Detection of hepatitis G virus from serum and liver of a patient with long-term liver dysfunction after autologous bone marrow transplantation

Long-term effects after blood or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are emerging as an important issue, as more patients are included in BMT programmes and as this procedure becomes more successful. Long-term liver dysfunction, mainly due to chronic graft-versus-host disease or hepatitis C virus infection, is a well-known complication. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of liver disease in this patient group is sometimes difficult and, despite adequate studies, it may remain undetected. A novel hepatitis-associated virus, hepatitis G virus (HGV), has recently been identified. The virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family and is known to be parenterally transmitted, although there is no clear evidence to implicate this agent in causing acute or chronic hepatitis. We report a patient who developed mild, but persistent, abnormalities in transaminases for 2 years after an autologous BMT. HGV RNA was detected in both serum and liver. HGV RNA persisted in serum for at least 8 months. No other known hepatitis virus was found. This report provides the first direct evidence of a patient with long-term liver abnormalities after a BMT in whom the only known hepatitis virus isolated was the HGV.     

Opinions regarding the importance of body image disorders in the development and in the course of eating disorders

The article presents a review of most important research results as well as opinions about the role and importance of body image disturbances in the development and the course of eating disorders. It also contains a review of definitions of body image, and techniques used in the evaluation of this type of disorders.     

Pre-operational environmental survey at the uranium mine and mill site,Poços de Caldas,Minas Gerais,Brazil

The first Brazilian uranium mine and mill are located on the Poços de Caldas plateau, in the Central State of Minas Gerais. The pre-operational environmental survey was carried out over a period of two years by the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), through the Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria (IRD). The selection of the materials to be monitored, the sampling points and the radionuclides to be analysed were based on critical parameters taking into account the meteorological and hydrological characteristics of the site as well as land use. The results obtained are sufficient to characterize the environmental background of the area, and will allow an assessment of the environmental impact due to the operation of the facility and an evaluation of the adequacy of the effluent emmission control measures. In relation to their contribution to the population dose, the results indicated that ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Pb will be the important radionuclides.     

β-hydroxyacyl-coa-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of unfrozen and frozen—thawed frog (Rana esculenta) legs

The β-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of unfrozen and thawed frog legs was investigated. The enzyme was extracted by either immersing frog legs in phosphate buffer 0.1 M, pH 6.0 at 25°C for 15 min or pressing them between trichinoscopy glasses. The enzyme activity was assayed using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate and measured spectrophotometrically at 340 nm. It was possible by both extraction methods to distinguish between thawed and unfrozen samples although when the juice was obtained by pressing the HADH activity of the dilution was ～ 1.5 times higher than that obtained by immersion. The HADH activity was significantly higher (P≤0·001) in frozen-thawed frogs than in unfrozen legs because during freezing there is a release of HADH. No significative differences were found in the HADH activity in samples frozen in the temperature range -10 to -196°C. HADH activity was not affected by the storage time in crushed ice up to 6 days.     

The composition of volatile extractives from the wood of Juniperus excelsa, Juniperus foetidissima and Juniperus oxycedrus

J. excelsa , J. foetidissima and J. oxycedrus. Among the compounds the monoterpenes exist in minor amounts while the sesquiterpenes including their oxygenated members as well as sesquiterpene alcohols consist of the majority of the whole substances. The existence of some compounds of the oils might be attributes of the species and their sap- and heartwood. On the other side though notable differences, the essential oils of Turkish juniper woods resemble the commercial cedar wood oils.

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Die Zusammensetzung der flüchtigen Extraktstoffe im Holz von Juniperus foetidissima und Juniperus oxycedrus

J. excelsa , J. foetidissima und J. oxycedrus. Monoterpene bilden einen geringen Anteil der Extraktstoffe. Der Hauptteil besteht aus Sesquiterpenen mit deren Oxydationsprodukten. Das Vorkommen einiger der ?le k?nnte charakteristisch sein für die jeweilige Art bzw. deren Splint- und Kernholz Allerdings gleichen diese ?le, trotz geringer Unterschiede, den wesentlichen ?lbestandteilen von Kommerziellen Zedernh?lzern.

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This work was supported by the research found of the Istanbul University. Project nr: 1335/280799.     

Effects of storage time and chemical preservatives on the total volatile basic nitrogen content in chilean mackerel (Trachurus murphy) prior to fish meal production

Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) as a measure of protein degradation and total microbial counts or stored raw mackerel (Trachurus murphy), which had been treated with chemical preservatives, were compared with the TVB-N and microbial counts of untreated fish. In unpreserved fish, decomposition of fish protein was rapid. Treatment of mackerel with acetic (1000-5000 μg kg^?1), which was the most effective of the parameters studied, approximately halved the rate of increase in TVB-N compared with the untreated samples. Changes in the total microbial counts presented a similar trend.     

A 150 MHz 0.6 μm BiCMOS superscalar microprocessor

An implementation of the Pentium microprocessor architecture in 0.6 μm BiCMOS technology is described. Power dissipation is reduced and performance is enhanced over the previous generation. Processor features, implementation technology, and circuit techniques are discussed. An internal clock rate of 150 MHz is achieved at 3.7 V and -55°C     

Large specimen bone embedment and cement line staining

Undecalcified embedment of large bone specimens is often challenging. A method is presented here that is suitable for methacrylate embedment of sections of canine vertebrae while retaining the ability to localize tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity. Specimens also retained tetracycline labelling, and sectioned preparations were readily stained with routine bone procedures. A modification of the Bodian silver stain, used for examining the nerves and spinal cord in these specimens, provided a useful stain for canaliculi and cement lines in trabecular and cortical bone. This stain is advantageous when both bone and nerve tissue are of interest, as in spinal fusion studies.