Two-site ELISA for quantification of the terminal C5b-9 complement complex in plasma

1993

Abstract A quantitative ELISA procedure using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against neoantigens of the terminal C5b-9 complement complex has been developed. The ELISA was demonstrated to be both sensitive and reproducible. The normal range for C5b-9 determinations, defined as 2.5–97.5% interval of the values obtained in 76 healthy blood donors, was 3.12–10.3 AU/ml. The presence of rheumatoid factor did not affect the determination of C5b-9 as demonstrated by immunoabsorption studies.

Transcriptional and translational study of the Drosophila subobscura hsp83 gene in normal and heat-shock conditions

1993

In this paper we report a transcriptional and translational study of the hsp83 gene of Drosophila subobscura. This gene is located at the 18C region of the J chromosome. A monoclonal antibody raised against hsp83 was used for the immunological detection of this protein by Western blotting throughout the development of D. subobscura in control and heat-shock conditions. Our results indicate that puff 18C is not only heat-shock inducible but is also expressed during normal development and its level of expression increases at the end of the prepupa period. We detected hsp83 at normal temperatures, in particular developmental stages with the exception of the larval and the beginning of prepupa…

Sigma-rectum pouch (Mainz pouch II).

1993

A substantial modification of the classic technique of ureterosigmoidostomy is introduced in this article. To date, this procedure has been used in 47 patients. This article reviews the surgical technique of the antemesenterial splitting of the intestine at the recto-sigmoid junction which creates a pouch by subsequent side-to-side anastomosis.

An analysis based on trawl-survey data of the state of the ‘Italian’ stock of Mullus barbatus in the Sicilian Channel, including management advice

1993

Abstract Data on the relative abundance of age groups obtained by statistically designed routine trawl surveys in approximately half of the Sicilian Channel were processed with commonly available microcomputer fish population dynamics packages. The species considered was Mullus barbatus , a unit stock of which had been previously identified in the study area. Analytical and management outcomes were also assessed in relative terms. Conditions and limits on both the analyses and the outcomes are discussed with reference to the particular case study.

β-decay of 113Rh and the observation of 113mPd : Isomer systematics in odd-A palladium isotopes

1993

Abstract Decay of 113Rh to the levels of 113Pd was studied at the IGISOL-facility by means of β-, γ- and conversion-electron spectroscopy. The level scheme of 113Pd was constructed using 33 gamma transitions on the basis of observed γγ-coincidence relations and half-life analysis. A β-decay half-life of (2.80±0.12) s was measured for 113Rh. A new 9 − 2 isomeric state with (0.3 ± 0.1) s half-life and excitation energy 81.3 keV was discovered in 113Pd. This state and the other recently observed low-lying 9 − 2 or 11 − 2 isomeric states in 115,117Pd isotopes are directly populated in proton-induced fission. The decay of these isomers is unusually strongly hindered compared with Weisskopf estim…

Spin-polarization effects for electrons passing through thin iron and cobalt films

1993

Abstract Spin-dependent effects of the inelastic mean free path (IMFP) are evident for low-energy electrons passing through magnetized ferromagnetic films caused by a different attenuation within the layer. Values of IMFP for both spin components were determined for ultrathin iron and cobalt layers on W(1 1 0) by means of spin-resolving photoelectron spectroscopy.

T cell activation defect in hemodialysis patients: Evidence for a role of the B7/CD28 pathway

1993

T cell activation defect in hemodialysis patients: Evidence for a role of the B7/CD28 pathway. The immunosuppressive effect of chronic renal failure is correlated with an impaired proliferation of peripheral blood leukocytes in vitro . This is mainly due to an impaired function of the accessory cells rather than the T cells. Here we tried to define a missing accessory signal for T cell activation in hemodialysis patients. We substituted cell surface bound molecules by adding tumor cell lines to the in vitro assays that express different patterns of accessory molecules. Cell lines that express the costimulatory B7 molecule reconstituted the activation of patients' cells whereas B7 negative c…

Rheological behavior of a semirigid liquid crystal polymer

1993

The rheological behavior of liquid crystal polymers is still far from completely clarified from both experimental and theoretical points of view. In this paper, the shear flow and the non-isothermal elongation flow behavior of a semi-rigid liquid crystal copolyester is discussed. The viscosity strongly decreases when the test temperature is increased above the crystal-nematic transition temperature; below this temperature the viscosity is very high. The thermal history strongly affects the shear viscosity. The elongational flow behavior depends also on temperature. Above the crystal-nematic transition temperature and the mesophase is easily spinnable, whereas below this temperature, the spi…

Interleukin-6 production in "normal" and HTLV-1 tax-expressing brain-specific endothelial cells.

1993

Abnormal cytokine production can contribute in many instances to the development of pathology. Our study focuses on the regulation of interleukin (IL)-6 production in vitro in brain-specific endothelial cells (BEC) under physiological conditions and in a model of human T leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection. IL-6 production was strongly up-regulated in a dose-dependent mode upon exposure to recombinant IL-1 beta, although nearly not detectable in unstimulated BEC. This induction of IL-6 production could be achieved by reagents known to increase intracellular levels of cAMP, such as forskolin, prostaglandin E or pentoxifylline. Furthermore, transcription and production of IL-6 was inducible b…

Ellipsometric and fluorescence microscopic investigations of a cyclam derivative at the air/water interface

1993

Ventilation and Heart Rate Response During Exercise in Normals: Relevance for Rate Variable Pacing

1993

The observation of a close relationship of heart rate to oxygen uptake (HR-VO2) and heart rate to minute ventilation (HR-VE) has been shown to be of particular value in rate variable pacing. However, the impact of anaerobic threshold (AT) for the HR-VO2 and HR-VE slope has been studied less. Twenty-three male and 16 female subjects, mean age 52 +/- 7 years, were selected in whom complete heart catherization and extensive noninvasive studies excluded major cardiopulmonary disease. Semisupine bicycle exercise testing with analysis of respiratory gas exchange was performed using a ramping work rate protocol with work increments of 20 watts/min. At the respiratory AT, determined by the V slope …

99mTc–MAG3–Nierenfunktionsszintigraphie ohne und mit Captopril zur Diagnostik der renovaskulären Hypertonie

1993

In this study, the diagnostic value of renal function scintigraphy performed both without and with ACE inhibition has been evaluated using the new radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-MAG3. In cases of decompensated renal artery stenoses, the typical scan finding with this tubular excreted agent was shown to be a distinct parenchymal nuclide retention in combination with a delayed appearance of the radiotracer in the pelvic system. Using this criterion in 43 patients with suspected renovascular hypertension, sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 88%, respectively. Bilateral positive findings were non-specific; excluding them from the study, specificity increased to 100%. In renal insufficiency, capt…

Nouvelles données biostratigraphiques sur les dépots cénomanoturoniens du Nord-Est du fosse de ia Bénoué (Nigéria)

1993

Abstract The Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Upper Benue (North-East Nigeria) record regional and local events (sea-level changes, biological successions and tectonic movements) which throw light on the Upper Cenomanian transgression. Evidence of discontinuities and sedimentary assemblages well dated by micropalaeontological data, allows the sedimentary sequence to be interpreted in the context of sequence stratigraphy. The discovery of new ammonite faunas has enabled a more precise definition of the local biostratigraphy and a correlation of this with the standard zonal scheme. In the near future, when they are better known, the ammonite successions recognized in the Upper Benue could ena…

Otoacoustic emissions: a new method to diagnose hearing impairment in children.

1993

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are epiphenomena of sensitive, amplifying processes during hearing which can be detected in persons with normal inner ear function. They originate from the cochlea and are interpreted as an energy leakage of cochlear processes, perhaps resulting from active outer hair cell movements. OAEs travel from the cochlea through the middle ear to the external auditory canal where they can be detected using sensitive miniature microphones. Transient evoked (TEOAE) tests allow to otoacoustic emissions non-invasively check the integrity of the cochlea. In the neonatal period, registration of OAEs can be accomplished during natural sleep. In infants and neonates TEOAEs can b…

Mutational analysis of the cysteine residues in the hepatitis B virus small envelope protein.

1993

The small envelope protein of hepatitis B virus is the major component of the viral coat and is also secreted from cells as a 20-nm subviral particle, even in the absence of other viral proteins. Such empty envelope particles are composed of approximately 100 copies of this polypeptide and host-derived lipids and are stabilized by extensive intermolecular disulfide cross-linking. To study the contribution of disulfide bonds to assembly and secretion of the viral envelope, single and multiple mutants involving all 14 cysteines in HepG2 and COS-7 cells were analyzed. Of the six cysteines located outside the region carrying the surface antigen, Cys-48, Cys-65, and Cys-69 were each found to be …

Claws contained in all n-tournaments

1993

Abstract We prove that any claw of order n with degree d≤ 3 8 n is n-unavoidable, which means that any tournament of order n contains it as a subdigraph. A simple corollary is that any tournament has a directed Hamiltonian path.

Estimation of bounds for left-right mixing from nuclear double beta decay processes

1993

Abstract Nuclear matrix elements, extracted from a systematic calculation of neutrinoless double beta decay rates for 0 + g.s →o + g.s transitions in 76 Ge, 82 Se, 128 Te, 130 Te and 136 Xe, have been used to compute bounds on the left-right mixing angle ζ of the weak currents. The parameters of the nuclear model have been fixed by calculating the corresponding two-neutrino double beta decay half lives. The present analysis favours a mixing of the order of |tanξ| −3 which is to be compared with those obtained in muon decay (|tan ξ | ⩽ 0.035) and in supernova (|tan ξ | ⩽ 10 −5 ) analysis. It shows that nuclear structure calculations yield estimates on ξ which complement the existing data.

Treatment of 11 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia with interferon-alpha-2C and low-dose cytosine arabinoside

1993

Abstract Patients with Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and on interferon (IFN)-α-2c treatment for at least two months were entered in the present pilot study. IFN-α treatment was maintained identically and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) was added at monthly cycles of 10 mg/m 2 /day for ten days subcutaneously. In the case of a leukocyte nadir above 10 G/1, the Ara-C dose was increased to 20 mg/m 2 /day for 10 days per month. Ten of the eleven patients entered in this study were evaluable for toxicity and response. They received a total of 87 IFN-α/Ara-C cycles (3–14/patient). Five patients received 1–5 cycles with Ara-C dose intensification to 20 mg/m …

Mutations affecting MHC class II binding of the superantigen streptococcal erythrogenic toxin A.

1993

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA) is an important pathogenicity factor of group A streptococci. It is a member of the family of 'superantigens' produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, and its T lymphocyte stimulating activity is involved in the pathogenesis of certain diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci. In this study we have generated nine mutant SPEA molecules by substituting amino acids in the regions of homology between different streptococcal and staphylococcal superantigens. An additional mutant was created by deletion of the 10 N-terminal amino acids. The mutants were expressed as fusion proteins. Several mutations led to a loss of function due to a…

A mesoscopic approach to point-defect clustering in solids during irradiation

1993

Accumulation of point defects in solids during irradiation is often accompanied by self-organization processes which lead to point-defect clustering and thus to the formation of a spatially inhomogeneous defect structure. Within the framework of a mesoscopic phenomenological approach, the conditions for clustering of mobile point defects caused by their elastic interactions are studied. It is shown that differences between the elastic interaction of similar and that of dissimilar defects may lead to such clustering. Further, it is shown that the presence of impurities acting as traps for interstitials may promote the clustering process. The conditions for spatial clustering are studied for …

Structural features of the human bradykinin B2 receptor probed by agonists, antagonists, and anti-idiotypic antibodies

1993

The human bradykinin B2 receptor belongs to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors. To characterize the receptor protein, we have solubilized the membranes of cultured human foreskin fibroblasts bearing the B2 receptor. Affinity cross-linking of the solubilized receptor with the labeled agonist, 125I-Tyr0-bradykinin, or the labeled antagonist, 125I-(4-hydroxy-phenyl-propionyl)-HOE140, revealed major bands of apparent molecular mass of 69 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, and of 59 kDa under non-reducing conditions. A 1000-fold molar excess of each of the unlabeled ligands quenched the specific labeling suggesting that the agonist and the antagonist …

Preparation and structural study of sodium germanium phosphate-sodium titanium phosphate solid solutions. I. Evolution of structure with composition

1993

Compounds NaM2IV(PO4)3 with M = Ge, Ti present the [NZP]-type structure, with a low thermal expansion. The space group at room temperature for the compound NaGe2(PO4)3 is R3, whereas for the compound NaTi2(PO4)3 is R3c. Evolution of the structure with composition in NaGe2(PO4)3  NaTi2(PO4)3 system is discussed. The space group and lattice parameters were determined for NaGe2−xTix(PO4)3 (0 < x < 2) solid solutions, prepared by ceramic method. Compositions rich in Ge(IV) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) show the R3 space group, whereas for those rich in Ti(IV) (1.2 ≤ x ≤ 2) the space group is R3c. The variation of the lattice parameters with composition agreed with these results since it showed a change in its t…

Azathioprine combined with prednisolone or monotherapy with prednisolone in active Crohn's disease

1993

Abstract Background: The role of azathioprine (AZA) in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD) is still controversial. This study examined whether AZA combined with standard prednisolone therapy improved the therapeutic outcome compared with monotherapy with prednisolone. Methods: Forty-two patients with a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of > 150 were randomized into two groups. Both received 60 mg of prednisolone daily in a tapering regimen to a maintenance dose of 10 mg. In addition, group 1 received 2.5 mg AZA/kg body wt and group 2 received a placebo over the whole study period of 4 months. Results: At the end of the trial, 16 of 21 patients (76%) in group 1 were in remission…

A code to calculate (high order) Bessel functions based on the continued fractions method

1993

Abstract We have developed a fast code to calculate Bessel functions of integer and fractional order based on the continued fractions method. This algorithm is specially useful in the case of Bessel functions of high order because it does not require any recalculation using normalization relations.

Microbial and chemical changes in 'Sobrasada' during ripening.

1993

‘Sobrasada’ is a raw-cured product typical of Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Throughout its ripening process the product, like other raw-cured sausages, undergoes a series of chemical and microbial changes which lead to the formation of its desirable final characteristics. In the ‘sobrasada’ studied, the breeds, feeding and casings used in the Balearic Islands were employed. The evolution of different groups of microorganisms was followed: mesophylic aerobic microorganisms, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and moulds, group D Streptococcus, proteolytic microorganisms and lipolytic microorganisms. It was found that the predominant flora, from the beginning to the end, was made …

NUCLEAR MAGNETIC ORDER, USE OF SPIN DEPENDENT AMPLITUDES

1993

The use of the spin dependent part of the nuclear scattering length gives access to neutron scattering to the field of nuclear magnetism. This paper presents the theoretical and experimental background for such experiments. The available results on nuclear order will be reviewed and put if possible in the larger frame of many body physics. The possibilities of using nuclear magnetism for new applications or the improvement of scattering techniques will be stressed as well.

A new form of tumor and fetal collagen that binds laminin.

1993

Human breast and colon carcinoma tissues contain a form of collagen, not described before, composed of alpha 1 chains of similar size (approximately 100 kDa) but different charge. The three constitutive chains, separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, are a unique acidic component, undetectable in other collagen types, with an apparent isoelectric point of 4-5, and two more basic components displaying the same electrophoretic behavior as alpha 1(III) and alpha 1(I), respectively. The acidic chain is structurally distinct from alpha 1(I) and displays a cyanogen bromide-derived fragment of similar size to CB5(III). This collagen in its native state is resistant to trypsin and metalloprot…

Transcriptional induction of the fatty acid binding protein gene in mouse liver by bezafibrate

1993

AbstractThe mechanism by which hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators of the fibrate family induce the liver fatty acid binding protein in liver of rodents is unknown. In order to delineate the level at which this protein is induced, the transcriptional activity of the specific gene encoding for liver fatty acid binding protein was measured in isolated hepatocyte nuclei obtained from male Swiss mice daily force-fed during 7 days with 400 mg/kg body weight bezafibrate. This treatment induced a 4-fold increase in the liver fatty acid binding protein transcription rate. Liver fatty acid binding protein mRNA level, measured by Northern blot analysis and cytosolic content of this protein, analyz…

Universality-Breaking Effects in Leptonic Z Decays

1993

We analyze the possibility of universality violation in diagonal leptonic decays of the $Z$ boson, in the context of interfamily "see-saw" models. In a minimal extension of the Standard Model with right-handed neutrino fields, we find that universality-breaking effects increase quadratically with the heavy Majorana neutrino mass and may be observed in the running $LEP$ experiments.

Solid-phase extraction in multi-residue pesticide analysis of water

1993

The determination of pesticides in water is fundamental to the solution of environmental problems as natural waters are usually contaminated with a large number of pesticides. The selection of an isolation and/or concentration technique depends largely on the class of pesticides to be determined. It is often necessary to determine simultaneously a wide variety of compounds in a water sample. Application of solid-phase extraction techniques offers a solution. The mechanisms of solid-phase extraction, types of sorbents and their application to multi-residue pesticide analysis are reviewed.

Evaluation of a solid-phase extraction system for determining pesticide residues in milk.

1993

Abstract A simple and rapid procedure based on reversed solid-phase extraction with octadecylsilica was developed for determining chlorinated pesticide residues in milk. The need for an agent that breaks the fat globules was first investigated and the method variables were optimized on whole homogenized milk (3.6% fat content). Recovery experiments performed for 26 organochlorine pesticides at levels of 3–40 μg/l gave > 80% recoveries for all the compounds. The method was validated and evaluated by comparison with two widely used liquid-liquid extraction methods. The performance was checked by analysis of a certified standard with natural low endogenous levels (CMR 187) and different kinds …

Determination of the spatial extension of the surface-plasmon evanescent field of a silver film with a photon scanning tunneling microscope.

1993

A photon scanning tunneling microscope is employed to probe the surface-plasmon field in the evanes- cent region of a silver film for p (parallel to the plane of incidence) and s (perpendicular to the plane of incidence) polarizations of the light beam at several angles of incidence near the critical angle. The in- teraction between the field and the probe is measured and compared to theoretical calculations involving a single four-media model. A systematic analysis of images obtained for several positions of the optical fiber above the film is presented and it is shown that, for tip-to-sample distances smaller than half the wavelength of the incoming light, the collected intensity curves a…

In Vitro Release of Lectins From Phallusia mamillata Hemocytes After Their Fractionation on a Density Gradient

1993

Hemocytes were fractionated by centrifugation on a discontinuous Percoll density gradient from the hemolymph of Phallusia mamillata. Results obtained from microcultures of the fractionated hemocytes, sugar-inhibition experiments, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting indicate that “compartment cells” release cellular-type (CL) lectins that are specific for α-lactose and lactulose. The released lectins have the same properties as the CL lectins that were previously isolated from sonicated unfractionated hemocytes, but they differ in terms of some molecular and immunological properties from the lectins (SL) purified from the serum. SLs were never found in the supernatants from microcultures of the fra…

Electronic and mechanical characterization of self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers by scanning tunneling microscopy combined with interaction-force-…

1993

We have used scanning tunneling microscopy to study self-assembled monolayers of mercaptohexadecanol in ultrigh vacuum. In addition to tunneling, the interaction force gradient acting between tip and sample was measured. Analysis of the force-gradient data shows that the tip is in mechanical contact with the surface of the monolayer which, in turn, is elastically compressed. The lateral dimensions of the mechanical contact are substantially (approximately five times) larger than the width of the tunneling-current filament. The results suggest that the compression of the monolayer constitutes an integral part of tunneling through the molecules

Star orbits in metal clusters

1993

A possibility that classical five-point star orbits play a dominant role for shell structures of large metal clusters is investigated quantum mechanically. With a soft Woods-Saxon spherical potential a signature of the five-point star orbit is found in the level densities. Quantum numbers of degenerate levels in the soft Woods-Saxon potential differ by 2 and 5 in radial nodes and angular momenta, respectively. Unlike the experimental observation the peaks in the mass spectrum are not equally spaced as a function of N 1/3 . The self-consistent jellium model does not reproduce the degeneracy associated with the five-point star orbits. It is demonstrated that by covering high-density metal clu…

Biliary sludge and gallstones in pregnancy: Incidence, risk factors, and natural history

1993

To evaluate the incidence and symptoms of and risk factors for biliary sludge and gallstones during pregnancy and to assess the natural history of these conditions in the first year after delivery.Cohort study.A total of 272 pregnant women recruited in the first trimester.Biliary sludge and gallstones were diagnosed using ultrasonography, both during pregnancy and after delivery. Predictors of the presence or disappearance of sludge and stones were examined.Overall, from the first trimester of pregnancy until the immediate postpartum period, 67 women were newly diagnosed with biliary sludge, and 6 women were newly diagnosed with gallstones. The respective incidence rates were 31% (95% Cl, 2…