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New series of catechol ether type derivatives 5, 6 have been synthesized and applied to biological tests. Even though it is a preliminary data, some of our target molecules show the promising result against PDE IV inhibition. SAR and biological studies with synthetic compounds will be discussed in detail.

Recent reports have linked exposure to asphalt fumes to higher rates of cancer in workers employed in mastic asphalt pavement operations in Denmark. The conclusion that asphalt fume exposure was responsible for cancer rests heavily on the proper connection for or the absence of confounding exposures, especially to coal tar fumes. Coal tar was used in paving in Denmark before and during World War II. However, significant debate has occurred about when its use was discontinued. Potential methods for detecting coal tar in historically dated pavements placed in the city of Copenhagen were examined. It was found that there are clear chemical marker compounds and tests that can determine the presence of coal tar materials in an asphalt aggregate mixture. The results of a short-term biological test called the modified Ames assay also correlated well with the presence or absence of coal tar–derived materials. Results show that coal tar usage in Denmark extended until at least 1970.

One of the major objectives at the end of this century is the development of "alternative" tests for the evaluation of the pharmacological and/or toxicological activity of newly developed molecules. Contact allergy is no exception to the rule and many research programs have been started to develop in vitro techniques for the detection of allergizing compounds. In parallel with these biological studies, another approach is becoming important and will no doubt become more so, namely, the study of structure–activity relationships (SARs). This consists of using molecular or physicochemical properties to predict and, in certain cases, quantify the allergizing potential of a new molecule without using any biological test. Three main approaches are currently under study: the creation of allergy databases, the design of "expert" computerized systems, and the development of quantitative SARs. These three often complementary approaches are still at the development stage, but we can begin to see their potential and limitations. The aim of this article is not to give an exhaustive description of all the systems developed worldwide, but to illustrate each approach by giving some important examples.

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) consist of a large number of individual congeners with varying degree of chlorination and possible substitution patterns. No single congener can be used as a representative congener for the whole class of compounds. Multivariate chemical characterisation (principal component analysis) in combination with factorial design provide tools by which small sets of structurally representative congeners can be determined. These tools are suggested to be used in the design of biological experiments in order to introduce systematic structural variation in the congeners to be tested and to make it possible to construct quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs). A QSAR based on bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) in fish for 20 systematically selected PCBs made it possible to predict BAFs for all 134 non-tested tetra-through hepta-chlorinated congeners. The use of these systematic and balanced sets of congeners in the experimental protocol will provide increased knowledge of the environmental behaviour of the PCBs.

A pharmacological formulation derived from bovine blood was studied for species-specific substances, the problem being the low-molecular weight of its components. A detection of the species specificity for bovines was possible exclusively by the use of monovalent bovine-specific blood group sera. All other sera showed cross-reactions. Inhibition tests and blood-group-specific bovine test sera enabled us to identify the species specificity of bovines in the drug concentrate at dilutions up to 1/1,000 which are used as the basis for the production of the medication. The requirement of the German authorities (BGA) to examine the specificity of the identity in the medication can therefore be met by this immunobiological method.

Should we consider that haemostasis tests may help guide the anaesthesiologist's therapeutic choices when the patient is on the operating table and bleeds without evident explanation? The response is yes, provided that the results will be available rapidly. Haemostasis tests that are performed in laboratory wards distant from the surgery room often prove to be unuseful in emergency situations as haemostasis abnormalities usually occur in a shorter time than is required to get biological test results. Devices located in the vicinity of the surgery room should therefore be available to the anaesthesiologist. Furthermore, these devices should be able to perform not only platelet counts and haematocrit determination, but other blood tests that may be useful to get further insights in the patient's haemostasis function. Such devices are already available, allowing rapid haemostasis tests in the surgery room and prompt decision with regard to appropriate transfusion policy. However, the haemostasis laboratory is still useful, as it permits to refine coagulation profile and also offers quality controls for those tests that were done in the surgery room.

The two title compounds, 2-oxo-2-p-tolyl-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) ethyl phenylcarbamodithioate(compound 3a) and 2-oxo-2-p-biphenyl-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) ethyl phenylcarbamodithioate(compound 3b), were synthesized and identified by IR, EA and 1H NMR spectra. The crystal structure of compound 3b was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallized in a monoclinic system of space group P21/c with Mr = 398.47(C23H18N4OS), a = 0.8769(2) nm, b = 1.1924(2) nm, c = 2.0440(6) nm, β = 109.66(3)°, V = 2.0126(8) nm3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.315 g/cm3, F(000) = 832, μ = 0.183 mm-1, final R1 = 0.0819. The biological test result shows that the two title compounds exhibit certain fungicidal activities.

Two photosensitizer, hematoporphyrin (HP) and 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were adsorbed on the magnetic nanoparticles. In the biological test of the magnetic fluids, the hematological and blood chemical levels of rats were summarized. Also, the possibilities for hyperthermia application of the magnetic fluid were verified by measuring their heat capacity and temperature in AC field.

(E)-2-(1H-Benzo[d] [1,2,3] triazol-1-yl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl) -3-hydroxy-N-phenylprop-2-enethioamide (compound 1) and (E)-2-(1H-benzo [d] [1,2,3] triazol-1-yl)-3-hydroxy-N, 3-diphenylprop-2-enethioamide (compound 2) were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by means of IR, MS, 1H NMR, and elemental analysis. The structure of compound 1 was determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The results of the biological test show that the two compounds have a certain antifungal activity.

Morpholinium salts coupled to oxazolyl moieties have been synthesized via nucleophilic substitution of a series of oxazolyl chlorides with morpholine. The oxazole moieties were first synthesized and then coupled with morpholine. The corresponding hydrochloride and methyl iodide salts were obtained, purified, characterized and then tested for muscarinic receptor binding affinity. Biological test results from MDS Pharma Services revealed no significant muscarinic receptor affinity.

El objetivo fue determinar la concentración efectiva media de reducción del crecimiento radical (CE50), de una formulación del herbicida glifosato mediante bioensayos de germinación con semillas de lechuga y de trigo. Para lechuga se probaron 9 dosis/tratamientos decrecientes entre 1.215 y 0,01215 g i.a.ha-1 (formulado: Sal amónica de la N-Fosfonometil glicina, 40,5 [g e.a. glifosato 36,9% p/v]) y para trigo 5 dosis decrecientes (entre 12,15 y 1,215 g i.a.ha-1) y su respectivo control negativo (agua destilada). Se utilizaron cajas de Petri, con papel de filtro en la base humedecido con 3 ml de la solución correspondiente. Se sembraron 20 semillas por caja, distribuyéndose los tratamientos en bloques al azar con 4 repeticiones, en cámara de crecimiento a 20°C con alternancia de luz y oscuridad. Se midió la longitud radicular de todas las semillas de cada tratamiento con calibre digital. Se determinó el porcentaje de germinación y se calculó el índice de germinación. Las CE50, es decir, las dosis que redujeron en un 50% el crecimiento radical para lechuga y trigo, fueron 6,682 y 9,416 g i.a.ha-1, respectivamente. Los materiales probados resultaron sensibles a distintas dosis de glifosato y por lo tanto pueden utilizarse como indicadores biológicos de toxicidad específica. The objective of this work was to determine a glyphosate formulation effects on the root length reduction (average effective concentration: EC50) using germination bioassays with lettuce and wheat seeds. For lettuce nine decreasing doses/treatments between 1,215 and 0.01215 g a.i.ha-1 (formulated as: N phosphonometyl glycine ammonium salt 40.5 [g e.a. glyphosate 36.9% p/v]) and for wheat five decreasing doses (12.15 and 1.215 g a.i.ha‑1) and their respective negative controls (distilled water) were tested. Bioassays were carried out in Petri boxes with wet filter paper with 3 ml of corresponding solution. Twenty seeds were sowed per box, treatments being distributed in blocks at random with 4 repetitions in germination chamber under alternating light and dark condition at 20°C. All seed average root length and repetition were estimated with a digital caliper. The average germination percentage of treatments and the germination index was also determined. EC50 or doses reducing 50% their radical growth for lettuce and wheat were 6.682 and 9.416 g a.i.ha-1. Plant materials tested resulted sensitive to the different glyphosate doses and they can be used as biological indicators of the specific toxicity. Fil: Lallana, María del C.. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal Fil: Lallana, Víctor H.. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal Fil: Billard, Cristina E.. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal Fil: Foti, María Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal Fil: Elizalde, José H.. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal

The microbiological quality of indoor air is creating an increasing interest especially as far as places at risk such as hospitals, clinics, medical and odontological surgeries are concerned. Working with the odontologists of our province we have been carrying out a research aimed at preventing cross-infection in odontology. Data obtained from the microbiological analysis of the air in 36 surgeries using S.A.S were discussed during the V National Congress of Aerobiology. During that congress the need of setting a standardized technique of air sampling in indoor environments emerged and two routes have been identified: (1) the gravimetric technique on open plate exposed for an hour close to the dental unit and (2) the use of the volumetric sampler which gives qualitative data expressed as colonies forming units per cubic metre of air. However, both of these techniques present some problems: using the first a loss of micro-organisms has been noticed due to the variability of the air fluxes and the different weight of the biological particles; using the second one the bacterial charge is also undervalued, because of the stress suffered by the bacteria with the use of the volumetric sampler. In the light of these statements we decided to use both in dental surgeries to be able to compare the results obtained. Our project is expected to carry out at least one inspection and the relative sampling (indoor air, water of the dental unit, air of the syringe, disinfectant solution, surface tampons, biological test of sterility) in each dental surgery in the territory of our health Unit, located in Ferrara, Northern Italy.

Twenty-two male volunteers in Jerusalem were subjected to a battery of psychological tests at the height of the Iraqi Scud missile attacks on Israeli cities during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and again after the cessation of hostilities. Venous blood samples were taken at each time point. The separated mononuclear cells and plasma were cryopreserved, and a spectrum of immunological and neuroendocrine assays were performed on the preserved samples. Psychological testing indicated levels of anxiety were higher during the war than they were after the war ended, and both anxiety and anger during the hostilities were significantly elevated in comparison with prewar data. During the war, specific war-related pressures were greater than everyday pressures, and problem-focused coping was more evident than emotion-focused coping. Natural-killer cell activity and cell-mediated lympholysis were significantly elevated during the war, as were plasma levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, neurotensin, and substance P. The only biological test parameter found to be reduced during the war period was mononuclear cell thymidine incorporated in nonstimulated cultures.

A new concept coupling sample preparation (using thin-layer chromatography) with effect-directed analysis (TLC–EDA) is proposed and demonstrated, using the planar-YES (a variation of the yeast estrogen screen, YES) as example. The concept allows performing on one single TLC layer all steps including sample preparation, sample separation and the detection of bio-effective substances and also offers a potential link to high-end chemical analytics. Estrogen standards were separated by TLC, distinguished and detected by a biological test system. Dose-response curves were produced for 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). In a field trial, bioactive compounds were extracted from a recirculating fish culture and from a wastewater treatment plant and tested. Low concentrations of a substance likely to be E2 were found in both samples. The level of detection for E2 and EE2 at the current stage of development was 0.5 pg per band (5 mm × 1 mm). The time demand for incubation, compared to the standard YES procedure of 1996, was reduced from >20 hours to 5 hours. If the level of detection can be lowered a little more, by less than one order of magnitude, a rapid screening of native aqueous samples on estrogenic activity is realistic. This will open a wide range of different fields of application.

Prion diseases are rare in children. Three types are known: kuru, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and iatrogenic CJD. All three affect children and young adults, and are transmitted by infectious contamination. Kuru was the result of ritual funeral practices similar to cannibalism; variant CJD affects young people who have eaten meat from cows with mad cow disease (mostly in the UK); and iatrogenic CJD is secondary to graft of human tissues performed in the 1980s (dura mater, pituitary extracted growth hormone). The disease appears after 4-30 years of incubation. The initial symptomatology is frequently neurological (cerebellar ataxia, oculomotor disturbance, peripheral nerve pain, pyramidal syndrome) followed by dementia. There is no biological test available that can give a definite diagnosis of prion disease apart from neuropathology, although prion accumulation in vCJD can be demonstrated in pharyngeal tonsil by immunohistochemical techniques. This devastating disease results inevitably in death. No specific treatment is available.

We present a comparative study of different biological tests in the acute phase of inflammation. The study was performed in 80 patients after surgical procedures in septic cases. We have compared the levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), C3, C3a, C4, T(o), sedimentation rate, and the leucocyte count. The analysis was made before surgery and every week until the ninth week after surgery. The variations in CRP which ocurred very early were extensive. The increase ranged between 200 and 600% after the surgical procedure. In cases without complications the CRP level returned to normal within 20 days. The study showed the CRP as the most specific and sensitive biological test of the acute phase of inflammation. However this biological test cannot differentiate between an acute infective and a severe inflammatory process.

Photodynamic therapy is an evolving technique for treatment of various oncological diseases. This method employs photosensitizers - species that lead to death of tumor cells after the photoactivation. For further development and novel applications of photodynamic therapy new photosensitizers are required. After synthesis of a new photosensitizer it is important to know its concentration in different biological tissues after its administration and distribution. The concentration is frequently measured by the extraction method, which has some disadvantages, e.g. it requires many biological test subjects that are euthanized during the measurement. We propose to measure the photosensitizer concentration in tissue by its fluorescence. For this purpose fluorescent standards were developed. The standards are robust and simple to produce; their fluorescence signal does not change with time. The fluorescence intensity of fluorescent standards seems to depend linearly on the dye concentration. A set of standards thus allow the calibration of a spectrometer. Finally, the photosensitizer concentration can be determined by the fluorescence intensity after comparing the corresponding spectrum with spectra of the set of fluorescent standards. A biological test subject is not euthanized during this kind of experiment. We hope this more humane technique can be used in future instead of the extraction method.

Modern trends in the detection, isolation and characterization of leads for novel therapeutic compounds are reviewed. Some current biological test systems (immunological, chemical, enzymic, receptor, etc.) and examples of their successful application are highlighted including the structures of selected novel and prospective metabolites.

The performance of up-flow Charcoal bed contact treatment plant was experimentally investigated to determine the design-operating parameters and its proper maintenance method to ensure effective purification. Some improvements (e. g., in flow direction, and lower part of tank) have been made on this plants. In this experimental plant, polluted water runs through charcoal bed in the upward direction, which is different from conventional gravel bed contact treatmentplant, where contaminated water runs in the horizontal direction. Water-purification test, biological test, and a test on maintenance methods were conducted, with using river water and secondarily treated domestic waste water.Removal efficiencies of BOO, SS, T-N and T-P were approximately 80%, 90%, 30% and 40%, respectively, at about 30-40 minutes of contact time. Also, it became apparent that the SS removal ininfluent part of the plant was expected to allow long-term purification without the rapid development of clogging in charcoal bed. The aeration-washing of the charcoal bed with diffuser avoidedthe deterioration of treatment performance due to the clogging. Therefore, up-flow charcoalbed contact-purification seemed to have a advantage to treat river water polluted.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) is based on clinical features and confirmed only at pathological brain examination. However, since markers of pathogenic mechanisms have been demonstrated in biological fluids and in peripheral tissues, several of them have been proposed as in vivo diagnostic tools. Their importance is underscored by the need to discriminate among various types of dementia and by the evidence that effective treatments should start at early phases of disease or even at preclinical stages. Apart from genetic mutations responsible for the few cases of familial AD, so far no single biological test has reached a reliable degree of sensitivity and specificity for a definite in vivo diagnosis, to detect susceptible individuals at preclinical stage or patients suitable for appropriate drug therapies. More recently, however, combinations of various biological markers have shown higher reliability as diagnostic tools. For these reasons the research on biological markers in AD is presently blooming and the Italian Interdisciplinary Network on Alzheimer Disease (ITINAD, www.itinad.com), a scientific team of clinicians and researchers, which brings together neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, pharmacologists, and molecular biologists, devoted its second monothematic symposium to this theme. The first part of the meeting covered the results of a multi-center study, sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Education and Research, which investigated the interactions of various pathogenic events (amyloid processing, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity) in peripheral tissues obtained from AD patients.

Mutant of dwarf rice (Oryza sativa L.) were treated with three different concentrations of gibberellicacid originated from two sources (Gibberellin and Pro-Gibb) and submitted to the determinationof bigger height, in relation to the soil leveI. Mensurations were realized in each seven days atgreenhouse conditions under mean temperature of 25°C. lt was concluded that concentrations of 10mg L-1 of gibberellin originated from Pro-Gibb or Gibberellin was enough to promote a differentiatedperformance of the test plant. For the study of leaf anatomy Pro-Gibb presented, under all testedconcentration, increase of mesophyll thickness in relation to Gibberellin. In this analysis, source andinteraction between source and concentration applied promoted significant variations betweenthe mean data., Plantas mutantes de arroz anão (Oryza sativa L.) foram tratadas com três diferentes concentraçõesde ácido giberélico originários de duas fontes (Gibberellin e Pro-Gibb) e submetidas à determinaçãoda maior altura, em relação ao nível do solo. As mensurações foram realizadas a cada 7 dias emcasa de vegetação à temperatura ambiente média de 25°C. Concluiu-se que a concentraçãode 10 mg L-1 de giberelina proveniente de Pro-Gibb ou Gibberellin mostrou-se suficiente paracausar o desempenho diferenciado da planta-teste; porém, para o estudo da anatomia foliar, Pro-Gibb apresentou, para todas as concentrações testadas, aumento na espessura do mesofilo emrelação a Gibberellin. Nesta análise, fonte e interação entre a fonte e a concentração aplicadapromoveram variações significativas entre as médias. Gibberellin sources and doses on development of dwarf rice in biotestsMutant of dwarf rice (Oryza sativa L.) were treated with three different concentrations of gibberellicacid originated from two sources (Gibberellin and Pro-Gibb) and submitted to the determinationof bigger height, in relation to the soil leveI. Mensurations were realized in each seven days atgreenhouse conditions under mean temperature of 25°C. lt was concluded that concentrations of 10mg L-1 of gibberellin originated from Pro-Gibb or Gibberellin was enough to promote a differentiatedperformance of the test plant. For the study of leaf anatomy Pro-Gibb presented, under all testedconcentration, increase of mesophyll thickness in relation to Gibberellin. In this analysis, source andinteraction between source and concentration applied promoted significant variations betweenthe mean data.

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:27:10Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:42:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-84874090069.pdf: 374090 bytes, checksum: 7b0bda63c5723fd3c3243e543be5a5d1 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:27:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-01 Mutant of dwarf rice (Oryza sativa L.) were treated with three different concentrations of gibberellic acid originated from two sources (Gibberellin and Pro-Gibb) and submitted to the determination of bigger height, in relation to the soil leveI. Mensurations were realized in each seven days at greenhouse conditions under mean temperature of 25°C. lt was concluded that concentrations of 10 mg L-1 of gibberellin originated from Pro-Gibb or Gibberellin was enough to promote a differentiated performance of the test plant. For the study of leaf anatomy Pro-Gibb presented, under all tested concentration, increase of mesophyll thickness in relation to Gibberellin. In this analysis, source and interaction between source and concentration applied promoted significant variations between the mean data. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP Campus Do Litoral Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente, SP Campus Do Litoral Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente, SP

This work describes the efficacy of a solar-thermal powered autoclave used for the wet sterilization of medical instruments in off-grid settings where electrical power is not readily available. Twenty-seven trials of the solar-thermal powered system were run using an unmodified non-electric autoclave loaded with a simulated bundle of medical instruments and biological test agents. Results showed that in 100% of the trials the autoclave achieved temperatures in excess of 121°C for 30 minutes, indicator tape displayed visible reactions to steam sterilization, and biological tests showed that microbial agents had been eliminated, in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements for efficacious wet sterilization.

This review presents the most recent chemical and biological investigations on one of the marine invertebrates, gorgonian octocoral. It summarizes all 432 new compounds published in 2002-2009, which consists of 46 sesquiterpenoids (including 2 new natural products, NNP), 282 diterpenoids (including 4 from Pennatulacea octocoral and one artifact), 76 steroids, and 29 alkaloids or other types (2 NNP included). In this paper, according to the structure division, the new compounds are described in combination with the taxonomy of the investigated animals, and its simultaneous bioactivity results. Novel skeletons and complex structures are paid most emphasis on its features, means of structural elucidation and the proposed biogenesis pathway. The source of all new compounds and the different diterpenoid skeleton types are all listed and analyzed, as well as the commonly used Chinese names or some proposed ones for diterpenoid skeletons. Furthermore, this papers deals with all biological test toward the gorgonian new metabolites, i.e. anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial(against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis etc), anti-malaria, and anti-fouling as well, in which anti-cancer activity and cytotoxicity were additionally, a discussion and prospect are proposed regarding chemical overview on gorgonian. This review, hopefully, can be useful in proving data and references for further chemical and biological research of China sea gorgonian, for the studies on chemical ecology, and for the discovery of new and bioactive compounds or the marine-derived leading targets.

Objective Current study was conducted to investigate the seed physiological characteristics of Tulipa edulis and improve germination rate. Method Anatomical characteristics was observed. Seed water absorption curve was tested by soaking method. Dynamic of embryo development and germination rate as well as germination index under different conditions were recorded. And the biological test of cabbage seed was used for detecting the germination inhibitors. Result The embryo rate of newly matured seeds was about 10%, and there was no obstacle of water absorption on testa of T. edulis. The optimum method for embryo development was exposure to 300 mg x L(-1) gibberellin solution for 24 hours, and stratification at 25 degrees C for 70 days followed by stratification at 5 degrees C for 40 days. The germintion rate and germination index of dormancy-broken seeds under the dark environment at 10 degrees C and 15 degrees C were significantly higher than those under other conditions. Additionally, there were some germination inhibitory substances in dry seeds. Conclusion The seed of T. edulis can be classified as having complex morphophysiological dormancy, and the morphological embryo dormancy played a leading role. Warm and cold stratification resulted in a fast dormancy breaking effect, and a high germination rate more than 90% could be obtained under the optimum conditions.

Carboplatin, a second-generation platinum compound, is a chemotherapeutic drug effective in many types of cancers. Its use is limited by the development of systemic allergic reactions in up to 30% of the cancer patients. Therefore, it is very important to make a correct diagnosis of true carboplatin allergy, for the crucial clinical implications. In this regard, no biological test is actually available to detect specific immunoglobulin E in the sera of patients allergic to carboplatin. We evaluated a new experimental biological test in patients with suspected immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions to carboplatin. Three patients with suspected hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin underwent skin tests with an undiluted aliquot (10 mg/ml) of carboplatin preparation planned for infusion. Total serum immunoglobulin E and specific immunoglobulin E to the two platinum salts carboplatin and cisplatin were determined with the ImmunoCAP system (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden). We detected specific immunoglobulin E to carboplatin in all three patients, whereas specific immunoglobulin E to cisplatin was observed in one patient. The positivity of specific immunoglobulin E against carboplatin in these three patients is a new and encouraging observation for the development of a new important instrument that can help clinicians in their therapeutic decisions, after a hypersensitivity reaction to a platinum salt.

This chapter describes the following three approaches used to study the tissue distribution of chemical and biological compounds in laboratory animals: (i) organ collection, homogenization/combustion, and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) analysis; (ii) whole-body autoradiography (WBA), which includes quantitative whole-body autoradiography (QWBA); and (iii) microautoradiography (MARG), which qualitatively resolves the localization of compounds to the cellular level in a histological preparation. LSC, WBA, QWBA, and MARG studies require the use of a radiolabeled chemical or biological test compound, which provides for the tracking and quantification of both the parent molecule and potential metabolites that might be formed. This chapter discusses the history, advantages, limitations, and examples of the application of each technique. Keywords: cut and count procedure; autoradiography; positron emission topography; tissue distribution; ADME

Exceptionally important aspect in cattle production, from the aspect of production and economy, is ensuring normal and regular fertility. Every cattle breeder wants to have high-yielding animals which at the same time have good fertility. In proper cattle breeding this means that from each cow during single year one healthy calf is obtained. Use of artificial insemination has enabled that one breeding male is used as sire for several tens of thousands of progeny, however, there is always the risk that sires could be carriers of lethal and semi-lethal genes, which can cause huge losses of calves. In order to bring these undesirable occurrences to a minimum, so called bilogical test is included in the breeding and selection activities, i.e. bulls are tested through their progeny for presence of difficult calving (dystocia) abd calf losses caused by genetic anomalies. In Republic of Serbia, this test is carried out on ehtire Simmental population in an exchange of data produced by primary breeding organizations. Per each tested bull, it is necessary to have data on minimum 50 randomly selected calves. Calves are examined visually 65 days after the birth, at the latest. In the present study, the results of the biological testing of 35 Simmental bulls, sires of total 3572 calves on the territory of Central Serbia, in the period 2008-2009, are used. The effect of sires on parameters of biological test were studied: body mass of calves at birth, calf score and calving score. Also, bulls were ranked based on said parameters, male/female calves ratio and percentage of twins and still-born calves for each bull individually were determined. After the rank of bulls was established, the correlation between the rank and studied fertility traits was determined. Correlations were expressed using the Spearman coefficient. Research results show that the effect of bulls was very high p (lt) 0,001 on all three parameters of the biological test, and also that the percentage of still born calves for all bulls was within limits, with the exception of bulls Zahlo (HB 1497) and Woz (HB 1433) where it was above 5. Izuzetno važan aspekt u govedarskoj proizvodnji, gledano sa proizvodnog i ekonomskog stanovišta je obezbeđivanje normalne i redovne plodnosti. Svaki odgajivač goveda želi da ima grla koja su visoko proizvodna i istovremeno poseduju dobru plodnost. Za pravilno odgajivanje goveda to znači da se od svake krave u toku godine dobije po jedno zdravo tele. Upotreba veštačkog osemenjavanja omogućila je da jedan priplodnjak bude otac nekoliko desetina hiljada potomaka. Međutim, uvek postoji rizik da su očevi nosioci letalnih i semiletalnih gena, što može prouzrokovati velike gubitke teladi. Da bi se ove nepoželjne pojave svele na najmanju moguću meru u odgajivački i selekcijski rad uključeno je ispitivanje bikova po potomstvu na teška teljenja i gubitke teladi izazvane genetskim anomalijama, tzv. biološki test. Ovaj test se u Republici Srbiji vrši jedinstveno za čitavu populaciju simentalske rase, razmenom podataka između odgajivačkih organizacija. Po svakom biku koji se testira, neophodno je imati podatke za najmanje 50 slučajno odabrane teladi. Vizualni pregled teladi se obavlja najkasnije do 65 dana, od datuma rođenja teleta. U ovom istraživanju korišćeni su rezultati biološkog testa 35 bikova simentalske rase koji su bili očevi ukupno 3572 teladi na teritoriji centralne Srbije u periodu 2008. i 2009. godine. U radu je ispitivan uticaj očeva na parametre biološkog testa: telesnu masu teladi po rođenju, ocenu teleta i ocenu toka teljenja. Takođe je izvršeno rangiranje bikova na ove parametre, kao i utvrđivanje odnosa muške i ženske teladi, procenat bližnjenja kao i procenat mrtvorođene teladi za svakog bika posebno. Nakon utvrđenog ranga bikova izvršena je korelacija ranga ispitivanih osobina plodnosti. Korelacije su iskazane Spirmanovim koeficijentom. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je uticaj bikova izuzetno visok p (lt) 0,001 na sva tri parametra u biološkom testu, kao i da je procenat mrtvorođene teladi kod svih bikova u dozvoljenim granica, osim bikova Zahlo (HB 1497) i Woz (HB 1433) gde je iznosio preko 5.

The basic Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test) is a valuable primary tool by which to discriminate mutagens from non-mutagens. For a variety of chemical test substances this test is easily conducted according to international guidelines for genotoxicity testing. However, the testing of proteinaceous substances in the basic Ames test may generate false positives owing to the presence of growth-promoting constituents in the test sample, such as histidine or its precursors. It was hypothesized that the growth-promoting capacities of biological test samples might be overcome by testing according to the 'suspension variant' of the Ames test, which uses very rich growth conditions thereby overwhelming any growth-enhancing constituents present in a biological test sample. This hypothesis appeared to be correct, although several important modifications had to be made to the suspension assay. The most important aspect of this 'new suspension Ames test' appeared to be the plating of overnight regrown bacteria in the poorest way possible (by omitting histidine and nutrient broth from the overlay agar). This study may comprise an initial step in the development of a modified suspension Ames test for testing proteinaceous substances.

A facile novel procedure to obtain (±)-6,8-diethoxycarbonyl-6-methyl-9-H-pyrimido [4,5-b] [1,4] diazepines from 4,5-diaminopyrimidines and ethyl pyruvate is described. The structure of pyrimido [4,5-b] [1,4] diazepine derivatives for the products of this reaction was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The procedure proved to be of wide scope with reference to the substituent of the starting pyrimidines. The results of the biological test as anticancer and antiviral agents performed with several of the newly synthesized compounds are presented.

A synthesis of the naturally occurring inhibitor of chitin metabolism, allosamidin 1, involves, as the key step, condensation between the allosamizoline derivative 39, prepared following oxyamination of the cyclopentene 19, and the disaccharide glycosylating agent 54 which was synthesised from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose. The structural isomer 59 of allosamidin is also reported. Brief biological test results obtained using isomers 1 and 59 are recorded.

Nine titled compounds were synthesized and identified by IR, NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The results of the primary biological test show that all of these compounds have the activities of fungicide and plant growth regulator.

Intravascular stents manufactured out of bioabsorbable magnesium (Mg) or Mg-alloys are considered as auspicious candidates for the next stent generation. However, before clinical application numerous physical and biological tests, especially to predict the clinically highly important degradation kinetics in vivo, have to be performed. In a Chandler-Loop model, the initial degradation of eight different magnesium alloys during 6 h in contact with human whole blood was investigated. The magnesium release varied between 0.91 ± 0.33 mg/cm2 (MgAl9Zn1) and 2.57 ± 0.38 mg/cm2 (MgZn1). No correlation could be found with Mg release data obtained after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). This pilot study showed that Mg corrosion is highly influenced by the biological test environment (SBF or blood, etc.) and that a modified Chandler-Loop model with human whole blood may be superior to predict corrosion of Mg alloys under clinical conditions than the SBF models presently used.

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of copper metabolism. Failure to diagnose WD can be dramatic leading to irreversible damages. The molecular genetic analysis of ATP7B gene is the reference test for diagnosis but the number of reported mutations of the ATP7B gene is on the rise. The analysis is cumbersome and requires tedious work. Other clinical and biological tests are proposed but it is often difficult to interpret some patients' results. A rapid and reliable biological test for WD diagnosis is still needed. Analytical reliability of Exchangeable copper (CuEXC) determination procedure is examined by studying the repeatability, the short term stability and stability in frozen serum. Relative exchangeable copper (REC=CuEXC/total copper%) is proposed and evaluated as a new diagnostic test and compared to classic tests used for WD diagnosis. Sixteen new Wilson disease patients were diagnosed in our institution between January 2009 and May 2011. The different biological tests used for WD diagnosis yielded lower sensitivity and specificity compared to our new biomarker, the REC. We show that REC is an excellent discriminatory tool for the diagnosis of WD offering 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

The developments in the rest of medicine have shown us that the ability of a diagnosis to predict treatment and prognosis is usually improved once one has a firm biological test. General treatment of “heart failure” was rather poor when the same treatment was used for all forms of heart failure, while the precise diagnosis of valvular dysfunction, myocarditis and ischaemic heart disease led to more precise treatments, better outcomes and better ability to predict outcome. That has been the fond hope in biological psychiatry, and Lawrie et al carefully and systematically analyze how far we have come to realizing it in schizophrenia. Their article carefully reviews data from risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms, genetics, blood-based markers and imaging “markers” with respect to their sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. The paper achieves two important goals. It is a thoughtful synthesis of such evidence, presented from the perspective of sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios. Furthermore, by drawing attention to the lack of useful clinical biological tests, it reminds us of the journey ahead. While I laud the authors’ effort, I question whether it is even feasible, at present, to look for a biological “test” in psychiatry just as they do in the rest of medicine. The way “tests” are evaluated in the rest of medicine is versus a “gold standard”. A simple blood test often is used to substitute for a definitive pathological diagnosis. A simple ECG recording is used to substitute a complex invasive angiogram. Thus, in medicine, indices of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio etc. are all premised on measuring a new test against the definitive “gold standard”. No test can better the “gold standard”. But, what today would be the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of schizophrenia? It would have to be DSM (or the ICD) 1. There is no other option. Given that our current and foreseeable DSM/ICD labels are empirical and pragmatic collections of clinical symptoms, the looking for a biological finding to predict this heterogeneous collection of symptoms is shaky. The second major problem at present is the “artificiality” of the current data from a clinical perspective. The extant data in genetics, imaging and biological markers of schizophrenia has been collected in individuals who fully and unambiguously meet the classical DSM criteria and are usually contrasted to perfectly healthy, one might say “hyper-normal”, normal volunteers 2. Where is the problem in distinguishing two such people? Classical schizophrenia is easily distinguished from perfect normalcy by even an untrained observer. The real challenge in the clinic is to distinguish the nearly-psychotic depressed-looking individual from the nearly-depressed psychotic-behaving individual and firmly classifying one into major depression and the other into schizophrenia (if either of these have a deeper meaning – see the gold standard problem above). Very few studies have attempted this at present. And therefore any predictive value derived from current data separating classical illness from perfect normalcy is artificially inflated. So, we are in a Catch-22. Until we have a gold standard we are unlikely to find meaningful biological tests. And until we have a better biological understanding we cannot redefine the illness to make it more valid. What’s the way out? A solution lies in the pursuit of biologically defined “subtypes”. There is little hope of, or purpose in, replacing the well-established and relatively standardized method of diagnosing schizophrenia clinically (which has taken a 100 years to get to) with an ad hoc biological test of limited clinical value. It would be too disruptive and would yield little benefit. Thus, the DSM-5 and ICD-11 carry on the tradition of their ancestors 1. In the meantime, what biological psychiatry should seek are biological tests that can either improve treatment choice or predict differential prognosis. This requires a shift in the research we do. The emphasis is not anymore in finding biological differences versus supernormal controls. The focus is on prediction within the phenomenologically defined diagnosis. Thus, I can foresee meeting a new patient, diagnosing his/her to have a DSM-6/ICD-12 schizophrenia, and then telling him/her “you have a schizophrenia of the ‘hypofrontal’ subtype, and this means that you will not respond well to standard antipsychotics and therefore let’s start with clozapine instead”; or meeting another young man and saying “you have a schizophrenia with ‘conserved executive function’; in this subtype we find that antipsychotics can be stopped after two years, provided there is active involvement in cognitive-behavioural therapy”. What fish you catch, is largely a function of where you fish. Rather than focussing on schizophrenia versus normal controls with biological tests – something fraught with several taxonomic (dimensional vs. categorical) and practical challenges – let’s use the umbrella diagnosis and “subtype” it. And let’s judge the game empirically – let the test that best improves or best predicts real-life outcome of patients win the prize.

Human and ecological risk assessment of metals in contaminated soil is a powerful mean to evaluate environmental quality objectives in the remediation of contaminated sites. Risk based clean up procedures are carried out by a tiered methodology, which consider sources reactivity and mobility of metals in the soil environment. Among the exposure pathways which link the source of contamination to the potential receptor, the transfer of heavy metals from soil to plant, and by food chain to human beings is greatly influenced by the processes of bioavailability. Bioavailability is the key to understand the environmental risk derived by metals, since adverse effects only occur when related to biologically available forms of these elements. Extraction test generally used in soil chemistry were originally developed to predict metal deficiencies, and tend to be fairly aggressive to simulate plant behaviour. The action of plant in the rizosphere is not particularly aggressive, so "passive approach" have been developed. They include the collection and analysis of pore water with different means, (artificial roots, field lysimeter) or the use of passive extraction, water or neutral salts are generally used to mimic plant uptake of metals from soil which occur only via soil solution. Coupling passive approach with bioassay in which plants growing in the contaminated soils, are used as an extractant, seems to provide a powerful tool to use in the risk assessment procedure. Moreover the results can be utilized to select the best remediation technologies for metal contaminated sites.

TEZ8350 Tez (Doktora) -- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, 2011. Kaynakça (s. 111-123) var. xxi, 134 s. : rnk. res., çizelge ; 29 cm. Two different EHA 101 isolates of Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring pCAMBIA1301 and PGA482GG plasmids were used for the genetic transformation of two potato varieties. The plasmid, pCAMBIA 1301 carrying Hpt gene provides resistance to antibiotic of hygromycin B, and Cry 1A(c) gene provides resistance to some insects. The plasmid, pGA482GG carrying Npt II provides resistance to antibiotic of kanamycin and GUS provides visible transformants. Genetic transformation was conducted on leaf and tissue fragments of Marfona and Granola Potato (Solanum tuberasum L.) varieties. The transgenic patato plants contaning Npt II and GUS genes in 50 mg/l kanamycin and transgenic outgrowth contaning Cry 1A(c) gene in 10 mg/l hygromycin B, were selected in L medium. B-glucuronidase activity in plants contaning Npt II and GUS genes were determined by the analysis of histochemical GUS assay. The PCR process conducted on ten plant with GUS positive resulted in nine plant samples generating specific 660 bp DNA band. The PCR process for Npt II gene resulted in seven positives out of eleven samples. Thirty-five plants out of fifty-five plants resistant to hygromycin B antibiotic, were determined by specific 700 bp DNA fragment reproduced with PCR analysis to have Hpt gene. In the five transgenic microtubers of Marfona variety was also determined to have Hpt gene. Transgenic Marfona and Granola potato varieties having Hpt gene were biologically tested with potato beetles. Testing showed that % 80-85 of larvas of potato beetles lived on transgenic Marfona and Granola varieties died. PCAMBIA1301 ve pGA482GG plazmidlerini içeren Agrobacterium tumefaciens'in EHA101 izolatları, iki patates çeşidinin genetik transformasyonunda kullanılmıştır. Hpt ve Cry 1A(c) genlerini taşıyan pCAMBIA1301 plazmidi higromisin B antibiyotiğine ve bazı böceklere karşı dayanıklılık sağlamaktadır. NptII ve Gus genlerini taşıyan pGA482GG plazmidi sırasıyla kanamisin antibiyotiğine dayanıklık ve transformatlara görünebilirlik sağlamaktadır. Genetik transformasyon çalışması ""Marfona"" ve ""Granola"" patates (Solanum tuberasum L.) çeşitlerinin yaprak ve internodium doku parçalarında yapılmıştır. Npt II ve GUS genlerini içeren transgenik patates bitkileri 50 mg/l kanamisin, Cry 1A(c) genini içeren transgenik sürgünler ise 10 mg/l higromisin B içeren L ortamında sırasıyla selekte edilmiştir. B-glukuronidaz aktivitesi histokimyasal GUS analizi ile Npt II geni içeren bitkilerde saptanmıştır. GUS pozitif sonuç veren bitkilerden 10 tanesinde GUS geni için PCR yapıldığında, 9 örnek gene spesifik 660 bp DNA bandı oluştururken, Npt II geninin test edildiği 10 bitkinin PCR analizinde ise 7 tanesi pozitif sonuç vermiştir. Higromisin B antibiyotiğine dayanıklı olarak seçilen toplam 55 adet patates bitkisinden 35 adedinin kesin olarak Hpt genini içerdiği PCR analizi ile çoğaltılan spesifik 700 bp DNA fragmenti ile saptanmıştır. ""Marfona"" patates çeşidine ait 5 adet transgenik yumrularda Hpt genin varlığı da PCR analizi ile gösterilmiştir. Hpt geni içeren transgenik ""Marfona"" ve ""Granola"" patates çeşitleri Patates Böceği ile biyolojik olarak testlenmiştir. Yapılan Biyolojik testlemede transgenik ""Marfona"" ve ""Granola"" bitkileri üzerinde beslenen patates böceği larvalarında % 80-85 oranında ölüm meydana geldiği gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışma Ç.Ü. Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir. Proje No: ZF2007D9.

A series of chemical compounds belonging to the non‐ionic polyethoxylated surfactants family were selected: fatty alcohols, alkyl phenols and fatty amines. Their toxicity was determined against a biological test system: luminiscent marine bacteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum. Toxicity of chemicals was monitored by the decrease in intensity of the ligth emitted by bacteria as a consequence of their contact with surfactants. From the results obtained through the above mentioned biological toxicity test, a direct relationship between the hydrophobic chain length and the toxicity for a series of linear alcohols has been established. Also, for a series of ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl phenols and fatty amines, the toxicity of homologous is very dependent of the ethoxylation grade, e.g. the greater the HLB value of the homologous, the smallest its toxicity.

Decreasing the large test variability associated with measurements of blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)- and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is likely to improve the classification of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and allow improved monitoring of lipid-lowering treatments. However, improving test precision will benefit the clinician only if (a) the analytical test variability is high relative to the biological test variability and (b) detecting subtle responses to diet or drug therapy is clinically important. Improving HDL- and LDL-cholesterol test precision can be expected to increase the clinical usefulness of these measurements because values for HDL- and LDL-cholesterol correlate closely with CHD risk; are associated with small, yet clinically important, changes in response to diet and (or) drug therapy; and have substantial analytical test variability relative to biological variability. On the other hand, measurements of both blood cholesterol and triglyceride have high biological relative to analytical variability, and do not correlate as closely with CHD risk. Therefore, further improvements in precision for these measurements are less likely to be useful to the clinician.

EXPOSE-E has been the first of three long-duration space missions provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the European Program of Life and Physical Science in Space (ELIPS) for long-term astrobiology studies on board the International Space Station. As part of the European Technology Exposure Facility, EXPOSE-E was launched together with ESA’s Columbus laboratory and mounted in open space onto the external balcony of the Columbus laboratory from 15 February 2008 until 2 September 2009. It accommodated a variety of chemical and biological test systems from five different experiments.

Antibiotic Resistance Is it possible to streamline the complex task of finding new drugs to fight resistant bacteria and other disease targets? Most biological processes are controlled by complicated regulatory networks, so combinations of two or more drugs are likely to be more effective than any single agent. Finding combinations that work means first screening enormous numbers of possibilities. Cheng et al. examined mixtures of genetic elements in millions of different combinations. Those combinations with the desired effect in a biological test could be identified afterward by highthroughput sequencing capable of detecting associated DNA “barcode” identifier sequences. Results are promising and revealed combinations of transcription factors that enhanced lethal effects of an antibiotic by a millionfold. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 10.1073/pnas.1400093111 (2014).

Analysis of the Ah Receptor Signal Transduction Pathway (Michael S. Denison, Jane M. Rohers, S. Renee Rushing. Carol L. Jones, Selwyna C. Tetangico, and Sharon Heath-Pagliuso, University of California, Davis, California).The protocols in this unit will allow researchers to detect the Ah receptor and characterize its functional activities (i.e., ligand binding, transformation and DNA binding, and gene expression) in their biological test system and to use these methods to detect chemical and biochemical events that affect this signaling system.

Bacteria have a complex internal organization with specific localization of many proteins and DNA, which dynamically move during the cell cycle and in response to changing environmental stimuli. Much less is known, however, about the localization and movements of RNA molecules. By modifying our previous RNA labeling system, we monitor the expression and localization of a model RNA transcript in live Escherichia coli cells. Our results reveal that the target RNA is not evenly distributed within the cell and localizes laterally along the long cell axis, in a pattern suggesting the existence of ordered helical RNA structures reminiscent of known bacterial cytoskeletal cellular elements.

A synthesis of the naturally occurring inhibitor of chitin metabolism, allosamidin 1, involves, as the key step, condensation between the allosamizoline derivative 39, prepared following oxyamination of the cyclopentene 19, and the disaccharide glycosylating agent 54 which was synthesised from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose. The structural isomer 59 of allosamidin is also reported. Brief biological test results obtained using isomers 1 and 59 are recorded.

The development of an inmunosensor for the point-of-care detection of the foot-and-mouth cattle disease is presented. The detector is based on an ELISA method with electrochemical detection. A non-structural protein, 3ABC, is used to selectively detect antibodies is used to selectively detect anti-3ABC antibodies produced after infection. The biological test is performed onto a screen printed electrodes. A dedicated small, portable potentiostat is employed for the control of the sensors, as well as data acquisition, processing, and storage.

Within the EU, ash should be classified by its inherent hazardous effects under criterion H-14 (ecotoxic) in the Directive on waste (2008/98/EC). Today, however, there are no harmonized quantitative criterions for such a classification, but it is stated that biological test systems can be used. In this study seven ash materials were leached and characterized, both biologically and chemically. The objectives were to evaluate if (a) clear concentration-response relationships could be achieved for the selected toxicity tests (bacteria, algae, crustacean and fish), (b) some test(s) are generally more sensitive and (c) the toxic responses were consistent with the chemical analyzes. Interestingly, our results indicate that high concentrations of non-hazardous components (Ca, K) influenced the toxicity of almost all ash eluates, whereas hazardous components (e.g. Zn, Pb) only influenced the toxicity of the eluates ranked as most hazardous. If considering both hazardous and non-hazardous substances, the observed toxic responses were relatively consistent with the chemical analyzes. Our results further showed that the (sub)chronic tests were much more sensitive than the acute tests. However, the use of extrapolation factors to compensate for using the less sensitive acute tests will likely lead to either over- or underestimations of toxicity. Our recommendation is therefore that classification of waste according to H-14 should be based on (sub)chronic test data. Finally, given that treatment of the eluates prior to toxicity testing has a major significance on the concentration and speciation of released substances, further studies are needed in order to propose a relevant testing scheme.