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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

A new biodemographic model to explain the trajectory of mortality.

Since Buffon's time (1749), biologists and demographers have repeatedly stated that a man in good health will live to be 90, 100 or 110 years old but not longer. For demographers, mortality measures essentially the current conditions: the quality of the ecological and social environment. For biologists, mortality measures mainly the ageing process. Can a biodemographic approach measure the current conditions (i.e. the quality of the environment) and the ageing schedule together, taking into account that human beings spend the greater part of their time improving the quality of their physical and social environment, making it more and more favourable to the realisation of their potential longevity? I propose two measures of the quality of this environment: first at the age when individuals (in average by cohort), in the course of their development, are the most robust and the most resistant to environmental hazards, indicated by the lowest mortality rate recorded; second at the age when individuals (in average by cohort) become frail because of the passage of time, with no or extremely little resistance to environmental hazards, indicated by a constant mortality rate among the oldest old. Between these two measures of the quality of the environment, mortality measures the ageing process leading young vigorous individuals into frail senile elders.

Animals↗

CD4(+) T cells from lupus-prone mice are hyperresponsive to T cell receptor engagement with low and high affinity peptide antigens: a model to explain spontaneous T cell activation in lupus.

Polyclonal CD4(+) T cell activation is characteristic of spontaneous lupus. As a potential explanation for this phenotype, we hypothesized that T cells from lupus-prone mice are intrinsically hyperresponsive to stimulation with antigen, particularly to those peptide ligands having a low affinity for the T cell receptor (TCR). To test this hypothesis, we backcrossed the alpha and beta chain genes of the AND TCR specific for amino acids 88-104 of pigeon cytochrome C (PCC) to the Fas-intact MRL/Mp(+)(Fas-lpr) and to the H-2(k)-matched control backgrounds B10.BR and CBA/CaJ (MRL.AND, B10.AND, and CBA.AND, respectively), and assessed naive CD4(+) TCR transgenic T cell activation in vitro after its encounter with cognate antigen and lower affinity altered peptide ligands (APLs). MRL.AND T cells, compared with control B10.AND and CBA.AND cells, proliferated more when stimulated with agonist antigen. More strikingly, MRL.AND T cells proliferated significantly more and produced more interleukin 2 when stimulated with the APLs of PCC 88-104, having lower affinity for the transgenic TCR. These results imply that one of the forces driving polyclonal activation of alpha/beta T cells in lupus is an intrinsically heightened response to peptide antigen, particularly those with low affinity for the TCR, independent of the nature of the antigen-presenting cell and degree of costimulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the trigeminal nerve: intraoperative study on stimulation characteristics in man.

We studied responses from the masseter and nasalis muscles following magnetic stimulation (magStim) and compared these responses with those obtained by direct electrical stimulation of the trigeminal (NV) and facial (NVII) nerve near the root exit zone during microvascular decompression operations of NVII. We found that (1) magStim threshold to excite the nerve is high for NV and low for NVII; (2) excitation of all motor fibers is impossible for NV, and easy for NVII; (3) optimal coil placement is critical for NV, but not critical for NVII; and (4) between and within subjects, the excitation site is variable on NV, but stable on NVII. We estimated that the anatomical location of magStim to be either within or outside the cerebrospinal fluid for NV, and to be in the labyrinthine segment of the facial canal for NVII. Physical models explain and clinical lesion models support these differences found between NV and NVII.

Adult↗

Liarozole markedly increases all trans-retinoic acid toxicity in mouse limb bud cell cultures: a model to explain the potency of the aromatic retinoid (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthylenyl)-1-propenyl] benzoic acid.

The remarkable toxicity of (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthylenyl)-1-propenyl] benzoic acid (TTNPB) compared to all trans-retinoic acid (tRA) is due to multiple factors, including reduced affinities for cytosolic binding proteins (CRABPs), resistance to metabolism, and prolonged nuclear receptor activation. To further investigate the role of half-life in retinoid toxicity, experiments were performed to determine whether, and to what extent, inhibition of tRA metabolism by liarozole increased its toxicity comparable to that of TTNPB in the mouse limb bud system. Liarozole is a known inhibitor of tRA 4-hydroxylation (CYP26). In the absence of liarozole, the IC50 for inhibition of chondrogenesis by tRA was 140 nM compared to 0.3 nM for TTNPB, a 467-fold difference. Following the addition of liarozole (10(-6) M) to limb bud cultures, the potency of tRA to inhibit chondrogenesis was increased approximately 14-fold (IC50 of 9.8 nM). Although liarozole markedly increased toxicity of tRA in mouse limb bud micromass cultures, tRA metabolism was inhibited only about 10%. These results indicate that a relatively minor decrease in the metabolism of tRA in the mouse limb bud system is associated with a marked enhancement of toxicity that is likely related to the prolongation of tRA half-life during a critical period of development. Thus, the prolonged half-life of TTNPB is the most significant factor contributing to the remarkable teratogenicity of this synthetic aromatic retinoid.

Animals↗

The tendency of magainin to associate upon binding to phospholipid bilayers.

Fluorescence energy transfer (FET) from [Trp16]-magainin-2-amide (Trp-Mag) and [D-Ala15,D-Trp16]magainin-2-amide (DD-Trp-Mag) to N(alpha)-dansyl-magainin-2-amide (DNS-Mag) was used to study the association of magainin 2 analogs bound to phosphatidylglycerol vesicles. As shown by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, the all-L-analogs exist in a helical conformation and are completely bound to the lipid membrane. The observed FET between Trp-Mag and DNS-Mag is rather small and increases with the DNS-Mag surface concentration. The experimentally determined transfer efficiency is lower than predicted for monomeric magainin analogs randomly distributed exclusively at the outer leaflet of lipid vesicles. These observations can be explained by two different models of spatial distribution for the monomeric magainin analogs. The first model takes into account translocation of magainin which might result in a uniform distribution of magainin at the inner and outer vesicle leaflets. The second model assumes that at least one shell of lipids exists between two magainin molecules, thus reducing the probability of direct contact. Both models explain the measured FET without any contribution of stable associates of magainin analogs. Furthermore, for Trp-Mag and DD-Trp-Mag, an identical energy transfer efficiency was observed, although the nonhelical double-D substituted analog should have a significantly reduced association tendency resulting in decreased FET. Our conclusion that the observed FET is not the result of magainin association is confirmed by the equivalence of the measured energy transfer efficiencies.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

A test of the perceived norms model to explain drinking patterns among university student athletes.

The author tested the ability of perceived drinking norms to discriminate among drinking patterns in a sample of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student athletes. He used an anonymous questionnaire to assess 297 athletes, representing 18 teams, at a public university in the Midwest. Alcohol use patterns showed considerable variation, with many athletes (37.1%) abstaining during their season of competition. A discriminant function analysis revealed that higher levels of alcohol involvement are disproportionately found among athletes who began drinking regularly at an early age. Perceived drinking norms were less important in the discrimination of student athlete drinker groups. Women and those with higher grade point averages were somewhat more likely to refrain from in-season drinking than other survey respondents.

Adult↗

Geoperception in primary and lateral roots of Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae). III. A model to explain the differential georesponsiveness of primary and lateral roots.

Half-tipped primary and lateral roots of Phaseolus vulgaris bend toward the side of the root on which the intact half tip remains. Therefore, tips of lateral and primary roots produce growth effectors capable of inducing gravicurvature. The asymmetrical placement of a tip of a lateral root onto a detipped primary root results in the root bending toward the side of the root onto which the tip was placed. That is, the lesser graviresponsiveness of lateral roots as compared with primary roots is not due to the inability of their caps to produce growth inhibitors. The more pronounced graviresponsiveness of primary roots is positively correlated with the presence of columella tissues that are 3.8 times longer, 1.7 times wider, and 10.5 times more voluminous than the columellas of lateral roots. We propose that the lack of graviresponsiveness exhibited by lateral roots is due to the fact that they (i) produce smaller amounts of the inhibitor than primary (i.e., strongly graviresponsive) roots and (ii) are unable to redistribute the inhibitor so as to be able to create a concentration gradient sufficient to induce a pronounced gravitropic response.

Fabaceae↗

[Experimental and pathological models that explain the regulation of cellular migration and axon's orientations].

Since Cajal discovery of nerve growth cones and their role in the growth, metabolism and destination of the axon in 1890 numerous studies have corroborated with more sophisticated techniques his original findings and ideas. The use of modified Golgi staining, drawing from the camera lucida in 2 combination with electron microscopy and t retrograde biochemical markers have helped to identify the neuronal sites of synapsis. Dynamic studies of the nerve growth cones using time-lapsed video microscopic images of living neuroblast in t culture or the intact animal have demonstrated their protactil and retractile membranes and exploratory filipodia properties. Interaction between growth cone membrane receptors and different molecules along the migrating axon determine also its final destination. Finally the role that genes play on neuronal migration and in guiding the axons to reach their targets have been identified in patients with Kallmann syndrome, a migrational disorder of olfactory axons and hypothalamic gonadotropic hormone-releasing hormone with absent gene at Xp22.3 locus manifested by anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Axons↗

Noisy templates explain area summation.

The noisy template model is a variant of an ideal detector for a signal known except for contrast. The ideal detector cross-correlates the stimulus with a normalised template which is matched to the known signal pattern. The noisy template model simply adds noise to the matched template every time it is cross-correlated with the signal. This paper outlines the predictions of the noisy template model for area summation. The noisy template model explains Piper's Law, as does the ideal-observer, but it also explains critical area phenomena and the lack of area summation for contrast discrimination.

Computer Simulation↗

Clinical and pathophysiological observations in migraine and tension-type headache explained by integration of vascular, supraspinal and myofascial inputs.

A vascular-supraspinal-myogenic (VSM) model for pain in migraine based on our previous clinical and pathophysiological observations is proposed. According to the model, perceived pain (headache) intensity is determined by the sum of nociception from cephalic arteries and pericranial myofascial tissues converging upon the same neurons and integrated with supraspinal effects (usually facilitating). Vascular input predominates over myofascial input in migraine, whereas significance of supraspinal facilitation is difficult to estimate. The importance of these 3 effects may vary between patients and in the same individual with time. The model is in accordance with recent experimental studies showing convergence of somatovisceral afferents upon n. caudalis neurons. Also, long term potentiation due to nociceptive activation and sensitization of neurons to input from wider areas and non-nociceptive stimuli are relevant to our model. In tension-type headache, nociception is primarily myofascial, but vascular input cannot be disregarded. Supraspinal facilitation probably plays a large, sometimes dominant role (the MSV model). The model explains much of the complexity of the clinical picture of these disorders as well as their tendency to overlap and to change into one another. Also, a number of pathophysiological observations such as why muscles are tender during migraine, why trigger-point injection may cure migraine attacks and why chronic tension-type headache is often associated with episodes of pulsating pain, can be explained. The model gives a rational explanation of empirically developed, internationally accepted, multimodal treatment strategies for migraine and tension-type headache. It may thus serve a useful purpose in explaining the disorder to patients. Finally, the model points to several avenues of future research in animals and man.

Animals↗

High-affinity binding of cytochalasin B to the B-end of F-actin loses its inhibitory effect on subunit exchange when the bound nucleotide is ADP.

We investigated the mode of binding of cytochalasin B (CB) to F-actin in an ADP-solution with and without inorganic phosphate (Pi). In the presence of Pi (20 mM), a filament of F-actin had a single high-affinity CB binding site (Kd = 1.4 nM), just like in the case of an ATP-solution [Kd = 5.0 nM: Suzuki, N. & Mihashi, K. (1991) J. Biochem. 109, 19-23]. But in the absence of Pi, there were two low-affinity (Kd = 200 nM) CB binding sites as well as one high-affinity site (Kd = 1.6 nM). We determined the concentration of CB necessary for half-maximal inhibition of growth or shortening of F-actin (Ki) using of pyrene-labeled actin. We obtained Ki = 80 nM for growth and Ki = 800 nM for shortening in the presence of ATP. The addition of Pi to the ATP-solution reduced Ki for growth to 9 nM. We propose a model explaining these results. In the model, high-affinity CB binding to the terminal subunit dimer can inhibit subunit exchange at the B-end only when the terminal subunits bind ATP or ADP.Pi. When the terminal subunits bind ADP, additional low-affinity CB bindings to the terminal subunits are needed to inhibit the subunit exchange.

Actins↗

How the basal ganglia use parallel excitatory and inhibitory learning pathways to selectively respond to unexpected rewarding cues.

After classically conditioned learning, dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) respond immediately to unexpected conditioned stimuli (CS) but omit formerly seen responses to expected unconditioned stimuli, notably rewards. These cells play an important role in reinforcement learning. A neural model explains the key neurophysiological properties of these cells before, during, and after conditioning, as well as related anatomical and neurophysiological data about the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTN), lateral hypothalamus, ventral striatum, and striosomes. The model proposes how two parallel learning pathways from limbic cortex to the SNc, one devoted to excitatory conditioning (through the ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, and PPTN) and the other to adaptively timed inhibitory conditioning (through the striosomes), control SNc responses. The excitatory pathway generates CS-induced excitatory SNc dopamine bursts. The inhibitory pathway prevents dopamine bursts in response to predictable reward-related signals. When expected rewards are not received, striosomal inhibition of SNc that is unopposed by excitation results in a phasic drop in dopamine cell activity. The adaptively timed inhibitory learning uses an intracellular spectrum of timed responses that is proposed to be similar to adaptively timed cellular mechanisms in the hippocampus and cerebellum. These mechanisms are proposed to include metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated Ca(2+) spikes that occur with different delays in striosomal cells. A dopaminergic burst in concert with a Ca(2+) spike is proposed to potentiate inhibitory learning. The model provides a biologically predictive alternative to temporal difference conditioning models and explains substantially more data than alternative models.

Animals↗

An attempt at an analysis of the factors determining the time course of the glutamate response in the crayfish neuromuscular junction.

An attempt was made to analyse the factors which might determine the time course of the end-plate current. The end-plate current was measured by clamping the membrane potential of the crayfish muscle fiber. The calculated glutamate-induced current was in good agreement with the observations obtained, suggesting that the presented kinetic model explained well the practical phenomenon. The kinetic model could be applied also to explain the depolarization change induced by prolonged application of glutamate. The semilogarithmic plots of the falling phase of calculated glutamate-induced currents gave an approximately straight line. The slope of the line yielded an apparent desensitization rate constant, and the relationship between the true and apparent desensitization rate constants was determined, but it was suggested that the desensitization rate could not be determined from the slope of the decay of glutamate-induced current alone.

Animals↗

Models of intracellular transport and evolution of the Golgi complex.

We have performed a systematic analysis of models explaining the mechanisms of the intracellular biosecretory transport. The models assessed include not only those based on one mechanism (the dissociation model (and its individual case, the vesicular model), the progression model (and its individual cases, the cisterna maturation/progression and the carrier maturation models), and the lateral diffusion model (and its individual case, the bolus model), but also combined models of transport (the percolating-vesicles model and the synthetic model), including several transport mechanisms. Most of these models are not able to explain recent data on the evolution of genes involved in intracellular transport and Golgi evolution. The carrier maturation model proposing that fusion of the large cargo domain with the distal (closer to the plasmalemma) compartment precedes fission of the domain from the proximal compartment exhibits the best performance in correlation with the available information on evolution of the biosecretory pathway.

Biological Evolution↗