Precocene II metabolism: Comparative in vivo studies among several species of insects,and structure elucidation of two major metabolites

Several species of insects, exhibiting varying responsiveness to the juvenile hormone antagonist precocene II (6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene), were challenged topically with a tritiated preparation of the title compound. Metabolism of [³H]precocene II was subsequently examined by withdrawing hemolymph samples from treated animals at appropriate time intervals and characterizing the extractable radiolabel chromatographically. Quantitative (or qualitative) differences observed between the respective metabolic profiles were found not correlative with specimen sensitivity to precocene. Production of two heretofore unreported metabolites, identified by spectral and chemical means as O-β-glucosides of 6- and 7-monodemethylated precocene II, was demonstrated in both sensitive and insensitive species. No evidence for the presence of a hemolymphborne, biologically effective “activated metabolite” produced in vivo by precocene-susceptible insects could be found. The latter finding may well argue for in situ bioactivation of precocene at the target tissue(s) by these sensitive insects.     

Clinical comparison of recovery from total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane in dogs

The characteristics of recovery from total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane was clinically compared in 149 client-owned dogs that anesthetized for surgical or diagnostic procedures. In all dogs, anesthesia was induced with an intravenous injection of propofol following premedication with acepromazine or diazepam. As a result, 58 dogs anesthetized with propofol-TIVA showed slower but smoother recovery than 91 dogs anesthetized with isoflurane anesthesia. The dogs stood at 34.5 +/- 19.3 and 27.7 +/- 17.2 min after propofol-TIVA and isoflurane anesthesia, respectively. Adverse effects, including hypersalivation, neurologic excitement (paddling, muscle tremor/twitching, opisthotonos) and vomiting/retching, were observed in similar infrequent incidences during the recovery from both anesthetic protocols. Propofol-TIVA is suggested to be an alternative anesthetic protocol for canine practice.     

Characterization of the pattern of cytokeratin proteins in the epidermal cells of loach,Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cyprinformes)

The pattern of cytokeratin proteins in the epidermal cells of loach was studied by immunotechniques and partial separation of the epidermal cells. Two monoclonal antibodies, namely 8F7 and 1C45, against the cytokeratin proteins of the loach epidermis were prepared. these two monoclonal antibodies exhibit distinctive results in immunohistochemical staining. The 8F7 monoclonal antibody stains mainly with the epithelial cells, while the 1C45 monoclonal antibody stains specifically with the club cells. The pattern of cytokeratin proteins in the club cells and the epithelial cells of various epidermal layers was further determined by partial separation of these cells. Immunoblotting analysis of the cell fractions confirms the cytokeratin proteins to be differentially expressed in the club cells and the epithelial cells. However, the cytokeratin proteins expressed in the epithelial cells of the basal, middle and outer layers are same. The results indicate that differentiation of the epithelial cells seems limited during their translocation from basal to upper layers, but in those cells that do differentiate into club cells, the cytokeratin pattern changes.     

香港行道树管理优化探讨

结合实际情况,分析香港市区行道树安全管理在综合管理措施、规划设计建设、种植养护技术等方面存在的不足,其管理观念及技术已经不符合当前绿化生态的理念及发展。继而针对性提出健全管理机构、优化技术措施、加强各部门的宏观协作等建议。     

Functional properties of oat globulin modified by a calcium-independent microbial transglutaminase

Oat globulin was modified by a calcium-independent microbial transglutaminase (TG). The TG-polymerized protein had higher solubility than the control at acidic pH and had improved water- and fat-binding properties. Incubation of 10% (w/v) oat globulin dispersions in the presence of TG at 37 degrees C led to the formation of a well-developed viscoelastic gel network with a microstructure characterized by thick strands and large clusters. The TG-induced gels had higher modulus values, lower loss tangent values, and lower frequency dependency than the heat-induced gels. The TG-induced gel system has the characteristics of classical polymer gel with permanent "chemical" cross-links, whereas the heat-denatured system has the characteristics of a temporary "physical" gel with breakable cross-links. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed marked shift and intensity changes in several major bands, suggesting pronounced changes in protein conformation during TG-induced gelation. Aggregation of protein molecules was also indicated by the progressive increases in two infrared bands (1679-1682 and 1622-1625 cm(-)(1)) associated with the formation of intermolecular beta-sheets and strands. Results suggest that new food polymers with unique functionality can be produced from oat globulin treated with TG and that elastic gels can be formed near neutral pH, instead of the alkaline pH required for thermally induced oat globulin gels.     

河南省金针菇丰产栽培技术的研究

作者系统研究了金针菇丰产栽培技术措施:通过品比试验,筛选出适合本省栽培的7个品种,它们是8901、三明1号,8902、8903,沪金1号,洛金1号,89016,均属浓色菌系,分枝类型为细密型,具有出菇早,分枝多,产量高等特点。其中8901不论在产量和经济性状上都超过全国推广种植的优良菌株三明一号。我省金针菇的适宜播期为9月中旬至10月下旬,以10月中下旬播种产量最高。栽培材料除棉籽壳和木屑外,还可用酒糟、豆秆、花生蔓、废棉、玉米芯等,用纯酒糟产量低,加入等量的棉籽壳后,产量明显提高。废棉籽含有较高的水溶性醣和可溶性氮,用来栽培金针菇生物效率可达84.2％;豆秆、花生蔓粉碎后加入10—20％麦夫皮或玉米粉,生物效率最高可达118％。用液体菌种栽培,具有生产周期短,出菇早,经济性状好的特点,比用固体菌种增产13.4％。     

Inhibition of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, by a bisthiolcarbamate juvenoid and related compounds

Biosynthesis of juvenile hormone in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is inhibited by the bisthiolcarbamate juvenoid N-ethyl-1,2-bis(isobutylthiolcarbamoyl)ethane both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro an extremely steep dose-response curve was obtained with an ID₅₀ value of 6 × 10^?6M. However, in vivo topical treatment with the compound resulted in mild JH antagonistic symptoms, suggesting rapid metabolism of the compound. In agreement with results from metabolic studies performed on plants and in mammals, sulfoxidation of the thiocarbamate S-(4-chlorobenzyl)N,N-diethylthiocarbamate resulted in an enhanced inhibitory effect on JH biosynthesis in vitro. This suggests that the corresponding thiocarbamate sulfoxides may act as intermediates in carbomylating critical thiol sites important in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, this study shows that these prototype compounds are interesting tools for further investigation of chemical inhibition of JH biosynthesis in insects.     

Evaluation of head-out constant volume body plethysmography for measurement of specific airway resistance in conscious, sedated sheep

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a modified whole body plethysmograph in awake sheep. ANIMALS: 10 healthy adult sheep. PROCEDURE: Concurrent measurements of specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) and pulmonary resistance (R(L)) were obtained using a novel noninvasive head-out constant-volume plethysmograph and esophageal balloon-pneumotachography, respectively. All data were collected before and after external resistive loading with 1 and 5.6 cm H2O/L/s. Functional residual capacity (FRC) was measured by helium dilution for computation of airway resistance (R(aw)) preloading (R(aw) = sR(aw)/FRC). RESULTS: The sR(aw) and R(L) were closely correlated in 10 adult sheep. Additionally, sR(aw), and R(L) accurately reflected the magnitude of added resistance. The mean FRC was 52 mL/kg and used to calculate R(aw). At baseline, the values for R(aw) were significantly correlated with sR(aw) and R(L). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Precise measurements of sR(aw) and R(aw) at baseline and sR(aw) after external resistive loading were obtained by use of this novel noninvasive plethysmographic technology. This method should have application to veterinary patients or animals used in research in which noninvasive rapid or serial measurements of sR(aw) in the conscious state are required.     

Detection of antibodies against Bordetella avium in turkeys by avidin-biotin enhancement of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the dot-immunobinding assay.

An avidin-biotin-enhanced enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AB-ELISA) and an avidin-biotin-enhanced dot-immunobinding (AB-DIB) assay for detecting antibody to Bordetella avium in turkey sera were developed and compared with the microagglutination (MA) test. Whole-cell antigen, biotin-labeled goat anti-turkey IgG conjugate, and horseradish-peroxidase-labeled streptavidin were used in the AB-ELISA and AB-DIB assay. The AB-ELISA and AB-DIB assay were sensitive, specific, and reproducible. These assays were superior to the MA test for measuring acquired and maternal antibodies against B. avium. All MA-positive sera were positive by two assays, but some sera negative by MA test had titers in the AB-ELISA and AB-DIB assay. AB-ELISA and AB-DIB titers showed a positive correlation (r = 0.866), and AB-ELISA was more sensitive than the AB-DIB assay.     

Evolutionary implications of two rainbow trout growth hormone genes

The primary structures of two rainbow trout growth hormone mRNAs (GH1 and GH2) have been deduced by direct sequencing of their respective cDNA clones and portions of the mRNA. Both GH1 and GH2 mRNA contain open reading frames comprised of 630 nucleotides and encode 210 amino acid residues of which 11 are variant. The translated regions of both mRNA are flanked by a short but rather conserved 5′-end, and a relatively long but highly diverged 3′-end. The differences at translated and 3′-untranslated regions suggest that the GH1 and GH2 mRNA originate from different loci. The GH1 and GH2 mRNA are likely transcribed from two distinct loci which were duplicated during tetraploidization of salmonid genome between 50 to 100 million years ago. The GH2 gene has been isolated and sequenced from a rainbow trout genomic library. This gene spans a region of approximately 4 kilobases. The trout GH gene is comprised of 6 exons and 5 introns, in contrast to 5 exons and 4 introns in mammals. The additional intron in the trout gene interrupts the translated regions that are analogous to the last exon of the mammalian counterpart. The alleged internally repeating sequences in mammalian GH, prolactin (Pr1) and placental lactogen (PL) are not observed in the predicted polypeptide sequence of trout GH. In addition, direct repeats that flank exons I, III and V of mammalian GH, Pr1 and PL genes are absent in trout gene. These findings indicate that the rainbow trout GH gene structure does not support the current hypothesis that internally repeated regions in GH, Pr1 and PL arose from a small primordial gene.