Transcriptome profiling reveals specific patterns of paclitaxel synthesis in a new Taxus yunnanensis cultivar.

The difference in contents of paclitaxel and 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DABIII) in needles between wildtype (WT) and a new cultivar (Zhongdayihao, ZD1) of Taxus yunnanensis was examined. Transcriptome profiling was conducted for different tissues of the ZD1 and WT to illustrate the regulation mechanism of paclitaxel biosynthesis. It was observed that average contents of paclitaxel and 10-DABIII in ZD1 were 4 folds and 32 folds higher than those in WT, respectively.

A century of spine surgery: what can patients expect?

Purpose: To evaluate the hypothesis that spinal fusion surgery is an effective method to address spinal deformity-associated clinical problems, including magnitude of curvature (Cobb angle), pulmonary dysfunction, and pain.

Method: A systematic review was carried out using Science Citation Index (SCI) Expanded (1900 - present), Social Sciences Citation Index (1956 - present), Arts and Humanities Citation Index (1965 - present), Medline (1950 - present) and PubMed Central databases (1887 - present) to access information regarding efficacy of spine surgery in preventing or improving the health and function of patients diagnosed with scoliosis in adolescence.

Results: Since 1950, more than 12,600 articles on scoliosis have been published, and nearly 50% (5721) focus on methods, rationale, outcome, and complications of surgical intervention.

Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans.

A comparative pharmacokinetic trial was performed with a superpotent synthetic melanotropic peptide, [Nle4-D-Phe7]-alpha-MSHi-13 (melanotan-I or MT-I) given by three routes of administration. Plasma levels were measured by RIA and tanning was quantiated using serial reflectometry. Doses of 0.

Salivary thiol oxidase activity of Rhodnius prolixus.

Cysteine and other thiol compounds can accelerate the unloading of nitric oxide (NO) from salivary nitrosyl-nitrophorins of the blood sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus. The dependence of NO unloading on cysteine concentration is biphasic, showing a maximum between 0.5 and 1 mM cysteine.

Immunohistological localization of regulatory peptides in the midgut of the female mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The midgut of the female mosquito Aedes aegypti was studied immunohistologically with antisera to various regulatory peptides. Endocrine cells immunoreactive with antisera to perisulfakinin, RFamide, bovine pancreatic polypeptide, urotensin 1, locustatachykinin 2 and allatostatins A1 and B2 were found in the midgut. Perisulfakinin, RFamide and bovine pancreatic polypeptide all react with the same, about 500 endocrine cells, which were evenly distributed throughout the posterior midgut, with the exception of its most frontal and caudal regions.

A Mexican perspective on learning disabilities.

Given the worldwide trend toward the integration of children with special needs into the general school system, and the Program for Educational Modernization (1989-1994) in Mexico, Mexican educators have had to reassess the politics of special education, focusing on different service delivery models. One model, Integrated Groups, which has been functioning since the 1970s and is primarily for children with learning and language disabilities, is described. New legislation recently enacted recognizes and encourages the collaboration of general education and special education to meet the needs of all children.

alpha-Melanotropin: the minimal active sequence in the frog skin bioassay.

The minimal sequence required for biological activity of alpha-MSH (alpha-melanotropin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone) was determined in the frog (Rana pipiens) skin bioassay. The sequence required to elicit measurable biological activity was the central tetrapeptide sequence, Ac-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2 (Ac-alpha-MSH6-9-NH2), which was about 6 orders of magnitude less potent than the native tridecapeptide. Smaller fragments of this sequence (Ac-His-Phe-NH2, Ac-Phe-Arg-NH2, Ac-His-Phe-Arg-NH2) were devoid of melanotropic activity at concentrations as high as 10(-4) M.