Effects of dopamine receptor D4 variation on alcohol and tobacco use and on novelty seeking: multivariate linkage and association analysis

The dopamine D4 receptor gene contains a polymorphic sequence consisting of a variable number of 48-base-pair (bp) repeats, and there have been a number of reports that this polymorphism is associated with variation in novelty seeking or in substance abuse and addictive behaviors. In this study we have assessed the linkage and association of DRD4 genotype with novelty seeking, alcohol use, and smoking in a sample of 377 dizygotic twin pairs and 15 single twins recruited from the Australian Twin Registry (ATR). We found no evidence of linkage or association of the DRD4 locus with any of the phenotypes. We made use of repeated measures for some phenotypes to increase power by multivariate genetic analysis, but allelic effects were still non-significant. Specifically, it has been suggested that the DRD4 7-repeat allele is associated with increased novelty seeking in males but we found no evidence for this, despite considerable power to do so. We conclude that DRD4 variation does not have an effect on use of alcohol and the problems that arise from it, on smoking, or on novelty seeking behavior.

[Detection of DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in rat by using polymerase chain reaction]

OBJECTIVE

To study the significance of DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in peripheral blood.

METHODS

DNA of T. gondii in peripheral blood of 50 infected rats was detected by polymerase chain reaction. A pair of primers was designed, according to the sequence P30 gene specific to T. gondii, to amplify DNA from T. gondii by PCR.

RESULTS

The primers amplified DNA specifically from T. gondii and could not amplify DNA from humans, uninfected rat and mouse and from Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica. DNA of two Toxoplasma parasites was detected by 35 cycles of amplification, indicating a fair sensitivity of the PCR system.

CONCLUSION

PCR may have a value for early diagnosis of T. gondii infection in rat.

[Sulfation of polysaccharides isolated from Indocalamus tesselatus and their anticytopathic effect on human immunodeficiency virus type I]

For preparation of sulfated polysaccharides isolated from bamboo leaves (Indocalamus tesselatus) with chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine, the experimental conditions as the molar ratio of reactants and temperature and time of reaction were discussed. A homogeneous sulfation method with good yield of more than 80% was obtained and the sufur content was found to be 21.9%. Conformation change in sulfated polysaccharide with changes of intrinsic viscosity, polarimetery and CD spectra were found to be related to the negative charge. The polysaccharide sulfates were shown to have better activity to inhibit cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection than native polysaccharides. The effective concentration was 10 micrograms.ml-1 while the cytotoxic concentration was 2.5 mg.ml-1.

[Relationship between serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and bone loss in postmenopausal women]

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlations between loss of activity and/or amont of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(1,25(OH)2D) and 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(1,25(OH)2D) and bone loss in postmenopausal women, in order to reveal the possible pathophysiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODS

The serum levels of 1,25 (OH)2D, 25 (OH) D, PTH, and E2 in 57 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 37 postmenopausal women without osteoporosis were measured by radioimmunology. Their Dpd/Cr in urine was measured by ELISA. The bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (L2-4) was measured in each subject by DEXA.

RESULTS

The serum 1,25(OH)2D in postmenopausal oeteoporotic women and non-osteoporotic women were 18 pg/ml +/- 6 pg/ml and 31 pg/ml +/- 14 pg/ml respectively (P < 0.01) The serum 25 (OH)2D in postmenopausal oeteoporotic women and non-osteoporotic women were 32 ng/ml +/- 9 ng/ml and 46 ng/ml +/- 17 ng/ml respectively (P < 0.01). Postmenopausal osteoporotic women had a lower estrogen concentration (P < 0.01), higher serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P < 0.01) and higher urinary Dpd/Cr level (P < 0.01). The level of serum 1,25(OH)2D was highly correlated with BMD in L2-4 for postmenopausal women (r = 0.693, P < 0.001). There was a close relationship between the serum level of 1,25(OH)2D and serum level of 25(OH)2D, suggesting an association between the two factors.

CONCLUSION

The lower bone mass density was associated with lower level of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, accompanied by reduced serum estrogen and elevated serum PTH in postmenopausal women. Those may be among the important pathphysiological changes of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The dynamics of bone marrow stromal cells in the proliferation of multipotent hematopoietic progenitors by substance P: an understanding of the effects of a neurotransmitter on the differentiating hematopoietic stem cell

Communication within the hematopoietic-neuroendocrine-immune axis is partly mediated by neurotransmitters (e.g. substance P, SP) and cytokines. SP mediates neuromodulation partly through the stimulation of bone marrow (BM) progenitors. This study shows that SP, through the neurokinin-1 receptor, stimulates the proliferation of primitive hematopoietic progenitors: cobblestone-forming cells (CAFC, CD34+). This effect is optimal when macrophage is included within the fibroblast support. Indirect induction of IL-1 could be important in the proliferation of CAFC colonies by SP. Phenotypic and functional studies suggest that SP might directly interact with the CD34+/CD45(dim) population. These studies indicate that SP can initiate a cascade of biological responses in the BM stroma and stem cells to stimulate hematopoiesis.

Role of beta-adrenoceptor at different stages of bronchial asthma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) in peripheral lymphocytes and beta 2AR mRNA levels at different stages of bronchial asthma.

METHODS

beta 2AR density and beta 2AR mRNA level in peripheral lymphocytes, cAMP and cGMP levels in blood plasma were estimated by radioligand binding assay, radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

(1) Maximum bound volume (Bmax) and equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of beta 2AR of lymphocyte in asthma patients at remission stage were markedly higher than that in normal subjects, while cAMP levels in blood plasma showed no difference. Bmax of beta 2AR and cAMP levels in asthma patients at acute exacerbation stage were significantly lower than that in normal subjects, and Kds between these two groups were not much different. (2) Expression of beta 2ARmRNA in peripheral lymphocytes of asthmatics at remission stage was not significantly different compared with that in normals.

CONCLUSIONS

Amount and function of beta AR and beta 2ARmRNA levels are related to asthmatic conditions. Changes of beta AR and beta 2ARmRNA in asthma might rather be a pathological change accompanied by the course of the disease than a primary defect.

A simulation study on the topotactic transformations from aluminophosphate AlPO(4)-21 to AlPO(4)-25

Aluminophosphate AlPO(4)-21 (AWO), formulated /(CH(3))(2)NH(2)/[Al(3)P(3)O(12)(OH)], has been synthesized solvothermally by using dimethylamine as the template. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that AlPO(4)-21 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 8.687(2) A, b = 17.428(5) A, c = 9.159(2) A, beta = 109.60(2) degrees, V = 1306.3(5) A(3), and Z = 4. XRD analysis shows that AlPO(4)-21 transforms to AlPO(4)-25 (ATV) upon calcination at 500 degrees C. The molecular dynamics simulation approach was used to investigate the topotactic transformations from AlPO(4)-21. The simulation study suggests that AlPO(4)-21 is energetically favored to transform to AlPO(4)-25, as well as other hypothetical forms, by the changing of the UUDD chains to the UDUD chains.

[Pulmonary surfactant impairment in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether pulmonary surfactant (PS) impairment plays a role in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

METHODS

Thirty-two healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups ( n = 8, each group ) and mechanically ventilated (MV). (1) P7 group: with settings [expressed as peak inspiratory pressure (PIP, cm H2O)/frequency (cpm)/inspiratory:expiratory ratio/positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP, cm H2O)] of 7/40/1:1/0, (2) P45 group: with settings of 45/ 20/1:1/0, (3) PS group: 100 mg/kg of a porcine PS administered intra-tracheally and with the same settings as P45 group, (4) PEEP group: with settings of 45/20/1: 1/10. After 20 minutes of MV, all animals were killed. Another 8 animals were killed immediately after surgical procedure to serve as nonventilated controls (CON group). Arterial blood O2 partial pressure (PaO2) and maximum thorax-lung compliance (C(max)) were measured, and total proteins (TP), total phospholipids (TPL), small and large aggregates (SA, LA), and minimum surface tension (ST min) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed.

RESULTS

P45 group had decreased PaO2, C(max), TPL/TP all P < 0.01), increased TP, SA/LA and ST min of ABLF (all P < 0.01) as compared with P7 group. Both PS group and PEEP group had improved PaO2, C(max), BALF analyses as compared with P45 group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between P7 group and CON group in any parameter described above.

CONCLUSIONS

A short period of mechanical ventilation with high PIP alone can cause VILI in rats that is associated with PS impairment; both exogenous PS and PEEP can restore or preserve alveolar space PS composition and function, attenuate abnormalities of lung oxygenation and mechanics, indicating PS impairment may play an important role in the development of VILI.

Sol-gel-derived carbon ceramic electrode containing 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, and its electrocatalytic activity toward iodate

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (PQ) supported on graphite powder by adsorption was dispersed in propyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive composite which was used as electrode material to fabricate a PQ-modified carbon ceramic electrode. In this configuration, PQ acts as a catalyst, graphite powder guarantees conductivity by percolation, the silicate provides a rigid porous backbone, and the propyl groups endow hydrophobicity and thus limit the wetting region of the modified electrode. Square-wave voltammetry was exploited to investigate the pH-dependent electrochemical behavior of the composite electrode and an almost Nernstian response was obtained from pH 0.42 to 6.84. Because the chemically modified electrode can electrocatalyze the reduction of iodate in acidic aqueous solution (pH 2.45), it was used as an amperometric sensor for the determination of iodate in table salt. The advantages of the electrode are that it can be polished in the event of surface fouling, it is simple to prepare, has excellent chemical and mechanical stability, and the reproducibility of surface-renewal is good.

[Ultrastructure of surfactant-like multilamellar bodies in the human nose]

OBJECTIVE

To study the distribution of the surfactant-like multilamellar bodies in the human nose.

METHODS

Fourteen specimens obtained from the inferior turbinate, middle turbinate, uncinate process and maxillary sinus were examined under the electron microscope.

RESULTS

The surfactant-like multilamellar bodies were identified in the epithelium on the lateral wall and maxillary sinus.

CONCLUSION

The existence of surfactant-like multilamellar bodies in the human lateral nasal wall and maxillary sinus were confirmed. It is necessary to have further study for its effect in the nose both physiologically and pharmacologically.

Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting birth-weight and adult Body Mass Index

Birthweight affects neonatal mortality and morbidity and has been used as a marker of foetal undernutrition in studies of prenatal effects on adult characteristics. It is potentially influenced by genetic and environmental influences on the mother, and effects of foetal genotype, which is partially derived from the maternal genotype. Interpretations of variation in birthweight and associated characteristics as being due to prenatal environment ignore other possible modes of materno-foetal transmission. Subjects were adult twins recruited through the Australian Twin Registry, aged 17 to 87 years, and the sample comprised 1820 men and 4048 women. Twins reported their own birthweight as part of a health questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from self-reports of height and weight. Correlations between co-twins' birthweights were high for both monozygotic (r = 0.77) and dizygotic (r = 0.67) pairs, leading to substantial estimates of shared environmental effects (56% of variance) with significant additive genetic (23%) and non-shared environmental (21%) components. Adult BMI was mainly influenced by genetic factors, both additive (36% of variance) and nonadditive (35%). The correlation between birthweight and BMI was positive, in that heavier babies became on average more obese adults. A bivariate model of birthweight and adult BMI showed significant positive genetic (r(g) = 0.16, p = 0.005) and environmental (r(e) = 0.08, p = 0.000011) correlations. Intra-uterine environmental or perinatal influences shared by cotwins exercise a strong influence on birthweight, but the factors which affect both birthweight and adult BMI are partly genetic and partly non-shared environmental.

Effects of alcohol consumption on indices of iron stores and of iron stores on alcohol intake markers

BACKGROUND

Alcohol increases body iron stores. Alcohol and iron may increase oxidative stress and the risk of alcohol-related liver disease. The relationship between low or "safe" levels of alcohol use and indices of body iron stores, and the factors that affect the alcohol-iron relationship, have not been fully characterized. Other aspects of the biological response to alcohol use have been reported to depend on iron status.

METHODS

We have measured serum iron, transferrin, and ferritin as indices of iron stores in 3375 adult twin subjects recruited through the Australian Twin Registry. Information on alcohol use and dependence and smoking was obtained from questionnaires and interviews.

RESULTS

Serum iron and ferritin increased progressively across classes of alcohol intake. The effects of beer consumption were greater than those of wine or spirits. Ferritin concentration was significantly higher in subjects who had ever been alcohol dependent. There was no evidence of interactions between HFE genotype or body mass index and alcohol. Alcohol intake-adjusted carbohydrate-deficient transferrin was increased in women in the lowest quartile of ferritin results, whereas adjusted gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase values were increased in subjects with high ferritin.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol intake at low level increases ferritin and, by inference, body iron stores. This may be either beneficial or harmful, depending on circumstances. The response of biological markers of alcohol intake can be affected by body iron stores; this has implications for test sensitivity and specificity and for variation in biological responses to alcohol use.

Distribution of energy in polymers due to incident electrons and protons

The recoil spectrum of nuclei in polymers for incident protons below 10 MeV in energy is calculated by using the Rutherford cross-section with screening corrections. Employing the work of McKinley and Feshbach on the Coulomb scattering of relativistic electrons by nuclei, the recoil spectrum of the nuclei is also calculated for electron energies varying from threshold to 10 MeV. The partitioning of energy between electronic excitation and ionization and nuclear recoil is then studied to search for possible difference in polymer radiation response as a function of radiation energy and type.

Interleukin 10 inhibits the rat VSMC proliferation and collagen secretion stimulated by angiotensin II

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of interleukin 10 (IL-10) on the angiotensin II (AngII) stimulated rat VSMC proliferation and collagen secretion, and furthermore, explore its mechanism.

METHODS

On cultured VSMC of rat, 3H-thymine (3H-TdR) and 3H-proline incorporations were used to evaluate the DNA and collagen synthesis, respectively. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were applied to assay the expression and activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), respectively.

RESULTS

IL-10 (10(-8) approximately 10(-10) g/ml) inhibited the increase of 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation as well as FAK activity, which was induced by 10(-7) mol/L AngII (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). IL-10 also obviously downregulated the synthesis and secretion of collagen by AngII stimulated VSMC. But there was no difference in the protein expression of FAK among all the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-10 antagonizes the VSMC proliferation and collagen synthesis by regulating FAK activity stimulated by AngII.

Recognition of the bouquet of Chinese spirits by artificial neural network analysis

Forty-six samples of Chinese spirits, whose bouquets were determined by sensory evaluations, and 17 compounds characteristic of the flavors determined by gas chromatography/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/GC-MS), were subjected to neural network analysis and their corresponding factor scores developed. To make the bouquet recognition more efficient, an improved artificial back-propagation neural network (BPNN) was applied. In each kind of data, the BPNN was trained repeatedly until the error rate was less than the predetermined threshold error; then the trained network was applied to the test set that was not involved in the training process to establish the validity of the network, and a correct prediction rate of 100% was obtained. The BPNN provided a correlation between the data offered from sensory evaluations and the data of chemical compositions determined by instrumental analysis. The BPNN approach is feasible regardless of whether the crude data or the factor scores are used; however, recognition results were better with the latter than with the former. In a comparison of all the results obtained by BPNN, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis, the method of artificial neural network analysis appeared to be the optimal technique for recognizing the bouquet of Chinese spirits.

Progressive depletion of peripheral B lymphocytes in 4-1BB (CD137) ligand/I-Ealpha)-transgenic mice

Interaction of 4-1BB (CD137) and its ligand (4-1BBL) is thought to positively regulate cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. We have prepared transgenic mouse strains that express 4-1BBL cDNA under the control of MHC class II I-Ealpha promoter. The 4-1BBL-transgenic mice show progressive splenomegaly and selective depletion of B220(+) B cells accompanied with low levels of circulating IgG and defective humoral responses to Ag challenge. In addition, splenocytes from the transgenic mice fail to provide stimulation for allogeneic T cells in both lymphoproliferative and CTL responses in vitro, whereas their T cells remain functionally normal. Our results reveal unexpected functions of 4-1BBL in the regulation of humoral immune responses and Ag presentation.