Expression of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense RNA in tobacco induces pathogen defense responses conferring increased resistance to tobacco mosaic virus.

Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced activity of either uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase, two enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway, are characterized by the accumulation of photosensitizing tetrapyrrole intermediates, antioxidative responses, and necrotic leaf lesions. In this study we report on cellular responses in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase and coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense plants, normally associated with pathogen defense. These plants accumulate the highly fluorescent coumarin scopolin in their leaves.

Experimental evidence for hydrophobic matching and membrane-mediated interactions in lipid bilayers containing gramicidin.

Hydrophobic matching, in which transmembrane proteins cause the surrounding lipid bilayer to adjust its hydrocarbon thickness to match the length of the hydrophobic surface of the protein, is a commonly accepted idea in membrane biophysics. To test this idea, gramicidin (gD) was embedded in 1, 2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) and 1, 2-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) bilayers at the peptide/lipid molar ratio of 1:10. Circular dichroism (CD) was measured to ensure that the gramicidin was in the beta6.

Multiple states of beta-sheet peptide protegrin in lipid bilayers.

Protegrin-1 (PG-1), a beta-sheet antimicrobial peptide, was studied in aligned lipid bilayers by oriented circular dichroism (OCD). All of its spectra measured in a variety of lipid compositions were linear superpositions of two primary basis spectra, indicating that PG-1 existed in two different states in membranes. We designated these as state S and state I.

Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction: comparison of procoagulant effects of streptokinase and alteplase regimens with focus on the kallikrein system and plasmin.

Background: Thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is hampered by procoagulant effects. In vitro studies have indicated that plasmin stimulation activates the kallikrein-contact-phase system, resulting in thrombin activation. This prospective comparative study was designed to examine the procoagulant effects of streptokinase or alteplase in AMI.

Effects of the combinations propofol/alfentanil and midazolam/fentanyl on blood pressure and contact phase system during coronary surgery.

Perioperative haemodynamic changes leading to severe circulatory problems during open-heart surgery still represent dreaded complications. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the use of applied anaesthetic agents and alterations of the contact phase of the intrinsic blood-clotting system, as changes within the kallikrein-kinin system can lead to a fall in blood pressure. In a randomized study, parameters of the kallikrein-kinin system, coagulation and fibrinolysis were determined for 36 patients with aortocoronary bypass operations.

Memory effects in the action of ozone on conifers.

Conifers are known to possess relative ozone tolerance in short-term experiments. A scenario for ozone damage of conifers is now derived from the first exposure experiments in which both the initial biochemical response phase and delayed visible symptom development were studied. A number of early biochemical ozone responses could be detected in Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.

Interactive effects of ozone and low UV-B radiation on antioxidants in spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles.

To study the role of low UV-B radiation in modulating the response of antioxidants to ozone, 4-year-old pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) seedlings potted in natural soil, were exposed in phytochambers to fluctuating ozone concentrations between 9 and 113 nl 1 according to field data recorded at Mt Wank (1175 m above sea level, Bavaria, Germany) and two-times ambient O levels.

A new intermediate in the mineralization of 3,4-dichloroaniline by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATCC 34541 has been reported to be unable to mineralize 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA). However, high mineralization is now shown to occur when a fermentation temperature of 37 degrees and gassing with oxygen are used. Mineralization did not correlate with lignin peroxidase activity.

Neutron off-plane scattering of aligned membranes. I. Method Of measurement.

We describe a method of measuring neutron scattering of aligned membranes with the momentum transfer oriented parallel or partly perpendicular to the plane of the membranes. The method obtains the complete information for the structures within fluid membranes obtainable by scattering. Data from alamethicin- and magainin-induced pores are presented.

Streptokinase-induced activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and of the contact phase in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is hampered by a considerable reocclusion rate. Thrombin activity is enhanced, and contact-system activation via plasminemia might be possible. Prospectively we examined the contact phase and the kallikrein-kinin system and additional molecular markers of hemostasis and fibrinolysis in AMI.

Endothelial tissue-type plasminogen activator release in coronary heart disease: Transient reduction in endothelial fibrinolytic reserve in patients with unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We sought to examine whether the disturbed fibrinolytic system in patients with an acute coronary syndrome is associated with a reduced endothelial fibrinolytic capacity.

Background: Intracoronary thrombus formation is a frequent finding in acute coronary syndromes. Systemic alterations of coagulation and fibrinolysis are known to occur, but possible disturbances of endothelial fibrinolytic function have not been investigated.

Misclassification of smoking in a follow-up population study in southern Germany.

Smoking prevalence in southern Germany was studied in 1984-1985 using a representative cohort of 4022 subjects aged 25 to 64 years, with 3753 reinterviewed in 1987-1988. Data were available for analysis from interviews on self-reported smoking behavior and from serum cotinine measurements in both investigations. More men than women reported current smoking, and particularly heavy smoking.

The effects of cheilectomy on dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Our purpose in this study was to determine the effects of cheilectomy on the mechanics of dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. Ten fresh-frozen cadaver feet were utilized, of which two demonstrated radiographic evidence of hallux rigidus. Each specimen was rigidly mounted on a custom-made slide tray that was articulated with a hinge mechanism designed to dorsiflex the first MTP joint.

The use of quantitative bacteriologic assessment of bone.

The purpose of this paper was to examine whether quantitative bacteriologic assessment of bone is a reliable indicator of the adequacy of debridement of draining wounds involving bone. This is a retrospective review of 31 consecutive patients treated for draining posttraumatic/ surgical wounds involving bone. Nineteen patients met the necessary criteria and were included in the study.

Patterns of regional brain activity differentiate types of anxiety.

Previous studies have reported hemispheric asymmetries in brain activity in anxiety, but the direction of asymmetry has been inconsistent. A distinction between anxious apprehension (e.g.

Effect of changing the size of lipid headgroup on peptide insertion into membranes.

Adsorption of amphiphilic peptides to the headgroup region of a lipid bilayer is a common mode of protein-membrane interactions. Previous studies have shown that adsorption causes membrane thinning. The degree of the thinning depends on the degree of the lateral expansion caused by the peptide adsorption.

Frequencies of polycentric chromosomes following combinational treatments of Chinese hamster ovary cells with restriction endonucleases and X-rays, bleomycin or DNase I.

Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with combinations of the restriction endonucleases AluI, EcoRI or PstI and bleomycin, DNase I or X-rays. With few exceptions the frequencies of polycentric chromosomes calculated as dicentric chromosomes (DIC) were additive or less than additive after combinational treatments when compared with the effects of treatments with the single compounds. Less than additivity was found when the frequencies of DIC were higher than 150 DIC per 100 cells indicating a saturation effect.

[Prescribing strong opioids for pain therapy and for substitution therapy by established physicians].

The prescription of strong opioid by general practitioners was studied, particularly for the treatment of chronic pain. In a medium-sized town (around 250 000 inhabitants) 17,839 prescriptions of strong opioids were issued by 455 doctors over 5 years (1 January 1990 until 31 December 1994) to 1,939 patients. Of these patients 37.

Mechanism of alamethicin insertion into lipid bilayers.

Alamethicin adsorbs on the membrane surface at low peptide concentrations. However, above a critical peptide-to-lipid ratio (P/L), a fraction of the peptide molecules insert in the membrane. This critical ratio is lipid dependent.

Membrane pores induced by magainin.

Magainin, found in the skin of Xenopus laevis, belongs to a broad class of antimicrobial peptides which kill bacteria by permeabilizing the cytoplasmic membrane but do not lyse eukaryotic cells. The 23-residue peptide has been shown to form an amphiphilic helix when associated with membranes. However, its molecular mechanism of action has been controversial.

Radiographic contrast media and the coagulation and complement systems.

Intravascular contrast agents have several side effects including alterations of the hemostasis and the complement system. The effects on these systems may be one of the main causes of the "adverse contrast agent reaction." In vitro and in vivo evidence is provided that both ionic and nonionic contrast media activate the plasma kallikrein with consecutive activation of the factor XII-contact phase and stimulation of the bradykinin generation.

The quality of autotransfused chest-drainage blood after cardiac surgery: a study of coagulation factors.

A wide range of experience, dating back as far as 1978, has been gained with both the hard-shell cardiotomy reservoir of the heart-lung machine and the Sorensen autotransfusion system as retransfusion systems. Three remains, however, a lack of knowledge regarding the quality of retransfused blood in systems of less complex construction which are already available on the market and involve the use of a pouch (Sentinel-Seal autotransfusion system and Pleur-evac collecting system). The present study entailed the investigation of blood from the chest drainages of twenty patients after cardiac surgery by using a simple retransfusion system (Sentinel-Seal autotransfusion system).