Carbohydrate analysis of water-soluble uronic acid-containing polysaccharides with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography using methanolysis combined with TFA hydrolysis is superior to four other methods.

Sulfuric acid hydrolysis according to the Saeman procedure, TFA hydrolysis, and methanolysis combined with TFA hydrolysis were compared for the hydrolysis of water-soluble uronic acid-containing polysaccharides originating from fungi, plants, and animals. The constituent sugar residues released were subsequently analyzed by either conventional GLC analysis of alditol acetates or high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed-amperometric detection. It was shown that TFA hydrolysis alone is not sufficient for complete hydrolysis. Sulfuric acid hydrolysis of these polysaccharides resulted in low recoveries of 6-deoxy-sugar residues. Best results were obtained by methanolysis combined with TFA hydrolysis. Methanolysis with 2 M HCl prior to TFA hydrolysis resulted in complete liberation of monosaccharides from pectic material and from most fungal and animal polysaccharides tested. Any incomplete hydrolysis could be assessed easily by HPAEC, by the detection of characteristic oligomeric products, which is difficult using alternative methods currently in use. Methanolysis followed by TFA hydrolysis of 20 micrograms water-soluble uronic acid containing polysaccharides and subsequent analysis of the liberated sugar residues by HPAEC allowed us to determine the carbohydrate composition of these polysaccharides rapidly and accurately in one assay without the need for derivatization.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 induces anergy in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by inducing interleukin-10 production.

The effects of recombinant gp120 on the proliferative responses and cytokine production by normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were investigated. gp120 inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MAb)- and concanavalin A-induced proliferative responses. The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 was diminished by gp120 in the anti-CD3- and concanavalin A-stimulated cultures. In unstimulated PBMC, gp120 induced the production of considerable amounts of IL-10, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The gp120-induced reduction in the proliferative responses of PBMC was at least partially reversed by the addition of IL-2, anti-CD28 MAb, or transfectants expressing CD80, CD86, or CD40 but not with exogenous IL-4. Also, a neutralizing anti-IL-10 MAb reversed the inhibitory effect of gp120 on the proliferative responses whereas exogenous IL-10 further enhanced this inhibitory effect. These findings indicate that IL-10 plays an important role in the inhibitory effect of gp120 on PBMC proliferation. The ratio of CD3+CD4+ to CD3+CD8+ T cells was the same in gp120-treated and untreated cell cultures. No apoptosis in these two T-cell populations was observed. However, the number of activated CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells, as judged by CD25, CD69, and HLA-DR expression, was consistently reduced. gp120 induced the expression of IL-10 in the monocyte/macrophage population, and therefore gp120 also reduced the proliferative responses of CD4+ T-cell-depleted PBMC. Taken together, our observations point to the importance of the cytokine pattern changes and, in particular, the role of IL-10 (produced by the monocytes) in the inhibitory effect of gp120. This mechanism of gp120-induced immunosuppression, if operative in vivo, could contribute to the depressed immune responses associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and thus have important implications for immunotherapeutic strategies to slow down disease progression in AIDS.     

An exogalacturonase from Aspergillus aculeatus able to degrade xylogalacturonan

Summary A pectic polysaccharide from soy was degraded by a crude extracellular preparation of Aspergillus aculeatus. Besides monomeric sugars, an unknown oligosaccharide was produced, which was purified and identified as the dimer -Xyl _p -(1,3)-GalA _p . The enzyme responsible for the release of this dimer was purified and characterized as an exogalacturonase, which was not hindered by side-chains of xylose.     

1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (ribavirin) and 5-ethynyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (EICAR) markedly potentiate the inhibitory effect of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine on human immunodeficiency virus in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Ribavirin and EICAR are two antiviral agents that share a similar antiviral activity spectrum and are targeted at inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase. Neither ribavirin nor EICAR inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in peripheral blood lymphocyte cells (PBL) at subtoxic concentrations. However, both compounds markedly potentiate the anti-HIV activity of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (DDI) in PBL cells without a marked increase of toxicity. Both the increased IMP levels and the decreased guanine nucleotide levels caused by ribavirin and EICAR may be responsible for their potentiating effect on the anti-HIV activity of DDI.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

CARNOY: A new digital measurement tool for palynology

Quantitative data play an important role in palynological research. With the advent of digital imaging in light and electron microscopy, palynologists now have the opportunity to perform measurements faster and more precisely than ever before. Several image analysis software packages already exist for these tasks, but they are often expensive, difficult to use or not adapted to the specific needs of palynologists. After studying the daily workflow of a palynologist, we designed CARNOY, an image analysis application written from the ground up for use in palynology and morphology. CARNOY offers an easy-to-use interface and several features to make measuring easier and faster. The program can export measurements to almost every other software package for further analysis and is available for free on the Internet.     

Onderwijs in het Nationaal Programma Ouderenzorg

The Netherlands Organisation of Health Research and Development started in 2008 the Dutch National Care for the Elderly Programme (in Dutch abbreviated as NPO) with the aim to improve the quality of life for the frail older people through better quality of care (health, social, community) which is tailored to the needs and wants of older people. The delivery of good care is related with competent professional behaviour which is inextricably linked to the education of professionals. This article presents an overview of 32 educational programmes developed within the NPO. Within the NPO different educational programmes were developed on relevant themes to improve elderly care. However, the programmes focused mainly on professionals in health care, especially those working in primary care. For nurses and nursing assistants and more or less for physicians also different educational programmes were developed. Educational programmes for paramedics or professionals working in social care, housing or in the municipalities were scarce. This is also the case for specific themes in elderly care like loneliness or (domestic) violence. Moreover, none of the experiments focused on older people or informal care givers. Although 22 of the 32 projects developed educational programmes for different groups, multi – or interdisciplinary education is rare in these programmes. Based on the overview we advise the development of more educational programmes on: target groups which were less or not addressed in the NPO, like professionals in social care and paramedics; multi- or interdisciplinary collaboration; and themes, like loneliness in older people and elder abuse.