Anaerobic degradation of papermill sludge in a two-phase digester containing rumen microorganisms and colonized polyurethane foam

Summary The use of reticulated polyurethane foam as a support material for the immobilization of methanogenic associations and its application to the anaerobic treatment of fine particulate solid wastes was investigated. The colonization of polyurethane support particles in a continuous upflow reactor fed on a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate, was both rapid and dense. The combination of rumen microorganisms and colonized support particles in a two-phase digester resulted in an efficient anaerobic decomposition of papermill sludge.     

Total and free plasma concentrations of progesterone, cortisol and oestradiol-17 beta during pregnancy, parturition and early lactation in sows

The total (bound plus free) concentrations of progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and cortisol were determined in the plasma of sows at three stages during pregnancy and more intensively from 5 days pre-partum to 5 days post-partum. The free fractions of progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and cortisol were measured in the same samples by a rate dialysis method. Up to day 110 of gestation, the amounts of free hormone in plasma did not fluctuate independently of their total concentrations. During farrowing, the total and free concentrations of progesterone and cortisol varied independently of each other, whereas total and free oestradiol-17 beta declined simultaneously. The initiation of parturition was associated with a decrease in circulating total progesterone, and was accentuated by a decrease in the free fraction (P less than 0.005) so that its active free concentration was only 20% of its day 1 pre-partum value. Total and free cortisol concentrations rose rapidly during labour so that at 12-18 h after birth of the first piglet 30% of that cortisol in maternal plasma was free hormone.     

Plasma relaxin immunoactivity in the pig at parturition and during nuzzling and suckling.

One sow bled at 30--60-min intervals for 48 h at 5 and 4 days before parturition had mean +/- s.e.m. relaxin levels of 5.0 +/- 0.48 ng/ml and 5.5 +/- 0.44 ng/ml for each 24-h period respectively. This sow and another were bled at frequent intervals during parturition; both showed considerable fluctuations in their relaxin levels but no consistent peaks in relation to each birth. Mean levels during parturition were 10.7 +/- 0.46 ng/ml and 13.4 +/- 0.81 ng/ml respectively, both significantly higher than the levels at 4 and 5 days before birth. Relaxin levels in two lactating sows rose acutely during nursing, showing a 3-fold rise in one animal and an 8-fold rise in the other. Results from a third sow during an extended period of nuzzling and sucking by the piglets showed multiple peaks of relaxin immunoactivity associated with each nuzzling/sucking stimulus.     

Immunocytochemical localization of relaxin in human corpora lutea: cellular and subcellular distribution and dependence on reproductive state

Relaxin is one of the hormones present during pregnancy and it is synthesized primarily by corpora lutea (CL). Other reproductive tissues including CL of the menstrual cycle may also synthesize this hormone. Very little is known, however, about the cellular and subcellular distribution of relaxin in human CL and dependence of luteal relaxin on the reproductive state. The light and electron microscope immunocytochemical studies described here were undertaken to obtain this information using antisera to porcine and human relaxin. Immunostaining was found in large luteal cells (17-30 microns) but not in small luteal cells (7-16 microns) or in nonluteal cells in any of the reproductive states or in human hepatocytes. Luteal immunostaining was low in early luteal phase; it increased progressively, reaching the highest level in late luteal phase, and then decreased greatly in corpora albicantia. Term pregnancy CL contained similar immunostaining as early luteal phase CL. Mid luteal phase CL contained more immunostained cells than late luteal phase CL, but the late luteal phase CL contained a greater amount of immunostaining per cell than mid luteal phase CL. The immunogold particles due to relaxin were primarily present in secretory granules and to a small extent in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Quantitation revealed that secretory granules contained a much higher number of gold particles than did rough endoplasmic reticulum. These two organelles from late luteal phase CL contained greater numbers of gold particles than those from mid luteal phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Combined Genetic and Genealogic Studies Uncover a Large BAP1 Cancer Syndrome Kindred Tracing Back Nine Generations to a Common Ancestor from the 1700s

We recently discovered an inherited cancer syndrome caused by BRCA1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1) germline mutations, with high incidence of mesothelioma, uveal melanoma and other cancers and very high penetrance by age 55. To identify families with the BAP1 cancer syndrome, we screened patients with family histories of multiple mesotheliomas and melanomas and/or multiple cancers. We identified four families that shared an identical BAP1 mutation: they lived across the US and did not appear to be related. By combining family histories, molecular genetics, and genealogical approaches, we uncovered a BAP1 cancer syndrome kindred of ~80,000 descendants with a core of 106 individuals, whose members descend from a couple born in Germany in the early 1700s who immigrated to North America. Their descendants spread throughout the country with mutation carriers affected by multiple malignancies. Our data show that, once a proband is identified, extended analyses of these kindreds, using genomic and genealogical studies to identify the most recent common ancestor, allow investigators to uncover additional branches of the family that may carry BAP1 mutations. Using this knowledge, we have identified new branches of this family carrying BAP1 mutations. We have also implemented early-detection strategies that help identify cancers at early-stage, when they can be cured (melanomas) or are more susceptible to therapy (MM and other malignancies).     

Airway cellularity, lipid laden macrophages and microbiology of gastric juice and airways in children with reflux oesophagitis

Background and methods

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently discovered respiratory virus associated with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, croup and exacerbations of asthma. Since respiratory viruses are frequently detected in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD) it was our aim to investigate the frequency of hMPV detection in a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients with AE-COPD compared to patients with stable COPD and to smokers without by means of quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Results

We analysed nasal lavage and induced sputum of 130 patients with AE-COPD, 65 patients with stable COPD and 34 smokers without COPD. HMPV was detected in 3/130 (2.3%) AE-COPD patients with a mean of 6.5 × 10⁵ viral copies/ml in nasal lavage and 1.88 × 10⁵ viral copies/ml in induced sputum. It was not found in patients with stable COPD or smokers without COPD.

Conclusion

HMPV is only found in a very small number of patients with AE-COPD. However it should be considered as a further possible viral trigger of AE-COPD because asymptomatic carriage is unlikely.     

Target tissues for relaxin identified in vitro with 125I-labelled porcine relaxin.

Various tissues from the mouse, rat and guinea-pig were used to examine the binding of a biologically active, esterified and 125I-labelled porcine relaxin. Binding to mouse symphysial homogenates was time- and temperature-dependent. Other peptide hormones did not complete with relaxin for binding. Mouse uterine tissue displayed similar binding characteristics. Fractionated mammary tissue from 15- and 20-day-pregnant rats exhibited significant relaxin binding activity, as did homogenates of the guinea-pig public symphysis and cervix. Under the conditions used, no relaxin receptors were noted in the liver, spleen or heart from any of the species investigated.     

Olfactory contribution to Fos expression during mating in inexperienced male hamsters

Male hamsters are very dependent on chemosensory cues for normal mating behavior. We have previously reported that central, vomeronasal pathways are intensely and selectively activated during mating or pheromonal stimulation. The contribution of main olfactory sensory input to the patterns of c-fos activation was investigated in this study. Sexually inexperienced male hamsters were either made anosmic by intranasal infusion of zinc sulfate or remained intact. Fos protein immunoreactivity was analyzed in main olfactory and vomeronasal pathways of the zinc sulfate-treated, anosmic animals after mating with receptive females for 45 min, and compared with Fos patterns seen in intact mating animals, some of which have been described in a previous publication. The zinc sulfate-treated anosmic males described here all mated when given access to receptive females. Whether mated or unstimulated, anosmic males had little or no Fos expression in main olfactory pathways; significantly less even than in unstimulated intact animals. Mating did not increase Fos expression in main olfactory pathways of intact animals over that of unstimulated intact controls. However, Fos expression in central vomeronasal pathways was significantly higher in mating anosmic males, as in intact males, compared with appropriate non-mating controls. Fos expression was significantly different between intact and zinc sulfate-treated anosmic mating males in only one area studied. The rostral anterior medial amygdala, known to receive a small olfactory terminal field, had significantly lower Fos expression in zinc sulfate-treated anosmic males that mated when compared with intact-mating animals. Thus, functional main olfactory input to the rostral vomeronasal amygdala can be demonstrated but does not appear to be critical for mating behavior in previously inexperienced male hamsters with intact vomeronasal organs. Other main olfactory input appears to have a negligible contribution to Fos-patterns in such animals.      

Intermediate filaments in nervous tissues

Intermediate filaments have been isolated from rabbit intradural spinal nerve roots by the axonal flotation method. This method was modified to avoid exposure of axons to low ionic strength medium. The purified filaments are morphologically 75-80 percent pure. The gel electrophoretogram shows four major bands migrating at 200,000, 145,000, 68,000, and 60,000 daltons, respectively. A similar preparation from rabbit brain shows four major polypeptides with mol wt of 200,000 145,000, 68,000, and 51,000 daltons. These results indicate that the neurofilament is composed of a triplet of polypepetides with mol wt of 200,000, 145,000, and 68,000 daltons. The 51,000-dalton band that appears in brain filament preparations as the major polypeptide seems to be of glial origin. The significance of the 60,000- dalton band in the nerve root filament preparation is unclear at this time. Antibodies raised against two of the triplet proteins isolated from calf brain localize by immunofluorescence to neurons in central and peripheral nerve. On the other hand, an antibody to the 51,000-dalton polypeptide gives only glial staining in the brain, and very weak peripheral nerve staining. Prolonged exposure of axons to low ionic strength medium solubilizes almost all of the triplet polypeptides, leaving behind only the 51,000- dalton component. This would indicate that the neurofilament is soluble at low ionic strength, whereas the glial filament is not. These results indicate that neurofilaments and glial filaments are composed of different polypeptides and have different solubility characteristics.