Annexin I is a local mediator in neural-endocrine feedback control of inflammation

From the electric signals measured after photoexcitation, the electrogenicity of the photocycle intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin were determined in a pH range of 4.5-9. Current measurements and absorption kinetic signals at five wavelengths were recorded in the time interval from 300 ns to 0.5 s. To fit the data, the model containing sequential intermediates connected by reversible first-order reactions was used. The electrogenicities were calculated from the integral of the current signal, by using the time-dependent concentrations of the intermediates, obtained from the fits. Almost all of the calculated electrogenicities were pH independent, suggesting that the charge motions occur inside the protein. Only the N intermediate exhibited pH-dependent electrogenicity, implying that the protonation of Asp96, from the intracellular part of the protein, is not from a well-determined proton donor. The calculated electrogenicities gave good approximations of all of the details of the measured electric signals.     

O-(fluoresceinylmethyl)hydroxylamine (OFMHA): a fluorescent reagent for detection of damaged nucleic acids

5- and 6-O-(Fluoresceinylmethyl)hydroxylamine (OFMHA, 5a, b) were prepared from the corresponding bis-pivaloyl-protected hydroxymethylfluoresceins (1a, b) in 50-70% yield. The hydroxylamine derivatives reacted smoothly with the abasic sites present in acid/heat stressed calf thymus DNA.     

First evidence of Trypanosoma rangeli in the southeast of Brazil, an endemic region for Chagas'' disease

Coccidiomycosis is a fungal infection that primarily causes pulmonary disease. Extrapulmonary dissemination can occur to the musculoskeletal system with the knee joint most frequently involved. This case report describes a patient with coccidiomycosis whose initial presentation was of a popliteal cyst. The need for aggressive surgical and antibiotic treatment to eradicate this infection is discussed. Coccidiomycosis should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients with popliteal cysts without other obvious etiologies.     

Histomorphometric and angiographic analysis of the humerus in pigeons

OBJECTIVE: To identify the vascular supply and resorption/formation activity of the humerus of pigeons. DESIGN: Pigeons were injected with the fluorochrome label oxytetracycline and, 5 days later, with the label calcein. 5 days after administration of the second fluorochrome, a wing from each bird was infused with a microparticle barium solution immediately after euthanasia and the chosen humerus was prepared for angiography while the opposite was prepared for histomorphometry. ANIMALS: 17 nine-month-old pigeons, consisting of 9 male and 8 female birds. PROCEDURE: At euthanasia, 1 wing was chosen for infusion and the barium solution was injected through a catheter in the brachiocephalic artery. Both humeruses were harvested. The infused humerus was decalcified, radiographed, and sectioned for H&E staining. The opposite humerus was sectioned and measured by use of a morphometric analyzing system to determine cross-sectional area, endosteal and periosteal perimeters, and percentage of perimeter containing a single and/or double label. RESULTS: All pigeons had an intramedullary arterial supply. The bones had a quiescent appearance histologically, consisting principally of lamellar bone with few osteospecialized cells, resorption surfaces, or osteons. Less than 10% of either the periosteal or endosteal surface acquired a fluorochrome label. CONCLUSIONS: The intramedullary vascular supply of the humerus is similar in structure to the vascular supply to mammalian bones. The humerus is, however, a quiescent bone in the sexually mature pigeon, with little remodeling activity present. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The intramedullary blood supply may have an important role in the healing of humeral fractures in avian species.     

Infectivity of African cassava mosaic virus clones to cassava by biolistic inoculation

Clones of an African cassava mosaic virus isolate originating from Nigeria (ACMV-NOg) were shown to be infectious to cassava by biolistic inoculation. The production of pseudorecombinants between ACMV-NOg and clones of an ACMV isolate originating from Kenya (ACMV-K) indicated that the lack of infectivity of ACMV-K to cassava was due to defect(s) in the DNA B genomic component; this component encodes two proteins involved in cell-to-cell movement. This is the first demonstration of infectivity of a cloned geminivirus to cassava and conclusively proves that ACMV is the causative agent of cassava mosaic disease. The potential uses of infectious ACMV clones and the means by which to introduce them into cassava are discussed.     

Plasma cytokine levels and coagulation and complement activation during use of the extracorporeal liver assist device in acute liver failure

Multiple organ failure frequently occurs in patients with acute liver failure, and this has been associated with increased cytokine production. Treatment by hemoperfusion with an extracorporeal liver assist device (ELAD) containing human liver-derived cells was performed in 12 patients with acute liver failure. Over the first 6 h, there were significant increases in plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha; from 114+/-54 pg/ml [mean+/-SEM] to 236+/-161 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and interleukin (IL)-6 (260+/-121 pg/ml to 445+/-149 pg/ml, p < 0.05) but not in interferon gamma (IFNgamma). A similar pattern with a small peak increase was observed for complement C5b-9 complex. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and thrombin antithrombin (TAT) III complex showed small peaks after 24 h of ELAD hemoperfusion. No such changes were seen in 12 control patients with acute liver failure who were treated with intensive care alone. These transitory effects, without changes in blood pressure, are likely to be due to the contact of the blood with the dialyzer membrane. There was no evidence of the clearance of cytokines by the ELAD.     

Users’ attitude towards Indian standards on NDT: Need for an introspection

Summary The process of preparing and publishing the Indian Standards is very elaborate and aims at having opinions from research institutions, users, manufacturers and service organisations. This should ensure that the standards are quoted and followed extensively. However, this is not seen to happen atleast in NDT field. Need to have an open debate as to what are the courses of user’s indifference to IS standards is emphasised. Various probable reasons are examined in the paper with examples from IS and other standards. The more likely of the causes seen to be that (i) the user prefers a format of a comprehensive code which guides him about acceptance levels and other related aspects, (ii) more faith in background database behind the foreign standards and (iii) causeless indifference. The lesser important reasons are also discussed. Certain suggestions are made about the publication format.     

Pharmacotherapy of acid-peptic disorders

In the past two decades, there have been tremendous changes in the understanding and therapy of acid-peptic diseases. Currently there are many new and effective approaches to the treatment of dyspeptic symptoms and the ulcerative and erosive diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Application of an appropriate therapeutic strategy requires understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease process as well as the pharmacology of the available medications. In general, medications to neutralize gastric acid or suppress acid secretion are selected relative to the severity of the acid-mediated injury. Antacids are ideal for suppression of sporadic symptoms. H2-receptor antagonists are useful for the treatment of dyspepsia or uncomplicated ulcers. For the most severe injuries, proton pump inhibitors provide both relief of symptoms and healing of damaged mucosa.     

The electron energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) on the N K-edges from the transition metal mononitrides with the rock-salt structure and its comparison with that on the C K-edges from the corresponding transition metal monocarbides

This paper presents the shapes of the electron energy-loss near-edges structure (ELNES) on the N K-edge of the group IV_A (Ti, Zr, Hf) and group V_A (V, Nb, Ta) transition metal mononitrides close to stoichiometry. With the exceptions of NbN and TaN, these compounds have the rock-salt (B1) structure when close to stoichiometry. NbN exists with both the rock-salt structure and a hexagonal structure. Two distinct ELNES shapes were observed from it, one of which corresponds closely with previously published data from the rock-salt structure. Under normal conditions, TaN is considered to exist only in the hexagonal form, the rock-salt form being a high-temperature/high-pressure phase although it has been reported as the result of plasma jet heating of the hexagonal form. Again two distinct ELNES shapes were observed, one of which appeared to fit into the pattern of the shapes from the other compounds with the rock-salt structure. The systematic changes of shape observed are very similar to those observed in the equivalent carbides and qualitatively follow the behaviour expected from theoretical band structures. The change in the chemical shift of the N K-edge on going from a group IV_A nitride to a group V_A nitride is ～-0·8 eV while that on going from a group IV_A carbide to a group V_A carbide is ～+0·8 eV. This difference in behaviour is explained as the result of differences in the densities of states at the Fermi levels of the compounds. The position of the first peak in the ELNES also shows a systematic change in its energy relative to the core state as the number of valence electrons in the compound increases and also as the transition series of the metal species changes. The energies, E_r, of the peaks in the ELNES relative to the threshold follow a relationship similar to that predicted by Natoli, i.e. (E_r - V)a = const. where V is the ‘muffin tin’ potential and a is the lattice parameter. The first peak gives a negative constant in the relationship. The value of constant increases for each subsequent peak up to the sixth becoming positive for the fourth and higher peaks but drops slightly on going from the sixth to the seventh peak. Each peak gives a different value of V in the relationship. The data sets for the carbides and the nitrides are systematically different in a similar way for each peak and there are deviations from linearity within each set. The systematic difference is minimized and the linearity significantly improved if the difference in the energies of two prominent peaks is used instead of E_r. This systematic variation of peak energy with lattice parameter can be used to predict the lattice parameter. If both the nitride and the carbide data for the energy of a prominent peak relative to the threshold are used, this results in a maximum deviation of 4% (or ～0·02 nm). However, if the differences in the energies of two prominent peaks are used and the data for the carbides and the nitrides are treated independently, the maximum deviation drops to 0·4% (or ～0·002 nm). At this level, uncertainties in the lattice parameters themselves come into play and better characterized materials are required to set true limits to the accuracy of the predictions. Finally some applications in the microanalysis of materials are outlined briefly.     

Identification of high affinity binding sites for inhibin on ovine pituitary cells in culture

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical picture, response to therapy, and prognosis of women with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas (DMPM) are ill defined. The purpose of this study is to report on the clinical picture, response to therapy, and survival of women with DMPM. METHODS: The study is a retrospective review of 15 women with the confirmed pathologic diagnosis of DMPM treated between 1964 and 1996. Survival curves were constructed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The effect of different factors on survival was studied using the log-rank test. Two-tailed P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Clinical features included abdominal distension (11/15, 73%), abdominal pain (6/15, 40%), ascites (9/15, 60%), abdominal or pelvic masses (14/15, 93%), elevated CA-125 (4/4, 100%), thrombocytosis (4/ 15, 27%), and thrombo-embolic manifestations (3/15, 20%). The response rate to all first-line chemotherapy regimens was 30%. The response rate to paclitaxel/cisplatin was 66.7% and the toxicity was tolerable. The median survival of all patients was 12.5 months. Patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery survived longer than those who underwent biopsy only (median survival 13.5 vs. 6.0 months, P = 0.24). Patients who received chemotherapy survived significantly longer than those who did not receive chemotherapy (29.0 vs. 1.0 months, P = 0.03). Patients who responded to first-line chemotherapy survived significantly longer than those who did not respond (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, especially with paclitaxel and cisplatin, might be of benefit in women with DMPM.