Biochemical characterization of canavalin, the major storage protein of jack bean

The structure of canavalin, a jack bean (Canavalis ensiformis) protein homologous to phaseolin, the major seed storage protein of Phaseolus vulgaris, has been investigated by x-ray crystallography and found to be a hexamer composed of three identical pairs of similar but nonidentical subunits related by a perfect 3-fold axis and pseudo dyad axes (strict C(3) and pseudo D(3)). One member of each pair of subunits is derived from the amino terminal half of a precursor polypeptide of molecular weight 49,000 and the other from its carboxy terminal half. Thus, the crystallographic evidence indicates that the precursor polypeptide is a tandem duplicate and is structurally redundant (McPherson A. 1982 J Biol Chem 255: 10472). A number of physical and chemical properties of the protein in both the uncleaved and the cleaved form were investigated. These included the native molecular weights, amino acid analyses, number of exposed sulfhydryl groups, carbohydrate content, metal ion analysis, crystallization behavior, and the fate of the protein in developing seeds. It was also found that the purified precursor protein possesses a substantial level of alpha-d-mannosidase activity and seems to share a number of other physical and chemical properties with that enzyme.

Biochemical and crystallographic data for phaseolin, the storage protein from Phaseolus vulgaris

We have isolated and biochemically characterized a major seed protein from Phaseolus vulgaris (common garden green bean) that appears to be identical with a form of the storage protein of that plant seed known as phaseolin. We have further shown that it appears very similar in most properties to the storage protein from Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) which we have solved to 3.0-A resolution using X-ray diffraction techniques. [McPherson, A., & Rich, A. (1973) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 74, 155-160; McPherson, A., & Spencer, R. (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 169, 650-661; McPherson, A. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 10472-10480]. We have crystallized phaseolin and conducted a preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis on it as well. The data show the crystals to be of pseudo cubic space group P432, although the symmetry can be, strictly speaking, only P1. The unit cell has one trimeric molecule of 150 000 daltons in a unit cell of dimensions a = b = c = 66.6 and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. The crystals apparently possess some form of disorder that makes reconciliation of the unit cell contents with the observed crystallographic properties difficult, although they do diffract strongly to better than 2.8-A resolution. No evidence of twinning has been observed.

Hepatitis and haemophilia therapy in Australia

243 Australian haemophiliacs have been studied retrospectively over 4 1/2 years to assess the effect of treatment products on liver function and to determine the frequency of hepatitis-B markers in these patients. Commercial blood products are not used in Australia, and the patients were treated with products of blood from unpaid donors screened for hepatitis B surface antigen. Cryoprecipitate was the major treatment product, and only small amounts of factor VIII and IX concentrates were used. Despite the use of blood products obtained from entirely voluntary blood donors and the frequent use of single-donor packs of cryoprecipitate, markers of viral hepatitis were common in these haemophiliacs. Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 63% of the patients, and there were 66 cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis during the study. 29 of these episodes persisted for longer than 6 months. 13 patients (5.4%) had hepatitis B during the study; 2 patients remained HBsAg-positive for longer than 6 months. Abnormal serum aminotransferase levels were found in 34% of the patients; in 8% of patients these abnormalities persisted for more than 6 months.

Changes in quantitative norepinephrine levels in delayed pig flank flaps

A quantitative norepinephrine assay was used to follow tissue norepinephrine concentrations serially in bipedicle delayed pig flank flaps. In contrast to a previous study by Palmer, norepinephrine concentration decreased significantly after 24 hr, but then gradually returned to normal at 10 days. This suggests that the pig flank flap maintains much of its adrenergic innervation following bipedicle delay. It appears unlikely that adrenergic denervation explains the delay phenomenon in this model. The combined results of this study and others suggest that the degree of adrenergic denervation of a flap is determined by the anatomic layout of the flap with respect to the underlying cutaneous adrenergic neural anatomy. This experiment suggests that the effectiveness of adrenergic blocking agents in improving flap survival is dependent on the degree of adrenergic denervation of the flap.

The effect of the scaleless gene, sc, on growth performance and carcass composition of broilers

Two experiments were conducted in which featherless broilers (scaleless, sc/sc) were compared with feathered broilers for growth and body composition characteristics at environmental temperatures of 22, 34, and 38 C. The sc gene reduces growth and efficiency at 22 C but at 38 C the sc/sc broilers gain more, eat more, and are more efficient than feathered broilers. They achieve greater live, New York dressed, and eviscerated weights and consistently have greater eviscerated yields. The sc/sc broilers have more protein and mineral content and less fat than the feathered broilers.

Dracontiasis in Rajasthan. VI. Epidemiology of dracontiasis in Barmer district, Western Rajasthan, India

Epidemiology of guinea worm disease was studied in relation to sex, age, community and drinking water of inhabitants of 12 desert villages in Barmer district, Western Rajasthan, India. Data were also stratified with respect to first infection and reinfection. Infection was significantly (p less than 0.001) more prevalent in males (7.5%) than females (4.1%). Among all age groups peak infection (9.9%) occurred in those aged 30-39 years. Non-vegetarian communities had a higher incidence than vegetarian communities. Between-community difference was significant (p less than 0.01). First infection cases (11.0%) peaked in those aged 20-29 years while people aged 30-39 years were most susceptible to reinfection (84.6%). Between-age differences with respect to first and reinfection were insignificant (p greater then 0.05). Of various water sources reported pond water was a major source of contamination. 82.7% of the population examined was at risk of developing guinea worm infection at any time. No effective treatment is yet available.

The nature and treatment of giardiasis in parakeets

The prevalence of giardiasis was studied in 77 parakeets from 4 widely varied sources and was found to be 66%. The infection appeared most common in young birds. Cysts and trophozoites were found in fecal samples and persisted in birds caged alone for up to 4 months, New infections appeared when infected and noninfected birds were caged together, Treatment with 200 ppm of dimetridazole in the drinking water was less effective than 3 oral doses given at the rate of 1.5 mg/30 g of body weight every 12 hours by stomach tube. Metronidazole therapy was not effective.

Improved preparation of poly(A) Sepharose and the isolation of oligo(U) containing heterogeneous nuclear RNA from Friend erythroleukemic cells

When poly(A) sepharose (prepared according to previously published procedures) was stored in aqueous buffer at 4 degrees C for 5 days or longer, it bound nonspecifically a high percentage of the input RNA which could not be eluted with formamide. We have found that treatment with ethanolamine, followed by dehydration with ethanol yielded poly(A) sepharose which was stable for many months and possessed a low degree of nonspecific binding. Chromatography on poly(A) sepharose permitted the specific isolation of that fraction of Friend erythroleukemic cell heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) which contained oligo(U) sequences. Approximately 10% of the hnRNA which contained a poly(A) sequence [poly(A+)] also contained an oligo(U) sequence. Interestingly, prior HCHO denaturation of the hnRNA enhanced binding of the poly(A+) oligo(U+) hnRNA to poly(A) sepharose by tenfold. This suggested that the oligo(U) sequence may be in a region with secondary structure, possibly an intramolecular duplex with the 3' poly(A). Friend cell oligo(U) sequences ranged from 20 to 50 nucleotides in length and, thus, were similar to the oligo(U) sequences which heretofore had only been shown to be present in HeLa cell hnRNA. These results established that rodent cell hnRNA contain oligo(U) sequences and demonstrate, for the first time, that hnRNA containing both a poly(A) and an oligo(U) sequence can be separated from other classes of hnRNA. In addition, conditions are presented for the removal of HCHO from nucleic acid.

Effects of experimental diabetes on the essential fatty acid-deficient rat

An evaluation of the EFAD syndrome in rats rendered diabetic with either alloxan or streptozotocin was performed. Diabetic rats fed an EFA-deficient diet for 7 or 13 weeks were less severely EFA-deficient than were nondiabetic rats fed EFA-deficient diet, as judged by dermal symptoms or by biochemical parameters such as the ratio of 20:3 omega 9/20:4 omega 6 (T/T ratio) and total fatty acids derived from linoleic acid. The T/T ratios of liver PL of diabetic EFA-deficient rats were lower than those of deficient control rats, and the ratios varied inversely with the blood glucose concentrations. The product/precursor ratios, arachidonic acid/linoleic acid, in liver PL were higher in diabetic deficient rats than in deficient control rats. Analysis of liver and heart PLs revealed higher arachidonic acid levels in the diabetic deficient rats than in the EFA-deficient controls, perhaps because of different growth rates. The activities of the delta 5, delta 6, and delta 9 desaturases were evaluated in liver microsomal systems. The delta 9 desaturase was depressed in diabetic rats in agreement with literature reports. The delta 6 desaturase, however, was slightly increased. The relative levels of delta 5, delta 6 and delta 9 desaturation products in liver and heart PLs did not parallel the measured desaturase activities of liver microsomes.

INfluence of biotin supplementation on sow reproductive efficiency

A herd of 116 sows was divided into two groups. Animals in one group had their food supplemented with 1160 micrograms/day of biotin in pregnancy and 2320 micrograms/day in lactation, over a 12-month period. The other group served as a control. Those receiving biotin farrowed significantly more live pigs in parities 2 and 4 than in the control animals; the increase in parity 3 only just failed to reach significance. There was no consistent effect on the weaning to service internal although a significant difference (P = 0.05) was seen with the third litters.

Rapid tests for esculin hydrolysis by anaerobic bacteria

Esculin hydrolysis is one of the biochemical tests used in the identification of anaerobic microorganisms. The conventional method by use of growing microbial cells requires 24-48 hours of incubation. On the other hand, growth independent methods like the buffered esculin test, the spot test, and the PathoTec strip test utilize the presence of constitutive enzymes and, therefore, yield results in 1-4 hours. A total of 817 anaerobic organisms were used in this study to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the three rapid methods. All three rapid methods gave excellent correlation with the standard conventional method. Over 99% of the organisms gave comparable results with the spot test and the buffered esculin test within one hour; the PathoTec strip test required up to 4 hours. The former two were not only more rapid but also more economical than the PathoTec strip test.

Overview: deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients, a critical review of outcome studies

The authors performed a critical review of experimental studies on the outcomes for psychiatric patients of 1) alternatives to hospital admission, 2) modifications of conventional hospitalization, and 3) alternatives to continued long-term hospitalization. The internal validity of many of the studies was compromised by shortcomings in design and performance and generalizability limited by selection of patient populations. With these qualifications experimental alternatives to hospital care of patients have led to psychiatric outcomes not different from and occasionally superior to those of patients in control groups. This conclusion is best supported for alternatives to admission and for modifications of conventional hospitalization. The available studies do not permit firm conclusions regarding alternatives to continued long-term hospitalization of chronically ill patients or for a critical analysis of the optimal management of specific subpopulations of psychiatric patients. Satisfactory deinstitutionalization appears to depend on the availability of appropriate programs for care in the community.

A bed-mounted unit for the movement of critically ill patients

A small inexpensive unit is described which facilitates the movement of critically ill patients within hospitals while allowing monitoring and treatment to continue.

Immune deficiency in fetal alcohol syndrome

In a review of 13 documented cases of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), an increased incidence of life-threatening bacterial infections as well as a propensity to minor infections was observed. Five of 13 patients had had at least one episode of pneumonia, two had meningitis, and one had sepsis. A comprehensive immunologic evaluation of FAS was completed, and results were compared to an age-matched control group of children with intrauterine growth retardation without FAS. Children with FAS were shown to have decreased E rosette-forming lymphocytes (35 +/- 5% versus 55 +/- 5% or 1328 +/- 274 versus 2333 +/- 112 per mm3), low EAC rosette-forming lymphocytes (15 +/- 2% versus 18 +/- 1% or 524 +/- 109 versus 740 +/- 75 per mm3), and diminished mitogen-induced stimulation responses to mitogens: 31616 +/- 5337 versus 58076 +/- 4455 cpm for phytohemagglutinin, 17582 +/- 5436 versus 35018 +/- 5346 for pokeweed mitogen, and 32460 +/- 7044 versus 54996 +/- 5531 for concanavalin A, P less than 0.05. Nine patients had dysgammaglobulinemia, FAS subjects also had a marked eosinophilia (624 +/- 154 versus 72 +/- 27 mm3). Other parameters of immune function including absolute lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, total hemolytic complement, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, and nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction assays, were not different from control children. Impairment of immunity may explain an increased susceptibility to infection in FAS.

Comparison of spot esculin hydrolysis with the PathoTec strip test for rapid differentiation of anaerobic bacteria

The ability of several anaerobic bacteria to hydrolyze esculin to esculetin is used by clinical microbiologists and taxonomists in the differentiation and identification of both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Conventional methods used for determining esculin hydrolysis by anaerobic bacteria require 24 to 48 h for completion. In this paper we evaluate two procedures which yield rapid results. A total of 738 anaerobic bacteria were used in this study. A total of 99% of the esculin-hydrolyzing anaerobic bacteria gave positive results with the spot test in 1 h, whereas the other test method, the PathoTec strip test (General Diagnostics, Morris Plains, N.J.), required 4 h for 96% of the strains tested to yield positive reactions. Both tests showed a 100% specificity when compared with the standard broth test and are easy to perform, accurate, and economical. The spot test is superior to the PathoTec strip test in yielding results more rapidly.