Unlike hypoxia, hypoglycemia does not preferentially destroy GABAergic neurons in developing rat neocortex explants in culture

We tested whether hypoglycemia, like hypoxia, would preferentially destroy GABAergic nerve cells in the neocortex. To this end, rat neocortex explants dissected from 6-day-old rat pups and cultured up to a developmental stage approximately comparable to that of the newborn human neocortex, were exposed to hypoglycemia for different periods. Quantitative light microscopic and immunocytochemical evaluation of the cultures demonstrated that hypoglycemia does not preferentially destroy GABAergic but rather non-GABAergic neurons, a finding quite opposite to what was found after hypoxia. Recent biochemical data from other laboratories which seem to support this difference in neuronal vulnerability are discussed. It is concluded that perinatal hypoglycemia may not form such a serious threat with respect to the genesis of epilepsy as does hypoxia.     

T cells specific for alpha-beta interface regions of hemoglobin recognize the isolated subunit but not the tetramer and indicate presentation without processing.

Processing of a protein antigen into fragments is believed to be a prerequisite for its presentation by the antigen-presenting cell to the T cell. This model would predict that, in oligomeric proteins, T cells prepared with specificity for regions that are buried within subunit association surfaces should recognize the respective regions in vitro equally well on the isolated subunit or on the oligomer. Three hemoglobin (Hb) alpha-chain synthetic peptides, corresponding to areas that are situated either completely [alpha-(31-45)] or partially [alpha-(41-45) and alpha-(81-95)] within the interface between the alpha and beta subunits of Hb, and a fourth peptide representing a completely exposed area in tetrameric Hb were used as immunogens in SJL/J (H-2s) mice. Peptide-primed T cells were passaged in vitro with the respective peptide to obtain peptide-specific T-lymphocyte lines. T-cell clones were isolated from these lines by limiting dilution. T-cell lines and clones that were specific for buried regions in the subunit association surfaces recognized the free peptide and the isolated subunit but not the Hb tetramer. On the other hand, T cells with specificity against regions that are not involved in subunit interaction and are completely exposed in the tetramer recognized the peptide, the isolated subunit, and the oligomeric protein equally well. The responses of the T-cell lines and clones were major histocompatibility complex-restricted. Since the same x-irradiated antigen-presenting cells were employed, the results could not be attributed to differences or defects in Hb processing. The findings indicate that in vitro the native (unprocessed and undissociated) oligomeric protein was the trigger of major histocompatibility complex-restricted T-cell responses.     

The virD operon of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid encodes a DNA-relaxing enzyme.

The virD locus of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid encodes functions necessary for endonucleolytic cleavage of transferred DNA (T-DNA) prior to its transfer to plant cells. For the overproduction of the VIRD proteins in Escherichia coli a tac-virD operon fusion was constructed. A significant increase in the accumulation of VIRD proteins was observed in a lon protease-deficient E. coli host. The presence of an overlapping open reading frame (ORF) upstream of the VIRD1 coding sequence had a negative effect on VIRD1 production. A preparation containing VIRD proteins catalyzes the conversion of supercoiled (form I) DNA to relaxed (form IV) DNA. This activity is similar to that of a DNA topoisomerase. The relaxation activity lacks DNA sequence specificity, requires magnesium ion, and has no requirement for an energy source. Studies with plasmids that had lost defined DNA segments encompassing various virD coding regions showed that VIRD1 is the DNA-relaxing enzyme. In a density gradient centrifugation experiment, the DNA-relaxing activity sedimented as a 21-kDa polypeptide. Earlier studies of Jayaswal et al. [Jayaswal, R., Veluthambi, K., Gelvin, S. & Slightom, J. (1987) (J. Bacteriol. 169, 5035-5045] have shown that in E. coli VIRD2 alone is not sufficient for endonucleolytic cleavage of T-DNA and requires VIRD1 for its activity.     

Synovial fluid phospholipase A2s and inflammation.

The activation of phospholipase A2 is believed to have an important role in the inflammatory process owing to its induction of eicosanoids, platelet activating factor, and other mediators. Soluble phospholipase A2 has been associated with exudates in different inflammatory conditions. In this review the general physiology and control of this enzyme and, in particular, the most recent findings on human synovial fluid phospholipase A2s are discussed.     

Safety and reliability of external fixation for basicervical and intertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients

Forty elderly patients with basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures were managed with uniplanar AO external fixator under regional anaesthetic block of the femoral nerve and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh from April 2003 to March 2006. The mean age of the patients was 67.9 ± 5.5 years. External fixator application was performed under radiological control after closed reduction had been obtained. Comorbid factors, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalisation, complications, walking ability, time to union and mortality rate were recorded. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 12 ± 4.5 months. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 13 patients, healing in varus >10° and with shortening >2 cm occurred in six patients, and one patient suffered a spontaneous ipsilateral femoral neck fracture after removal of the fixator. The mean time for union was 10.4 ± 1.2 weeks. Rapid union rate and minor complications obtained in the present study are comparable to those obtained with standard internal fixation techniques. Minimal intraoperative blood loss, short operative time and early patient mobilisation are advantages signifying uniplanar external fixator application under regional anaesthetic block to be a viable option in treatment of basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients.     

Genetic analysis of host responses in sepsis

During much of the past century, the microbe itself stood at the heart of microbial pathogenesis. Little thought was devoted to the host per se, though it was granted that differences in susceptibility to certain infections did exist between individuals, and between different ethnic groups. During the past 20 years, extraordinary strides in our grasp of mammalian genetics have made the host side of the equation far more approachable. A restricted collection of genes now presents itself as the likely repository for genetic differences that foretell susceptibility to infectious disease. The Toll-like receptors, of which 10 are presently known to exist in humans, offer an excellent example of this genetic reductionism, in that they embody the afferent component of the innate immune system, and strongly influence the containment of an infection from its earliest stages. The Toll-like receptors were identified as the culmination of a long and relentless inquiry into the yet-unsolved clinical problem of sepsis.     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Extracellular Enzyme Activities by Basidiobolus and Conidiobolus Isolates on Solid Media./Extrazelluläre Enzymaktivitäten bei Basidiobolus- und Condiobolus-Isólaten auf festen Medien

Summary: Fifty-seven isolates of Basidiobolus from reptiles and amphibians, and 7 other obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Maryland were studied for their extracellular enzyme activities on solid media. The Conidiobolus isolates studied included 4 recovered from Nigerian soil and additional 4 obtained from the ATCC All these isolates produced active extracellular lipase and protease and failed to exhibit amylase, deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease activities. The significance of the findings is discussed.
Zusammenfassung: Fünfundsiebzig Basidiobolus-Isolate aus Reptilien und Amphibien und sieben weitere aus der American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Maryland wurden auf Aktivtäten extrazellulärer Enzyme auf festen Medien untersucht Die untersuchten Conidiobolus-Isolate schlossen vier aus nigerianischen Böden und vier weitere aus der ATCC ein. Alle Isolate zeigten extrazellulär Lipase- und Proteaseaktivität Amylase-, Desoxyribonuclease- und Ribonucleaseaktivität war jedoch nicht nachzuweisen. Die Bedeutung dieser Befunde wird diskutiert.