Effects of citrate on the different phases of calcium oxalate crystallization

Urinary citrate appears to be an important factor in the crystallization process of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The urinary excretion of citrate was found to be significantly lower in patients with calcium oxalate stone disease as compared with normal subjects, and about 30 per cent of the calcium stone formers can be considered as hypocitraturic. The lowest excretion of citrate was recorded in urine collected during the night. Citrate has significant effects on supersaturation with respect to both calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, it also inhibits the growth of these crystals. In addition, citrate appears to be capable of inhibiting the aggregation of crystals composed of calcium oxalate, brushite, and hydroxyapatite. The heterogenous growth of calcium oxalate on calcium phosphate is also counteracted by citrate. As a consequence of the crucial role of citrate in these processes, stone prevention with alkaline citrate has become an attractive form of treatment in patients with recurrent stone formation. Single evening dose administration of sodium potassium citrate resulted in an of sodium potassium citrate resulted in an increased excretion of citrate, reduced levels of the calcium/citrate ratio as well as supersaturation with respect to calcium oxalate and a decreased rate of stone formation. However, conflicting results of stone preventive treatment with alkaline citrate have been reported by different groups, and long-term follow-up of patients treated in a randomized way is necessary to definitely assess the efficacy of alkaline citrate.     

Microstructure-Property Correlation in AI_4C_3 Dispersion Strengthened Al Composite

The microstructure and tensile properties of Al_4C_3 dispersion strengthened Al composite fabricatedby reaction milling technique were investigated.It is indicated that the rod-like Al_4C_3 dispersoidshaving a diameter of 0.02-0.03 μm and a length of 0.1-0.3μm are formed by reaction of C with Al,and uniformly distributed in the Al matrix.The interface between Al_4C_3 and Al is clean and theinterfacial bonding is good.The matrix consists of the subgrains which have the size of 0.3-0.4μm,and most of the Al_4C_3 dispersoids are distributed on the subgrain boundaries.The 11 vol.-%Al_4C_3/Al composite exhibits an UTS (ultimate tensile strength) of 400 MPa and anelongation-to-failure of 8.0%.     

Cell-mediated immunological responses in cervical and vaginal cancer patients immunized with a lipidated epitope of human papillomavirus type 16 E7

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been causally associated with cervical cancer. We tested the effectiveness of an HLA-A*0201-restricted, HPV-16 E7 lipopeptide vaccine in eliciting cellular immune responses in vivo in women with refractory cervical cancer. In a nonrandomized Phase I clinical trial, 12 women expressing the HLA-A2 allele with refractory cervical or vaginal cancer were vaccinated with four E786-93 lipopeptide inoculations at 3-week intervals. HLA-A2 subtyping was also performed, and HPV typing was assessed on tumor specimens. Induction of epitope-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses was analyzed using peripheral blood leukapheresis specimens obtained before and after vaccination. CTL specificity was measured by IFN-gamma release assay using HLA-A*0201 matched target cells. Clinical responses were assessed by physical examination and radiographic images. All HLA-A*0201 patients were able to mount a cellular immune response to a control peptide. E786-93-specific CTLs were elicited in 4 of 10 evaluable HLA-A*0201 subjects before vaccination, 5 of 7 evaluable HLA-A*0201 patients after two vaccinations, and 2 of 3 evaluable HLA-A*0201 cultures after all four inoculations. Two of three evaluable patients' CTLs converted from unreactive to reactive after administration of all four inoculations. There were no clinical responses or treatment toxicities. The ability to generate specific cellular immune responses is retained in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Vaccination with a lipidated HPV peptide epitope appears capable of safely augmenting CTL reactivity. Although enhancements of cellular immune responses are needed to achieve therapeutic utility in advanced cervical cancer, this approach might prove useful in treating preinvasive disease.     

Engagement of T cell receptor triggers its recruitment to low-density detergent-insoluble membrane domains

T-cell receptors (TCRs) upon binding to peptide-MHC ligands transduce signals in T lymphocytes. Tyrosine phosphorylations in the cytoplasmic domains of the CD3 (gammadeltaepsilon) and zeta subunits of the TCR complex by Src family kinases initiate the signaling cascades via docking and activation of ZAP-70 kinase and other signaling components. We examined the role of the low-density detergent-insoluble membranes (DIMs) in TCR signaling. Using mouse thymocytes as a model, we characterized the structural organization of DIMs in detail. We then demonstrated that TCR engagement triggered an immediate increase in the amount of TCR/CD3 present in DIMs, which directly involves the engaged receptor complexes. TCR/CD3 recruitment is accompanied by the accumulation of a series of prominent tyrosine-phosphorylated substrates and by an increase of the Lck activity in DIMs. Upon TCR stimulation, the DIM-associated receptor complexes are highly enriched in the hyperphosphorylated p23 zeta chains, contain most of the TCR/CD3-associated, phosphorylation-activated ZAP-70 kinases and seem to integrate into higher order, multiple tyrosine-phosphorylated substrate-containing protein complexes. The TCR/CD3 recruitment was found to depend on the activity of Src family kinases. We thus provide the first demonstration of recuitment of TCR/CD3 to DIMs upon receptor stimulation and propose it as a mechanism whereby TCR engagement is coupled to downstream signaling cascades.     

trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine is a substrate for and inactivator of horseradish peroxidase

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is well known for mediating the electron-transfer oxidation of electron-rich aromatic 'donors' such as phenols and anilines, but has not been described to oxidize aliphatic amines. We here confirm the inability of HRP to oxidize typical aliphatic amines, even those which would exist significantly as free bases at the operative pH. In contrast, trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine (2-PCPA) is both a substrate (turnover product is cinnamaldehyde) and a time-dependent inactivator of HRP. These activities of 2-PCPA are consistent with either a concerted or rapid sequential one-electron-oxidation/ring-opening to give an intermediate capable of covalent binding to the enzyme. 2-PCPA is the first known example of a simple aliphatic amine which serves as a substrate for HRP under turnover conditions.     

孤岛油田西区聚合物驱开发研究

孤岛油田西区注聚区1997年3月投入注聚后，高渗层得到有效封堵，吸水剖面得到明显改善。注聚期间，通过实施注聚区外围水井降水或停注、油井放大生产压差和调整注聚井注入速度等开发措施，扩大了聚合物波及体积，聚合物驱取得了明显效果。     

文72块沙三中油藏天然气驱可行性试验研究

根据文南油田72块沙三中油藏的性质和流体特征，通过室内细管驱替试验和长岩心驱替试验研究，表明注入天然气组成达到一定比例和注入气和温度大于某一临界值，就可以对该油藏进行注烃类气体混相驱，说明注气开发是可行的，并能够提高油藏的采收率。     

浓香型瓶装酒库存过程中理化指标的变化

经过对1996年及1999年灌装的种子牌系列浓香型白酒的理化指标检测，发现在贮存过程中理化指标变化很大，总酸，固形物呈上升趋势，总酯，己酸乙酯呈下降趋势,其升降幅度与贮存时间相关，时间越长变化越大，贮存3年的高低度5个样平均总酸上升18．2％，28度样总酸上升28．3％，50度样总酸仅上升11％，固形物平均上升39．2％，28度样上升43％，50度样上升18％，总酯平均下降24％，28度样下降34％，50度样下降31％，己酸己酯平均下降32．4％，28度样下降59％，50度样下降32％，贮存6年的5个样总酸平均上升39．8％，28度样上升52％，50度样上升41％，固形物平均上升71．8％，28度样上升635＜50度样上升77％，总酯平均下降42．4％，28度样下降54％，50度样下降31％，己酸乙酯平均下降51．8％，28度样下降69％，50度样下32%.     

离子交换铒掺杂磷酸盐玻璃波导特性研究

给出有关离子交换铒掺杂磷酸盐玻璃波导的制备以及发光特性的基本结果。用Ag+ Na+ 离子交换在含有适量氧化钠的铒掺杂磷酸盐玻璃上很容易实现低损耗平面波导 ,并且离子交换过程对这种玻璃的光谱特性没有影响。