Variability of ceftazidime pharmacokinetics in children with suppurative-septic diseases

Marked variability of the ceftazidime pharmacokinetics (Cmax and T1/2) was observed in 3 newborns and 2 infants with purulent septic infections. The patients were under complex treatment in a reanimation unit (artificial pulmonary ventilation, infusions). It was recommended to perform the treatment with monitoring the antibiotic plasma concentrations to prevent the drug failure because of the changes in the distribution and excretion patterns. The use of HPLC for the purpose is advisable.     

The use of liposuction to contour cherubism

Yet another application of suction lipectomy equipment is presented to remove the pathologic tissue in cherubism. Owing to the variations of consistency of the material in this condition, this technique may not be successful in all patients, but it is certainly recommended when indicated.     

Isolation of nine human plasma proteinase inhibitors by sequential affinity chromatography.

Purification of nine plasma proteinase inhibitors and one zymogen from a single batch of human plasma, using affinity chromatography has been accomplished. Those isolated were plasminogen (lysine-Sepharose), alpha-2-antiplasmin (plasminogen-Sepharose), high and low molecular weight kininogens (CM-papain-Sepharose), alpha-2-macroglobulin (Zn++ chelate-Sepharose), alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, Cl-inhibitor, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (Blue-Sepharose) and antithrombin III (heparin-Sepharose). Alpha-2-macroglobulin and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor required gel filtration as additional purification steps. Each protein was recovered in both high yield and purity.     

Simultaneous detection of intra- and inter-molecular paramagnetic relaxation enhancements in protein complexes

Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) measurements constitute a powerful approach for detecting both permanent and transient protein–protein interactions. Typical PRE experiments require an intrinsic or engineered paramagnetic site on one of the two interacting partners; while a second, diamagnetic binding partner is labeled with stable isotopes (¹⁵N or ¹³C). Multiple paramagnetic labeled centers or reversed labeling schemes are often necessary to obtain sufficient distance restraints to model protein–protein complexes, making this approach time consuming and expensive. Here, we show a new strategy that combines a modified pulse sequence (¹H_N-Γ₂-CCLS) with an asymmetric labeling scheme to enable the detection of both intra- and inter-molecular PREs simultaneously using only one sample preparation. We applied this strategy to the non-covalent dimer of ubiquitin. Our method confirmed the previously identified binding interface for the transient di-ubiquitin complex, and at the same time, unveiled the internal structural dynamics rearrangements of ubiquitin upon interaction. In addition to reducing the cost of sample preparation and speed up PRE measurements, by detecting the intra-molecular PRE this new strategy will make it possible to measure and calibrate inter-molecular distances more accurately for both symmetric and asymmetric protein–protein complexes.     

The LORE1 insertion mutant resource

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are closely related to retroviruses, and their activities shape eukaryotic genomes. Here, we present a complete Lotus japonicus insertion mutant collection generated by identification of 640 653 new insertion events following de novo activation of the LTR element Lotus retrotransposon 1 (LORE1) ( http://lotus.au.dk ). Insertion preferences are critical for effective gene targeting, and we exploit our large dataset to analyse LTR element characteristics in this context. We infer the mechanism that generates the consensus palindromes typical of retroviral and LTR retrotransposon insertion sites, identify a short relaxed insertion site motif, and demonstrate selective integration into CHG‐hypomethylated genes. These characteristics result in a steep increase in deleterious mutation rate following activation, and allow LORE1 active gene targeting to approach saturation within a population of 134 682 L. japonicus lines. We suggest that saturation mutagenesis using endogenous LTR retrotransposons with germinal activity can be used as a general and cost‐efficient strategy for generation of non‐transgenic mutant collections for unrestricted use in plant research.     

A major lysine tRNA with a CUU anticodon in insect mitochondria

We have sequenced a lysine tRNA from mosquito mitochondria that has the anticodon CUU. The preponderance of AAA lysine codons in insect mitochondrial genes, the parsimonious organization of the genomes, and the fact that this tRNA is a major component of the mosquito mitochondrial tRNA complement, lead us to suggest that the CUU anticodon recognizes AAC and AAA codons.