Algal epilithon and water quality of a stream receiving oil refinery effluent

Changes in epilithic algal communities colonizing introduced substrata were determined in a stream polluted with oil refinery effluent at Digboi (Assam, India). The number of algal taxa was reduced but the growth of blue-green algae, particularly two species ofOscillatoria, was encouraged. Epilithic biomass (as chlorophylla) also declined at polluted stations. The algal community of the upstream station was markedly different from the community occurring just after the confluence of effluent; however, the differences were gradually reduced downstream, indicating improvement in water quality. Of the various criteria tested for possible relationships with the level of pollutants, species richness, Shannon diversity and biomass showed significant relationships. The study demonstrates the usefulness of algal criteria for monitoring oil pollution in running waters.     

Differential effects of cisplatin on mouse hepatic and renal mitochrondrial DNA

The objective of this study was to determine if the nephrotoxic effects induced by cisplatin were correlated to mitochondrial DNA damage. Comparisons were made with the liver since hepatotoxicity is rarely observed. Cisplatin doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally to C57BL/6J mice. Mitochrondrial DNA was isolated from both the hepatic and renal tissues and quantitated by hybridization with a specific mitochondrial probe. Cisplatin caused differential effects on mouse hepatic and renal mitochondrial DNA. The 10 and 20 mg/kg dose caused an elevation in mitochondrial DNA levels in the hepatic, but no increase in the renal tissue was observed. This is the first study demonstrating an organ specific effect of cisplatin at the DNA level.     

Molecular structure of tetanus neurotoxin as revealed by Fourier transform infrared and circular dichroic spectroscopy

Secondary structure contents of tetanus neurotoxin have been estimated at neutral and acidic pH using circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. An analysis of the far-ultraviolet CD spectra of the neurotoxin dissolved in 50 mM citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) revealed 20.0 +/- 2.1% alpha-helix, 50.5 +/- 2.1% beta-pleated sheets, no beta-turns, and 29.5% random coils, which is at considerable variance with results from an earlier detailed study of tetanus neurotoxin's secondary structures (J.P. Robinson, L.A. Holladay, J.H. Hash and D. Puett, J. Biol. Chem. 257 (1982) 407). However, the alpha-helix content estimated in this study is consistent with the earlier studies of Robinson et al. (J.P. Robinson, L.A. Holladay, J.B. Picklesimer and D. Puett, Mol. Cell. Biochem. 5 (1974) 147; J.P. Robinson, J.B. Picklesimer and D. Puett, J. Biol. Chem. 250 (1975) 7435) and with the study by Lazarovici et al. (P. Lazarovici, P. Yanai and E. Yavin, J. Biol. Chem. 262 (1986) 2645), although other secondary structural features do not agree with those of the previous studies. Secondary structure estimation from Fourier transform infrared spectra in both amide I and amide III frequency regions revealed 22-23% alpha-helix, 49-51% beta-pleated sheets and 27-28% random coils, indicating a good correlation with the secondary structure content estimated from CD analysis. Lowering of the pH of the neurotoxin to 5.5 or 4.0 did not result in any noticeable change in the overall secondary structures. However, there were significant pH-induced variations observed in the individual curve-fitted FT-IR bands in the amide III frequency region. For example, the 1302 cm-1 band (relative area, 4.2%) observed at pH 7.0 was shifted to 1297 cm-1 (relative area, 2.2%) at pH 5.5, and the relative area of the band at 1316-1317 cm-1 (alpha-helix) increased by approx. 40%. This study suggests that contrary to earlier reports, tetanus neurotoxin is a beta-pleated sheet dominated structure, and although lower pH does not change the overall contents of the secondary structures, significant conformational alterations are observed.     

Clinical and experimental mycotic keratitis caused by Aspergillus terreus and the effect of subconjunctival oxiconazole treatment in the animal model

Aspergillus terreus was isolated from a case of Keratomycosis. The patient, a 50 year old, female presented with a large corneal ulcer with hypopyon. The direct microscopic examination of the scrapings revealed hyaline, thin, septate and branched hyphae. In vitro some antimycotics (amphotericin B,5-fluorocytosine, oxiconazole, amorolfine and ketoconazole) were tested against A. terreus by agar dilution method. Ketoconazole with MIC of 3 gmg/ml after 7 days of incubation was most effective followed by oxiconazole (10g/ml). Experimental corneal ulcer was produced by injecting intralamellary 0.1 ml of the spore suspension containing 10×10₆ cfu/ml into the eyes of previously immunocompressed albino rabbits. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration and large destruction of the corneal stroma. Subconjunctival oxiconazole therapy exhibited complete cure. Based on our findings, a clinical evaluation of oxiconazole in human keratomycosis seems to be justified.     

Oligonucleotides, part 5+: synthesis and fluorescence studies of DNA oligomers d(AT)5 containing adenines covalently linked at C-8 with dansyl fluorophore.

The synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides d(AT)5 in which specific adenines are linked at C-8 position with dansyl fluorophores via a variable polymethylene spacer chain are reported. This was achieved by a strategy involving prelabelling at the monomeric stage followed by solid phase assembly of oligonucleotides to obtain regiospecifically labeled oligonucleotides. Several mono and polydansyl d(AT)5 derivatives in which the fluorophore is linked via ethylene, tetramethylene and hexamethylene spacer arms were synthesised for a systematic study of their fluorescence characteristics. It was observed that (i) enhancements in fluorescence intensity and emission quantum yields are seen due to multiple labelling, (ii) the magnitude of enhancements are related to labelling configuration and (iii) quenching efficiency is minimal with shorter and rigid spacer arms. The results may aid rational design of multiple fluorescent DNA probes for nonradioactive detection of nucleic acids.     

Induction of freezing tolerance in microspore-derived embryos of winter Brassica napus

Freezing tolerance was induced in microspore derived embryos of winter Brassica napus cv. Jet neuf by the addition of ABA or mefluidide to the culture media during embryogenesis. Survival after freezing was estimated by culture of frozen-thawed embryos to plantlets. A higher freezing tolerance (50% survival at –15°C) was induced when 50 M ABA or 3.2 M mefluidide was incorporated initially into the medium during embryogenesis at 25°C followed by culture at 2°C for 3 weeks. When embryos were induced in the absence of ABA or mefluidide and maintained at 2°C for even as long as 12 weeks a lower degree of freezing tolerance (10% survival at –15°C) was obtained. Plants regenerated from embryos hardened maximally by a combination of either ABA or MFD with low temperature did not require further vernalization for flowering.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - MFD mefluidide - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - LT₅₀ killing temperature for 50% of the embryos     

Facilitating care of patients with HIV infection by hospital and primary care teams.

To complement the role of primary care teams working with patients with HIV disease and AIDS within greater London and to ease the load on the special hospital units a home support team was developed. It comprises six specialist nurses, a general practitioner trained medical officer, and a receptionist and is funded from regional and district sources and charities. A nurse is available for out of hours and emergency weekend calls, with support from the patient''s general practitioner or the attached medical officer. During the first 18 months 249 patients were seen; the mean duration of care was five months. Nearly a third (18/50, 30%) of patients who were terminally ill died at home. The team''s activities included practical nursing care, emotional support for carers and patients, and advice and guidance to primary care teams. Problems in providing care in patients'' homes included issues relating to confidentiality and 24 hour cover. With the increasing incidence of HIV infection the home support team may be a useful model for care of large numbers of patients with symptomatic HIV disease, especially in large urban areas.