Hull-less Barley Varieties: Storage Proteins and Amino Acid Distribution in Relation to Nutritional Quality

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has had an important impact on human nutrition. Hull-less barley is a genetically improved type that has been widely used in recent years. Six Brazilian hull-less barley varieties (IAC-IBON 214-82; IAC 8612-421; IAC 8501-31; IAC 8501-12; IAPAR 39-ACUMAI; IAC 8501-22) were analyzed for storage protein constituents, amino acid contents, and similarity among the hull-less barley varieties. Albumins, globulins, prolamins I and II, and glutelins were extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE. The total protein amino acid contents of the flour were also determined for each variety by TLC and HPLC. Variations in intensity and appearance and disappearance of protein bands were observed among the varieties suggesting genetic variability. However, the amino acid profile did not indicate any major variations in the amino acid concentrations. The high lysine and threonine total concentrations detected in the seeds of the hull-less barley varieties encouraged an investigation into the regulation of amino acid metabolism and storage protein synthesis.     

Cell cycle. The NIMA kinase joins forces with Cdc2

The NIMA and Cdc2 protein kinases cooperate to regulate mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans. NIMA-related pathways have now begun to emerge in higher eukaryotes.     

Measuring hospital performance: are we asking the right questions?

The aim of this randomized cross-over trial was to evaluate the dose effect and systemic absorption of epinephrine nebulized at 2 and 5 mg in comparison with salbutamol (5 mg). Thirteen asthmatic patients (29 +/- 15 years, 4 men and 9 women) were randomly assigned to receive one nebulization of each of the three treatment regimens at 24 h interval. The evaluation concerned forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), heart rate, respiratory rate and arterial pressure. All measurements were done at baseline, every 15 minutes during the first hour, and hourly thereafter until return to baseline FEV1. Serum potassium was measured at baseline (T0) and sixty minutes after (T60). Plasma levels of epinephrine were measured at T0, T20, T60. Fifteen minutes after the beginning of nebulization FEV1 improved significantly over baseline in the three groups. These changes were similar in the three groups until T45, while FEV1 improvement was significantly greater in A5 and S groups than A2 group (+640 +/- 470 ml, +721 +/- 349 ml, +406 +/- 306 ml in A5, S and A2 groups respectively, p < 0.01). Bronchodilation lasted significantly longer with salbutamol than with epinephrine (p < 0.05). No side effects were recorded in spite of substantial and dose-dependent systemic absorption of epinephrine. CONCLUSION: Increasing epinephrine doses produces greater bronchodilation without additional side effects. However this bronchodilation lasts shorter than with salbutamol.     

Haemolytic activity of Aeromonas species isolated in Libya

Twenty seven Aeromonas strains (5A. hydrophila, 8A. sobria and 14A. caviae) isolated from children with diarrhoea and 34 Aeromonas strains (9A. hydrophila, 7A. sobria an 18A. caviae) isolated from children without diarrhoea were tested from haemolysin production. The results obtained showed that haemolysin production using human, horse or sheep erythrocytes was significantly associated with A.hydrophila and A sobria but not with A.caviae, regardless of whether these strains were isolated from children with or without diarrhoea. Human or horse rather than sheep erythrocytes are recommended for use in the haemolysin assay.     

Peptide amidating activity in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Monitoring respiratory epithelial biology may reveal individuals with incipient lung cancer. The expression of neuroendocrine (NE) markers in pulmonary epithelium is thought to be central to lung development, repair of injury and may contribute to carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluate several candidate NE markers to determine the feasibility of prospective analysis of clinical specimens. The potential NE markers include the enzyme L-DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), the neuropeptide gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), and peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), the bifunctional enzyme responsible for the final bioactivation step of many neuropeptides. A comparison of PAM activity and DDC levels in 30 lung cancer cell lines indicated that peptide amidating activity may be an indicator of NE status. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from subjects at risk of developing second primary lung cancer and from volunteers was obtained. The activity of the first PAM enzyme, peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM), ranged from not detectable to 507 pmol/h/mg protein in 57 specimens. The second PAM enzyme, peptidylamidoglycolate lyase (PAL), ranged from not detectable to 414 pmol/h/mg protein in 56 specimens. Using cluster analysis by the average linkage method, a group of enzyme values with PHM greater than 230 pmol/h/mg protein was determined. Long-term follow-up of these patients for new second primary lung cancers may help to determine the potential predictive value of PAM detected in the BAL fluid.