ugly in radiation hormesis.