Nachweis gentechnischer Veränderungen in Mais mittels PCR

Zusammenfassung  Ein PCR-Nachweis für gentechnisch ver?nderten Mais ?Event 176? der Fa. Ciba-Geigy wurde etabliert. Der Mais enth?lt Gene, die Selbstschutz gegen den Maiszünsler (Delta-Endotoxin-Gen ausBacillus thuringiensis) und Toleranz gegen das Herbizid Basta (Phosphinothricin-Resistenz-Gen ausStreptomyces hygroscopicus) vermitteln. Zudem enth?lt der Mais ein Ampicillin-Resistenz-Gen. Für die Amplifikation von Bereichen aus allen drei Genen wurden PCR-Primer entworfen. Mit Hilfe dieser Primer und mit ?Event 176?-Mais-DNA als Template konnten die entsprechenden Genbereiche in der PCR amplifiziert werden. Die PCR-Produkte wurden sequenziert, um ihre Identit?t zu best?tigen. Mit Hilfe der Delta-Endotoxin-PCR wurden, auch in Gegenwart von 10⁴fachem überschu? nicht gentechnisch ver?nderter Mais-DNA, fünf haploide Genome der ?Event 176?-DNA nachgewiesen.

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Identification of genetically modified maize by PCR

Summary  A PCR-test for the genetically modified maize ?Event 176? of Ciba-Geigy was established. The maize contains genes conferring resistance to the European corn borer (delta-endotoxin gene fromBacillus thuringiensis) and tolerance to the herbicide Basta (phosphinothricin resistance gene fromStreptomyces hygroscopicus). The maize contains also an ampicillin resistance gene. Primers were designed and using ?Event 176?-maize-DNA as template internal regions of the three genes were amplified with PCR. The PCR products were sequenced to confirm their identity. Using the deltaendotoxin primers in PCR down to 5 haploid genomes of ?Event 176?-DNA could be detected, even in the presence of a 10⁴fold excess of DNA from non-modified maize.

     

Hepatic reticuloendothelial function during parenteral nutrition including an MCT/LCT or LCT emulsion after liver transplantation – a double-blind study

It has been demonstrated that total parenteral nutrition (TPN) modulates the function of the hepatic reticuloendothelial system (RES). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of two different TPN lipid emulsions on the recovery of allograft RES function after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). In a prospective, double-blind study, OLTx patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group I ( n=13) received a TPN regimen that included long-chain triglycerides (LCT). Group II ( n=9) received a TPN regimen that included a fat emulsion consisting of both medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and LCT. At baseline, i.e., on days 2 or 3 after OLTx ( t1), before lipids for TPN were started, hepatic RES function was determined using the human serum albumin millimicrosphere technique (K-value, 1/min). A second measurement ( t2) was obtained after 7 days of TPN, including one of the study's two fat emulsions. The mean (+/- SD) K-value (1/min) was 0.48+/-0.16 in the LCT group and 0.55+/-0.28 in the MCT/LCT group at t1, and it improved to 0.62+/-0.21 in the LCT group and to 0.86+/-0.32 in the MCT/LCT group at t2. RES function recovery was significantly better in the MCT/LCT group ( P< or = 0.05). MCT/LCT emulsion appears to be the TPN fat emulsion of choice after OLTx as it seems to have less impact on hepatic RES recovery.     

Lifestyle determinants and mortality in German vegetarians and health-conscious persons: results of a 21-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The long-term observation of vegetarians in affluent countries can provide insight into the relative effects of a vegetarian diet and lifestyle factors on mortality. METHODS: A cohort study of vegetarians and health-conscious persons in Germany was followed-up prospectively for 21 years, including 1,225 vegetarians and 679 health-conscious nonvegetarians. Standardized mortality ratios compared with the German general population were calculated for all causes and specific causes. Within the cohort, Poisson regression modeling was used to investigate the joint effects of several risk factors on overall and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS: Standardized mortality ratios for all-cause mortality was significantly below 100: 59 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 54-64], predominantly due to a deficit of deaths from circulatory diseases. Within the cohort, vegetarian compared with nonvegetarian diet had no effect on overall mortality [rate ratio (RR), 1.10; 95% CI, 0.89-1.36], whereas moderate and high physical activity significantly reduced risk of death (RR, 0.62, 0.64), adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, and educational level. Vegetarian diet was however associated with a reduced RR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.41-1.18) for ischemic heart disease, which could partly be related to avoidance of meat. CONCLUSIONS: Both vegetarians and nonvegetarian health-conscious persons in this study have reduced mortality compared with the general population. Within the study, low prevalence of smoking and moderate or high level of physical activity but not strictly vegetarian diet was associated with reduced overall mortality. The nonsignificant reduction in mortality from ischemic heart diseases in vegetarians compared with health-conscious persons could be explained in part by avoidance of meat intake.     

Differentiation between the stimulus effects of (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide and lisuride using a three-choice,drug discrimination procedure

The discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and lisuride hydrogen maleate (LHM), were compared in a three-choice, water reinforced (FR 20) situation in which rats were required to press one lever following LSD (0.08 mg/kg), a second lever following LHM (0.04 mg/kg), and a third lever following saline. Reliable drug-appropriate responding was established in 72 sessions. Dose-response tests with LSD and LHM indicated that, as dose increased, the per cent of responding on the lever associated with the particular training drug also increased; little or no cross-transfer occurred between LSD and LHM. In generalization tests, the serotonin (5-HT) agonist quipazine substituted for LSD but not LHM while the dopamine (DA) agonist apomorphine mimicked LHM but not LSD; an unrelated compound, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), produced responding on the saline-appropriate lever. In combination tests, 5-HT antagonists (e.g., BC-105 and low doses of pirenperone) blocked responding on the LSD lever while DA antagonists (e.g., haloperidol and much higher doses of pirenperone) blocked LHM-appropriate responding. These data suggest that the three-lever (D-D-N) procedure is similar to, but can be more sensitive than the two-lever (D-N) procedure (because it can differentiate between LSD and LHM); they therefore at least partially support the hypothesis that three-choice discriminations can be conceptualized as two separate, two-choice (D-N) discriminations (Jarbe and Swedberg 1982). The results also confirm suggestion that the stimulus effects of LSD and LHM are mediated by different mechanisms; the primary action of LSD is serotonergic (5-HT₂), while that of LHM is dopaminergic (White 1986).Some of these data were presented at the meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, Toronto, 1988 (Satellite Session of the Society for the Stimulus Properties of Drugs). They were also submitted (in somewhat different form) to the Graduate School of the University of South Carolina in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an MA degree (in Experimental Psychology)     

A Comparison of the Periodontal Health of Patients during Treatment with the Invisalign? System and with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances

Objective:   

Evaluation of the periodontal health in patients during treatment with either fixed orthodontic appliances or the Invisalign^® system.     

Effects of stimulation and blockade of dopamine receptor subtypes on the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine

The involvement of dopamine (DA) receptor subtypes in the behavioral effects of CNS stimulants was studied in rats trained to discriminate occaine from saline. In substitution tests, the stimulus effects of 10mg/kg of this substance generalized tod-amphetamine (0.25–1.0 mg/kg) and the selective D₂ against LY-171555 (0.05–0.25 mg/kg); but not to the D₁ agonist SKF-38393 (5.0–15.0 mg/kg); in combination tests, the D₁ antagonist Sch-23390 (0.0625–0.5 mg/kg) significantly blocked, and the D₂ antagonist spiperone (0.25–0.5 mg/kg) partially blocked the cocaine cue. These data suggest that the involvement of DA systems in the behavioral effects of cocaine is more complex than either D₁ or D₂ receptor activation; for example, the stimulus properties of this substance might involve both D₁ and D₂ receptor activation.Some of these results were presented at the meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Toronto, 1988     

Evaluation of non-invasive blood pressure measurement by the Finapres method at rest and during dynamic exercise in subjects with cardiovascular insufficiency

The accuracy and precision of the Finapres in recording rest and exercise blood pressure compared with the intra-arterial (aortic and brachial) and random-zero sphygmomanometer methods was assessed in 84 ischaemic patients in three different studies. Firstly, comparison at rest with the aortic intraarterial pressure in 50 ischaemic patients demonstrated that the Finapres systolic (136.5 ± 21.1 vs. 129.3 ± 19.0 mmHg;p < 0.001) and mean (92.4 ± 13.4 vs. 90.7 ± 11.4 mmHg;p < 0.001) arterial pressures were higher and diastolic pressures lower (70.4 ± 11.5 vs. 71.5 ± 9.8 mmHg;p < 0.001). The reproducibility of the Finapres and invasive method was similar for systolic (4.6% vs. 4.0%), diastolic (2.8% vs. 2.7%) and mean (3.3% vs. 3.0%) blood pressures. Second, in seven subjects studied twice at rest and during 4 min supine bicycle exercise, the exercise increase in blood pressure was greater on the Finapres compared with the brachial intra-arterial pressure (systolic +10.2 ± 6.3 vs. +3.6 ± 9.8 mmHg; diastolic +9.6 ± 11.1 vs. +0.2 ± 2.1 mmHg;p = 0.02 for each); however, at steady-state the peak/trough differences in pressure between the methods were similar. Thirdly, compared under rest conditions, to random zero sphygmomanometer (RZO), the Finapres systolic pressure was higher (6.8 ± 3.5 mmHg) and diastolic pressure lower (–6.0 ± 1.9 mmHg). During upright bicycle exercise, the difference between the Finapres and RZO in systolic blood pressure increased at each level of exercise (+14.3 ± 4.2, +17.9 ± 4.0 and +22.2 ± 4.1 mmHg respectively at each exercise stage:p < 0.01). For RZO, diastolic blood pressure fell as exercise workload increased whereas Finapres diastolic blood pressure increased on exercise (3.1 ± 2.6, 7.0 ± 2.1 and 8.1 ± 2.0 mmHg respectively:p < 0.01). Thus there were systematic differences between the values recorded by the Finapres and proximal blood pressure methods and limited agreement in the rest to exercise increments related to light exercise. Calibration of the Finapres values in terms of the other methods is limited by the variable relationship to these related changes in arterial distensibility.     

Imaging receptors by autoradiography: computer-assisted approaches.

Receptor autoradiography is one of the first fields where 'desktop' computer-assisted image analysis has been applied. Less than 10 years ago, the first image analysis systems were commercially marketed. Improvements on these early systems have been substantial and there are currently a wide variety of systems available for investigators. These systems dramatically reduce the time required for analysis, improve accuracy and increase the willingness to work in these areas. New techniques allowing autoradiography without emulsion will further expand opportunities for image analysis. While great strides have been made, significant affordable improvements are likely in the near future.     

Discriminative stimulus properties of the serotonin agonist MK 212

In an attempt to clarify the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the discriminative stimulus properties of MK 212 (6-chloro-2[1-piperazinyl]pyrazine), male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate 0.5 mg/kg of this compound from saline. While the putative 5-HT agonists fenfluramine and m-chlorophenylpiperazine (MCPP) mimicked MK 212 in a dose-related manner, d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OHDPAT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT), quipazine, Ru 24969, and 1-(m-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP) failed to substitute completely. The 5-HT₁/5-HT₂ antagonists BC 105, metergoline, and methysergide completely blocked the MK 212 cue, while the selective 5-HT₂ antagonists ketanserin and pirenperone, the dopamine antagonists haloperidol and spiperone, and the beta-noradrenergic antagonist propranolol were without effect. The substitutions of fenfluramine and MCPP for MK 212 support a role for 5-HT in the MK 212 cue; however, the lack of substitution of many other 5-HT agonists is difficult to explain. The complete antagonism by 5-HT₁/5-HT₂ but not by selective 5-HT₂, antagonists suggests the possibility that 5-HT₁ receptors mediate the stimulus properties of MK 212. Further research is needed to support this hypothesis and to investigate the relative role of 5-HT and other neurotransmitters in the stimulus effects of MK 212.Portions of this research were presented at the Meeting of the Committee on Problems of Drug Dependence Satellite Session (International Study Group Interested in Drugs as Reinforcers and the Society for the Stimulus Properties of Drugs) in Baltimore, MD (1985)