Geology of the Tick Canyon Area

The eastern part of the Ventura Basin contains great thicknesses of non-marine Tertiary sediments. The lower formations of the Tertiary strata outcrop in the Tick Canyon Area and are described in this report. Emphasis is placed on the description of the Vasquez formation which is the lowest Tertiary unit in the Tick Canyon Area and which contains the only Tertiary lavas found in the East Ventura Basin.

Modulation of the effectiveness of 17-alpha-hydroxy-20-beta-dihydroprogesterone or of a gonadotrophic extract on the in vitro intrafollicular maturation of oocytes of the rainbow trout Salmo gairdnerii by various non-maturing steroids [Translation from: Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Series D 281, 811-814, 1975]

The effectiveness of 17 α-hydroxy-20 β-dihydroprogesterone (17 α-20 β Pg) or of a trout hypophyseal gonadotrophic extract on the in vitro intrafollicular maturation of trout oocytes can be modulated by steroids which do not have a direct maturing effect; the effectiveness of the gonadotrophic extract is lowered by oestradiol and oestrone and increased by testosterone. As these steroids have no significant effect on maturation induced by 17 α-20 β Pg, the site of their activity is probably in the follicular envelopes. Corticosteroids, and Cortisol and cortisone in particular increase the effectiveness of the gonadotrophic extract, but increase the effectiveness of 17 α-20 β Pg even more strongly, suggesting that this 'progestagen' has a direct effect on oocyte sensitivity.

An opioid peptide from synganglia of the tick, Amblyomma testindinarium

An opioid peptide, which shares similarity with mammalian hemorphins, has been identified from the synganglia (central nervous system) of the hard tick, Amblyomma testindiarium. Its primary sequence was established as LVVYPWTKM that contains a tetrapeptide sequence Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr of hemorphin-like opioid peptides. By hot-plate bioassay, the purified peptide and synthetic peptide displayed dose-related antinociceptive effect in mice, as observed for other hemorphin-like opioid peptides. This is the first opioid peptide identified from ticks. Ticks may utilize the opioid peptide in their strategy to escape host immuno-surveillance as well as in inhibiting responses directed against themselves. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A novel antimicrobial peptide from salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis

A novel antimicrobial peptide named as ixosin was isolated from the salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis, by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequen

Two Immunoregulatory Peptides with Antioxidant Activity from Tick Salivary Glands

Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that may secrete immunosuppressant molecules, which inhibit host inflammatory and immune responses and provide survival advantages to pathogens at tick bleeding sites in hosts. In the current work, two families of immunoregulatory peptides, hyalomin-A and -B, were first identified from salivary glands of hard tick Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum. Three copies of hyalomin-A are encoded by an identical gene and released from the same protein precursor. Both hyalomin-A and -B can exert significant anti-inflammatory functions, either by directly inhibiting host secretion of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotectic protein-1, and interferon-gamma or by indirectly increasing the secretion of immunosuppressant cytokine of interleukin-10. Hyalomin-A and -B were both found to potently scavenge free radical in vitro in a rapid manner and inhibited adjuvant-induced inflammation in mouse models in vivo. The JNK/SAPK subgroup of the MAPK signaling pathway was involved in such immunoregulatory functions of hyalomin-A and -B. These results showed that immunoregulatory peptides of tick salivary glands suppress host inflammatory response by modulating cytokine secretion and detoxifying reactive oxygen species.

Shrimp extract from prawn waste

A method has been described for the preparation of protein extract from prawn waste. The process consists of extracting the protein from minced fresh prawn head and shell waste by treatment with mild alkali and neutralisation and concentration of the filtrate into a semisolid consistency. The yield of the final product is about 20% of the weight of fresh prawn waste.

Response of extract release volume to the variations in pH and microbial load during spoilage of fish at refrigeration temperature

This report briefly describes the microbial status and storage properties of fish raised under composite fish culture in sewage fed ponds.

Antioxidant effect of betel leaf extract on dry-cured fish

The effect of betel leaf (Piper betle Linn.) extract on control of autoxidation of fat in dry fish has been studied. Oil sardine has been selected for experiments since it contains very high amount of fat. The treatments were given with 5% (w/v) betel leaf extract in water at different stages of salt curing. FFA, PV and TVN values of the samples were determined periodically to assess the keeping quality and autoxidation. The sample, prepared by dipping the fish in the extract immediately after salting and then drying as usual, was found to have better keeping qualities.

Extraction and structure elucidation of natural compounds of some gorgonians of the Persian Gulf and also physiological and pharmacological effects of gorgonian extract on some selected organisms

In the present research, investigations were carried out for structure elucidation of natural compounds and also for studing biological and teratogenical effects of two Genus of soft corals named as " Echinogorgia cf. indica" and "Sinularia erecta" in Persian Gulf. First, 350 gr Echinogorgia was extracted by Acetone, then, the extract was separated by ether from aqueos phase to give 4.5 gr oil. The oil eluted with Petrol - ether Et2 o (9:1) which was recovered Linderazulene and it's derivative as purple Cristals (350 mg/ca 0.1 %). In order to determine molecular structure, the Samples were used for spectroscopic method as: H1- NMR , C13- NMR and 2D NMR. Also, for extraction and structure elucidation of natural compounds, the soft coral " sinularia erecta " were used 1187/37 gr and extracted by Aceton. The extract was concentrated and resulting aqueous suspension and extracted by using ether to give 8.41 gr oil. The oil , was Chromatographed on a column of silica gel and some different fractions were gathered. Initial fraction (1-11) which were nonpolar compounds were seprated by GC/MS. Mass spectrum were prepared and much compounds were recognized.

Extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves reverses yohimbine-induced spatial working memory deficit in rats

Extract of Ginkgo biloba is used to alleviate age-related decline in cognitive function, which may be associated with the loss of catecholamines in the prefrontal cortex. The purpose of this study was to verify whether alpha-2 adrenergic activity is involved in the facilitative effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba on prefrontal cognitive function. Male Wistar rats were trained to reach criterion in the delayed alternation task (0, 25, and 50-s delay intervals). A pilot study found that 3 or 4 mg/kg of yohimbine (intraperitoneal) reduced the choice accuracy of the delayed alternation task in a dose and delay-dependent manner, without influencing motor ability or perseverative behaviour. Acute oral pre-treatment with doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg (but not 25 mg/kg) of extract of Ginkgo biloba prevented the reduction in choice accuracy induced by 4 mg/kg yohimbine. These data suggest that the prefrontal cognition-enhancing effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba are related to its actions on alpha-2-adrenoceptors.

Effects of ginkgo biloba extract on cation currents in rat ventricular myocytes

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), a valuable natural product for cerebral and cardiovascular diseases, is mainly composed of two classes of constituents: terpene lactones (e.g., ginkgolide A and B, bilobalide) and flavone glycosides (e.g., quercetin and kaempferol). Its electrophysiological action in heart is yet unclear. In the present study, using whole-cell patch clamp technique, we investigated electrophysiological effects of GBE on cation channel currents in ventricular myocytes isolated from rat hearts. We found that GBE 0.01-0.1% inhibited significantly the sodium current (I-Na), L-type calcium current (I-Ca) and transient outward potassium current (IKto) in a concentration-dependent manner. Surprisingly, its main ingredients, ginkgolide A (GB A), ginkgolide B (GB B) and bilobalide (GB BA) at 0.1 mM did not exhibit any significant effect on these cation channel currents. These results suggested that GBE is a potent non-selective cation channel modulator in cardiaomyocytes. Other constituents (rather than GB A, GB B and GB BA) might be responsible for the observed inhibitory effects of GBE on cation channels. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.