|
| ||
|
|
||
Biological Aspects (biological + aspect)
Selected AbstractsPreface: 5th International Conference on Environmental and Biological Aspects of Main-Group Organometals (ICEBAMO-5), Graz, Austria, June 2001APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2002Walter Goessler No abstract is available for this article. [source] Synthesis, spectroscopy, thermal and biological aspect of novel six-coordinated dimeric iron(III) mixed-ligand complexesAPPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2008M. N. Patel Abstract The mixed-ligand complexes of iron(III) with 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-piperazin-1-yl-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid and various neutral bidentate Schiff base ligands were prepared. The structure of mixed-ligand complexes was investigated using spectral, physicochemical and elemental analyses. Biocidal activity was determined using agar plate technique against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens. The result showed a significant increase in a biocidal activity compared with parent ligands, metal salts and standard drugs (ofloxacin, levofloxacin). DNA binding and cleavage studies were carried out using absorption titration and gel electrophoresis techniques, respectively. The binding constant of Fe(III) complexes was obtained in the range 2.5,4.0 × 104M,1. The DNA binding and cleavage efficacy were raised in mixed-ligand complexes as compared with parental ligands and metal salts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Synthesis and separation in the history of "nature" and "nurture"DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007Cheryl A. Logan Abstract For much of the 20th century scientific psychology treated the relative contributions of nature and nurture to the development of phenotypes as the result of two quite separate sources of influence. One, nature, was linked to biological perspectives, often manifest as "instinct", while the other, nurture, was taken to reflect psychological influences. We argue that this separation was contingent on historical circumstance. Prior to about 1920, several perspectives in biology and psychology promoted the synthesis of nature and nurture. But between 1930 and 1980 that synthetic consensus was lost in America as numerous influences converged to promote a view that identified psychological and biological aspects of mind and behavior as inherently separate. Around 1960, during the hegemony of behaviorism, Daniel Lehrman, Gilbert Gottlieb, and other pioneers of developmental psychobiology developed probabilistic epigenesis to reject predeterminist notions of instinct and restore a synthesis. We describe the earlier and later periods of synthesis and discuss several influences that led to the separation of nature and nurture in the middle of the 20th century. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 758,769, 2007. [source] Offspring production and development in the parasitoid wasp Melittobia clavicornis (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from JapanENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004Jorge M. GONZÁLEZ Abstract The development time, sex ratio and offspring production of Melittobia clavicornis reared with wild, facultative and factitious hosts are presented. Known hosts and different biological aspects presented in previously published reports are summarized and clarified. Immature development time was equivalent or slightly longer than that of other Melittobia species, and the sex ratio was approximately 97% female. Total offspring numbers were considerably lower than that of other Melittobia species using the same hosts. We report female dimorphism in this species for the first time. The number and relative proportion of brachypterous morph females produced was higher than that in other species of the genus. [source] Book and Media ReviewsADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000David Ball Books reviewed in this article: Book reviews in this column will primarily be of titles focusing completely, or in part, on biological aspects of addiction. However, significant titles of general relevance to the addictions field will also be included, even if they are not "biological", as will titles of general methodological and clinical relevance, even if they are not on "addictions". Similar considerations will apply to other media (software, audio tapes and CDs, videos, etc). However, specific "addictions" software applications seem to be relatively uncommon and, as these items are rarely reviewed elsewhere, we will endeavour to include reviews of some of the older programmes that are still useful, as well as new titles that appear. I would appreciate suggesti ons of any items suitable for reviews, but especially software and other media of specifi c relevance to the addictions. Please contact: Dr David Ball, National Addiction Centre, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UK. Dual Diagnosis and Treatment: substance abuse and co-morbid medical and psychiatric disorders HENRY R. KRANZLER & BRUCE J. ROUNSAVILLE (Eds) Improving the Care of People in Substance Misuse Ser vices: clinical audit project examples KIRSTY MACLEAN STEEL & CLAIRE PALMER Software European Legal Texts on Drugs (CD-Rom) [source] Pathology of lymphoma progressionHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001H K Müller-Hermelink Reflecting the stepwise process of oncogenesis, lymphomas may cumulatively develop a more aggressive phenotype during the course of disease, a process referred to as lymphoma progression. Although morphological, clinical and biological aspects of lymphoma progression do not always overlap, changes in lymphoma morphology frequently indicate alterations in the clinical and biological behaviour of the disease. Indolent and aggressive lymphomas in disease progression can either be clonally related or represent clonally unrelated neoplasms. We propose to use the term ,lymphoma progression' in a biological sense denoting only clonal development of and within a lymphoma entity. The term ,composite lymphoma' should be used as a merely descriptive morphological designation for different lymphoma entities in one individual irrespective of clonal relationship. Many types of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's lymphomas are reported to secondarily develop in lymphoma progression. Genetic changes associated with lymphoma progression frequently abrogate the differentiating effects of alterations occurring in indolent lymphomas, leading to increased cell proliferation. Within different lymphoma entities, high-risk disease variants mimicking lymphoma progression exist. [source] Charting protein complexes, signaling pathways, and networks in the immune systemIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2006Angela Bauch Summary:, Systematic deciphering of protein,protein interactions has the potential to generate comprehensive and instructive signaling networks and to fuel new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Here, we describe how recent advances in high-throughput proteomic technologies, involving biochemical purification methods and mass spectrometry analysis, can be applied systematically to the characterization of protein complexes and the computation of molecular networks. The networks obtained form the basis for further functional analyses, such as knockdown by RNA interference, ultimately leading to the identification of nodes that represent candidate targets for pharmacological exploitation. No individual experimental approach can accurately elucidate all critical modulatory components and biological aspects of a signaling network. Such functionally annotated protein,protein interaction networks, however, represent an ideal platform for the integration of additional datasets. By providing links between molecules, they also provide links to all previous observations associated with these molecules, be they of genetic, pharmacological, or other origin. As exemplified here by the analysis of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-,/nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B) signaling pathway, the approach is applicable to any mammalian cellular signaling pathway in the immune system. [source] Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis imported into Paris: a review of 39 casesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Lise El Hajj MD Background, Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is a common cause of dermatosis in travelers returning from the tropics. We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and biological aspects and therapeutic outcome of imported LCL. Methods, A retrospective study of all cases of LCL observed from 1992 to 2000 in our tropical disease unit. Diagnosis was based on direct examination of skin smear and/or culture with identification of subsequent subspecies. Results, Thirty-nine cases (25 males, 14 females; median age: 38 years) were included: 35 French travelers and four foreign immigrants; 15 cases were acquired in the Old World and 24 cases in the New World. The patients presented to our department with a median of 60 days after return. Thirteen patients had already consulted general practitioners, and the diagnosis was missed in five cases (38%). Five clusters were identified. The median number of skin lesions was two per patient. Diagnosis was established by direct microscopic examination in 36 cases (92%). Thirty-five patients were assessable for first-line treatment with antimonials (intramuscularly in 18, intralesionally in nine), intramuscular pentamidine isethionate or oral ketoconazole (four patients each). Twenty-five patients (71.4%) were cured. The remaining 10 patients were cured after one to three courses of other treatments. Overall adverse events occurred in 60% of the patients treated with antimonials and 37% of those treated with pentamidine. Conclusion, Imported LCL is still unrecognized by Western physicians. Clusters may be observed in groups of travelers. The therapeutic outcome is impaired by numerous but minor side-effects. [source] Distribution pattern of versican, link protein and hyaluronic acid in the rat jreiodontal ligament during exjreimental tooth movementJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002R. Sato The ability of the jreiodontal ligament (PDL) to rapidly remodel is the basis of orthodontic tooth movement. During the tooth movement, matrix proteoglycans (PGs) may play important roles in spatial, mechanical and biological aspects for the maintenance and repair of the PDL. The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution of a large hyaluronic acid (HA)-binding proteoglycan, versican, link protein (LP) and HA in the rat molar PDL during exjreimental tooth movement by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Exjreimental tooth movement was jreformed according to Waldo's method. Histologically, regressive changes, such as decrease of fibroblasts and collagen fibers and exudative change of edema were observed in the compressive side and progressive changes, such as proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen fibers, in the strain side one day after treatment. By 3 days after tooth movement, regressive or progressive changes were not observed in either side. Using monoclonal antibodies specific to versican core protein or LP, the positive immunoreactivity for both molecules was constantly observed throughout the PDL. After the exjreimental force was applied to the tooth, however, the immunostainings of versican and LP became significantly intense only in the compressive side but decreased in the strain side. The intensity in the compressive side was strongest one day after the force was applied and gradually diminished thereafter. HA of both sides did not change during exjreimental tooth movement. Since HA is present in the PDL, large amounts of versican and LP expressed in the compressive side may create large hydrated aggregates via their association with HA that dissipates the compressive force applied to this tissue. [source] Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis: genetic and acquired risk factorsORAL DISEASES, Issue 6 2009ME Sarasquete The objectives of this study were to review epidemiological, clinical and biological aspects associated with the development of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, with special emphasis on the genetic aspects. A detailed review of previously described risk factors as well as recent genetic findings mostly comprises this work. The most recent meeting abstracts and relevant articles published in journals covered by the Science Citation Index and Medline are also examined. The review pays special attention to the genetic component of BRONJ. A total of 15 series and 14 guidelines or revisions were selected to fit the aims of the review. Gene variability was reviewed in depth to give a clinical illustration on the genetic aspects of BRONJ. Crude prevalence and 5-year cumulative incidence were considered as the most important end points for predictive purposes. Several acquired factors were recognized as predictors for BRONJ in MM, especially intravenous bisphosphonates, dental trauma and advanced age. Among genetic factors, polymorphisms on CYP2C8 gene arise as a promising risk factor. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw can be predicted with a conjunction of genetic and environmental risk factors. [source] Pathological and molecular biological aspects of the renal epithelial neoplasms, up-to-datePATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2004Yoji Nagashima Renal neoplasms are not necessarily high in frequency, but they are characteristic in their heterogeneity and occasional association with systemic familial tumor syndromes and phacomatoses (e.g. clear cell renal cell carcinoma and von Hippel-Lindau disease, Wilms tumor and aniridia, genitourinary malformation and mental retardation (so-called, WAGR syndrome), and angiomyolipoma and tuberous sclerosis). Physicians and pathologists should take note of these syndromes and associated renal neoplasms because they have provided important clues to elucidate the mechanism of tumorigenesis concerning cancer-suppressor genes. This review aims to present recent classification of renal parenchymal neoplasms based on their molecular biological characteristics, and future problems yet to be clarified. [source] Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: Clinical, pathological and molecular biological aspectsPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2000Yoji Nagashima Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a newly established subtype of renal neoplasm, is composed of tumor cells with characteristically cloudy, weakly eosinophilic and reticular cytoplasm. The tumor should be distinguished from the common clear cell RCC, because of the unique clinicopathological and molecular biological features. The tumor does not show gender bias. Patient ages are similar to those of clear cell RCC, but might occur in the 20- to 40-year-old age group. Grossly, the tumor tends to be beige in color, which is different from the yellowish color of common RCC. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry indicate the intercalated cell of the collecting duct as the cellular origin. Cytogenetic study shows non-random multiple chromosome loss, with mitochondrial DNA rearrangement. Alteration of the von Hippel,Lindau (VHL) gene, a cancer suppressor gene relating with clear cell RCC, has not yet been observed. In order to adopt the most appropriate treatment, including gene therapy, recognition and correct pathological diagnosis of chromophobe RCC are extremely important. [source] Improving feature detection and analysis of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectraPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 11 2005Scott M. Carlson Abstract Discovering valid biological information from surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) depends on clear experimental design, meticulous sample handling, and sophisticated data processing. Most published literature deals with the biological aspects of these experiments, or with computer-learning algorithms to locate sets of classifying biomarkers. The process of locating and measuring proteins across spectra has received less attention. This process should be tunable between sensitivity and false-discovery, and should guarantee that features are biologically meaningful in that they represent chemical species that can be identified and investigated. Existing feature detection in SELDI-TOF MS is not optimal for acquiring biologically relevant data. Most methods have so many user-defined settings that reproducibility and comparability among studies suffer considerably. To address these issues, we have developed an approach, called simultaneous spectrum analysis (SSA), which (i) locates proteins across spectra, (ii),measures their abundance, (iii),subtracts baseline, (iv),excludes irreproducible measurements, and (v),computes normalization factors for comparing spectra. SSA uses only two key parameters for feature detection and one parameter each for quality thresholds on spectra and peaks. The effectiveness of SSA is demonstrated by identifying proteins differentially expressed in SELDI-TOF spectra from plasma of wild-type and knockout mice for plasma glutathione peroxidase. Comparing analyses by SSA and CiphergenExpress Data Manager,2.1 finds similar results for large signal peaks, but SSA improves the number and quality of differences betweens groups among lower signal peaks. SSA is also less likely to introduce systematic bias when normalizing spectra. [source] Considerations in using tumor markers: what the psycho-oncologist needs to knowPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Debra L. Fertig Tumor markers are measures of biological features of a cancer. By revealing important biological aspects of the tumor, tumor markers can be useful in staging patients, predicting cancer outcomes, and guiding treatments. The psychological consequences of using tumor markers are virtually unknown. In this review article, we draw on clinical studies involving the psychological impact of risk information, screening, prognostic information and surveillance of cancer. Such studies may be helpful in considering possible psychological reactions to tumor marker information in clinical practice. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Investigating cultural heterogeneity in San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile, through biogeochemistry and bioarchaeologyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Kelly J. Knudson Abstract Individuals living in the San Pedro de Atacama oases and the neighboring upper Loa River Valley of northern Chile experienced the collapse of an influential foreign polity, environmental decline, and the appearance of a culturally distinct group during the Late Intermediate Period (ca. AD 1,100,1,400). We investigate cultural heterogeneity at the Loa site of Caspana through analyses of strontium and oxygen isotopes, cranial modification styles, and mortuary behavior, integrating biological aspects of identity, particularly geographic origins, with cultural aspects of identity manifested in body modification and mortuary behavior. We test the hypothesis that the Caspana population (n = 66) represents a migrant group, as supported by archeological and ethnographic evidence, rather than a culturally distinct local group. For Caspana archeological human tooth enamel, mean 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70771 ± 0.00038 (1,, n = 30) and mean ,18Oc(V-PDB) = ,3.9 ± 0.6, (1,, n = 16); these isotopic data suggest that only one individual lived outside the region. Material culture suggests that the individuals buried at Caspana shared some cultural affinity with the San Pedro oases while maintaining distinct cultural traditions. Finally, cranial modification data show high frequencies of head shaping [92.4% (n = 61/65)] and an overwhelming preference for annular modification [75.4% (n = 46/61)], contrasting sharply with practices in the San Pedro area. Based on multiple lines of evidence, we argue that, rather than representing a group of altiplano migrants, the Caspana population existed in the region for some time. However, cranial modification styles and mortuary behavior that are markedly distinct from patterns in surrounding areas raise the possibility of cultural heterogeneity and cultural fissioning. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Microwave-assisted synthesis, spectroscopy and biological aspects of binuclear titanocene chelates of isatin-2,3-bis(thiosemicarbazones)APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2009Priyanka Banerjee Abstract The reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) chloride with a new class of bis(thiosemicarbazones) (H2L), derived by condensing isatin with different N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazides, have been studied both by a conventional stirring method and also using microwave technology. Binuclear products of type [{(,5 -C5H5)2TiCl} 2(L)] have been isolated in both cases. Tentative structural conclusions are drawn for the reaction products based upon analysis, electrical conductance, magnetic moment and spectral (UV-visible, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR) data. FAB mass spectra of these compounds were also recorded to confirm the binuclear structures. Studies were conducted to assess the growth inhibiting potential of the ligands and complexes against various fungal, viral and bacterial strains. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)-arrays pave the way for identification of novel cancer-related genesCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 7 2004Johji Inazawa Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has already made a significant impact on cancer Cytogenetics. However, CGH to metaphase chromosomes can provide only limited resolution at the 5,10 Mb level. To circumvent this limitation, array-based CGH has been devised. Since spotted DMAs in a CGH-array contain sequence information directly connected with the genome database, we can easily note particular biological aspects of genes that lie within regions involved in copy-number aberrations. High-density, sub-megabase arrays can reveal nonrandom chromosome copy-number aberrations responsible for neoplastic transformation that have been masked under complex karyotypes in epithelial solid tumors. High-density CGH-array therefore paves the way for identification of disease-related genetic aberrations that have not yet been detected by existing technologies, and array-based CGH technology should soon be practical for diagnosis of cancer or genetic diseases in the clinical setting. [source] Tumor hypoxia: A target for selective cancer therapyCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 12 2003Shinae Kizaka-Kondoh Tumor hypoxia has been considered to be a potential therapeutic problem because it renders solid tumors more resistant to sparsely ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, recent laboratory and clinical data have shown that tumor hypoxia is also associated with a more malignant phenotype and poor survival in patients suffering from various solid tumors. Therefore, selective targeting of hypoxic tumor cells has been explored, and since severe hypoxia (pO2<0.33%, 2.5 mmHg) does not occur in normal tissue, tumor hypoxia could be exploited for therapeutic advantage. However, the following three characteristics of hypoxic tumor regions present obstacles in targeting hypoxic cells. First, it is difficult to deliver a sufficient amount of drug to a region that is remote from blood vessels. Second, one must specifically target hypoxic tumor cells while sparing normal well-oxygenated tissue from damage. Finally, the severely hypoxic tumor cells to be attacked have often stopped dividing. Therefore, high delivery efficiency, high specificity and selective cytotoxicity are all necessary to target and combat hypoxic tumor cells. The current review describes progress on the biological aspects of tumor hypoxia and provides a compilation of the recent molecular approaches used to target hypoxic tumors. These approaches include our work with a unique hypoxia-targeting protein drug, TOP3, with which we have sought to address the above three difficulties. [source] Discovery and Syntheses of "Superbug Challengers",Platensimycin and PlatencinCHEMISTRY - AN ASIAN JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010Kalanidhi Palanichamy Abstract Bacteria have developed resistance to almost all existing antibiotics known today and this has been a major issue over the last few decades. The search for a new class of antibiotics with a new mode of action to fight these multiply-drug-resistant strains, or "superbugs", allowed a team of scientists at Merck to discover two novel antibiotics, platensimycin and platencin using advanced screening strategies, as inhibitors of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, which is essential for the survival of bacteria. Though both these antibiotics are structurally related, they work by slightly different mechanisms and target different enzymes conserved in the bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis. This Focus Review summarizes the synthetic and biological aspects of these natural products and their analogues and congeners. [source] | ||||||||||||||||