Tumor suppression with a combination of alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine and interferon

alpha-Difluoromethyl ornithine and mouse type 1 interferon, when administered simultaneously, were highly toxic to B16 melanoma cells in culture. Oral administration of alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine suppressed B16 melanoma development in mice 85 percent whereas interferon given subcutaneously inhibited tumor growth only 24 percent. Total or near total suppression of tumor growth was observed in mice receiving both treatments.     

Experimental Differentiation between Phototaxis and Motility in Chlamydomonas snowiae

A reversible inhibition of phototaxis by acetic acid is demonstrated in Chlamydomonas snowiae. The inhibition is dependent on the pH of the medium and on the concentration of the inhibitor and does not act by affecting motility. Some substances closely related to fatty acids are also shown to be inhibitors of phototaxis, while certain metabolites have no effect. The possible mechanism by which the phototactic response is prevented is discussed.     

Inhibition of cellular proliferation of imaginal epidermal cells by diflubenzuron in pupae of the stable fly

A second mode of action has been found for the inhibition of chitin synthesis by diflubenzuron. This compound blocks synthesis of the imaginal cuticle by preventing formation of the adult epidermis in the pupal stage of the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.).     

Galactic water vapor emission: further observations of variability

Recent observations of the 1.35-centimeter line emission of water vapor from galactic sources show short-term variability in the spectra of several sources. Two additional sources, Cygnus 1 and NGC 6334N, have been observed, and the spectra of W49 and VY Canis Majoris were measured over a wider range of radial velocity.     

A C. elegans CLIC-like protein required for intracellular tube formation and maintenance

The Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal is composed of a single elongated and branched cell that is tunneled by an inner lumen of apical character. Loss of the exc-4 gene causes a cystic enlargement of this intracellular tube. exc-4 encodes a member of the chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family of proteins. EXC-4 protein localizes to various tubular membranes in distinct cell types, including the lumenal membrane of the excretory tubes. A conserved 55-amino acid domain enables EXC-4 translocation from the cytosol to the lumenal membrane. The tubular architecture of this membrane requires EXC-4 for both its formation and maintenance.     

Bioaccumulation of melamine in catfish muscle following continuous, low-dose, oral administration

In this study, catfish muscle was analyzed for melamine (MEL) and cyanuric acid (CYA) residues following experimental feeding with low doses of MEL and MEL and CYA (MEL+CYA) and with the insoluble melamine-cyanurate complex (MEL=CYA). Catfish were daily fed 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL for 15, 28, or 42 days, 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA for 28 days, 2.5 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA for 14 days, or 400 mg/kg BW of MEL=CYA for 3 days. Residues in the tissue were determined by LC-MS/MS. MEL was extracted with acidic acetonitrile, followed by defatting with dichloromethane, and isolated with cation exchange solid phase extraction (SPE). For CYA analysis, fish were extracted with dilute acetic acid, defatted with hexane, and cleaned up with a graphitic carbon SPE. Catfish fed 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL reached a maximum muscle residue concentration of 0.33 ± 0.04 mg/kg (ppm) after 28 days of continuous feeding. The same concentration was found for MEL+CYA feeding at the 0.1 mg/kg BW level for 28 days. Feeding at 2.5 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA yielded muscle concentrations above the 2.5 mg/kg level of concern for most of the study fish. Finally, catfish fed high levels of the MEL=CYA complex (400 mg/kg BW) accumulated relatively little MEL in the muscle (0.14 ± 0.07 mg/kg) and, unlike treatment with MEL+CYA, did not form renal melamine-cyanurate crystals. Appreciable concentrations of CYA were not detected in any of the muscles tested. These studies provide data to model the bioaccumulation of triazine residues into edible fish tissue as a result of the continuous consumption of adulterated feed.