Polysaccharide peptide from Coriolus versicolor induces interleukin 6-related extension of endotoxin fever in rats

Purpose: Polysaccharide peptide (PSP) extracted from the Coriolus versicolor mushroom is frequently suggested as an adjunct to the chemo- or radiotherapy in cancer patients. In a previous study we showed that PSP induced a tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)-dependent anapyrexia-like response in rats. Thus, PSP appears to be a factor which modifies a number of pathophysiological responses. Because of this, PSP is suggested as a potential adjuvant for cancer therapy during which cancer patients frequently contract microbial infections accompanied by fever. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not PSP can modulate the course of the fever in response to an antigen such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Materials and methods: Body temperature (Tb) of male Wistar rats was measured by biotelemetry. PSP was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a dose of 100mgkg 1, 2 h before LPS administration (50 mgkg 1, i.p.). The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-a in the plasma of rats were estimated 3 h and 14 h post-injection of PSP using a standard sandwich ELISA kit. Results: We report that i.p. pre-injection of PSP 2 h before LPS administration expanded the duration of endotoxin fever in rats. This phenomenon was accompanied by a significant elevation of the blood IL-6 level of rats both 3 h and 14 h post-injection of PSP. Pre-treatment i.p. of the rats with anti-IL-6 antibody (30 mg/rat) prevented the PSP-induced prolongation of endotoxin fever. Conclusions: Based on these data, we conclude that PSP modifies the LPS-induced fever in IL-6-related fashion

RESONANT TUNNELLING IN DOUBLE-BARRIER HETEROSTRUCTURES WITH AN ACCUMULATION LAYER

Two modes of electron gas injection in resonant tunnelling through GaAs/AlGaAs double-barrier heterostructures were revealed while studying their current-voltage characteristics. Examining peculiarities of the characteristics within the temperature range 4-350 K and under a high magnetic field, we were able to distinguish the contribution to resonant tunnelling of ballistic electrons mjected from a three-dimensional electron gas in the emitter contact and that of electrons injected from a two-dimensional electron gas in the accumulation layer formed near the emitter barrier.

Resonant Tunnelling in Double-Barrier Heterostructures with an Accumulation Layer

Two modes of electron gas injection in resonant tunnelling through GaAs/AlGaAs double-barrier heterostructures were revealed while studying their current-voltage characteristics. Examining peculiarities of the characteristics within the temperature range 4-350 K and under a high magnetic field, we were able to distinguish the contribution to resonant tunnelling of ballistic electrons injected from a three-dimensional electron gas in the emitter contact and that of electrons injected from a two-dimensional electron gas in the accumulation layer formed near the emitter barrier

Interlayer Exchange Coupling in Semiconductor EuS-PbS Ferromagnetic Wedge Multilayers

Antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling between ferromagnetic layers of EuS via nonmagnetic PbS spacer layer was experimentally studied in EuS-PbS wedge multilayers grown on KCl (001) substrates with EuS thickness of 6 nm and PbS thickness varying in the wedges in the range 0.3-6 nm (i.e. n=1-20 monolayers). Measurements of magnetic hysteresis loops of EuS-PbS multilayers performed in the temperature range 5-30 K by superconducting (SQUID) and magneto-optical magnetometers revealed a rapid increase in saturation magnetic field in multilayers with PbS spacer thinner than about 1.5 nm. It shows a monotonic increase in interlayer coupling strength with a decreasing PbS spacer thickness, in qualitative agreement with 1/2$\text{}^{n}$ dependence predicted theoretically for semiconductor magnetic superlattices