Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies on a trypsin/chymotrypsin double-headed inhibitor from horse gram

The Bowman-Birk family of proteinase inhibitors from seeds of leguminous plants usually have a molecular mass of 8000 to 10,000 Da. Horse gram (Dolichos bifloros or Macrotyloma uniflorum) seeds contain an unusual Bowman-Birk inhibitor of molecular mass 15,500 Da active against both trypsin and chymotrypsin. In order to elucidate its three-dimensional structure, its evolutionary relationship with the more usual Bowman-Birk inhibitors and to study the structure-function properties, this inhibitor has been purified and crystallized. The purified protein crystallizes easily under a variety of conditions in different crystal forms. Crystals obtained by precipitating the protein (3 to 5 mg/ml in 50mM Tris.HCl (pH 8.0)) with 5% ammonium sulphate and 2 to 3% PEG 4000 appear to be suitable for structure determination by X-ray diffraction. The crystals belong to cubic space group P2(1)3 (a = 110.81 A) and diffract X-rays to beyond 3.0 A resolution.

Field evaluation of a microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593M (Biocide-S) against Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles subpictus in south India

A microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593M (Biocide-S) was field tested at two different doses viz, 0.22 and 0.43 g/m2 in casuarina pits against a malarial vector Anopheles (Cellia) culicifacies Giles, and An. (Cel.) subpictus Grassi in coconut garden pits in the coastal areas of South India. Both doses significantly reduced the abundance of late instars and pupae of An. culicifacies for 3 and 5 weeks respectively. A significant reduction was recorded in the abundance of late instars and pupae of An. subpictus for 2 and 3 weeks respectively.

Nature of the tryptic/chymotryptic inhibitor from horsegram (Dolichos biflorus)

A protease inhibitor specific to trypsin and chymotrypsin was purified from horsegram (Dolichos biflorus) with the inhibition index 0.24 micrograms/micrograms for trypsin and 0.36 micrograms/micrograms for chymotrypsin. In SDS-PAGE, the inhibitor protein was seen as a single band with apparent molecular mass Mr = 15,500. However, on fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) or non-denaturating PAGE, the inhibitor resolved into four components revealing the existence of isoinhibitors. Data on amino acid analysis indicate that the isoinhibitors are closely related. The major amino acids in the inhibitor are half cystine (18.9 mole %), aspartic acid (12.7 mole %) and serine (14.3 mole %). The inhibitor was partially stable to 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate, 8M urea or 6M guanidine hydrochloride. The inhibitory activity was lost on reduction or carboxamidomethylation or acetylation. Modification of the arginine groups or CNBr cleavage of the protein did not result in significant loss of either tryptic or chymotryptic inhibitory activities. The isoinhibitors separated by FPLC reacted with polyclonal antibody raised in rabbits and had pI values ranging from 4.8-5.1. The horsegram inhibitor thus resembles other Bowman-Birk protease inhibitors.

Antimutagenic activity of milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Antimutagenic activity of acetone or ethylacetate extracts of skim milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, or a combination of both the organisms was studied using Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98 and TA 100). Mutagens used were 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (a direct-acting mutagen) and 2-aminofluorene (a mutagen requiring S9 activation). Extracts from all fermented milks showed significant (P less than .05) dose response in suppressing the number of revertants caused by NQNO and 2-aminofluorene in both tester strains, whereas extracts from unfermented milk had no effect. Extracts prepared from milk fermented by L. bulgaricus plus S. thermophilus showed significantly (P less than .05) more antimutagenic activity than extracts prepared from milk fermented by S. thermophilus alone. Solvent (acetone vs. ethyl acetate) effect was not significant with 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide as mutagen. However, in the case of 2-aminofluorene, acetone extracts showed significantly (P less than .05) higher antimutagenic activity. The results of this and related studies strongly indicate that antimutagenic compounds are produced in milk during fermentation by S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus.

Bateman bipolar hips with autologous bone graft reinforcement for dysplastic acetabula

Dysplastic acetabula treated with cemented sockets have shown shortcomings due to loosening, bone erosion, and implant migration. A Bateman bipolar prosthesis was used, and the deficient superior acetabular lip was augmented with autologous femoral head graft. The surgical technique "locked" the bipolar cup in the reconstructed acetabulum. In a prospective clinical analysis, 21 hips were followed for a mean of 47 months. Results were excellent or good in 13 hips, fair in eight, and poor in none. Cementing the femoral component led to improved results. Migration of the cup was not a major problem. All grafts united, and none resorbed.

Hip implant evaluation in an arthritic animal model

Animal studies can provide important information in the evaluation of new techniques and prosthetic designs in orthopedics. As a prerequisite they must parallel as closely as possible the human conditions they are modeling. An arthritic sheep model simulating the human clinical situation has previously been designed and reported by Phillips and Gurr. The present study introduces for the first time an approach that evaluates a prosthetic joint in an arthritic animal hip. Hemiresurfacing following the Tharies technique was carried out unilaterally in 12 Suffolk sheep and followed up for 2 years. Femoral loosening occurred in three cases. Only one of the 12 cases showed postoperative avascularity of the femoral head. Radiologic follow-up and histologic examination showed features consistently and strikingly similar to those seen in human practice. The sheep hip with simulated arthritis provides a sensitive, clinically reproducible model for the future study of other arthroplasty types and problems.

Destructive arthropathy of the hip following pelvic irradiation: report of four cases

The replacement of orthovoltage by megavoltage radiotherapy has facilitated selective ablation of cancerous tissue, resulting in less toxicity to bone. However, damage to bone still occurs and may be more common than generally appreciated. In four women, all treated for adenocarcinoma of the reproductive tract, radiotherapy was believed to contribute to acetabular failure and secondary arthritis 2 to 31 years after treatment. In one case the condition was bilateral. Because arthritis of the hip is now common in women, there is a risk that unusual and remote factors may not be recognized or fully appreciated. In these cases prosthetic joint replacement is likely to fail. Special techniques, including bone grafting, peripheral support rings, well-fixed and optimally placed sockets and gradual rehabilitation, are mandatory.

Cholesterol level of rabbit meat and trait relationships among growth, carcass and lean yield performances

Data from New Zealand White rabbits (n = 89) were collected on growth, carcass and lean yield traits and on total lipid and cholesterol contents of total carcass lean tissue. Postweaning growth traits included individual 28-d weaning weight, 56-d market weight and average daily gain (28 to 56 d). Carcass yield traits included preslaughter, abdominal fat, giblet, pelt, visceral and carcass weights and dressing percentage; lean yield traits consisted of uncooked lean percentages from forequarter, hindquarter and loin primal cuts, adjusted total lean weight and overall meat to bone ratio. Experimental rabbits were reared under similar environmental conditions of diet, housing and management, were similar in age (range of 4 d) and were all slaughtered on the same day. Analysis of variance results revealed detectable (P less than .05) effects of litter source for all traits examined, except for loin lean percentage, meat to bone ratio and cholesterol content. In a separate analysis, litter size class influenced (P less than .05) the same traits (as the above litter source effect) with the exception of visceral weight and hindquarter lean percentage. Sex of rabbit did not (P greater than .05) have an effect on any carcass measurements. Cholesterol content of uncooked rabbit meat (total ground lean tissue) was 163.6 +/- 3.1 mg/100 g DM. Correlation coefficients were low (r less than .25) in absolute value between total cholesterol content and all other traits investigated. Individual 56-d market weight was related to a number of carcass parameters: dressing percent (r = .60), carcass weight (r = .93) and adjusted total lean weight (r = .89).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relative efficiency of yogurt, sweet acidophilus milk, hydrolyzed-lactose milk, and a commercial lactase tablet in alleviating lactose maldigestion

The relative effectiveness of commercially available plain yogurt (Y), sweet acidophilus milk (SAM), hydrolyzed-lactose milk (HLM), a lactase tablet (LT), and whole milk (WM) was evaluated in 10 lactose-intolerant black subjects. In a 5 x 5 Latin square design, hourly breath hydrogen excretion (BHE) was measured for 5 h after the subjects consumed the above products (18 g lactose in each except HLM, which had 5 g). Mean BHE (ppm) for Y, SAM, LT, HLM, and WM were 12, 37, 29, 18, and 33, respectively. There was a significant (p less than 0.05) positive correlation of 0.808 between the symptoms reported and the mean peak BHE. However, the correlation between the symptoms and diagnosis by history was not significant. Although Y was as effective as HLM in minimizing lactose maldigestion, it was the least accepted by the subjects in sensory evaluations. Results of this study also indicate that microbial endogenous lactase in yogurt is superior to exogenous commercial lactase in alleviating lactose maldigestion.

Effect of mercuric chloride on some biochemical and physiological parameters of the freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus

The freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus, was exposed to a sublethal concentration of mercuric chloride (3 micrograms/liter) for 120 days and the following effects were examined: changes in the levels of glucose and lactic acid in blood and of glycogen and lactic acid in liver and muscles; rate of absorption of glucose from the intestine; and changes in the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), L-amino acid oxidase (AO), and xanthine oxidase (XO) in brain, gills, intestine, kidney, liver, and muscles. Mercury-treated fish were hypoglycemic and hypolactemic. The glycogen content of liver and muscles remained unaltered but the muscle lactic acid level decreased significantly. The rate of intestinal absorption of glucose was reduced significantly by exposure to mercury. G-6-Pase activity was decreased in all the tissues. Hexokinase activity also decreased in mercury-exposed fish but it was significant only in intestine, kidney, and liver. The activities of LDH, PDH, SDH, and MDH also were decreased significantly except LDH in brain and MDH in kidney where an insignificant decrease and an insignificant increase, respectively, were recorded. GDH and AO activities were elevated in most of the tissues except GDH in gills, and AO in gills and muscles where a decrease was observed. XO activity in brain, gills, and kidneys was significantly elevated, but no marked alteration was noted in other tissues.

Effect of feeding fermented milk on the incidence of chemically induced colon tumors in rats

The effect of feeding skim milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus or Lactobacillus bulgaricus on the incidence of chemically induced colon tumors was studied in rats. Weanling Fisher-344 rats were fed chow plus skim milk (SM), chow plus SM fermented by S. thermophilus, chow plus SM fermented by L. bulgaricus, or chow plus water until sacrifice at 36 weeks, or before if moribund. Colon tumors were induced by s.c. injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine hydrochloride during weeks 3 through 22. The control (chow + water) group received saline injections. The survival rate of the rats fed fermented milks was significantly higher than that of the rats fed nonfermented milk. The latter had a significantly higher incidence of ear-duct tumors than the rats receiving fermented milk. The percentage of rats showing colon tumors was similar among all three experimental groups. The control group did not have any tumors. The rats receiving fermented milk had a significantly higher incidence of small-intestine tumors than those receiving nonfermented milk. The rats on S. thermophilus milk had the lowest percentage of malignant colon tumors of the three experimental groups. Results indicated that the feeding of fermented milks altered the metabolism of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and shifted the target organ from the ear duct to the small intestine. In addition, the colon tumor distribution for the fermented-milk groups appeared to shift toward the anus.

Effect of mercuric chloride on the intestinal absorption of an amino acid, glycine, in the freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus

The effect of five concentrations of mercuric chloride (10 mM, 1 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.01 mM, 0.001 mM) on the rate of absorption of the amino acid glycine by the intestine of the freshwater murrel Channa punctatus has been studied. Intestinal absorption of glycine was also studied in fish exposed to a sublethal concentration (3 micrograms/l) of mercuric chloride for 15 and 30 days. The results revealed that all the five concentrations of mercuric chloride reduced the rate of absorption of glycine by the intestine. Maximum decrease was recorded with 10 mM of mercuric chloride in the instilled medium. The reduction in glycine transport was insignificant with 0.01 and 0.001 mM of mercuric chloride. In fish exposed to mercuric chloride by bath also, decrease in the rate of absorption of glycine was noted but it was significant only after 30 days of exposure.

Enzymological and biochemical changes produced by mercuric chloride in a teleost fish, Channa punctatus

Alterations in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in the brian, gills, intestine, kidney, liver and muscles, the levels of glycogen and lactic acid in liver and muscles, and blood glucose have been examined in a fresh-water teleost fish, Channa punctatus after exposure to a sublethal concentration (3 microgram/1) of mercuric chloride for 15, 30 and 60 days. The results revealed that the activities of all the three dehydrogenases were inhibited significantly after 60 days of treatment except for lactate dehydrogenase in brain. Glycogen and lactic acid contents of the liver and muscles and the blood glucose level also decreased significantly after 60 days of exposure. Though gills and muscles showed weak activity of the three dehydrogenases, the percentage of inhibition was more marked in these tissues than in others.