The utilization of amino acids and urea by human oral fluid

Incubation of mixed human saliva with arginine, ornithine, and proline for 30 min to 2 h at 40 degrees C leads to an appreciable consumption of the above amino acids. The rate of utilization is 0.2 to 0.5 ncat/ml of saliva. The rate of urea loss is higher by an order of magnitude: up to 11 ncat/ml. Putrescin, urea (after incubation with arginine), and ammonium are identified as the products of these reactions. The biological significance of such reactions is believed to consist in neutralization of carbohydrate fermentation products. The detected consumption of amino acids and urea indicates that mixed human saliva contains urease, arginase, ornithine decarboxylase, and, probably, proline reductase. Since the origin of these enzymes is probably bacterial, changes in their activity in the saliva can be regarded as an indicator of dysbacteriosis and a diagnostically important parameter.     

Parameters affecting the efficiency of affinity-based reversed micellar extraction and separation (ARMES) in glycoprotein purification

The Bladder Neck Support Prosthesis (BNSP) was used in 21 women with combined genuine stress incontinence (GSI) and detrusor instability (DI). Outcomes included frequency volume charts, pad tests, voiding cystometry and quality of life scores, up to the sixth month. Of the 21 recruits, 5 never wore the BNSP home, leaving 16 participants. A further 2 did not reach week 4 because of poor efficacy or inability to fit the device. In the 14 who reached week 4, the median number of leaks/day declined from 4.3 to 1.0 (p = 0.002). Median pad test loss fell from 53 to 7 mL (p = 0.012). Cystometry showed an increase in maximum bladder capacity (p < 0.05) and a modest reduction in severity of detrusor instability, with no evidence of outflow obstruction. Three further women discontinued because of poor efficacy (2) or a poorly fitting device (1), leaving 11 of 16 participants (69%) at week 8, when median pad test loss fell to 2 mL. The BNSP is a useful option in patients with the unfortunate combination of an unstable bladder and an incompetent urethra, but requires careful fitting and attention to detail.     

Iron catalyzes both decomposition and synthesis of S-nitrosothiols: optical and electron paramagnetic resonance studies

This paper discusses the issues of providing an empirically validated, manual-based-treatment when viewed from the perspective of a practicing clinical psychologist. The trend for empirically proven treatment is reviewed briefly, and initial data are provided illustrating a manual-based-treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a motor vehicle accident. The relatively brief (9-12 session) psychological treatment was effective in reducing PTSD symptoms as measured on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, for all 10 subjects. The results are discussed form the practicing clinician's perspective: generalization to a clinical population, ethical concerns of limited treatment goals, individually tailored vs standardized treatments in clinical practice, concerns for co-morbid conditions, and how this type of study might impact on practice in an era of managed health care. Issues of incorporating manual based treatments into clinical practice are discussed, with consideration of gains, the limits and the constraints this would bring to the practice of psychology.     

Enantioselective analysis of praziquantel in plasma samples

In prokaryotes, DnaK-DnaJ chaperon is involved in the protein degradation catalyzed by proteases La and ClpA/B complex as shown in E. coli. To extend this into eukaryotic cells, we examined the effects of hsp70 genes, SSA1 and SSB1, and DnaJ genes, SIS1 and YDJ1, on the growth of proteasome subunit mutants of the yeast S. cerevisiae. The results identified SSB1 and SIS1 as a pair of chaperon genes specifically involved in efficient protein turnover in the yeast, whose overexpression suppressed the growth defects caused by the proteasome mutations. Moreover, a single amino acid substitution in the putative peptide-binding site of SSB1 protein profoundly enhanced the suppression activity, indicating that the activity is mediated by the peptide-binding activity of this chaperon. Thus SSB1, with its partner DnaJ, SIS1, modulates the efficiency of protein turnover through its chaperon activity.     

Comparison of usefulness of computer assisted continuous 48-h 3-lead with 12-lead ECG ischaemia monitoring for detection and quantitation of ischaemia in patients with unstable angina

AIMS: The selection of ECG leads used for ST monitoring may influence detection and quantitation of ischaemia. METHODS: We compared on-line continuous 48-h 12-lead against 3-lead ST monitoring in 130 unstable angina patients (Mortara. ELI-100). Onset and offset of ST episodes were defined by the lead with the first > or = 100 microV ST change relative to baseline and the lead with the latest return to baseline ST level, respectively. ST episodes were calculated for 12 leads and 3 leads (V2, V5, III) separately. RESULTS: ST episodes were detected in 88 patients (77%) by 12-lead and in 71 patients (62%) by 3-lead ST monitoring (P < 0.02). The median number (25.75%) of episodes/patient was 1 (0.3) for 3-lead and 2 (1.6) for 12-lead (P < 0.0001). The total duration of ischaemia detected during 12-lead far exceeded 3-lead monitoring: 12.3 (1, 58.2) and 1.7 (0, 23.3) min respectively (P < 0.0001). The probability of recurrent ischaemia declined most during the first 24 h of monitoring. After a period without ST changes of 1, 12, 24 and 36 h, the probabilities of recurrent ischaemia were 63, 31, 14 and 9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous 12-lead ST monitoring increases detection rate and duration of ST episodes compared to 3-lead ST monitoring. The use of continuous 12-lead ECG monitoring devices on emergency wards and coronary care units is recommended.     

Study of sialated neoglycoconjugates by surface enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy

Neoglycoconjugates based on polyacrylamide and sialic acid with N-acetylneuraminic acid or sialooligosaccharides as side chains were studied by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. It had previously been found that these polymers can effectively inhibit influenza virus adhesion. This study revealed the possibility to evaluate, based on the intensity of SERS signals, the overall availability for interaction and the conformational freedom of sialic acid residues in glycoconjugates. The dependence of these two factors on the structure and density of sialylated side chains was studied. The uniformity of distribution of sialylated side chains in conjugates was shown. Comparison of the results of the SERS spectroscopic study of the conjugates and the data on their inhibitory effect on the adhesion of specific strains of influenza virus allowed the identification of the conjugates for which the availability and conformational freedom of sialic acid are the main factors determining their inhibitory properties. A conclusion was also reached about the predominance of one of the mechanisms (competitive inhibition or steric stabilization) in the inhibitory properties of the specific conjugates.     

Effect of chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites dust on generations of reactive oxygen species by alveolar macrophages and granulocytes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the discrepancy index between the clinical and histological diagnosis and the prevalence of epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma in 45 patients with potentially malignant epithelial oral lesions (PMEL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We submitted 45 patients with PMEL to clinical examination and obtained a biopsy from each. The results of histological diagnosis were compared to the clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Clinical diagnosis showed that the most common PMEL was leukoplakia followed by lichen planus and by actinic cheilitis associated with leukoplakia. The most common site was the buccal mucosa. Histological diagnosis revealed that 46.7% of the PMEL were lichen planus. The discrepancy index between clinical and histological diagnosis was 24.4%. The higher discrepancy index occurred among leukoplakias. The prevalence of epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma was 17.8%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that all PMEL should be submitted to a microscopic analysis because the discrepancy between clinical and histological diagnosis was present in a quarter of these lesions. Otherwise, the epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma were more frequent in the leukoplakias.