Salivary IgA antibody to glucosyltransferase in man.

Parotid salivas of 97 young adults were screened for IgA antibody to glucosyltransferase (GTF) from laboratory strains of Streptococcus mutans (serotypes c and g). Antibody levels to GTF from serotype c positively correlated with levels to serotype g GTF among these salivas. GTF's were prepared from S. mutans obtained from a subset of individuals in this population. All but one saliva showed IgA antibody activity to all of the GTF tested. In addition, the relative magnitude of each subject's antibody level was generally the highest to the GTF from their own S. mutans. Fractions, enriched for IgA by ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration, showed patterns of functional inhibition of GTF activity which were consistent with patterns of IgA antibody activity in ELISA of unfractionated salivas. These data indicate that detectable levels of IgA antibody to S. mutans GTF exist in many young adult salivas, while this IgA antibody activity reacts with GTF from different biotypes, subjects generally show the highest secretory IgA antibody levels to their own GTF, and the relative amount of IgA antibody to GTF and the ability to inhibit GTF activity are roughly correlated.     

Serological identification of oral Bacteroides spp. by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A rapid method for identifying black-pigmented oral Bacteroides spp. is described. Species-specific rabbit antisera to Bacteroides gingivalis, B. intermedius, and B. melaninogenicus were used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify clinical isolates of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. from humans. The results showed excellent agreement with biochemical identification of B. gingivalis and B. intermedius. Only 36% of the B. melaninogenicus isolates were identified with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, suggesting that this group of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. is made up of more than one serotype. The serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay should enable rapid identification of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. isolated from sites of oral diseases and may also be used to identify the presence of these organisms in complex bacterial mixtures from oral sites.     

Role for recombinant gamma-glutamyltransferase from Treponema denticola in glutathione metabolism

Volatile sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), have been implicated in the development of periodontal disease. Glutathione is an important thiol source for H(2)S production in periodontal pockets. Our recent studies have delineated a pathway of glutathione metabolism in Treponema denticola that releases H(2)S. In this pathway, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been proposed to catalyze the first step of glutathione degradation. We have cloned the gene of GGT from T. denticola, which contains an open reading frame of 726 bp encoding a protein of 241 amino acids. Transformation of this gene into Escherichia coli led to the expression of a recombinant protein. After purification by chromatography, the recombinant protein showed enzymatic activity typical of GGT, catalyzing the degradation of Na-gamma-glutamyl-4-nitroaniline (GNA) and the hydrolysis of glutathione, releasing glutamic acid or glutamine and cysteinylglycine. L-Cysteine is not a substrate of GGT. Importantly, GNA, when added to T. denticola, was able to compete with glutathione and inhibit the production of H(2)S, ammonia, and pyruvate. This was accompanied by the suppression of hemoxidative and hemolytic activities of the bacteria. Purified GGT was inactivated by TLCK (Nalpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone) and proteinase K treatment. However, higher enzymatic activity was demonstrated in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol. Our further experiments showed that the addition of recombinant GGT to Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium without significant glutathione-metabolizing capacity, drastically increased the utilization of glutathione by the bacterium, producing H(2)S, ammonia, and pyruvate. This was again accompanied by enhanced bacterial hemoxidative and hemolytic activities. Together, the results suggest an important role for GGT in glutathione metabolism in oral bacteria.     

The effects of leg angular velocity on mean power frequency and amplitude of the mechanomyographic signal

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of leg angular velocity on the mean power frequency (MPF) and amplitude of the mechanomyographic (MMG) signal during maximal concentric (CON) isokinetic muscle actions. Sixteen adult subjects performed maximal CON leg extensions on a calibrated Cybex 6000 dynamometer at leg angular velocities of 60 and 300 degrees.s-1. MMG was detected by a piezoelectric crystal contact sensor placed over the mid-portion of the vastus lateralis muscle. The results indicated a significant (p < 0.05) velocity-related decrease in peak torque (PT) and increase in MMG amplitude from 60 to 300 degrees.s-1. There was, however, no velocity-related change (p > 0.05) in MMG MPF. These findings did not support our hypothesis that increases across velocity in MMG amplitude were due to decreases in muscle stiffness as a result of a shift in the contribution of slow and fast-twitch muscle fibers to PT production. Future research should examine the potential influence of actin-myosin cycling rate as well as limb movement on the MPF and amplitude of the MMG signal.     

Three-dimensional modeling of the anatomy of the heart and great vessels

Summary The anatomic constraints imposed on a total artificial heart (TAH) require specific anatomic studies. A thoracic anatomic study was performed with a scanning device equipped with three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction software on 15 male patients, between the ages of 41 to 63 years (52 ± 6 years). All were candidates for heart transplantation. The 3-D reconstructions of the cardiovascular structures obtained from surgical anatomy data specific to TAH implantation allowed a volumetric measurement of these structures. A modeling diagram of these structures permitted reproducible quantitative measurements of the 35 geometrical parameters which characterized shape, orientation, and position of these structures within the thorax. Most of the measured parameters were characterized by low variability (coefficient of variation from 10 to 25%).

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Modélisation tridimensionnelle de l'anatomie du cur et des gros vaisseaux

Résumé Les contraintes anatomiques imposées au cur artificiel total (CAT) nécessitent des études anatomiques spécifiques. Une étude anatomique thoracique a été réalisée avec un scanner doté d'un logiciel de reconstruction tridimensionnelle (3-D) chez 15 patients, tous de sexe masculin, agés de 41 à 63 ans (52 ± 6 ans), et candidats à une transplantation cardiaque. Les reconstructions 3-D des structures cardio-vasculaires réalisées selon les données de l'anatomie chirurgicale propre à l'implantation du CAT ont permis la mesure volumétrique de ces structures. Un schéma de modélisation de ces structures a permis des mesures quantitatives reproductibles de 35 paramètres géométriques caractéristiques de la forme, de l'orientation, de la position de ces structures dans le thorax. Les résultats de ces mesures ont pu être exprimés en termes statistiques. La plupart des paramètres mesurés étaient caractérisés par une faible variabilité (coefficients de variations de 10 à 25%).

     

Frataxin is reduced in Friedreich ataxia patients and is associated with mitochondrial membranes

Friedreich ataxia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the frataxin gene. In order to unravel frataxin function we developed monoclonal antibodies raised against different regions of the protein. These antibodies detect a processed 18 kDa protein in various human and mouse tissues and cell lines that is severely reduced in Friedreich ataxia patients. By immunocytofluorescence and immunocytoelectron microscopy we show that frataxin is located in mitochondria, associated with the mitochondrial membranes and crests. Analysis of cellular localization of various truncated forms of frataxin expressed in cultured cells and evidence of removal of an N-terminal epitope during protein maturation demonstrated that the mitochondrial targetting sequence is encoded by the first 20 amino acids. Given the shared clinical features between Friedreich ataxia, vitamin E deficiency and some mitochondriopathies, our data suggest that a reduction in frataxin results in oxidative damage.      

CD40 expression by gingival fibroblasts: correlation of phenotype with function

CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor family, is constitutively expressed by cells of hematopoietic and non- hematopoietic origin, including fibroblasts. Signaling through this receptor molecule regulates inflammatory cytokine secretion by many cell types. Based on the recently described cytokine secretory heterogeneity of fibroblast cell subsets, we hypothesized that secretion of inflammatory cytokines by gingival fibroblast cultures may be dictated by the existence of differential proportions of cytokine- secreting subpopulations which express high levels of CD40. After examining a large number of gingival fibroblast (GF) cultures we find that the frequency of IL-6- and IL-8-secreting cells mirrors the frequency of cells expressing high levels of CD40 in these cultures. In addition, we demonstrate a direct functional relationship between CD40 expression and IL-6 or IL-8 secretion by showing that ligation of this molecule on GF, and CD40+ fibroblast subsets in particular, up- regulates secretion of these cytokines in vitro.