Characterization of the interaction of metal-protoporphyrins photosensitizers with β- lactoglobulin.

We investigated the interaction of a series of metal-protoporphyrins (PPIXs) with bovine β- lactoglobulin (BLG) using a combination of optical spectroscopy and computational simulations. Unlike other studies, the simulations were not merely used to rationalize the experimental data but were employed to refine the experimental data itself. The study was carried out at two pH values, 5 and 9, where BLG is known to have different conformation dictated by the so-called Tanford transition which occurs near pH 7.

UNC-73 activates the Rac GTPase and is required for cell and growth cone migrations in C. elegans.

unc-73 is required for cell migrations and axon guidance in C. elegans and encodes overlapping isoforms of 283 and 189 kDa that are closely related to the vertebrate Trio and Kalirin proteins, respectively. UNC-73A contains, in order, eight spectrin-like repeats, a Dbl/Pleckstrin homology (DH/PH) element, an SH3-like domain, a second DH/PH element, an immunoglobulin domain, and a fibronectin type III domain.

Cloning by insertional mutagenesis of a cDNA encoding Caenorhabditis elegans kinesin heavy chain.

An additional genetic locus in Caenorhabditis elegans, unc-116, was identified in a screen for mutations resulting in defective locomotion. unc-116 was cloned by use of a transposon insertion mutant and the physical and genetic map of the genome. The cDNA sequence predicts an 815-amino acid protein.

C-fos expression in the pons and medulla of the cat during carbachol-induced active sleep.

Microinjection of carbachol into the rostral pontine tegmentum of the cat induces a state that is comparable to naturally occurring active (REM, rapid eye movement) sleep. We sought to determine, during this pharmacologically induced behavioral state, which we refer to as active sleep-carbachol, the distribution of activated neuron within the pons and medulla using c-fos immunocytochemistry as a functional marker. Compared with control cats, which were injected with saline, active sleep-carbachol cats exhibited higher numbers of c-fos-expressing neurons in (1) the medial and portions of the lateral reticular formation of the pons and medulla, (2) nuclei in the dorsolateral rostral pons, (3) various raphe nuclei, including the dorsal, central superior, magnus, pallidus, and obscurus, (4) the medial and lateral vestibular, prepositus hypoglossi, and intercalatus nuclei, and (5) the abducens nuclei.

[Treatment of diarrheic disease at home. Comparison of 2 forms of oral solutions: liquid and concentrated in small bags].

One hundred children, ranging in ages from a month to a year, with acute diarrhea who were treated at home following the basic standard recommendations, were studied. In order to prevent dehydration, half of the children were given oral solution (OS) containing the concentrated official formula in packets (group A), and the remaining half was given a commercially prepared ready-to-use OS (group B). During the treatment period, two house calls were made and the third day the patient was asked to come in for a check-up at the hospital.