Ankyrin is the major oxidised protein in erythrocyte membranes from end-stage renal disease patients on chronic haemodialysis and oxidation is decreased by dialysis and vitamin C supplementation.

Chronically haemodialysed end-stage renal disease patients are at high risk of morbidity arising from complications of dialysis, the underlying pathology that has led to renal disease and the complex pathology of chronic kidney disease. Anaemia is commonplace and its origins are multifactorial, involving reduced renal erythropoietin production, accumulation of uremic toxins and an increase in erythrocyte fragility. Oxidative damage is a common risk factor in renal disease and its co-morbidities and is known to cause erythrocyte fragility. Therefore, we have investigated the hypothesis that specific erythrocyte membrane proteins are more oxidised in end-stage renal disease patients and that vitamin C supplementation can ameliorate membrane protein oxidation. Eleven patients and 15 control subjects were recruited to the study. Patients were supplemented with 2 × 500 mg vitamin C per day for 4 weeks. Erythrocyte membrane proteins were prepared pre- and post-vitamin C supplementation for determination of protein oxidation. Total protein carbonyls were reduced by vitamin C supplementation but not by dialysis when investigated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Using a western blot to detect oxidised proteins, one protein band, later identified as containing ankyrin, was found to be oxidised in patients but not controls and was reduced significantly by 60% in all patients after dialysis and by 20% after vitamin C treatment pre-dialysis. Ankyrin oxidation analysis may be useful in a stratified medicines approach as a possible marker to identify requirements for intervention in dialysis patients.

Effect of organic selenium on turkey semen quality during liquid storage.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary organic selenium on the turkey semen during storage. Twenty males (BUT, Big 6, 40 weeks of age) were divided into control (n=10) and experimental group (n=10). The turkeys in the both groups were fed with a commercial diet containing 0.1 ppm Se in the form of sodium selenite. The experimental birds were additionally supplied with 0.3 ppm organic Se in the form Sel-Plex (Alltech, Inc.). After 30 days of feeding, the semen samples were collected twice a week for the 3 weeks of the study and diluted 1+1(v/v) with TUR-2 diluent, and stored in a water bath (+10 to 15 degrees C) for 6 h. The percentage of motile spermatozoa, the sperm viability (live/dead spermatozoa), total lipids, phospholipids and total cholesterol were assessed in fresh and stored semen. The fertilizing ability of semen was assessed by artificial insemination of 30 hens per group with dose containing 200x10(6) spermatozoa weekly. After 6 h of semen storage, the motility of spermatozoa decreased significantly in the control group (by 8.7 relative percent, P<0.05) and only by four relative percent (P>0.05) in experimental group reflecting a protective effect of dietary Se supplementation. The proportion of live spermatozoa was higher in fresh semen and significantly lower in stored semen. The positive effect of Se supplementation was observed on the lipid composition of stored semen: the concentration of the total lipids and phospholipids in the seminal plasma from control group significantly increased, while in the experimental group remained constant. Better semen integrity in the experimental group was associated with an improved fertilizing ability of spermatozoa: the fertility rate of stored spermatozoa in the control group was 88%, while in the experimental group was 90.5%.

What do linker histones do in chromatin?

Knockout experiments in Tetrahymena show that linker histone H1 is not essential for nuclear assembly or cell viability. These results, together with a series of biochemical and cell biological observations, challenge the existing paradigm that requires linker histones to be a key organizing component of higher-order chromatin structure. The H1 knockouts also reveal a much more subtle role for H1. Instead of acting as a general transcriptional repressor, H1 is found to regulate a limited number of specific genes. Surprisingly, H1 can both activate and repress transcription. We discuss how this architectural protein might accomplish this important regulatory role.

[Pharmacological and clinico-pharmacological studies of diazepam powder in suspensions]. / Farmakologichni i kliniko-farmakologichni prouchvaniia na diazepam-pulvis za suspenziia.

Studied was the preparation diazepam-pulvis for suspension (DPS) with regard to its tranquillizing and myorelaxing doses, inhibiting the aggression, and preventing the stress conditions in domestic animals and birds. It was established that at oral application to pigs at rates of 1 to 2 mg/kg body mass DPS produced a pronounced tranquillizing effect, while at 3 mg/kg it led to myorelaxation as well. In sheep tranquillizing effect was seen when amounts of 3 to 5 mg/kg body mass were used, and myorelaxation was achieved with 6.6 to 13.2 mg/kg. In male calves tranquillization was manifested after doses of 3 mg/kg body mass were applied. In hens the tranquillizing dose was found to be 3 mg/kg body mass, and the myorelaxing one--4 mg/kg; in cocks the respective doses were 5 and 7 mg/kg body mass. At the rate of 3 mg/kg body mass DPS was found to enhance the thiopental-sodium narcosis. When offered to pigs at 2 mg/kg body mass in admixture with the feed DPS led to tranquillization and suppression of the active and passive defense response. No full prevention of cannibalism could be achieved. The daily administration in the course of 30 days with the ration of bull-calves at the rate of 3 mg/kg body mass was shown to calm the animals under loose housing in boxes and affect favourably their weight gain. Admixed with the feed of cocks at 5 mg/kg DPS suppressed aggressiveness.