Effects of decreased atmospheric deposition on the sulfur budgets of two Dutch moorland pools

The chemical composition of surface waters of two Dutch moorland pools and of incident precipitation, was monitored from 1982 to 1990. For this period, sulfur and water budgets were calculated using a hydrochemical model developed for well-mixed non-stratifying lakes. Total atmospheric deposition of S decreased significantly after 1986 at both locations. A model describing the sulfur budget in terms of input, output and reduction/oxidation processes predicted a fast decrease of pool water SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations after a decrease of atmospheric input. However, SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations in the surface water was lowered only slightly or remained constant. Apparently a source within the lake caused the unexpectedly high SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations. The possible supply of SO₄ ²⁻ from the sediment through regulation by (K-)Al-SO₄ containing minerals or desorption of SO₄ ²⁻ from positively charged surfaces in the sediment was evaluated. Solubility calculations of pore water with respect to alunite, basaluminite and jurbanite indicated that SO₄ ²⁻ concentration was not regulated by these minerals. It is suggested here (1) that desorption of SO₄ ²⁻ from peaty sediments may account for the estimated SO₄ ²⁻ supply provided that the adsorption complex is periodically recharged by partial oxidation of the upper bottom sediments and (2) that because of exposure of a part of the pool bottom to the atmosphere during dry summers and subsequent oxidation of reduced S, the amount of SO₄ ²⁻ may be provided which complements the decreasing depositional SO₄ ²⁻ input. In future research these two mechanisms need to be investigated.     

Selection of antibiotic-resistant mutants with enhanced isoamylase activity in Pseudomonas amyloderamosa

Summary Isoamylase-hyperproducing strains of Pseudomonas amyloderamosa were bred by mutagenesis with UV light and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG). The selection criterion for such strains was based on the formation of large turbid zones around the bacterial colonies in agar medium containing antibiotics and 1% waxy corn starch. Mutant WN6410 was obtained by treating P. amyloderamosa JD210 with five cycles of 1 × 10⁴ J UV light and one cycle of NTG. P. amyloderamosa WN6410 had 22-fold increase in isoamylase activity when compared to wild-type strain SB15 and the maximal enzyme activity, 5,100 U/ml, could be achieved within 48 h in 2.5 L fed-batch fermentation.     

不同钾水平对钾饥饿墨兰碳水化合物和蛋白质含量的影响

墨兰（Ｃｙｍｂｉｄｉｕｍｓｉｎｅｎｓｅ（Ａｎｄｒ．）Ｗｉｌｌｄ）植株经过钾饥饿后,无上栽培于不同钾浓度的培养液中．随着钾浓度的升高（５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,体内可溶性糖、淀粉、纤维素和蛋白质含量比对照分别增加１２５、１１７、１２７和４１％,而还原糖和游离氨基酸含量则比对照分别下降４４％和２４％．假球茎是贮藏还原糖、可溶性糖、淀粉、游离氨基酸和蛋白质的主要器官,叶片是纤维素最多的器官．钾供应充足时,叶片丙酮酸激酶活性明显加强（比对照强１５倍）,而硝酸还原酶活性也加强（比对照强０．８倍）．本文对钾促进墨兰生长发育和抗病等原因加以讨论．并初步提出诊断墨兰体内钾状况的三种生理指标．     

降血脂药物（DEHP）对酰基CoA氧化酶基因反式作用因子的影响

从对照和用ＤＥＨＰ处理的大鼠肝脏提取核蛋白,以含酰基ＣｏＡ氧化酶（ＡＯＸ）基因表达调控部位的ＤＮＡ片段和该基因的不同蛋白结合位点的ＤＮＡ片段作为核蛋白结合反应的探针,通过凝胶电泳迁移率改变实验和Ｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹分析检查了ＤＥＨＰ对ＡＯＸ基因反式作用因子的影响。结果表明,降血脂药物ＤＥＨＰ可显著增加ＡＯＸ基因反式作用因子的含量和（或）与基因的结合活性,在转录水平上促进基因的表达。     

Inhibition of thyrotropin-stimulated DNA synthesis by microinjection of inhibitors of cellular Ras and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Microinjection of a dominant interfering mutant of Ras (N17 Ras) caused a significant reduction in thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH])-stimulated DNA synthesis in rat thyroid cells. A similar reduction was observed following injection of the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Coinjection of both inhibitors almost completely abolished TSH-induced DNA synthesis. In contrast to TSH, overexpression of cellular Ras protein did not stimulate the expression of a cyclic AMP response element-regulated reporter gene. Similarly, injection of N17 Ras had no effect on TSH-stimulated reporter gene expression. Moreover, overexpression of cellular Ras protein stimulated similar levels of DNA synthesis in the presence or absence of the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor. Together, these results suggest that in Wistar rat thyroid cells, a full mitogenic response to TSH requires both Ras and cyclic APK-dependent protein kinase.     

在中国壮族家系中发现的一例-α~T/-α~Q复合β~0β~0珠蛋白基因型

本文报道在我国广西隆林壮族中发现一个罕見的HbQ复合α,β地中海贫血家系。先证者女,18岁,贫血面容,肝脾肿大。化学结构分析确证本Hb变异体为HbQ Thailand[α74(EF3)Asp→His]。血红蛋白组成以及α和β珠蛋白基因分析结果表明,先证者的珠蛋白基因型为-α~Q/-α~T复合β°/β°(IVSI-1G→T/Codon17A→T);先证者父的基因型为-‘α~Q/-复合β~O/β~A(IVSI-1G→T/β~A);先证母的基因型为-α~T/αα复合β~O/β~A(Codon17A→T/β~A)。     

A real-world exploratory study on the feasibility of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies

Background

The treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a challenge for those who cannot use amoxicillin.

Objective

To evaluate the eradication rate and adverse effects of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy as first-line and rescue treatment regimens used in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies.

Design

Patients enrolled were those who were H. pylori-positive with selected conditions: (1) allergic to penicillin, either naïve to treatment or had failed before; or (2) failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies. All enrolled patients accepted 14-day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy (VT dual therapy) as follows: vonoprazan (20 mg b.i.d.) and tetracycline (500 mg t.i.d. [body weight < 70 kg] or 500 mg q.i.d. [body weight ≥ 70 kg]). H. pylori status was evaluated by ¹³C-urease breath test 6 weeks after treatment. All adverse effects were recorded. Some patients underwent bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Results

A total of 62 patients were enrolled; 18 of them received VT dual therapy as first-line treatment, 44 patients received VT dual therapy as rescue treatment. Overall, 58 of 62 patients achieved successful eradication (93.5%), while all involved (100%,18/18) succeeded in the first-line treatment group and 40 cases (90.9%, 40/44) succeeded in the rescue treatment group. Sixty-one (61/62, 98.4%) patients completed the whole course of treatment. Adverse events occurred in 6 patients (6/62, 9.7%), while one patient quit because of skin rash. All adverse effects were mild and relieved spontaneously after H. pylori treatment. Five patients achieved successful H. pylori culture, and all strains isolated were sensitive to tetracycline.

Conclusions

For the treatment of H. pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies, a 14-day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy was effective and safe as first-line and rescue treatment in our study. Further study is warranted to verify its efficacy, especially for those who cannot use amoxicillin.     

Intratumoral interleukin-2 immunotherapy: Activation of tumor-infiltrating and splenic lymphocytes in vivo

Direct intratumoral injection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) was evaluated in a murine model. Balb/c mice received 5 × 10⁴ Line 1 alveolar carcinoma cells (L1C2) by subcutaneous injection. On the third day following tumor implantation, mice received injections of IL-2 (5 × 10³–5 × 10⁴ units) or diluent twice daily, either by i. p. or intratumoral injection, 5 days/week for 3 weeks. Intratumoral injection of 5 × 10⁴ units IL-2 significantly reduced tumor volume (P <0.05 versus control), increased median survival time (P = 0.0001), and resulted in a 23.5% cure rate (P = 0.008). There were no long-term survivors in the other treatment groups. Both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and splenic lymphocytes isolated directly from IL-2-treated mice demonstrated enhanced cytolytic activity compared to diluent-treated controls. To determine whether non-T-cell-mediated antitumor responses were active in our model, intratumoral immunotherapy was evaluated in athymic Balb/cnu/nu mice. In order to decrease the recruitment of lymphocyte precursors, nude mice were splenectomized and received cyclophosphamide prior to tumor injection and IL-2 therapy. Intratumoral IL-2 immunotherapy also significantly decreased tumor volume in these immunodeficient mice (P <0.02), but did not lead to long-term survival. We conclude that both TIL and splenic lymphocytes are activated in vivo in response to intratumoral IL-2 immunotherapy, suggesting that intratumoral therapy with IL-2 activates both local and systemic antitumor responses.Supported by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program of the University of California, the Cancer Research Coordinating Committee, the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, and Veterans Administration Medical Research Funds