PCR analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-purified plastid DNA,a sensitive tool to judge the hetero-/homoplastomic status of plastid transformants

The genetic transformation of plastids of higher plants has developed into a powerful approach for both basic research and biotechnology. Due to the high copy number of the plastid genome per plastid and per cell, repeated cycles of shoot regeneration under conditions selective for the modified plastid chromosome are required to obtain transformants entirely lacking wild-type plastid genomes. The presence of promiscuous plastid DNA in nuclear and/or mitochondrial genomes that generally contaminate even gradient-purified plastid fractions reduces the applicability of the highly sensitive PCR approach to monitor the absence of residual wild-type plastid chromosomes in transformed lines. It is therefore difficult, or even impossible, to assess reliably the hetero- or homoplastomic state of plastid transformants in this manner. By analysing wild-type and transplastomic mutants of tobacco, we demonstrate that separation of plastid chromosomes isolated from gradient-purified plastid fractions by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis can overcome the problem of (co)amplification of interfering promiscuous plastid DNA. PCR analyses with primers specific for plastid, mitochondrial and nuclear genes reveal an impressive purity of such plastid DNA fractions at a detection limit of less than one wild-type plastid chromosome copy per ten transplastomic cells.     

Spinal intramedullary schwannomas—report of a case and extensive review of the literature

Neurosurgical Review - Intramedullary schwannomas (IMS) represent exceptional rare pathologies. They commonly present as solitary lesions; only five cases of multiple IMS have been described so...     

Antimycobacterial activity of some pyrido-1,2-thiazine derivatives

The 3-benzoylpyrido-1,2-thiazine-1,1-dioxides 1 and the related pyrazolopyrido-1,2-thiazine-5,5-dioxides 2 with a 4-arylpiperazin-1-ylpropyl side chained by the nitrogen atom of the thiazine ring were evaluated in vitro against Myobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Some of the tested compounds proved to be potent antimycobacterial agents and for the most active of them (1a,b) minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC = 3.13 and 6.25 microg/ml, respectively) were determined. The correlation between mycobacterium growth inhibition and the lipophilicity (logPcalc.) within the series of derivatives 1 and 2 was studied.     

Vascular endothelium in pathogenesis of hypertension assosiated with pregnancy

The role of vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and damage in pathogenesis of preeclampsia have been discussed in this paper.     

Anaesthesiological airway management in Denmark: assessment, equipment and documentation

BACKGROUND: Failed intubation remains one cause of anaesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. In a recent survey in Denmark, 20% of respondents reported preventable mishaps in airway management. METHODS: Assessment of the airway, and its documentation, as well as the availability of various equipment to manage a difficult airway, and the existence of a failed intubation plan were surveyed by mailing a questionnaire to the clinical directors of all 69 anaesthesia departments in Denmark. RESULTS: Fifty-six departments (81%) returned the questionnaire. Pre-operative airway evaluation is performed in 90% of the departments. The tests included the mouth-opening test (77%), Mallampati score (48%), lower jaw protrusion (34%), neck mobility (63%), the measurement of the thyromental (11%) and sternomental distance (4%). The result of the tests are documented by 38% of the departments in the anaesthetic chart (96%), in the record (54%), on a card given to the patient (23%), in a letter sent to the patient's general practitioner (2%) or in a database (13%). The patients are personally informed in 82% of the departments. Only 54% of the departments have a failed intubation plan readily available. CONCLUSION: The preoperative assessment of the airways and its documentation is still unsatisfactory, as is communicating with the patient after a case of a difficult/impossible intubation. The adoption of internationally recognized recommendations might improve airway management and teaching to the best standard possible in the already well-equipped Danish anaesthetic departments.     

Phenolic acids in herbs Lysimachia nummularia L. and L. vulgaris L

19 components of free and bound acid fractions separated from Lysimachia nummularia L. and L. vulgaris L. have been determined by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The percentage composition of the particular acid in fractions has been determined.