Showing papers by "Autonomous University of Barcelona published in 1988"
TL;DR: It is suggested that chronic restraint leads to compensatory increases of brain 5‐HT and NA synthesis and sensitizes both monoaminergic systems to an additional acute stress and changes may affect coping with stress demands.
Abstract: The effects of 1 h/day restraint in plastic tubes for 24 days on the levels of serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), tryptophan (TP), and noradrenaline (NA) in six regions of rat brain 20 h after the last restraint period were investigated. The levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and NA but not TP increased in several regions. The effects of 1 h of immobilization on both control and chronically restrained rats were also studied. Immobilization per se did not alter brain 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and TP levels, but decreased NA in the pons plus medulla oblongata and hypothalamus. However, immobilization after chronic restraint decreased 5-HT, increased 5-HIAA, and decreased NA in most brain regions in comparison with values for the chronically restrained rats. We suggest that chronic restraint leads to compensatory increases of brain 5-HT and NA synthesis and sensitizes both monoaminergic systems to an additional acute stress. These changes may affect coping with stress demands.
216 citations
TL;DR: The results showed that earthworms accelerated the mineralization rate and converted the manures into castings with a higher nutritional value and degrees of humification, suggesting that this kind of industrial residue may be used in vermicomposting.
Abstract: Castings of Eisenia fetida from sheep manure alone and mixed with cotton wastes analysed for their properties and chemical composition every 2 weeks for 3 months and compared with the same manures in the absence of earthworms. The results showed that earthworms accelerated the mineralization rate and converted the manures into castings with a higher nutritional value and degrees of humification. The castings obtained from manure mixed with cotton wastes exhibited good agronomic quality, suggesting that this kind of industrial residue may be used in vermicomposting.
214 citations
TL;DR: The effect of a growth reducing cadmium concentration on the structure and ultrastructure of leaves, stomata and plastids of bush bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) grown on perlite was studied using light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy.
Abstract: summary
The effect of a growth reducing cadmium concentration (5 μg ml−1) on the structure and ultrastructure of leaves, stomata and plastids of bush bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) grown on perlite was studied using light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy. The structural and ultrastructural alterations observed were not directly related to the average Cd content of the whole organs. In roots, where the highest Cd concentration was found, plastid ultrastructure was hardly affected, while in the upper parts of the plant the chloroplasts showed severe alterations. Disruption of chlorophyll synthesis and plastid ultrastructure was greater in young trifoliate leaves than in primary leaves. The effects of Cd toxicity on the structure and ultrastructure and their physiological implications are discussed in relation to Cd uptake.
191 citations
TL;DR: A general model for natural selection against embryos carrying a chromosome imbalance was proposed and triploidy was found to be correlated with three parameters.
Abstract: A multicentric study was carried out to analyse in a large series: (i) the chromosomal status of unfertilized oocytes, (ii) errors at fertilization and (iii) the chromosomal complement of cleaved embryos. Parameters such as type of sterility, maternal age, stimulation treatment, doses of gonadotrophins administered and oocyte preincubation time before insemination were studied in relation to the incidence of chromosome abnormalities. Twenty-six per cent of the unfertilized oocytes and 29.2% of the embryos had chromosome anomalies. Maternal age significantly increased the rate of aneuploidy in oocytes: 38% in patients over 35 years (versus 24% in younger patients). Fertilization-related abnormalities were significant, i.e. 1.6% parthenogenesis and 6.4% polyploidy. Unexplained infertility was correlated with an increase in the rate of parthenogenesis (4.2%) when compared with tubal infertility (1.2%). Triploidy was found to be correlated with three parameters. A lower rate of triploidy was observed in the group of couples referred because of male sterility (1.9% versus 6.3% for tubal sterility), in HMG-treated patients (2.4% versus 7% with analogues of LHRH/HMG) and with a short 2-h preincubation time before insemination (3% versus 7.2% for greater than 2 h). A general model for natural selection against embryos carrying a chromosome imbalance was proposed.
181 citations
TL;DR: It was indicated that patients with MS have difficulty in processing information at the level of a hypothesized articulatory loop in working memory, correlated with their retrieval of verbal information from long-term memory, as well as how accurately they processed verbal information presented at a rapid rate.
Abstract: • Some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrate impaired memory. A group of 16 patients with MS who were mildly to moderately affected (Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale Score = 3.8) were studied, and they were compared with a matched control group on tests of "working memory." The working memory system was explored by evaluating the amount of information that can temporarily be held in a buffer system during encoding. Results indicated that patients with MS have difficulty in processing information at the level of a hypothesized articulatory loop in working memory. This deficit was correlated with their retrieval of verbal information from long-term memory, as well as how accurately they processed verbal information presented at a rapid rate. There was no significant relationship between ratings of MS severity or number of plaques visualized on magnetic resonance imaging scans and the degree of working memory deficit.
155 citations
TL;DR: The present results indicate that a one-day test can be used to discriminate between saline- and desipramine-treated rats, and that struggling behavior could be a reliable measure of the positive action of antidepressants.
153 citations
TL;DR: This method provides a simple resolution to the problem of the nonspecific appearance of Pi, which is especially important in studies of regulation of glucose-6-phosphatase performed in the presence of ATP.
131 citations
TL;DR: Data indicate that the existence of cross-adaptation to stressors might depend on the variable measured, the central nervous system pathways controlling the pituitary-adrenal axis being, apparently, resistant to cross- Adaptation.
Abstract: The effects of previous chronic immobilization stress on the physiological responses of male rats to a novel chronic stressor (shock) were studied. Previous chronic exposure to immobilization reduced adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and lactate responses to acute immobilization stress without altering the response to a novel acute stressor (tail shock). When subjected to chronic tail shock, body weight inhibition caused by chronic shock was greater in the rats not previously exposed to chronic immobilization, which suggests that there is cross-adaptation between different stressors. However, adrenocorticotropin adaptation to chronic shock was impaired by previous chronic immobilization. These data indicate that the existence of cross-adaptation to stressors might depend on the variable measured, the central nervous system pathways controlling the pituitary-adrenal axis being, apparently, resistant to cross-adaptation. This lack of cross-adaptation at certain levels can assure the maintenance of an adequate response to unknown environmental stimuli.
130 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a psychometric study was carried out involving a sample drawn from a population of first year university students (n = 735) to assess the relationship between personality dimensions and psychopathological traits of psychosis proneness.
130 citations
TL;DR: A physiologic role of bile salts in the negative feedback regulation of release of cholecystokinin in response to luminal nutrients is supported, and replacement of the bile salt pool by intraduodenal administration of taurocholate completely reversed the enhancement effect of both cholestyramine and bile diversion.
123 citations
TL;DR: Body size of wild mating males and females of the cactophilic species Drosophila buzzatii was larger and tended to be less variable than that of randomly sampled flies, possibly due to the vigour or general activity levels of larger flies which are more likely to encounter suitable mates than smaller ones.
Abstract: The evolutionary history of Drosophila buzzatii . XIV. Larger flies mate more often in nature
TL;DR: Perhaps pleural T-lymphocytes produce IFN gamma after stimulation by mycobacterial antigens and this lymphokine activates macrophages, increasing their bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
TL;DR: In vivo results are consistent with an antioxidant role of liver MT suggested by previous in vitro results, however, liver MT preinduction by Zn treatment did not result in a lower MT response to stress, and a positive synergistic effect between Zn and stress appeared to be present.
Abstract: The possibility that liver metallothionein (MT) can function as an antioxidant in vivo has been studied in the rat. It was found that the stress of food and water deprivation with or without physic...
TL;DR: Properties of nucleic acid molecules suggest that DNA was selected as an informational molecule in cells to stabilize earlier RNA-protein replicating systems and that RNA polymerases are among the oldest classes of enzymes.
Abstract: The evolution of genetic material can be divided into at least three major phases: first, genomes of “nucleic acid-like” molecules; secondly, genomes of RNA; and finally, double-stranded DNA genomes such as those present in all contemporary cells. Using properties of nucleic acid molecules, we attempt to explain the evolutionary transition from RNA alone as a cellular informational macromolecule prior to the evolution of cell systems based on double-stranded DNA. The idea that ribonucleic acid-based cellular genomes preceded DNA is based on the following: (1) protein synthesis can occur in the absence of DNA but not of RNA; (2) RNA molecules have some catalytic properties; (3) the ubiquity of purine and pyridine nucleotide coenzymes as well as other similar ribonucleotide cofactors in metabolic pathways; and (4) the fact that the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides always proceeds via the enzymatic reduction of ribonucleotides.
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that bronchoscopy may be required in selected cases for the diagnosis of PT, however, it should be accompanied by BAL, bronchial washings and postbronchoscope sputum smears.
TL;DR: This paper describes the demonstration of Leishmania donovani amastigotes in canine tissues by immunoperoxidase staining and allows unequivocal histopathological diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis.
01 Aug 1988
TL;DR: The effects of a phytotoxic cadmium concentration on the structure and ultrastructure of bean plant stems were analysed and abnormally high amounts of calcium oxalate crystals were found in the paratracheary parenchyma cells of the bottom of the stems.
Abstract: The effects of a phytotoxic cadmium concentration (4.45 . 10−5 M) on the structure and ultrastructure of bean plant stems were analysed by light (LM), transmission electron (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cadmium significantly reduced both the number and the size of tracheary elements. Cadmium‐induced electron dense depositions, which seemed to obstruct partially some xylem vessels, were found only in the later maturing tracheary elements (helical, scalariform or reticulate structure), but not in the annular structured early differentiated ones. Plants exposed to Cd showed less fiber development than the control plants. In the plants treated with Cd abnormally high amounts of calcium oxalate crystals were found in the paratracheary parenchyma cells of the bottom of the stems. The levels of soluble Ca2+ in the expressed stem sap of Cd‐treated plants was significantly decreased, while substantial amounts of soluble Cd were detected. The probable mechanisms of the structural alterations observed are discussed. 1988 Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft/German Botanical Society
TL;DR: The one-loop corrections in chiral perturbation theory to the gamma-gamma gamma and gamma-sup decays of the pseudoscalar mesons are studied, requiring the existence of dimension-six terms contributing to the anomalous Lagrangian.
Abstract: We study the one-loop corrections in chiral perturbation theory to the ..gamma gamma.. and ..gamma gamma../sup */ decays of the pseudoscalar mesons. The latter are divergent, thus requiring the existence of dimension-six terms contributing to the anomalous Lagrangian. Some examples of such terms are given. We also discuss the experimental consequences of the next-to-leading terms.
TL;DR: The main purpose of as mentioned in this paper is to prove the stable range 1 condition for a number of classes of rings and algebras, which is a modification of a computation of D.V. Tyukavkin.
TL;DR: Sixteen patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia were studied and followed up clinically and electrophysiologically for 4.2 years and two types of neuropathy were noted: a mild distal neuropathy with relatively minor neurologic deficit and a severe distal symmetrical sensorimotor neuropathy or overlapping mononeuritis multiplex, associated with necrotizing vasculitis.
Abstract: • Sixteen patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia were studied and followed up clinically and electrophysiologically for 4.2 years. Peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed in seven cases. Five of these patients had distal symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Nerve conduction velocities were normal and therefore indicative of pure axonal neuropathy. Sural nerve biopsy showed moderate loss of myelinated axons in two patients and severe loss in one. This patient also had necrotizing arteritis. The remaining two had both clinical and electrophysiologic signs of overlapping mononeuritis multiplex with severe denervation in the territory of the involved nerves, but normal conduction velocities. Sural nerve biopsy in one of these two patients showed marked loss of myelinated fibers and signs of vasculitis. Two types of neuropathy were noted: (1) a mild distal neuropathy with relatively minor neurologic deficit, probably due to vasa nervorum microcirculation occlusion caused by intravascular deposits of cryoglobulins and (2) a severe distal symmetrical sensorimotor neuropathy or overlapping mononeuritis multiplex, associated with necrotizing vasculitis.
TL;DR: The cause of primary pneumonia was diagnosed in 157 of 198 children and 165 of 207 adults seen as inpatients or outpatients in a 12-month period and pneumococcus was the most common pathogen, accounting for 81 cases.
Abstract: The cause of primary pneumonia was diagnosed in 157 of 198 children and 165 of 207 adults seen as inpatients or outpatients in a 12-month period. In childrenMycoplasma pneumoniae and pneumococcus were identified in 79 and 29 cases respectively. Twenty-nine of 53 cases of viral infection in children were caused by respiratory syncytial virus, two-thirds of the cases occurring in children under three years of age. No children died of pneumonia. In adults pneumococcus was the most common pathogen, accounting for 81 cases. The overall mortality in adults was 7.7%. A high mortality was found in patients withHaemophilus influenzae and other gram-negative bacilli infections, and in elderly patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. Coagglutination was more sensitive than counterimmuno-electrophoresis for the detection of pneumococcal antigen in respiratory samples (p<0.001). Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was the only useful technique for detection of pneumococcal antigen in urine specimens, concentration, overnight storage at 4 °C and specific staining significantly increasing positivity (p<0.001).
TL;DR: The total fatty acid composition of the human retina was studied during early normal development and compared to that found in infancy and in adulthood and the proportion of ethanolamine plasmalogens decreased with maturation, whereas the ratio 18DMA/16DMA increased.
Abstract: The total fatty acid composition of the human retina was studied during early normal development and compared to that found in infancy and in adulthood. The retina of an infant undernourished prenatally and of two malnourished postnatally were also studied and compared to the normal values for the age. The fatty acid patterns of ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG) and choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) were also studied. Total and ethanolamine plasmalogens (EP) were estimated by the aldehyde dimethyl acetal (DMA) content of total lipids and of EPG, respectively. After acid methanolysis, analyses of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and of DMA were effected by capillary GLC on a single 30 m long, SP-2330, capillary column. The main developmental fatty acid changes were an increase in 22:6 omega 3, 22:5 omega 3 and 20:3 omega 6 and a decrease in 20:4 omega 6. The 22:6 omega 3/20:4 omega 6 ratio increased in a very significant, parabolical way throughout development. In contrast to the brain, the proportion of ethanolamine plasmalogens decreased with maturation, whereas the ratio 18DMA/16DMA increased. The two postnatally malnourished infants had a very significant increase in retinal 22:5 omega 6, but only the child that had been fed on a very unbalanced omega 3/omega 6 diet since 25 weeks of gestation showed an important decrease in retinal 22:6 omega 3.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Administration of mannitol did not improve the postoperative renal function of jaundiced patients, nor did it prove beneficial in preventing renal failure, and severe disturbances of body-fluid compartments may be the basic mechanism underlying kidney dysfunction in obstructive jaundice.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that inhibition of pancreatic protein secretion by peptide YY in dogs is mediated, at least in part, by an inhibition of the release of cholecystokinin.
TL;DR: In this article, a new proof for a classical characterization of maximin, a new characterization of leximin, and a new variant of the maximin: the protective criterion are presented.
TL;DR: Dogfish were subjected to sublethal cadmium exposure for 24 and 96 h, and some parameters which were unchanged at 24 h showed a significant variation at 96 h (plasma glucose and lactate levels); the causes of these alterations and the patterns of recovery are discussed.
Abstract: Dogfish were subjected to sublethal cadmium exposure (25 mg l−1) for 24 and 96 h. The effects of this treatment on some blood parameters were analysed. Decreases of haematocrit, leucocrit and mean corpuscular volume and increases of haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were observed after 24-h exposure. Most parameters which had changed values at 24 h returned to control values at 96 h, whereas some parameters which were unchanged at 24 h showed a significant variation at 96 h (plasma glucose and lactate levels). The causes of these alterations and the patterns of recovery are discussed.
TL;DR: It is shown that for most patients with a relapse of brucellosis, there is an increase in IgG titers, as detected by ELISA and Coombs test, but no change in IgM titers.
Abstract: the median titer increased 3.36 times but did not reach statistical significance (P = .0929); by tube agglutination, dithiothreitol (DTT) agglutination, and ELISA for IgM, median titers did not change. Nine patients had a significant titer increase by Coombs test and IgG ELISA, three had a significant increase by tube and DTT agglutination, none had significant increases by IgM ELISA, and one had no significant increase after relapse. Our findings show that for most patients with a relapse of brucellosis, there is an increase in IgG titers, as detected by ELISA and Coombs test, but no change in IgM titers.
TL;DR: Differential increases in plasma cortisol 1 h after disturbance reflected both the difference in severity between grading and hauling and the additive effect of the two treatments together on this primary response.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reexamine the relationship between potential competition, industry structure and welfare in a market subject to a sequential entry threat where firms can make quantity commitments and have access to a constant returns technology.
TL;DR: The transition between hexagons and rolls in convective patterns in pure water under non-Boussinesq conditions is characterized qualitatively by shadowgraph images and quantitatively by heat-flow measurements and a local technique based on the deflections of a laser beam.
Abstract: The transition between hexagons and rolls in convective patterns has been studied in pure water under non-Boussinesq conditions. The transition is characterized qualitatively by shadowgraph images and quantitatively by heat-flow measurements and a local technique based on the deflections of a laser beam. We also show that with this local technique one can recover global quantities such as the convective heat flow.