Biogenesis of cellulolytic enzymes by Trichoderma ligorum on media with "inductor"

Identical distribution of C2- and Cx-cellulase activities of enzyme complexes produced by Trichoderma lignorum on a medium with lactose, a soluble "inductor", and on a medium with cellulose was found by means of disc elestrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The maximum rate of synthesis of cellulases on the medium with lactose was registered during the highest deceleration, and even complete cessation, of the fungal growth. During this phase, only one electrophoretically homogeneous cellulase component with Rf of 0.44 possessing all types of the cellulase activity is present in the cultural broth. In the course of growth of the fungus on cellulose after 48 hours, also only one electrophoretically homogeneous component with Rf of 0.44 was found in the cultural broth when the rate of the substrate degradation was highest. The appearance of minor protein components with the activity of cellulase at later stages of cultivation after cessation of the fungal growth is supposed to be caused by modification of the main cellulase component with Rf of 0.44 by the growth medium.     

Influence of the dentate fascia on the sensory responses of neurons in hippocampal field CA3

In experiments with unanaesthetized rabbits the influences of electric stimulation of the dentate fascia (DF) on the extracellularly recorded spontaneous and evoked activity of the CA3 neurones were investigated. Stimulation of a fixed locus in the DF during recording in the CA3 by a microelectrode, shifted along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus, supported the notion of the topical, "segmental" organization of connections between the DF and CA3. A relatively narrow "active zone" (approximately 700 nm) appeared in the CA3 during the threshold DF stimulation: it was bordered by zones with predominantly inhibitory responses to stimulation. The CA3 neurones in the "active zone" rapidly lost their reactivity to sensory stimuli. In the "inhibitory" and "zero" zones the normal level of reactivity to sensory stimuli was preserved.     

Single and multistate integral friction models

In this note, a single state integral friction model is first proposed, defining separately the Dahl, Stribeck, and microviscous effects. The model is based on an integral closed form solution of the Dahl model. A multistate integral friction model, accounting for the hysteresis behavior with non local memory, has been then derived, combining the Dahl and the Maxwell slip model. The accuracy of the model has been experimentally assessed in friction compensation, both in open and in closed velocity loop.     

Immunology and adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy of breast cancer

Antibody against a breast carcinoma antigen was present in patients with breast carcinoma and other cancer more often (P less than .05) than in normal women. The incidence of antibody in women with breast carcinoma correlated with the presence or absence of gross tumor, and the titer of antibody paralleled the clinical course. These results suggest importance of a host-immune response to breast carcinoma. Fifty-seven patients with stage II carcinoma of the breast were entered into a prospective randomized adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy program of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil, and BCG vaccine +/- an irradiated allogeneic tumor cell vaccine. After 24 months of study, metastases occurred in two patients (3.5%) and a new primary carcinoma developed in the contralateral breast in two others, for an overall treatment failure rate of 7%. Adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy can delay early recurrence. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess the significance of these results.     

The effect of frequent hemodialysis on matrix metalloproteinases,their tissue inhibitors,and FGF23: Implications for blood pressure and left ventricular mass modification in the Frequent Hemodialysis Network trials

Background: Frequent hemodialysis modifies serum phosphorus, blood pressure, and left ventricular mass (LVM). We ascertained whether frequent hemodialysis is associated with specific changes in biomarker profile among patients enrolled in the frequent hemodialysis network (FHN) trials. Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of biomarkers among patients enrolled to the FHN trials. In particular, we hypothesized that frequent hemodialysis is associated with changes in a specific set of biomarkers which are linked with changes in blood pressure or LVM. Results: Among 332 randomized patients, 243 had biomarker data available. Of these, 124 patients were assigned to 3‐times‐a‐week hemodialysis (94 [Daily Trial] and 30 [Nocturnal Trial]) and 119 patients were assigned to 6‐times‐a‐week hemodialysis (87 [Daily Trial] and 32 [Nocturnal Trial]). Frequent hemodialysis lowered phosphate, blood pressures, LVM, log fibroblast growth factor (FGF)23, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)—2 levels. The fall in phosphate was associated with changes in FGF23 (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) [Daily Trial] and (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) [Nocturnal Trial]) and tended to be associated with changes in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.18, P = 0.057) [Daily Trial] and (r = 0.31, P = 0.04) [Nocturnal Trial]. Within the Daily Trial, changes in MMP2 (r = 0.20, P = 0.034) were associated with changes in LVM. In the Nocturnal Trial, changes in TIMP‐1 (r = 0.37, P = 0.029) and MMP 9 (r = ?0.38, P = 0.01) were associated with LVM changes. MMP2 changes were associated with changes in systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Reduction of serum phosphate by frequent hemodialysis may modulate FGF23 levels and systolic blood pressure. Markers of matrix turnover are associated with LVM changes. Frequent hemodialysis may affect pathological mediators of chronic kidney disease‐mineral bone‐metabolism disorder.     

Processing of tomato: impact on in vitro bioaccessibility of lycopene and textural properties

BACKGROUND: Human studies have demonstrated that processing of tomato can greatly increase lycopene bioavailability. However, the difference between processing methods is not widely investigated. In the current study different thermal treatments of tomato were evaluated with regard to their impact on in vitro bioaccessibility and retention of lycopene and β‐carotene as well as textural properties. Thermal treatments used were low (60 °C) and high (90 °C) temperature blanching followed by boiling. RESULTS: Lycopene was relatively stable during thermal treatment, whereas β‐carotene was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by all heat treatments except for low temperature blanching. In vitro bioaccessibility of lycopene was significantly increased from 5.1 ± 0.2 to 9.2 ± 1.8 and 9.7 ± 0.6 mg kg^?1 for low and high temperature blanching, respectively. An additional boiling step after blanching did not further improve lycopene bioaccessibility for any treatment, but significantly reduced the consistency of low temperature treated samples. CONCLUSION: Choice and order of processing treatments can have a large impact on both lycopene bioavailability and texture of tomato products. Further investigations are needed, but this study provides one of the first steps towards tomato products tailored to optimise nutritional benefits. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hydrolytic degree and antioxidant activity of purified casein characterised by different haplotypes (αs1-, β- and k-casein) after enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin and enzymatic extract from Pleurotus eryngii

The aim of this study was to estimate the hydrolytic degree and antioxidant activity of purified casein characterised by different haplotypes (α_s1-, β- and k-casein) after in vitro digestion with two different enzymatic systems: pepsin from porcine gastric mucosa (EP) and a crude enzymatic extract from the edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii. The used enzymes showed a different mode of casein catalysis with a consequent production of peptides of different antioxidant activity. The CN haplotype significantly influenced peptides production; in fact, the amino acid substitutions caused by genetic polymorphisms at the α_s1-, β- and k-CN loci influenced the sites of enzymatic cleavage and therefore the produced peptides. The above is evidenced by the different antioxidant activity found in the hydrolysates depending on the used enzymatic system, the CN haplotype, and the CN haplotype × enzymatic treatment interaction. The findings of this study are a perspective for the production of specific foods that exert a biological effect in addition to the nutritional one.