Traditional herbal remedies that influence cell adhesion molecule activity.

Many traditional medicines have demonstrated immune activity, however, research has largely neglected their effects on cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). This review reports on extracts from 37 medicinal plant species, similar to or replicating traditional preparations, that up- or downregulate either gene or protein activity of CAMs. The majority of the investigations were in vitro, primarily of the immunoglobulin superfamily of CAMs, specifically intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and secondarily on the integrin (CD11b or MAC-1) and selectin (E-selectin and P-selectin) families of CAMs. The following plant species have demonstrated modulation of multiple CAMs: Artemisia asiatica, Boswellia serrata, Canscora decussata, Cinnamomum povectum, Dehaasia incrassate, Ganoderma lucidum, Ginkgo biloba, Hypericum perforatum, Juglans regia, Lycopus lucidus, Panax notoginseng, Rheum undulatum, Salvia miltiorrhiza. Many other species have documented activity on one CAM. Currently there are limited in vivo/ex vivo investigations, including a clinical trial on Mahonia aquifolium. Although further evidence is needed, the data suggest that the reviewed botanical medicines may have the potential to provide therapeutic potential in disease processes involving CAMs. Additionally, the reported success of many of these plant extracts by traditional cultures and modern phytotherapists may involve the modulation of CAMs.

The job characteristic inventory: an examination.

Psychometric properties of the Sims, Szilagyi, and Keller (1976) Job Characteristic Inventory (JCI) were evaluated. In particular, internal consistency reliability of JCI subscales, convergent and discriminant validity as assessed by use of a multitrait-multirater (superior and subordinate) matrix, relationships of subscale scores to measures of social desirability of responses and of acquiescence tendencies, and substantive validity were considered. The JCI was seen to be largely independent of social desirability and acquiescence tendencies. However, the results suggest some overlap between subscales, little convergence between superior and subordinate ratings of the subordinate's job, and that substantive validity is in question.

Aspects of D-leucine and D-lysine metabolism in maize and ryegrass seedlings.

Maize and ryegrass seedlings (2.5 weeks old), the roots of which were dipped into 10(-3)M (14)C-carboxyl-labeled D-leucine and (14)C-ε-labeled D-lysine, readyly absorbed and converted or conjugated within 34 hr some 75-90% of the labeled compound supplied. The metabolic intermediates and products were generally similar for both maize and ryegrass. Radioactive intermediates from the carboxyllabeled D-leucine were L-leucine, N-malonyl-D-leucine (provisionally identified), and α-ketoisocaproic acid. Intermediates from ε-labeled D-lysine were numerous, with greater amounts and numbers detected in roots than in tops. Pipecolic acid was a major intermediate particularly in shoot tissue.Pathways of conversion appeared analogous to those for the L-isomer, and conversion may be by the usual L-configuration machinery, since the labeled L-isomer of the originally supplied (14)C-D-amino acid was always found. How the (14)C-D-amino acid gets to (14)C-L-isomer is not known, but finding significant proportions of unlabeled D-alanine in plants treated with both the labeled L-leucine and D-lysine suggested that formation of the α-keto-acid analog and subsequent reamination was possibly an important route.