Integration of a barcode reader with a commercial flow cytometer.

This report describes the application and installation of a barcode reader on a standard EPICS Elite flow cytometer. The barcode reader system eliminates keyboard entry of sample information on the cytometer. The system automates the transfer of sample information already present in our laboratory database to the cytometer at run time. The system uses a standard "off-the-shelf" bar code wand with a personal computer keyboard interface and requires no additional software at run time. No typing of sample information is required by the operator at any stage of normal sample operation at the cytometer. All operations are automatically coded into the cytometry software using the macro functions of the software. Tubes are inserted into the tube reader and sample information is transferred automatically into the cytometer. We have found that the system allows rapid and continuous operation of routine clinical and research samples. This automated data entry also reduces the possibility of data input errors.     

Regulation of magnesium but not calcium transport by phorbol ester

Phorbol esters in the presence of Ca2+ apparently mimic diacylglycerol in activating protein kinase C. Resulting phosphorylations alter multiple cellular processes including inhibition of the action of Ca2+-mobilizing agonists. In contrast to this inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization, addition of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to murine S49 lymphoma cells stimulated Mg2+ influx severalfold without any detectable alteration of Mg2+ efflux or of Ca2+ influx or efflux. Stimulation of Mg2+ influx did not require extracellular Ca2+, was half-maximal at 10 nM PMA, and was characterized by a marked increase in the Vmax of Mg2+ influx without change in the Ka for Mg2+. Stimulation of Mg2+ influx was not mimicked by 4 alpha-phorbol didecanoate, which does not activate protein kinase C and was not the result of Na+/H+ exchange activity. The effect of PMA on Mg2+ influx was inhibited by the beta-adrenergic agonist (-)-isoproterenol, which we have previously shown to inhibit Mg2+ influx by a non-cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism (Maguire, M. E., and Erdos, J. J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 1030-1035). Forskolin, a direct activator of adenylate cyclase, also inhibited PMA stimulation of Mg2+ influx, suggesting the presence of both cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent influences on Mg2+ influx. We have also previously demonstrated that Mg2+ influx occurs solely into a small subcytoplasmic pool (Grubbs, R. D., Collins, S. D., and Maguire, M. E. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12184-12192). PMA did not alter this compartmentation; rather, it almost doubled the content of this cytosolic Mg2+ pool. These data indicate that, in addition to phorbol ester modulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, substantial changes in Mg2+ flux and content occur. They further demonstrate that Mg2+ influx is regulated by a variety of stimuli. It seems likely that such alterations in Mg2+ flux and content would have physiological consequences.     

Surfactants as Stimulants of Enzyme Production by Microorganisms

The addition of Tween 80 and sucrose monopalmitate, nonionic surfactants, to fungal cultures resulted in marked increases in yields of the enzymes cellulase, amylase, sucrase, beta-1 --> 3 glucanase, xylanase, purine nucleosidase, and benzoyl esterase. The action appears to be an effect of the surfactant on cell permeability.     

Purine Ribonucleosidase g from Aspergillus foetidus

Nucleosidase g was prepared by growing Aspergillus foetidus on bran, and was purified by passage through a diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex column. The enzyme acted on the purine ribosides (except xanthosine) and on their 5'-phosphates. Action on the latter was a good means for preparing ribose-5-phosphate.     

Lung edema formation following inhalation injury: role of the bronchial blood flow

We investigated the contribution of the bronchial blood flow to the lung lymph flow (QL) and lung edema formation after inhalation injury in sheep (n = 18). The animals were equally divided into three groups and chronically prepared by implantation of cardiopulmonary catheters and a flow probe on the common bronchial artery. Groups 1 and 2 sheep were insufflated with 48 breaths of cotton smoke while group 3 received only room air. Just before injury, the bronchial artery of group 2 animals was occluded. The occlusion was maintained for the duration of the 24-h study period. At the end of the investigation, samples of lung were taken for determination of blood-free wet weight-to-dry weight ratio (W/D). Inhalation injury induced a sevenfold increase in QL in group 1 (7 +/- 1 to 50 +/- 9 ml/h; P less than 0.05) but only a threefold increase in group 2 (10 +/- 2 to 28 +/- 7 ml/h; P less than 0.05). The mean W/D value of group 1 animals was 23% higher than that of group 2 (5.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.2; P less than 0.05). Our data suggest that the bronchial circulation contributes to edema formation in the lung that is often seen after the acute lung injury with smoke inhalation.