The complete amino acid sequence of the Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. seed trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor

The amino acid sequence of the "double-headed" trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor (BTCI), purified from the cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv "Seridó" was determined in our laboratory. Tryptic and chymotryptic peptides were sequenced by the Edman-Gray and Edman-Chang N-terminal manual method as well as the carboxypeptidase C-terminal method. The complete amino acid sequence of the BTCI is: Ser-Gly-His-His-Glx-Asx-Ser-Thr-Asx-Glx-Ala-Ser-Glx-Ser-Ser-Lys-Pro-Cys- Cys-Arg- Glx-Cys-Ala-Cys-Thr-Lys-Ser-Ile-Pro-Pro-Glx-Cys-Arg-Cys-Ser-Asx-Val-Arg- Leu-Asn- Ser-Cys-His-Ser-Ala-Cys-Lys-Ser-Cys-Ala-Cys-Thr-Phe-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Glx- Cys-Phe- Cys-Gly-Asx-Ile-Asx-Asx-Phe-Cys-Tyr-Lys-Pro-Cys-Lys-Ser-Ser-His-Ser-Asx- Asx-Asx-Asx-Trp-Asn. BTCI presents a high degree of homology with the Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor family.     

Percutaneous coronary angioscopy: applications in interventional cardiology

We performed percutaneous coronary angioscopy in 35 patients to study the surface morphology of coronary artery lesions. Twenty-five patients had angioscopy performed in conjunction with PTCA, including 20 patients with de novo lesions (16 patients with unstable angina, four patients with stable angina), and five patients with restenosis lesions. Ten cardiac transplant patients had angioscopy performed in conjunction with annual follow-up angiography in attempt to identify accelerated atherosclerotic lesions. There were no complications of angioscopy in any patient. There were no intracoronary thrombi seen either by angiography or angioscopy in the stable angina patients. In the unstable angina group, angiography identified thrombus in 2 out of 16 (12.5%) versus 15 out of 16 (94%) (P less than 0.001) with angioscopy. Following angioplasty, dissections were seen angiographically in 7 out of 16 (44%) of patients versus 16 of 16 (100%) of the patients by angioscopy (P less than 0.01). Restenosis lesions were characterized by a white, fibrous appearance instead of the usual yellow color of primary atherosclerotic lesions. In the ten cardiac transplant patients, angioscopy appeared to be more sensitive than angiography for the detection of atherosclerosis. Yellow (atherosclerotic) and white (fibrotic) plaques were seen in the transplant patients, which often were not detected by angiography. In summary, angioscopy is an excellent tool for visualizing the surface morphology of coronary artery lesions. The clinical indications for angioscopy remain undefined at present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutation and the risk of subclavian vein thrombosis in patients with breast cancer and a central venous catheter.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the influence of the prothrombotic gene mutation factor V G1691A (factor V Leiden) and prothrombin G20210A on the risk of a first episode of catheter-related deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a group of patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and February 2001, the occurrence of a first symptomatic DVT was investigated in a cohort of 300 consecutive patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated at a single institution with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, administered continuously through a totally implanted access port. A nested case-control study included 25 women (cases) with catheter-related DVT and 50 controls without DVT matched with cases for age, identical chemotherapy, stage of disease and prognostic features. The G1691A factor V and G20210A prothrombin mutation genotypes were analyzed. RESULTS: Five cases [20%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9% to 39%)] and two controls (4%; 95% CI 1% to 14%) were heterozygous carriers of G1691A factor V (P = 0.04). The age-adjusted odds ratio for catheter-related DVT was 6.1 (95% CI 1.1-34.3). Only one patient (case) had the G20210A prothrombin gene mutation. Time from start of chemotherapy infusion to DVT was not significantly different between patients with (median 31 days) and without (median 43 days) G1691A factor V mutation (P = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Factor V Leiden carriers with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer have an increased risk of developing catheter-related DVT during chemotherapy.     

Respiratory syncytial virus genotypes and disease severity among children in hospital

OBJECTIVES: To determine the spectrum of N and G genotypes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing respiratory tract infection and whether particular genotypes are associated with severity of infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were obtained from 114 infants with acute respiratory tract infection due to RSV over two seasons. Viral mRNA was extracted from NPAs or cultured virus, reverse transcribed, and the cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using primers directed to parts of the N and G gene respectively. Amplicons were separately digested with four different restriction endonucleases for each gene. The fragments were separated by agarose gel, electrophoresis, and the electrophoretic patterns used to assign the various genotypes. Disease severity was assessed as very mild (upper respiratory tract signs only), mild (coryza and signs of lower respiratory tract infection), moderate (requiring nasogastric or intravenous fluids), and severe (requiring oxygen or ventilation). RESULTS: Five of the six known N genotypes were detected, but NP4 and NP2 were found most frequently. There was no association between N genotype and disease severity. Six G (SHL) genotypes were detected. Significantly (p = 0.04) more of the infants infected with the SHL2 genotype had severe or moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS: During the seasonal peaks of RSV respiratory tract infection at least 10 different RSV genotypes cocirculated. While there is no association between N genotypes and disease severity, infection with the SHL2 G genotype appears to result in moderate to severe disease.     

Total but not resting energy expenditure is increased in infants with ventricular septal defects

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of left-to-right shunting on the resting energy expenditure (REE), total energy expenditure (TEE), and energy intake in a group of 3- to 5-month-old infants with moderate to large unrepaired ventricular septal defects (VSDs) compared with age-matched, healthy infants. METHODS: Eight infants with VSDs and 10 healthy controls between 3 to 5 months of age participated in the study. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure REE and the doubly-labeled water method was used to measure TEE and energy intake. An echocardiogram and anthropometric measurements were performed on all study participants. Daily urine samples were collected at home for 7 days. Samples were analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Data were compared using analysis of variance. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in REE (VSD, 42.2 +/- 8.7 kcal/kg/d; control, 43.9 +/- 14.1 kcal/kg/d) or energy intake (VSD, 90.8 +/- 19.9 kcal/kg/d; control, 87.1 +/- 11.7 kcal/kg/d) between the groups. The percent total body water was significantly higher in the VSD infants and the percent fat mass was significantly lower. TEE was 40% higher in the VSD group (VSD, 87.6 +/- 10.8 kcal/kg/d; control, 61.9 +/- 10.3 kcal/kg/d). The difference between TEE and REE, reflecting the energy of activity, was 2.5 times greater in the VSD group. CONCLUSIONS: REE and energy intake are virtually identical between the two groups. Despite this, infants with VSDs have substantially higher TEE than age-matched healthy infants. The large difference between TEE and REE in VSD infants suggests a substantially elevated energy cost of physical activity in these infants. These results demonstrate that, although infants with VSDs may match the energy intake of healthy infants, they are unable to meet their increased energy demands, resulting in growth retardation.