Echocardiographic evaluation of delayed outcome of artificial valve implantation in patients with aortic semilunar valve insufficiency]

An average follow-up period of 16 patients was 28 months following an implantation of the artificial aortic valve for its insufficiency. In 10 operated patients who were able to continue their occupation exercise tolerance increased by two classes, according to NYHA. Blood pressure gradient decreased significantly from 61.8 to 37.5 mmHg, cardiac volume index decreased from 639 to 602 ml/m2. Echocardiographically measured muscle mass of the left ventricle, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and the left atrial dimensions decreased significantly following surgery. A significance of the relation of the left ventricle volume to its mass <4 as a prognostic factor in aortic valve replacement has also been confirmed.     

Factors effecting recurrence of duodenal ulcers after highly selective vagotomy]

Recurrence of duodenal ulcer was diagnosed in 15 patients who underwent highly selective vagotomy before 6-13 years, i.e. in 12.2%. Factors possibly contributing to such a recurrence were analysed. Patients with ulcer recurrence were: 1) non-qualified workers, 2) tobacco smokers, 3) heavy drinkers, 4) users of ulcerogenic medicines, and 5) were involved into conflict situations.     

Microbial transformation of neutral fraction and upgraded neutral fraction of Polish tall oil

Summary Microbial transformations of neutral fraction (NF) and upgraded neutral fraction (UNF) of Polish tall oil byMycobacterium sp. MB 3683 were performed. Final metabolites and yields were compared to bioconversion of pure -sitosterol. Additionally, origin of a new metabolite —5-androsta-3,6,17-trione was proved by transformation of UNF in the presence of labeled -sitosterol.     

Quinolinate-like neurotoxicity produced by aminooxyacetic acid in rat striatum

Summary The endogenous tryptophan metabolite quinolinic acid elicits in rodent brain a pattern of neuronal degeneration which resembles that caused by L-glutamate. Its qualities as a neurotoxic agent raised the hypothesis that quinolinic acid might be involved in the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative disorders. Kynurenic acid, another endogenous tryptophan metabolite and preferential N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, has been shown to block quinolinic acid neurotoxicity. Here we report that microinjections of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), an inhibitor of kynurenine transaminase and of other pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes, into the rat striatum produce neuronal damage resembling that caused by quinolinic acid. AOAA-induced striatal lesions can be prevented by kynurenic acid and the selective NMDA antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid. These results suggest that AOAA produces excitotoxic lesions by depleting brain concentrations of kynurenic acid (inhibition of synthetic enzyme) or due to impairment of intracellular energy metabolism (depletion of cell energy resources). The concept of deficient neuroprotection due to metabolic defects might help to clarify the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative disorders and to develop strategies that may be useful in their treatment.This work was supported by research grant from the Polish Academy of Sciences.These data have been communicated to the International Congress on Amino Acid Research held in Vienna in August 7–12, 1989.     

A bacteriological survey of an oyster-growing area: The Oualidia Lagoon,Morocco

A 3-year bacteriological survey of an oyster-growing area in Morocco, where the Japanese oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is grown, showed that the contamination of this lagunar ecosystem was not continuous but intermittent and that animal manure and human recreational activities were important sources of pollution. The major source of contamination was of animal origin, except during the summer, when human contamination prevailed.     

Stabilization of steroid 11-hydroxylation activity ofCunninghamella elegans protoplasts in organic osmotic stabilizers

Protoplasts ofCunninghamella elegans, showing 11-, and 11-hydroxylating ability of Substance S, preserved high transformation activity when dispersed in glucose-enriched, organic osmotic stabilizers. A joint action of polyoxins and 2-deoxy-d-glucose was necessary to prevent regeneration of the cell wall in long-lasting experiments. Stabilized and active, dispersed protoplasts may be an alternative research model for studying the function of the cell wall and intracellular metabolic pool constituents in steroid hydroxylation.     

Cumulation of mycotoxins in maize cobs infected with<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium gramihearum</Emphasis>

Maize cobs withFusarium ear rot were collected at 1986 season and five infected byFusarium graminearum were analyzed for presence of triohothecenes and zearalenone. Collected material was subsampled forFusarium damaged kernels and corresponding axial stems and healthy looking kernels. All investigated cobs contained deoxynivalenol (DON) (range 18.0–131.5 mg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range 0.38–2.17 mg/kg), in four cobs 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-AcDON) (range 5.2–6.2 mg/kg) was present and two cobs besides three all metabolites contained 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcD0N) (range 0.5–0.8 mg/kg).The average of individual toxins amount in axial stems: in mg/kg was equal to: DON — 110.36, ZEA — 4.57, 15-AcD0N — 16.66, and 3-AcD0N — 1.32.Fusarium damaged kernels contained in average the following amount (mg/kg) of: DON 77.00, ZEA 0.98, 15-AcD0N 3.78 and 3-AcD0N 0.06. Healthy looking kernels contained DON 1.96 mg/kg and ZEA 0.07 mg/kg only. Cooccurrence of 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON in two samples was an interesting finding. The amount of DON in total cob was highly correlated (r = 0.94) with percentage ofFusarium damaged kernels in given ear.     

Expedient syntheses of neoglycoproteins using phase transfer catalysis and reductive amination as key reactions

Starting from peracetylated chloro- or bromo-glycosyl donors ofN-acetylneurmainic acid,N-acetylglucosamine, glucose and lactose, the correspondingp-formylphenyl glycosides were synthesized stereospecifically under phase transfer catalysed conditions at room temperature in yields of 38–67%. After Zemplén de-O-acetylation, the formyl groups were directly and chemoselectively coupled to the lysine residues of bovine serum albumin by reductive amination using sodium cyanoborohydride. The conjugation reactions were followed as a function of time and under a series of different molar ratios of the reactants to provide glycoconjugates of varying degree of antigenicities. Thus, carbohydrate protein conjugates were made readily available using essentially two key reactions.Presented in part at the 15th International Carbohydrate Symposium, Yokohama, Japan, August 12–17, 1990.     

The effect of different krill meals fed to laboratory rats on their blood indices.

1. In 102 laboratory rats fed with (a) the krill standardized meal, (b) the krill meal with low chitin content, (c) the casein diet with D,L-methionine, (d) the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with the krill carapace meal, (e) the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with ash from the krill standardized meal and (f) the control diet--"Murigran" standard pelleted feed; the different blood indices were investigated. 2. The mean values of following indices: the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, the percentage of leucocytes, the corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell diameter were similar in all experimental and control groups. 3. The mean values of haematocrit and haemoglobin levels, the mean corpuscular thickness and volume were lower in rats fed with the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with the krill carapace meal than in other groups. 4. All kinds of investigated indices were similar in rats fed with krill meal with low chitin contents, whose parents received the standardized krill meal and no sex differences have been shown here.     

Specific incorporation of glycine into bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Novel function of specific transfer ribonucleic acids.

It has been found that the bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPSs) contain some amino acids and glycine is the most abundant amino acid in the polysaccharide core preparations of LPSs of gram-negative bacteria. Until now nothing was known about the mechanism of amino acid incorporation into the lipopolysaccharide core. We found that one out of three glycyl-tRNAs(Gly) from Escherichia coli is the donor of amino acid and is the substrate for a putative aminoacyl-tRNA:LPS transferase. We have isolated, purified this tRNA and determined its nucleotide sequence to be major E.coli tRNA(3Gly). This tRNA(Gly) (anticodon GCC) conserved the tRNA structural features. The assay for determination of the specific incorporation of glycine into the lipopolysaccharide was also invented and described.