Synthesis of group-specific polysaccharide by different strains of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B under various conditions

Sonicated lysates of 5 N. meningitidis strains, serogroup B, obtained from two solid serum-free culture media (a medium with casamino acids and a medium with Hottinger's hydrolysate) were studied with the aim of comparing the capacity of different group B meningococcal strains for the accumulation of group-specific polysaccharide. In the lysates obtained after 7-hour growth no sialic acid was found. After 20-hour cultivation, group-specific polysaccharide was detected in the lysates obtained from 4 out of 5 strains. All sonicated lysates obtained in these experiments were serologically active. The lysates obtained from the medium containing casamino acid had a higher content of group-specific polysaccharide. N. meningitidis strain 125, obtained at the Mechnikov Central Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera (Moscow) by selection, showed the highest content of capsular polysaccharide in microbial cells and the stable yield of biomass.     

Tyrosinase-mediated quinone tanning of chitinous materials

Stable and self-sustaining gels were obtained from tyrosine glucan (a modified chitosan synthesized with 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid) in the presence of tyrosinase. Similar gels were obtained from 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde: all of them were hydrolyzed by lysozyme, lipase and papain. Microcapsules were similarly obtained by introducing tyrosinase in a water-in-oil emulsion containing tyrosine glucan in the water phase. No cross-linking was observed for chitosan derivatives of vanillin, syringaldehyde and salicylaldehyde. Collagen-chitosan-tannin mixtures were also studied under the catalytic action of tyrosinase: partially crystalline, hard, mechanically resistant and scarcely wettable materials were obtained upon drying. By contrast, products obtained from albumin, pseudocollagen and gelatin, in the presence of a number of phenols and chitosan under comparable conditions, were brittle.     

Studies on photosynthesis in the ear of wheat

Estimates of varietal differences in photosynthesis by ears of wheat, obtained by shading ears or stems, are compared with estimates obtained from a technique involving removal of spikelets at anthesis. The results obtained by different techniques and in different seasons differed widely.     

Nuclear changes in cytologic specimens obtained by CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies.

A light and electron microscopic study was conducted to investigate nuclear changes observed in specimens obtained from various sites by computed tomographic (CT)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. These changes, which consisted of a disappearance of the nuclear chromatin and a disruption of the nuclear membrane, were found in 70% of 10 FNA specimens obtained with CT guidance, in 26% of 15 specimens obtained with fluoroscopic guidance and in 0% of 10 specimens obtained without x-ray imaging techniques. Although the number of cases studied was small and the mechanisms responsible for these changes are not clear, cytopathologists should be aware of alterations in evaluating FNA specimens obtained with the guidance of x-ray imaging techniques.     

白细胞介素-2和狂犬病毒N蛋白基因重组与表达

研究白细胞介素－２ 与狂犬病毒Ｎ蛋白基因工程产物的免疫活性。采用生物工程技术,结果显示经基因扩增分别获得４００ｂｐ 和１４００ｂｐ 的ＩＬ－２ 和狂犬病毒Ｎ蛋白基因片段,构建了表达载体ＰＬＹ－４ＩＮ,于工程菌中转化后。得到５６ＫＤ重组蛋白产物,该产物具有ＩＬ－２活性,可诱导小鼠抵抗狂犬病毒攻击。     

Variable mutagenic activity of commercial preparations of ABTS (2,2'-azino-di(3-ethyl-benz-thiazoline) sulphonic acid

Different batches of ABTS obtained from the same commercial source varied in their capacity to effect direct mutation in the strains of Salmonella typhimurium used routinely in the incorporation test of Ames. One batch, obtained in 1976, and another obtained early in 1979, both exhibited direct base-pair substitution and frame-shift activities. These activities, however, were absent from each of two batches obtained after 1979, and also from a highly purified preparation from a different source. The possible presence of the unsulphonated immediate precursor of ABTS as a mutagenic impurity is an unlikely explanation for the activity of the mutagenic preparations. It is more probable that the commercial synthesis generated other, mutagenic, impurities which remained in the batches obtained in 1976 and early in 1979, but were absent or were removed from later batches. The identity of these active impurities is unknown. Pure ABTS is neither a direct nor an indirect mutagen.     

The applicability of an amidated polysaccharide hydrogel as a cartilage substitute: structural and rheological characterization

An amidic derivative of a carboxymethylcellulose-based hydrogel was obtained and characterized in terms of amidation degree. NMR studies and FT-IR imaging spectroscopy demonstrated that the reaction allowed a polymer to be obtained that was characterized by a regular distribution of amidic groups along the polysaccharide chains. Through this regularity, a homogenous three-dimensional scaffold was obtained, which maintained the thixotropic property of the linear polysaccharide.     

Validation of estimated muscle fiber conduction velocity with the normalized peak-averaging technique.

To estimate muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV), the normalized peak-averaging technique was developed along with complementary software and reported in a previous study. Electromyograms were recorded from the vicinity of end-plate zones (EMG data 1) and a site farther from the end-plates and distal tendons (EMG data 2) of biceps brachii muscles using surface array electrodes during 50% maximal voluntary isometric contractions in ten healthy volunteers. The MFCV values obtained with normalized peak-averaging technique were compared to those obtained with the cross-correlation technique and examined by computer simulation of the MFCV distribution. The MFCV values obtained with normalized peak-averaging technique highly correlated with those obtained with cross-correlation technique in both EMG data 1 and EMG data 2. It was also confirmed that MFCV values obtained from EMG data 1 were distributed much more widely than those obtained from EMG data 2. These results show the clinical usefulness of normalized peak-averaging technique for the detailed assessment of MFCV.     

Laboratory Hints from the Literature: A Department Devoted to Abstracts Op Books and Papers from other Journals Dealing with Stains and Microscopic Technic in General

A 0.5% solution of sodium rhodizonate stains lead precipitates, obtained in histochemical methods for enzymes, in a brown-black shade. The precipitate obtained in the method for acid phosphatase can be stained directly; those obtained in the methods for alkaline phosphatase and lipase, after conversion into the corresponding lead salts.     

A simplified calculation method applied to enzyme inactivation during drying

An approximate method for solving the nonlinear diffusion problem in the case of a power-function variation of the diffusion coefficient with concentration has been applied to a drying process with simultaneous enzyme inactivation. Experimental results obtained by air drying of soybean lipoxygenase entrapped in a glucose calcium-alginate gel are in good agreement with the predicted behavior, whereas hardly any differences occur between the results obtained with the approximate method and those obtained by a numerical solution of the original model.     

The Measurements of the Membrane Resistance of Characeae by Alternating and Direct Currents

The internodal cells of Nitellopsis obtusa, Chara brauni, andNitella flexilis were investigated quasi-simultaneously by directand alternating currents with a frequency range from 1 to 1000Hz. The membrane resistance obtained with a.c. was significantlylower than that obtained with d.c. We suggest that the discrepancies in the results obtained canbe accounted for in terms of a three-layer model of the cellmembrane.     

The Use Of Rhodizonate In Enzymatic Histochemistry

A 0.5% solution of sodium rhodizonate stains lead precipitates, obtained in histochemical methods for enzymes, in a brown-black shade. The precipitate obtained in the method for acid phosphatase can be stained directly; those obtained in the methods for alkaline phosphatase and lipase, after conversion into the corresponding lead salts.     

Quantitative analysis of sister chromatid exchanges in the cell]

Assuming a random nature of distribution of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in a karyotype, the formulae have been obtained allowing the calculation of the number of SCE that are overlooked because of a limited resolving power of the SCE detection method. The results obtained mean that the actual number of SCE is more than the observed one, the part of overlooked exchanges being increased with the heightening of the SCE level. Taking into account overlook exchanges, the formula has been obtained that makes possible the calculation of the expected number of SCE observed in any group of chromosomes. These results were applied in the analysis of the SCE distribution among chromosomes. A better conformity has been obtained between the expected results and the observed ones, than under the assumption that the observed SCE are distributed in proportion to the lengths of chromosomes. The obtained formulae are of use in interpreting the lack of the observed SCE in small chromosomes and the excess of them in large ones.     

Utilization of molasses for the production of fat by an oleaginous yeast,Rhodotorula glutinis IIP-30

Summary Rhodotorula glutinis is known to produce fat when cultivated under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Economically, molasses is an ideal substrate, however, due to the presence of nitrogen in molasses, the lipid yield obtained is much lower than that obtained from glucose or sucrose. Higher yields were obtained using molasses in a fed batch fermentation supplemented with glucose or sucrose during the lipid accumulation phase. The fatty acids profile of the lipids thus produced, using a very simple and economical medium, was similar to that obtained from glucose and sucrose.     

Use of holographic laser interferometry to study the diffusion of polymers in gels

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential for holographic interferometry to be used for diffusion studies of large molecules in gels. The diffusion and partitioning of BSA (67,000 g/mol) and pullulans (5,900-112,000 g/mol) in agarose gel were investigated. The gel diffusion coefficients obtained for BSA were higher when distilled water was used as a solvent compared to those obtained with 0.1 M NaCl as the solvent. Furthermore, the gel diffusion coefficient increased with increasing BSA concentration. The same trend was found for liquid BSA diffusion coefficients obtained by DLS. BSA partition coefficients obtained at different agarose gel concentrations (2-6%, w/w) decreased slightly with increasing gel concentration. However, all BSA gel diffusion coefficients measured were significantly lower than those in pure solvent and they decreased with increasing agarose concentration. The gel diffusion coefficients obtained for pullulans decreased with increasing pullulan molecular weight. The same effect from increased molecular weight was seen in the liquid diffusion coefficients measured by DLS. The pullulan partition coefficients obtained decreased with increasing molecular weight. However, pullulans with a larger Stokes' radius than BSA had partition coefficients that were higher or approximately the same as BSA. This implied that the pullulan molecules were more flexible than the BSA molecules. The results obtained for BSA in this study agreed well with other experimental studies. In addition, the magnitude of the relative standard deviation was acceptable and in the same range as for many other methods. The results thereby obtained showed that holographic interferometry is a suitable method for studying diffusion of macromolecules in gels.     

Changes in elastin composition in aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Tropoelastin and elastin preparations obtained from aortae of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) show an increased proportion of polar amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine and tyrosine). The content of these amino acids is 1.43-3.04 times higher in SHR rats than in similar elastin or tropoelastin preparations obtained from normotensive animals. On the other hand elastin and tropoelastin preparations obtained from SHR rats show a lower frequency of the Val-Pro sequence; this was found to be 35.93 per 1000 amino acid residues in SHR rats as compared to 51.04 per 1000 amino acids in the preparations obtained from control animals. Since similar differences were found not only in elastin preparations but also in tropoelastin, contamination of these preparations with an acidic protein seems unlikely. In general the results obtained are similar to those seen in animals kept on a long term high fat diet. It appears feasible to suggest that these differences are caused by a changed proportion of two different elastin type.     

Flow profiles and wall shear stress distribution at a hemodialysis venous anastomosis: preliminary study

The phasic velocity field in the vicinity of the venous anastomosis in a hemodialysis angioaccess arteriovenous fistula loop graft (AVLG) is investigated employing a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) system. Detailed LDA velocity profiles are obtained by sectional survey performed in a transparent, elastic flow model which was fabricated to represent the geometry of the AVLG system under physiological pressure and flow waveforms. The geometry of the flow model was based on a silicone rubber cast obtained from an experimental dog model. In the present study, detailed distribution of velocity profiles is obtained. The distribution of wall shear stress in the model is computed from the slope of the local velocity profiles near the wall. The relationship between the results obtained by flow visualization and the LDA measurement is discussed.     

Comparison between radioimmunoassay and a new time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay: Determination of total serum testosterone in male mink (Mustela vison)

A comparison of a solid-phase immunoassay using time-resolved fluorescence (TR-FIA) and a conventional radioimmunoassay (RIA) was performed for the determination of total serum testosterone in peripheral blood samples obtained from 231 mink males (Mustela vison). The correlation between the values obtained with the two methods was good (r=0.85;y=1.52+1.05x). The values obtained with FIA (11.67±6.70 ng/ml) were slightly higher than those obtained with RIA (9.64±5.39 ng/ml). Standards prepared from female mink serum behaved similarly to the bovine serum standards used in the commercial kits. The data obtained show that FIA is a reproducible method and provides a useful tool for measurement of a large number of samples within a short period of time.     

Near infrared spectroscopy as a tool for the determination of eumelanin in human hair

Eumelanins are brown-black pigments present in the hair and in the epidermis which are acknowledged as protection factors against cell damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. The quantity of eumelanin present in hair has recently been put forward as a means of identifying subjects with a higher risk of skin tumours. For epidemiological studies, chromatographic methods of determining pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA; the principal marker of eumelanin) are long, laborious and unsuitable for screening large populations. We suggest near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as an alternative method of analysing eumelanin in hair samples. PCTA was determined on 93 samples of hair by means of oxidizing with hydrogen peroxide in a basic environment followed by chromatographic separation. The same 93 samples were then subjected to NIR spectrophotometric analysis. The spectra were obtained in reflectance mode on hair samples which had not undergone any preliminary treatment, but had simply been pressed and placed on the measuring window of the spectrophotometer. The PTCA values obtained by means of HPLC were correlated with the near infrared spectrum of the respective samples. A correlation between the PTCA values obtained by means of HPLC and the PTCA values obtained from an analysis of the spectra was obtained using the principal component regression (PCR) algorithm. The correlation obtained has a coefficient of regression (R(2)) of 0.89 and a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 13.8 for a mean value of 108.6 ng PTCA/mg hair. Some considerations about the accuracy of the obtained correlation and the main sources of error are made and some validation results are shown.