Emulsifier from a tropical marine yeast, yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589

A tropical marine strain of Yarrowia lipolytica, NCIM 3589 produced emulsifier in the presence of alkanes or crude oil. The mode of alkane uptake in this organism was by attachment to large droplets. An emulsifier (lipid-carbohydrate-protein) complex was associated with the cell wall. This emulsifier increased the hydrophobicity of the cells during the growth phase. In the stationary phase, the organism produced the emulsifier extracellularly under conditions of carbon excess and nitrogen limitation. Other requirements for extracellular emulsifier production included an initial pH of 8.0 and the presence of sodium chloride at a concentration of 2 to 3% (342 to 513 mM). The cell-associated and extracellular emulsifier was shown to have similar properties.     

Turn-up bone flap for lengthening the below-knee amputation stump

When amputation just below the knee becomes necessary after extensive loss of bone from the tibia and of anterior soft tissue in the treatment of tumours, fractures or infection, the remaining proximal tibia may be too short for a below-knee prosthesis, although the knee may be normal. We have included the distal tibia or foot in a long posterior flap by turning it up thus increasing the length of a very short proximal tibial stump. The knee is thereby saved, allowing satisfactory use of a below-knee prosthesis. This technique is particularly applicable when the distal leg is normal and well vascularised. Five procedures have been undertaken. We present two illustrative cases.     

The supracondylar femoral nail in tibia

We have found the intramedullary supracondylar femoral nail to be useful in special situations involving the tibia: proximal tibial fractures and nonunions, intercalary resections for tumors in the proximal or distal tibial diaphysis, and tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodeses. We report on ten such cases.

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Résumé Nous avons trouvé que le clou centromédullaire supracondylien fémoral pouvait être utile dans des situations particulières au niveau du tibia: les fractures et pseudarthroses proximales tibiales, les résections intercalaires pour tumeurs diaphysaires tibiales proximales ou distales et les arthrodèses tibio-astragalo-calcanéennes. Nous rapportons 10 cas illustrant ces situations.

     

Correlation of lead and cadmium in human seminal plasma with seminal vesicle and prostatic markers

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between lead and cadmium with seminal vesicle and prostatic markers. Semen samples categorized into fertile and infertile were evaluated for the presence of lead and cadmium and biochemical markers in the seminal plasma. Associations between lead and fructose, acid phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) were observed. However, no such relationships were noticed for cadmium. It is concluded that lead may be one of the pollutants indirectly affecting semen quality by altering the functions of accessory sex glands.     

Equilibrium and kinetics studies on removal of arsenite by iron oxide coated activated alumina

Arsenic in drinking water is causing much concern because of its toxicity. It occurs in water naturally as As(III) and As(V). Of these As (III) is more toxic. Adsorption on activated alumina has been one of the most commonly used methods for As (V) removal from drinking water. But it is not very effective for As (III). Activated alumina was modified by coating it with Iron oxide to make it suitable for As (III) adsorption. Iron oxide coated activated alumina was tested for its effectiveness as an adsorbent for As (III). The As (III) adsorption was strongly dependent on pH and a maximum removal of 98% was observed at a pH of 12. The adsorption process followed a first order kinetics. The equilibrium was attained after 8 hours. The kinetic study was carried out with different initial As (III) concentration. It was observed that time taken to attain equilibrium was independent of initial concentration but percentage removal decreased with increasing initial concentration. The adsorption isotherms were fitted well to both Langmuir and Freundlich equation.     

Mechanisms of suppression of neoplastic transformation in vitro by low doses of low LET radiation

Suppression of neoplastic transformation of HeLa x skin fibroblasthuman hybrid cells in vitro following low doses of low linearenergy transfer radiation has been reported previously. Thepresent study represents an exploration of two hypothesizedmechanisms that may underlie this observed suppression. Theseare the up-regulation of reduced glutathione (GSH), a knownantioxidant, and induction of DNA repair activity. The hybridcells were found to have a high endogenous level of GSH andno induction following low doses of 60 kVp X-rays was observed.Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a GSH biosynthesis inhibitor,completely suppressed GSH levels in both unirradiated and irradiatedcells. Furthermore, there was no significant impact of BSO-inducedsuppression of GSH on the neoplastic transformation frequencyof either unirradiated or low dose irradiated cells indicatingthat glutathione levels play no role in the low dose suppressionof transformation frequency. To assess the possible role ofDNA repair in the low dose suppression of transformation theeffect of 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a poly-ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP) inhibitor was examined. In these experiments, there wasno significant effect of 3-AB on the transformation frequencyat a dose of Cs-137 gamma rays of 0.5 cGy, however, at a doseof 5 cGy there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in thetransformation frequency in the presence of 3-AB. These findingssuggest that the influence of DNA repair on the low dose suppressionof transformation is significant at a dose of 5 cGy, but notat the lower dose of 0.5 cGy.     

Neurofilament protein synthesis and phosphorylation

Neurofilament proteins, a major intermediate filament component of the neuronal cytoskeleton, are organized as 10 nm thick filaments in axons and dendrites. They are large, abundantly phosphorylated proteins with numerous phosphate acceptor sites, up to 100 in some cases, organized as numerous repeat motifs. Together with other cytoskeletal components such as microtubules, MAPs, actin and plectin-like linking molecules, they make up a dynamic lattice that sustains neuronal function from neuronal "birthday" to apoptotic cell death. The activity of the neuronal cytoskeleton is regulated by phosphorylation, dephosphorylation reactions mediated by numerous associated kinases, phosphatases and their regulators. Factors regulating multisite phosphorylation of NFs are topographically localized, with maximum phosphorylation of NF proteins consigned to axons. Phosphorylation defines the nature of NF interactions with one another and with other cytoskeletal components such as microtubules, MAPs and actin. To understand how these functional interactions are regulated by phosphorylation we attempt to identify the relevant kinases and phosphatases, their specific targets and the factors modulating their activity. As an initial working model we propose that NF phosphorylation is regulated topographically in neurons by compartment-specific macromolecular complexes of substrates, kinases and phosphatases. This implies that axonal complexes differ structurally and functionally from those in cell bodies and dendrites. Such protein assemblies, by virtue of conformational changes within proteins, facilitate ordered, sequential multisite phosphorylations that modulate dynamic cytoskeletal interactions.     

Training non-neurologists to diagnose epilepsy

PurposeNarrowing the epilepsy treatment gap in the world's poorest countries is one of the greatest challenges that the epilepsy community faces. The reliable diagnosis of epilepsy is the first step in this. In well-off countries, doctors, often neurologists, carry this out but this is unrealistic in the developing world where there are often no neurologists, particularly in the rural areas where most people live. Other health professionals therefore need to acquire the skills to diagnose epilepsy.MethodA trainee doctor and a nurse accompanied an experienced neurologist on epilepsy camps in Nepal. Answers to a defined set of about 50 questions were obtained from each patient. The two participants made the diagnosis, of epilepsy or not epilepsy, independently of each other and of the neurologist. Their diagnoses were then compared with those of the neurologist who then explained the reasons for his diagnosis.ResultsAgreement between each participant and the neurologist increased from about 50% at the start to over 90% after 20 patients. In one of the participants a high level of agreement was maintained 12 months later.ConclusionIt is possible to train non-neurologists to diagnose epilepsy like a neurologist after exposure to only 20 patients in the company of that neurologist. This is a way in which experienced neurologists can help narrow the treatment gap in poorer parts of the world.