Ultrastructural evidence for the uptake of a neurotoxic snake venom phospholipase A2 into mammalian motor nerve terminals

A mutant form of ammodytoxin A, a neurotoxic phospholipase A₂ from the venom of the long nosed viper Vipera ammodytes ammodytes, was prepared by site-directed mutagenesis, conjugated to a nanogold particle and inoculated into the antero-lateral aspect of one hind limb of female mice. Eight hours later the mice were killed, the soleus muscles of both ipsi- and contra-lateral hind limbs were removed, exposed to a silver enhancing medium and then prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Silver-enhanced particles were subsequently found concentrated in the peri-synaptic area, particularly within the synaptic gutter and the deep synaptic folds, and in many cases had been taken up into the cytoplasm of the terminal boutons of the motor axon. The results suggest that the presynaptic neurotoxicity of snake venom phospholipases A₂ involves several components of the neuromuscular apparatus, including intracellular organelles of the motor nerve terminal.     

A reaction route graph analysis of the electrochemical hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions

The reaction route (RR) graph approach recently developed by us for complex, non-linear kinetic mechanisms is applied to the hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions. A corresponding RR graph is constructed and translated into an equivalent electrical circuit network by associating each elementary step with a characteristic resistance for the steady-state case and considering the overall reaction as a power source. It is further shown that the steady-state kinetics of the reaction can be investigated employing the conventional methods of the electrical network theory. Using a set of rate constants for the hydrogen evolution reaction (her) in alkaline solutions from the literature, the dominant RRs are identified and simplified mechanisms and kinetics derived.     

Antibacterial properties of 4 orthodontic cements.

BACKGROUND: White spot lesions are observed in nearly 50% of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Long-lasting antibacterial properties of orthodontic cements can reduce this phenomenon. METHODS: The antibacterial properties of 4 orthodontic cements were evaluated by direct contact test (DCT) and agar diffusion test (ADT). With the DCT technique, octet specimens of glass ionomer (CX-Plus; Shofu, Kyoto, Japan), reinforced glass ionomer (GC Fuji ORTHO LC; GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and 2 composite (Transbond XT and Transbond Plus; 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) orthodontic cements were placed on the sidewalls of wells of a 96-microtiter plate. Streptococcus mutans cells (ca. 1 x 10(6) ) were placed on the surface of each specimen for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. Then, fresh media was added to each well, and bacterial growth was monitored for 16 hours with a temperature-controlled spectrophotometer. This was repeated on specimens aged in phosphate-buffered saline for 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. The ADT was performed by placing specimens in wells punched in agar plates. RESULTS: Measurement of the halo in bacterial lawn after 48 hours showed that only the glass ionomer cement (CX-Plus) produced an inhibition zone (1.2 mm around the sample). Results at the DCT showed that only the reinforced glass ionomer cement (GC Fuji ORTHO LC) exhibited potent antibacterial activity, which lasted 1 week and diminished over the next 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The reinforced glass ionomer cement possessed the most potent and long-lasting antibacterial activity.     

Working conditions and health-related measures in the processing of waste products of phosphorus-containing mineral fertilizers]

In the processing of the waste products of phosphorus containing fertilizer production, several major health-related factors were identified depending on the industrial site's peculiarities: unfavourable microclimate conditions (both cold and heat), relative temperature differences, noise and vibration caused by the equipment, semi-product's, additives' and finished product's dusts, fluorine- and phosphorus-containing substances' affects and poor illumination. The proposed data were used for health-related improvements in the occupational conditions.