Listening to Puns Elicits the Co-Activation of Alternative Homophone Meanings during Language Production

Recent evidence suggests that lexical-semantic activation spread during language production can be dynamically shaped by contextual factors. In this study we investigated whether semantic processing modes can also affect lexical-semantic activation during word production. Specifically, we tested whether the processing of linguistic ambiguities, presented in the form of puns, has an influence on the co-activation of unrelated meanings of homophones in a subsequent language production task. In a picture-word interference paradigm with word distractors that were semantically related or unrelated to the non-depicted meanings of homophones we found facilitation induced by related words only when participants listened to puns before object naming, but not when they heard jokes with unambiguous linguistic stimuli. This finding suggests that a semantic processing mode of ambiguity perception can induce the co-activation of alternative homophone meanings during speech planning.     

Effect of pH on growth and biochemical responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dunaliella bardawil</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella ellipsoidea</Emphasis>

The goal of the present investigation was to study the effect of pH on growth and biochemical responses of Dunaliella bardawil and Chlorella ellipsoidea when exposed to different pH values. The two tested microalgae could grow in a wide range of pH (4–9 for D. bardawil and 4–10 for C. ellipsoidea). The dry weight gain and the biochemical components of D. bardawil were greatly enhanced at pH 7.5. In contrast, dry weight and carbohydrate content of C. ellipsoidea attained their maximum values at the alkaline pH. On the other hand, the protein content of C. ellipsoidea recorded its highest value at pH 4, while the pigment content of the same alga was highest at pH 4, 6, and 7.5 and decreased at alkaline pH. Both pH 6 and pH 9 stimulated the accumulation of β-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C in D. bardawil, with the highest values of the three compounds recorded at pH 9. In the case of C. ellipsoidea, β-carotene content increased at pH 6 and pH 10 as compared with the control, but the amount of β-carotene was much higher at pH 6 than at pH 10. Vitamin E content was higher in C. ellipsoidea cells at pH 10 than at pH 6. Both pH 6 and pH 10 caused a significant decline in vitamin C content of C. ellipsoidea.     

Age-related impairment of HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux

Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of aging on the capacity of HDLs to promote reverse cholesterol transport. HDLs were isolated from plasma of young (Y-HDL) and elderly (E-HDL) subjects. HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux was studied using THP-1 and J774 macrophages. Our results show that E-HDLs present a lower capacity to promote cholesterol efflux than Y-HDLs (41.7 +/- 1.4% vs. 49.0 +/- 2.2%, respectively; P = 0.013). Reduction in the HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity with aging was more significant with HDL(3) than HDL(2) (Y-HDL(3), 57.3 +/- 1% vs. E-HDL(3), 50.9 +/- 2%; P = 0.012). Moreover, our results show that ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux is the more affected pathway in terms of cholesterol-removing capacity. Interestingly, the composition and structure of HDL revealed a reduction in the phosphatidylcholine-sphingomyelin ratio (E-HDL, 32.7 +/- 2.7 vs. Y-HDL, 40.0 +/- 1.9; P = 0.029) and in the phospholipidic layer membrane fluidity in E-HDL compared with Y-HDL as well as an alteration in the apolipoprotein A-I structure and charge. In conclusion, our results shown that E-HDLs present a reduced capacity to promote cholesterol efflux, principally through the ABCA1 pathway, and this may explain the increase of the incidence of cardiovascular diseases observed during aging.     

Production and physicochemical characterization of acidocin D20079, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079

Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079 is the producer of a novel bacteriocin termed acidocin D20079. In this paper, a partial sequence of this peptide is determined, together with data on its secondary structure. A modification of the MRS-growth medium (replacing the detergent Tween 80 with oleic acid), was shown to improve the production level of the peptide by one order of magnitude, as well as to stabilize the activity level. Addition of a detergent (Tween 20, less interfering in mass spectrometric analysis), was however necessary for solubilization of the purified acidocin D20079. Digestion of the peptide followed by de-novo sequencing of generated fragments, allowed determination of a partial sequence consisting of 39 of the totally estimated 65 residues. Acidocin D20079 has a high content of glycine residues, hydrophobic residues, and acidic residues. No modified amino acids were found. Edman degradation, and C-terminal sequencing failed, suggesting that the peptide may be cyclic, and a novel member of class IIc bacteriocins. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and secondary structure prediction showed random coil conformation in aqueous solution, but secondary structure was induced in the presence of sodium-dodecyl sulfate. The data could be fitted assuming 2–13% of the residues to be in α-helix and 23–27% of the residues to be in β-strand conformation. This indicates that a membrane/membrane-mimicking hydrocarbon–water interface induces an active conformation.     

An integrated approach to diagnosis and management of severe haemoptysis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a case series from a referral centre

Background

Limited data are available concerning patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe haemoptysis. We reviewed a large series of patients managed in a uniform way to describe the clinical spectrum and outcome of haemoptysis in this setting, and better define the indications for bronchial artery embolisation (BAE).

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 196 patients referred for severe haemoptysis to a respiratory intermediate care ward and ICU between January 1999 and December 2001. A follow-up by telephone interview or a visit.

Results

Patients (148 males) were aged 51 (± sd, 16) years, with a median cumulated amount of bleeding averaging 200 ml on admission. Bronchiectasis, lung cancer, tuberculosis and mycetoma were the main underlying causes. In 21 patients (11%), no cause was identified. A first-line bronchial arteriography was attempted in 147 patients (75%), whereas 46 (23%) received conservative treatment. Patients who underwent BAE had a higher respiratory rate, greater amount of bleeding, persistent bloody sputum and/or evidence of active bleeding on fiberoptic bronchoscopy. When completed (n = 131/147), BAE controlled haemoptysis in 80% of patients, both in the short and long (> 30 days) terms. Surgery was mostly performed when bronchial arteriography had failed and/or bleeding recurred early after completed BAE. Bleeding was controlled by conservative measures alone in 44 patients. The ICU mortality rate was low (4%).

Conclusion

Patients with evidence of more severe or persistent haemoptysis were more likely to receive BAE rather than conservative management. The procedure was effective and safe in most patients with severe haemoptysis, and surgery was mostly reserved to failure of arteriography and/or early recurrences after BAE.     

7-deaza-2'-deoxyxanthosine: nucleobase protection and base pairing of oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides containing 7-deaza-2'-deoxyxanthosine (1) and 2'-deoxyxanthosine (2) were prepared. The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl group is applicable for 7-deazaxanthine protection that is removed with DBU by beta-elimination, while the deprotection of the allyl residue with Pd (0) catalyst failed. Contrarily, the allyl group was found to be an excellent protecting group for 2'-deoxyxanthosine (2). The base pairing of nucleosides 1 and 2 with the four canonical DNA constituents as well as with 3 within the 12-mer duplexes is studied.     

Intestinal Parasitosis in Relation to Anti-Retroviral Therapy,CD4+ T-cell Count and Diarrhea in HIV Patients

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the major causes of diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive individuals. Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced the incidence of many opportunistic infections, but parasite-related diarrhea still remains frequent and often underestimated especially in developing countries. The present hospital-based study was conducted to determine the spectrum of intestinal parasitosis in adult HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients with or without diarrhea with the levels of CD4⁺ T-cell counts. A total of 400 individuals were enrolled and were screened for intestinal parasitosis. Of these study population, 200 were HIV seropositives, and the remaining 200 were HIV uninfected individuals with or without diarrhea. Intestinal parasites were identified by using microscopy as well as PCR assay. A total of 130 (32.5%) out of 400 patients were positive for any kinds of intestinal parasites. The cumulative number of parasite positive patients was 152 due to multiple infections. A significant association of Cryptosporidium (P<0.001) was detected among individuals with CD4⁺ T-cell counts less than 200 cells/μl.