Mandibular reconstruction with transforming growth factor-beta1

This is a case report of a 43-year-old woman who received a transplant for end-stage liver disease due to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and fibropolycystic liver disease. This is an uncommon association of two autosomal-dominant conditions with defined genetic and molecular defects. The liver showed extensive vascular malformations of arteries and veins as well as telangiectasia and fibrosis. In addition, there were cystically dilated ducts containing inspissated bile and extensive von Meyenburg complexes. This case raises interesting questions about the possible relationship of these genes and their gene products, both of which are related to cell-matrix interactions and are strongly associated with blood vessels, one of them being expressed on endothelial cells and the other being developmentally important in blood vessels.     

Polyclonal antibodies from blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis effectively hydrolyze DNA and RNA

It is known that in the blood of patients with some autoimmune diseases catalytically active antibodies hydrolyzing proteins, DNA, and RNA may be detected. In the present work homogeneous preparations of IgG antibodies (Ab) possessing high affinity for nucleic acids (NA) were obtained for the first time from blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The fraction of IgG Ab as well as its Fab fragments and isolated light chains of both kappa- and lambda-types were shown to catalyze effectively the hydrolysis of DNA and RNA. It is shown by different methods that the capability for nucleic acid hydrolysis is an intrinsic property of the polyclonal Ab. NA-hydrolyzing Ab were detected in the blood of 69 of 72 and in the cerebrospinal fluid of 5 of 5 examined MS patients, while they were not detected in the blood of any of 50 healthy donors examined. Comparison of relative rates of RNA hydrolysis and of the substrate specificity in hydrolysis of various model RNAs--cCMP, poly(U), poly(A), and poly(C)--revealed pronounced differences of MS antibodies from ribonucleases of human blood, ribonuclease A, and all earlier described abzymes. The abzymes are usually characterized by relatively low specific activities in comparison with that of normal enzymes catalyzing analogous reactions. Ab from the blood of MS patients are the first example of autoabzymes whose specific activity in RNA hydrolysis is comparable or even higher than that of pancreatic ribonuclease A--one of the most active RNA-hydrolyzing enzymes.     

Differences in cloning and sub-cloning success rates in four stocks of Trypanosoma evansi and variation in suramin resistance of the clones

Four Trypanosoma evansi stocks with sensitivity to suramin in mice ranging from 0.05 to 160 mg kg-1 were cloned and sub-cloned and the sensitivity of the clones determined. The results suggest that it is easier to clone and sub-clone trypanosome stocks which are sensitive to suramin than those that are resistant to the action of the drug. The clones obtained from the four stocks had sensitivities to suramin which were similar to or different from the parent stocks. These results are important in view of the development of resistance for, in the presence of suramin, these resistant yet heterogeneous populations would provide the material from which selective processes could operate. These observations also suggest that the maintenance and spread of suramin-resistant trypanosomes might be curtailed by their comparative inability to establish themselves in a new host.     

Extensive restriction site polymorphism at the human phenylalanine hydroxylase locus and application in prenatal diagnosis of phenylketonuria

A total of 10 restriction site polymorphisms have been identified at the human phenylalanine hydroxylase locus using a full-length human phenylalanine hydroxylase cDNA clone as a hybridization probe to analyze human genomic DNA. These polymorphic patterns segregate in a Mendelian fashion and concordantly with the disease state in various PKU kindreds. The frequencies of the restriction site polymorphisms at the human phenylalanine hydroxylase locus among Caucasians are such that the observed heterozygosity in the population is 87.5%. Thus, most families with a history of classical phenylketonuria can take advantage of the genetic analysis for prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection of the hereditary disorder.     

Effects of citidine diphosphocholine (citicholine) and phospholipids on the elastic properties of the lung and on the physico-chemical properties of the irrigation liquid]

The chemical composition of yeast cells of Oidiodendron kalrai was analyzed and is expressed as percent dry weight. Cultures were grown in tryptone broth and in a liquid synthetic medium containing ammonium salts as a nitrogen source. After 48 h, carbohydrate levels were higher in the synthetic medium, but lipid levels were lower, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein contents did not differ significantly in the two media. The chemical components were also studied at different stages of growth. DNA remained relatively constant, but other components varied with the age of culture. The RNA was 6.6% at 18 h and declined rapidly to 5% by 24 h and remained constant, An initial protein content of 23% at 18 h increased rapidly to 37% by 48 h and gradually declined to 30% by day 10. The lipid content of 33% at 18 h decreased over the entire growth period to 10% by day 10. An initial carbohydrate level of 30% increased to a maximum of 54% by day 5 and then declined.     

Histomorphologic assessment of the effectiveness of anesthesia during tooth preparation

The efficacy of conduction anesthesia with 2% solutions of novocain, celnovocain, trimecain, lidocain during the preparation of teeth for metal crowns was studied in experiments on 16 dogs by neurohistological and histochemical examination of the Gasserian and superior cervical ganglions, the nodose ganglion, teeth and pericoronal tissues. It was established that in terms of the degree of anesthesia efficacy increase, the test anesthetics can be arranged as follows: novocain, celnovocain, trimecain, lidocain.