Influence of sugars on the activity of cellulase system from two basidiomycetes cultures

Influence of some sugars was studied on activity of purified cellulase enzymes produced by two white-rot basidiomycetes cultures in submerged fermentation. Exo- and endo-glucanases were found to be stimulated by glucose, sucrose and xylose, but β-glucosidase was inhibited by all sugars tested except sucrose being neutral. Cellobiose severely inhibited all three cellulase activities at all three concentrations taken in reaction mixture.     

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene therapy in nasopharyngeal cancer

EBV-associated nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) occurs with high frequency in China and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. To explore the potential use of adenovirus-mediated tumor suppressor p53 gene therapy In NPC, we first examined the in vitro effects of p53 introduced into the NPC cell lines RPMI 2650, Fadu and Detroit 562. p21(WAF1/CIP1) induction by chemotherapy was used as a functional assay which revealed that RPMI 2650 expresses wild-type p53 whereas Fadu and Detroit 562 encode mutant p53. Infection with p53-expressing adenovirus (Ad-p53) induced apoptosis and inhibited cell growth in all three NPC cell lines, regardless of the endogenous p53 status. Adenovirus infectivity was greatest in RPMI 2650 cells, with 100% of the cells expressing beta-galactosidase following Ad-LacZ infection using an MOI of 100, as compared to 20-30% infectivity with the other NPC lines. Using RPMI 2650 cells injected into nude mice, we developed an animal model for nasopharyngeal cancer. Established tumors (0.6-0.8 cm) were injected with 5x10(9) PFU Ad-LacZ, Ad-p53 or PBS in a 100 mu l volume. We found evidence for in vivo expression of beta-galactosidase or p53 and p21 up to two weeks following Ad-LacZ or Ad-p53 virus injection respectively. Objective regression of tumor size was observed at two weeks in 4/6 Ad-p53-treated tumors, but not in Ad-LacZ or PBS-treated tumors. The results provide an animal model for human nasopharyngeal cancer, and indicate a potential use of p53 in its therapy in vivo.     

Volumetric control of continuous haemodialysis in multiorgan failure.

The authors have developed a system for volumetric control of continuous haemodialysis. The article describes this system and reports its successful use in providing renal support in the intensive care unit to 10 patients with multiorgan failure. In addition to providing effective treatment of uraemia, it permits the precise control of fluid balance in a prospective manner ("dial-up" fluid balance) while reducing nursing workload.     

Papillary thyroid carcinoma in a thyroglossal cyst

The incidence of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Thyroglossal Cyst is rare. Only about 160 cases have been reported in the last 85 years. We report a case of Thyroglossal Cyst who underwent Sistrunk ’s Operation. The Cyst was reported to contain a focus of papillary thyroid carcinoma. In the absence of metastases in thyroid gland and neck nodes, only thyroid suppression with Thyroxine was given. After I year of follow-up there are no metastases. The importance of Sistrunk’s operation lies not only in complete removal of Thyroglossal Cyst but also in management of small foci of Papillary thyroid Carcinoma.     

Analyses of odontometric sexual dimorphism and sex assessment accuracy on a large sample

Correct sex assessment of skeletonized human remains allows investigators to undertake a more focused search of missing persons' files to establish identity. Univariate and multivariate odontometric sex assessment has been explored in recent years on small sample sizes and have not used a test sample. Consequently, inconsistent results have been produced in terms of accuracy of sex allocation. This paper has derived data from a large sample of males and females, and applied logistic regression formulae on a test sample. Using a digital caliper, buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions of all permanent teeth (except third molars) were measured on 600 dental casts (306 females, 294 males) of young adults (18–32 years), and the data subjected to univariate (independent samples' t-test) and multivariate statistics (stepwise logistic regression analysis, or LRA). The analyses revealed that canines were the most sexually dimorphic teeth followed by molars. All tooth variables were larger in males, with 51/56 (91.1%) being statistically larger (p < 0.05). When the stepwise LRA formulae were applied to a test sample of 69 subjects (40 females, 29 males) of the same age range, allocation accuracy of 68.1% for the maxillary teeth, 73.9% for the mandibular teeth, and 71% for teeth of both jaws combined, were obtained. The high univariate sexual dimorphism observed herein contrasts with some reports of low, and sometimes reverse, sexual dimorphism (the phenomenon of female tooth dimensions being larger than males'); the LRA results, too, are in contradiction to a previous report of virtually 100% sex allocation for a small heterogeneous sample. These reflect the importance of using a large sample to quantify sexual dimorphism in tooth dimensions and the application of the derived formulae on a test dataset to ascertain accuracy which, at best, is moderate in nature.     

Incidence of Extensor Digitorum Brevis Manus Muscle

The extensor digitorum brevis manus, a supernumerary muscle in the fourth extensor compartment of the dorsum of the wrist, is a relatively rare anomalous muscle. Extensor digitorum brevis should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses on the dorsal aspect of the hand as it may mimic cystic, neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious masses arising in the dorsum of the wrist. Seventy-two upper limbs of male and female cadavers were dissected and examined to study the pattern of extensor tendons of the index finger. In the present study, we observed three cases (4.2%) of the extensor digitorum brevis manus on the left side. In one cadaver (0.72%), there was an additional tendon arising from the extensor indices which was inserted to the radial side of the dorsal digital expansion of the index finger. The extensor digitorum brevis manus muscle (EDBM), an anatomic variant of the extensor muscle of the dorsum of the hand, is found in approximately 2% to 3% of the population. This variation is, therefore, clinically and surgically relevant because the EDBM may be the only muscle responsible for the independent extension of the second digit. The aim of the present study is to report the incidences of this muscle thereby creating awareness of its existence and of its characteristic appearance to surgeons.