On‐the‐Spot Immobilization of Quantum Dots,Graphene Oxide,and Proteins via Hydrophobins

Class I hydrophobin Vmh2, a peculiar surface active and versatile fungal protein, is known to self‐assemble into chemically stable amphiphilic films, to be able to change wettability of surfaces, and to strongly adsorb other proteins. Herein, a fast, highly homogeneous and efficient glass functionalization by spontaneous self‐assembling of Vmh2 at liquid–solid interfaces is achieved (in 2 min). The Vmh2‐coated glass slides are proven to immobilize not only proteins but also nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and quantum dots (QDs). As models, bovine serum albumin labeled with Alexa 555 fluorophore, anti‐immunoglobulin G antibodies, and cadmium telluride QDs are patterned in a microarray fashion in order to demonstrate functionality, reproducibility, and versatility of the proposed substrate. Additionally, a GO layer is effectively and homogeneously self‐assembled onto the studied functionalized surface. This approach offers a quick and simple alternative to immobilize nanomaterials and proteins, which is appealing for new bioanalytical and nanobioenabled applications.     

Semantische Informationsextraktion in medizinischen Informationssystemen

Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel beschreibt einige Erfahrungen und typische Problemstellungen mit Textmining in der Medizin und gibt einen Einblick in aktuelle und zukünftige Herausforderungen in Forschung & Entwicklung. Interessant ist n?mlich, dass auch im ,,Multimedia-Zeitalter“ die meiste Information immer noch als ,,Text“ vorliegt. Mithilfe von statistischen und linguistischen Verfahren wird mit sogenannter ,,Textmining-Software“ versucht, aus Freitexten Information ,,heraus zu schürfen“ (deshalb ,,Textmining“). Allerdings ist es damit noch nicht genug. Der n?chste Schritt besteht darin, die Information sowohl nutzbar als auch brauchbar zu machen. Die jeweiligen End-Benutzerinnen und End-Benutzer müssen in die Lage versetzt werden, auf der Basis der gewonnenen Information deren Wissen zu erweitern. In unserem konkreten Fall sollen damit Entscheidungen im Rahmen ?rztlichen Handelns unterstützt werden. Probleml?sungen in diesem Bereich erfordern eine holistische Sicht- und Herangehensweise. Daher wird es immer wichtiger, Erkenntnisse aus Informatik und Psychologie zusammenflie?en zu lassen und auf systemischer Ebene technologisch umzusetzen.     

Development of New Sulphonyl Resin from Modification of Commercial Resin

Summary This article deals with the handy synthesis of sulfonyl resins, which were produced by the treatment of a commercial sulfonic resin (Lewatit VPOC1812^® based at divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (STY). The preliminary chemical modification was based on the reaction of the Lewatit VPOC1812^® with thionyl chloride aiming to produce the sulfonyl chloride groups. The best conditions to obtain the sulfonyl chloride groups were: SOCl₂/SO₃H (molar ratio) =13 at 79 °C during 72 h. The resin chlorinated was afterward treated with urea, thiourea or guanidine. The functionalized resins with urea, thiourea or guanidine were produced with 56, 68 and 93% yield, respectively. The commercial and modified resins were characterized by apparent density, swelling degree, elemental analysis (CHNS), FTIR, optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Modulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by derivatives of chondroitin sulfate

Here, we report investigations about the direct effect of glycosaminoglycans, such as dermatan sulfate, chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate upon cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. The results indicate that glycosaminoglycans strongly influence the phosphorylation activity of this enzyme against histone type IIa and [Val6, Ala7]-kemptide. While chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate exhibit inhibitory effects, chondroitin 6-sulfate shows a stimulating effect. In addition, the chondroitin 6-sulfate is also able to reduce the chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate specific inhibition.     

Characterization of differing effects caused by homeopathically prepared and conventional dilutions using cytochrome P450 2E1 and other enzymes as detection systems

Determination of cytochrome P450 2E1 activity was carried out via hydroxylation of the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenol to p-nitrocatechol. Crude microsomal preparation isolated from rat liver served as source for cytochrome P450 2E1. Under assay conditions guaranteeing a linear course of the reaction the cytochrome P450 2E1 was stimulated in the presence of a 10(-6) dilution of As2O3 corresponding to 0.915 microM final concentration compared with control. All other concentrations of As2O3 used inhibited the enzyme activity more or less drastically. Furthermore, we used this enzyme system to study the influence of arsenicum album (As2O3) and potassium cyanatum (KCN) in homeopathically prepared (i.e., by consecutive 1:10 steps) and conventional dilutions. We found significant differences between the effects caused by homeopathic potencies (D) and equally concentrated dilutions on catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 2E1. Such differing effects were observed in the case of arsenicum album (As2O3) between D4/10(-4) and D6/10(-6) and in the case of potassium cyanatum (KCN) between D6/10(-6) and D12/10(-12). When we used glutathione-S-transferases and uricase we also found different effects mediated by potencies and conventional dilutions. The results obtained suggest that these three enzyme systems are appropriate detection systems to hunt out differing effects of differently prepared dilutions of specific test substances.     

Fatty acid composition of total lipids,neutral lipids and phospholipids in wild and farmed matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) in the Brazilian Amazon area

BACKGROUND: The chemical composition of Amazonian fish is extremely variable, being influenced by the season and the type and amount of food. A special interest in the fish oil composition has been developed owing to the presence of essential fatty acids, since this is directly related to human health. This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition (FAC) of the total lipid (TL), neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) fractions of the dorsal muscle and orbital cavity of farmed and wild matrinxã in the Amazon area captured in different seasons. RESULTS: Fatty acids (FA) were analysed by high‐resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sixty‐five FA were detected in the TL, 66 in the NL and 55 in the PL. The main FA found in farmed and wild fish were oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acids. No distinctions in the quality or quantity of these fractions between dorsal muscle and orbital cavity were found. CONCLUSION: The season had a significant influence on the TL and FAC. Fish captured during the dry season showed lower levels of lipid and a higher percentage of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Matrinxã farmed in a semi‐intensive system showed a nutritional quality comparable to that of wild matrinxã captured in the wet season. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Integrative concepts in modern forensic psychiatry

Forensic psychiatric diagnosis and treatment should be guided by juridical goals and never be an end in itself. As a whole it is a public service concerning the interests of the perpetrators and the security of the entire population as well. Recent progress in forensic psychiatry is based on integral and comprehensive concepts. In the evaluation of criminal responsibility the new approaches of psychiatric diagnosis like operationalism, application of quantificating instruments and multiaxial diagnostic systems are of considerable importance. The ICD-10 classification of WHO can now be regarded as our reference system. To be acceptable for juridical purposes the evaluation of criminal responsibility has to be based on a systematical analysis of all important factors like actual situation of crime, environment, influence of psychotropic substances, psychosocial stressors, influences of biography and mental disorders. Assessment of prognosis is obligatory by law in many cases. These are juridical decisions, which have to be prepared by the psychiatric experts in the form of risk evaluations considering factors like development of delinquency, analysis of crime, kind of mental disturbance, insight of the perpetrator in his disorder, social competence, selfexamination of the perpetrator of his crime, possible therapies and social circumstances after discharge. Only an integral multiprofessional approach can be regarded as successful in the therapy of forensic high risk patients with paraphilas and aggressive impulse-control disorders. In Switzerland there is still a considerable lack of appropriate institutions for these patients. The vast amount of data accumulated during forensic psychiatric routine should be analysed in multicenter studies with scientific documentation systems to achieve progress in forensic risk calculation and efficiency of therapies.     

Evaluation of Serum Volume Losses During Long-Term Storage

Aliquots of serum collected in a large case-control study of cervical cancer were stored at −70°C for up to 4 years during implementation of the study. When 500 μL serum aliquots were thawed in preparation for carotenoid and vitamin A assays, volumes were noticeably variable and fell below 500 μL in the majority of the samples. We were concerned about evaporation/sublimation during storage of the samples because loss of water would concentrate the analytes of interest. We evaluated the use of density and sodium ion concentration measurements to confirm its occurrence. We found that serum density was an unreliable indicator of extent of volume loss since the anticipated increases in density due to evaporation were of the same magnitude as inter-individual variation in serum density. In contrast, Na⁺ concentration is tightly regulated and would rise if water had been lost from the samples. In a representative sample of serum aliquots from the case-control study, 24 of 25 vials contained less than 500 μL of serum. The mean sodium ion concentration (138.1 ± 3.6 mmol/L) was within the normal range for human serum of 136–145 mmol/L, and no correlation was observed between serum volume and Na⁺ concentration. These results strongly suggest that the observed low volumes were not due to evaporative losses. Instead, the variably low volumes of serum aliquots were probably due to pipetting errors in the initial aliquotting resulting from the use of air-displacement pipettes.     

Rheological behaviour of processed avocado pulp emulsions

Shear rate vs. shear stress data were obtained on avocado pulp in water emulsions using a concentric cylinder rheometer and fitted to a power law model. Dilution, as volume fraction of water, had a pronounced effect on the apparent viscosity of the pulp emulsions and the Richardson equation, (η_R= exp.( a φ) for the emulsion viscosity fitted the data well. A mean slope coefficient, a , of 4.57 can be used as a first approximation. Enzymatic treatment (40°C, 1 h), is slightly more effective than thermal treatment (65°C, 1 h), in reducing the initial apparent viscosity of the pulp-water emulsions