Corrigendum to “Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase: a flavoprotein with four iron–sulfur clusters” [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1701 (2004) 61–74]

Lixelle is a direct hemoperfusion-type adsorption column that was developed to selectively eliminate β2-microglobulin (β2-m) from the circulating blood of patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA). The adsorbent in Lixelle comprises porous cellulose beads to which hydrophobic hexadecyl alkyl chain is covalently bound. One milliliter of wet Lixelle beads eliminates more than 1 mg of β2-m in vitro. In hemodialysis patients who were treated with Lixelle, Lixelle improved joint pain, nocturnal awakening, pinch strength, motor terminal latency, and their activity of daily living. The adsorbent adsorbs β2-m selectively but not specifically, as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and IL-6 which are considered to be involved in the development of DRA. Lixelle treatments reduce the circulating levels of β2-m and inflammatory cytokines, thereby improving the symptoms of patients with DRA.     

Analysis of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide in porcine skin perfusates using solid-phase extraction disks and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) is frequently used as an insect repellent by military and civilian populations. Because dermal exposure has resulted in several cases of DEET toxicosis, there is a need to rapidly and reliably determine DEET concentrations in biological matrices. An improved method for the analysis of DEET was developed for determining transdermal diffusion of low levels of DEET following application to an in vitro porcine skin flow-through diffusion cell system. The technical improvement involved the use of disk solid-phase extraction (SPE) instead of packed-bed SPE. The disk SPE method required small volumes of preconditioning, wash, and elution solvent (0.5-1 ml) to extract DEET from perfusate samples containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was estimated as 0.08 micro g/ml DEET and recoveries from BSA media samples spiked with DEET ranged from 90.1 to 117% with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 2.0 to 13.1%. This method was used to analyze perfusate samples from skin (n=4) topically exposed to DEET-ethanol formulations. The data from these analyses determined that DEET permeability in porcine skin was 2.55 x 10(-5)+/-0.54 x 10(-5) cm/h.     

Systematics of the enigmatic kathablepharids, including EM characterization of the type species, Kathablepharis phoenikoston, and new observations on K. remigera comb.nov

The colorless flagellate Kathablepharis has consisted of five species based on light microscopic studies, and the ultrastructure of the type species, Kathablepharis phoenikoston, is described for the first time. The heterotrophic, marine flagellate Leucocryptos consisted of two species, but additional ultrastructural details for one of these, Kathablepharis remigera comb. nov. (= Leucocryptos remigera V?rs), indicates that it should be transferred to Kathablepharis. The cellular structure of these two species is similar to previously studied kathablepharids. However, there is variation in the feeding apparatus and cytoskeleton. The feeding apparatus of both species has a cytostome, a cytostomal ring, and cytopharyngeal rings. The cytoskeleton consists of inner microtubular arrays and outer or sub-pellicular microtubular arrays. In addition, several features of the flagellar apparatus are described for K. phoenikoston and K. remigera. The ultrastructure of these two species is compared with other kathablepharids to evaluate their taxonomy and phylogeny. We classify Kathablepharis and Leucocryptos in the family Kathablepharididae incertae sedis.     

Relationship between temperament and fatness in 11-year-old children and 17-year-old adolescents from Wrocław,Poland

Childhood obesity is increasing globally, and Poland is no exception. Studies indicate that relationship between obesity and psychological well-being is a complex issue and this needs further research. The objective of the present cross sectional study was to analyze the relationship between some temperament components and fatness among children in two developmental periods, approximately before and after adolescence. Participants included 122 children aged 11 years (57 boys and 65 girls), and 153 adolescents aged 17 years (64 boys and 89 girls) from 6 primary and 4 secondary schools in Wroc?aw, Poland. Height, weight, triceps-, subscapular and abdominal skinfold thicknesses were measured. Temperament was assessed by a questionnaire of Buss and Plomin (1984) in two versions: EAS-C for children completed by parents and EAS-D for youth and adults. Physical activity (PAL) was also assessed by a questionnaire. Mean, median and standard deviation (SD) were calculated and Student's t tests were performed to test for significance of differences between groups. Chi squared (χ²) statistic was used to test the significance of differences in frequencies. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed to show the effect of the social - psychological factors on fatness. Controlling for socioeconomic status and physical activity level, activity, as a component of temperament had a significant effect on body fatness. The only component of temperament, which significantly influenced level of fatness in girls, was emotionality. These relationships differed according to sex and the two age groups concerned.     

Site-specific fluorescent derivatization and liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric characterization of long R(3) IGF-I for bioanalytical applications

Recombinant Long R(3) IGF-I was derivatized with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) at a single location by careful selection of reaction conditions (i.e. pH, and FITC/protein amino group ratio). High-performance liquid chromatography (LC) and electrospray mass spectrometry (MS) were used to confirm the extent of fluorescein conjugation. The protein conjugate was isolated and subjected to cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage, followed by LC-MS to determine the site of modification. The isolated species of Long R(3) IGF-I-FITC was labeled at the N-terminal Met residue. Recognition of this fluorescent analog by monoclonal anti-IGF-I was preserved, indicating its potential for immunodiagnostic applications.