A major isoform of the maize plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase: characterization and induction by auxin in coleoptiles

The plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase has been proposed to play important transport and regulatory roles in plant physiology, including its participation in auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments. This enzyme is encoded by a family of genes differing in tissue distribution, regulation, and expression level. A major expressed isoform of the maize PM H(+)-ATPase (MHA2) has been characterized. RNA gel blot analysis indicated that MHA2 is expressed in all maize organs, with highest levels being in the roots. In situ hybridization of sections from maize seedlings indicated enriched expression of MHA2 in stomatal guard cells, phloem cells, and root epidermal cells. MHA2 mRNA was induced threefold when nonvascular parts of the coleoptile segments were treated with auxin. This induction correlates with auxin-triggered proton extrusion by the same part of the segments. The PM H(+)-ATPase in the vascular bundies does not contribute significantly to auxin-induced acidification, is not regulated by auxin, and masks the auxin effect in extracts of whole coleoptile segments. We conclude that auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments most often occurs in the nonvascular tissue and is mediated, at least in part, by increased levels of MHA2.     

Detection of human papillomavirus in routinely processed biopsy specimens from laryngeal papillomas: evaluation of reproducibility of polymerase chain reaction and DNA in situ hybridization procedures

The frequency of human papillomavirus (HPV) in laryngeal papillomas varies largely among different studies. DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) has been the most widely used method for detection of HPV. The aim of this study was to compare the reproducibility and sensitivity of ISH with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 35 specimens of laryngeal papillomas routinely fixed in buffered or unbuffered formalin. Out of 12 specimens fixed in buffered formalin, 10 were positive for HPV 6/11 using ISH. The procedure was repeated three times and three specimens were positive only twice. Nine biopsies were positive for HPV using PCR with consensus primers (My 09/11) on dewaxed tissue without extracting DNA. In three repeated PCRs, the results were inconsistent in three samples. After DNA extraction, all 12 samples were positive with PCR. Of the 23 specimens fixed in unbuffered formalin, 14 were HPV-positive with ISH, while only one was positive with PCR. We concluded that PCR with My 09/11 consensus primers is a highly sensitive method for detection of HPV in laryngeal papillomas fixed in buffered formalin, but useless for samples fixed in unbuffered formalin. When DNA was extracted from the former type of fixed tissue, the results were highly reproducible. In contrast to PCR, ISH appeared to be less influenced by fixation procedure, but it was not as reproducible and sensitive as PCR. Negative results did not necessarily mean absence of HPV.     

Influence of flow pattern on the parameter estimates of a simplebreathing mechanics model

The first-order model of breathing mechanics is widely used in clinical practice to assess the viscoelastic properties of the respiratory system. Although simple, this model takes the predominant features of the pressure-flow relationship into account but gives highly systematic residuals between measured and model-predicted variables. To achieve a better fit of the entire data set, an approach hypothesizing deterministic time-variations of model parameters, summarized by information-weighted histograms was recently proposed by Bates and Lauzon (1992). The present study uses flow and pressure data measured in intensive care patients to evaluate the real potential of this approach in clinical practice. Information-weighted histograms of the model parameters, estimated by an on-line identification algorithm, were first constructed by taking into account the parameter percentage standard deviations. Then, the influence of the respiratory flow pattern on the calculated histograms was evaluated by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test. The results show that the method gives good reproducibility under stable experimental conditions. In addition, for a given airflow waveform; an increase in respiratory frequency shifts the histograms representing time-varying viscous properties strongly versus lower values, whereas it shifts the histograms representing time-varying elastic properties slightly versus higher values. On the other hand, the same histograms were highly dependent on the airflow waveform, especially for the viscous properties. Even in a limited experimental work, in all the conditions considered, the method provides results which agree well with the physiological knowledge of nonlinear and multicompartment behavior of respiratory mechanics     

New epidemiological aspects of dengue

Since the 1940s, the dengue epidemics occur more and more often in the Pacific islands with an increased severity. For example, in New Caledonia, outbreaks of dengue-like diseases have been reported since the end of the last century but the first epidemic due to an identified virus occurred in 1942-1943 and was caused by the DEN-1 type. The next, due to the DEN-2 type, was reported thirty years later, in 1972-1973. After that, three outbreaks burst between 1975 and 1990, caused successively by dengue types 1, 4 and 3 but from 1985, human strains of different types were isolated at the same time. The vector control measures, mainly aerial ULV spraying had a variable efficacy. The most important vector was Aedes aegypti but dengue virus strains were also isolated from other mosquito species (Aedes vigilax, Culex annulirostris, C. bitaeniorhynchus, Coquillettidia xanthogaster); their role in the interhuman transmission of dengue was not demonstrated. In New Caledonia, the development of international travels, an extension of suburbs and an increased insecticide resistance of Ae. aegypti are the obvious causes of the problem but an unknown transmission cycle, involving different hosts and vectors may also be suspected.     

Limitations of quantitative research in the study of structural adjustment

Sociologists and, more recently, critical medical anthropologists have been arguing for a refocusing of the analysis of health and health care towards a perspective which considers the broader global political economy. In the context of the debt crisis and IMF/World Bank-inspired structural adjustment policies, the political economy theoretical perspective is becoming even more relevant in the analysis of health underdevelopment in many 'Third World' countries. This study focuses on the direct and indirect effects of the Jamaican debt crisis and structural adjustment programmes on health care services and health standards. In this paper it is argued that there are methodological problems using quantitative data when studying the effects of structural adjustment. In addition to providing a limited account of the effects, it is argued that the basic problem is a matter of the availability and reliability of the quantitative data in many 'Third World' countries. It is argued that some of these problems could be overcome by the application of qualitative micro-level analysis. This type of methodology is important to ascertain the effects of global processes at the grass roots level and to gain insights into what those working in the health sector are experiencing and what they perceive as the effects, if any, of structural adjustment policies. This has often been missing from the impersonal accounts offered by quantitative research on the subject to date.     

Mefloquine insusceptibility of malaria in Thailand not promoted by nonregulated drug-use

The program HBexplore is a new tool for identifying and analysing H-bonding patterns in biological macromolecules. It selects all potential H-bonds according to geometrical criteria. The H-bond table can then be subjected to further automatic or interactive analysis tools. These tools include the calculation of mean values and distributions of geometrical H-bond parameters for parts of a single structure, for complete single structures and for structure sets, the classification of each H-bond according to the participation of backbone, side chain or base, ligand and water parts of nucleic acids or proteins, identification of Watson-Crick nucleotide pairs and of H-bonded pairs of equal nucleotides, the calculation of the mean number of H-bonds per residue, and of the fraction of potential donor and acceptor atoms involved in H-bonds. HBexplore further generates automatically a H-bond residue interaction table. This table lists for all residues of the structure the other residues, ligands or water molecules directly connected via a H-bond. By means of a binary tree search algorithm, this table is then converted into a H-bond cluster table. Clusters are understood here as an uninterrupted network of H-bonded residues. For nucleic acids, secondary structures and tertiary interactions are automatically derived from the H-bonding pattern. HBexplore is applied to two example RNA structures: a pseudoknot and a hairpin. It provides a comprehensive listing of individual H-bonds and statistical information for larger structure sets. In addition, it can identify interesting new H-bond motifs. One example is a pentanucleotide base-base H-bond interaction motif in the RNA pseudoknot. HBexplore is intended to contribute both to the elucidation of general principles of the architecture of biological macromolecules, and to the prediction and refinement of single structures.     

Special features of synthesis of a heat-resistant glass-ceramic coating

In order to protect Ni–Cr alloys from high-temperature corrosion, a new heat-resistant glass-ceramic coating was developed with a glass matrix synthesized on the basis of a composite R _x O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂ (R–Li^–, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺) system. The special features of the formation of crystalline phases in the glasses in heat treatment and the optimum regime for the formation of a glass ceramic structure are described.Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 3, pp. 30–32, March, 1996.