Library

Notes: Abstract— For the GABA shunt to operate in rivo, GABA must be able to enter brain mitochondria. GABA causes reduction of intra-mitochondrial NAD+; glutamate or 2-oxoglutarate stimulate this reduction at concentrations at which they do not themselves cause reduction. This stimulation is not abolished by Triton X-100. The rates of swelling of brain and liver mitochondria are similar in iso-osmotic GABA and in several analogues. The rate of swelling is proportional to the concentration of GABA in the iso-osmotic suspension medium. GABA penetrates 60% of the mitochondrial matrix volume, this value is unaffected by energizing the mitochondria. The activity of GABA-oxoglutarate aminotransferase is not latent. We conclude that GABA diffuses into both brain and liver mitochondria as a species with no net charge at rates which are able to sustain maximum activity of the GABA shunt.

Notes: We have developed a quasicontinuous crucible free zone melting method for texturing YBCO bulk material. Dense sintered rods with a length of 10 cm were partially molten in the hot zone of a 5 zone furnace and recrystallized in the large temperature gradient (140 °C/cm) limiting this zone. Suitable additions of Y2BaCuO5 (20 mol %) and PtO2 (1 wt %) to the starting material and a growth rate of not more than 1 mm/h were necessary to obtain stable growth conditions. After natural grain selection we obtained 8-cm-long rods with a uniform orientation of the crystallographic axes within 2°. The angle between c direction and rod axis typically was 55°. The critical current density at 77 K measured with continuous current over a length of 4.5 cm was 1.3×104 A/cm2 in zero field and 8×103 A/cm2 in 0.5 T. These values confirm the absence of grain boundaries.

Notes: Summary Irradiation of thermal polymers ofα-amino acids with X-rays in the solid state produces a significantly increased destruction of tryptophan, histidine, cystine, lysine and methionine as compared with the response of constituent amino acids in proteins. These results are discussed with respect to related results obtained by irradiation of dry films of amino acid mixtures which indicate an even stronger energy or charge transfer towards the four amino acids mentioned. The results are also discussed with respect to the radiation sensitivity of constituent amino acids in proteins and the inactivation of enzymes.

Notes: Summary The photosensitivity of cystine and the aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine in different proteins, in aqueous solution and in the adsorbed (solid) state is compared with the photosensitivity of these amino acids in thermal polymers ofα-amino acids. The photosensitivity of cystine in the absence of chromophoric groups is largely independent of the amino acid composition, primary structure, or conformation of the polymer. The interaction between the “sensitizer” (aromatic amino acid residues), and cystine, however, is largely dependent on the conformation of the polymer if energy or charge transfer is involved. The effects of tryptophan photolysis products (solvated electrons) appear to be largely independent of the conformational state.

Notes: Abstract We performed a multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy and safety of the surfactant preparation, Survanta (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, USA), for 750–1750 g infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, (IRDS) receiving assisted ventilation with 40% or more oxygen. One hundred and six eligible infants from the eight participating centers were randomly assigned between March 1986 and June 1987 to receive either surfactant (100 mg phospholipid/kg, 4 ml/kg) or air (4 ml/kg) administered into the trachea within 8 h of brith (median time of treatment 6.2 h, range 3.2–9.1 h). The study was stopped before enrollment was completed at the request of the United States Food and Drug Administration when significant differences were observed in incidence of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIH), between the surfactant treated and control infants. Surfactant treated infants had larger average increases in the arterial-alveolar oxygen ratio, (a/A ratio) (P〈0.0001), and larger average decreases in FiO2 (P〈0.0001) and mean airway pressure, (MAP) (P〈0.017) than controls over the 48 h following treatment. The magnitude of the differences between the surfactant and control groups were 0.19 (SE=0.03) for a/A ratio, −0.28 (SE=0.04) for FiO2 and −1.7 cm H2O (SE=0.70) for MAP. The clinical status on days 7 and 28 after treatment was classified using four predefined ordered categories: (1) no respiratory support; (2) supplemental O2 with or without continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP); (3) intermittent mandatory ventilation; and (4) death. There were no statistically significant differences in the status categories on days 7 or 28 between surfactant and control infants. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing entero-colitis, air leaks or death. There was a statistically significant difference between treated and control infants in the frequency and severity of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIH) (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszelχ 2adj=6.36,P=0.01). Hemorrhages occurred in 59.6% of surfactant treated infants and 26.9% of controls. Severe hemorrhages (grades 3 or 4) occurred in 38.5% of surfactant treated infants and 15.4% of controls (χ 2adj=4.01,P=0.045). We conclude that the intratracheal administration of Survanta prior to 8 h of age to infants with IRDS receiving assisted ventilation with 40% or more oxygen results in a reduction in the severity of respiratory distress during the 48 h after therapy. Because of the difference in incidence of PIH between surfactant and control infants in this study, we recommend that future clinical trials of surfactant include more frequent prospective serial ultrasound evaluations for diagnosis of hemorrhage.

Notes: Summary Lytic transition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is initiated by distinct immediate early regulators of the viral cycle, in synchronization to temporary, permissive conditions during host cell differentiation. We developed eukaryotic vectors suitable to imitate the processes involved in lytic transition in cell culture systems. Two stable B cell lines were established: R59Z activator cells were used to induce lytic EBV expression in a constitutive manner by the production of the BZLF 1trans-activator (Zta). R7-57 reporter cells, on the other hand, signaled induced activity of the lytic origin of EBV replication (oriLyt). Different modes, like chemical induction, lytic superinfection with EBV and single genetrans-activation converted the recombinant oriLyt element in R7-57 reporter cells. BZLF 1, transiently expressed in R7-57 reporter cells, was the only EBVtrans-activator found, sufficient in inducing the viral lytic cycle. Basing on these experiments,trans-cellular activation of EBV was tested by cocultivation of BZLF 1-expressing R59Z activator cells with the R7-57 reporter line. No lytic effect on the reporter cells could be measured, neither by cocultivation of activator cells nor by coincubation of BZLF 1-containing cell lysates. Latency breaking activity, however, was transferred from activator to reporter cells when active, exogenous virus was added. The cell system described in these experiments provides a tool for the detection of EBV reactivation and demonstrates the potential of the lytic regulatory gene BZLF 1.

Notes: Summary In order to evaluate the relation between balloon design (monofoil, trefoil) and valvular configuration, experimental aortic valvuloplasty was performed in four post-mortem hearts with calcific aortic stenosis of various morphology. The degree of obstruction of the aortic orifice was assessed by computed axial tomography during inflation of monofoil 15 and 19 mm and trefoil 3×12 mm balloon catheters. We also evaluated the hemodynamic repercussion of balloon inflation (fall in systolic aortic pressure) in four elderly patients with acquired aortic stenosis who underwent a percutaneous transluminal aortic balloon valvuloplasty, with stepwise increasing balloon sizes of 15 mm, 19 mm and 3×12 mm, as during ourin vitro experiments, and who underwent aortic valve replacement later on. In these patients, we correlated the anatomy of the excised aortic valves with the retrospective analysis of aortic pressure curves recorded during previous valvuloplasty procedures. Our experimental and clinicopathological observations showed that the degree of obstruction of the aortic orifice in post-mortem specimens and the tolerance to balloon inflation in live patients are dependent of the valvular configuration. Although trefoil balloons have the theoretical advantage to avoid complete obstruction of the aortic orifice during inflation, we observed that in presence of a tricuspid configuration, they could be potentially more occlusive than monofoil balloons since each of the 3 individual components of the trefoil balloon occupied the intercommissural spaces while inflated. However, they offered more residual free space when inflated in aortic valves with a bicuspid configuration (i.e. congenitally bicuspid valves or tricuspid valves with one fused commissure). In our opinion, these observations are relevant, since degenerative disease of the aortic valve (i.e. tricuspid valve without commissural fusion) is now recognized as the most common etiology of aortic stenosis in the elderly.