Robust Selection of the Most Discriminative Variables in the Dichotomous Problem with Application to Some Respiratory Disease Data

A robust method for selection of variables with the greatest discriminatory power is presented in the paper. The method deals with the two groups of data problem. An application of the method to some respiratory disease data and comparisons with classical procedures are given, also.     

Preface

¹⁴C-roquefortine, given to ratsper os or intraperitoneally, was eliminated principally by the biliary route. Most of the given radiolabel accounted for had been voided within one day of administration. Roquefortine was not metabolised in rat liver homogenate but significant transformation to more polar products was evident in faeces.     

Genetic variability of complement receptor on human erythrocytes

Erythrocytes from healthy men were examined for the presence of complement (C3b) receptor using haemagglutination assay with human aggregated IgG (aggIgG) and guinea pig complement. The results were expressed as the intensity of haemagglutination that corresponded to the C3b receptor sites density as evidenced by radioimmunobinding results. Among normal men three phenotypes of complement receptor (CR) were distinguished: high (CR^h/CR^h) phenotype corresponding to strong agglutination, an intermediate (CR^h/CR^I) producing weak agglutination and low phenotype (CR^I/CR^I) that gave no agglutination. In a population of 517 normal men these three phenotypes occurred in 63.8, 30.6 and 5.6%, respectively. Frequencies of the genes responsible for high (CR^h) and low (CR^I) expression of erythrocyte C3b receptor were 0.791 and 0.209, respectively.     

The altered expression of MHC-class II determinants on monocytes of cancer patients

Summary The expression of MHC class II determinants Ia.7 (detected by cross reactive mouse anti-Ia^k antibody) and HLA-DR on monocytes (MO) of gastric and colorectal cancer patients was examined. An increased proportion of MO bearing the Ia.7 determinant was found, while the number of MO expressing DR was not elevated. In gastric cancer patients the increased expression of the Ia.7 determinant was most pronounced in advanced cancer (stage IVA and IVB). The increased expression of this determinant was related to the presence of the tumour as the number of MO expressing Ia.7 decreased 6 months following surgical resection of the tumour. Further, the increased expression of Ia.7 on MO correlated with the tumour infiltration of the serosa. The Ia.7 determinants were mainly expressed on MO which also expressed the receptor for the Fc part of immunoglobulin. Immunostaining in cellular infiltrates surrounding the tumour revealed that Ia.7⁺ macrophages (MØ) were more numerous than in normal gastric mucosa and severe chronic gastritis and were mostly present in close proximity to tumour cells, while DR⁺ MØ were mainly localized within the stromal tissue of the tumour and their number was not increased in cancer infiltrates. These observations indicate that the Ia.7⁺ subpopulation of MØ may be involved in the anti-tumour response of the host.     

New form of lignolytically active mycelium generated by immobilization of protoplasts isolated from the white rot fungi Heterobasidion annosum and Polyporus pinsitus

Summary Immobilized mycelia regenerated from immobilized protoplasts isolated from lignin-degrading Basiodiomycetes have been shown to be able to decompose specifically ¹⁴C-labelled dehydropolymers of coniferylalcohol (DHP-lignin) and monomeric lignin-related compounds more intensively than native mycelium, by decarboxylation, demethylation, ring and side chain cleavage. Protoplasts of two white rot fungi were immobilized by entrapment in Na- alginate gel and remained intact after the immobilization procedure. Within the first 3 days of incubation in culture medium, regeneration of hyphal cells occurred. Since hyphal cells regenerated from protoplasts within gel beads were hindered from stretching by the matrix, the microbial immobilized cells differed from native mycelium in terms of their morphology. The time course and extent of lignin degradation by native mycelium and regenerated mycelium of the examined white rot fungi also differed, a sign that there may also be differences between them in terms of the physiology of lignin degradation.     

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.     

N-Methylaspartate-Evoked Liberation of Taurine and Phosphoethanolamine In Vivo: Site of Release

The effect of N-methyl-D,L-aspartic acid (NMA) on extracellular amino acids was studied in the rabbit hippocampus with the brain dialysis technique. Administration of 0.5 or 5 mM NMA caused a concentration-dependent liberation of taurine and phosphoethanolamine (PEA). Taurine increased by 1,200% and PEA by 2,400% during perfusion with 5 mM NMA whereas most other amino acids rose by 20-100%. The effect of NMA appeared to be receptor-mediated, as coperfusion with D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid curtailed the NMA response by some 90%. The NMA-stimulated release of taurine and PEA was suppressed when Ca2+ was omitted and further inhibited when Co2+ was included in the perfusion medium. The effect of NMA was mimicked by the endogenous NMA agonist quinolinic acid and the partial NMA agonist D,L-cis-2,3-piperidine dicarboxylic acid. Although the NMA-evoked release of taurine and PEA was Ca2+-dependent in vivo, NMA had no effect on Ca2+ accumulation in hippocampal synaptosomes. The previously reported NMA-induced activation of dendritic Ca2+ spikes and the lack of effect on synaptosomal Ca2+ uptake suggest that taurine and PEA are released from sites other than nerve terminals, possibly from dendrosomatic sites. This notion was strengthened by the absence of an effect of NMA on the efflux of radiolabelled taurine from hippocampal synaptosomes. In contrast, high K+ stimulated synaptosomal uptake of Ca2+ and release of taurine.     

Identification of citrate as the albumin-bound inhibitor of the ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin

The influence of several commercial albumin preparations on the ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase I, ferrous: O₂ oxidoreductase EC 1.16.3.1) at pH 6.0 was determined using ferric-transferrin formation. The ability of several albumin preparations to inhibit the ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin differs more than three hundredfold. It appears to depend on the method of isolation of albumin rather than the source of albumin, suggesting the existence of an inhibitor bound to albumin. The inhibitor was isolated after chromatography of an albumin preparation on Sephadex G-200. It was identified as citrate by thin layer chromatography and by comparison of the spectrum of the sulfide-pentabromoacetone derivative. Albumin preparations, even with bound citrate, do not exert a significant inhibitory effect at pH 7.4.     

Plant regeneration from hypocotyl and petiole callus of Trifolium pratense L.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seedlings were screened for the ability to regenerate plantlets from hypocotyl-derived callus tissue. Media sequences described by Beach and Smith (1979) and Collins and Phillips (1982) and a variation using media from both sequences were tested. Plantlets were regenerated from three out of 642 genotypes. In all three cases, callus was initiated on B5C medium and regeneration was accomplished on SPL medium. Attempts to regenerate plants from petiole-derived callus tissue have so far been successful only with regenerants of clone F49. Petiole callus from epicotyl-derived F49 plants proved to be non-regenerative. Pollen viability varied significantly among individuals regenerated from callus cultures of clone F49. Root tip squashes from F49 regenerants revealed the normal diploid chromosome number (2n=14). The frequency of regeneration within progeny from reciprocal crosses between F49 regenerants and several non-regenerative genotypes was 29%.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP benzylaminopurine - KN kinetin - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid     

High fidelity extrachromosomal recombination and gene targeting in plants

The precision of extrachromosomal homologous recombination and gene targeting in plant cells was investigated. Recombination was directed to introns of selectable marker genes where potential changes could persist without affecting the function and therefore the selectability of the genes. Approximately 9 kb of crossover regions was rescued and sequenced. Changes were detected at a frequency below one point mutation per 1000 bp, indicating that extrachromosomal recombination and gene targeting both appear to occur with high fidelity.