Magnesium enhances human pancreatic elastase digestion of 125I-labeled elastin

The effect of some divalent cations, especially Mg++, on elastinolysis by porcine or human pancreatic elastase has been determined using 125Iodine-labeled elastin as substrate. Elastin degradation was significantly increased in the presence of 10(-3) M Mg++. If elastin was pre-incubated with 0.5 (w/v) Triton, there was a further increase in elastinolysis to 2.6 times the original rate.

Purification of human alpha 1 antiprotease-pancreatic elastase complex. Interaction with homologous elastin

A human alpha 1-antiprotease (alpha 1.AP)-human pancreatic elastase ( HPE11 ) complex was isolated from plasma, or prepared from commercial alpha 1.AP. The complex was identified and isolated by affinity chromatography, using Concanavalin A or IgG anti-elastase as ligands, in association with Sephacryl gel filtration. The alpha 1.AP- HPE11 complex was shown to bind with aorta and with purified aortic elastin. In both cases, the complex exhibited elastinolytic activity.

Human alpha 1-antitrypsin genetic polymorphism: PI N subtypes

Three new genetic variants (PI types) of alpha 1-antitrypsin are described. They have been compared to previously described phenotypes by several techniques including narrow pH range isoelectric focusing in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels. In this system, the relevant alpha 1-antitrypsin gel bands, identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, focused between PI M2, the most cathodal PI M subtype, and PI P BUD, the most anodal PI P subtype. They were therefore considered to be PI N subtypes. Two of them, PI N GRO and PI N YER, could not be separated by isoelectric focusing, but gave a different pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. None of the new alleles seemed to be associated with disease. The high resolving power of isoelectric focusing is emphasized with respect to the information it may provide concerning amino acid substitutions, while the use of other techniques proved to be of utmost importance in the differentiation of other variants showing similar isoelectric points.

Myosin polymorphism in muscles of the toadfish, Opsanus tau

The superfast swimbladder muscle of Opsanus tau differs from the corresponding fast skeletal muscle not only by its greater sarcoplasmic reticulum and parvalbumin content but also by a genuine myosin LC2. The study of light chains has been extended here to other striated muscles. Myosins from fast (trunk muscle), superfast (swimbladder muscle), slow (lateral-line muscle) and cardiac (ventricle muscle) were compared, using one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the light chains all appear distinct in isoelectric point and molecular weight, except for the two LC1 and two LC3 from fast and superfast muscles. Striated muscles from the toadfish Opsanus tau exhibited at least four isoenzymic forms of the myosin, related to the light chains and corresponding to different physiological properties.

[Complexes of "pancreatic elastase-seric inhibitors" in swine: their behavior in the presence of homologous aortic elastin]

The present paper deals with the particular behavior of the complexes formed between pancreatic elastase and seric inhibitors in the Pig, when they were set in contact with homologous elastin. The previously known values of dissociation constants of alpha 1-antiprotease-elastase and alpha 2-macroglobulin-elastase complexes indicated they were very stable and almost irreversible. Nevertheless, our results suggest that, when the overall complexes between porcine pancreatic elastase and seric inhibitors were isolated in non drastic conditions, they might develop an elastolytic activity against elastin fibers. This result is important as regards atherosclerosis--in Human--where a destruction of elastin is involved at a early stage of the disease.

[Parents' attachment to their newborn following a premature birth and separation in the neonatal period.]

Premature birth and neonatal separation put parents through an intense emotional stress. Moreover, they are confronted to a newborn poorly equiped for social contacts. Adaptation potential is required from parents in the process of bonding to their premature infant. Maybe to compensate for their infant's interaction weaknesses, through initially hesitant, parents usually react by becoming more active with their preterm infant than with a full-term infant. However, in relation to poor family and emotional conditions, some parents'adap-tation potential is stretched beyond limits giving rise to mothering disorders.

Early discharge of low birthweight infants

A study was conducted to see if the discharge weight of preterm infants born at less than or equal to 2000 g could safely be reduced. A study group (21 infants) was discharged 'early' at a mean weight of 2010 g (1890-2190) provided there were no medical problems, weight gain was adequate, temperature control in room air was stable, all feedings were by breast, and the mother was ready to have the baby home. A control group (17 infants) was discharged at a mean weight of 2261 g (2200-2400). The duration of time in hospital for the 'early' group was shortened by 11.6 days. At expected date of delivery the weight of infants in each group was similar (3095 +/- 403 compared with 3146 +/- 453 g); length, head circumference, and haemoglobin concentration in each group were similar too. There was no morbidity or mortality in either group. Early discharge did not affect mothering confidence. This study shows that low birthweight infants can be discharged early (at 2000 +/- 100 g) provided appropriate criteria are met, home conditions are adequate, and follow-up is available.

A specific one step method for the isolation of pancreatic elastase; its use to characterize aortic elastase

Elastase was purified from an acetone-ether powder of porcine pancreas by a one step affinity chromatography procedure on IgG-Sepharose 4B. The IgG was derived from a rabbit immunized with porcine pancreatic elastase and was itself isolated by affinity chromatography on elastase immobilized on the same matrix. The column was calibrated with a known elastase preparation under standardized conditions. Direct isolation of elastase from pancreatic extracts yielded approximately 90 mg from two pancreas. The enzymatic activity and electrophoretic migration in SDS-polyacrylamide gel of the purified elastase were equal to those of the purest commercially available enzymes. Application of this method to aorta of young pigs suggests the presence of active elastase in the aorta.

Genetic variations of serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (Pi types) in Normans. Common Pi M subtypes and new phenotypes

The results of Pi typing by high resolution isoelectric focusing on 1,030 Normans from the area of Rouen (France) is reported. The frequency of the three common subtypes of Pi M is given and new variants partly described. Pi gene frequencies are compared to previously obtained data and results from other countries. The application of high resolution isoelectric focusing to the Pi system is discussed together with the advantages it provides in the knowledge of alpha-1-antitrypsin genetic polymorphism.

[Anti-elastase of human pancreas: preparation and biological interest]

The present paper deals with the use of a new technique in type II human pancreatic elastase studies based on the use of a reversible immune-adsorbent which provides a unique specificity. According to the type of ligand linked on activated Sepharose, the elastase or its antibody in Rabbit could be obtained, in very pure form, in a one step process. The anti-human pancreatic elastase II, which specifically inhibits the enzyme, may be used in therapy whenever the elastase-inhibitor system becomes unbalanced.

The effects of various warming up intensities and durations during a short maximal anaerobic exercise

In the literature, few experiments deal with the study of warming up before short exercises. The present paper investigates the influence of different warming up procedures on a short maximal anaerobic exercise leading to exhaustion in 1 min or less. Performance, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and lactic acid level are measured. The performance is improved when light warming up (30% VO2 max) is used just before the criterion exercise, while it is impaired with a more strenuous warming up (70% VO2 max). After light warming up, heart rate and oxygen consumption are slightly higher during the criterion exercise as compared with the values without warming up. Warming up itself does not lead to an increase in lactic acid level. When a resting period is introduced between warming up and exercise, no modification occurs whatever the warming up intensity, and no important variation of the physiological measures are observed in this case.

Synthesis of highly diversified carrier ampholytes. Evaluation of the resolving power of isoelectric focusing in the Pi system (alpha-1-antitrypsin genetic polymorphism)

The use of condensing reagents such as epoxypropanol, diepoxyoctane, acrylamide and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide in the synthesis of carrier ampholytes increased the diversity of amphoteric components. The quality of these synthetic carrier ampholytes has been tested in the separation of variants of alpha-1-anti-trypsin, a genetic polymorphism called the Pi system. A resolving power of the order of 0.005 pH unit was obtained.

Serum elastase inhibitors in cardio-vascular diseases

Serum elastase inhibiting capacity was measured in three groups: 150 control subjects, 38 hospitalized children without cardiovacular diseases and 202 hospitalized patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The values obtained were 53% in control adult subjects and 79% (range 45--90%) in the hospitalized patient groups. The highest levels were recorded at the acute phase of myocardial infarction. The levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M) were determined by radial immunodiffusion technique for various levels of inhibitory power. No correlation was found between the inhibitory power levels and the alpha1-AT and alpha2-M levels. This study suggests that other proteins may intervene in the inhibition process of elastolysis.