Lectins are proteins widely diffuse in nature that interact non-covalently with carbohydrates [1]. Of all the mushroom proteins, lectins are probably the most extensively investigated because it has been observed that they can exhibit antitumour activity on human cancer cells [2]. Among them, a lectin from the fruiting bodies of the edible oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus was isolated since ...

INTRODUCTION The avascular environment of the articular chondrocyte dictates that metabolism is largely by anaerobic pathways, with the consequent production of large quantities of lactic acid. The lactic acid produced by chondrocytes must diffuse from the cells, through the extracellular matrix to the synovial fluid and thereafter to capillaries and the systemic circulation. There are reports ...

The advantages and problems of the application of actively excited fluorescence in natural phytoplankton analysis are discussed. The focus is made to a correct prediction of pigment concentrations by fluorescence data. The results of high resolution mapping of chlorophylls and phycobilins in the Gotland Basin (Baltic Sea) during Cyanobacterial blooms in 1997 and 1998 are presented. Dynamical sp...

Fluorescent products (lipofuscin-Iike compounds) of lipid peroxidation, which accumulate with age, were extracted from 'Fuerte' avocado (Persea americana Mill.) peels during ripening. Fractionation and analysis of these fluorescent compounds (FC’s) was carried out by an improved method, based on separation of FC’s from chlorophyll by Sep-Pak silica cartridges. A sharp rise in FC’s content was f...

The effect of (E)-2-methyl-6-styryl-pyridine (SIB1893), a selective metabotropic glutamate (subtype 5) receptor (mGlu5R) antagonist, on glutamate release from isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) was examined. SIB1893 caused a potent inhibition of the Ca -dependent release of glutamate evoked by 4-aminopyridine (4AP). That the implied mGlu5R-mediated modulation was contingent on diacylglycer...

[H]Cimetidine (3HCIM) specifically binds to an unidentified site in the rat brain. Because recently described ligands for this site have pharmacological activity, 3HCIM binding was characterized. 3HCIM binding was saturable, heat-labile, and distinct from the histamine H2 receptor. To test the hypothesis that 3HCIM binds to a cytochrome P450 (P450), the effects of nonselective and isoform-selec...

Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder (TSP) has been reported to have hypoglycemic and hyperinsulinemic action. The objective of the study was to examine the antidiabetic and neuroprotective role of TSP in hyperglycemiainduced alterations in blood glucose, insulin levels and activities of membrane linked enzymes (NaKATPase, CaATPase), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-tra...

Despite the discovery of many ions and molecules that activate the Ca receptor, there are no known ligands that block this receptor. Reported here are the pharmacodynamic properties of a small molecule, NPS 2143, which acts as an antagonist at the Ca receptor. This compound blocked (IC50 of 43 nM) increases in cytoplasmic Ca concentrations [Ca ]i elicited by activating the Ca receptor in HEK 29...

Lambda phages have considerable potential as gene delivery vehicles due to their genetic tractability, low cost, safety and physical characteristics in comparison to other nanocarriers and gene porters. Little is known concerning lambda phage-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian hosts. We therefore performed experiments to evaluate lambda-ZAP bacteriophage-mediated gene transfer a...

Purpose: To improve treatment efficacy and tumor cell selectivity of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) via pretreatment of cells and tumors with methotrexate to enhance intracellular photosensitizer levels. Experimental Design: Skin carcinoma cells, in vitro and in vivo, served as the model system. Cultured human SCC13 and HEK1 cells, normal keratinocytes, and in vivo...