Characterization of the chicken and quail homologues of the human gene responsible for the X-linked Kallmann syndrome

The human KAL gene, responsible for the X-linked Kallmann syndrome, was isolated previously. Southern blot analysis using human cDNA probes detected cross-hybridization with DNA from several organisms, including chicken and quail. The entire coding sequences of chicken and quail KAL cDNAs were determined. A comparison of these cDNAs with the human KAL cDNA reveals an overall identity of 73 and 72%, respectively. This results in 76 and 75% identity at the protein level. The highest conservation was found in the WAP four-disulfide core motif and in two of the four fibronectin type III repeats reported in the human protein. These results further support the hypothesis that the KAL protein is an extracellular matrix component with anti-protease and adhesion functions.     

Metal complexing properties of water-soluble poly(N-maleyl glycine) studied by the liquid-phase polymer-based retention (LPR) technique

Summary The separation of various metal ions by the water-soluble N-maleyl glycine polymer in conjunction with membrane filtration was investigated. The method is based on the retention of inorganic ions by this polymer in a membrane filtration cell and subsequent separation of low-molecular-weight species from the polymer complex formed. It is shown that poly(N-maleyl glycine) can bind several metal ions in aqueous solution at pH 3. At higher pH, the water-soluble polymer can be applied to the separation and preconcentration of many metal ions. In addition, the maximum capacity values of the homopolymer for copper(II) were investigated and compared in the presence of various metal ions at different pHs.     

Renopancreatic transplant. Urologic complications

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective study of urological complications in our series of reno-pancreatic transplants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February 1983 and May 1994 our group has conducted 93 RPT, 80 of which, mean age 36 +/- 6 years (24-54 years), are studied in this paper: 57 male and 23 female with an average time in dialysis of 20 +/- 15 months (0-84 months) and diabetes evolution of 21 +/- 5 years (11-37 years). RESULTS: Actuarial annual survival of patient, renal graft and pancreatic graft has been 85%, 79% and 74% respectively. Haematuria: 25% incidence, with graft pancreatitis etiology in 16 cases, rejection in 8 and urinary fistula in 6. Urinary infection: 85% incidence, symptomatic in 23 patients (29%) and asymptomatic in the remaining cases. Dysuria, urethritis and urethral stenosis: 14 patients, all male, most with both conditions associated. Reconversion of pancreatic exocrine secretion by intestinal route was performed in 7 patients. Urinary fistula: secondary to surgery in 9 cases and rejection in 4. Etiology of one case remained unknown. In 4 cases it was resolved with conservative treatment, and with surgical correction in 8. One patient required pancreatic transplantectomy and one patient died of AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Urological complication in RPT account for a significant morbidity, urinary fistula being the one with greater repercussion on the patient and pancreatic graft survival.     

Acute endocarditis of the native aortic valve caused by Propionibacterium acnes

Propionibacterium acnes is often considered to be a contaminant but it has also been found to be the principal pathogen in serious infections. P. acnes is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. It has been suggested that aortic root abscesses are caused by bacteria that are particularly virulent. The strongest risk factor for serious infections by this bacteria is the presence of foreign bodies. A case is presented in which endocarditis of a native aortic valve caused by P. acnes was associated with an aortic root abscess. Transesophageal echocardiography is particularly helpful in the diagnosis of this severe complication of infective endocarditis. The literature for P. acnes endocarditis is reviewed.     

The equilibrium partitioning of titanium between Ti3+ and Ti4+ valency states in CaO-SiO2-TiO x slags

The redox behavior of titanium in CaO-SiO₂-TiO _x melts was investigated using a slag-gas equilibrium technique. Titanium partitioning between Ti³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ valency states and the ratio of activity coefficients of TiO_1.5 and TiO₂ were determined as functions of oxygen partial pressure, temperature, and slag composition. The equilibrium experiments were carried out at temperatures between 1783 and 1903 K under CO-CO₂-Ar gas atmosphere with oxygen partial pressure ranging from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁷ atm (1.01×10⁻¹⁰ kPa to 1.01×10⁻⁵ kPa). The slags had CaO/SiO₂ ratios between 0.55 and 1.35 and total titanium oxide concentrations from 7 to 50 mass pct. Experimental results showed that the Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ ratio in CaO-SiO₂-TiO _x slags, containing up to 50 mass pct TiO _x , increased with decreasing oxygen partial pressure and decreased with increasing CaO/SiO₂ ratio and decreasing temperature. Measured variation of the redox ratio Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ with oxygen partial pressure closely followed the ideal behavior. Increasing the CaO/SiO₂ ratio increased the ratio of activity coefficients of TiO_1.5 and TiO₂. The effect of total titania content on this ratio was more complex and in accord with Raman spectroscopy data.     

Influence of cooking and drying processes at different temperatures on the nutritive value of the protein of mussels (Mytilus edulis)

The effect of steam cooking (96 degrees C for 15 minutes) and drying at two temperatures, 70 degrees C and 110 degrees C, on nutritive value of mussel protein was studied. The measurements were carried out by nitrogen balance techniques in growing rats, and the nutritional parameters studied were: CD, BV and NPU. The crude digestibility (CD) values were: 87 +/- 1 and 82 +/- 1, and the biological values (BV), 80 +/- 1 and 74 +/- 1 for raw mussels, dried at 70 degrees C and at 110 degrees C respectively. This implies a significant decrease in the protein nutritive values of the mussel dried at a higher temperature. Cooking prior to drying significantly improved the digestibility and the biological value of the mussel's protein. In effect, improvement was so great, that the different drying temperatures did not affect the previously cooked product in a different way; therefore, the CD (94 +/- 1 and 94 +/- 1) and the BV (90 +/- 1 and 90 +/- 2) were the same for the mussel's protein, cooked and dried at 70 degrees C or at 110 degrees C.     

Method for Measuring Short-Crack R-Curves without Calibration Parameters: Case Studies on Alumina and Alumina/Aluminum Composites

A method to measure short-crack R -curves is introduced which does not require an independent determination of calibration factors and which utilizes an equilibrium crack shape condition to compute the shape factor of a surface crack, R -curves of an alumina with two different grain sizes and of an aluminum/alumina composite were measured in the crack length regime of below 100 μm up to almost 1000 μm. Calculated and experimentally obtained crack depth profiles were in good agreement with deviations being between −22% and +26% for the crack ellipticity and confirmed the reliability of the method.