New, man-made N2-fixing systems

The major inputs of fixed N into the global nitrogen cycle are assessed and compared as indicators of both the need for and the likely basis of new, complementary, man-made N2-fixing processes. The development, since 1964, of the purely chemical, highly reactive systems for the reduction of N2, including those driven electro- and photochemically, is traced, along with the parallel efforts to synthesize metal-N2 complexes (the first step in any likely fixation process) and subsequently protonate them to produce hydrazine or ammonia. These experimental approaches are convergent. Successful cycling or catalysing of some of these N2-binding systems has been achieved. The advantages and limitations of the more successful systems are noted. Approaches to this problem via direct modelling of the nitrogenase active site are outlined, as is the one successful use of such complexes in achieving N2 reduction. This wealth of effort on the reductive approaches contrasts vividly with the almost complete absence of research on N2 oxidation. Currently, only a re-evaluation of the arc discharge process is continuing. Finally, the author's studies of the extruded molybdenum-containing prosthetic group of nitrogenase, the enzymic N2-reducing site, are described in relation to future N2-fixing systems.     

Hormonal profiles after the menopause.

The endocrinological changes of the climacteric have been defined by studying the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), androstenedione, testosterone, oestrone, and oestradiol in 60 normal postmenopausal women of different menopausal ages. The women were studied in six groups, according to the number of years since their menopause. One year after the menopause androstenedione, oestrone, and oestradiol concentrations were reduced to about 20% of the values recorded during the early proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. At the same time the mean concentration of FSH had risen by a factor of 13-4 and that of LH by a factor of 3-0. Concentrations of both gonadotrophins reached a peak of 18-4 and 3-4 times the proliferative phase value respectively after two to three years, and then gradually declined in the next three decades to values that were 40-50% of these maximal levels. Testosterone concentrations remained mostly in the normal range for premenopausal women but were depressed to 60% of these levels two to five years after the menopause, and the mean androstenedione levels showed a significant increase in the same group of women. The concentrations of both oestrone and oestradiol remained consistently low for 10 years after the menopause, but oestradiol concentrations inexplicably increased in the last two decades, with levels at the lower end of normal range for reproductive women in six patients.     

Exclusion mapping of the gene for X-linked neural tube defects in an Icelandic family

Various polymorphic markers with a random distribution along the X chromosome were used in a linkage analysis performed on a family with apparently Xlinked recessive inheritance of neural tube defects (NTD). The lod score values were used to generate an exclusion map of the X chromosome; this showed that the responsible gene was probably not located in the middle part of Xp or in the distal region of Xq. A further refining of these results was achieved by haplotype analysis, which indicated that the gene for X-linked NTD was located either within Xp21.1-pter, distal from the DMD locus, or in the region Xq12–q24 between DXS106 and DXS424. Multipoint linkage analysis revealed that the likelihood for gene location is highest for the region on Xp. The region Xq26–q28, which has syntenic homology with the segment of the murine X chromosome carrying the locus for bent tail (Bn), a mouse model for X-linked NTD, is excluded as the location for the gene underlying X-linked NTD in the present family. Thus, the human homologue of the Bn gene and the present defective gene are not identical, suggesting that more than one gene on the X chromosome plays a role in the development of the neural tube.     

para-sulfobenzoyloxybromobimane: a new membrane-impermeable reagent useful for the analysis of thiols and their export from cells.

para-Sulfonylbenzoyloxybromobimane (sBBr) was shown to be similar to the fluorescent labeling agent monobromobimane (mBBr) in reacting rapidly and selectively with thiols to produce stable derivatives which are readily separated by HPLC. Chromatography of the sBBr derivative provides a useful means of confirming the identification of an unknown thiol based upon the chromatography of its mBBr derivative and can be useful for quantitative determination of polycationic thiols for which chromatography of the mBBr derivative is unsatisfactory. Unlike mBBr, which readily penetrates cells, sBBr was found not to be taken up by cells. These characteristics allow sBBr to be used, in conjunction with mBBr, to quantify the export of thiols from cells, as illustrated for GSH and the radioprotective drug WR1065, from V79 cells. Simultaneous determination of GSH and glutathione disulfides in cell culture medium could be achieved by labeling of thiols with sBBr followed by reduction of disulfides with dithiothreitol, labeling of the resulting thiols with mBBr, and HPLC analysis for both glutathione derivatives.     

A selective sweep driven by pyrimethamine treatment in southeast asian malaria parasites

Malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum) provide an excellent system in which to study the genomic effects of strong selection in a recombining eukaryote because the rapid spread of resistance to multiple drugs during the last the past 50 years has been well documented, the full genome sequence and a microsatellite map are now available, and haplotype data can be easily generated. We examined microsatellite variation around the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene on chromosome 4 of P. falciparum. Point mutations in dhfr are known to be responsible for resistance to the antimalarial drug pyrimethamine, and resistance to this drug has spread rapidly in Southeast (SE) Asia after its introduction in 1970s. We genotyped 33 microsatellite markers distributed across chromosome 4 in 61 parasites from a location on the Thailand/Myanmar border. We observed minimal microsatellite length variation in a 12-kb (0.7-cM) region flanking the dhfr gene and diminished variation for approximately 100 kb (6 cM), indicative of a single origin of resistant alleles. Furthermore, we found the same or similar microsatellite haplotypes flanked resistant dhfr alleles sampled from 11 parasite populations in five SE Asian countries indicating recent invasion of a single lineage of resistant dhfr alleles in locations 2000 km apart. Three features of these data are of especially interest. (1). Pyrimethamine resistance is generally assumed to have evolved multiple times because the genetic basis is simple and resistance can be selected easily in the laboratory. Yet our data clearly indicate a single origin of resistant dhfr alleles sampled over a large region of SE Asia. (2). The wide valley ( approximately 6 cM) of reduced variation around dhfr provides "proof-of-principle" that genome-wide association may be an effective way to locate genes under strong recent selection. (3). The width of the selective valley is consistent with predictions based on independent measures of recombination, mutation, and selection intensity, suggesting that we have reasonable estimates of these parameters. We conclude that scanning the malaria parasite genome for evidence of recent selection may prove an extremely effective way to locate genes underlying recently evolved traits such as drug resistance, as well as providing an opportunity to study the dynamics of selective events that have occurred recently or are currently in progress.     

Suppressed in vitro blastogenic responsiveness of rat spleen cells after continuous infusion of endotoxin by an implanted osmotic pump

Continuous infusion of a gram-negative bacterial endotoxin in relatively small doses into rats by means of an implanted osmotic pump was studied. The model system was designed to examine the effects of endotoxin on the blastogenic response of spleen cells to the endotoxin itself and to a nonspecific T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A). Rats were implanted with an osmotic pump which delivered saline for the first 42 hr to provide postsurgical recovery before the onset of endotoxin infusion. Previous studies had shown that during the first 1-4 days after administration of endotoxin marked alterations of metabolism and some changes in physiologic parameters such as blood pressure and in vitro myocardial performance occurred. In the present study the blastogenic responsiveness of spleen cells to endotoxin itself as well as to the nonspecific T-cell mitogen Con A was markedly decreased after several days of continuous administration of endotoxin. Control animals receiving only saline for the same period of time showed a similar depression of blastogenic responsiveness to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as to Con A, however, with a delay of 2-4 days before comparable levels of suppression became evident. These results indicate that marked alterations of immune competence as measured by blastogenesis of spleen cells to Escherichia coli LPS and to a mitogen such as Con A may occur after implantation of an osmotic pump, with or without continuous infusion of endotoxin. Further studies seem warranted to determine the role of the foreign body reaction to the osmotic pump as well as to the endotoxin administered by the pump.     

Incidence and Risk Factors for Neonatal Tetanus in Admissions to Kilifi County Hospital,Kenya

Background

Neonatal Tetanus (NT) is a preventable cause of mortality and neurological sequelae that occurs at higher incidence in resource-poor countries, presumably because of low maternal immunisation rates and unhygienic cord care practices. We aimed to determine changes in the incidence of NT, characterize and investigate the associated risk factors and mortality in a prospective cohort study including all admissions over a 15-year period at a County hospital on the Kenyan coast, a region with relatively high historical NT rates within Kenya.

Methods

We assessed all neonatal admissions to Kilifi County Hospital in Kenya (1999–2013) and identified cases of NT (standard clinical case definition) admitted during this time. Poisson regression was used to examine change in incidence of NT using accurate denominator data from an area of active demographic surveillance. Logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors for NT and factors associated with mortality in NT amongst neonatal admissions. A subset of sera from mothers (n = 61) and neonates (n = 47) were tested for anti-tetanus antibodies.

Results

There were 191 NT admissions, of whom 187 (98%) were home deliveries. Incidence of NT declined significantly (Incidence Rate Ratio: 0.85 (95% Confidence interval 0.81–0.89), P<0.001) but the case fatality (62%) did not change over the study period (P = 0.536). Younger infant age at admission (P = 0.001) was the only independent predictor of mortality. Compared to neonatal hospital admittee controls, the proportion of home births was higher among the cases. Sera tested for antitetanus antibodies showed most mothers (50/61, 82%) had undetectable levels of antitetanus antibodies, and most (8/9, 89%) mothers with detectable antibodies had a neonate without protective levels.

Conclusions

Incidence of NT in Kilifi County has significantly reduced, with reductions following immunisation campaigns. Our results suggest immunisation efforts are effective if sustained and efforts should continue to expand coverage.