Journal of Applied Biomedicine, 2004 (vol. 2), issue 3
Original Research Article
Nucleolins from different model organisms have conserved sequences reflecting the conservation of key cellular functions through evolution
Fernando González-Camacho, Francisco Javier Medina
J Appl Biomed 2:151-161, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.018 
Sequences available in public protein databases belonging to nucleolin or nucleolin-like proteins have been aligned using public domain software, in order to obtain relevant data regarding the degree of their conservation, which could be a reflection of the degree of conservation of the functions currently attributed to this protein. Nucleolin is known to be a nucleolar multifunctional protein, involved in different steps of pre-rRNA transcription and processing. Three domains are constantly present in all nucleolins, namely a series of acidic/serin (Ac/Ser) sequences, a number of RNA recognition motifs (RRM) and a region rich in glycin and arginin...
The therapeutic efficacy of oxime treatment in cyclosarin-poisoned mice pretreated with a combination of pyridostigmine benactyzine and trihexyphenidyl
Lucie Ševelová, Kamil Kuča, Gabriela Krejčová, Josef Vachek
J Appl Biomed 2:163-167, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.019
The present study was performed to assess and compare the therapeutic efficacy of various oximes (methoxime, BI-6, HI-6) combined with benactyzine (BNZ) in cyclosarin (GF-agent)-poisoned mice and to evaluate the influence of pretreatment with PANPAL (pyridostigmine, benactyzine and trihexyphenidyl) on the effect of antidotal treatment in mice poisoned with the GF-agent. In the first part of our experiment, methoxime, BI-6 or HI-6 in combination with benactyzine were used for the treatment of GF-poisoned mice. In the second part of the experiment the animals were pretreated with PANPAL 60 min before the GF-agent challenge and then the oxime therapy...
Effect of tryptophan administration on circulating levels of melatonin and phagocytic activity
Soledad Sánchez, Sergio Damián Paredes, María Isabel Martín, Carmen Barriga, Ana Beatriz Rodríguez
J Appl Biomed 2:169-177, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.020
Our research group has previously studied the role of melatonin in the immune system of birds and mice, finding that incubation with both pharmacological and physiological doses of melatonin augmented the activity of phagocytes from these animals, and that this activity was lowered in pinealectomized animals. Since melatonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan, the aim of the present work was to determine whether the administration of tryptophan might affect the plasma levels of melatonin and the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages over the course of a circadian cycle. The study animals were 14-week-old male Wistar rats. They were...
Reviews
Alzheimer's disease: neurobiological advances supporting proposals for new therapeutical approaches
André Nieoullon
J Appl Biomed 2:123-130, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.015
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most important diseases related to ageing. The social and human cost is very high especially because of the increase in the normal life span in developed countries. There is presently no cure for the disease and stimulating the cholinergic central neurotransmission is today the only therapeutic approach which has been shown to successfully improve the cognitive state in a significant population of patients. In such a context, research projects should be aimed specifically at reducing brain lesions resulting from the disease, especially those due to the amyloid peptide accumulation, and at reducing or even halting the...
Regulation of circadian rhythms
Josef Berger
J Appl Biomed 2:131-140, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.016
The human circadian system is evidently regulated by components which can be found in the retina (light input), a suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus (clock genes) and the pineal gland (melatonin synthesis). Clock genes are interdependent through two intracellular feedback loops. The pineal gland is not the single important producer of melatonin, as immune cells can also produce this hormone. Immune cells contain active clock genes as SCN cells and we can suggest that the regulation of the circadian system is a component of the neuroimmune regulation of the organism. The endogenous character is dominant in SCN, which is modulated by darkness...
Fluorine in medicine
Anna Strunecká, Jiří Patočka, Paul Connett
J Appl Biomed 2:141-150, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.017
Fluoride has long been known to influence the activity of various enzymes in vitro. Latterly it has been demonstrated that many effects primarily attributed to fluoride are caused by a synergistic action of fluoride plus aluminum. Fluorinated chemicals are of growing importance, with applications in medicine. Fluorine substitution has profound effects on the properties of organic compounds. The very high electronegativity of fluorine can modify electron distribution in the molecule, affecting its absorption, distribution and metabolism. Fluorine-containing drugs are used in medicine as anesthetics, antibiotics, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory...