Universal CD43 molecule

CD43 is an integral cell membrane mucin appearing on hematopoietic cells in embryonic life probably on cells of vitellus bag, in embryonic and foetal liver and in foetal bone marrow. In adults CD43 occurs both on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells as well as on peripheral mature white blood leukocytes with the exception of resting B lymphocytes. CD43 is also found on tissue macrophage, dendritic cells, smooth muscle cells, epithelium and endothelium. CD43 expression was detected on cells of leukaemias myeloid and lymphoid, lymphoma cells and metastases of solid neoplasms. Due to the elongated, twig-resembling shapes and numerous negatively charged rests of sialic acid CD43 can act in an anti-adhesive fashion e.g., disturbing ICAM-1 (CD54)--LFA-1 (CD11A/CD18) interaction. Alternatively, in certain conditions CD43 can be pro-adhesive. So, e.g., adhesion hematopoietic progenitor cells to stromal bone marrow cells partly depends on CD34-CD43 cooperation. Similarly, according to the degree of cell maturity and the kind of cell line, CD43 can induce either activation or cell apoptosis. So, bindig CD43 by specific monoclonal antibody induces activation and proliferation of T cells and also the oxidation burst of monocytes and neutrophils. On the other hand, CD43 induces apoptosis, especially in dividing progenitor hematopoietic stem cells.     

Long-term experience with poly(glycol monomethacrylate) gel in plastic operations of the nose.

Between 1964 and 1970 the authors implanted Hydron gel in 62 patients with nose malformations. The cosmetic defects most frequently operated on were the saddle, and scoliosis of the nasal dorsum. By the end of 1973, 39 of the total number of cases were checked again. In two cases, the gel had to be removed shortly after the operation because of local inflammatory changes. No signs of hypersensitivity could be detected. Calcifications were detected by x-ray examination in 54.2% of the cases. Thirty-four of the patients subjected to the checkup were satisfied with the results of their operations. The authors considered the results to be very good in 16 cases, and unsatisfactory in 6 cases. Calcifications detected by x-ray examination did not affect the final cosmetic effect. None of the examined patients had any complaints in connection with long-term application of the gel. Hydron gel seems to be a suitable implant material in plastic operations of the nose.     

Effects of muscle fatigue on mechanically sensitive afferents of slow conduction velocity in the cat triceps surae

1. Group III and IV muscle afferents have been shown to be sensitive to both mechanical stimuli and metabolic and thermal changes in muscle. To establish the potential role of slowly conducting muscle afferents in regulating motor output during fatigue, we recorded from mechanically sensitive group III and nonspindle group II afferents originating in the triceps surae in barbiturate-anesthetized cats. We evaluated the response of these afferents to tetanic muscle contraction, stretch, and surface pressure, before, during, and after fatigue. 2. Our results show that muscle fatigue both increases spontaneous discharge in these mechanically sensitive afferents and sensitizes their response to muscle stretch, surface pressure, and, in a few instances, muscle contraction. These fatigue-induced changes typically occurred after 5-10 min of submaximal fatiguing stimulation. 3. During recovery from muscle fatigue, several contraction-sensitive free nerve endings, which had become sensitized to contractions during fatigue, remained sensitized after 20-30 min of rest. 4. The results of this study provide support for the hypothesis that fatigue-induced excitation of slowly conducting afferents is significant in mediating fatigue-induced inhibition of motoneuron output. However, our finding that the discharge of many slowly conducting mechanoreceptor afferents declines during the initial phase of fatigue argues against a primary role for these afferents in mediating the initial decline in motoneuron rate that is so prominent in fatiguing maximum voluntary muscular contraction.     

Detection and analysis of IgG antibodies in sera of patient with atopic dermatitis (AD) to individual wheat polypeptides by immunoblotting techniques

To detect IgG antibodies in sera of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) to individual wheat polypeptides, wheat flour proteins were extracted with tris-citrate buffered saline containing urea and 2-mercaptoethanol (UTC solvent), and fractionated as polypeptides of molecular weights between 12 and 100 KDa. By means of the immunoblotting techniques, specific IgG antibodies to fractionated proteins could be detected in sera from healthy individuals and AD patients. Twenty AD patients' sera with high titers of wheat specific RAST (scores of more than 3) reacted not only to five major wheat components (33-38, 40-45, 55-60, 80, 90-98 KDa), which stained intensively with Coomassie brilliant blue G-250, but also to polypeptides of 14, 16, 22, 29, 70 KDa. Twelve control sera reacted to a limited number of the five major wheat components, and levels of specific IgG antibodies increased with age. The sera of AD patients in the present study contained increased level of IgG antibodies to the five major components, and additionally to several minor components, 70 KDa, 29 KDa and much smaller proteins.     

Molecular epidemiologic analysis of group A rotaviruses in adults and children with diarrhea in Wuhan city,China, 2000–2006

Summary To compare epidemiologic features and genetic characteristics of group A rotaviruses causing diarrhea in children and adults, a survey was conducted in Wuhan, China, during the period of Dec. 2000–May 2006. A total of 3839 stool specimens from diarrheal patients from eight hospitals were analyzed. Winter seasonality was observed for rotavirus diarrhea in both adults and children, showing overall rotavirus-positive rates of 9.0 and 23.9%, respectively. Throughout the study period, G3 was the most frequent G serotype in both adults and children (detection rates 86.2 and 87.8%, respectively), and was mostly associated with VP4 genotype P[8], VP 6 genotype II (subgroup II), and NSP4 genotype B. G3 rotaviruses were differentiated into eight electropherotypes, among which seven types were found in specimens from both adults and children. VP7 gene sequences of G3 rotaviruses from adults and children (6 and 4 strains, respectively), detected in different years and different hospitals, showed extremely high sequence identities (99–100%) to each other and to a few G3 rotavirus strains reported in Asia. However, lower sequence identities (82–96%) were observed to most of the human and animal G3 rotaviruses reported so far, including some Chinese strains. These findings indicate that in Wuhan, China, epidemic and genetic features of rotaviruses are similar in adults and children, and it has been suggested that G3 rotaviruses that might have originated from the same rotavirus were circulating among children and adults as prevailing viruses. In this study, two rotavirus strains, G9P[8] strain L169, derived from an adult, and G4P[6] strain R479, derived from a child, were isolated and genetically analyzed. The VP7 gene of L169 belongs to a major lineage of G9 rotaviruses that are globally widespread, but is distinct from G9 rotaviruses reported previously in China. The strain R479 had a VP7 gene which was divergent from most G4 human rotaviruses and showed an unusual dual subgroup specificity, I + II. The R479 VP6 gene does not belong to the main clusters of subgroup I and II rotaviruses phylogenetically, but is related to those of the porcine rotaviruses and some unusual human rotaviruses represented by the RMC321 strain isolated in eastern India.     

In vitro studies of platelet adhesion, activation, and protein adsorption on curcumin-eluting biodegradable stent materials

A major complication of coronary stenting is in-stent restenosis (ISR) due to thrombus formation. We hypothesized that locally released curcumin from coronary stent surface would inhibit ISR due to thrombus formation because of antithrombosis of curcumin. In the present work, curcumin-eluting polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) films were fabricated and their properties in vitro were investigated. The in vitro platelet adhesion and activation, as well as protein adsorption on curcumin-loading PLGA films were investigated to evaluate the blood compatibility of curcumin-eluting films. The structure of curcumin-eluting PLGA film and control was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicating that the peaks of curcumin did not shift in curcumin-eluting films. The results of contact angle and surface free energy indicated that loading curcumin in PLGA would make PLGA become more hydrophilic, which contributed to the increase of polar fraction of surface free energy. With the increase of curcumin in films, platelets adhering to the curcumin-eluting films decreased significantly. The number of activation platelets decreased after incorporating curcumin in PLGA films. Loading curcumin in PLGA film can markedly reduce the fibrinogen adsorption. All results indicated that incorporating curcumin in PLGA film can improve the blood compatibility of PLGA films. It can be used to fabricate drug-eluting stent to prevent thrombosis formation.     

Reproductive anatomy and fecundity estimation of the haematophagous ectoparasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carnus hemapterus</Emphasis>

The dynamics of host–parasite interactions depends to a large extent on the effect of host responses on parasite fitness. An increased research effort is currently being invested in the study of host influence on parasite fitness both at a population and at an individual level even though basic information (e.g. the reproductive anatomy of parasites) is frequently missing. Here, we study for the first time the reproductive system of the diptera Carnus hemapterus, a 2-mm long, highly mobile haematophagous fly parasitizing nestlings of a broad variety of bird species. Although this species is poorly known, it is being increasingly used for the study of host–parasite interactions. We also assess the reliability of a method to estimate fecundity based on the number of laid eggs per gravid female and analyse the effect of body size on fecundity estimates. Our results show that carnid flies are synovigenic, so that both the number of laid eggs at a given moment and the egg load represent only a fraction of the true potential fecundity. Moreover, laid eggs are probably a fraction of the number of mature eggs ready to be laid since females withheld seemingly mature eggs at oviposition. A high proportion of pregnant females did not lay eggs, and the number of eggs laid per pregnant female varied remarkably. The latter is explained partly by a positive relationship with body size (thorax length and abdomen width). Caution is needed when using the number of laid eggs as a shortcut estimation of fecundity in C. hemapterus. We propose some improvements to the method for assessing Carnus fertility.     

Functional Characteristics of Serotonin 5-HT<Subscript>2A</Subscript> and 5-HT<Subscript>2C</Subscript> Receptors in the Brain and the Expression of the 5-HT<Subscript>2A</Subscript> and 5-HT<Subscript>2C</Subscript> Receptor Genes in Aggressive and Non-Aggressive Rats

The functional activity of serotonin 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_2C receptors and the expression of the genes encoding them were studied in Norway rats bred for 60 generations for the presence and absence of high levels of stress-evoked aggression to humans. There were no significant differences in the levels of 5-HT_2A receptor mRNA in the midbrain, frontal cortex, and hippocampus and the extents of head twitching evoked by the 5-HT_2A agonist DOI in rats with and without genetically determined high levels of aggression. Administration of the selective 5-HT_2C agonist MK-212 weakened reflex startle in response to an acoustic signal (the acoustic startle response) in non-aggressive animals but had no significant effects on the response in aggressive animals. Increases in the level of 5-HT_2C receptor mRNA were seen in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in non-aggressive rats as compared with aggressive animals. Increases in the expression of the 5-HT_2C receptor gene and the functional state of 5-HT_2C receptors were seen in the brains of non-aggressive rats, without any changes in the 5-HT_2A receptor mRNA level or receptor sensitivity; this is evidence for the involvement of 5-HT_2C receptors in the mechanisms inhibiting fear-evoked aggressive behavior.