A new tool for studying the molecular architecture of the fungal cell wall: one-step purification of recombinant trichoderma beta-(1-6)-glucanase expressed in Pichia pastoris

We assessed the anesthetic properties of helium and neon at hyperbaric pressures by testing their capacity to decrease anesthetic requirement for desflurane using electrical stimulation of the tail as the anesthetic endpoint (i.e., the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration [MAC]) in rats. Partial pressures of helium or neon near those predicted to produce anesthesia by the Meyer-Overton hypothesis (approximately 80-90 atm), tended to increase desflurane MAC, and these partial pressures of helium and neon produced convulsions when administered alone. In contrast, the noble gases argon, krypton, and xenon were anesthetic with mean MAC values of (+/- SD) of 27.0 +/- 2.6, 7.31 +/- 0.54, and 1.61 +/- 0.17 atm, respectively. Because the lethal partial pressures of nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride overlapped their anesthetic partial pressures, MAC values were determined for these gases by additivity studies with desflurane. Nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride MAC values were estimated to be 110 and 14.6 atm, respectively. Of the gases with anesthetic properties, nitrogen deviated the most from the Meyer-Overton hypothesis. Implications: It has been thought that the high pressures of helium and neon that might be needed to produce anesthesia antagonize their anesthetic properties (pressure reversal of anesthesia). We propose an alternative explanation: like other compounds with a low affinity to water, helium and neon are intrinsically without anesthetic effect.     

Bispectral EEG index during nitrous oxide administration

Recent reports suggest an increased incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in recipients of unrelated donor (UD) bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In this study we have collated the incidence of CMV infection and disease in sequential UD (n = 119) and related donor (RD; n = 79) BMT performed in a single institution over a 7-year period. Low-risk patients (CMV seronegative recipient and donor) accounted for 51% of UD BMT (n = 61) and 62% of RD BMT (n=49), with CMV excretion documented in one RD BMT only. The remaining high-risk patients received identical prophylaxis regimens with aciclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Two groups consisting of 58 UD BMT (median age 9.0 years, range 0.7-45.3 years) and 30 RD BMT (median age 13.6 years. range 1.6-47.6 years) were analysed. CMV reactivation/re-infection was documented in 15 UD BMT (26%) and 10 RD BMT (33%) (P = 0.72), and CMV disease in four UD BMT (8%) and four RD BMT (13%) (P = 0.533). In this series the risk of CMV excretion and disease following UD BMT was similar to that following RD BMT.     

Cardiac involvement in neuromuscular diseases

Many neuromuscular disorders involve the heart, occasionally with overt clinical disease. Muscular dystrophies (dystrophinopathies, limb girdle muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, Steinert's myotonic dystrophy), congenital myopathies, inflammatory myopathies and metabolic diseases (glycogenosis, periodic paralysis, mitochondrial diseases) may produce dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart rhythm or conduction disturbances. Furthermore the heart is commonly involved in some hereditary and degenerative diseases (Friedreich's ataxia and Kugelberg-Welander syndrome) and acquired (Guillain-Barré syndrome) or inherited (Refsum's disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome) polyneuropathies. A cardiologist's high clinical suspicion and a simple but systematic skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve investigation, including muscle enzymes quantification, neurophysiological study and muscle biopsy, are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. In selected patients, more sophisticated biochemical and genetic analysis will be necessary. In most cases, endomyocardial biopsy is not essential for the diagnosis.     

Dependence of aortic pulse wave assessments on behavioural state in normal term fetus

To investigate any influence of behavioural states on the pulse waves in the descending aorta, 21 human fetuses were studied in utero in uncomplicated gestation at the age of 36-41 weeks. The fetal behavioural states were identified using two real-time scanners and one cardiotocograph. The aortic waveform data and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were recorded by means of two double phase-locking echo-trackers. The PWV of the fetal aorta was significantly lower in fetal behavioural state (FBS) 2F than in FBS 1F, when the fetus was apnoeic, and was also reduced in both states during fetal breathing. The calculated pulse pressure showed the same trend as the PWV. The fetal aortic end diastolic diameter and the pulse amplitude did not alter, when the two states changed. Our data suggest that the central haemodynamics in term fetuses are independently influenced by their behavioural state as well as by fetal breathing. The study of pulse waves in the fetal aorta should preferably be performed during apnoea in state 1F, when neither gross body movements nor breathing movements disturb the recording.     

The safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and main portal vein obstruction. A prospective controlled study

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been contra-indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and main portal vein (MPV) obstruction because of the potential risk of hepatic insufficiency resulting from ischemia after TACE. The current controlled study was undertaken to assess the safety, efficacy, and predictive factors of favorable response to TACE in patients with HCC and MPV obstruction with good hepatic function and adequate collateral circulation around the MPV. METHODS: Of a total of 47 patients, 31 were treated with TACE, and 16 who declined the procedures were untreated controls. Thirty-six patients (77%) had diffuse-type HCC and 11 (23%) had nodular-type HCC. During the first week after TACE immediate postprocedural complications were evaluated, and the development of hepatic insufficiency as a late complication was assessed at the end of the fourth week. The cumulative survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and predictors of better prognosis were obtained by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Although no patients showed clinical evidence of hepatic insufficiency as an immediate complication, transient fever and abdominal pain were common. Progressive hepatic insufficiency developed at the fourth week; however, there was no difference between the treated and untreated groups. The survival time of treated patients was statistically no longer than that of untreated patients. In the univariate analysis, tumor type and size, the pattern of iodized oil uptake in the tumor, and the presence of iodized oil uptake in the tumor thrombi at the MPV significantly influenced the prognosis. Tumor type, whether treated or not, was the most important prognostic factor patients with nodular-type HCC had significantly longer survival time (median, 11 months) than those with diffuse-type HCC (median, 4 months). Regarding the efficacy of TACE, there was no statistical difference in survival between treated and untreated diffuse-type HCC patients. In comparison, with nodular-type HCC it seemed that survival time was longer for TACE-treated patients (median, 30 months) than for untreated patients (median, 7 months). CONCLUSIONS: TACE may be a safe modality for the treatment of patients with HCC and MPV obstruction, provided that the patients have good hepatic function and collateral circulation around the MPV. However, TACE was not efficacious in the treatment of diffuse-type HCC. The authors recommend TACE for treating nodular-type HCC because of the potential benefit of prolonged survival.     

Expression and function of a recombinant endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in porcine coronary arteries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of prognostic factors in postoperative radiotherapy of NSCLC with special emphasis on the time interval between surgery and start of radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between January 1976 and December 1993, 340 cases were treated and retrospectively analyzed meeting the following criteria: complete follow-up; complete staging information including pathological confirmation of resection status; maximum interval between surgery (SX) and radiotherapy (RT) of 12 weeks (median 36 days, range 18 to 84 days); minimum dose of 50 Gy (R0), and maximum dose of 70 Gy (R2). Two hundred thirty patients (68%) had N2 disease; 228 patients were completely resected (R0). One hundred six (31%) had adenocarcinoma, 172 (51%) squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, Karnofsky performance status (90+ >60-80%; p = 0.019 log rank), resection status stratified for nodal disease (R+ 相似文献   

Random shuttle mutagenesis: gonococcal mutants deficient in pilin antigenic variation

Shuttle mutagenesis has been adapted to randomly mutate the genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus; Gc). A size-restricted plasmid library of Gc strain FA1090 was mutated with the mini-transposon mTnEGNS. Radomness was tested by checking for transposon insertion bias between vector and insert DNA, Gc transformation efficiency of individual mutated clones, and representation of unique clones before and after Gc transformation with a mutated pool of DNA. Mutants created by random shuttle mutagenesis were screened, using a colony-based polymerase chain reaction assay, for the ability to undergo pilin antigenic variation. Out of 8,064 mutants screened, 22 unique transposon insertion mutants were found to be antigenic variation deficient (Avd). The Avd mutants were separated into five types according to recombination defect-associated phenotypes, including colony growth, natural DNA transformation competence, and repair of DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.     

Carcass maturity and dicationic salts affect preblended, low-fat, low-sodium restructured beef

Preblending A- and C-maturity muscles with MgCl(2) and/or CaCl(2) was investigated in low-fat, low-sodium restructured beef. Products were formulated to contain: 1) 80% chunks, preblended 12h with 0.05% MgCl(2), 0.05% CaCl(2), or a combination of each (0.1%) and 0.4% sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and 2) 20% mince preblended 12h with 0.05% of each dicationic salt or the combination of dicationic salts (0.1%), 0.4% STPP, and 1.0% NaCl. This formulation achieved a raw product NaCl content of 0.2%. Additionally, a control was formulated with chunks and mince that contained no dicationic salt. CaCl(2) decreased raw and cooked pH and cook yield, and increased cohesiveness; whereas, MgCl(2) increased cook yield and myosin solubility. Total protein solubility was not affected by muscle maturity or dicationic treatment. Myosin solubility of the combination treatment was greater for C-maturity muscle (57 months) compared to A-maturity muscle (20 months) formulations. Control, C-maturity muscle treatments contained more insoluble and total collagen (p < 0.05), and these treatments were more cohesive (p < 0.05) than control, A-maturity treatments. The combination of CaCl(2) and MgCl(2) increased hardness of A-maturity products, but it decreased hardness of C-maturity products. In addition to increasing hardness of A-maturity products, the combination treatment lowered (p < 0.05) cook yield for these products.