Volume contraction on photoexcitation of the reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26: internal probe of dielectrics

Reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides undergo a approximately 20 A3/mole volume contraction in < 50 ns after excitation. The rapid volume change is tentatively assigned to electrostriction. From its magnitude, we infer that the effective dielectric coefficient is 10-15 if the compressibility of the reaction center is similar to that of globular proteins. The volume contraction is not sensitive to replacement of the natural ubiquinone at the QA site by other quinones or to the occupancy of the QB site. The quenching caused by pressure on the reaction centers most likely occurs on a faster time scale than that of electron transfer.     

Determination of aldehydes and other lipid peroxidation products in biological samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The extremely broad spectrum of the biological effects of aldehydic lipid peroxidation products has necessitated the development of a technique that can quantitate all of the aldehydes formed in biological materials. The proposed method is based on the use of O-(2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA.HCl) to form the O-pentafluorobenzyl-oxime (PFB-oxime) derivatives of 22 saturated and unsaturated aldehydes (C2-C12) including hexanal, 4-hydroxy-non-2-enal (HNE), and malondialdehyde (MDA), followed by trimethylsilylation of the hydroxyl group to trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers. The PFB-oxime-TMS derivatives were analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NICIMS) with ammonia as reagent gas. Quantitation was achieved using benzaldehyde-ring-D5 as an internal standard in selected ion recording (SIR) mode. Standard curves were linear (r > 0.99) for all individual aldehydes. The detection limit was between 50 and 100 fmol per 1 microliter injected aldehyde. Recovery of all aldehydes from urine, plasma, and tissue homogenate was over 85%, except HNE, trans-2-octenal and trans-2,-cis-6-nonadienal from plasma and tissue sample, which were between 60 and 80%, suggesting these aldehydes may bind to protein and lipid components, especially to SH groups of proteins. The high sensitivity of this method allows the measurement of physiological aldehyde levels in biological samples. The products of aldehyde metabolism can also be measured by this assay.     

Lasers in dentistry

Since the development of the ruby laser by Maiman in 1960, there has been great interest among dental practitioners, scientists, and patients to use this tool to make dental treatment more pleasant. Oral soft tissue uses are becoming more common in dental offices. The possible multiple uses of lasers in dentistry, beyond soft tissue surgery and dental composite curing, unfortunately, have not yet been realized clinically. These include replacement of the dental drill with a laser, laser dental decay prevention, and laser decay detection. The essential question is whether a laser can provide equal or improved treatment over conventional care. Safe use of lasers also must be the underlying goal of proposed or future laser therapy. With the availability and future development of different laser wavelengths and methods of pulsing, much interest is developing in this growing field. This article reviews the role of lasers in dentistry since the early 1960s, summarizes some research reports from the last few years, and proposes what the authors feel the future may hold for lasers in dentistry.     

Vertebral artery injury associated with a Jefferson fracture

BACKGROUND: The evaluation and treatment of Jefferson fractures, a burst fracture of the ring of Cl, has been well documented in the medical literature. Vertebral artery injury associated with a Jefferson fracture is very rare. METHODS: The case study technique was used to summarize the case. Review of the literature was performed to discuss the case. Retrospective chart review of the 174 patients with cervical fractures admitted to St. Michael's Hospital from 1989-1994 was also performed. RESULTS: The case of a patient with a Jefferson fracture, with bilateral lateral displacement of the lateral masses causing bilateral vertebral artery occlusions resulting in a lateral medullary and cerebellar infarction is reported. A review of the literature is provided. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion for this injury is paramount, especially in patients with multiple trauma, where the diagnosis of Jefferson fractures can be delayed.     

Impaired human responses to tetanus toxoid in vitamin A-deficient SCID mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased childhood morbidity and mortality from respiratory and diarrheal diseases. In order to evaluate the effect of vitamin A on human antibody responses, we developed a vitamin A-deficient severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. Vitamin A-deficient mice were produced by depriving them of vitamin A at day 7 of gestation. Mice were reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (huPBL) from tetanus toxoid immune donors at 6 weeks of age and immunized with tetanus toxoid at 6 and 8 weeks of age. Secondary human antibody responses were determined 10 days later. The geometric mean human anti-tetanus toxoid immunoglobulin G concentrations were 3.75 micrograms/ml for the deficient mice and 148 micrograms/ml for controls (P = 0.0005). Vitamin A-deficient mice had only a 2.9-fold increase in human anti-tetanus toxoid antibody compared with a 74-fold increase in controls (P < 0.01). Supplementation with vitamin A prior to reconstitution restored human antibody responses to normal. These data suggest that vitamin A deficiency impairs human antibody responses. We speculate that impaired responses could increase susceptibility to certain infections. Furthermore, we propose that effects of other nutritional deficiencies on the human immune system could be evaluated in the SCID-huPBL model.     

Effects of angiotensin II generated by an angiotensin converting enzyme-independent pathway on left ventricular performance in the conscious baboon

Human chymase is a serine proteinase that converts angiotensin (Ang) I to Ang II independent of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro. The effects of chymase on systemic hemodynamics and left ventricular function in vivo were studied in nine conscious baboons instrumented with a LV micromanometer and LV minor axis and wall thickness sonomicrometer crystal pairs. Measurements were made at baseline and after [Pro11DAla12] Ang I, a specific substrate for human chymase, was given in consecutive fashion as a 0.1 mg bolus, an hour-long intravenous infusion of 5 mg, a 3 mg bolus, and after 5 mg of an Ang II receptor antagonist. [Pro11DAla12]Ang I significantly increased LV systolic and diastolic pressure, LV end-diastolic and end systolic dimensions and the time constant of LV relaxation and significantly decreased LV fractional shortening and wall thickening. Administration of a specific Ang II receptor antagonist reversed all the hemodynamic changes. In separate studies, similar results were obtained in six of the baboons with ACE blockade (20 mg, intravenous captopril). Post-mortem studies indicated that chymase-like activity was widely distributed in multiple tissues. Thus, in primates, Ang I is converted into Ang II by an enzyme with chymase-like activity. This study provides the first in vivo evidence of an ACE-independent pathway for Ang II production.