Hemorheological changes in microcirculation: their mechanism and measurement technique

Blood fluidity in the capillaries is affected significantly in diseases such as cardiac and brain infarcts, diabetic gangrene and many others. In view of the importance of physiology and pathology of capillary circulation, the hemorheological characteristics of the capillary blood flow are discussed in this article. Also, a new diagnosing technique for blood fluidity disorders is proposed. A computerized system for image analysis and determining blood rheological disorders for clinical and experimental use has also been discussed.     

Regulation of phenol oxidase activity with sulfur dioxide as the base for production of high-quality instant green tea

The possibility to regulate phenoloxidase activity with sulfur dioxide was studied. It was found that this compound is a potent inhibitor of phenoloxidase of the reversible and mixed type. The inhibitory effect of sulfur dioxide on phenoloxidase provided grounds for a new biotechnological approach to the production of instant green tea. This approach allows increasing the yield of the extractive and the proportion of phenolics in the extractive, thereby improving the organoleptic quality of the product.     

Comparative study of soluble and immobilized phenol oxidase from the fungus Mycelia sterilia IBR 35219/2

Phenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1) from the microscopic fungus Mycelia sterilia IBR 35219/2 was immobilized using glutaraldehyde on macroporous silica carriers. The enzyme immobilized on amino-Silochrome SKh-2 or aminopropyl-Silochrome 350/80 exhibited maximum activity. Soluble and immobilized phenol oxidases were compared. Compared to the soluble enzyme, the activity of which was optimum at pH 5.5, immobilized phenol oxidase exhibited optimum activity under slightly more acidic conditions (pH 5.2). Immobilization considerably increased the enzyme stability. Both soluble and immobilized forms of phenol oxidase from M. sterilia IBR 35219/2 catalyze oxidative conversion of phenolic compounds of the green tea extract.     

An integrated Bayesian analysis of LOH and copy number data

Background  

Cancer and other disorders are due to genomic lesions. SNP-microarrays are able to measure simultaneously both genotype and copy number (CN) at several Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) along the genome. CN is defined as the number of DNA copies, and the normal is two, since we have two copies of each chromosome. The genotype of a SNP is the status given by the nucleotides (alleles) which are present on the two copies of DNA. It is defined homozygous or heterozygous if the two alleles are the same or if they differ, respectively. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is the loss of the heterozygous status due to genomic events.     

The kinome of Phytophthora infestans reveals oomycete-specific innovations and links to other taxonomic groups

Background

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Eukaryota, Fungi, Ascomycota) is a thermodimorphic fungus, the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. Three isolates corresponding to distinct phylogenetic lineages of the Paracoccidioides species complex had their genomes sequenced. In this study the identification and characterization of class II transposable elements in the genomes of these fungi was carried out.

Results

A genomic survey for DNA transposons in the sequence assemblies of Paracoccidioides, a genus recently proposed to encompass species P. brasiliensis (harboring phylogenetic lineages S1, PS2, PS3) and P. lutzii (Pb01-like isolates), has been completed. Eight new Tc1/mariner families, referred to as Trem (Tr ansposable e lement m ariner), labeled A through H were identified. Elements from each family have 65-80% sequence similarity with other Tc1/mariner elements. They are flanked by 2-bp TA target site duplications and different termini. Encoded DDD-transposases, some of which have complete ORFs, indicated that they could be functionally active. The distribution of Trem elements varied between the genomic sequences characterized as belonging to P. brasiliensis (S1 and PS2) and P. lutzii. TremC and H elements would have been present in a hypothetical ancestor common to P. brasiliensis and P. lutzii, while TremA, B and F elements were either acquired by P. brasiliensis or lost by P. lutzii after speciation. Although TremD and TremE share about 70% similarity, they are specific to P. brasiliensis and P. lutzii, respectively. This suggests that these elements could either have been present in a hypothetical common ancestor and have evolved divergently after the split between P. brasiliensis and P. Lutzii, or have been independently acquired by horizontal transfer.

Conclusions

New families of Tc1/mariner DNA transposons in the genomic assemblies of the Paracoccidioides species complex are described. Families were distinguished based on significant BLAST identities between transposases and/or TIRs. The expansion of Trem in a putative ancestor common to the species P. brasiliensis and P. lutzii would have given origin to TremC and TremH, while other elements could have been acquired or lost after speciation had occurred. The results may contribute to our understanding of the organization and architecture of genomes in the genus Paracoccidioides.     

Tyrosine inhibition of anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs

Experimental investigations on guinea-pigs were carried out to study the role of tyrosine in the prevention of anaphylaxis. It should be noted that the intensity of clinical manifestations of anaphylactic shock was reduced in 5 out of 24 L-tyrosine fed guinea-pigs (20.83%), while in 9 animals (37.5%) anaphylactic shock did not develop. 100% death of control animals was registered. The effect of tyrosine was absent only in 10 guinea-pigs. Positive effect of tyrosine was followed by tyrosine-aminotransferase activation with a tendency towards the decrease in tyrosine plasma level and the rise in cortisol blood level. It is suggested that tyrosine increases glucocorticoid secretion of the adrenal cortex: Glucocorticoids in their turn, enhance tyrosine-aminotransferase activity in the animal liver.