Application of reverse-DEPT polarization transfer pulse sequence to study the metabolism of carbon-13-labeled substrates in perfused organs by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Metabolism of 13C-enriched metabolites can be advantageously studied by reverse-polarization transfer methods. In this work an improved reverse-DEPT sequence has been applied for the first time on perfused organs in a 20-mm probe. The metabolic fate of 99% enriched [2-13C]acetate perfused in excised rat liver and heart has been documented.

Effect of inhibitors on conformational changes in hen lysozyme around thermal transition point in solution and solid state

Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy has been used to further document the interaction, at low and high temperatures, of N-acetylglucosamine and its short polymers with hen egg-white lysozyme. The results have been compared with the corresponding X-ray crystallographic data. Two domains, the active site and the hydrophobic box, have been found by NMR to undergo conformational rearrangement while X-ray crystallography only detected changes located in the active site. The extent of the modifications induced by inhibitor binding was proportional to the inhibitor size. The two techniques concurred to show that even in the presence of monosaccharide (N-acetylglucosamine), more than one subsite of the enzyme was occupied at high temperature, the binding at the C-site being the best defined. The thermal transition of lysozyme still occurred in solution when inhibitors were bound. However, in the solid state, crystallographic data showed that the transition was hindered.

Biochemical characterization of lines descended from 8x triticale x 4x triticale cross

Fifty-two progenies originating from a cross between 8x and 4x triticale were submitted to cytogenetic analyses and to various electrophoretic studies [high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutelins, HMW secalins, γ-secalins, α and ω-gliadins, β-amylases] to identify new genetic structures, more specifically the input of the D genome in a genetic context other than the wheat one. Markers of the rye genome (HMW and ω-secalins) were identified in all of the triticale lines, but they originated either from the 4x or from the 8x parent, or from both. Chromosomes 4A, 1B, and 2R, present in both parents, showed the same banding patterns in all progenies. Chromosomes 1R and 5R, present in both parents, showed heterogeneous labelling. The expression of chromosomes 6A, 1D, and 4D, present in the 8x parent only, was more complex with a possible involvement of a regulatory system. Several hexaploid progenies had introgressed part of the D genome, suggesting that crossing 8x and 4x triticale was a practicable approach for transferring D chromosomes into hexaploid triticale.

Umbilical cord blood gases for term healthy newborns

Examination of paired umbilical arterial and umbilical venous blood gases for 147 term, healthy newborns revealed a strong correlation of pH, bicarbonate, and base excess with the 1-minute Apgar score. Although significantly different from each other, a strong correlation existed between the gas measurements of the two vessels. The lower limit of pH for the umbilical artery was 7.12 and for the vein, 7.25. The arterial-venous difference for bicarbonate but not pH, oxygen or carbon dioxide tension, or base excess was correlated with the 1-minute Apgar score.

[Qualitative and quantitative assessment of lipid consumption in the intake of a community]

Most nutritional studies assess the nutriment allowance of a selected population from inquiries and tables of food components. Very few of them use biochemical analysis of lipid extraction, which is a more reliable process. In other respects, the investigations on the real consumption of the population are scarce. Our study aims to assess the lipid consumption of subjects submitted to normal feeding in hospital food service, from biochemical analysis of allowances and of non-consumed food. The allowances of 10 dietary days and the whole of the non-consumed food a 10 subjects by dietary day have been assessed. The results show that: 1) the ratio of fat in the non-consumed food (7.5% in wet weight) exceeds that of the proposed intake (6.6%); 2) the consumed food (1,900 KCal/d) represents 80% of the initial total calorie allowance and includes 37.5% lipid calories (71% of initial lipid allowance); 3) the distribution of the consumed fatty acids (FA) is identical to that of the fatty acids of the initial intake and not in conformity with the recommendations of the FAO/WHO Board: 53% saturated FA, 34% mononunsaturated FA, 13% polyunsaturated FA and P/S ratio: 0.23; 4) mono and polyunsaturated FA are eliminated in the non-consumed food, more particularly in unclean plates where the distribution is very near the recommended one: 48% monounsaturated FA, 21% polyunsaturated FA, 31% saturated FA and P/S ratio: 0.8; 5) in spite of these data, the consumption of essential FA remains satisfactory: 7 g of linoleic acid, and 1.5 g of linolenic acid; 6) the consumption of cholesterol (215 mg/d), corresponding to 3/4 of the initial allowance, is satisfactory. The whole of these results are correlated with the Table of Food Components and two dietary softwares.

Human urinary and renal alpha-L-fucosidases. A comparative study

1. Enzymatic forms of alpha-L-fucosidase from human renal tissue and urine were investigated. 2. In renal tissue two different isoenzymatic patterns were obtained by chromatofocusing of either directly soluble or detergent solubilized extracts. 3. On the other hand the urinary isoenzymatic pattern is similar to that obtained for the renal soluble extract.

On some glycosidases (beta-D-mannosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase) of human seminal plasma

The glycosidase activities (beta-D-mannosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase) have been compared in whole and split ejaculate samples from men whose couple suffers from infertility. The site of secretion of enzymatic activities is either prostatic or epididymal. The three enzymatic activities have possibly different origin and should constitute new biochemical markers of male genital tract.

Research in action: self health care and older people

The Self Health Care in Old Age Project is an experimental health education and promotion programme running in Stoke-on-Trent. England. It is funded jointly by the Beth Johnson Foundation and by the European Economic Community under its Second Programme to Combat Poverty. This paper outlines the Project's four components and focuses, in particular, on the inter-relationship between the developmental and research aspects of the Project.

Gonadotropins I and II in juvenile coho salmon

The present study was designed to obtain basic endocrine information on GTH I and GTH II in previtellogenic and prespermatogenic coho salmon (immature). Levels of GTH II in pituitary extracts were 6.5 ± 2.0 and 6.7 ± 2.0 pg/μg pituitary protein in male and female fish, respectively. In contrast, the pituitary content of GTH I was approximately 100-fold higher than GTH II (1.302 ± .22 and 1.173 ± .21 ng/μg pituitary protein in male and female fish, respectively). Plasma levels of GTH II in immature salmon were not detectable by RIA whereas plasma GTH I levels were approximately 0.62 ± 0.12 and 0.78 ± 0.13 ng/ml in male and female fish, respectively. Highly purified coho salmon GTH I and GTH II stimulated testicular testosterone production and ovarian estradiol productionin vitro in a similar manner, though GTH II appeared more potent than GTH I. Therefore, it appears that although the salmon pituitary contains predominantly GTH I prior to puberty, the gonad can respond to both GTH I and GTH II.

Failure to detect complement-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against human orbital tissue cells in the serum of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

Antibodies which are cytotoxic to human eye muscle cells and orbital fibroblasts in antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) are routinely detected in the serum of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). In the present study sera from patients with TAO, most of which were shown to be positive in ADCC against eye muscle cell targets, were tested for complement-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (CMAC) against human and pig eye muscle cells, human (abdominal) skeletal muscle cells and human orbital fibroblasts, in 51Cr release assays. Several different assay protocols and complement sources were used and patient and age, sex matched normal sera compared. In preliminary studies tests were always negative when eye muscle cells, other skeletal muscle cells, or orbital fibroblasts were used as targets, regardless of the complement source, or concentration, or assay conditions used. When larger numbers of patients and normals were tested in a single assay mean (+/- SE) % specific lysis for patients with TAO was not significantly different from that for normals for either eye muscle cells or other skeletal muscle cells and taking the upper limit of normal as mean + 2 SD for the normals, tests were positive in no patient with either target. On the other hand ADCC tests were positive in 57% of the same sera tested with the same eye muscle cell targets. When human thyroid cells were used as targets, tests were positive in 10 of the 14 patients tested and monoclonal antibodies, in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reactive with eye muscle antigens gave positive lysis of eye muscle cells.2+ t

Cloning and sequencing of pro-alpha 1 (XI) collagen cDNA demonstrates that type XI belongs to the fibrillar class of collagens and reveals that the expression of the gene is not restricted to cartilagenous tissue

We have isolated several overlapping cDNA clones encoding alpha 1(XI) collagen chains from human and rat cDNA libraries. Together the human cDNAs code for 335 uninterrupted Gly-X-Y triplets, and a 264-amino acid C-propeptide, while the rat cDNAs cover the entire C-propeptide and about a third of the triple-helical domain. Comparison of the human and rodent nucleotide sequences showed a 95% sequence similarity. The identification of the clones as alpha 1(XI) cDNAs was based on the complete identity between the amino acid sequences of three human alpha 1(XI) cyanogen bromide peptides and the cDNA-derived sequence. Examination of and the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence showed a variety of structural features characteristic of fibrillar-forming collagens. In addition, nucleotide sequence analysis of a selected portion of the corresponding human gene revealed the characteristic 54-base pair exon motif. We conclude therefore that pro-alpha 1 (XI) collagen belongs to the group of fibrillar collagen genes. We also suggest that the expression of this gene is not restricted to cartilage, as previously thought, since the cDNA libraries from which the clones were isolated, originated from both cartilagenous and noncartilaginous tissues.

Cardioplegic arrest superimposed on evolving myocardial ischemia. Improved recovery after inhibition of hydroxyl radical generation by peroxidase or deferoxamine. A 31P nuclear resonance study

Superimposition of cardioplegic arrest on acute low-cardiac-output states, as may occur after failure of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty requiring emergency surgery, is associated with an increased operative risk. This increased risk is possibly attributable to reperfusion, which, after sequential episodes of myocardial ischemia, exacerbates tissue injury mediated by oxygen free radicals. One of the most cytotoxic of these active oxygen species is the hydroxyl radical, which is formed from superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide through an iron-catalyzed reaction. This study assesses the effects of peroxidase, a hydrogen-peroxide scavenger, and of deferoxamine, an iron chelator, in isolated working rat hearts subjected to 30 minutes of low-flow ischemia (75% reduction in coronary flow) followed by 2 hours of cardioplegic arrest at 15 degrees C and by 30 minutes of normothermic reperfusion. Three groups of hearts (n = 7) were studied. Two groups were pretreated with either peroxidase (10,000 units/l) or deferoxamine (0.03 mM) during the last 15 minutes of the low-flow ischemic period. The third group received no prearrest intervention and served as a control group. In addition to hemodynamic determination, high-energy phosphate content [adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)] and intracellular pH were monitored serially by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The two pretreated groups had better recovery of ATP levels and aortic flow values than did the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cardiac arrhythmia observed in 400 workers without obvious heart disease by Holter monitoring]

To obtain information on the cardiac rhythm characteristics of subjects without heart disease during their daily work, we examined the continuous 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings of 400 workers from 4 factories in Eastern France presenting with criteria of cardiac normality. Sex, age and socio-professional category were taken into account. Supraventricular extrasystoles were extremely common, being observed in 52 p. 100 of men and 39 p. 100 of women. In men, the frequency of these extrasystoles increased with age (p less than 0.001), and their number was less than 20 per 24 hours in 90 p. 100 of the cases. Ventricular extrasystoles were detected in 40 p. 100 of men and 32 p. 100 of women. They too were age-related, though not significantly. Their number was less than 10 per 24 hours in 68 p. 100 of the cases and 10 to 50 per 24 hours in 28 p. 100. These ventricular extrasystoles usually were monomorphous, regularly coupled (92 p. 100) and isolated. However, 2 attacks of tachycardia were discovered. Episodes of bradyarrhythmia (RR superior or equal to 1500 ms) were present in 25 p. 100 of men and 19 p. 100 of women. They occurred more frequently before the age of 35 than later (p less than 0.001) and the recordings confirmed that they were predominantly nocturnal. Recordings without "disorders of rhythm" were relatively rare (20 p. 100 of men, 28.5 p. 100 of women). Finally, there was no clear-cut correlation between the prevalence or characteristics of these various "rhythmic abnormalities" and the type of professional activity.

[Contribution of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of phosphorus-31 and carbon-13 in the study of myocardial metabolism]

The use of NMR spectroscopy in the non-invasive assessment of myocardial metabolism has greatly increased over the last decade. The initial experiments were performed on isolated perfused heart preparations, but these have since been extended to whole animal and clinical studies. The use of the phosphorus-31 nucleus allows assessment of energetic metabolism and intramyocardial pH. Carbon-13 spectroscopy based on the use of substrates selectively enriched with the C-13 isotope enables the study of a specific chosen metabolic pathway and provides qualitative and quantitative information about the metabolic changes. Research is now preceding in two directions: firstly, the study of fundamental problems such as the mechanisms of ischaemia, the consequences of intracellular acidosis and the precise role of ATP and phosphocreatine: secondly, very active clinical and pharmacological research in using NMR in animal models of cardiac pathology. Finally, recent technological progress suggests that NMR spectroscopy will soon be used for direct studies of the human heart.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the region encompassing the first twenty-five exons of the human pro alpha 1(I) collagen gene (COL1A1)

Dysfunctions of the genes coding for the two chains of the human type-I procollagen result in genetic disorders that affect the integrity of bone, ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues. While the primary amino acid (aa) sequence of one of the two type-I subunits, pro alpha 2(I), has been derived in its entirety from the analysis of overlapping cDNAs, the sequence of the first 247 aa residues of the helical domain of the other polypeptide, pro alpha 1(I), had yet to be determined. To this end, we have sequenced nearly 4 kb of the human pro alpha 1(I) collagen gene and identified twelve open reading frames whose conceptual amino acid translation exhibits 95% homology to the first 247 aa of rat alpha 1(I) chain. Furthermore, with these and other data, some of which previously unpublished, we have derived the complete sequence of the first 7618 bp of the gene. This region comprises the 25 exons encoding the N-terminal pre-propeptide and five of the eight cyanogen-bromide-derived peptides. This information therefore represents a most useful reference for the characterization of molecular defects in individuals affected by various connective tissue disorders.

Mapping of a human fibrillar collagen gene, pro alpha 1 (XI) (COL11A1), to the p21 region of chromosome 1

Type XI collagen is a minor and poorly characterized structural component of cartilage. Recently, cDNA and genomic clones coding for the pro alpha 1 chain of human Type XI collagen, formerly 1 alpha collagen, have been isolated and fully characterized. Here we have used one such probe to establish the chromosomal localization of the pro alpha 1 (XI) collagen gene (COL11A1) by hybridization to filter-bound DNA isolated from flow-sorted chromosomes and by in situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes. This combination of approaches has enabled us to locate COL1A11 in the p21 region of chromosome 1. This represents the first mapping of a Type XI collagen gene and the first assignment of a collagen locus to chromosome 1. These studies also provide additional evidence for the nearly uniform dispersion of the human fibrillar collagen genes in the human genome.

Identification of a mutation that causes exon skipping during collagen pre-mRNA splicing in an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome variant

Recent biochemical studies have shown that the fibroblasts from a patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VIIB produce nearly equal amounts of normal and shortened pro-alpha 2(I) collagen chains (Wirtz, M.K., Glanville, R. W., Steinmann, B., Rao, V. H., and Hollister, D. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 16376-16385). Compositional and sequencing studies of the abnormal pro-alpha 2(I) chain identified an interstitial deletion of 18 residues corresponding to the N-telopeptide of the collagen molecule. Since this region is encoded by a 54-base pair exon, number 6, the protein defect could have been caused by gene deletion, abnormal pre-mRNA splicing, or both. Here, in order to elucidate the molecular nature of this mutation we have analyzed the sequences of pro-alpha 2(I) collagen cDNA and genomic clones obtained from RNA and DNA of the patient's fibroblasts. Using oligomer-specific cloning we identified a cDNA that contains a 54-base pair deletion corresponding precisely to the sequence of exon 6. Identification of the normal gene was based on the finding of an identical sequence polymorphism in a normal cDNA and in the genomic clone derived from one of the two collagen alleles. The other gene, instead, displayed a base substitution (T to C) in the obligatory GT dinucleotide of the 5' splice-site sequence of intron 6. Analysis of nearly 100 base pairs immediately 5' to exons 5, 6, and 7, and 3' to exons 5 and 7 did not reveal any additional change. Therefore, the data strongly suggest that the observed GT-to-GC transition at the splice donor site of intron 6 generates an abnormally spliced mRNA in which the sequence of exon 5 is joined to the sequence of exon 7. Since skipping of exon 6 does not interfere with the coding frame of the mRNA, the resulting shortened polypeptide, albeit utilized in the assembly of a procollagen trimer, ultimately causes the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VII phenotype.

Active suppression of major histocompatibility complex class II gene expression during differentiation from B cells to plasma cells

Constitutive expression of major histocompatibility complex class II genes is acquired very early in B-cell ontogeny and is maintained up to the B-cell blast stage. Terminal differentiation in plasma cells is, however, accompanied by a loss of class II gene expression. In B cells this gene system is under the control of several loci encoding transacting factors with activator function, one of which, the aIr-1 gene product, operates across species barriers. In this report human class II gene expression is shown to be extinguished in somatic cell hybrids between the human class II-positive B-cell line Raji and the mouse class II-negative plasmacytoma cell line P3-U1. Since all murine chromosomes are retained in these hybrids and no preferential segregation of a specific human chromosome is observed, the results are compatible with the presence of suppressor factors of mouse origin, operating across species barriers and inhibiting class II gene expression. Suppression seems to act at the level of transcription or accumulation of class II-specific mRNA, since no human, and very few murine, class II transcripts are detectable in the hybrids.

Taking charge--strategies for self-empowered health behavior among older people

RECENT campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of health issues amongst older people have contributed much to the debates about health education and health promotion. Unfortunately though, publicity campaigns fail to address the very practical aspects of how we might help older people develop self-empowered health behaviour. This article considers firstly what it means to be poor and powerless and describes seven key factors which facilitate self-empowered health behaviour. These are then related to an innovative health project being developed with older people in Stoke-on-Trent, funded jointly by the Beth Johnson Foundation and the EEC under its Second Poverty Programme.

Larva migrans of the oral mucosa

A case of buccal larva migrans is presented. This rare peculiar localization is discussed. The different treatments are mentioned with special regard to the topical and systemic use of the thiabendazole.