Rapid Recovery of Marine Bacterioplankton Activity after Inhibition by UV Radiation in Coastal Waters

Laboratory and in situ experiments were performed in order to evaluate the role of UV radiation on bacterial activity. Particular attention was given to the determination of the role of UV-A and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and different nutrient conditions on the recovery of bacterial activity. Laboratory experiments with nearly natural radiation intensities indicated a 20 to 40% reduction from the initial level of bacterial activity after UV-B exposure for 2 to 4 h. Bacterial activity in freshly collected seawater showed a more pronounced inhibition and faster recovery than bacterial activity in aged, nutrient-depleted seawater. The results of in situ experiments with filtered water (0.8-(mu)m-pore-size filter) and natural surface solar radiation levels agreed with those of the laboratory experiments and revealed that UV-A and PAR are important for the recovery of bacterial activity and result in levels of bacterial activity that are higher than those prior to exposure to full solar radiation. Bacterioplankton exposed to full solar radiation for 3 h and subsequently incubated at different depths within the upper mixed water column showed an increase in bacterial activity with increased depth; the highest bacterial activity was detected at depths of 5.5 to 10.5 m, where the short-wavelength UV-B was already largely attenuated, but enough long wavelength UV-A and short PAR were available to allow recovery. This elevated bacterial activity following exposure to UV-B was attributed to the photolysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exposed to near-surface radiation and to the rapid recovery of bacteria from UV stress once they were mixed into deeper layers of the upper mixed water column, where they efficiently utilize the photolytically cleaved DOM. It is concluded that studies on the role of UV on the carbon and energy flux through the upper layer of the ocean should take into account the highly dynamic radiation conditions.

[Fermentation process during the ensiling of green forage low in nitrate. 1. Fermentation process in untreated green forage]

The fermentation process of ensiling green forage, low in nitrate, was proved in 8 experiments with ryegrass, ochardgrass and grass-legumes mixture. It was demonstrated that also in easily fermentable green forage the absence of nitrate promote the occurrence of butyric acid simultaneously with the lactic acid fermentation even at an early stage of fermentation. It is supposed that the lack of nitrate as a natural inhibitor of clostridia leads to early formation of butyric acid. The evolution of clostridia in the beginning of the fermentation process was more rapid than expected. It seems that easily soluble carbohydrates are the substrates of butyric acid formation. That is why in green forage, low on nitrate, clostridia act as food competitors for lactic acid bacteria. Amino acids were not degraded in the early stage of fermentation. In spite of the high content of butyric acid the amount of ammonia was low. Apart from n-butyric acid volatile fatty acids > or = C4 did not occur. The lactic acid formation reached only a restricted extent, also in green forage with a high content of sucrose. It was assumed that there are differences in ensilability of carbohydrate fractions between forage plants.

[Left bundle branch block analysis by body surface mapping. Comparison with electrocardiographic and vectocardiographic findings]

PURPOSE

To compare the correlation between the departure areas (DA), negative or positive, in patients whose electrocardiogram showed left bundle branch block (LBBB) and association with left ventricular hipertrophy (LVH) and myocardial infarction (MI), to the electrocardiographic (ECG) and vectocardiographic (VCG) classic criteria.

METHODS

The study was carried out with 46 patients (27 males) with LBBB. These patients had hypertension (19.5%), coronary heart disease (34.7%) and 21 patients with no heart disease (45.8%).

RESULTS

The statistic analysis using the Cluster method divided the patients in two groups. Group I (22 patients) showed an average rate for the DA (-2 SD) of 1091 for QRS and of 640 for ST-T. For the DA (+2 SD), the average rate was 618 for QRS and 881 for ST-T; group II (24 patients) showed an averaged for the DA (-2 SD) of 1063 for QRS and of 225 for ST-T. For the DA (+2 SD), the averaged rate was 428 for QRS and 600 for ST-T.

CONCLUSION

In general the current ECG/VCG findings, can not differentiate the presence of the association of LBBB to LVH and MI. The DA of ST-T, mainly negative was the most efficient to separate the two groups and help in the differential diagnosis.

[Prolonged neuromuscular block after administration of mivacurium caused by plasma psueudocholinesterase deficiency]

Mivacurium is a new neuromuscular blocking agent with a short acting time of about 30 min, due to a fast hydrolysis by pseudocholinesterases. This metabolism carries a risk for prolonged neuromuscular block in case of an acquired or congenital pseudocholinesterase deficiency. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who experienced a neuromuscular block prolonged for 10 h after a single dose of 0.35 mg.kg-1 of mivacurium, because of a major pseudocholinesterase (1800 UI.L-1, normal value: 5400-13200 UI.L-1). The likely cause was a congenital deficiency by a homozygote genetic mutation, as usual causes of an acquired deficiency had been eliminated.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Germany

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been described as an epidemic central nervous disorder in cattle from the United Kingdom. The disease is thought to have emerged by an interspecies transmission of the scrapie agent of sheep to cattle, after feeding scrapie-contaminated meat and bone meal (MBM). The disease has caused substantial economic losses for the British cattle industry. Because of strict veterinary regulations for the import of adult British cattle by the European Union and for MBM by most of the member states the spread of BSE to continental Europe could be efficiently controlled, and only few cases have been described outside the UK. Here we report the first German case of BSE diagnosed in a Scottish Highland cow. The affected cow was imported into Germany before the import ban for cattle from the UK was implemented. BSE was confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, animal experiments, immunoblotting and by electron microscopic detection of scrapie-associated fibrils (SAFs).

Selective expression of the murine homologue of the G-protein-coupled receptor BLR1 in B cell differentiation, B cell neoplasia and defined areas of the cerebellum

The Burkitt's lymphoma receptor 1 (BLR1) identified initially in Burkitt lymphoma cells has been the first member of the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors with a lymphocyte specific expression pattern. BLR1 shows significant relationship to receptors for chemokines (IL-8, MIP-1 beta) and neuropeptides. The gene encoding the murine homologue of the human BLR1 receptor was isolated and used to study its tissue-specific expression. Blr-1 consists of two exons encoding a protein of 374 amino acid residues which shows 83% identity with the human homologue. Screening of normal tissues of adult BALB/c mice revealed that blr-1-specific RNA is detected consistently at low levels in secondary lymphatic organs. The blr-1 gene is expressed regularly and strongly in lymphomas of mature B cells but not in plasmacytomas. SCID mice deficient in the development of mature B cells have strongly reduced levels of blr-1-specific RNA in the spleen. Cytokine mediated induction (IL4, IL6) of terminal differentiation of resting B cells towards Ig-secreting plasma cells completely downregulates expression of blr-1. RNA in situ hybridization using brain sections demonstrates blr 1 transcription in the granule and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. The precise delineation of the restricted expression pattern of the blr-1 gene will support the identification of its ligand and may provide a clue to understand how BLR1 exerts its biological function within the immune and nervous system.

The human EPRS locus (formerly the QARS locus): a gene encoding a class I and a class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

Glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and prolyl-tRNA synthetase belong to different classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that are thought to have evolved along independent evolutionary pathways. However, both enzymes are on one polypeptide chain encoded by a single human gene, the EPRS locus, which is transcribed as one long mRNA. We report the structure of the human EPRS gene, which consists of 29 exons spread over at least 90 kb of genomic DNA. The exons, encoding the glutamyl-specific and the prolyl-specific parts of the enzyme, are each clustered in 10-kb sections located at opposite ends of the gene. These two exon clusters are separated by a long intervening DNA section with a number of exons, encoding functions that may be involved in the organization of the mammalian multienzyme synthetase complex. The upstream gene region shows structural features of a regulated gene, and preliminary experiments suggest that the gene is expressed at specific times in growth-stimulated cultured cells. We have localized the gene to the distal long arm of human chromosome 1 and to a corresponding site in mouse chromosome 1.

[Neurogenic intermittent claudication of the femoral nerve caused by occlusion of the common iliac artery]

A 52 year old heavy smoker complained of paresthesiae and pain at the ventral side of the right thigh and the antero-medial side of the right lower leg as well as weakness of the right quadriceps femoris during exercise. Clinical examination revealed a paresis of the right quadriceps, hypesthesia and hypalgesia in the area of the femoral nerve and a reduced right patellar reflex after 10 min walking. An occlusion of the right common iliac artery was diagnosed by angiography. Following transluminal angioplasty and implantation of an intravascular stent, the patient was free of symptoms. On the basis of the clinical observations following recanalisation of the common iliac artery, the symptoms can best be explained by a reduced perfusion of the iliolumbar artery supplying the upper part of the femoral nerve, causing ischemia of the femoral nerve during exercise. In conclusion, stenosis/occlusion of the common iliac artery should be considered as a differential diagnosis of quadriceps weakness and paresthesia in the area of the femoral nerve associated with exercise.

The G protein-coupled receptor BLR1 is involved in murine B cell differentiation and is also expressed in neuronal tissues

The BLR1 gene, isolated initially from Burkitt's lymphoma cells (Eur. J. Immunol. 1992. 22: 2795), encodes a G protein-coupled receptor with significant relationship to receptors for chemokines (IL-8, MIP-1 alpha) and neuropeptides. The murine homologue of human BLR1 was cloned and used to investigate its expression in vivo. blr1-specific transcripts are observed in secondary lymphatic organs and to a lesser extent in brain of adult mice but not in other tissues. RNA in situ hybridization localizes blr1 transcription to primary follicles and to the mantle zone of secondary follicles. SCID mice in which mature B cell development is severely impaired exhibit a strongly reduced level of blr1-specific RNA in the spleen. The analysis of murine lymphoid tumor cell lines representing distinct stages of the B cell lineage reveals elevated expression of blr1 in B cell lymphomas but not in pre-B lymphomas or plasmacytomas. Induction of differentiation of resting B cells by cytokines or mitogens down-regulates expression of blr1. RNA in situ hybridization using brain sections of adult mice detects blr1 transcription in the granule and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. Interestingly, the blr1 gene is also expressed during late embryogenesis in fetal liver and brain. In view of the remarkable expression pattern in the B cell lineage we suggest that murine BLR1 may represent a cytokine/neuropeptide receptor exerting regulatory functions on recirculating mature B lymphocytes.

No effect of insulin treatment or glycemic improvement on plasma carnitine levels in type 2 diabetic patients

Carnitine is an essential factor for the transport of long-chain fatty acids and is important for the heart muscle. A longitudinal study in type 2 diabetic patients was carried out. Carnitine levels were observed before and during metabolic intervention with dietary measures and either sulfonylurea or insulin treatment. In both treatment groups a significant glycemic improvement was observed after 3 months (insulin treatment group: hemoglobin A1c 11.3 +/- 2.8 versus 7.0 +/- 1.0; sulfonylurea treatment group; hemoglobin A1c 11.3 +/- 1.4 versus 7.3 +/- 0.9). Carnitine levels did not differ from a control group and did not change significantly during the observed period.

Electrophoretic separation of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in synovial fluid and serum from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The alkaline phosphatase enzyme in both serum and synovial fluid from 28 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and from the serum of 30 controls was measured. The enzyme was further studied by separating its isoenzymes to clarify their origin in both synovial fluid and serum of 10 patients with elevated level of the enzyme in their sera. The level of the enzyme in serum was elevated in 37% of patients confirming previous reports on that point. The most abundant isoenzyme in the synovial fluid (66.9%) was found to be bone in origin while in serum the most abundant isoenzyme was found to be hepatic (60.5%). This may be responsible for increased bone turn-over in rheumatoid joints whether in formation or resorption.

Lusorian artery lesion as rare cause of severe upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding

A patient in an intensive care unit experienced severe esophageal bleeding caused by erosion of a lusorian artery. The lusorian artery is a rare variant of the right subclavian artery. It originates in the descending aortic arch and crosses behind the esophagus to the right, sometimes generating esophageal compression. The patient's condition required respirator therapy and placement of a duodenal tube. At the point of crossing over of the lusorian artery and the esophagus, the duodenal tube caused esophageal necrosis, leading to erosion of the lusorian artery. This resulted in extensive esophageal bleeding, which at last required surgical intervention. To attain proper treatment and to avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, a lusorian artery lesion has to be included in the differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hypoxia-mediated induction of endothelial cell interleukin-1 alpha. An autocrine mechanism promoting expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules on the vessel surface

Tissue injury that accompanies hypoxemia/reoxygenation shares features with the host response in inflammation, suggesting that cytokines, such as IL-1, may act as mediators in this setting. Human endothelial cells (ECs) subjected to hypoxia (PO2 approximately 12-14 Torr) elaborated IL-1 activity into conditioned media in a time-dependent manner; this activity was completely neutralized by an antibody to IL-1 alpha. Production of IL-1 activity by hypoxic ECs was associated with an increase in the level of mRNA for IL-1 alpha, and was followed by induction of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 and enhanced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) during reoxygenation. During reoxygenation there was a three- to five-fold increased adherence of leukocytes, partly blocked by antibodies to endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 and ICAM-1. Suppressing endothelial-derived IL-1, using either antibodies to IL-1 alpha, specific antisense oligonucleotides or the IL-1 receptor antagonist, decreased leukocyte adherence to reoxygenated ECs, emphasizing the integral role of IL-1 in the adherence phenomenon. Mice subjected to hypoxia (PO2 approximately 30-40 Torr) displayed increased plasma levels of IL-1 alpha, induction of IL-1 alpha mRNA in the lung, and enhanced expression of ICAM-1 in pulmonary tissue compared with normoxic controls. These data suggest that hypoxia is a stimulus which induces EC synthesis and release of IL-1 alpha, resulting in an autocrine enhancement in the expression of adhesion molecules.

Exons encoding the highly conserved part of human glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are important components of the genetic apparatus. In spite of common catalytic properties, synthetases with different amino acid specificities are widely diverse in their primary structures, subunit sizes, and subunit composition. However, synthetases with given amino acid specificities are well conserved throughout evolution. We have been studying the human glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase possessing a sequence of about 400 amino acid residues (the core region) that is very similar to sequences in the corresponding enzymes from bacteria and yeast. The conserved sequence appears to be essential for the basic function of the enzyme, the charging of tRNA with glutamine. As a first step to a better understanding of the evolution of this enzyme, we determined the coding region for the conserved part of the human glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. The coding region is composed of eight exons. It appears that individual exons encode defined secondary structural elements as parts of functionally important domains of the enzyme. Evolution of the gene by assembly of individual exons seems to be a viable hypothesis; alternative pathways are discussed.

[Decreased plasma carnitine in Type I diabetes mellitus]

Realizing the importance of carnitine for the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and the possible role for glucose utilization and myocardial function carnitine concentrations in type I and type II diabetic patients in plasma, erythrocytes and 24 h urine were determined. The plasma levels of carnitine were significantly diminished in type I diabetic patients compared to controls, while carnitine concentrations in erythrocytes and 24 h urine did not differ from controls. Plasma carnitine levels did not change significantly during the diurnial profile. No correlation between HbA1c and carnitine levels was observed in the diabetic patients.

[Lafora disease (progressive myoclonic epilepsy) in the Bassett hound--possibility of early diagnosis using muscle biopsy?]

A progressive, hereditary disease has been observed in Basset Hounds, which appears clinically and neuromorphologically as myoclonus epilepsy (ME) and is similar to Lafora-Glueck disease in humans. The characteristic intracellular accumulations are typical myoclonus inclusion bodies. Four forms of inclusion bodies (IB) can be distinguished: a) very small, homogeneous, PAS-positive IBs, b) IBs consisting of an accumulation of PAS-positive particles, c) IBs with a concentric internal structure and a smooth or radial outer zone, and d) IBs with a homogeneous center, concentric layering, light intermediate zone, and a smooth outer zone. The occurrence of IBs is restricted largely to nerve cells. Here they are located mainly in pericarya, to a lesser extent in dendrites, and rarely in the neurites of the peripheral nervous system. IBs are also found in samples of skeletal muscle where they lie between myofibrils or beneath the sarcolemma. They are slightly basophilic in HE-staining and markedly PAS-positive. In transmission electron micrographs IBs prove to consist of chain-like filamentous material of varying density with focal concentrations. They are similar to IBs of the brain. Both muscular and neuronal IBs lack surrounding membranes. Diagnosis of Lafora disease in dogs by examination of muscle biopsies is discussed.

[Long-term studies with an anti-androgen/estrogen combination preparation of its effectiveness, liver tolerance and lipid metabolism in females]

The usefulness of antiandrogenic therapy with cyproterone acetate for androgenisation signs and symptoms in women, when tumours are definitely not the cause, has now been confirmed world-wide in about 100,000,000 therapy cycles using the hormonal contraceptive Diane and its follow-up preparation Diane-35, which contains a lower level of oestrogen. Nowadays, low-dose hormonal contraceptives are preferred in order to minimise the so-called "internal" risk by reducing the level of the oestrogen component and, by careful selection of the progestin, minimising the residual androgenic effect. In an open study on 150 women with moderately severe symptoms of androgenisation, we assessed, for treatment periods of up to 36 cycles, the effect of the only oestrogen-reduced hormonal contraceptive with anti-androgenic activity (Diane-35), and also monitored biochemical parameters, which are indicative of high risk metabolic activity and permit an accurate characterisation of the hormonal contraceptive, especially with long-term use. Although the parameters of liver and fat metabolism occasionally yielded values close to the limit of the normal range, it was particularly favourable to note, that the lipoprotein fraction HDL exhibited a slightly rising tendency, whereas, at the same time, the LDL fraction dropped. Special attention has been paid to ultrasonographic monitoring of the liver, since the influence on the function of this organ has been frequently discussed in conjunction with prolonged use of 17-alpha-alkylated steroidal compounds, and because a possible connection between sex steroids and the development of liver tumours has been a point of discussions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)