Cyanide Content of Sorghum Sprouts

The seeds of four cultivars of grain sorghum and four of sweet sorghum (Sorghum blcolor (L.) Moench) contained only traces (1 or 2 ppm) to 29 ppm of potential hydrocyanic acid (HCN) that could be generated as free HCN by digestion and steam distillation. Sprouts of the same cultivars grown for 3 days in the dark at 30°C, however, contained from 258–1030 ppm potential HCN relative to the weight of the ungerminated, dry seed. Drying at 50°C and grinding of sprouts to produce a meal did not reduce the potential HCN content. The consumption of sorghum sprouts or products made from them may be hazardous. The average amount (61.3 mg) of HCN obtained in our laboratory from sprouts grown from 100g of seed exceeds the average fatal dose for an adult.     

A prospective evaluation of Bass, Bionator and Twin Block appliances. Part I--The hard tissues

A prospective clinical study with a random allocation of 47 adolescent patients to three different functional appliance groups was established and compared with an untreated control group over a 9-month period. Treatment was undertaken with either a Bionator, Twin Block, or Bass appliance. Pre- and post-treatment cephalograms were used to quantify the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes produced by the appliances and compared with those observed in the control group as a result of growth. Both the Bionator and Twin Block appliances demonstrated a statistically significant increase in mandibular length (3.9 +/- 2.7 mm; 3.7 +/- 2.1 mm, respectively) compared with the control group (P < 0.05), with an anterior movement of pogonion and point B. Highly statistically significant increases (P < 0.01) were seen in lower face heights for all the appliance groups compared with the control group. The Twin Block group showed the least forward movement of point A due to a change in the inclination of the maxillary plane. The Bionator and Twin Block groups showed statistically significant reductions in the inclination of the upper incisors to the maxillary plane (P < 0.05). The Bass group showed minimal change in the inclination of the lower labial segment to the mandibular plane. The Bionator group demonstrated the greatest proclination of the lower labial segment (4.0 +/- 3.6 degrees). Clinically important changes were measured in all the appliance groups when compared with the control group. Differences were also identified between the functional appliance groups. The Twin Block appliance and, to a lesser extent, the Bionator appeared the most effective in producing sagittal and vertical changes.     

The shelf-life of dairy products: 1. Factors influencing raw milk and fresh products

This review forms the first part of a series of four articles which will consider factors affecting the shelf-life of dairy products. In this report factors influencing the shelf-life of raw milk and fresh products are highlighted. Potential methods of controlling bacterial growth are discussed in detail.     

Characterization of a novel 23-kilodalton protein of unactive progesterone receptor complexes

Immunoprecipitation of unactivated avian progesterone receptor results in the copurification of hsp90, hsp70, and three additional proteins, p54, p50, and p23. p23 is also present in immunoaffinity-purified hsp90 complexes along with hsp70 and another protein, p60. Antibody and cDNA probes for p23 were prepared in an effort to elucidate the significance and function of this protein. Antibodies to p23 detect similar levels of p23 in all tissues tested and cross-react with a protein of the same size in mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, humans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, indicating that p23 is a conserved protein of broad tissue distribution. These antibodies were used to screen a chicken brain cDNA library, resulting in the isolation of a 468-bp partial cDNA clone encoding a sequence containing four sequences corresponding to peptide fragments isolated from chicken p23. This partial clone was subsequently used to isolate a full-length human cDNA clone. The human cDNA encodes a protein of 160 amino acids that does not show homology to previously identified proteins. The chicken and human cDNAs are 88% identical at the DNA level and 96.3% identical at the protein level. p23 is a highly acidic phosphoprotein with an aspartic acid-rich carboxy-terminal domain. Bacterially overexpressed human p23 was used to raise several monoclonal antibodies to p23. These antibodies specifically immunoprecipitate p23 in complex with hsp90 in all tissues tested and can be used to immunoaffinity isolate progesterone receptor complexes from chicken oviduct cytosol.     

ISOLATION AND SOME PROPERTIES OF AN ACIDIC FRACTION OF POLYPHENOL OXIDASE FROM JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE(HELIANTHUS TUBEROSUS L.)

An acidic fraction of polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1), representing the bulk activity, has been isolated from Jerusalem artichoke tubers by copper affinity chromatography, followed by DEAE-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography. Isoelectric focusing analysis showed a cluster of activity bands (microheterogeneity) in the pH region of 4.5. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was also determined. The pH optimum for oxidation of chlorogenic acid, 4-methylcatechol and catechol was 6.0. Substrate inhibition was observed by high concentrations of chlorogenic acid. Thermal inactivation data indicated an apparent activation energy of 26.2 kcal/mol. Kinetics of inactivation, upon copper removal by KCN treatment, and reconstitution reactions revealed that the former is a much slower process than reactivation.