Expression of a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene in rice, a glycinebetaine nonaccumulator, and possible localization of its protein in peroxisomes

BACKGROUND: Acquired resistance to standard chemotherapy for tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing problem worldwide. Vietnam has one of the highest incidences of TB and also has a large population of potential migrants to other countries. Since 1979 the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has been running a supervised programme of TB treatment for intending migrants from Vietnam where few facilities for bacteriological culture and sensitivity testing exist. This study aimed to assess the most important factors for predicting non-response to first-line treatment as treatment starts and whether any further indicators occur during the course of treatment which may enable more accurate prediction of non-response. METHODS: In all, 130 subjects failing to respond to first-line therapy (cases) between 1990 and 1995 were compared with 673 subjects who responded to therapy (controls) on various demographic and clinical characteristics using logistic regression to create a prognostic index. Variables analysed included the patient history of past TB treatment, weight, age, sex and radiological and bacteriological findings. All subjects also tested negative for HIV status. RESULTS: The chief markers of successful response were x-ray signs and degree of sputum smear positivity. These markers provided a prognostic index with an optimal cutoff providing about 70% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Incorporating further measures obtained through the first 3 months of treatment improved the sensitivity to 80%. CONCLUSION: While this study enabled prediction of the majority of subjects failing to respond to first-line therapy, other factors need to be assessed before recommendations for altering treatment regimens can be made. The prognostic index could be useful in assessing subjects for closer supervision.     

Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah''s Witnesses: Part 2. A novel approach based on rational non-interventional paternalism

Due to costs in using and disposing of radiochemicals and to health considerations, we have been developing applications which include non-isotopic detection of DNA and proteins using chemiluminescence. Our major interests are in the detection of viral nucleic acids and in the analysis of transgenic plants. Generally, probes were labelled with digoxigenin, either by the random priming method or by PCR, and then detected with CSPD or CDP-Star. We routinely use a tissue blotting protocol for diagnosing TYLCV, a plant virus becoming a post in the Mediterranean region. Test results were comparable with those using the same radiolabelled probe. When total nucleic acids are extracted from the plant samples and used in dot-blot or Southern blot assays, viral DNAs are promptly detected by chemiluminescence. In transgenic plants, chemiluminescence was used to detect the transgene on genomic Southern blots, the transgenic mRNAs on Northern blots, and the transgenic protein on Western blots. In Southern and Northern blots, the quality of the results obtained was usually satisfactory, but not as good as with a radiolabelled probe, the main problem being the signal-to-background ratio. Our goal is now to improve the quality of results in demanding applications such as genomic Southern blots, by reducing the background on membranes.     

Gene of LukF-PV-like component of Panton-Valentine leukocidin in Staphylococcus aureus P83 is linked with lukM

The amount of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) can dramatically alter the extent of radical-induced oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids, a process generally thought to be important in atherogenesis. However, LDL with atherogenic features can also be formed in vitro by exposure to the strong non-radical oxidant hypochlorite (HOCl), which preferentially oxidises LDL apolipoprotein B-100. Here we show that varying LDL content of alpha-TOH by vitamin supplementation or depletion has no effect on the extent of HOCI-induced oxidation of apolipoprotein B-100 as measured by the loss of lysine and tryptophan residues, and the alteration in relative electrophoretic mobility of the lipoprotein particle.     

Dependence of interaction parameter on molecular weight and concentration for solutions of poly(dimethylsiloxane) in methylethylketone

The polymer-solvent interaction parameter x for solutions of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) of different molecular weights (4600–220000) in methylethylketone (MEK) at segment fractions of PDMS ø2 ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 was measured by means of the vapour pressure method at 30°C, (20°C higher than the θ temperature for the PDMS-MEK system). The x values obtained experimentally were found to be almost independent of the molecular weight of PDMS. The observed x values were reproduced by applying Flory's new theory with evaluated values of three quantities: (1) the ratio of the surface area per segment for the polymer to that for the solvent $\text{s}{}_2\text{s}{}_1$; (2) the enthalpy exchange parameter X₁₂ and (3) the entropy exchange parameter Q₁₂.     

Ni-silicide precursor for gate electrodes

Ni-silicide film was deposited at a low temperature of 160 °C by CVD using a Ni(PF₃)₄/Si₃H₈ gas system. Injecting Si₃H₈ during the Ni deposition does not affect the deposition rate, but the step-coverage quality deteriorates at high growth temperatures. At high growth temperatures, the Ni/Si ratio of the film deposited on the sidewall varies as the distance from the open area increases. High step-coverage quality and a constant Ni/Si ratio independent of the location of the deposition are strongly required to fabricate a three-dimensional device. These requirements were achieved with this CVD by depositing the Ni-silicide film below 180 °C.     

Purification and partial characterization of ostrich skeletal muscle cathepsin D and its activity during meat maturation

Cathepsin D was purified from ostrich (Struthio camelus) skeletal muscle using pepstatin-A chromatography. The enzyme was comprised of two subunits (29.1 and 14 kDa). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of both subunits were determined and showed high amino acid sequence identity to other cathepsin D homologs. Ostrich cathepsin D was optimally active at pH 4 and at a temperature of 45°C, and was strongly inhibited by pepstatin-A (K(i)=3.07×10(-9)M) and dithiothreitol. Cathepsin D activities from five ostriches were monitored over a 30-day period. Cathepsin D remained substantially active throughout the 30-day storage period with an average remaining activity of 112±8.57% at day 30 (mean value from 5 ostriches).     

Effect of dietary β-carotene supplementation on beef color stability during display of two muscles from Japanese Black steers

Effect of dietary β-carotene supplementation (7500 mg/head/day) for 28 days prior to slaughter on beef color stability during display of M. semimembranosus (SM) and M. longissimus lumborum (LL) from Japanese Black steers was studied. Steak samples from two muscles were over-wrapped with PVC film and displayed under fluorescent lights at 4°C for 12 days. Metmyoglobin percentages of steak samples were determined at days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12. The β-carotene concentration in both muscles was increased (P<0.001) by dietary β-carotene supplementation. Color display-life of muscles was calculated by the metmyoglobin threshold method based on a threshold value of 20% metmyoglobin. Color display-lives of SM and LL were extended 1.5 and 3 days by dietary β-carotene supplementation, respectively.