evaluation of the activity of Cinnamaldehyde as an inhibitor of the biological cycle of .

The objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of cinnamaldehyde as an inhibitor of the biological cycle of . Tests were carried out with six repetitions containing 10 eggs of together with 0.5g of diet and filter paper discs with area of 23.

The respiratory burst and electrolyte leakage induced by sulfhydryl blockers in egeria densa leaves are associated with H2O2 production and are dependent on Ca2+ influx.

In leaves of Egeria densa Planchon, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and other sulfhydryl-binding reagents induce a temporary increase in nonmitochondrial respiration (DeltaQO2) that is inhibited by diphenylene iodonium and quinacrine, two known inhibitors of the plasma membrane NADPH oxidase, and are associated with a relevant increase in electrolyte leakage (M. Bellando, S. Sacco, F.

Intestinal cytomegalovirus disease in immunocompromised patients may be ruled out by search for cytomegalovirus DNA in stool samples.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) PCR from stool specimens was adopted as a diagnostic tool for patients with suspected CMV colitis. After being established, the method was evaluated in 17 AIDS patients and 19 other immunocompromised patients by comparison of PCR results with clinical, histological, and microbiological or virological data. CMV PCR was positive in 4 symptomatic patients with proven CMV colitis and negative in 15 of 16 patients without characteristic histopathology.

[Pattern-induced flicker colors. An ophthalmologic examination method].

The pattern-induced flicker colours (PIFC), which belong to the subjective colours, are presented here as a method of investigating diseases of the eye and the visual track. Starting with Benham's top, new methods are elaborated for producing PIFC by means of rotating black and white discs and a computer-controlled black and white monitor. The investigations were performed in 40 normal and 111 pathological cases.

The pattern ERG in glaucoma: effect of pattern reversal time.

Pattern reversals with a ramp-like temporal course evoke transient pattern electroretinograms (PERG) that are delayed and attenuated in comparison with responses evoked by a step-like course (abrupt pattern reversals). This delay depends on the reversal time and probably represents a measure for temporal characteristics of the activated retinal structures. A pattern reversal stimulator with adjustable reversal periods (matrix of 8 x 14 rectangular red light emitting diodes, element size 2 degrees x 1 degree, stimulus area 16 degrees x 14 degrees) was used to record transient PERGs from 20 glaucomatous eyes with early or moderate visual field damages (measured with computer perimetry).

Cortical potentials to pattern reversal and luminance onset under ramp stimulation conditions in glaucoma.

Stimulus quantities with a ramp-like temporal course evoke cortical potentials that are delayed and attenuated in comparison with responses evoked by a step-like course. This delay probably depends on temporal transfer characteristics of the activated precortical visual system. In a pilot study, luminance onset and pattern-reversal stimulation using this technique (light-emitting diode stimulator; transition time, 50 ms) were applied to 18 glaucomatous eyes with early visual field damage.

[The Nagel anomaloscope in the diagnosis of eye diseases].

The Nagel anomaloscope can be incorporated in the diagnosis of eye diseases. Three parameters are relevant: 1. The measure of the absolute matching range (scale units) 2.

[Early diagnosis of congenital disorders of color vision with the Velhagen "Pflügerhaken Color Charts for evaluating color perception" in 3,375 preschool children].

In three series of examinations, 3375 male preschool-age children and 93 adult normal trichromates were tested using the Velhagen Pflügerhaken charts. The authors recommend modifying the evaluation of the results slightly by introducing a "doubteful" category for children who make one mistake or who show hesitation and lack of assurance in interpreting the charts. Using this modified form of assessment, diagnoses of "probably achromatopic" and "doubtful" were made in 7.

[Friedrich August von Ammon (1799-1861) and Dresden ophthalmology in the 1st half of the 19th century].

Friedrich August von Ammon of Dresden took a considerable part in shaping ophthalmology into a scientifically and clinically independent part of medicine, thus inserting himself into the great development of the specialty during the first half of the 19th century. In particular, he investigated the ontogeny of the human eye as well as its pathological anatomy. He edited journals, published monographs, created a school of his own and gained in this way far-reaching influence.

[Measuring contrast sensitivity using visual acuity tests in retinal and optic nerve diseases].

The luminance contrast needed to discern various test types was measured with monochromatic and achromatic light to detect discrete functional deficiencies of the retina and optic nerve in cases of normal visual acuity. Landolt rings corresponding to visual acuity levels from 0.04 to 1.

Plasmalemma Redox Chain and H Extrusion: II. Respiratory and Metabolic Changes Associated with Fusicoccin-Induced and with Ferricyanide-Induced H Extrusion.

Ferricyanide reduction by Elodea densa leaves is associated with a release of protons in the cytoplasm, a fraction of the increase in protons being then extruded by the ATP-driven proton pump (20). The data presented here show that ferricyanide induces a marked increase in O(2) uptake, additive to that induced by fusicoccin plus K(+), and here interpreted as depending on the utilization of ATP by the H(+) pump. Glucose 6-phosphate and malate levels are markedly increased by fusicoccin plus K(+).

Plasmalemma redox activity and h extrusion: I. Activation of the h-pump by ferricyanide-induced potential depolarization and cytoplasm acidification.

Ferricyanide reduction by Elodea densa leaves, in the dark, is associated with: (a) acidification of the medium; (b) decrease (about 0.2-0.3 units) of intracellular pH (measured in cell sap, cytoplasm, and vacuole); (c) depolarization of the transmembrane potential; (d) net efflux of K(+) to the medium.

[Color vision in cataract, aphakia and pseudophakia].

Color vision examinations were performed using a clinical test battery and two spectral laboratory methods. With aphakia and iris-clip lenses (ICL) there were slight acquired blue-yellow defects six months to three years after surgery, especially when the more sensitive laboratory methods were used. They were possibly caused by photochemical damage to the retina or by a barrier deprivation syndrome.

Stimulation of Weak Acid Uptake and Increase in Cell Sap pH as Evidence for Fusicoccin- and K-Induced Cytosol Alkalinization.

In maize root segments fusicoccin induced a consistent increase in cell sap pH (taken as representative of vacuolar pH). This effect was markedly enhanced by the presence of K(+) in the medium, whereas in the absence of fusicoccin K(+) did not significantly influence cell sap pH. Treatment with a weak acid at 2 mm concentration inhibited the uptake of a different ((14)C-labeled) weak acid fed at a lower concentration, thus suggesting that acidification of the cytoplasm inhibits weak acid uptake.

H-pumping driven by the plasma membrane ATPase in membrane vesicles from radish: stimulation by fusicoccin.

The effect of fusicoccin on Mg:ATP-dependent H(+)-pumping in microsomal vesicles from 24-hour-old radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings was investigated by measuring the initial rate of decrease in the absorbance of the DeltapH probe acridine orange. Fusicoccin stimulated Mg:ATP-dependent H(+)-pumping when the pH of the assay medium was in the range 7.

H extrusion and potassium uptake associated with potential hyperpolarization in maize and wheat root segments treated with permeant weak acids.

The rapid uptake of weak acids permeant in the uncharged form is accompanied in maize and wheat root segments by a hyperpolarization of the transmembrane electrical potential and an increase in K(+) uptake, suggesting a stimulation of the plasmalemma H(+) pump. The evaluation of weak acid-induced H(+) extrusion must take into account the alkalinization of the medium due to the rapid uptake of the uncharged form of the acid, partially masking the proton pump-mediated extrusion of H(+). The data corrected for this interference show that the lipophilic butyric acid and trimethyl acetic acid induce in maize and in wheat root segments a significant increase in ;real' H(+) extrusion, roughly matching the increase in net K(+) uptake.

The proton pumps of the plasmalemma and the tonoplast of higher plants.

Studies on intact cells, membrane vesicles, and reconstituted proteoliposomes have demonstrated in higher plants the existence of an ATP-driven electrogenic proton pump operating at the plasmalemma. There is also evidence of a second ATP-driven H+ pump localized at the tonoplast. The characteristics of both these ATP-driven pumps closely correspond to those of the plasmalemma and tonoplast proton pumps of Neurospora and yeasts.

Quantitative evaluation of pallor-disc ratio and colour of the optic disc by a photographic method.

A photographic technique is described, which is based on simultaneous photography of the papilla with green and red filters by means of a stereoscopic fundus camera. Using black and white film, the negatives are photometrically measured and the pallor-disc ratio and colour of the papilla are calculated from the densitometric tracings. The latter parameter is quantitatively expressed by a numerical index.

Influence of magnesium in the homogenization medium on the state of a divalent cation-stimulated, diethylstilbestrol-sensitive adenylnucleotidyl phosphatase activity from pea stem microsomal preparations.

The amount of divalent cation-activated, diethylstilbestrol-sensitive adenylnucleotidyl phosphatase activity recovered in the 'microsomes' (13000-80000 X g sediment) from pea stem tissue is strongly influenced by concentration of Mg2+ in the homogenization medium. The absence of Mg2+ during homogenization results in a marked decrease of the activity found in the microsomal fraction, compensated by its increase in the soluble fraction. Part of the solubilized activity becomes sedimentable at 80000 X g upon addition of 5-10 mM Mg2+ (or Mn2+, Ca2+, Zn2+) to the supernatant.

Purification and characterization of a divalent cation-activated ATP-ADPase from pea stem microsomes.

The microsomal fraction (13 000 -60 000 x g pellet) from pea stem shows a very high divalent cation-dependent, diethylstilbestrol- and orthovanadate-inhibited ATPase and ADPase activity. No detectable inorganic or organic pyrophosphatase and adenylate kinase and almost negligible activities of mitochondrial ATPase and of other phosphomonoesterases are present in this preparation. The ATPase and ADPase activities of microsomes have been solubilized with NaClO4 and then purified by gel filtration and DEAE-Sephadex fractionation to a final specific activity of 71.