More is Not Always Better in Hair Growth Factors. Epidermal Growth Factor: Hair Growth Factor Involved in Alopecia Areata Pathogenesis.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is the second most frequent nonscarring alopecia after androgenetic alopecia; the trigger factor induces changes in the growth plate of hair bulb and leads to premature termination of anagen phase. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can be the key molecule that participates in initiation and suppression of normal hair growth cycle. The role of EGF in the pathogenesis of AA is still uncertain.

Comparison of Free and Immobilized L-asparaginase Synthesized by Gamma-Irradiated Penicillium cyclopium.

Gamma irradiation is used on Penicillium cyclopium in order to obtain mutant cells of high L-asparaginase productivity. Using gamma irradiation dose of 4 KGy, P. cyclopium cells yielded L-asparaginase with extracellular enzyme activity of 210.

Effect of an oxygen-tolerant bifurcating butyryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase/electron-transferring flavoprotein complex from Clostridium difficile on butyrate production in Escherichia coli.

The butyrogenic genes from Clostridium difficile DSM 1296(T) have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzymes acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) C-acetyltransferase, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase, crotonase, phosphate butyryltransferase, and butyrate kinase and the butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase complex composed of the dehydrogenase and two electron-transferring flavoprotein subunits were individually produced in E. coli and kinetically characterized in vitro.

Detection of myxovirus resistance protein A in lichen planus lesions and its relationship to hepatitis C virus.

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease of the skin and oral mucosa. Studies suggested that type I interferons (IFNs) could play an important role in the cytotoxic inflammation in LP. Type I IFNs stimulate the production of several IFN-induced proteins including myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA protein).

Studies on the application of immobilization technique for the production of cyclosporin A by a local strain of Aspergillus terreus.

The formation of cyclosporin A (Cy A) by immobilized spores and mycelia of Aspergillus terreus was investigated. Different carriers were tested as immobilizing carriers, whereby Ca-alginate was selected for further experimentation. The role of alginate concentration, biomass weight, pH value of the cultivation medium, repeated utilization of the immobilized fungus as well as the supplementation of different amino acid precursors were studied.