Phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase encoded by the PEL1/PGS1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is localized in mitochondria and its expression is regulated by phospholipid precursors

The PEL1/PGS1 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for the viability of rho ^–/rho° mutants and the normal cardiolipin content of cells. The PEL1-GFP fusion gene has been found to complement the pel1/pgs1 mutation and its fluorescent protein was localized to mitochondria similarly to the β-galactosidase activity of a protein encoded by the PEL1-lacZ fusion gene. The expression of the PEL1-lacZ reporter gene was repressed in cells grown in the presence of inositol and choline, reduced in the ino2 and ino4 strains, but constitutive in the opi1 null-mutant strain. The results demonstrate that Pel1p, playing a vital role in cells impaired in the mitochondrial DNA, is localized in the mitochondria and expressed in response to inositol and choline. Received: 15 June / 15 July 1998     

Localization of the Antigen and Antibodies in the Placenta of Immunized Sheep

ABSTRACT: Placentomata of sheep immunized with human serum albumin (HSA) were examined. Both HSA and immunoglobulins were found in the maternal part and maternofetal border of the placenta using FITC labelled antisera on paraffin sections. Radiolabelled HSA was also detected in the fetal blood. The ultrastructure of placentomata revealed immunopathological process.     

Plasma testosterone and catecholamine responses to physical exercise of different intensities in men

Summary Plasma testosterone, noradrenaline, and adrenaline concentrations during three bicycle ergometer tests of the same total work output (2160 J·kg^–1) but different intensity and duration were measured in healthy male subjects. Tests A and B consisted of three consecutive exercise bouts, lasting 6 min each, of either increasing (1.5, 2.0, 2.5 W·kg^–1) or constant (2.0, 2.0, 2.0 W·kg^–1) work loads, respectively. In test C the subjects performed two exercise bouts each lasting 4.5 min, with work loads of 4.0 W·kg^–1. All the exercise bouts were separated by 1-min periods of rest.Exercise B of constant low intensity resulted only in a small increase in plasma noradrenaline concentration. Exercise A of graded intensity caused an increase in both catecholamine levels, whereas, during the most intensive exercise C, significant elevations in plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline and testosterone concentrations occurred. A significant positive correlation was obtained between the mean value of plasma testosterone and that of adrenaline as well as noradrenaline during exercise.It is concluded that both plasma testosterone and catecholamine responses to physical effort depend more on work intensity than on work duration or total work output.This work was performed within the Scientific Exchange Programme between the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava and Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw/Project 10.4/     

Is There Association between Altered Adrenergic System Activity and Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by a 7-Day High Salt Intake in Young Healthy Individuals

This study aimed to test the effect of a 7-day high-salt (HS) diet on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in young healthy individuals and modulation of ANS on microvascular endothelial function impairment. 47 young healthy individuals took 7-day low-salt (LS) diet (3.5 g salt/day) followed by 7-day high-salt (HS) diet (~14.7 g salt/day). ANS activity was assessed by 24-h urine catecholamine excretion and 5-min heart rate variability (HRV). Skin post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and acetylcholine-induced dilation (AChID) were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Separately, mental stress test (MST) at LS and HS condition was conducted, followed by immediate measurement of plasma metanephrines’ level, 5-min HRV and LDF microvascular reactivity. Noradrenaline, metanephrine and normetanephrine level, low-frequency (LF) HRV and PORH and AChID significantly decreased following HS compared to LS. MST at HS condition tended to increase HRV LF/HF ratio. Spectral analysis of PORH signal, and AChID measurement showed that MST did not significantly affect impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation due to HS loading. In this case, 7-day HS diet suppressed sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, and attenuated microvascular reactivity in salt-resistant normotensive individuals. Suppression of SNS during HS loading represents a physiological response, rather than direct pathophysiological mechanism by which HS diet affects microvascular endothelial function in young healthy individuals.     

Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in newborns: Three case reports

We report three newborns with different manifestations ofUreaplasma urealyticum infection; a term newborn with acute neonatal pneumonia and two very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and osteomyelitis of the femur, respectively. The association ofU. urealyticum with acute and chronic respiratory disease in term and preterm newborns has recently been reported. Our two cases are similar to other case reports from the literature, but we were unable to find any previous reports of osteomyelitis due toU. urealyticum in the premature babies. Isolation ofU. urealyticum in pure culture from the blood was considered to be related to local infection in all three patients. All patients were cured by erythromycin.     

No interference of rheumatoid factor(s) with toxoplasmosis IgM determination in infancy

Sera from 263 newborns and infants suspected of congenital toxoplasmosis were tested for the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) by the latex agglutination test, of which 40 were also tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RF was detected in only one serum sample (0.38%), suggesting that false-positive results of the IgM-indirect fluorescent antibody test and the IgM-ELISA due to RF is most unusual in infancy.     

Duodenal and jejunal atresia with agenesis of the dorsal mesentery: "apple peel" small bowel.

Two newborn infants with duodenal and jejunal atresia and agenesis of the dorsal mesentery represent our surgical experience with "apple peel" small bowel or "christmas tree" demormity. The first patient had the typical appearance of this condition. The postoperative course was complicated by hyperbilirubinemia, septicemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The infant is in satisfactory condition 1.5 years after operation. The second patient had agenesis of the dorsal mesentery without spiraling of the bowel around its vascular stalk. The child died after 1 month, with complete absence of extrahepatic bile ducts as seen at a second laparotomy. Neither child had been subjected to gastrostomy.     

Fibrinolytic activity of earthworms extract (g-90) on lysis of fibrin clots originated from the venous blood of patients with malignant tumors

u-PA is secreted by the most malignant tumors. As a response to u-PA synthesis surrounding cells synthetize inhibitors of plasminogen activators for tissue protection. Plasminogen activators were found also in earthworm tissue. From the tissue homogenate of earthworm Eisenia foetida the glycolipoprotein mixture named G-90 was isolated. It contains two serine proteases (P I, P II) with fibrinolytic and anticoagulative activities. The fibrinolytic activity of G-90, P I and P II was tested in an in vitro euglobulinic test applied to fibrin clot from blood plasma of patients suffered from malignant tumors. G-90 and above-mentioned proteases applied in this study showed euglobulinic time proportionally with the concentrations of added substances. The influence of G-90 on the fibrinolysis rate does not depend only on its concentration, but depends too on histological type of tissue (organ) where the malignant tumors are located. Enzyme P I and P II do not show this activity.