Microflora of periodontal pockets in advanced periodontitis

The aim of study was the evaluation of periodontal pockets microflora in patients with advanced periodontitis. From each subject 16-20 samples were taken using paper points. Pooled sample after 60 s. mixing was serially diluted in reduced BHI. For total cell counts and for the isolation of black pigmented anaerobes Brucella agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood, hemin, menadione, with and without Kanamycin-Vancomycin mixture and BM agar plates were used. For isolation of A. actinomycetemcomitans TSBV agar plates were used. Cultures were incubated in anaerobic chamber at 37 degrees C for 7 days and TSBV agar plates in an atmosphere of 95% air-5% CO2 at 37 degrees C for 5 days. Microorganisms were identified by Gram staining, colony morphology, fluorescence in UV-light, haemagglutination of 3% sheep erythrocytes, fermentation of sugars, production of indole, urease (API 20A), specific enzymes (Rapid ID 32A). Twenty seven subjects with clinically recognized periodontitis were examined. Microorganisms important in periodontitis were isolated from periodontal pockets of almost all examined subjects. The number of bacteria obtained from the sample of one patient ranged from 1 x 10(4) CFU/ml to 3,6 x 10(6) CFU/ml. Porphyromonas gingivalis was identified in the samples taken from 17 patients, Prevotella intermedia-19, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans -11, Fusobacterium nucleatum-9, Peptostreptococcus spp.-22.     

Laparoscopic operation of a Morgagni hernia

Morgagni hernias are the least common form of diaphragmatic hernias. Although they are congenital, most of them are not diagnosed until later in life. The indication for surgery is based on the patient's symptoms or on the radiological evidence of incarcerated tissue, and until quite recently involved a laparotomy or thoracotomy. Laparoscopy not only permits the suspected diagnosis to be confirmed--which is otherwise often difficult--but also makes it possible to close the hernia site by suturing. For improved security, the hernia site is augmented by fixing in place a non-absorbable mesh. The operative technique employed is described.     

Expression of three UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine:polypeptide GalNAc N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases in adenocarcinoma cell lines

The levels of mRNA expression of three UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine:polypeptide GalNAc N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-transferases) were quantified for human adenocarcinoma cell lines from pancreas, colon, stomach, and breast. Two of the GalNAc-transferases, GalNAc-T1 and GalNAc-T2, were expressed constitutively and at low levels in most or all cell lines examined. A third GalNAc-transferase, GalNAc-T3, was differentially expressed. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cell lines expressed high levels and moderately differentiated cell lines expressed lower levels of GalNAc-T3. Cell lines classified as poorly differentiated failed to express GalNAc-T3 mRNA at levels that could be detected by Northern blot analysis. Differential expression of the GalNAc-T3 protein was confirmed in these cell lines by Western blotting. We propose that glycosylation in tumor cell lines may be regulated in part by differential expression of GalNAc-transferases, and we suggest that GalNAc-T3 gene expression may be a molecular indicator of differentiated adenocarcinoma.     

Electrical linewidth test structures fabricated in monocrystallinefilms for reference-material applications

The physical widths of reference features incorporated into electrical linewidth test structures patterned in films of monocrystalline silicon have been determined from Kelvin voltage measurements. The films in which the test structures are patterned are electrically insulated from the bulk-silicon substrate by a layer of silicon dioxide provided by SIMOX (Separation by the IMplantation of OXygen) processing. The motivation is to facilitate the development of linewidth reference materials for critical-dimension (CD) metrology-instrument calibration. The selection of the (110) orientation of the starting silicon and the orientation of the structures' features relative to the crystal lattice enable a lattice-plane-selective etch to generate reference-feature properties of rectangular cross section and atomically planar sidewalls. These properties are highly desirable for CD applications in which feature widths are certified with nanometer-level uncertainty for use by a diverse range of CD instruments. End applications include the development and calibration of new generations of CD instruments directed at controlling processes for manufacturing devices having sub-quarter-micrometer features     

Differences in the yields of dicentrics and reciprocal translocations observed in the chromosomes of irradiated human skin fibroblasts and blood lymphocytes from the same healthy individuals

The modulatory role of locally produced cyclooxygenase products and endothelium-derived nitric oxide in controlling vascular tone was investigated in bovine intra-mammary artery. Vascular reactivity initiated by vasoactive compounds, endothelin-1 (ET-1), bradykinin (BK), and substance P (SP) was measured isometrically in an isolated tissue bath. The effects of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10(-5) M) and an inhibitor of nitric oxide production, N omega-Nitro L-Arginine (L-NNA: 3 x 10(-4) M) were determined during agonist-mediated responses. Indomethacin alone markedly enhanced vascular contraction produced by ET-1, while L-NNA did not. Inhibition of endothelium-derived nitric oxide synthesis by L-NNA, however, significantly attenuated BK- and SP-induced vascular relaxations, whereas indomethacin had slight influence. The potentiation between indomethacin and L-NNA in regulating vasomotor tone was not observed in this vascular bed. Thus, it appeared that both the cyclooxygenase and endothelium-derived nitric oxide pathways participated in modifying vascular reactivity. Domination of one pathway over the other depended upon the agonist used to stimulate vascular tissue.     

Interactions of lactone, carboxylate and self-aggregated forms of camptothecin with human and bovine serum albumins

Highly degenerate primers to conserved regions of the eukaryotic phosphoinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) were used to amplify fragments of plant PLCs from Arabidopsis thaliana genomic DNA. Eight completely different fragment sequences that showed high homology to PLCs of both animals and plants were isolated. The variation between these putative PLCs was high and suggests that, like animals, plants have multiple isoforms of PLC. Using one of the PCR clones, we isolated a corresponding full-length Arabidopsis PLC gene (ATHATPLC1G), and sequence analysis indicated that it was most like a delta-type PLC. This gene is 2.5 kb and contains seven introns, all but one of which has intron/exon border sequences that conform to the Arabidopsis consensus. The structural complexity of the gene is relatively simple compared to mammalian beta-type PLCs that can be 15 kb long with up to 30 introns. The plant gene is a single copy and was mapped to four Arabidopsis YACs, one located on chromosome 2. The promoter region contained two TATA-like elements at -43 and -185 and other putative regulatory elements that suggest that this PLC is hormonally regulated. This is the first plant PLC gene and the first delta type-PLC gene from a higher organism to be sequenced.     

Endogenous and copper-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of serum in hypercholesterolemic subjects

In order to observe the transport ability of peritoneum to small molecular substances, peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed in 52 CAPD patients. By analysing the relationship between peritoneal transport function and dialysis adequacy, we found the average urea KT/V and Cr were significantly lower in high and low transport groups (n = 6 and n = 2) than in high average and low average groups (n = 35 and n = 9). According to the results of PET, we adjusted the dialysis program of 11 patients and the dialysis adequacy was markedly improved. We concluded that PET was helpful for selecting and adjusting CAPD program, and discussed some questions which should be payed more attention in PET operation.