Hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis with disposable chemical pocket warmers

A case of chromomycosis in which hyperthermia proved effective is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old male bean curd maker who, without any previous history of minor trauma, developed on the extensor side of the left upper arm an eczematous lesion that underwent gradual radial expansion. The lesion showed a well-defined, 7×10 cm infiltrated erythematous plaque with the central area healed and, at the upper and lower borders, adherent scales and crusts on the surface. Histological examination revealed granulomatous changes in the dermis, as well as sclerotic cells within giant cells and microabscesses. On culturing,Fonsecaea pedrosoi was isolated. The patient was treated with disposable chemical pocket warmers, which were secured over the lesion with a rather tight elastic bandage, so that they kept the affected area warm for 24 hours a day. After a month of such hyperthermic treatment, the erythema and infiltration had decreased considerably, and microscopic examination and culture of the crusts both yielded negative results. Examination of biopsy specimens of the lesion after the third month showed that it had cicatrized. The treatment was stopped after 4 months, and no relapse occurred. We also summarize the published results of local hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis in Japan.     

C1 repressor of phage P1 is inactivated by noncovalent binding of P1 Coi protein.

The temperate phage P1 encodes two genes whose products antagonize the action of the phage's C1 repressor of lytic functions, namely a distantly linked antirepressor gene, ant, and a closely linked c1 inactivator gene, coi. Starting with an inducible coi-recombinant plasmid, Coi protein was overproduced and purified to near homogeneity. By using a DNA mobility shift assay we demonstrate that Coi protein inhibits the operator binding of the C1 repressors of the closely related P1 and P7 phages. Coi protein (Mr = 7,600) exerts its C1-inactivating function by forming a complex with the C1 repressor (Mr = 32,500) at a molar ratio of about 1:1, as shown by density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration. C1 repressor and Coi protein are recovered in active form from the complex, suggesting that noncovalent interactions are the sole requirements for complex formation. The interplay of repressor and antagonists operating in the life cycle of P1 is discussed.     

Incorporation of monoclonal antibodies into cells by osmotic permeabilization. Effect on cellular metabolism

Incorporation of asparagine synthetase-specific monoclonal antibodies into L5178Y D10/R (L-asparaginase-resistant) murine lymphoma cells by osmotic lysis of pinocytic vesicles was used to evaluate the potential of the technique for macromolecular incorporation for metabolic studies. Nonspecific effects of the incorporation procedure included temporary inhibition of protein and DNA synthesis by 80-85% and a transitory loss of membrane integrity. Cells incorporated with an antibody inhibitory to tumor cell asparagine synthetase showed increased dependence upon an exogenous source of asparagine in the culture medium, while cells incorporated with a control antibody were not affected. These studies demonstrated that incorporation of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies into cells can be used to study the short term metabolic role of specific enzymes; however, the metabolic effects induced by the specific macromolecule must be evaluated within the context of the nonspecific effects caused by the osmotic treatment required for incorporation.     

Identification of potentially critical genes in the development of heart failure after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

Heart failure (HF) remains a common complication after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Here, we aim to identify critical genes related to the developed HF in patients with STEMI using bioinformatics analysis. The microarray data of GSE59867, including peripheral blood samples from nine patients with post-infarct HF and eight patients without post-infarct HF, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HF and non-HF groups were screened by LIMMA package. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs were conducted, followed by construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The dynamic messenger RNA (mRNA) level of the hub genes during the follow-up was analyzed to further elucidate their role in HF development. A total of 58 upregulated and 75 downregulated DEGs were screen out. They were mainly enriched in biological processes about inflammatory response, extracellular matrix organization, response to cAMP, immune response, and positive regulation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration. Pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were also involved in hematopoietic cell lineage, pathways in cancer, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. In the PPI network consisting of 58 nodes and 72 interactions, CXCL8 (degree = 15), THBS1 (degree = 8), FOS (degree = 7), and ITGA2B (degree = 6) were identified as the hub genes. In the comparison of patients with and without post-infarct HF, the mRNA level of these hub genes were all higher within 30 days but reached similar at 6 months after STEMI. In conclusion, CXCL8, THBS1, FOS, and ITGA2B may play important roles in the development of HF after acute STEMI.     

RNA editing in ATPase subunit 6 mRNAs in Oenothera mitochondria. A new termination codon shortens the reading frame by 35 amino acids.

The open reading frame encoding ATPase subunit 6 in Oenothera mitochondria is edited at 21 positions in all cDNA clones investigated. Only one of these events is silent, all others improve similarity between the homologous polypeptides of other species. The introduction of a new UAA termination codon shortens the polypeptide by 35 amino acids to a carboxy terminus conserved in other species. In one of the cDNA clones, an additional editing event was observed resulting in a premature UAA termination codon in the amino terminal region.     

Level ofFusarium infection in wheat spikelets related to location and number of inoculated spores

The flowering time is the most susceptible period for primary infection of wheat heads byFusarium spp. During this period spores can be deposited into the opened wheat florets where they may later cause infections. We quantitatively explored the relationship between variables related to the flowering process and the infection level byFusarium graminearum in single spikelets. We imitated open (chasmogamous) and closed (cleistogamous) flowering by injecting well-defined amounts of spores into and between wheat florets. Applying the spores between the florets resulted in weaker disease symptoms and significantly lower amounts ofFusarium mycotoxins. With larger numbers of spores, the disease symptoms became more pronounced and the mycotoxin amounts per spikelet increased significantly. Our results indicate that the probability of primary infection is approximately proportional to the number of spores reaching the open florets during the flowering process. The breeding of wheat lines which flower partially or completely cleistogamously might reduce theFusarium susceptibility in wheat.     

Correction to: In vitro cellular and proteome assays identify Wnt pathway and CDKN2A-regulated senescence affected in mesenchymal stem cells from mice after a chronic LD gamma irradiation in utero

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics -     

Mykotoxine in futtergetreideproben aus landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben in Bayern (Ernte 1991-2000)

Feed grain production for on-farm use is widespread in Bavarian agriculture and garants a reliable production of healthy foodstuff. Therefore the quality of feed grain is very important for farmers. In an orientating investigation of the on-farm stored feed grain quality from the harvest years 1991 to 2000 1757 samples were analysed. Based on values for guidance by the German government for DON and ZEA and Commission Regulation EC No 472/2002 for OTA the results show that only 2% of the positive samples have amounts higher then 0,05 mg ZEA/kg grain, 4% of the positive samples contain more then 1 mg DON/kg grain and 2% of the positive samples have amounts higher then 0,003 mg OTA/kg feed grain. These illustrate the good conservation and storage quality on Bavarian farms.