Holography and the possibility of its use in applied anatomy

The article deals with some methods of holography (holograms with inclined reference beam, in three-dimensional media after Yu. N. Denisiuk, holographic interferometry) as applied to studying anatomical objects. Approximate optical schemes and photographic copies of holograms of separate objects are presented. The comparative analysis of different methods enabled the authors to recommened for practical use the method of obtaining holograms in three-dimensional media for documentation of anatomical investigation and storage of information, holographic method of obtaining contour maps of the surface for quantitative characteristics of individual properties of the object and the method of double exposure for studying static and dynamic deformities.     

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.     

Induction of monocyte tissue factor procoagulant activity during coronary artery bypass surgery is reduced with heparin-coated extracorporeal circuit

The possible activation of monocytes to express tissue factor procoagulant activity (TF-PCA) during CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) was investigated. 22 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization were randomly assigned to two groups. In group C, heparin-coated circuits (Duraflo II) and reduced systemic heparinization (ACT > 250s) were used. In group NC, non-coated circuits and standard heparin administration (ACT > 480s) were used. Adherent monocytes retrieved from the oxygenators immediately after bypass arrest showed a 2-3-fold increase in TF-PCA when compared to circulating cells pre-CPB (P < 0.01). When cell PCA was expressed as percent change from pre-CPB (baseline) values, circulating monocytes in group NC at CPB-arrest showed a 2-fold increase in PCA compared to group C (P < 0.05). Moreover, the percent increase in PCA of oxygenator-retrieved monocytes was 7-fold in group NC and 2-fold in group C (P < 0.008 and P < 0.004, respectively). Thus, heparin-coating of the extracorporeal circuit reduced induction of adherent cell TF-PCA by 70% (P < 0.05). Thus, monocyte TF-PCA may cause activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway during CPB surgery. It is apparent that heparin-coating enhanced biocompatibility of extracorporeal circuits. Reduced systemic heparinization in group C proved to be safe. However, further reduction of heparin administration may not be advisable, since monocytes were still activated in the coated oxygenator.     

The effect of an acetylcholine analog on the activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme in the lung, kidney and plasma of the arterial and renal venous blood of rats

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity after i.v. carbachol administration increased in the renal cortex and decreased in the renal venous plasma. Carbachol did not affect the pulmonary ACE activity. The renal ACE pool seems to be more sensitive to cholinergic effect than the pulmonary one.     

GABA, GABA transporters, GABA(A) receptor subunits, and GAD mRNAs in the rat parabrachial and K?lliker-Fuse nuclei

Enzymes are increasingly being used to perform regio- and enantioselective reactions in chemoenzymatic syntheses. To utilize enzymes for unphysiological reactions and to yield novel products, a broad substrate spectrum is desirable. Thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzymes vary in their substrate tolerance from rather strict substrate specificity (phosphoketolases, glyoxylate carboligase) to more permissive enzymes (transketolase, dihydroxyacetone synthase, pyruvate decarboxylase) and therefore differ in their potential to be used as biocatalysts. We give an overview of the known substrate spectra of ThDP-dependent enzymes and present examples of multi-enzyme or chemoenzymatic approaches which involve ThDP-dependent enzymes as biocatalysts to obtain pharmaceutical compounds as ephedrine and glycosidase inhibitors, sex pheromones as exo-brevicomin, 13C-labeled metabolites, and other intermediates as 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate, a precursor of vitamins and isoprenoids.