Allium cepa as a biomonitor of ochratoxin A toxicity and genotoxicity.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillum moulds. Since OTA has not yet been evaluated in plant systems, this paper focused on describing the controversial effect OTA in an Allium root test model, which has known sensitivity to genotoxins and could be useful in toxin screening. Analyses of root growth and the root meristematic zone in response to OTA treatment were undertaken. The results show OTA toxicity to root growth at a concentration of 10 ug.ml(-1) associated with inhibition of proliferation activity. Cytological changes observed in the Allium chromosome aberrations assay, at a concentration of 5.0 ug.ml(-1), showed that OTA was able to induce genotoxicity at the chromosome level. These results indicate that plants cells (Allium cepa) are very sensitive to the mycotoxin OTA, as observed at the highest concentration. Under these conditions, OTA produced toxicity and cytogenetic injury. Evidence in vitro and in vivo indicates that OTA can induce damage at the DNA level.

Tetanus toxin modulates serotonin transport in rat-brain neuronal cultures.

As has been previously described, tetanus toxin (TeTx) and its H(C) fragment inhibit the sodium-dependent 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake in rat-brain synaptosomes, probably through a kinase mechanism affecting the 5-HT transporter. Now, the inhibition of 5-HT uptake in neurons in primary culture by TeTx in a dose-dependent manner is described in this work. This effect is also produced by the nontoxic C-terminal fragment of the TeTx heavy chain (H(C)-fragment), indicating that 5-HT uptake inhibition is a consequence of the toxin binding to the plasmatic membrane and not to its catalytic activity. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the 5-HT accumulation was not inhibited by the light chain of TeTx or the toxoid, and was even potentiated by botulinum neurotoxin A. These results correlate with the activation of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C activity in the cultures used in this study, this activity only being enhanced by TeTx and by its Hc-fragment. On the other hand, the use of tyrosine phosphorylation modulators indicates that both Na3VO4 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) produce an enhancement of 5-HT uptake in this system, which is also sensitive to TeTx inhibition. On the other hand, genistein alone is able to reduce the 5-HT transport in cultured neurons, and this effect did not appear to be additive to that elicited by TeTx. This result suggests that TeTx and genistein may share some events in their respective mechanisms of action. Furthermore, the incubation at different concentrations of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) confirms the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in 5-HT transport modulation in rat-brain neuronal primary cultures. In summary, we shall demonstrate in this work that TeTx induces, through its Hc fragment, an inhibition of both basal and stimulated serotonin uptakes in primary neuronal cultures, in parallel to the activation of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C activity and PKC activation.

Serotonin transporter phosphorylation modulated by tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxin (TeTx) modifies Na(+)-dependent, high-affinity 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) uptake in a synaptosomal-enriched P(2) fraction from rat brain. The effect corresponds to a rapid and non-competitive uptake inhibition, and it is preceded by induction of phospholipase C (PLC) activity and translocation and down-regulation of the classical protein kinase C (PKC-alpha, -beta and -gamma) isoforms. The effects on serotonin transport and on cPKC activation were similar to the effects exhibited by phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Moreover, after treatment with TeTx, an increase in Ser- and Tyr-specific phosphorylation was found. Activation of PKC by both TeTx and TPA results in a loss of transport capacity and serotonin transporter (SERT) phosphorylation, which are abolished by coapplication of the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide-1. Since a specific PLCgamma1 phosphorylation prior to TeTx's inducing SERT phosphorylation was found, the studies suggest that part of the action of TeTx consists of modifying the signal cascade initiated in tyrosine kinase receptors on nerve tissue previous to its cellular internalization, resulting in transporter phosphorylation.

Activation of signal transduction pathways involving trkA, PLCgamma-1, PKC isoforms and ERK-1/2 by tetanus toxin.

Previous reports have demonstrated that tetanus toxin (TeTx) induces activation and down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC). In the present work the differential activation of PKC isoforms and of signal transduction pathways, including nerve growth factor receptor trkA, phospholipase Cgamma-1 (PLCgamma-1), and extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK-1/2) by TeTx in a synaptosome-enriched P(2) fraction from rat brain is reported. TeTx induces clear translocation from the soluble (cytosolic) compartment to the particulate (membranous) compartment of PKC-beta, -gamma and -delta isoforms, whereas PKC-epsilon showed a slight decrease of its soluble fraction immunoreactivity. On the contrary, the PKC-zeta isoform shows no consistent response, whereas down-regulation of total PKC-alpha immunoreactivity is shown. Immunoprecipitation assays against phosphotyrosine show an increase of trkA and PLCgamma-1 phosphorylation. Moreover, trkA activation is corroborated using phospho-specific antibodies against phosphorylated trkA. On the other hand, TeTx-induced stimulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity is observed, this event also being detected by Western analysis using phospho-specific antibodies against ERK-1/2.

Differential action of nerve growth factor and phorbol ester TPA on rat synaptosomal PKC isoenzymes.

The subcellular redistribution of protein kinase C family members (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta isoforms) was examined in response to treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13 acetate (TPA) or nerve growth factor (NGF) in a synaptosomal-enriched P2 fraction from rat brain. Treatment with TPA affected members of the classical-PKC family (alpha, beta and gamma), resulting in a final loss of total protein of each isoenzyme. The kinetics of changes of members of the novel-PKC family are different, the delta isoform being translocated, but not down-regulated, while the epsilon isoform showing only a slight diminishing of immunoreactivity in the soluble and particulate fractions. The atypical-PKC zeta isoform was not translocated in response to TPA. Incubation with NGF induced a loss of immunoreactivity of the cytosolic alpha, beta and epsilon isoforms, but the membrane fractions of these isoforms were not appreciably affected. In contrast, a marked translocation from cytosol to membrane was observed in the case of the gamma and delta isoforms. The zeta isoform presented a slight translocation from the particulate fraction to the soluble fraction. Thus, the results show that the effects of TPA and NGF on PKC isoforms are not coincident in synaptosomes, the 6 isoform being activated and not down-regulated by both treatments, whereas the gamma isoform is only down-regulated in the case of TPA, but presents sustained translocation with NGF, indicating that PKC isoform-specific degradation pathways exist in synaptic terminals. The effects of NGF on PKC isoforms coexist with an increase in NGF-induced polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, suggesting the participation of phospholipases.

Clostridium neurotoxins influence serotonin uptake and release differently in rat brain synaptosomes.

Clostridium neurotoxins produce inhibition of both basal and K(+)-evoked serotonin release in rat brain synaptosomes. To produce these effects, tetanus toxin (TeTx), as well as botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), added to brain synaptosomes, must be incubated at 37 degrees C over a long interval (hours). This serotonin exocytosis inhibition was abolished with previous treatment with specific Zn2(+)-metalloprotease inhibitors. Nevertheless, a short incubation time produces different behavior of the indicated neurotoxins: TeTx significantly blocks the sodium-dependent, high-affinity serotonin uptake, whereas a small increase of this uptake was found with BoNT/A. Both Zn2(+)-metalloprotease active fragments, light chains of TeTx and BoNT/A, are unable to reproduce the block of the serotonin uptake, whereas the C-terminal portion of the TeTx heavy chain (Hc-TeTx), which binds specifically to the target tissue, inhibited the serotonin uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of Hc-TeTx ranges from 0.62 to 2.08 nM. Binding of [3H]imipramine and [3H]serotonin did not change after toxin treatments, which indicates that these clostridium neurotoxins do not act on the serotonin high-affinity site at the serotonin transporter or at other serotonin high-affinity sites. These results could indicate that TeTx and Hc-TeTx bind to different targets than BoNT/A in the plasma membrane.

QT dispersion and early arrhythmic risk during acute myocardial infarction.

It has been suggested that QT dispersion (maximal minus minimal QT interval calculated on a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram) could reflect regional variations of ventricular repolarization and could provide a substrate for reentry ventricular arrhythmias. The present study evaluates QT dispersion in patients with acute myocardial infarction, assessing its relation with early severe ventricular arrhythmias and some clinical features. Three hundred three patients with acute myocardial infarction and a control group of 297 healthy subjects were studied. QT and QTc dispersion were determined on the electrocardiogram taken after 12 hours and on days 3 and 10 after symptoms onset and on the electrocardiogram taken in the control group. The average values of QT and QTc dispersions (ms) were as follows: 70.5 +/- 42.5-87 +/- 45.6 (12th hour), 66.7 +/- 37.6-76.8 +/- 43.6 (day 3), 68.8 +/- 42.7-76.8 +/- 42.8 (day 10), versus 43 +/- 13.2-53.9 +/- 16.2 (control group). There were statistically significant differences between QT and QTc dispersion recorded in normal subjects and in each of the three electrocardiograms taken in patients with infarction. A greater QT dispersion was recorded in patients with anterior infarction (78.9 +/- 38.5 vs 64.9 +/- 42.8 in inferior/lateral infarction). In the first 3 days QT dispersion was not different in patients treated and untreated with thrombolysis, whereas on day 10 it was greater in untreated patients (74.9 +/- 45.3 vs 60.5 +/- 37.2). Creatine kinase peak level did not influence QT dispersion. In the first 72 hours of infarction, 37 patients developed ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Higher early values of QT and QTc dispersion were found in patients who developed severe ventricular arrhythmias (107.8 +/- 62 and 124.8 +/- 67.5 ms) than in patients without serious arrhythmias (62.9 +/- 32.2 and 80.1 +/- 37.9 ms). These data suggest that: (1) QT dispersion increased during acute myocardial infarction. (2) The values were higher in the early hours and fell late after infarction with thrombolysis. (3) Greater QT dispersion is associated with severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Inhibition by tetanus toxin of sodium-dependent, high-affinity [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in rat synaptosomes.

Tetanus toxin (TeTx) is a powerful clostridial neurotoxin that inhibits Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter secretion as do the botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). We found that TeTx (but not BoNT/A) produced a specific time- and dose-dependent inhibition of Na+-dependent [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) uptake in rat CNS synaptosomes. This effect was found in all CNS tryptaminergic areas, being maximal in the hippocampus and occipital cortex. TeTx produced the maximum reduction in [3H]5-HT uptake after 30 min of preincubation, being significant also at lower doses (10(-12) M) or shorter incubation times (10 min). Serotonin transport inhibitors such as fenfluramine (IC50, 11.0 +/- 0.9 microM), paroxetine (IC50, 33.5 +/- 0.1 microM), and imipramine (IC50, 89.9 +/- 5.7 microM) were 3 or 4 orders of magnitude less potent than TeTx (IC50, 8.7 +/- 1.0 nM). Of the two fragments of TeTx, (the C-terminal portion of the neurotoxin heavy chain, which is responsible for the binding to the nerve tissue) was consistently more effective than the L-H(N) fragment (the light neurotoxin chain disulfide linked to the N-terminal portion of the heavy chain, which is responsible for the toxic metalloprotease action) as inhibitor of [3H]5-HT uptake in synaptosomal preparations (56 +/- 5% and 95 +/- 3% with respect to control, respectively). Antagonism of the toxin-induced [3H]5-HT uptake blockade could not be reversed by zinc chelators but did have the ability to antagonize the TeTx inhibition of basal and K+-evoked [3H]5-HT release in rat synaptosomes. The reduction in serotonin accumulation induced by TeTx could be responsible for some tetanic symptoms that have been related to the serotonergic system.

[Correlations between the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy and appearance of abnormal Q waves in the early stages of acute myocardial infarction]. / Correlazione tra efficacia della terapia trombolitica e comparsa di onde Q patologiche nella fase precoce dell'infarto miocardico acuto.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the time course of the appearance of abnormal Q waves on the electrocardiogram (ECG) over the first 6 hrs of the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to determine what implications, if any, such Q waves have for the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy. Severe myocardial ischemia can produce early QRS changes in the absence of infarction. Abnormal Q waves on the baseline ECG may not be an accurate marker or irreversibly injured myocardium. METHODS: A study of 232 patients with AMI consecutively admitted to our coronary care units was carried out. Patients with previous AMI were not included. The presence and number of abnormal Q waves, as defined by Selvester, on the initial ECG was determined for each patient. The presence or absence and magnitude of ST segment elevation and depression were recorded and these data were used to estimate the left ventricular infarct size should thrombolytic therapy not be given (Aldrich score). Quantitative thallium-201 tomographic imaging was performed after a mean of 42 +/- 40 days from hospital discharge in 145 patients. RESULTS: In patients admitted within 1 hr of symptoms, 53% had abnormal Q waves on the initial ECG independent of the duration of symptoms before therapy (p < 0.001). Despite this finding, the presence of abnormal Q waves on the admission ECG did not eliminate the effect of thrombolytic therapy on reducing final infarct size (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal Q waves are a common finding early in the course of AMI. However, there is no evidence that abnormal Q waves are associated with less benefit in terms of reduction of infarct size after thrombolytic therapy.

[Clinical and laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of parenteral nutritional support in malnourished elderly]. / Valutazione clinica e laboratoristica dell'efficacia di un supporto nutrizionale per via parenterale nei deperimenti organici dell'anziano.

The study was carried out on twenty nine geriatric patients with malnutrition of variable aetiology. The effectiveness of a temporary parenteral nutritional supplement was evaluated both clinically and by means of some metabolic indexes: nitrogen balance, serum albumin, blood electrolytes, acid-base parameters, hemocytometry. The treatment was devoid of metabolic complications, and promoted a positive nitrogen balance as well as clinical improvement in most patients.

[Disturbances of equilibrium in the aged]. / I disturbi dell'equilibrio nella terza età.

The occurrence during the last year of vestibular disorders, faints and drop attacks was investigated in 150 patients consecutively admitted to a geriatric hospital. The clinical features of these episodes were recorded by means of a proper questionnaire. True vertigo and/or feeling of unstable equilibrium were referred by 54,6% of the patients inquired into, whereas episodes interpretable as faints and drop attacks showed by far lower prevalences, respectively 13,3% and 6%. The Authors call attention to the difficulties in differential diagnosis among these three kinds of phenomena in the current practice.