Response of V79 cells to low doses of X-rays and negative pi-mesons: clonogenic survival and DNA strand breaks

Mammalian cells are hypersensitive to very low doses of X-rays (< 0.2 Gy), a response which is followed by increased radioresistance up to 1 Gy. Increased radioresistance is postulated to be a response to DNA damage, possibly single-strand breaks, and it appears to be a characteristic of low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation. Here we demonstrate a correspondence between the extent of the increased radioresistance and linear energy transfer of 250 kVp X-rays and plateau and Bragg peak negative pi-mesons. The results support our hypothesis since the size of the increased radioresistant response appears to correspond to the number of radiation induced single-strand breaks. Furthermore, since survival prior to the increased radioresistant response (< 0.2 Gy) was LET-independent, these data support the notion that the increased radioresistant response may dictate the overall survival response to higher doses. However, while these data provide further circumstantial evidence for the involvement of DNA strand breaks in the triggering of increased radioresistance, more direct conclusions cannot be made. The data are not accurate enough to detect structure in the single-strand break profiles, the production of single-strand breaks being apparently linear with dose.     

Processing of the Borna disease virus glycoprotein gp94 by the subtilisin-like endoprotease furin

Open reading frame IV (ORF-IV) of Borna disease virus (BDV) encodes a protein with a calculated molecular mass of ca. 57 kDa (p57), which increases after N glycosylation to 94 kDa (gp94). The unglycosylated and glycosylated proteins are proteolytically cleaved by the subtilisin-like protease furin. Furin most likely recognizes one of three potential cleavage sites, namely, an arginine at position 249 of the ORF-IV gene product. The furin inhibitor decRVKRcmk decreases the production of infectious BDV significantly, indicating that proteolytic cleavage of the gp94 precursor molecule is necessary for the full biological activity of the BDV glycoprotein.     

Pantoprazole does not interact with the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine

OBJECTIVE: Pantoprazole is a H+/K+-ATPase inhibitor with a minimized potential of interaction with the cytochrome P450 system. Imidazole derivatives such as cimetidine and omeprazole have been shown to markedly interact with carbamazepine, a major anticonvulsant with a narrow therapeutic range. Therefore, the influence of steady-state pantoprazole on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine was investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: N = 20 healthy volunteers (12 male/8 female) completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study. During the test period they received 40 mg pantoprazole p.o. once daily for 11 days and concomitantly a single oral dose of 400 mg carbamazepine on day 5. In the reference period placebo was administered instead of pantoprazole. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of carbamazepine and its active metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide were measured until day 11. Geometric means of AUC (extent characteristic) and Cmax/AUC (rate characteristic) of carbamazepine were 292 and 287 mgxh/l, and 0.0150 and 0.0144 l/h (reference and test), respectively. Point estimates and 90% confidence intervals of the ratios were 0.98 (0.95, 1.01) for AUC, and 0.96 (0.92, 1.00) for Cmax/AUC, respectively. Since the 90% confidence intervals of the primary characteristics, AUC and Cmax/AUC were entirely within the predefined equivalence range of 0.80 - 1.25, lack of interaction of pantoprazole with the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine was demonstrated. Equivalence was also demonstrated for carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide using the characteristics AUC and Cmax. CONCLUSION: No dose adjustment of carbamazepine is therefore required during concomitant treatment with pantoprazole.     

Flexible sigmoidoscopy training program for internal medicine residents

We examined the possibility of an association between the bacterial genotype of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the likelihood of progression to neurological complications in childhood gastroenteritis-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (D+HUS). Bacterial stool isolates were available from 51 patients with HUS; 11 of these patients suffered a neurological complication. Bacteria were assessed for plasmid content, verotoxin (Shiga-like toxin) profile, verotoxin 2 subtype, and presence of the eaeA (effacement and attachment) marker. No association of bacterial genotype with central nervous system (CNS) manifestations was observed. Whilst the cause of CNS manifestations may be multifactorial, there is no evidence at present to implicate specific bacterial traits.     

Die direkte Sauerstoffbestimmung in oxydischen Stoffen

Beschreibung des Verfahrens und des Gerätes zur Reduktion in verschlossenen Graphitbehältern bei Temperaturen von 1000 bis 2200 °C im Argonstrom und im Vakuum. Untersuchungsergebnisse von Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TiO₂, Wüstit, Cr₂O_s, MnSiO₂, CaO, MgO, ZrO₂ sowie einer Hochofenschlacke und einem Thomaseisensinter.     

Die Bestimmung von Schwefelanteilen im Stahl unter 10 μg/g

Analytische Möglichkeiten einer neuen Gerätegeneration. Weiterentwicklung des Verfahrens mit synthetischer Eichung bis zur Bestimmungsgrenze 2 μg/g.     

Untersuchung von Reaktionen zwischen Eisenoxid- und Gangart-Tabletten hinsichtlich der Vorgänge beim Brennen und Reduzieren von Eisenerzagglomeraten

Große Reaktionsfläche zwischen Eisenoxidphase einerseits und Gangartphase andererseits durch Aufeinanderlegen von zwei entsprechenden Tabletten. Versuche unter Luftatmosphäre und reduzierender Gasatmosphäre bei Temperaturen zwischen 1000 und 1500°C. Deutung der Ergebnisse der Versuche unter Luftatmosphäre im Hinblick auf das Brennen von Pellets. Versuche unter reduzierender Gasatmosphäre und Anwendung ihrer Ergebnisse auf das Reduktionsverhalten von Eisenerzagglomeraten.     

Zur Frage der Entstehung von Nitrosaminen bei der Reaktion von Monosacchariden mit Aminos?uren (Maillard-Reaktion)

Zusammeufassung Zur Überprüfung des Auftretens von Nitrosaminen [2] im Rahmen der Maillard-Reaktion wurden die flüchtigen Produkte verschiedener Glucose-Aminosäure-Modell-gemische durch Kombination von Gaschromatographie and Massenspektrometrie, Polarographie und Dünnschicht-Chromatographie untersucht. Das Auftreten von Nitrosaminen kann durch die Ergebnisse eindeutig ausgeschlossen werden.

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The problem of formation of nitrosamines by reacting monosaccharides with aminoacids (maillard-reaction)

Summary For proving the formation of nitrosamines applying maillardconditions [2] we tested the volatile reaction products of various glucose-aminoacid mixtures by coupling gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, polarography and thin-layer chromatography. The appearence of nitrosamines could undoubtedly be excluded according to the results.