Kapromed - antibacterial suture material

The paper gives data on the composition and strength characteristics and experimental and clinical findings of resolving antimicrobial suture materials, such as Capromed-type one, based on the modified caproic fiber coated by the biocompatible polymer PPB-1 which contains antimicrobial drugs. Capromed threads are demonstrated to have high strength characteristics and resolve in the body within 8-9 months. Coating the modified caproic fibers with the biocompatible copolymer imparts them pseudomonfilament characteristics and prevents the penetration of cellular elements to the thickness of threads. The content of antibacterial agents in the polymer coating confers prolonged antibacterial properties on Capromed. Desorption of antimicrobial agents from Capromed is conducive to more favourable healing, prevents the development of ligature fistulas, favours an over 4-fold reduction in the incidence of wound complications, as compared to the controls.     

Effect of N-palmitoylethanolamine on energy-dependent transport of Ca2+ in vesicles of myometrium sarcolemma and their phospholipid composition

N-palmitoylethanolamine (NPE) was studied for their effect on calcium pump of pig myometrium sarcolemma. NPE in concentration of 10 microM, stimulated by 28-46% Mg2+, ATP-dependent accumulation of Ca2+ in vesicles of plasmatic membrane of uterus myocytes taking absolutely no effect on passive release of this cation from them. NPE modified phospholipid composition of sarcolemma, causing the increase of percentage content of phosphatidylinositol (by 20.2%) and lysophosphatidylcholine (2.7 times). While NPE effects transport Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase solubilized from plasmatic membrane and purified due to the method of affinity chromatography on calmodulin-sepharose 4B, no activating effect of NPE on the calcium pump was observed. And what is more, a weakly expressed tendency to inhibition (by 14-15%, respectively) of the rate of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-dependent enzymic hydrolysis of ATP has been revealed. It is supposed that the effect of NPE on active transmembrane transport of Ca2+ is an important link in the general mechanism of contraction-relax of the myometrium and is, apparently, connected with its modifying effect on the lipid composition of the sarcolemma.     

Endbulb synapses in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus express a specific subset of AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunits

The anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) acts as the first relay center in the conduction of auditory information from the ear to the brain, and it probably performs a crucial role in sound localization. Auditory nerve input to the principal neurons of the AVCN, the spherical bushy cells, appears to be mediated by an excitatory amino acid such as glutamate, which acts at a specialized, large synaptic ending called an endbulb of Held. Presumably, endbulb synapses contain some specific combination of glutamate receptors to facilitate rapid neurotransmission of auditory signals. AMPA glutamate receptor composition at the endbulb synapses was examined with both light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry. Electron microscope localization of AMPA receptors was examined with two techniques, preembedding immunoperoxidase and postembedding immunogold, which provide maximum sensitivity and greatest accuracy, respectively. Dense and frequent labeling was seen with the AMPA receptor subunit antibodies GluR2/3 and GluR4, which were colocalized at the endbulb synapses. In contrast, immunolabeling with antibody to GluR2 was low. These data indicate that the major glutamate receptor at this synapse is an AMPA receptor made up mainly of GluR3 and GluR4 subunits. Receptors composed of these subunits display properties, such as calcium permeability and rapid desensitization, that facilitate their specialized functions in auditory information processing.     

Indications, new surgical technique and results of colon interposition or bypass in esophageal surgery

Over a 5-year period, 29 patients with esophageal disease underwent colon interposition or bypass. The indication was cure of cancer in 11 patients, who underwent earlier a gastric resection. Other indications was benign stricture in 7 patients, bypass for unrespectable cancer in 6, having a caustic injury in 3 and after an esophageal perforation in 2. In 14 patients the left colon, in 15 the right colon was used. The colon was transected without dividing the mesentery other than just along its mesenteric border. This preserves additional blood supply from the marginal artery, also improves the function of the graft in transporting food. Anastomosis leakage occurred in 4 cases (13.7%). Graft necrosis occurred in 2 of 29 patients, one of whom alter underwent a successful second reconstruction. The 30 day operative mortality rate was 13.7%. A colon interposition provides good quality of deglution, and is the organ of choice for patients who require an esophageal substitute and are potential candidates for long survival, or when the stomach is unsuited for replacement or bypass.     

Effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of primary nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In epidemiological studies antioxidants have been inversely related with coronary heart disease. Findings from controlled trials are inconclusive. METHODS: We studied the primary preventive effect of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and beta carotene supplementation on major coronary events in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, a controlled trial undertaken primarily to examine the effects of these agents on cancer. A total of 27 271 Finnish male smokers aged 50 to 69 years with no history of myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E (50 mg), beta carotene (20 mg), both agents, or placebo daily for 5 to 8 years (median, 6.1 years). The end point was the first major coronary event, either nonfatal myocardial infarction (surviving at least 28 days; n = 1204) or fatal coronary heart disease (n = 907). RESULTS: The incidence of primary major coronary events decreased 4% (95% confidence interval, -12% to 4%) among recipients of vitamin E and increased 1% (95% confidence interval, -7% to 10%) among recipients of beta carotene compared with the respective nonrecipients. Neither agent affected the incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction. Supplementation with vitamin E decreased the incidence of fatal coronary heart disease by 8% (95% confidence interval, -19% to 5%), but beta carotene had no effect on this end point. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with a small dose of vitamin E has only marginal effect on the incidence of fatal coronary heart disease in male smokers with no history of myocardial infarction, but no influence on nonfatal myocardial infarction. Supplementation with beta carotene has no primary preventive effect on major coronary events.     

Controlled overproduction of proteins by lactic acid bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria are widely used in industrial food fermentations, contributing to flavour, texture and preservation of the fermented products. Here we describe recent advances in the development of controlled gene expression systems, which allow the regulated overproduction of any desirable protein by lactic acid bacteria. Some systems benefit from the fact that the expression vectors, marker genes and inducing factors can be used directly in food applications since they are all derived from food-grade lactic acid bacteria. These systems have also been employed for the development of autolytic bacteria, suitable for various industrial applications.     

Endonucleolysis of chromatin in rat thymus and spleen lymphocytes after irradiation

The level of soluble DNA fragments (polydesoxynucleotides) in thymus and spleen lymphocytes is enhanced 12 h after the whole-body X-ray irradiation in dose of 0.5 and 1 Gy. The level of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-DNAase activity in lysed cells extracts, measured with calf spleen DNA, was enhanced in the region of 0.1-0.5 mM CaCl2 in incubation medium and decreased at 5 mM CaCl2. Monitoring of DNA fragmentation by electrophoresis in agarose gels showed the presence of fragments with approximately 200, 400, 800 bp length. X-ray induced DNA fragmentation is supposed to be associated with Ca2+, Mg(2+)-endonuclease activation.     

Clinical evaluation and microbiology of oropharyngeal infection due to fluconazole-resistant Candida in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate pregnancy rates ensuing from transfer of embryos with multinucleated blastomeres. In our in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) programme, 1735 embryo transfers were performed from January 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996. In 136 of these transfers at least one embryo with one or more multinucleated blastomeres was present per transfer (study group). For each of these 136 transfers, two matched controls with transfer of exclusively mononucleated embryos were selected (control group). Matching was carried out according to age, method of fertilization (IVF or ICSI), number of transferred embryos and quality score of transferred embryos. In the study group, there were eight transfers of exclusively multinucleated embryos from which one pregnancy ensued and 128 transfers in which multinucleated and mononucleated embryos were transferred together leading to 23 pregnancies. The overall clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 16.9% in the study group versus 28.7% in the control group (P = 0.01). The ongoing pregnancy rate per transfer was 13.2% in the study group versus 23.2% in the control group (P = 0.03). The implantation rate per transferred embryo was 6.0% in the study group versus 11.3% in the control group (P = 0.003). This study shows that embryos with one or more multinucleated blastomeres have a poorer implantation potential than embryos with mononucleated blastomeres. Transfer of embryos with multinucleated blastomeres should hence only be considered when insufficient numbers of embryos with only mononucleated blastomeres are present.     

Adenosine deaminase activity in protein-energy malnutrition

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was evaluated in 69 children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and 20 healthy controls. Significantly decreased responses to purified protein derivative (PPD) (p < 0.02) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (p < 0.01) and increased serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity (p < 0.001) were observed in PEM cases compared with the controls. The mean values of ALC and ADA activity in PEM patients were 85.9% and 158.7% of the normal mean, respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between the two parameters (r=- 0.2765, p < 0.01). The CMI tests were abnormal in all three grades of PEM, except for the response to PPD in grade I, when compared with the controls. No significant differences were found between infected and uninfected PEM cases. Thus, impaired CMI was observed not only in grades II and III but also in grade I PEM patients and the concomitant infection did not affect its status. However, ADA activity demonstrated a more pronounced change than the other tests.