Opa (protein II) influences gonococcal organization in colonies, surface appearance, size and attachment to human fallopian tube tissues

Opa-expressing variants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain F62-SF and an Opa- variant, all non-piliated, were examined for differences in the interaction of the bacteria within colonies and in attachment to and damage of human fallopian tube mucosa. Expression of certain Opas was associated with the formation of transparent colonies where the bacteria were tightly packed and evenly spaced within the colonies. Expression of other Opas was associated with the formation of opaque colonies where the gonococci were less tightly packed and were unevenly spaced. Distinct differences in the size of the gonococci and in their surface characteristics were dependent upon the Opa being expressed. Certain Opas were associated with gonococci that had significantly larger cross-sectional areas and bigger perimeters. Scanning electron microscopy showed that OpaC- and OpaD-containing variants yielded greater mucosal damage than OpaB-containing and Opa- variants with the least damage caused by the OpaA-containing variant (clumped bacteria from dark opaque friable colonies). The mucosal damage after 60 min incubation included shortening and decreased numbers of microvilli on non-ciliated cells and invagination and sloughing of ciliated cells. Differences in the interactions of gonococci within colonies and in attachment to fallopian tube mucosa and damage to the mucosal cells occurred with different Opa-expressing variants of N. gonorrhoeae strain F62-SF.     

A simple nutrition screening procedure for hospital patients

Nutrition screening is the process of identifying hospital patients with a high risk for nutrition problems who may require comprehensive nutrition assessment. Dietitians at a 700-bed teaching hospital recently implemented a nutrition screening program remarkable for efficient use of existing personnel resources. The three-step procedure includes a nutrition questionnaire completed by the patient in the hospital admissions office, measurement of each patient's height and weight by an admissions nurse, and addition of the patient's serum albumin concentration plus summary and recommendations for nutrition intervention by a registered dietitian. The procedure reduces the time needed for individual evaluation from 25 to 5 minutes and results in 1 1/2-hour time saving per day per clinical dietitian. Patients designated as "high risk" by this method appear to be more seriously ill, as shown by significantly longer hospitalization. The nutrition screening procedure described is simple, efficient, and applicable to a wide variety of institutional settings.     

Chemical and biological characterization of volatile components of environmental samples after fractionation by vacuum line cryogenic distillation

Volatile components from diesel exhaust particles and coal gasifier process gas condensate were vacuum fractionated by cryogenic distillation and identified by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The vacuum distillation line consisted of a sample flask and nine traps cooled from 0°C to ?196°C in approximately 20°C steps. The pressure in the vacuum line of about 10^?2 Torr was maintained with a vacuum pump. Separated compounds were identified by comparison to reference infrared spectra and confirmed by comparison with standards when practical. Volatile compounds identified from the diesel exhaust particle sample included NO_x, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, alkanes, aldehydes, and one and two ring aromatic hydrocarbons. Volatile compounds identified in process gas condensate from a coal gasifier were ammonia, carbonyl sulfide, carbon dioxide, C₃-C₇ hydrocarbons, one and two ring aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenols. Volatile components collected at either 0° or ?24°C were evaluated to determine their genotoxicity using the Chinese hamster ovary/hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (CHO/HGPRT) assay. Neither the gasifier condensate nor diesel particle samples produced mutations at the HGPRT locus. The diesel samples were not cytotoxic at the concentrations tested (100 μg/ml) but the gasifier samples resulted in 50% cell killing at concentrations between 25 and 100 μg/ml depending on the temperature of collection and the test conditions. Vacuum desorption with cryogenic distillation has provided a means to separate the volatile components in complex environmental samples to allow chemical and biological characterization of these components.     

Isokinetic assessment in ALS

Three measures of lower extremity function were compared in a homogenous population of ALS patients. Isokinetic dynamometry was shown to be a sensitive tool for change in strength over time. It demonstrated positive correlations with gait velocity as well as other behavioral measures. Manual muscle tests were relatively insensitive and no more reliable than isokinetics. Isokinetics are a useful adjunct in the assessment of ALS.     

Membrane interlocking domains in the lens

"Ball and socket"-like membrane processes interlock fiber cells in the sheep lens cortex, but appear reduced deeper in the lens. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) binds preferentially to these ball and socket structures, and more weakly to other membrane regions. On protein blots, 125I WGA binds to glycoproteins with 140,000 and 32,000 apparent molecular weight, the smaller protein also binding 125I fibronectin. In two animal cataract models, the intense WGA labeling of globular bodies replaces the spotty WGA staining pattern associated with the ball and sockets in the normal lens.     

Interventions to Increase Multivitamin Use Among Women in the Interconception Period: An IMPLICIT Network Study

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Each year, 3% of infants in the Unites States (US) are born with congenital anomalies, including 3000 with neural tube defects. Multivitamins (MVIs) including...     

Cytochemical staining and ultrastructural characteristics of peripheral blood leucocytes from the yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivitatta)

Cytochemical staining and ultrastructural characteristics of peripheral blood leucocytes from the yellow rat snake are described. A panel of cytochemical stains, including demonstration of myeloperoxidase, acid phosphatase, naphthol AS-D chloracetate esterase, alpha-naphthol butyrate esterase and alkaline phosphatase activities; and periodic acid-Schiff and Sudan Black-B staining was performed. Snake heterophils lacked peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activity. Azurophils stained positively for all stains except alkaline phosphatase activity. Lymphocytes showed positive acid phosphatase activity. Differentiation of thrombocytes from lymphocytes was very difficult even with cytochemical staining. Only a minor staining difference was observed with periodic acid-Schiff stain. Thrombocytes exhibited coarse, dark, purple stippling usually located in the polar area of the cytoplasm, whereas lymphocyte staining varied from none to very fine, pale pink granules dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Ultrastructural characteristics were similar to those of mammalian leucocytes with the exception that the snake basophil granules have no crystalline matrix, and heterophil granules appeared as large, elongate, membrane bound structures of varying density with no distinct core or matrix.     

Effect of Longitudinal Versus Transverse Electrode Placement on Torque Production by the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle during Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of electrode placement in relation to muscle design for producing muscle torque when using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Thirty-five healthy subjects (19 men, 16 women) participated in this study on a voluntary basis. All subjects were tested for maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) of their dominant quadriceps femoris muscle while seated on an isokinetic dynamometer. NMES to subject tolerance was used while determining the effect of electrode placement (longitudinal and transverse) on the torque. Findings show that the longitudinal electrode position produces significantly more torque than the transverse position when the knee extensor muscles are electrically stimulated by the same current amplitude. Physical therapists should be aware of this technique when using NMES clinically to produce muscle torque. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1990;11(11):530-534.