Characterization of ten proteins from the venom of the Moroccan scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus, six of which are toxic to the mouse

When the venom of the scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus was submitted to purification procedures, ten proteins were obtained; six were lethal to mice and four were devoid of toxicity in the biological tests used. The ten molecules were characterized by their amino acid composition, and among them toxin V and polypeptide P2 by their amino acid sequences. Peptide P2 (35 amino acid residues), a structural homologue of the so called Buthus epeus short 'insectotoxins' I1 and I5, was inactive on fly larvae and absent from the 'manual venom' obtained by manual handling and excitation of the scorpions.     

Universal linkage system: an improved method for labeling archival DNA for comparative genomic hybridization.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has become a powerful technique for studying gains and losses of DNA sequences in solid tumors. Importantly, DNA derived from archival tumor tissue is also applicable in CGH analysis. However, DNA isolated from routinely processed, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is often degraded, with the bulk of DNA showing fragment sizes of only 400-750 bp. Enzymatic labeling of archival DNA by standard nick translation (NT) decreases DNA size even further, until it becomes too small for CGH (<300 bp). This study presents application in CGH of a commercially available, non-enzymatic labeling method, called Universal Linkage System (ULS), that leaves the DNA fragment size intact. To compare the effect of chemical labeling of archival DNA by ULS vs. enzymatic by NT on the quality of CGH, DNA derived from 16 tumors was labeled by both ULS and NT. In those cases (n = 8), in which the bulk of DNA had a fragment size of 400-1,000 bp, CGH was successful with ULS-labeled probes, but not with NT-labeled probes. In the DNA samples (n = 6) with a fragment size > 1 kb, the intensity of CGH signals was comparable for both ULS- and NT-labeled probes, but CGH with ULS-labeled samples showed a high, speckled, background, which seriously hampered image analysis. In the remaining two cases, which had evenly distributed DNA fragment sizes (range 250-5,000 bp), CGH was successful with both labeling methods. Using DNA fragment size < 1 kb as a selection criterion for ULS labeling, we were able to obtain good quality CGH of a large panel (n = 77) of a variety of archival solid tumors. We conclude that ULS is an excellent labeling method for performing CGH on small-fragment-sized DNA.     

Use of synthetic peptides for the detection of antibodies against the nef regulating protein in sera of HIV-infected patients

Human sera were tested for the presence of anti-nef antibodies by radioimmunoassay (RIA), with recombinant radiolabelled nef expressed in E. coli. Of the 300 HIV-positive sera tested by RIA, 70 +/- 5.3% were found to be anti-nef positive. Anti-nef antibodies bound to nef with a high affinity (K 0.5 = 2.2 x 10(-9) M). In 31 of the sera, the specificity of anti-nef antibodies was further analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with large synthetic peptides ranging from 31 to 66 amino acid residues and spanning the total sequence of nef from HIV-1. The results obtained showed that the immunodominant antigenic sites of nef were located close to the N- and C-terminal regions of the molecule.     

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor versus placebo in addition to penicillin G in a randomized blinded study of gram-negative pneumonia sepsis: analysis of survival and multisystem organ failure

Sepsis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Neutrophils are the major defense against bacterial invasion, and granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF) augments both neutrophil number and function. In our study, 160 rabbits were inoculated transtracheally with 0.5 mL of a solution containing 10(4) colony forming units per milliliter of Pasteurella multocida. Twenty-four hours later, chest x- rays and quantitative blood cultures demonstrated pneumonia and bacteremia. Therapy was then begun with penicillin G and either recombinant human G-CSF (rG-CSF; 5 to 8 micrograms/kg subcutaneously) or placebo every day for 5 days. Arterial blood gases and 23 other parameters of organ function were performed before inoculation and serially thereafter. All rabbits underwent histologic examination of organs at the time of septic death or when sacrificed on day 6. A total of 149 rabbits survived long enough to initiate therapy. A significant increase in leukocytes by day 4 was found in the rG-CSF-treated group. There was a trend towards improved survival in the rG-CSF group (77% v 67%; P = .13, n = 149). Analysis of pretreatment variables revealed sepsis-induced leukopenia (< or = 2,800/microL) as the only predictor of significantly improved survival with rG-CSF treatment (57% v 39%; P = .04, n = 73). The majority of the survival benefit occurred within the first 24 hours of treatment. This was before the time that a significant difference in mean white blood cell (WBC) count was observed between the study groups, making intravascular leukocytosis an unlikely explanation for the survival advantage in the rG-CSF group. No significant difference in laboratory variables reflecting organ function was demonstrated between the groups. Histologic grading of inflammation (0, normal, to 6, necrosis) in seven organs revealed that the surviving rabbits had mild but statistically significant increased inflammation in the liver, spleen, and noninoculated lung in the rG-CSF versus placebo groups (liver: 2.6 v 1.5, P < or = .0001; spleen: 3.2 v 2.3, P < or = .0001; and noninoculated lung: 2.9 v 2.5, P = .04). Administration of rG-CSF, in addition to penicillin G, in immune competent rabbits with gram-negative sepsis complicated by leukopenia significantly improved survival over antibiotics alone. The administration of rG-CSF in early sepsis for a short therapeutic duration was not associated with any clinically evident toxicity. Clinical trials using rG-CSF in septic patients with leukopenia are indicated.     

Predictors of Functional Recovery in Patients Admitted to Geriatric Postacute Rehabilitation

Objective

To examine characteristics associated with functional recovery in older patients undergoing postacute rehabilitation.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

Postacute rehabilitation facility.

Participants

Patients (N=2754) aged ≥65 years admitted over a 4-year period.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

Functional status was assessed at admission and again at discharge. Functional recovery was defined as achieving at least 30% improvement on the Barthel Index score from admission compared with the maximum possible room for improvement.

Results

Patients who achieved functional recovery (70.3%) were younger and were more likely to be women, live alone, and be without any formal home care before admission, and they had fewer chronic diseases (all P<.01). They also had better cognitive status and a higher Barthel Index score both at admission (mean ± SD, 63.3±18.0 vs 59.6±24.7) and at discharge (mean ± SD, 86.8±10.4 vs 62.2±22.9) (all P<.001). In multivariate analysis, patients <75 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–1.98; P=.003), women (adjusted OR=1.24; 95% CI, 1.01–1.52; P=.045), patients living alone (adjusted OR=1.61; 95% CI, 1.31–1.98; P<.001), and patients without in-home help prior to admission (adjusted OR=1.39; 95% CI, 1.15–1.69; P=.001) remained at increased odds of functional recovery. In addition, compared with those with moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score <18), patients with mild-to-moderate impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score 19–23) and those cognitively intact also had increased odds of functional recovery (adjusted OR=1.56; 95% CI, 1.13–2.15; P=.007; adjusted OR=2.21; 95% CI, 1.67–2.93; P<.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Apart from sociodemographic characteristics, cognition is the strongest factor that identifies older patients more likely to improve during postacute rehabilitation. Further study needs to determine how to best adapt rehabilitation processes to better meet the specific needs of this population and optimize their outcome.     

Über die binokulare Verschmelzung von Li-Rot und Th-Grün

Zusammenfassung Binokulare Verschmelzung vonLi-Rot undTh-Grün ist bei jedem Mengenverhältnis möglich. Bei bestimmtem Mengenverhältnis wird die Mischfarbe unsicher und es tritt leicht Wettstreit ein, es ist jedoch auch dann eine beträchtliche Verschmelzung der Komponenten zu einer neuen Farbe unverkennbar.Bei binokularer Mischung ist bei starken quantitativen Überwiegen einer der Komponenten die Mischfarbe der monokularen gleich. Sonst ist die Mischfarbe im allgemeinen kurzwelliger (grüner) wie bei monokularer Mischung.Ein Gelb, das dem Lichte derNa-Linie und deren Umgebung entspricht, kann nicht binokular ausLi undTh entstehen.Bei binokularen Farbenmischungen zeigt das psychisch überherrschende Auge (Oeuil directeur nach Parinaud) auch in dem Resultate der Mischung seine Überlegenheit.     

Sympathische Ophthalmie ohne Iridocyclitis auf dem verletzten Auge

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Über die Veränderungen im Zentralnervensystem bei Pocken (Variola)

Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit wird ein Fall von nervösen Komplikationen bei Pocken beschrieben, welcher sich von den wenigen bisher in der Literatur vorliegenden durch die Wucherung der faserigen Glia unterscheidet. Dieser Unterschied wird aus dem Umstand erklärt, daß der Patient eine längere Zeit nach dem Anfang der Erkrankung lebte, wodurch eine beginnende Narbenbildung im Rückenmark stattfinden konnte. Die pathologischen Veränderungen werden als eine besondere Form von Myeloencephalitis gedeutet, welche durch das Variolavirus hervorgerufen wurde. Des weiteren wird der Wert eines Studiums der endogenen Faktoren der befallenen Patienten betont. Unter Berücksichtigung der Literatur wird die Analogie mit den histologischen Bildern bei Vaccine-Encephalomyelitis hervorgehoben. Schließlich wird Stellung genommen gegenüber der Auffassung, eine Reihe von Krankheiten aus morphologischen Gründen zu einer ätiologischen Gruppe zu vereinigen, in welcher die charakteristischen histologischen Veränderungen von einem latenten aktivierten Virus hervorgerufen sind.     

Die pupillenverengernden Fasern im Trigeminus beim Kaninchen

Zusammenfassung Wenn man bei einem Kaninchen die N. Sympathici und Oculomotorii durchschnitten hat, wird nach Zerstörung der Medulla die Pupille stark verengert. Diese Verengerung wird durch Reizung des Trigeminus verursacht. Der Trigeminus enthält von seinem Ursprung an Pupillenverengerer, die von den Oculomotoriusfasern ganz verschieden sind.Diese Pupillenverengerer sind an der medialen Seite des Nerven durch mechanische und faradische Reize isoliert erregbar.Pupillenerweiterer sind nur peripher vom Ganglion Gasseri, nicht aber im Stamme des V. nachweisbar.