Application of good laboratory practice (GLP) to culture collections of microbial and cell cultures

Although the principles and the necessity for good laboratory practice (GLP) guidelines to confirm the credibility, integrity, and quality of non-clinical laboratory studies have been known for more than a decade, culture collection activities are not subject to them. Because of recent advances in biotechnology, culture collections face increased demands not only for quality cultures but also current information. When applied in culture collections, GLP guidelines prove to be an excellent management tool as well as a cost-effective system of providing authentic and reliable microbial and cell cultures and associated data.     

Familial and iatrogenic cortisol receptor resistance.

Primary cortisol receptor resistance has been reported in 6 patients and 14 asymptomatic family members. We observed an additional 6 patients (2 males and 4 females). The male patients presented with hypertension. The female patients presented with acne, hirsutism and irregular menstruations. Dexamethasone therapy (1-1.5 mg/day) was of considerable clinical benefit. All 6 patients showed insufficient suppression of cortisol after 1 mg dexamethasone. The diurnal rhythm of ACTH and cortisol was intact, albeit at an elevated level. There was a normal increase of ACTH, cortisol, and GH to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, while cortisol production was (slightly) elevated. Adrenal androgen levels were increased in all patients. Glucocorticoid receptors measured in a whole cell dexamethasone binding assay in mononuclear leukocytes showed a lowered affinity in 1, and lowered numbers of receptors in 4 patients. In 1 patient no abnormalities were found. As a "bioassay" for glucocorticoid action dexamethasone suppressibility of mitogen-stimulated incorporation of [3H]thymidine in mononuclear leukocytes was measured. In this last patient dexamethasone suppressibility of [3H]thymidine incorporation was significantly lowered. Twelve months' treatment with 200 mg RU 486 per day in meningioma patients induced a similar biochemical picture as observed in primary cortisol receptor resistance. Partial cortisol receptor resistance might be less rare than previously thought. In the 6 patients presented at least 3 different forms can be recognized. Therapy with dexamethasone was successful in female patients with acne and hirsutism, as the secondary overproduction of adrenal androgens was effectively controlled. Chronic therapy with RU 486 causes a biochemical picture similar to primary cortisol receptor resistance.     

Production of cellulolytic enzymes from theXylaria andHypoxylon species of xylariaceae

Eighteen strains of xylariaceous fungi have been screened for higher activities of cellulolytic enzymes,Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was also examined for comparison. Strains ofXylaria anisopleura andX. regalis had higher endocellulase (CMCase) and exocellulase (Avicelase) activities after 2 weeks' incubation.Hypoxylon stygium produced the highest activity of -glucosidase 3 days after inoculation. The optimum pH for these cellulolytic enzymes was approx. 5.0 and the optimum temperatures ranged from 37 to 50°C. A mixed culture process usingT. reesei QM 9414 andH. stygium was developed to obtain enhanced synthesis of cellulase. -Glucosidase activities in the mixed culture increased within 48h whenH. stygium was introduced after 24h.     

湖泊和地下水中异养细菌群落结构和生理特征的比较研究

对武汉东湖三个定点观测站和潜江市一深水机井中异养细菌群落的种群组成、对不同基质的反应、菌株和群落的生理特征和活力水平等方面比较研究结果表明:环境差异较小的东湖Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ站异养细菌群落间的差异亦较小,具有类似的结构特征和生理活力水平,对特定基质表现了相似的作用模式;地下水中的异养细菌群落在上述几方面均显示了明显的差别。此外,在异养细菌群落结构和功能研究方法上亦是有益的探讨。     

American anthropologists looking through Taiwanese culture

Conclusion Anthropologists have too often supported — in their words, in their presences, and in their deeds — the paternalistic claims of rulers suppressing the very cultures they want to study. Much anthropological work legitimates substitution of the language of Beijing for Hakka and Holo, justifies ignoring Taiwanese culture, and subordinates consideration of its specific features to writing about Chinese civilization, just as Taiwanese are economically and politically subordinated to the ethnic minority dictatorship which still rules Taiwan under the fiction of being the government of China. The China that Arthur Wolf and others serve in return for support of their research from what purports to be the Republic of China is an egregious, but unfortunately not unique, example.Stephen O. Murray is with El Instituto Obregón, San Francisco, California. Keelung Hong is with the Cancer Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco.As is normal in anthropology, except for Taiwan, native terms are romanized in the native language (in the first author's recording of the second author's Daidiong idiolect, without indication of the extremely intricate tone differentia), not in the official language of the ethnic oligarchy ruling Taiwan (Beijinghua). Mainland place names are rendered in pinyin. We have followed the convention of treating Chinese and Taiwanese personal names as two words, because books are catalogued with such names. If personal names are considered as two words (an imposition of the hoary dogma that words in Sino-Tibetan languages are monosyllabic), it seems to us that both words should be capitalized. For Taiwanese placenames, we have not separated syllables by dashes or by spaces.