Effect of anti-mycobacterial antibodies on activation of the alternative pathway of the human complement system

Abstract Genome analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was performed by digestion with rare-cutting restriction endonucleases and subsequent one- and two-dimensional field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE). The frequency of chromosomal recognition sites increased in the order Spe I, Dra I, Xba I, Ssp I, Nhe I. The genome size of strain PAO and the 17 IATS strains varied from 4.4 × 10⁶ to 5.4 × 10⁶ base pairs. Double restriction digests and two-dimensional FIGE provide a genome fingerprint which is useful for the identification and typing of the respective strains.     

Selection of Powdery Mildew and Yellow Mosaic-Resistant Greengram Plants Regenerated Through Organogenesis

Several regenerants through organogenesis were obtained in greengram ( Vigna radiata L. wilczek). Cytokinins appear to be important in inducing organogenesis and IAA induces root induction. Heritable variations could be seen among organogenesis regenerants. Some of the regenerants showed resistance to powdery mildew while some others showed resistance to yellow mosaic virus disease. The disease resistant characters were stable also in R 3 and R 4 generations.     

Orthostatic hypotension,catecholamines, and alpha-adrenergic receptors in mitral valve prolapse.

The reported association of mitral valve prolapse with autonomic dysfunction and neuroendocrine abnormalities is derived from studies of patients selected because of symptoms or specifically referred for investigation. To determine whether such associations occur in nonreferred and unselected women with mitral valve prolapse, we measured blood pressure, heart rate, and norepinephrine response to standing in 13 volunteers with mitral valve prolapse and in 11 control subjects. Platelet alpha-adrenergic receptor quantity and affinity on standing also were determined in all persons. No significant differences were found between the groups in any of these measurements. Although small subsets of women with mitral valve prolapse may indeed have associated neuroendocrine epiphenomena and autonomic dysfunction, it is probably incorrect to generalize these findings to the vast spectrum of those with mitral valve prolapse.     

Circulating tumor microemboli: Progress in molecular understanding and enrichment technologies

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their clusters, also known as circulating tumor microemboli (CTM), have emerged as valuable tool that can provide mechanistic insights into the tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and stochastic events within the metastatic cascade. However, recent investigations have hinted that CTM may not be mere aggregates of tumor cells but cells comprising CTM exhibit distinct phenotypic and molecular characteristics in comparison to single CTCs. Moreover, in many cases CTM demonstrated higher metastatic potential and resistance to apoptosis as compared to their single cell counterparts. Thus, their evaluation and enumeration may provide a new dimension to our understanding of cancer biology and metastatic cancer spread as well as offer novel theranostic biomarkers. Most of the existing technologies for isolation of hematogenous tumor cells largely favor single CTCs, hence there is a need to devise new approaches, or re-configure the existing ones, for specific and efficient CTM isolation. Here we review existing knowledge and insights on CTM biology. Furthermore, a critical commentary on current and emerging trends in CTM enrichment and characterization along with recently developed ex-vivo CTC expansion methodologies is presented with the aim to facilitate researchers to identify further avenues of research and development.     

A method for preserving saliva samples at ambient temperatures

To facilitate biochemical and biopharmaceutical studies when cold storage is unavailable, we assessed the stability of saliva samples containing preservatives stored at room temperature over a 1-year period. Two preservative mixtures were evaluated: sodium benzoate and citric acid (P1), and ethyl and propyl paraben (P2). Saliva samples were spiked with acetaminophen (APAP) or antipyrine (AP) and stored in preservative-coated vials and examined for concentrations of APAP, AP, melatonin, and cortisol at regular intervals as a function of preservative type and storage duration. Samples were stored at room temperature or at -20 degrees C (positive control) and analyzed periodically for APAP and AP by high-performance liquid chromatography and for melatonin and cortisol by radioimmunoassay. The effectiveness of the preservatives was determined by calculating the value of samples stored at room temperature in terms of percent of control (-20 degrees C) values. P1 effectively maintained the stability of APAP (100%) and AP (100%) for 360 days at room temperature; concentrations in samples at room temperature on day 360 were comparable to those on day 01. P1 also effectively maintained melatonin (100%) and cortisol (95%) concentrations for 180 days at room temperature. P2 preserved AP and cortisol in saliva for 60 days, but APAP for only 14 days.     

Variability in cell yield for heterogeneous microbial populations of sewage origin grown on glucose

Values of cell yield collected over a period of eight years for heterogeneous populations of sewage origin acclimated to glucose in both batch and continuous culture were subjected to statistical analysis. The cell yield for this sole source of carbon (glucose) ranged from 36 to 88 per cent in batch culture, and 32 to 69 per cent in continuous culture. Because experimental conditions were known and well defined, the variability in cell yield is attributable to the ecological variation inherent in a heterogeneous population. The data presented demonstrate the futility of attempts to define Y for such populations as a precise theoretical constant dependent upon thermodynamic properties of the substrate.     

Nutrient uptake by paddy during the main three stages of growth

Summary Uptake of mineral nutrients and production of carbohydrates by paddy during the vegetative, the reproductive, and the ripening stage of growth were determined in a pot experiment.From 59 to 84 per cent of the nutrients present in the ripe plants were absorbed between tillering and flowering. More than 90 per cent of the N and K, 80 per cent of the P and Ca, and 65 per cent of the Mg were absorbed prior to flowering, and the remainder after heading.More than 60 per cent of the carbohydrates present in the ripe stage was produced after flowering.     

Isolation and partial characterization of collagen from outer skin of Sepia pharaonis (Ehrenberg, 1831) from Puducherry coast

Type I collagen from outer skin of Sepia pharaonis was extracted and partially characterized. Yield of Acid Soluble Collagen (ASC) and Pepsin Soluble Collagen (PSC) were calculated as 1.66% and 3.93% and the total protein content of ASC and PSC were found as 18.4% and 48.6%. FT-IR spectrum of ASC and PSC recorded 12 and 14 peaks, respectively. ¹H NMR spectrum of ASC showed singlets at 1.23 ppm, 3.1 ppm, 3.55 ppm and 3.7 ppm and PSC at 1.23 ppm and 2.08 ppm. The molecular weight for ASC was calculated as 102 kDa and for PSC as 110, 108 and 102 kDa through SDS-PAGE. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results supported that PSC withstand high thermal stability (82.85 °C) than ASC (73.13 °C). Higher denaturation temperature with high molecular weight well support the property of type I collagen from skin of S. pharaonis and it could be used as another potent source for the extraction of collagen.     

Critical role of bicarbonate and bicarbonate transporters in cardiac function

Bicarbonate is one of the major anions in mammalian tissues and extracellular fluids. Along with accompanying H+, HCO3- is generated from CO2 and H2 O, either spontaneously or via the catalytic activity of carbonic anhydrase. It serves as a component of the major buffer system, thereby playing a critical role in pH homeostasis. Bicarbonate can also be utilized by a variety of ion transporters, often working in coupled systems, to transport other ions and organic substrates across cell membranes. The functions of HCO3- and HCO3--transporters in epithelial tissues have been studied extensively, but their functions in heart are less well understood. Here we review studies of the identities and physiological functions of Cl-/HCO3- exchangers and Na+/HCO3-cotransporters of the SLC4 A and SLC26 A families in heart. We also present RNA Seq analysis of their cardiac mRNA expression levels. These studies indicate that slc4a3(AE3) is the major Cl-/HCO3- exchanger and plays a protective role in heart failure, and that Slc4a4(NBCe1) is the major Na+/HCO3- cotransporter and affects action potential duration. In addition, previous studies show that HCO3- has a positive inotropic effect in the perfused heart that is largely independent of effects on intracellular Ca2+. The importance of HCO3- in the regulation of contractility is supported by experiments showing that isolated cardiomyocytes exhibit sharply enhanced contractility, with no change in Ca2+ transients, when switched from Hepes-buffered to HCO3-- buffered solutions. These studies demonstrate that HCO3- and HCO3--handling proteins play important roles in the regulation of cardiac function.