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Previous work has indicated that acute and repeated stress can alter thyroid hormone secretion. Corticosterone, the end product of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and strongly regulated by stress, has been suggested to play a role in hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis regulation. In the current study, we sought to further characterize HPT axis activity after repeated exposure to inescapable foot-shock stress (FS), and to examine changes in proposed regulators of the HPT axis, including plasma corticosterone and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus agouti-related protein (AGRP) mRNA levels. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to one daily session of inescapable FS for 14 days. Plasma corticosterone levels were determined during and after the stress on days 1 and 14. Animals were killed on day 15, and trunk blood and brains were collected for measurement of hormone and mRNA levels. Repeated exposure to FS led to a significant decrease in serum levels of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,5,3′,5′-tetraiodothyronine (T4). Stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels were not altered by repeated exposure to the stress. Despite the decrease in peripheral hormone levels, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) mRNA levels within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus were not altered by the stress paradigm. Arcuate nucleus AGRP mRNA levels were significantly increased in the animals exposed to repeated FS. Additionally, we noted significant correlations between stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels and components of the HPT axis, including TRH mRNA levels and free T4 levels. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between AGRP mRNA levels and total T3 levels. Changes in body weight were also correlated with peripheral corticosterone and TRH mRNA levels. These results suggest that repeated exposure to mild-electric foot-shock causes a decrease in peripheral thyroid hormone levels, and that components of the HPA axis and hypothalamic AGRP may be involved in stress regulation of the HPT. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotia of Sclerotium cepivorum formed on onion bulbs in soil were shown to undergo a period of constitutive dormancy lasting 1-3 months during which they failed to respond maximally to the germination stimulant diallyl disulphide. Even after the breakdown of constitutive dormancy sclerotia were subject to exogenous dormancy from which they were only released by the presence of species of Allium or of germination stimulants known to be produced by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1995, a survey was carried out of all garages in Solihull Borough to assess, firstly, the extent of tobacco advertising and compliance with the Voluntary Agreement on tobacco advertising, and secondly, for the presence and position of the warning notice prohibiting sales to under-16-year-olds. In all, 49 garages were visited, of which 40 met the inclusion criteria of selling both petrol and cigarettes. Seven tobacco advertisements were suspected of breaching the Voluntary Agreement, but only one was confirmed as a breach by the official monitoring committee, COMATAS, which was an Embassy showcase without a health warning. The 'under-16' warning notice was not displayed at five garages. Similar surveys of different retail sales outlets for tobacco are carried out each year in Solihull to ensure compliance of tobacco advertising material with the Voluntary Agreement and the display of the 'under-16' warning notice. This paper discusses the rationale for carrying out similar systematic surveys in other districts for more effective lobbying and influence on compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which described the development of protocols producing reproducible symptoms and identification of pistachio germplasm with resistance to Botryosphaeria dothidea infection. Materials and methods; Results; Discussion and findings.

In a survey of soils in Great Britain, soils have been found to contain the sclerotial mycoparasite, Teratosperma oligocladum, which had only been reported previously in the U.S. This article reports the discovery of soils which have been found to contain the dematiaceous hyphomycete, Laterispora brevirama. L. brevirama has so far only been found on sclerotia in association with T. oligocladum. It is not yet clear whether L. brevirama is a mycoparasite of sclerotia of Sclerotinia or of S. sclerotivorum and T. oligocladum.