Subcellular localization and possible functions of gamma-glutamyltransferase in the radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plant.

Previously we reported the purification of soluble gamma-glutamyltransferases (GGTs) from radish cotyledon. Subcellular fractionation of radish cells revealed that soluble GGT is a vacuolar enzyme. Acivicin, a GGT inhibitor, mediated the in vivo catabolism inhibition of the glutathione S-conjugate generated from endogenous glutathione and exogenously supplied monochlorobimane.

Influence of concomitant food intake on the excretion of orally administered myo-inositol hexaphosphate in humans.

myo-Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) widely occurs in plant seeds. At present, some important benefits of InsP6 for human health have been described. The purpose of this study was to find the best condition for the optimum absorption of orally administered InsP6, evaluated by InsP6 urinary excretion.

Venlafaxine extended-release in patients older than 80 years with depressive syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this evaluation was to assess the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine extended-release (ER) in very old primary care out-patients with depressive syndrome and associated anxiety symptoms.

Methods: This was an observational, naturalistic, multicenter, prospective, open-label study in an outpatient population with a diagnosis of depressive syndrome with anxiety symptoms. Minimum scores of 17 and 10 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D(17)) and Anxiety (HAM-A), respectively, were required.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the screening scale for DSM-IV Generalized Anxiety Disorder of Carroll and Davidson.

Introduction: The aim was to validate the Spanish version of the screening scale for DSM-IV General Anxiety Disorder of Carroll and Davidson for use in research and clinical practice in Spain for screening and assessing specific anxiety symptoms of patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Methods: Observational, prospective, multisite, study comparing between patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of GAD (group A), starting or switching treatment (group A1) or stable patients (group A2), followed-up for 6 months (group A1) or 2 weeks (group A2) versus healthy control subjects (group B), assessed in a single visit.

Results: Among 223 valuable subjects the scale showed: a) adequate feasibility with a mean time of administration: 6.

Third ventricle glioblastoma. Case report and review of literature.

Unlabelled: A glioblastoma presenting as a solitary third ventricle mass is exceptional.

Case Description: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman who lost consciousness, was taken to hospital and referred a previous history of depression and diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging study revealed a heterogeneous anterior third ventricle mass with ring enhancement after contrast administration.

Study of survival, dispersal and home range of autumn-released red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa).

1. On a private property with a stable population of wild red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) and an appropriate habitat for the survival of the species, reinforcement repopulations were carried out in the months of October and November for two consecutive years using 5- to 6-month-old birds reared on a commercial game farm. 2.

Phytate (Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) inhibits cardiovascular calcifications in rats.

Calcification is an undesirable disorder, which frequently occurs in the heart vessels. In general, the formation of calcific vascular lesions involves complex physicochemical and molecular events. Calcification (hydroxyapatite) is initiated by injury and is progressed by promoter factors and/or the deficit of inhibitory signals.

Intracellular and extracellular myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), from rats to humans.

The presence of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) in biological fluids (blood, urine, saliva, interstitial fluid) of mammalians has been clearly demonstrated. The existence of intracellular InsP6 in mammalian cells has also been established. Further, significant extracellular and intracellular functions of this molecule have been found.

Effect of plane of nutrition on seasonality of reproduction in Spanish Payoya goats.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a seasonal pattern of sexual activity in female Payoya goats and if this seasonality could be modulated by nutrition. During the experimental period of 20 months, 43 non-pregnant adults goats were penned under natural photoperiod at latitude 37 degrees 15'N. At the onset of the experiment, the animals were allocated to three experimental groups differing in the level of nutrition and whether the animals were entire or ovariectomized does.

Study of a myo-inositol hexaphosphate-based cream to prevent dystrophic calcinosis cutis.

Background: Calcinosis cutis is a disorder caused by abnormal deposits of calcium phosphate in the skin and is observed in diverse disorders. Myo-inositol hexaphosphate (InsP(6)) is a diet-dependent molecule found in all mammalian fluids and tissues, which exhibits an extraordinary capacity as a crystallization inhibitor of calcium salts.

Objectives: To establish the effects of topically administered InsP(6) cream on artificially provoked dystrophic calcifications in soft tissues.

The intraluminal thread model revisited: rat strain differences in local cerebral blood flow.

There are major differences in the outcome of focal cerebral ischemia between rat strains. This study aimed to investigate whether inter-strain differences exist in the local cerebral blood flow, changes produced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Fifty-four male Long-Evans, Sprague-Dawley or Wistar rats were subjected to 60 minutes of transient MCAO, carried out with a silicone-coated 4-0 nylon monofilament.

Study of the absorption of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) through the skin.

Recently, some properties of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) are related to its dermatological use as discolouring agent, on preventing calcinosis cutis or due to its important role on premature aging. Some studies also seem to demonstrate a capacity of InsP(6) to inhibit skin cancer. In this paper, a first study of the absorption of InsP(6) through the skin is developed.

Hemangioblastoma of the lateral ventricle: case report and review of the literature.

We report a unique case of hemangioblastoma of the lateral ventricle in a 73 year-old man with cognitive deficits and fluent dysphasia. He harboured an intraventricular tumor, placed at the trigone of the left lateral ventricle. The tumor was successfully excised, by means of a temporal craniotomy.

[Effectiveness of venlafaxine in the treatment of alcohol dependence with comorbid depression].

Introduction: There are no conclusive data on the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in the treatment of comorbid cases of alcohol dependence and depression.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of venlafaxine on depression and on severity (need of treatment) of alcohol dependence and related problems.

Methods: Observational, open-label, multicenter, 24-week follow-up study.

Absorption of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) through the skin: study of the matrix effects. mechanism of phytate topical absorption.

Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6, phytate) is a molecule to which diverse beneficial properties have been attributed. Some of these properties are related to its dermatological use as discolouring agent, on preventing calcinosis cutis or due to its important role on premature aging. Other studies also seem to demonstrate a capacity of InsP6 to inhibit skin cancer.

Effect of phytate on element bioavailability in the second generation of rats.

In this paper the relation between long term consumption of a high dose of sodium phytate and the mineral status of the organism is evaluated in rats. For this purpose, element concentrations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn) were determined in liver, heart, testicle, bone and urine of a second generation of Wistar rats, treated with a phytate free diet (AIN-76A) and with the same diet plus 1% phytate as sodium salt. The most significant differences were observed between bone zinc contents of male and female rats.

Dietary myo-inositol hexaphosphate prevents dystrophic calcifications in soft tissues: a pilot study in Wistar rats.

Myo-inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) is an abundant component of plant seeds. It is also found in significant levels in blood and mammalian tissues, but they are totally dependent on their dietary intake. In the present paper, we describe studies on the effect of InsP6 on a model of dystrophic calcification, which was chemically induced by subcutaneous injection of a 0.

Study of potassium phytate effects on decreasing urinary calcium in rats.

Background: Phytate as sodium salt has been used at high doses to treat stone-former patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria. The experimental and clinical hypocalciuric effects of dietary fiber have also been assigned to the presence of phytate as calcium-magnesium salt (phytin). As a consequence of the additional interest in phytate due to its capacity as crystallization inhibitor, now a study of the effects of potassium phytate on urinary calcium excretion is presented and compared with the effects caused by other phytate salts.

Performance index for quality response of dynamical systems.

The use of performance indices to measure the quality response of dynamical systems is studied in this paper. A definition of a general performance index is proposed which is easy to compute, easy to interpret, and flexible enough to account for different cases commonly presented in practice. The index is tested over several dynamical responses obtained from different systems obtaining good results, in the sense that it is able to rank the behaviors from best to worse, compared with a pattern response.

[Brain aneurysms: an infrequent cause of transient ischemic stroke].

Introduction: Ischemic symptomatology related to the presence of saccular brain aneurysms is infrequent, and this makes it difficult to reach a widespread agreement about the most suitable treatment.

Case Report: A 17-year-old male with symptoms of little stroke produced by distal embolisation of an aneurysm in the middle cerebral artery. The patient was treated by endovascular aneurysm exclusion.

[Venlafaxine titration dosage in depressive in-patients. A series of cases].

This series of patients was gathered to assess the use of last and slow titration dosage of venlafaxine in in-patients with major depression and to evaluate the action onset. An observational open study was performed in 3 centers in 18 in-patients. Nine patients were included in fast titration dosage group (FT) and 9 in slow titration dosage group (ST).

First Report of Blue Mold or Downy Mildew of Pepper from Nurseries in Southeastern Spain.

During October and November 2001, four nurseries reported severe losses in production of pepper seedlings (Capsicum annuum). Plants were affected with the following symptoms: chlorotic spots on upper leaf surfaces along with a dark brown felt and violet reflections on the undersurface of leaves. Spots became necrotic and expanded to include almost the entire blade prompting defoliation that made the plants worthless.

First Report of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilici in Sweet Basil Cultivation in Spain.

Recently, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in greenhouses was introduced in Almería, Spain. It is typically cultivated in soil or perlite soilless culture.

Olanzapine for the treatment of chronic refractory schizophrenia: a 12-month follow-up naturalistic study.

Objective: The aim of this study is to provide long-term data on the effectiveness and safety of olanzapine in a group of patients with severe refractory schizophrenia.

General Methods: Twenty patients who had previously received treatment with typical antipsychotic agents and who met the DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia and refractoriness to treatment were evaluated in a 1-year prospective study after switching to olanzapine. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used to measure effectiveness.

Cryopreservation of Quercus suber and Quercus ilex embryonic axes: in vitro culture, desiccation and cooling factors.

This study examines different factors included in the cryopreservation protocols for Quercus ilex and Q. suber embryonic axes. In vitro incubation temperature played an important role in the appropriate development of Q.