Studies on chrysotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis, III. Gold determination by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry

The gold concentration in serum, synovial fluid and urine has been determined using a HITACHI MODEL 207 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Flow rate of acetylene was setted at 2.0l/min. and lamp current was setted at 8mA. The samples were pretreated by the determination of gold. Serum was diluted with deionized water by two to ten-fold. To O.2ml. of synoival fluid 50units/ml of hyaluronidase was added and then incubated for 20 minutes at 37℃. This sample was then treated the procedure for serum given previously. Urine was treated using the modification method of Christions procedure. The recovery rates with gold sodium thiomalate in serum, synovial fluid and urine were 99.9%, 102.5% and 93.6% respectively. When gold sodium thiomalate was injected in rabbits, the maximum serum gold level was attained 1 hour after injection and then gradually decreased at about 50% of the maximum level 24 hours after injection. In the observations of changes in the gold levels in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis after injection of gold sodium thiomalate and gold thioglucose, its peak level after gold thioglucose injection tended to be slightly lower as compared with the same amount of gold sodium thiomalate injection. In those patients who had been given 300 mg. or more of gold salt-preparation, one additional injection of 25 mg. of gold salt could attain the gold level of around 200μg/100ml, in serum a week later, and this level was very nearly the same with that after 3-4 days of one additional injection of 1Omg. of gold salt. The amount of gold excreted in the urine varied from patient to patient, and the mean excretion rates of gold sodium thiomalate and gold thioglucose in the urine within 24 hours after intramuscular administralion were 9.8% and 6.5% respectively. The simple, rapid and accurate method for analysis in biological specimens using atomic absorption spectrophotometer would offer one of the excellent measures in the clinical management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Mass density at geostationary orbit and apparent mass refilling

We used the inferred equatorial mass density rho_{m,eq} based on measurements of Alfven wave frequencies measured by the GOES satellites during 1980--1991 in order to construct a number of different models of varying complexity for the equatorial mass density at geostationary orbit. The most complicated models are able to account for 66% of the variance with a typical variation from actual values of a factor of 1.56. The factors that influenced rho_{m,eq} in the models were, in order of decreasing importance, the F10.7 EUV index, magnetic local time, MLT, the solar wind dynamic pressure P_{dyn}, the phase of the year, and the solar wind B_Z (GSM Z direction). During some intervals, some of which were especially geomagnetically quiet, rho_{m,eq} rose to values that were significantly higher than those predicted by our models. For 10 especially quiet intervals, we examined long-term (\u3e 1 day) apparent refilling, the increase in rho_{m,eq} at a fixed location. We found that the behavior of rho_{m,eq} varies for different events. In some cases, there is significant apparent refilling, whereas in other cases rho_{m,eq} stays the same or even decreases slightly. Nevertheless, we showed that on average rho_{m,eq} increases exponentially during quiet intervals. There is variation of apparent refilling with respect to the phase of the solar cycle. On the third day of apparent refilling, rho_{m,eq} has on average a similar value at solar maximum or solar minimum, but at solar maximum, rho_{m,eq} begins with a larger value and rises relatively less than at solar minimum

Polarization of magnetospheric ULF waves excited by an interplanetary shock on 27 February 2014

Funding: KT was supported by NASA Grants NNX17AD34G, 80NSSC19K0259, and 80NSSC21K0453. TE was partially funded by Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship ECF-2019-155. ANW was partially funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Grant (ST/N000609/1). AWD was supported by NSFC Grants 42225405 and NAF\R1\19“1047”.Many previous studies have reported that magnetospheric ultralow frequency waves excited by interplanetary shocks exhibit a strong toroidal component, corresponding to azimuthal displacement of magnetic field lines. However, the toroidal oscillations excited by an interplanetary shock on 27 February 2014 and observed on the dayside by multiple spacecraft were accompanied by a strong poloidal component (radial field line displacement). The frequency of the toroidal oscillations changed with the radial distance of the spacecraft as expected for standing Alfvén waves. We run a 3-D linear numerical simulation of this wave event using a model magnetosphere with a realistic radial variation of the Alfvén velocity. The simulated wave fields, when sampled at a radial distance comparable to those of the observations in the real magnetosphere, exhibit polarization similar to the observations. In the simulation, the poloidal component comes from radially standing fast mode waves and the toroidal component results from a field line resonance driven by the fast mode waves. As a consequence, the relative amplitude and phase of the toroidal and poloidal components change with radial distance.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Editorial : Sources and propagation of ultra-low frequency waves in planetary magnetospheres

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Structure-Function of Serotonin in Bivalve Molluscs

It has been observed that 5-HT excites the heart nerves in hard clam and regulates contraction and relaxation of the anterior byssus retractor muscle in the blue mussel. It is now known that 5-HT regulates several neurobehavioral systems such as mood, appetite, sleep, learning, and memory. It also plays critical roles in the physiological functions of peripheral organs involved in stress, growth, and reproduction in the animal kingdom. The present study reviews conserved 5-HT biosynthesis and its localization in the nervous system, and its physiological contribution to regulate reproduction in bivalves. In the cytosol of neurons, tryptophan hydroxylase catalyzes hydroxylation of l-tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan, which is converted to 5-HT by aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase. A 5-HT transporter and a monoamine oxidase reuptakes and metabolizes 5-HT to control the amount of released 5-HT in the nervous system and peripheral organs. Perikarya and fibers of 5-HT neurons are mostly located in the cortices and neuropil of ganglia, respectively, and innervate the gonad. However, distribution and 5-HT content differ among species and sexes and undergo seasonal variations associated with gonadal development. The present review pays a special attention to future research perspectives to better understand 5-HT regulation of reproduction in bivalves

Pharmacology and Molecular Identity of Serotonin Receptor in Bivalve Mollusks

It is now known that 5-HT regulates several neurobehavioral systems such as mood, appetite, sleep, learning, and memory. It also plays critical roles in the physiological functions of peripheral organs involved in stress, growth, and reproduction in the animal kingdom. 5-HT content has seen to be higher in the nervous system of bivalves than those of other examined invertebrates and vertebrates. Thus, bivalves have been considered as an excellent model to investigate 5-HT functions in neurological and peripheral systems. The present study reviews knowledge on 5-HT signaling mediated through 5-HT receptor and its physiological contribution to regulate reproduction in bivalves. Two G-protein-coupled 5-HT1-like receptors have been cloned in bivalve species. However, binding affinities of the 5-HT agonists and antagonists to the isolated plasma membrane proteins and their effects on spawning in bivalves suggest the presence of a single or mixed 5-HT1-, 5-HT2-, and 5-HT3-like receptors. It has suggested that the 5-HT-like receptors in bivalves are distinct from those of mammalian 5-HT receptors due to pharmacological properties. The present review pays a special attention to future research perspectives to better understand 5-HT regulation of reproduction in bivalves, which can provide us with satisfactory knowledge to elucidate reproductive disorders associated with dysfunctions of the neurotransmitter system

Antibody-mediated immunity to the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii is Fc receptor- and complement-independent

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen <it>Coxiella burnetii </it>causes the zoonosis Q fever. The intracellular niche of <it>C. burnetii </it>has led to the assumption that cell-mediated immunity is the most important immune component for protection against this pathogen. However, passive immunization with immune serum can protect naïve animals from challenge with virulent <it>C. burnetii</it>, indicating a role for antibody (Ab) in protection. The mechanism of this Ab-mediated protection is unknown. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine whether Fc receptors (FcR) or complement contribute to Ab-mediated immunity (AMI) to <it>C. burnetii</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Virulent <it>C. burnetii </it>infects and replicates within human dendritic cells (DC) without inducing their maturation or activation. We investigated the effects of Ab opsonized <it>C. burnetii </it>on human monocyte-derived and murine bone marrow-derived DC. Infection of DC with Ab-opsonized <it>C. burnetii </it>resulted in increased expression of maturation markers and inflammatory cytokine production. Bacteria that had been incubated with naïve serum had minimal effect on DC, similar to virulent <it>C. burnetii </it>alone. The effect of Ab opsonized <it>C. burnetii </it>on DC was FcR dependent as evidenced by a reduced response of DC from FcR knockout (FcR k/o) compared to C57Bl/6 (B6) mice. To address the potential role of FcR in Ab-mediated protection in vivo, we compared the response of passively immunized FcR k/o mice to the B6 controls. Interestingly, we found that FcR are not essential for AMI to <it>C. burnetii </it>in vivo. We subsequently examined the role of complement in AMI by passively immunizing and challenging several different strains of complement-deficient mice and found that AMI to <it>C. burnetii </it>is also complement-independent.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite our data showing FcR-dependent stimulation of DC in vitro, Ab-mediated immunity to <it>C. burnetii </it>in vivo is FcR-independent. We also found that passive immunity to this pathogen is independent of complement.</p

Field line distribution of mass density at geostationary orbit

The distribution of mass density along the field lines affects the ratios of toroidal (azimuthally oscillating) Alfv\u27{e}n frequencies, and given the ratios of these frequencies we can get information about that distribution. Here we assume the commonly used power law form for the field line distribution, rho_{m} = rho_{m,eq} ( L R_{E} /R )^alpha, where rho_{m,eq} is the value of the mass density rho_{m} at the magnetic equator, L is the L shell, R_{E} is the Earth\u27s radius, R is the geocentric distance to a point on the field line, and alpha is the power law coefficient. Positive values of alpha indicate that rho_{m} increases away from the magnetic equator, zero value indicates that rho_{m} is constant along the magnetic field line, and negative alpha indicates that there is a local peak in rho_{m} at the magnetic equator. Using 12 years of observations of toroidal Alfven frequencies by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), we study the typical dependence of inferred values of alpha on the magnetic local time (MLT), the phase of the solar cycle as specified by the F10.7 extreme ultraviolet solar flux, and geomagnetic activity as specified by the auroral electrojet (AE) index. Over the mostly dayside range of the observations, we find that alpha decreases with respect to increasing MLT and F10.7, but increases with respect to increasing AE. We develop a formula that depends on all three parameters, alpha_{3Dmodel} = 2.2 + 1.3 cos(MLT 15 degrees) + 0.0026 {AE} cos((MLT-0.8) 15 degrees) + 2.1 10^{-5} {AE} {F10.7} - 0.010 {F10.7},\r\nthat models the binned values of alpha within a standard deviation of 0.3. While we do not yet have a complete theoretical understanding of why alpha should depend on these parameters in such a way, we do make some observations and speculations about the causes. At least part of the dependence is related to that of rho_{m,eq}; higher alpha, corresponding to steeper variation with respect to MLAT, occurs when rho_{m,eq} is lower

Glycerol as a chemical chaperone enhances radiation-induced apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells

INTRODUCTION: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, which is one of the most aggressive, malignant tumors in humans, results in an extremely poor prognosis despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The present study was designed to evaluate therapeutic effects of radiation by glycerol on p53-mutant anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells (8305c cells). To examine the effectiveness of glycerol in radiation induced lethality for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma 8305c cells, we performed colony formation assay and apoptosis analysis. RESULTS: Apoptosis was analyzed with Hoechst 33342 staining and DNA ladder formation assay. 8305c cells became radiosensitive when glycerol was added to culture medium before X-ray irradiation. Apoptosis was induced by X-rays in the presence of glycerol. However, there was little apoptosis induced by X-ray irradiation or glycerol alone. The binding activity of whole cell extracts to bax promoter region was induced by X-rays in the presence of glycerol but not by X-rays alone. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that glycerol is effective against radiotherapy of p53-mutant thyroid carcinomas

Properties of magnetohydrodynamic normal modes in the Earth’s magnetosphere

Funding: MDH was supported by NASA 80NSSC19K0127, 80NSSC19K0907, 80NSSC21K1683, 80NSSC21K1677, 80NSSC23K0903, and NSF AGS-2307204. KT was supported by NASA 80NSSC19K0259 and 80NSSC21K0453. MOA was supported by a UKRI (STFC / EPSRC) Stephen Hawking Fellowship EP/T01735X/1. The research of A.W. was funded in part by Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant ST/W001195/1 (UK). T.E. was funded in part by a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship ECF-2019-155 (UK). AA and XZ were supported by NASA 80NSSC21K0729 and 80NSSC23K0108. We acknowledge support from ISSI Bern through ISSI International Team projects 483 “The Identification And Classification Of 3D Alfven Resonances” and 546 “Magnetohydrodynamic Surface Waves at Earth’s Magnetosphere (and Beyond).” We acknowledge NASA contract NAS5-02099.The Earth's magnetosphere supports a variety of Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) normal modes with Ultra Low Frequencies (ULF) including standing Alfvén waves and cavity/waveguide modes. Their amplitudes and frequencies depend in part on the properties of the magnetosphere (size of cavity, wave speed distribution). In this work, we use ∼13 years of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms satellite magnetic field observations, combined with linearized MHD numerical simulations, to examine the properties of MHD normal modes in the region L > 5 and for frequencies 5 depend on both the magnetopause location and the location of peaks in the radial Alfvén speed profile. Finally, we discuss how these results might be used to better model radiation belt electron dynamics related to ULF waves.PostprintPeer reviewe