Beta-glucan reflects liver injury after preservation and transplantation in dogs.

Graft failure and extrahepatic organ complications, which frequently develop after transplantation, may be related to inflammatory mediators stimulated by endotoxin (ET). The role of endotoxemia after liver transplantation is controversial and may depend upon differences in the ET assay method used in the various contradicting studies. While the standard Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is reactive for ET and beta-glucan, a novel turbidimetric assay method enables separate determinations of ET and beta-glucan. Beagle dogs undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were divided into two groups. In Group I (n = 6) the grafts were transplanted immediately and in Group II (n = 6) grafts were preserved for 48 h in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Animals received cyclosporine immunosuppression and were followed for 14 days. Daily measurements of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were performed. Samples for ET and beta-glucan measurement were collected serially and processed using the turbidimetric assay method. While no graft failure was seen in Group I, three of six Group II animals died from graft failure within 1 day after transplantation. Preservation and reperfusion injury was much more severe in the Group II grafts than in Group I grafts. While endotoxemia could not be detected, postoperative beta-glucan levels (undetectable pretransplant) were seen in both groups. Beta-glucan levels were much higher in Group II grafts than in Group I grafts, and correlated with the severity of liver damage. In conclusion, this study shows that beta-glucan, instead of ET, appears during the early posttransplant period. We believe that posttransplant elevation of beta-glucan is related to liver damage, especially endothelial damage by preservation and reperfusion

Higgs-Boson Decay to Four Fermions Including a Single Top Quark Below ttˉt \bar t Threshold

The rare decay modes Higgs $\rightarrow$ four light fermions, and Higgs $\rightarrow$ single top-quark + three light fermions for $m_t<M_H<2m_t$, are presented, and phenomenologically interpreted. The angular correlation between fermion planes is presented as a test of the spin and intrinsic parity of the Higgs particle. In Higgs decay to single top, two tree-level graphs contribute in the standard model (SM); one couples the Higgs to $W^+W^-(\sim gM_W)$, and one to t\bar t(\sim g_{top\;yukawa}=m_t/246\GeV). The large Yukawa coupling for m_t>100\GeV makes the second amplitude competitive or dominant for most $M_H,m_t$ values. Thus the Higgs decay rate to single top directly probes the SM universal mechanism generating both gauge boson and fermion masses, and offers a means to infer the Higgs-$t \bar t$ Yukawa coupling when $H\rightarrow t \bar t$ is kinematically disallowed. We find that the modes $pp\rightarrow Xt\bar t(H\rightarrow t\bar b W^{(*)})$ at the SSC, and $e^+ e^-\rightarrow Z\,or\,\nu\bar{\nu} + (H\rightarrow t\bar b W^{(*)})$ at future high energy, high luminosity colliders, may be measureable if $2m_t$ is not too far above $M_H$. We classify non-standard Higgses as gaugeo-phobic, fermio-phobic or fermio-philic, and discuss the Higgs$\rightarrow$ single top rates for these classes.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figures (figures available upon request); VAND-TH-93/

An evolutionary catalogue of Galactic post-AGB and related objects

With the ongoing AKARI infrared sky survey, of much greater sensitivity than IRAS, a wealth of post-AGB objects may be discovered. It is thus time to organize our present knowledge of known post-AGB stars in th galaxy with a view to using it to search for new post-AGB objects among AKARI sources. We searched the literature available on the NASA Astrophysics Data System up to 1 October 2006, and defined criteria for classifying sources into three categories: "very likely", "possible" and "disqualified" post-AGB objects. The category of "very likely" post-AGB objects is made up of several classes. We have created an evolutionary, on-line catalogue of Galactic post-AGB objects, to be referred to as "The Torun catalogue of Galactic post-AGB and related objects". The present version of the catalogue contains 326 "very likely", 107 "possible" and 64 "disqualified" objects. For the very likely post-AGB objects, the catalogue gives the available optical and infrared photometry, infrared spectroscopy and spectral types, and links to finding charts and bibliography.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&

First description of male worms of Enterobius (Colobenterobius) serratus (Nematoda: Oxyuridae), the pinworm parasite of proboscis monkeys

Males of Enterobius (Colobenterobius) serratus Hasegawa et al., 2003 (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) are described for the first time based on six individuals collected from the feces of proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus, in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The males show identical cephalic morphology to females, being readily distinguishable from their congeners by the serrated inner margins of the lips. The bicolored esophageal corpus, long thin spicule and developed spicular pouch with paired muscular bands are also remarkable characteristics, presumably shared by other Asian members of the subgenus

Jack of All Trades, Master of All: A Positive Association between Habitat Niche Breadth and Foraging Performance in Pit-Building Antlion Larvae

Species utilizing a wide range of resources are intuitively expected to be less efficient in exploiting each resource type compared to species which have developed an optimal phenotype for utilizing only one or a few resources. We report here the results of an empirical study whose aim was to test for a negative association between habitat niche breadth and foraging performance. As a model system to address this question, we used two highly abundant species of pit-building antlions varying in their habitat niche breadth: the habitat generalist Myrmeleon hyalinus, which inhabits a variety of soil types but occurs mainly in sandy soils, and the habitat specialist Cueta lineosa, which is restricted to light soils such as loess. Both species were able to discriminate between the two soils, with each showing a distinct and higher preference to the soil type providing higher prey capture success and characterizing its primary habitat-of-origin. As expected, only small differences in the foraging performances of the habitat generalist were evident between the two soils, while the performance of the habitat specialist was markedly reduced in the alternative sandy soil. Remarkably, in both soil types, the habitat generalist constructed pits and responded to prey faster than the habitat specialist, at least under the temperature range of this study. Furthermore, prey capture success of the habitat generalist was higher than that of the habitat specialist irrespective of the soil type or prey ant species encountered, implying a positive association between habitat niche-breadth and foraging performance. Alternatively, C. lineosa specialization to light soils does not necessarily confer upon its superiority in utilizing such habitats. We thus suggest that habitat specialization in C. lineosa is either an evolutionary dead-end, or, more likely, that this species' superiority in light soils can only be evident when considering additional niche axes

Innate recognition of apoptotic cells:novel apoptotic cell-associated molecular patterns revealed by crossreactivity of anti-LPS antibodies

Cells dying by apoptosis are normally cleared by phagocytes through mechanisms that can suppress inflammation and immunity. Molecules of the innate immune system, the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), are able to interact not only with conserved structures on microbes (pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs) but also with ligands displayed by apoptotic cells. We reasoned that PRRs might therefore interact with structures on apoptotic cells-apoptotic cell-associated molecular patterns (ACAMPs)-that are analogous to PAMPs. Here we show that certain monoclonal antibodies raised against the prototypic PAMP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), can crossreact with apoptotic cells. We demonstrate that one such antibody interacts with a constitutively expressed intracellular protein, laminin-binding protein, which translocates to the cell surface during apoptosis and can interact with cells expressing the prototypic PRR, mCD14 as well as with CD14-negative cells. Anti-LPS cross reactive epitopes on apoptotic cells colocalised with annexin V-and C1q-binding sites on vesicular regions of apoptotic cell surfaces and were released associated with apoptotic cell-derived microvesicles (MVs). These results confirm that apoptotic cells and microbes can interact with the immune system through common elements and suggest that anti-PAMP antibodies could be used strategically to characterise novel ACAMPs associated not only with apoptotic cells but also with derived MVs

Intraseasonal variability near 10°N in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (2006): C05015, doi:10.1029/2005JC002989.New in situ observations from 10°N, 125°W during 1997–1998 show strong intraseasonal variability in meridional velocity and sea surface temperature. The 50- to 100-day oscillations in sea surface height (SSH) have long been recognized as a prominent aspect of oceanic variability in the region of 9–13°N in the eastern Pacific Ocean. We use in situ and satellite data to more fully characterize this variability. The oscillations have zonal wavelengths of 550–1650 km and propagate westward in a manner consistent with the dispersion relation for first baroclinic mode, free Rossby waves in the presence of a mean westward flow. Analysis of 9 years of altimetry data shows that the amplitude of the 50- to 100-day SSH variability at 10°N is largest on 90–115°W, with peak amplitudes occurring around April. Some eddies traveling westward at 10–13°N emanate from near the gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo, but eddies sometimes also appear to intensify well away from the coast while in the North Equatorial Current (NEC). The hypothesis that the intraseasonal variability and its annual cycle are associated with baroclinic instability of the NEC is supported by a spatiotemporal correlation between the amplitude of 50- to 100-day variability and the occurrence of westward zonal flows meeting an approximate necessary condition for baroclinic instability. The notion that baroclinic instability may be involved is further corroborated by the tendency of the NEC to weaken while the eddies intensify, even as the wind works to strengthen the current.The authors gratefully acknowledge support for the fieldwork under the NOAA Office of Global Programs Pan American Climate Studies program (grants NA66GPO130 and NA96GPO428) and for analysis and publication (grants NA87RJ0445 and NA17RJ1223)

Melatonin inhibira lipidnu peroksidaciju u jetri štakora uzrokovanu benzenom

We studied the antioxidative role of melatonin against benzene toxicity in rat liver. The inhibition of mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation differed between 24-hour (single-dose), 15-day, and 30-day treatments. Inhibition of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was the highest after the single dose of melatonin, whereas highest microsomal inhibition was recorded after 30 days of melatonin treatment. No signifi cant difference was recorded between 15-day and 30-day treatments. Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP4502E1) activity declined after the single-dose and 15-day melatonin treatment in the benzenetreated group, but it rose again, though not signifi cantly after 30 days of treatment. Liver histopathology generally supported these fi ndings. Phenol concentration in the urine samples declined in melatonin and benzene-treated rats. Our results show that melatonin affects CYP4502E1, which is responsible for benzene metabolism. Inhibition of its metabolism correlated with lower lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, melatonin was found to be protective against lipid peroxidation induced by benzene.Istražena je antioksidacijska uloga melatonina u zaštiti protiv toksičnoga djelovanja benzena u jetri štakora. Utvrđeno je da kratkoročno odnosno dugoročnije liječenje štakora melatoninom u različitoj mjeri štiti štakore istodobno izložene benzenu. Inhibicija lipidne peroksidacije mitohondrija i mikrosoma bila je različita nakon 24 h, 15 dana, odnosno 30 dana liječenja melatoninom. Najveća inhibicija lipidne peroksidacije mitohondrija zamijećena je nakon primjene jednokratne doze melatonina, dok je najizraženija inhibicija u mikrosomima zamijećena nakon 30 dana liječenja melatoninom. Slična istraživanja pokazuju da razina glutationa (GSH) najviše raste nakon 24 h liječenja melatoninom. Nije zamijećena razlika između liječenja u trajanju od 15 odnosno 30 dana. U štakora koji su uz benzen istodobno primali i melatonin razine citokroma P4502E1 pale su nakon 24 h odnosno 15 dana izloženosti. U štakora koji su primali samo melatonin te su razine nakon 30 dana statistički neznačajno porasle u odnosu na skupinu izloženu samo benzenu. Histopatološka analiza jetre načelno je potvrdila ove nalaze. Koncentracije fenola u mokraći bile su niže u štakora koji su istodobno primali melatonin i benzen. Ovi rezultati pokazuju da melatonin utječe na citokrom P4502E1, koji je odgovoran za metabolizam benzena. Inhibira li se njegov metabolizam, smanjuje se lipidna peroksidacija. Zaključak je da melatonin štiti od lipidne peroksidacije uzrokovane benzenom