Differential expression of human metallothionein isoform I mRNA in human proximal tubule cells exposed to metals.

In contrast to the single metallothionein (MT)-1 gene of the mouse, the human MT-1 gene family is composed of seven active genes and six pseudogenes. In this study, the expression of mRNA representing the seven active human MT-1 genes was determined in cultured human proximal tubule (HPT) cells under basal conditions and after exposure to the metals Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ag2+, and Pb2+. Basal expression of MT-1X and MT-1E mRNA in HPT cells was similar to expression of the housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In contrast, mRNAs representing the basal expression of MT-1A and MT-1F were a minor transcript in HPT cells. Treatment of HPT cells with Cd2+, Zn2+, or Cu2+ increased the levels of MT-1E and MT-1A mRNA, but not the levels of MT-1X or MT-1F mRNA. The increase in MT-1E mRNA appeared to be influenced mainly by exposure to the various metals, whereas the increase in MT-1A mRNA was influenced more by exposure to a metal concentration eliciting a loss of cell viability. Treatment of HPT cells with the metals Hg2+, Ag2+, and Pb2+ was found to have no effect on the level of MT-1 mRNA at either sublethal or lethal concentrations. Using HPT cells as a model, these results suggest that new features of MT gene expression have been acquired in the human due to the duplication of the MT-1 gene

Differential expression of human metallothionein isoform I mRNA in human proximal tubule cells exposed to metals.

In contrast to the single metallothionein (MT)-1 gene of the mouse, the human MT-1 gene family is composed of seven active genes and six pseudogenes. In this study, the expression of mRNA representing the seven active human MT-1 genes was determined in cultured human proximal tubule (HPT) cells under basal conditions and after exposure to the metals Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ag2+, and Pb2+. Basal expression of MT-1X and MT-1E mRNA in HPT cells was similar to expression of the housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In contrast, mRNAs representing the basal expression of MT-1A and MT-1F were a minor transcript in HPT cells. Treatment of HPT cells with Cd2+, Zn2+, or Cu2+ increased the levels of MT-1E and MT-1A mRNA, but not the levels of MT-1X or MT-1F mRNA. The increase in MT-1E mRNA appeared to be influenced mainly by exposure to the various metals, whereas the increase in MT-1A mRNA was influenced more by exposure to a metal concentration eliciting a loss of cell viability. Treatment of HPT cells with the metals Hg2+, Ag2+, and Pb2+ was found to have no effect on the level of MT-1 mRNA at either sublethal or lethal concentrations. Using HPT cells as a model, these results suggest that new features of MT gene expression have been acquired in the human due to the duplication of the MT-1 gene

Effets des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone dans l'eau

L'influence des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone est étudiée. Les expériences mettent en oeuvre les anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- à des concentrations identiques à celles habituellement rencontrées dans le domaine des eaux potables. Un plan d'expérience simple qui permet d'attribuer ou non une influence à chaque espèce minérale et de voir l'interaction éventuelle avec le pH est utilisé. Les manipulations sont réalisées sur un pilote de laboratoire conçu pour éliminer toutes traces de matières organiques.L'étude fait apparaître que seuls les carbonates et les bicarbonates ont une influence notable sur cette décomposition et que le pH interfère en jouant sur l'équilibre carbonates-bicarbonates. Ceci permet de vérifier l'équation théorique établie par YURTERI et GUROL (1988) en l'absence de matières organiques. L'ordre apparent de la réaction varie entre 1 et 2 : ordre 2 pour les teneurs en bicarbonates faibles (30 mg.l-1) et ordre 1 pour une teneur forte (300 mg.l-1) lorsque le pH basique déplace l'équilibre vers les carbonates. Pour 300 mg.l-1 et des pH neutres l'ordre de la réaction oscille entre 1,5 et 2. Pour un ordre 1, on peut calculer la constante d'initiation de la décomposition de l'oxydant par l'ion hydroxyle OH- (k = 80 l.mol-1 s-1).The influence of anionic mineral species on the decomposition of ozone in water was studied. The experiments involved the anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- at concentrations identical to those usually found in drinking water. The manipulations were carried out with a simple experimental procedure which allowed to determine whether or not the mineral species had an influence on this decomposition and to observe thereof the effect of the pH. A laboratory pilot made of glass and teflon, in order to eliminate any traces of organic compounds, was used.Results of this work prove that only the carbonates and bicarbonates have a notable influence on this decomposition and that the pH interferes by disrupting the bicarbonate-carbonate equilibrium. The theoretical equation established without organic compounds by YURTERI and GUROL (1988) is verified.The order of the reaction varies from 1 to 2. The order is 1 when the amount of bicarbonates is weak (30 mg/l). The order is 2 in the case of a 300 mg.l-1 concentration when the basic pH changes the equilibrium towards the carbonates. For 300 mg.l-1 concentrations and a neutral pH, the order of the reaction reaches values from 1,5 to 2. In the case of an order 1, the constant rate of the oxidant decomposition by hydroxyle ion OH¯ is calculated. Its value is 80 l.mol-1 s-1

Higher order effects in the 16O(d,p)17O^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O and 16O(d,n)17F^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F transfer reactions

Full Coupled Channels Calculations were performed for the $^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F$ and $^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O$ transfer reactions at several deuteron incident energies from $E_{lab}=2.29$ MeV up to 3.27 MeV. A strong polarization effect between the entrance channel and the transfer channels $^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F(1/2^{+},0.495)$ and $^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O(1/2^{+},0.87)$ was observed. This polarization effect had to be taken into account in order to obtain realistic spectroscopic factors from these reactions.Comment: 15 papes, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Non-equilibrium raft-like membrane domains under continuous recycling

We present a model for the kinetics of spontaneous membrane domain (raft) assembly that includes the effect of membrane recycling ubiquitous in living cells. We show that the domains have a broad power-law distribution with an average radius that scales with the 1/4 power of the domain lifetime when the line tension at the domain edges is large. For biologically reasonable recycling and diffusion rates the average domain radius is in the tens of nm range, consistent with observations. This represents one possible link between signaling (involving rafts) and traffic (recycling) in cells. Finally, we present evidence that suggests that the average raft size may be the same for all scale-free recycling schemes.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

A retrospective study evaluating the impact of scattering radiation from imaging procedures on oocyte quality during ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients

Purpose: Ovarian stimulation for oocyte and embryo cryopreservation is the standard of care for fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients before gonadotoxic chemotherapy. The procedure should be started as soon as possible to avoid delay of treatment; thus, it is often performed concomitantly with tumor staging assessments. However, questions remain regarding the potential negative impact on oocyte quality that may occur due to exposure to scattered ionizing radiation from imaging techniques when staging assessment is conducted at the same time as ovarian stimulation. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on all breast cancer patients who performed ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation at our center between November 2012 and May 2020. Results: Gynecologic and oncological characteristics were similar between patients exposed (n = 14) or not (n = 60) to ionizing radiation. Exposed patients started the ovarian stimulation sooner after diagnosis than non-exposed patients (11.5 vs 28 days, respectively, P < 0.01). Cycle parameters, including the median number of oocytes collected (10.5 vs 7, P = 0.16), maturation rates (92.5% vs 85.7%, P = 0.54), and fertilization rates (62.2% vs 65.4%, P = 0.70), were similar between groups. Conclusion: This study shows that scattered ionizing radiation due to staging assessment appears to be safe without compromising follicular growth and maturation. Larger studies on fertility and obstetrical outcomes are needed to confirm these preliminary data