Formation and characterization of chitosan membranes

In this paper, hydrophilic polymer membranes based on macromolecular chitosan networks have been synthesized and characterized. The structure of the membrane has been altered in several ways during the formation to adjust the properties, particularly with regard to the elasticity, tensile strength, permeability, and surface structure. An alteration of the network structure was achieved by addition of flexibilizer, cross-linking with dialdehydes, symplex formation of the chitosan with the polyanion sulfoethyl cellulose, and the introduction of artificial pores on the micro- and nanometer scale into the chitosan matrix with silica particles or poly(ethylene glycol). The resulting network structures and morphologies of these unique membranes that combine the novel alteration techniques have been characterized in detail and correlated with molecular parameters of the chitosan as degree of deacetylation, molar mass, and charge density. Finally, we report on the impact of the new network structures on physical properties of the membranes, the water vapor and gas permeability and the tensile strength, to evaluate possible application of the membranes as a wet wound dressing material with microbial barrier function that actively assists the healing process of problematic wounds. Parts of the novel combined membrane alteration and formation techniques are now covered by the patent DE 102004047115.     

Genetic characterization of residual <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triatoma infestans</Emphasis> populations from Brazil by microsatellite

In spite of long-term efforts to eliminate Triatoma infestans (Klug 1834) from Brazil, residual foci still persist in the states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul. Data on the genetic variability and structuring of these populations are however lacking. Using nine microsatellite loci, we characterized one residual T. infestans population from Bahia and four from Rio Grande do Sul, and compared them with bugs originally from an older focus in São Paulo; 224 bugs were genotyped. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 11. Observed and expected heterozygosities per locus ranged, respectively, from 0 to 0.786 and from 0 to 0.764. Significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, mainly due to heterozygote deficits, were detected in all loci and in most populations. Global indices estimated by AMOVA were: Fis was 0.37; Fst was 0.28; and Fit was 0.55; overall indices with p?=?0.00 indicated substantial differentiation. Inter-population Fst ranged from 0.118 to 0.562, suggesting strong genetic structuring and little to no gene flow among populations. Intra-population Fis ranged from 0.301 to 0.307. Inbreeding was apparent in all populations except that from Bahia—which might be either linked by gene flow to nearby unsampled populations or part of a relatively large local population. The overall pattern of strong genetic structuring among pyrethroid-susceptible residual T. infestans populations suggests that their persistence is probably due to operational control failures. Detection and elimination of such residual foci is technically feasible and must become a public health priority in Brazil.     

Wireless vitals—Proof of concept for wireless patient monitoring in an emergency department setting

Vital sign assessment is a common task in emergency medicine, but resources for continuous monitoring are restricted, data is often recorded manually, and entangled wires cause frustration. Therefore, we designed a small, wireless photoplethysmographic device capable of continuously assessing pulse, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation on the sternum and tested the performance and feasibility in an emergency department setting. Fifty (56.3 ± 20.2 years), consenting emergency patients (29 male) were recruited. Heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were recorded simultaneously using the device and standard monitoring equipment. Data was compared using Bland‐Altman plotting (heart rate, respiratory rate) and mean difference (oxygen saturation). The bias for heart‐ and respiratory rate was 0.4 (limits of agreements ?11.3, 12.2 and ?6.1, 7.0). Mean difference for oxygen saturation was ?0.21 ± 2.35%. This may be the first wireless device to use photoplethysmography on the sternum for vital sign assessment. We noted good agreement with standard monitors, but lack of standardization in data processing between monitoring systems may limit the generalizability of these findings. Although further improvements are needed, the feasibility of this approach provides proof of concept for a new paradigm of large scale, wireless patient monitoring.      

The effect of NADP-dependent malic enzyme expression and anaerobic C4 metabolism in Escherichia coli compared with other anaplerotic enzymes

AIMS: To understand the modification of C4-metabolism under anaerobic glycolysis condition by overexpressing anaplerotic enzymes, which mediating carboxylation of C3 into C4 metabolites, in Escherichia coli. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anaplerotic NADP-dependent malic enzyme (MaeB), as well as the other anaplerotic enzymes, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (Ppc), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck) and NAD-dependent malic enzyme (MaeA), were artificially expressed and their C4 metabolism was compared in E. coli. Increasing MaeB expression enhanced the production of C4 metabolites by 2.4 times compared to the wild-type strain in anaerobic glucose medium with bicarbonate supplementation. In MaeB expression, C4 metabolism by supplementing 10 g l(-1) of NaHCO(3) was three times than that by no supplementation, which showed the greatest response to increased CO(2) availability among the tested anaplerotic enzyme expressions. CONCLUSIONS: The higher C4 metabolism was achieved in E. coli expressing increased levels of the NADPH-dependent MaeB. The greatest increase in the C4 metabolite ratio compared to the other tested enzymes were also found in E. coli with enhanced MaeB expression as CO(2) availability increased. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The higher C4 metabolites and related biomolecule productions can be accomplished by MaeB overexpression in metabolically engineered E. coli.     

Diet of two icefish species from the South Shetland Islands and Elephant Island,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Champsocephalus gunnari</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Chaenocephalus aceratus</Emphasis>

The summer diet of two species of icefishes (Channichthyidae) from the South Shetland Islands and Elephant Island, Champsocephalus gunnari and Chaenocephalus aceratus, was investigated from 2001 to 2003. Champsocephalus gunnari fed almost exclusively on krill (Euphausia superba) in all years. The importance of other taxa (Themisto gaudichaudii, mysids, myctophids) in the diet was negligible. The average feeding rate of Champsocephalus gunnari inferred from an exponential gastric evacuation model was between 1.0 and 1.5% body weight per day. Most of the stomachs of Chaenocephalus aceratus were empty. Stomachs with food contained mainly krill, mysids and fish. Among the fish taken, locally abundant species formed the bulk of the diet: Gobionotothen gibberifrons in 2001, Lepidonotothen larseni and Champsocephalus gunnari in 2002 and L. larseni in 2003. An ontogenetic shift in feeding preference of Chaenocephalus aceratus was observed: fish smaller than 30 cm fed on krill and mysids, while larger animals relied primarily on fish.     

Interaction of Gbeta3s,a splice variant of the G-protein Gbeta3, with Ggamma- and Galpha-proteins

The T-allele of a polymorphism (C825T) in the gene of the G-protein beta3-subunit is associated with a complex phenotype (hypertension, obesity, altered drug responses) and the occurrence of a splice variant termed Gbeta3s which lacks one of the seven WD-domains that compose Gbeta-proteins. Here, we analysed Gbetagamma dimer formation and Galpha activation by Gbeta3s, key functional characteristics of Gbeta-proteins. Cleavage protection assays frequently used to analyse Gbeta1gamma and Gbeta2gamma dimer formation failed for Gbeta3 and Gbeta3s, while in coprecipitation assays, dimerization of Gbeta3 and Gbeta3s with Ggamma5, Ggamma8(c) and Ggamma12 could be demonstrated. Upon expression of Gbeta3s in COS-7 and Sf9 insect cells, binding of GTPgammaS to Galpha-proteins induced by mastoparan-7 and the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor was facilitated in comparison with cells overexpressing wildtype Gbeta3, as indicated by twofold reduced agonist EC(50) values. Together, these results indicate that Gbeta3s is a biologically active Gbeta-protein that may mediate the enhanced signal transduction observed in cells with the 825T-allele.