Co-option of the same ancestral gene family gave rise to mammalian and reptilian toxins.

Background: Evolution can occur with surprising predictability when organisms face similar ecological challenges. For most traits, it is difficult to ascertain whether this occurs due to constraints imposed by the number of possible phenotypic solutions or because of parallel responses by shared genetic and regulatory architecture. Exceptionally, oral venoms are a tractable model of trait evolution, being largely composed of proteinaceous toxins that have evolved in many tetrapods, ranging from reptiles to mammals.

How the Toxin got its Toxicity.

Venom systems are functional and ecological traits, typically used by one organism to subdue or deter another. A predominant subset of their constituent molecules-"toxins"-share this ecological function and are therefore molecules that mediate interactions between organisms. Such molecules have been referred to as "exochemicals.

Immune Cell Subtypes and Their Function in the Testis.

Immunoregulation in the testis is characterized by a balance between immuno-suppression (or immune privilege) and the ability to react to infections and inflammation. In this review, we analyze the phenotypes of the various immune cell subtypes present in the testis, and how their functions change between homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Starting with testicular macrophages, we explore how this heterogeneous population is shaped by the testicular microenvironment to ensure immune privilege.

Remaining time and opportunities at work: Relationships between age, work characteristics, and occupational future time perspective.

The authors adapted the concept of future time perspective (FTP) to the work context and examined its relationships with age and work characteristics (job complexity and control). Structural equation modeling of data from 176 employees of various occupations showed that age is negatively related to 2 distinct dimensions of occupational FTP: remaining time and remaining opportunities. Work characteristics (job complexity and control) were positively related to remaining opportunities and moderated the relationship between age and remaining opportunities, such that the relationship became weaker with increasing levels of job complexity and control.

Mycological examinations on the fungal flora of the chicken comb.

A total of 500 combs of adult chickens from two different locations in Germany (Hessen and Schleswig-Holstein) were clinically and mycologically examined. The chickens came from three battery cages (n = 79), one voliere system (n=32), six flocks maintained on deep litter (n = 69) and 12 flocks kept on free outdoor range (n=320). Twenty-two of the 500 chicken combs (4.

Vaginal and cervical dilatation intrapartum is associated with eosinophilic infiltration in the cow but not in the sheep.

During parturition maximal dilatation of the vagina and cervix is necessary for expulsion of the neonate. The aim of the present study was to characterize the cell infiltration of the vagina and cervix that is associated with this event in cows and sheep. For this purpose, vaginal and cervical tissue were removed from four pluriparous cows and four sheep immediately after delivery of the neonate by biopsy under visual control (group 1), and the eosinophilic granulocytes were stained selectively.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for Peyronie's disease: exploratory meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Purpose: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of Peyronie's disease is still controversial. This exploratory meta-analysis of published studies in the international literature investigates its therapeutic effects.

Materials And Methods: The treatment outcomes from 17 study groups identified by a computerized literature search were compared with natural history outcomes and data from control groups from 2 controlled ESWT studies.

Questionable efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for Peyronie's disease: results of a prospective approach.

Purpose: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for Peyronie's disease is still a topic of debate. We evaluated the effects of ESWT in a large series of patients with Peyronie's disease via a prospective approach.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective study 114 patients with Peyronie's disease were treated with ESWT.

Expression of the high-affinity choline transporter, CHT1, in the rat trachea.

The rate limiting step in neuronal acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis is the uptake of choline by the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT1). Here, we investigated the distribution of CHT1 in the rat trachea. CHT1-mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in trachea without epithelium, abraded tracheal mucosa, and in epithelial cells obtained by laser-assisted cell-picking.

Changes in biochemical and biophysical surfactant properties with cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to characterize pulmonary surfactant properties in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: Prospective clinical trial.

Setting: University hospital pediatric intensive care unit.

Recombinant holophytochrome in Escherichia coli.

We have successfully co-expressed two genes from the bilin biosynthetic pathway of Synechocystis together with cyanobacterial phytochrome 1 (Cph1) from the same organism to produce holophytochrome in Escherichia coli. Heme oxygenase was used to convert host heme to biliverdin IXalpha which was then reduced to phycocyanobilin via phycocyanobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, presumably with the aid of host ferredoxin. In this host environment Cph1 apophytochrome was able to autoassemble with the phycocyanobilin in vivo to form fully photoreversible holophytochrome.

Tripolar acytokinetic mitosis and formation of feto-maternal syncytia in the bovine placentome: different modes of the generation of multinuclear cells.

The vast majority of trophoblast giant cells in the ruminant placenta are binuclear and are believed to derive from mononuclear trophoblastic cells by a single acytokinetic mitosis. There is no satisfactory explanation for the generation of the small proportion of trophoblast giant cells with one, three, or more nuclei. In this light-and electronmicroscopic study of bovine placentomal tissue from the second half of gestation, developmental stages of the trophoblast giant cells are investigated.

Ultrasonic nebulization for efficient delivery of surfactant in a model of acute lung injury. Impact on gas exchange.

We investigated the effect of ultrasonic nebulization versus instillation of exogenous surfactant on gas exchange abnormalities provoked by detergent inhalation in perfused rabbit lungs. Ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) distribution was assessed by the multiple inert gas elimination technique. For nebulization of natural bovine surfactant (Alveofact), an ultrasonic device was placed in line with the inspiratory gas flow tubing, manufacturing particles with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of approximately 4.

Liver and colon oxidant status in growing rats fed increasing levels of dietary iron.

A study with four groups, each with 9 individually-housed, male albino rats (clinical average weight = 65 g), was undertaken to examine the effect of increasing dietary iron levels on the oxidant status in liver and colon of growing rats. The basal maize/soya diet contained 70 mg iron per kg and was supplemented with 200 (group II), 500 (group III) and 2000 (group IV) mg Fe/kg from iron (II) fumarate. Liver-Fe was closely correlated (r = 0.

Ammonia in ruminal and abomasal contents of cows with abomasal displacement.

Ruminal and abomasal ammonia concentrations were determined in cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA), right displaced abomasum (RDA), or abomasal volvulus (AV) before the abomasum was corrected, as well as one and three days later, and compared with those from healthy control cows fed hay or hay and concentrates. In LDA, RDA, and AV, ruminal and abomasal ammonia concentrations before correction of the position of the abomasum significantly exceeded ammonia concentrations in control cows during hay diet. In LDA, ruminal and abomasal ammonia concentration before correction did not differ from control cows during hay/concentrate diet, whereas in RDA and AV, ruminal and abomasal ammonia significantly exceeded control cows during hay/concentrate diet.

Age and reproductive status affect basal venous tone in the rat.

Objective: Changes in venous tone alter vessel diameter and capacitance of veins. These alterations may be induced by the steroid hormonal milieu. Therefore, our question was whether venous tone differs between estrous cycle, pregnancy and old rats.

Effects of NADPH oxidase inhibitors on hypoxic vasoconstriction in buffer-perfused rabbit lungs.

The involvement of NADPH oxidase in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was investigated in buffer-perfused rabbit lungs, employing the inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) and apocynin. Responses to the vasoconstrictors U-46619 and angiotensin II (ANG II) were used to test specificity. Lung nitric oxide (NO) generation was assessed by on-line monitoring of NO exhalation (chemiluminescence), and the efficacy of DPI and apocynin on the NADPH oxidase-dependent O2- generation was quantified in alveolar macrophages by fluorescent-activated cell sorter technique.

Studies of cadmium chelator efficacy using mammalian cell cultures.

An experimental system is presented for the assessment of the efficacy of chelating agents against cadmium. Mammalian cells in vitro can be employed to screen compounds that modify metal uptake, metal toxicity and metal mobilization from metal-loaded cells and can thus identify likely, or exclude unsuitable, candidates for the therapy or prevention of metal intoxification. Examples are given of possible cadmium antidotes.

Biochemical and immunological characterization of the acrosome reaction-inducing substance (ARIS) of hFF.

Gel filtration experiments with 3H-progesterone labeled hFF demonstrated that the AR-inducing activity of hFF might be mediated by a progesterone-binding protein. Further immunological investigations added evidence in support to ARIS being identical with the SERPIN CBG. Moreover, only the protein-progesterone-complex was able to induce AR.

Differences in antigenicity of E2 in Semliki Forest virus particles and in infected cells.

Using six monoclonal antibodies to epitopes a-f on the glycoprotein E2 of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) we found antigenic differences between E2 in infected cells and in virus particles, respectively, if glycosylation was impaired by 2-deoxy-D-glucose or inhibited by N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin. Furthermore we concluded that a conformational change of E2 takes place on virus budding.

Intravascular anti-IgE challenge in perfused lungs: mediator release and vascular pressor response.

Intravascular application of goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin E (IgE) was used to stimulate parenchymal mast cells in situ in perfused rabbit lungs. Sustained pulmonary arterial pressure rise was evoked in the absence of lung vascular permeability increase and lung edema formation. Early prostaglandin (PG) D2 and histamine release into the perfusate was documented, accompanied by more sustained liberation of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT), LTB4, and PGI2.

Factors determining ventricular fibrillation after induced cardiac arrest.

Ventricular fibrillation following release of the aortic cross clamp is not uncommon. In 38 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement we investigated if this disturbance of rhythm is due to perioperative myocardial ischemia or due to deterioration of myocardial function prior to surgery. In all cases hypothermic cardioplegic arrest (Bretschneider) was used.

Native fluorescence of the cervix uteri as a marker for dysplasia and invasive carcinoma.

A non-invasive and non-destructive fluorescence technique developed recently for an in situ detection of melanomas has been applied for determining in vitro dysplasia and invasive carcinomas in the cervix uteri. The cervices uteri exhibit a fluorescence band with a peak at about 475 nm if excited with 365 nm. The fluorescence intensity increases concomitantly with the degree of dysplasia, ranging from 30 counts/100 ms (healthy) to approximately 200 counts per 100 ms (CIN 3).

High yield enzymatic conversion of intravascular leukotriene A4 in blood-free perfused lungs.

Experiments to investigate the fate of intravascularly administered leukotriene (LT) A4, an unstable intermediate of LT generation, were performed in isolated, ventilated, and blood-free perfused rabbit lungs. LT extracted from the lung effluent were separated by different reverse phase and straight phase HPLC procedures as methylated and nonmethylated compounds. Identity of eluting LT was confirmed by UV spectrum analysis and immunoreactivity.