bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graves Olgularında Kardiyovasküler Hastalık Risk Değerlendirmesi: Trombosit İndekslerinin Rolü
Authors: ÇELİK Hakim , TAŞKIN Seyhan , KİRMİT Adnan , EREN Mehmet Ali
Published: September 2020

Amaç: Gelişmiş ülkelerde en sık görülen hipertiroidi nedeni olarak belirtilen Graves hastalığı, tirotoksikoz, diffüz guatr ve oftalmopati ile karakterize otoimmün bir hastalıktır. Tiroid hormonunun, kardiyovasküler hemodinamiği değiştirebilecek etkilere sahip olması, hipertroidili hastaların kardiyovasküler komplikasyonlara yakalanma riskini arttırmaktadır. Tam kan sayımında rutin olarak rapor edilen; ortalama trombosit hacmi başta olmak üzere, trombosit indeksleri kardiyovasküler hastalıkların gelişimi ve takibinde önemli biyobelirteçler olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu nedenle çalışmamızda Graves hastalığının kardiyovasküler hastalıklar ile ilişkisini değerlendirebilmek amacıyla trombosit indekslerinin rolü araştırıldı.

Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 33 Graves hipertiroidili hasta ile cinsiyet, yaş ve vücut kitle indeksi benzer 37 sağlıklı kontrol dahil edildi. Çalışmada rutin olarak ölçülmüş olan trombosit indeksleri ve tiroid fonksiyon parametreleri incelendi.

Bulgular: Graves hastaları ile kontrol grupları arasında trombosit sayısı ve trombosit yüzdesi bakımından anlamlı herhangi bir fark bulunmazken (sırasıyla; p= 0,202; p= 0,289), ortalama trombosit hacmi ve trombosit dağılım genişliği Graves hastalarında kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı ölçüde yüksek bulundu (sırasıyla; p< 0,001; p= 0,015). Ayrıca Graves hastalarında ortalama trombosit hacmi ve trombosit dağılım genişliği ile serbest triiyodotironin arasında anlamlı pozitif ilişki saptanmıştır (sırasıyla; r= 0,505; p= 0,003 ve r= 0,366; p= 0,036). Yapılan alıcı işletim karakteristiği (ROC) analizine göre Graves hastalarında, ortalama trombosit hacmi ve trombosit dağılım genişliği düzeylerinin kardiyovasküler hastalıkların risk değerlendirilmesi için kabul edilebilir bir prediktif değere sahip olduğu gösterilmiştir.

Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, Graves hastalarında kardiyovasküler hastalıkları öngörebilecek önemli biyobelirteçler olduğu düşünülen ortalama trombosit hacmi ve trombosit dağılım genişliği yüksek bulunmuştur. Bu durum Graves hastalarının kardiyovasküler hastalıklara yakalanma riskinin yüksek olabileceğini düşündürmektedir.
Çocuklarda torakoport yardımlı laparoskopik apendektomi sonuçlarımız
Authors: BASUGUY Erol , OKUR Mehmet Hanifi , ARSLAN Serkan , AYDOĞDU Bahattin , AKDENİZ Sevinç , AZİZOĞLU Mustafa
Published: September 2020

Amaç: Açık, klasik multiport laparoskopi ve single insizyon laparoskopik cerrahinin (SILS) dezavantajlarının daha az olduğu torakoport yardımlı laparoskopik apendektomi deneyimlerimizi sunmayı amaçladık

Yöntemler: Çalışmada 2018 Ocak ve 2019 Aralık yılları arasında Dicle Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Çocuk Cerrahi kliniğinde akut apandisit nedeniyle apendektomi yapılan hastaların verileri geriye doğru incelendi. Hastaların cinsiyeti, yaşı, başvuru şikayetleri, tanı yöntemleri, laboratuvar tetkikleri, yapılan işlem, uygulanan tedavi yöntemleri ve hastanede kalış süreleri değerlendirildi. USG’ de net olarak ayırt edilemeyen şüpheli bulgular izlenen ve ek patolojiler olabileceği düşünülen hastalara kontrastlı Bilgisayarlı Tomografi (BT) istendi. Operasyondan bir gün sonra hastanın kliniği uygunsa oral başlandı. Takiplerde herhangi bir problemi olmayan hasta önerilerle taburcu edildi. Bir hafta sonra hastalar patoloji sonuçları ile kontrole çağırıldılar. Oluşan komplikasyonlar kaydedildi.

Bulgular: Çalışmamızda 177’si (%63,7) erkek, 101’i (%36,3) kız olmak üzere toplam 278 hasta vardı. Hastaların yaş ortalaması 11.6 (2-17) idi. Hastaların başlıca semptomları: Karın ağrısı %93.1 (n:260), iştahsızlık %79,1 (n:220), bulantı %26,9 (n:75), kusma %16,9 (n:47) ve ateş %4 (n:12) idi. Hastaların laboratuvar tetkiklerinde 209 (%75,2) hastanın WBC’ si yüksekti. CRP yüksekliği 218 (%78,4) hastada tespit edildi. USG’ de 235 (%84) hastada anlamlı bulgular izlendi. BT çekilen 16 hastanın ise 14’ünde (%5,03) apandisitle uyumlu bulgular izlendi. Hastaların tamamına ameliyata torakoport yardımlı laparaskopi ile başlandı. İşlem 250 (%89,2) hastada torakoport yardımlı laparoskopik apendektomi olarak tamamlandı. Beş hastada 2. port, 10 hastada 3. port ihtiyacı oldu. On üç hastada laparoskopik işlem sonlandırıldı ve açık cerrahiye geçildi. Hastaların ortalama yatış süresi 1.7 (1-4) gün idi. Komplikasyon olarak 4 hastada brid ileus, 3 hastada yara yeri enfeksiyonu, 1 hastada umblikal herni gelişti ve cerrahi olarak düzeltildi. Brid ileus gelişen hastaların 3’ü konservatif olarak, birisi cerrahi olarak düzeltildi.

Sonuç: Torakoport yardımlı laparaskopik apendektomi minimal invaziv bir yöntem olup kozmetik, maliyet, cerrahi işlemin kolaylığı, ağrı, hastanede yatış süresinin azlığı ve düşük komplikasyon gibi avantajları ile kullanılmasını önermekteyiz
MELAS AİLESİ: Klinik - Genetik Korelasyon
Authors: KOÇ Filiz , GÜLEÇ Hürü Rabia , GELİNCİK Hakan , BİŞGİN Atıl
Published: September 2020

MELAS (Mitokondriyal Ensefalopati Laktik Asidoz Stroke Benzeri Epizodlar), multisistemik bir kas hastalığıdır. Klinik bulgular miyopati, göz bulguları, sensorinöral işitme kaybı, epilepsi, baş ağrısı, inme, endokrinopatiler ile prezente olur. Hastalıktan sorumlu mutasyonlar sıklık sırasına göre A3243G, T3271C, C3093G, A3252G, C3256T, A3260G, T3291C, T3308C, A13514G’dır. Bu makalede, farklı semptomlara sahip A3243G mutasyonu tespit edilen bir aileden altı MELAS’lı olgu, hastalığın klinik bulgularına dikkat çekilmek üzere sunulmuştur.
Durkheim et les Relations internationales
Authors: Lebow Richard Ned
Published: September 2020

En revisitant la conception que se faisait Durkheim de la société moderne, j’utilise ce cadre pour examiner la société internationale contemporaine. Je compare et oppose la réponse de Durkheim à la modernité à celles d’autres théoriciens de la sociologie d’aujourd’hui. Durkheim est, de multiples manières, des plus prometteurs et pertinents pour le présent. Je cherche à comprendre pourquoi le type de solidarité qu’il envisageait ne s’est pas développé dans le monde moderne, tandis que l’on peut raisonnablement dire que les formes inclusives de solidarité sont presque partout déclinantes. À partir de cette analyse, je me tourne vers la société internationale et je pose une série de questions sur la solidarité, son absence relative ou bien le fait qu’elle se manifeste en « agrégats » et ses conséquences sur les relations internationales.
Repenser le statebuilding contemporain par l’approche durkheimienne des relations internationales
Authors: Lemay-Hébert Nicolas
Published: September 2020

L’oeuvre de Bertrand Badie a ouvert plusieurs avenues de recherche en relations internationales, que ce soit au sujet des affaires diplomatiques, des stratégies de puissance ou encore des effets de la mondialisation. Toutefois, l’une des contributions de l’oeuvre de Badie reste relativement peu abordée dans la littérature sur les relations internationales, à savoir la discussion sur la sociologie de l’État et le statebuilding contemporain. Cet article aborde cette contribution à travers le prisme de la dialectique entre les approches webérienne et durkheimienne de l’État, un dialogue entre deux pères fondateurs de la sociologie qui est l’une des pierres d’assise de l’approche badienne en relations internationales. Suivant un cadre d’analyse d’inspiration badienne sur les questions d’édification de l’État, cet article propose de montrer comment cette dernière peut être axée, soit sur des questions de cohésion sociale d’inspiration durkheimienne (« approche de la légitimité sociale »), soit sur des questions (néo-)webériennes de capacités de l’État (« approche institutionnelle »). Cet article relève également les limites de l’approche néo-webérienne tout en notant la complexité de la mise en pratique d’une approche d’inspiration durkheimienne.
Photosynthesis without β-carotene
Authors: Xu Pengqi , Chukhutsina Volha U , Nawrocki Wojciech J , Schansker Gert , Bielczynski Ludwik W , Lu Yinghong , Karcher Daniel , Bock Ralph , Croce Roberta
Published: September 2020

Carotenoids are essential in oxygenic photosynthesis: they stabilize the pigment–protein complexes, are active in harvesting sunlight and in photoprotection. In plants, they are present as carotenes and their oxygenated derivatives, xanthophylls. While mutant plants lacking xanthophylls are capable of photoautotrophic growth, no plants without carotenes in their photosystems have been reported so far, which has led to the common opinion that carotenes are essential for photosynthesis. Here, we report the first plant that grows photoautotrophically in the absence of carotenes: a tobacco plant containing only the xanthophyll astaxanthin. Surprisingly, both photosystems are fully functional despite their carotenoid-binding sites being occupied by astaxanthin instead of β-carotene or remaining empty (i.e. are not occupied by carotenoids). These plants display non-photochemical quenching, despite the absence of both zeaxanthin and lutein and show that tobacco can regulate the ratio between the two photosystems in a very large dynamic range to optimize electron transport.
POMK regulates dystroglycan function via LARGE1-mediated elongation of matriglycan
Authors: Walimbe Ameya S , Okuma Hidehiko , Joseph Soumya , Yang Tiandi , Yonekawa Takahiro , Hord Jeffrey M , Venzke David , Anderson Mary E , Torelli Silvia , Manzur Adnan , Devereaux Megan , Cuellar Marco , Prouty Sally , Ocampo Landa Saul , Yu Liping , Xiao Junyu , Dixon Jack E , Muntoni Francesco , Campbell Kevin P
Published: September 2020

Matriglycan [-GlcA-β1,3-Xyl-α1,3-]n serves as a scaffold in many tissues for extracellular matrix proteins containing laminin-G domains including laminin, agrin, and perlecan. Like-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase 1 (LARGE1) synthesizes and extends matriglycan on α-dystroglycan (α-DG) during skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration; however, the mechanisms which regulate matriglycan elongation are unknown. Here, we show that Protein O-Mannose Kinase (POMK), which phosphorylates mannose of core M3 (GalNAc-β1,3-GlcNAc-β1,4-Man) preceding matriglycan synthesis, is required for LARGE1-mediated generation of full-length matriglycan on α-DG (~150 kDa). In the absence of Pomk gene expression in mouse skeletal muscle, LARGE1 synthesizes a very short matriglycan resulting in a ~ 90 kDa α-DG which binds laminin but cannot prevent eccentric contraction-induced force loss or muscle pathology. Solution NMR spectroscopy studies demonstrate that LARGE1 directly interacts with core M3 and binds preferentially to the phosphorylated form. Collectively, our study demonstrates that phosphorylation of core M3 by POMK enables LARGE1 to elongate matriglycan on α-DG, thereby preventing muscular dystrophy.
Exploring the role of individual learning in animal tool-use
Authors: Bandini Elisa , Tennie Claudio
Published: September 2020

The notion that tool-use is unique to humans has long been refuted by the growing number of observations of animals using tools across various contexts. Yet, the mechanisms behind the emergence and sustenance of these tool-use repertoires are still heavily debated. We argue that the current animal behaviour literature is biased towards a social learning approach, in which animal, and in particular primate, tool-use repertoires are thought to require social learning mechanisms (copying variants of social learning are most often invoked). However, concrete evidence for a widespread dependency on social learning is still lacking. On the other hand, a growing body of observational and experimental data demonstrates that various animal species are capable of acquiring the forms of their tool-use behaviours via individual learning, with (non-copying) social learning regulating the frequencies of the behavioural forms within (and, indirectly, between) groups. As a first outline of the extent of the role of individual learning in animal tool-use, a literature review of reports of the spontaneous acquisition of animal tool-use behaviours was carried out across observational and experimental studies. The results of this review suggest that perhaps due to the pervasive focus on social learning in the literature, accounts of the individual learning of tool-use forms by naïve animals may have been largely overlooked, and their importance under-examined.
Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza
Authors: Isaac Moise
Published: September 2020

The uncertainty concerning the genre of the Ḥorvat ʿUza ostracon 1 is problematized through the lens of linguistic anthropology. Although a denotative approach to the linguistic forms in this Hebrew ostracon is well attested, less attention has been paid to the indexical meaning of specific stylistic features and their semi- otic register implications. Several linguistic-ideological concepts are drawn upon to examine how the act of inscription and specialized linguistic forms align the discursive genre of the ostracon with prophecy. I seek to determine what salient discourse forms in the ostracon index the employment of habitual utterance styles of prophecy that construct context, genre, and social identity.
Fresh Analysis of the Origin and Diachronic Development of “Dialectal Tanwīn” in Arabic
Authors: Stokes Philip W.
Published: September 2020

Scholars of Arabic dialects have long noted the occurrence of a morpheme in a widespread number of dialects, realized -ən or -an, frequently suffixed to morphologically indefinite nouns, especially when followed by an adjective. Separately, another morpheme, realized -un or -u, is attested with a slightly different distribution in the dialects of western Yemen. Traditionally, scholars have interpreted both morphemes as reflexes of an etymological case vowel + tanwīn (Blau 1981), traditionally labeled “dialectal tanwīn.” In this paper, I offer a new reconstruction of the origin and diachronic development of this morpheme. Throughout I integrate data and insights from comparative Semitics, as well as recently studied pre-Islamic epigraphic and textual materials, in order to break the familiar Classical Arabic / dialectal Arabic dichotomy and reframe the way in which historiography of features in the dialects is conducted.
Silence of the Commentaries
Authors: Kulkarni Malhar , Kahrs Eivind
Published: September 2020

As is well known, the Kāśikāvṛtti is the oldest extant rule-by-rule commentary on the Aṣṭādhyāyī of Pāṇini. Two major commentaries on it are available, the Nyāsa from the eighth century and the Padamañjarī, most likely from the eleventh century. In this article we focus on the term pradeśa, which is a familiar feature of the printed editions of the Kāśikāvṛtti on the sañjñā sūtras of the Aṣṭādhyāyī. A closer examination, however, shows that the sentence “Xpradeśāḥ — X . . . ity evamādayaḥ” (where X is the sañjñā) is not met with in either of the two commentaries. This has consequences for our understanding of the textual transmission of the Kāśikāvṛtti.
Evaluation of the Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soil around Electronic Dumpsite in Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Sawyerr Henry Olawale , Oladeji Francis Olusegun
Published: September 2020

The soil from antiquity has been the primary repository of all wastes. Millions of tons of toxic e-waste from a variety of sources annually find their way into dumpsites. The assessment of the levels of Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn and Cu in soil from Owutu dumpsite in Ikorodu, Lagos State was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Control samples were also taken at 1 km away from the location. At the dumpsite, the concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn and Cu were found to range between 0.85 to 2261.15 mg/kg, 8.05 to 111.2 mg/kg, 1.05 to 46.6 mg/kg, 310.45 to 5443.7 mg/kg and 160.3 to 8246.3 mg/kg while that of the control sites range between 52.45 to 72.05 mg/kg, 18.1 to 20.80 mg/kg, 0.25 to 3.2 mg/kg, 126.55 to 140.7 mg/kg and 181.45 to 185.85 mg/kg respectively. Heavy metal concentrations at the dumpsite were found to be higher than those at the control site and that of the regulatory bodies. Assessment of the contamination level of the soils at the dumpsite was done by calculating the metal contamination factor and Geoaccumulation index. The results revealed that there is gross contamination of the dumpsite with heavy metals due to the e-waste disposed on the site.
Physico-Chemical Treatment of a Wastewater Collector Loaded with Metals and Suspension Material by The Solution of Raw Carica papaya Latex
Authors: Alexis Togbe Finagnon Crépin , Pélagie Yete , Franck Yovo , Valentin Wotto
Published: September 2020

The papaya (Carica papaya), of the family Caricaceae, is a tree-like tropical plant, native to Central and South America. Papaya cultivation extends to all warm and humid countries. The present study consists in using the solution of raw Carica papaya latex (SLCP) cultivated in Benin as a natural biodegradable flocculant in a physico-chemical process to treat liquid discharges loaded with metals including iron, copper, zinc, and manganese; and suspended matter, and also to test its efficiency against other products commonly used in wastewater treatment. The tests were carried out on water samples from the wastewater collector that runs through the Agla district in Cotonou.

The comparative study with a commonly used flocculant, aluminium sulphate, showed outstanding competitiveness with a high flocculation power for the solution of Carica papaya raw latex. In six water samples from the collector with average concentrations of iron, copper, zinc and manganese of 18.20 mg/L ; 2.50mg/L ; 3.80 mg/L and 3.70 mg/L respectively, the percentages of metal removal exceeded 90% for iron and manganese and around 85% for copper and zinc with the combination FeCl3 + SLCP. The NaOH + SLCP combination showed a very significant effect on the removal of metals (96% reduction) and suspended matter.
Early presence of phospholamban in developing chick heart
Authors: Will Horst , Küttner Irmgard , Vetter Roland , Will-Shahab Liane , Kemsies Christel
Published: July 2002

Phosphorylation of phospholamban and development of reticular Ca2+ transport were studied in crude membrane preparations of embryonic, newborn and adult chick heart. Maximal phosphorylation of phospholamban by added catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase increases from embryonic day 4–15. It decreases with further development. In the same membrane preparations active Ca2+‐uptake into vesicles of sarcoplasmic reticulum rises from day 4–7 and decreases then slightly until day 20. A several‐fold increase in Ca2+‐transport activity occurs at the time of hatching. The data indicate separate genetic control for synthesis of phospholamban and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase.
Occurrence of a new hematoside in the kidney of guinea pig
Authors: Hirabayashi Yoshia , Li Yu-Teh , Li Su-Chen
Published: July 2002

We have isolated a new hematoside from guinea pig kidney. Like the usual hematoside (II3NeuAc‐LacCer), isolated from human erythrocytes, this new hematoside contained glucose, galactose, and N‐acetylneuraminic acid in an equimolar proportion. By thin‐layer chromatography (TLC), however, it migrated faster than the usual hematoside. After mild alkaline hydrolysis the TLC mobility of this ganglioside bacame identical to that of the usual hematoside. The sialic acid in this ganglioside was susceptible to Clostridial neuraminidase. Based on TLC mobility and the results of periodate oxidation, the sialic acid of the new hematoside was identified as 9‐O‐acetyl‐N‐acetylneuraminic acid. Therefore, the structure of this new hematoside is 9‐O‐Ac‐NeuAcα2→3Galβ1→4GLcβ1→1′Cer.
Brown adipose tissue in the parametrial fat pad of the mouse
Authors: Young P. , Arch J.R.S. , Ashwell Margaret
Published: July 2002

Cold acclimation has been shown to produce a substantial increase in the number of brown adipocytes in the parametrial fat pad of female BALB/c mice ‐ a site normally thought to consist of typical white adipocytes. The brown adipocytes have been identified not only on the basis of their morphology using light and electron microscopy, but also on the basis of the content of the mitochondrial ‘uncoupling protein’ (M
r = 32 000) which is characteristic of the proton conductance pathway of brown adipose tissue.
Selective uptake of ricin A‐chain by hepatic non‐parenchymal cells in vitro
Authors: Skilleter David N. , Foxwell Brian M.J.
Published: July 2002

Free ricin A‐chain was actively taken up in vitro by rat liver non‐parenchymal cells but not by parenchymal cells. A‐chain uptake by non‐parenchymal cells could be selectively inhibited by D‐mannose, L‐fucose or ovalbumin and was markedly decreased after partial removal of mannose residues from the oligosaccharides present in the glycoprotein by enzymic deglycosylation. Uptake of free ricin B‐chain by non‐parenchymal cells was greater than that by parenchymal cells but in both cases was little influenced by enzymic deglycosylation of the glycoprotein. The results are consistent with mannose receptor recognition of ricin A‐chain by non‐parenchymal cells and have important implications for the clinical use in vivo of antibody‐ricin A‐chain conjugates in cancer therapy.
Differences in cathepsin B mRNA levels in rat tissues ssuggest specialized functions
Authors: Segundo Bianca San , Chan Shu Jin , Steiner Donald F.
Published: July 2002

Thiol protease
Precursor processing
Lysosome
Gene expression
Protein degradation
Increased synthesis of poly(ADP‐ribose) in isolated liver nuclei from autoimmune NZB/NZW mice
Authors: Haug Brenda L. , Sibley John T. , Lee Jeremy S.
Published: July 2002

The synthesis and degradation of poly(ADP‐ribose) were investigated in isolated liver nuclei from autoimmune NZB/W mice and four strains of normal mice. Compared to normal mice the maximum levels of incorporation of P[3H]NAD into poly(ADP‐ribose) were increased about 2‐fold in the autoimmune mice. The kinetics of incorporation suggested that this change was due to an increase in the activity of the polymerase rather than a decrease in the level of degradative enzymes. Thus there may be a connection between autoimmunity and poly(ADP‐ribose) metabolism.
Differential regulation of muscle acetylcholine receptor γ‐and ϵ‐subunit mRNAs
Authors: Witzemann Veit , Barg Brigitte , Nishikawa Yoshiki , Sakmann Bert , Numa Shosaku
Published: July 2002

The contents of the mRNAs encoding the γ‐ and ϵ‐subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as well as the single‐channel properties of the receptor have been assessed in innervated, denervated and reinnervated rat muscle. The changes in abundance of the γ‐ and ϵ‐subunit mRNAs correlate with the changes in relative density of two classes of acetylcholine receptor channels. The results support the view that a switch in the relative abundance of the γ‐ and ϵ‐subunit mRNAs is a major mechanism in regulating the properties of acetylcholine receptor channels in muscle.
Relaxation of smooth muscle by cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic peptide is inhibited by cAMP‐dependent phosphorylation
Authors: Gagelmann M. , Hock D. , Forssmann W.G.
Published: July 2002

Cardiodilatins/atrial natriuretic peptides (CDD/ANP) exhibit a common amino acid sequence: Arg101‐Arg102‐Ser103‐Ser104. Cyclic AMP‐dependent phosphorylation of Ser104 of atrial peptides with [γ‐32P]ATP enables rapid identification of cardiac hormones. The biological activity of in vitro phosphorylated cardiodilatin (CDD‐28/α‐hANP) is dramatically altered compared to the unphosphorylated peptide: the vasorelaxant effect of cardiodilatin 28 is inhibited upon phosphorylation.
Tissue‐specific expression of mRNAs encoding α‐ and β‐catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase 2A
Authors: Khew-Goodall Yeesim , Hemmings Brian A.
Published: July 2002

The mRNAs encoding the catalytic subunits of the type 1 phosphatase and the α and β forms of phosphatase 2A (termed 2Aα and 2Aβ) were detected in all the porcine tissues examined (brain, heart, muscle, liver, kidney and ovaries). Total phosphatase 2A transcripts were about 10 times more abundant in brain and heart than in the other tissues while the distribution of phosphatase 1 mRNA showed significantly less variation. Phosphatase 2Aα mRNA was about 10 times more abundant than phosphatase 2Aβ mRNA in most tissues. Similarly, both the α and β forms of the mRNA of the catalytic subunit of the phosphatase 2A were present in all the rat tissues examined. In addition to the 2 kb mRNA generally expressed, rat tissues also express a 2.8 kb mRNA related to 2Aα and a 1.3 kb mRNA related to 2Aβ.
Subpicosecond characterization of the optical properties of the primary electron donor and the mechanism of the initial electron transfer in Rhodobacter capsulatus reaction centers
Authors: Kirmaier Christine , Holten Dewey
Published: July 2002

The optical difference spectrum of the excited primary electron donor, P*, in Rb. capsulatus reaction centers has been measured 600 fs after a 350‐fs flash at 870 nm. The spectrum is characterized by bleaching in the ground state absorption bands at 855 and 600 nm, and a weak featureless transient absorption in between. The lack of significant (if any) bleaching at 800 nm indicates that P does not contribute appreciable oscillator strength to the 800‐nm ground state absorption band. The conversion of P* to P+BPH−
L is accompanied by isosbestic points in the transient difference spectra at 765 and 798 nm. The existence of the longer‐wavelength isosbestic point, occurring essentially at the near‐infrared absorbance maximum of the accessory BChls, provides compelling evidence that if state P*BChl−
L forms, its transient concentration is exceedingly small. At certain wavelengths in the near‐infrared the absorption changes develop somewhat more slowly than the rate at which P* decays, a finding that may reflect a contribution from readjustments in the pigment‐protein complex in response to electron transfer.
14N‐coordination to VO2+ in reduced vanadium bromoperoxidase, an electron spin echo study
Authors: de Boer Eize , Keijzers Cornelus P. , Klaassen Adri A.K. , Reijerse Eduard J. , Collison David , Garner C.David , Wever Ron
Published: July 2002

Vanadium bromoperoxidase from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum was studied with electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy. After comparing the Fourier transformed (FT) ESEEM spectra with those of a number of vanadyl model compounds, it could be concluded that nitrogen is present in the equatorial plane of the vanadyl cation of reduced bromoperoxidase (14N frequencies occurred at 3.1, 4.2, 5.3 and 8.1 MHz). Furthermore, the FT‐ESEEM spectra of reduced bromoperoxidase exhibited an intense 1H modulation (13.8 MHz), which was completely replaced by a deuterium modulation at ∼2 MHz when bromoperoxidase was dissolved in D2O, instead of H2O. These latter data confirm earlier EPR experiments on reduced bromoperoxidase [(1988) Biochemistry 27, 1629–1635], showing that the oxo‐vanadium (IV) ion is coupled to exchangeable protons.
Syncytia formation in HIV‐1 infected cells is associated with an increase in cellular oleic acid
Authors: Apostolov K. , Barker W. , Galpin S.A. , Habib N.A. , Wood C.B. , Kinchington D.
Published: July 2002

Infection of cells with the human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV‐1) usually results in the formation of giant multinuclear cells (syncytia) [(1986) Nature 322, 470‐474; (1986) Nature 322, 725‐728; (1985) Hum. Pathol. 18, 760‐765; (1987) Arm. Neurol. 21, 490‐496]. The appearance of syncytia is associated with an increase in the monounsaturated oleic acid content. This report describes experiments which compare the activity of known antiviral agents with that of saturated fatty acid derivatives in inhibiting oleic acid and syncytia formation. A concept is introduced which proposes that infection of cells with the human immunodeficiency virus causes a rise in cellular oleic acid which leads to increased membrane fluidity.
Ion channels in vacuoles from halophytes and glycophytes
Authors: Pantoja Omar , Dainty Jack , Blumwald Eduardo
Published: July 2002

The electrical properties of the vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) of a halophyte, sugar beet, and a glycophyte, tomato, have been investigated using the patch‐clamp technique [(1981) Pflügers Arch. 391, 85–100]. Voltage‐dependent ion channels were analyzed using isolated membrane patches. Both species displayed channel activities which were nonselective between sodium and potassium. Beet tonoplast channels displayed inward rectification (65 pS and 10 pS for negative and positive potentials, respectively), while tomato tonoplast channels showed a constant conductance (25 pS) in the range −80 to +80 mV potentials. The observed low channel conductance at positive potentials in halophytes would prevent a significant loss of the Na+ accumulated in the vacuole through the operation of the Na+/H+ antiport [(1987) Physiol. Plant. 69, 731–734], while channel rectification in glycophytes would have no physiological significance.
Influence of surface charge on the incorporation and orientation of cytochrome c oxidase in liposomes
Authors: Steverding D. , Thiel C. , Kadenbach B. , Capitanio N. , Papa S.
Published: July 2002

Liposome; Cytochrome c‐oxidase; Orientation; Protein modification; Succinic anhydride; Cardiolipin
Identification of multiple ral gene products in human platelets that account for some but not all of the platelet Gn‐proteins
Authors: Bhullar Rajinder P. , Chardin Pierre , Haslam Richard J.
Published: July 2002

Polyclonal antibodies raised against specific recombinant low molecular mass GTP‐binding proteins were tested for their ability to recognize partially purified human platelet membrane Gn‐proteins (i.e. proteins that bind [α‐32PlGTP on nitrocellulose blots of SDS/polyacrylamide gels). An antiserum against simian ralA protein recognized a 27 kDa human platelet protein with the same apparent molecular mass as the major platelet Gn‐protein (Gn27). In further analysis by two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the isoelectric focusing step permitted resolution of 12 major Gn‐protein forms, seven of 27 kDa (Gn27a‐g), one of 26 kDa (Gn26) and four of 24 kDa (Gn24a‐d). The ralA antibody reacted strongly with the five most basic Gn27 species (a‐e), weakly with Gn26 and not at all with Gn27f, Gn27g or Gn24a‐d. We conclude that ral gene products account for some but probably not for all of the platelet Gn‐proteins.
Mutual dependence of Na,K‐ATPase α‐ and β‐subunits for correct posttranslational processing and intracellular transport
Authors: Ackermann U. , Geering K.
Published: July 2002

In this study, we have followed the fate of newly synthesized α‐ and β‐subunits of Na,K‐ATPase in Xenopus oocytes injected with α and/or β cRNA to examine whether assembly of the two subunits is needed for a correct folding and/or for intracellular transport of Na,K‐ATPase. Our data indicate that (1) assembly of α‐ and β‐subunits occurs at the level of the ER, (2) β‐subunits are needed for the newly synthesized α‐subunit to adopt a stable configuration and (3) α‐ and β‐subunits mutually depend on each other to be transported out of the ER.
The decreased level of casein kinase 2 in brain cortex of schizophrenic and Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Aksenova M.V. , Burbaeva G.Sh. , Kandror K.V. , Kapkov D.V. , Stepanov A.S.
Published: July 2002

The content of casein kinase 2 is considerably decreased in ribosome‐free extracts of the frontal cortex of schizophrenic and Alzheimer's disease patients in comparison to normal brains as has been demonstrated by means of immunoblotting. The activity of casein kinase 2 towards endogenous substrates and casein is also diminished in the cases of mental pathologies examined. This phenomenon may explain the well‐known aberrations in the phosphorylation of structural proteins of human brain which are intrinsic for the mental diseases.
Enrichment of bacteriochlorophyll g′ in membranes of Heliobacterium chlorum by ether extraction Unequivocal evidence for its existence in vivo
Authors: Kobayashi Masami , Watanabe Tadashi , Ikegami Isamu , van de Meent Erik Jan , Amesz Jan
Published: July 2002

Treatment of H. chlorum membrane preparations with diethyl ether of high degrees of water saturation raised the bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) g′ mole fraction, as determined by HPLC analysis of their acetone extracts, toward a level of 40% of total BChl g or higher. Starting from pure BChl g, the BChl g′ mole fraction should never exceed 24.6% which is the equilibrium value in diethyl ether. The existence (and possible functioning) of BChl g′ in vivo is thus unequivocally demonstrated.
Band 3‐hemoglobin associations The band 3 tetramer is the oxyhemoglobin binding site
Authors: Schuck Peter , Schubert Dieter
Published: July 2002

The associations between the band 3 protein of the human erythrocyte membrane and oxyhemoglobin, in solutions of a nonionic detergent, were studied by sedimentation equilibrium experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge. The following results were obtained: (i) hemoglobin is bound virtually exclusively to the band 3 tetramer, but not to the monomer or dimer; (ii) the band 3 tetramer can bind up to four hemoglobin tetramers; (iii) unlike the unstable dimers of unmodified band 3, stable dimers crosslinked via S S‐bridges also represent hemoglobin binding sites.
Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist in human epidermis and cultured keratinocytes
Authors: Gruaz-Chatellard D. , Baumberger C. , Saurat J.-H. , Dayer J.-M.
Published: July 2002

Interleukin 1 (IL‐1), present in high amounts in normal human skin without any sign of inflammation, suggests a complex mechanism by which its bioactivity is regulated. The specific receptor antagonist of IL‐1 (IL‐1ra) was analyzed in human skin, sweat and cultured keratinocytes. Extracts of both skin and cultured keratinocytes blocked the binding of [125I]IL‐1 to its receptor whereas sweat did not. The inhibitory activity was cell‐associated, was not secreted by cultured keratinocytes, and IL‐1ra mRNA was identified in these cells. There was an inverse relationship between the level of IL‐1ra and that of IL‐1α and β since extracts of differentiating keratinocytes (DK) and higher IL‐1ra levels and expressed more mRNA for IL‐1ra than non‐differentiated keratinocytes (NDK), whereas NDK contained 4 times more IL‐1α and β proteins than DK. This association of cell differentiation with a shift in agonist/antagonist ratio might be related to important autocrine or paracrine functions of IL‐1 in normal and inflamed human skin.
Steroid 21‐hydroxylase is a major autoantigen involved in adult onset autoimmune Addison's disease
Authors: Bednarek J. , Furmaniak J. , Wedlock N. , Kiso Y. , Baumann-Antczak A. , Fowler S. , Krishnan H. , Craft J.A. , Smith B.Rees
Published: July 2002

An adrenal‐specific protein reacting with autoantibodies in the sera of patients with adult onset Addison's disease has been purified from human adrenal glands. The protein, mol.wt. 55K, has the biochemical characteristics of steroid 21‐hydroxylase and reacts on Western blots with rabbit antibodies to recombinant 21‐hydroxylase. Absorption of the native human 55K adrenal protein with human adrenal autoantibodies prevented the subsequent reaction of the 55K protein with rabbit antibodies to 21‐hydroxylase in Western blot analysis. In addition, human adrenal autoantibodies reacted with recombinant 21‐hydroxylase expressed in yeast. These data indicate that the adrenal specific enzyme steroid 21‐hydroxylase is a major autoantigen involved in adult onset autoimmune Addison's disease.
Isolation of autophagocytosis mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Thumm M. , Egner R. , Koch B. , Schlumpberger M. , Straub M. , Veenhuis M. , Wolf D.H.
Published: July 2002

Protein degradation in the vacuole (lysosome) is an important event in cellular regulation. In yeast, as in mammalian cells, a major route of protein uptake for degradation into the vacuole (lysosome) has been found to be autophagocytosis. The discovery of this process in yeast enables the elucidation of its mechanisms via genetic and molecular biological investigations. Here we report the isolation of yeast mutants defective in autophagocytosis (aut mutants), using a rapid colony screening procedure.
Endogenous fusicoccin‐like ligand revealed in higher plants by radioreceptor and radioimmunoassays
Authors: Babakov Aleksei V. , Bartova Lidiya M. , Margulis Galina U. , Oganyan Robert R. , Voblikova Vera D. , Maisuryan Alexander N. , Dridze Irina L. , Muromtsev Georgii S.
Published: July 2002

Radioimmuno‐ and radioreceptor assays were developed for quantitating fusicoccin‐like substances in plants. FC‐like ligands were found in cultured horseradish roots (70–90 pmol/g) and headed cabbage leaves (9–11 pmol/g). Detection of FC‐like ligands in sterile root culture further argues in favour of endogenous fusicoccin representing a new type of phytohormone.
A mutation data matrix for transmembrane proteins
Authors: Jones D.T. , Taylor W.R. , Thornton J.M.
Published: July 2002

The widely used Mutation Data Matrix (MDM), is an amino acid comparison matrix calculated from a study of the exchange probabilities (or odds) derived from an analysis of the evolutionary changes seen in groups of very similar proteins. In this work, a mutation data matrix is calculated for membrane spanning segments. This new mutation data matrix is found to be very different from matrices calculated from general sequence sets which are biased towards water‐soluble globular proteins, and the differences are discussed in the context of specific structural requirements of membrane spanning segments. This new matrix will help improve the accuracy of integral membrane protein sequence alignments, and could also be of use in the rational design of site directed mutagenesis experiments for this class of proteins.
Biochemical, pharmacological and genomic characterisation of Ts IV, an α‐toxin from the venom of the South American scorpion Tityus serrulatus
Authors: Martin-Eauclaire M.F. , Céard B. , Ribeiro A.M. , Diniz C.R. , Rochat H. , Bougis P.E.
Published: July 2002

The venom of the scorpion, Tityus serrulatus, was fractionated to investigate the chemical and pharmacological properties of its α‐toxin content. Three α‐toxins (Ts III, Ts IV and Ts V) were purified by conventional chromatography (gel filtration and ion‐exchange chromatography), followed by immunoaffinity chromatography. Competition experiments using reference α‐ and β‐toxins suggested that these α‐toxins were contaminated with around 0.01% of β‐toxin. The sequence of the first 30 amino acids of Ts IV was established. Using an oligonucleotide probe, a cDNA encoding its precursor was cloned from a venom gland cDNA library. The primary structure deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence provides possible explanations for the polymorphism of these three molecules.
A developmentally regulated member of the sialyltransferase family (ST8Sia II, STX) is a polysialic acid synthase
Authors: Kojima Naoya , Yoshida Yukiko , Tsuji Shuichi
Published: July 2002

We found polysialic acid synthase activity of ST8Sia II (STX) in vitro and in vivo. Previously, we showed that mouse ST8Sia II exhibits α2,3‐sialylated N‐glycan α2,8‐sialyltransferase activity, but the polysialic acid synthase activity of ST8Sia II was not detected at that time [Kojima, N. et al. (1995) FEBS Lett. 360, 1–4]. When fetuin was [14C]sialylated with ST8Sia II and then its N‐linked oligosaccharides were analyzed, a part of the N‐linked oligosaccharides was eluted in the void volume from a Sephadex G‐50 column, and was eluted from the DEAE‐Toyopearl column at almost the same salt concentration as that where colomic acid was eluted. In addition, a series of 14C‐labeled oligo‐sialic acids were obtained from the oligosaccharides on partial mild acid hydrolysis. These results indicated that a part of N‐linked oligosaccharides of fetuin were polysialylated with ST8Sia II. Transfection of ST8Sia II gene into several cell lines including NIH3T3 led to the expression of polysialic acids on the cell surface. Thus, ST8Sia II can directly synthesize polysialic acid chains on α2,3‐sialylated N‐linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins without any initiator sialyltransferase.
In situ observation of streptavidin‐biotin binding on an immunoassay well surface using an atomic force microscope
Authors: Allen S. , Davies J. , Dawkes A.C. , Davies M.C. , Edwards J.C. , Parker M.C. , Roberts C.J. , Sefton J. , Tendler S.J.B. , Williams P.M.
Published: July 2002

Polystyrene microtitre wells are commonly used as supports for the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method of biomolecular detection, which is employed in the routine diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions. We have used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to directly monitor specific molecular interactions between individual streptavidin and biotin molecules on such wells. This was achieved by functionalising an AFM probe with biotin and monitoring the adhesive forces between the probe and a streptavidin coated immunoassay well. The results demonstrate that the AFM may be employed as an analytical tool to study the interactions between biomolecules involved in immunoassay systems.
Therapeutic options in panic disorder
Authors: Westenberg HGM
Published: July 2002

The principal management strategy for patients with panic attacks and agoraphobia has traditionally been behavioural therapy, but the delineation of panic disorder as a distinct diagnostic entity has stimulated psychopharmacological research on this psychiatric condition. As a result, the treatment of panic disorder has diversified. Effective pharmacological treatment of this disorder began with the antidepressant imipramine, but today a wide variety of efficacious agents are available for treating the symptoms of panic disorder. The four primary classes of agents for panic disorder are the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and the high-potency benzodiazepines (BZs). Effective non-pharmacological treatments are primarily behavioural, although cognitive approaches have also been shown to be successful.
Amisulpride versus fluoxetine in dysthymia: preliminary results of a double-blind comparative study
Authors: Smeraldi E , Haefele E , Crespi G , Casadei GL , Biondi F , Vigorelli E
Published: July 2002

The efficacy and safety of low doses of amisulpride (50 mg/day) and of fluoxetine (20 mg/day) were compared respectively in 139 and 129 outpatients with dysthymia during three months in a multi-centre double-blind trial. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in the number of responders at study-end with the Montgomery and Asberg Depressive Rating Scale, which was the main criterion for efficacy. In addition, amisulpride was well tolerated. These preliminary results suggest that low doses of amisulpride may be effective in the treatment of dysthymic patients.
Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate: signaling inside and out
Authors: Spiegel Sarah , Milstien Sheldon
Published: July 2002

Ample evidence indicates that sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (SPP) can serve as an intracellular second messenger regulating calcium mobilization, and cell growth and survival. Moreover, the dynamic balance between levels of the sphingolipid metabolites, ceramide and SPP, and consequent regulation of opposing signaling pathways, is an important factor that determines whether a cell survives or dies. SPP has recently also been shown to be the ligand for the EDG‐1 family of G‐protein‐coupled receptors, which now includes EDG‐1, ‐3, ‐5, ‐6 and ‐8. SPP is thus a lipid mediator that has novel dual actions signaling inside and outside of the cell.
Identification of the Y985 and Y1077 motifs as SOCS3 recruitment sites in the murine leptin receptor
Authors: Eyckerman S , Broekaert D , Verhee A , Vandekerckhove J , Tavernier J
Published: July 2002

The leptin system provides a link between adipose mass and the central nervous system. The appetite suppressing effects of leptin are impaired in most obese patients and some mutant mice strains. Herein we describe how suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3), a potential mediator of this leptin resistance is recruited into the activated murine leptin receptor complex. Using a functional assay based on inhibition of leptin mediated reporter induction, and using phosphopeptide affinity chromatography we show binding of SOCS3 to the highly conserved phosphorylated Tyr‐985 and Tyr‐1077 motifs within the mouse leptin receptor.
Genomic Exploration of the Hemiascomycetous Yeasts: 17. Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Casaregola Serge , Neuvéglise Cécile , Lépingle Andrée , Bon Elisabeth , Feynerol Chantal , Artiguenave François , Wincker Patrick , Gaillardin Claude
Published: July 2002

A total of 4940 random sequence tags of the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, totalling 4.9 Mb, were analyzed. BLASTX comparisons revealed at least 1229 novel Y. lipolytica genes 1083 genes having homology with Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes and 146 with genes from various other genomes. This confirms the rapid sequence evolution assumed for Y. lipolytica. Functional analysis of newly discovered genes revealed that several enzymatic activities were increased compared to S. cerevisiae, in particular, transport activities, ion homeostasis, and various metabolism pathways. Most of the mitochondrial genes were identified in contigs spanning more than 47 kb. Matches to retrotransposons were observed, including a S. cerevisiae Ty3 and a LINE element. The sequences have been deposited with EMBL under the accession numbers AL409956–AL414895.
VASP interaction with vinculin: a recurring theme of interactions with proline‐rich motifs
Authors: Reinhard Matthias , Rüdiger Manfred , Jockusch Brigitte M. , Walter Ulrich
Published: July 2002

VASP (vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein), a protein associated with microfilaments at cellular contact sites, has been identified as a ligand for profilin and zyxin, two proteins also involved in microfilament dynamics and organization at these regions. Here, we report that VASP also directly binds to vinculin, another component of adherens junctions. Competition experiments with a vinculin‐derived peptide showed that a proline‐rich motif, located in the hinge region that connects vinculin's head and tail domains, is involved in VASP binding. The same motif is present in zyxin but the interactions of VASP with vinculin and zyxin differ in detail. Hence, this motif may be recognized by VASP in different ways when presented in distinct cellular sites.
Molecular cloning of hemocyanin cDNA from Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea, Decapoda): structure, evolution and physiological aspects1
Authors: Sellos Daniel , Lemoine Soazig , Van Wormhoudt Alain
Published: July 2002

Hemocyanin is present as 2 subunits in the hemolymph of Penaeus vannamei. Isolated from a hepatopancreas cDNA library of this penaeid shrimp, the cDNA chain (2095 bp) corresponds to a full length hemocyanin messenger as determined by Northern hybridization, with a short 5′ untranslated region (17 bp), an open reading frame (1989 bp counting initiation and termination codons) coding for a signal peptide (13 residues) and a mature hemocyanin (648 amino acids), and a 3′ untranslated region (89 bp) followed by the polyadenylated track. It is the first time that the existence of a hydrophobic signal peptide is shown in arthropod hemocyanin. Two primary N‐terminal sequences are determined and a 3‐fold increase of mRNA content, measured in the hepatopancreas during the premoult stages, is reported. The low level of polymorphism shown by P. vannamei hemocyanin, along with its weak percentage identity with counterparts and its similarity with hemocyanin from Panulirus interruptus, suggests that this arthropod hemocyanin may be a primitive subunit that has evolved independently, following gene duplication.