[Basal fecal fermentation and with lactulose in patients with flatulence].

Determinations of the fecal fermentation in subjects may be very useful to know the fermentative capacity of his colonic bacteria. Determinations of basal fecal fermentation (FFB) and fecal fermentation with lactulose (FFL) were done in 30 normal subjects and 126 patients with flatulence, especially meteorism. The media +/- s.

Plasticity of the spinal neural circuitry after injury.

Motor function is severely disrupted following spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal circuitry, however, exhibits a great degree of automaticity and plasticity after an injury. Automaticity implies that the spinal circuits have some capacity to perform complex motor tasks following the disruption of supraspinal input, and evidence for plasticity suggests that biochemical changes at the cellular level in the spinal cord can be induced in an activity-dependent manner that correlates with sensorimotor recovery.

Functional characterization of the purified holo form of hemoglobin I from Lucina pectinata overexpressed in Escherichia coli.

The clam Lucina pectinata inhabits the sulfide-rich west coast of the island of Puerto Rico. It contains three different hemoglobins. Hemoglobin I (HbI), which is monomeric at all concentrations, carries H2S in its ferric state.

ITH4012 (ethyl 5-amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-phenylbenzol[1,8]naphthyridine-3-carboxylate), a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with "calcium promotor" and neuroprotective properties.

Ethyl 5-amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-phenylbenzol[1,8] naphthyridine-3-carboxylate (ITH4012) is a novel tacrine derivative that can reduce cell death induced by various compounds with different mechanisms of action, such as thapsigargin (reticular stress), H2O2 (free radicals), and veratridine (calcium overload), in bovine chromaffin cell. Cell viability, quantified as lactic dehydrogenase release, was significantly reduced by ITH4012 at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 3 microM.

Genetic determination of ploidy level in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (formely Phaffia rhodozyma) is a basidiomycetous yeast-like fungus that produces carotenoids useful for the food industry. Recently, its sexual cycle was reported but little is known about its genetic constitution. To inquire into the ploidy state of X.

Carotenoids as protective response against oxidative damage in Dunaliella bardawil.

In the present work the relation between carotenoids production and cell response mechanisms to oxidative damage was studied. High light intensity and nitrogen starvation, both conditions, which may increase the oxidative damage in microalgae, significantly increased total carotenoids content in Dunaliella bardawil, the effect of N-starvation being more noticeable when acting synergetically with light on carotenoid production. S-starvation stimulated carotenoids production as much as N-starvation.

Microalgae mediated photoproduction of beta-carotene in aqueous-organic two phase systems.

Improving productivity is a usual requirement for most biotechnological processes, and the utilisation of two-phase aqueous organic systems has proved to be an effective way to improve the productivity of poorly water-soluble or toxic compounds. The high hydrophobicity of beta-carotene, which is highly demanded by the pharma and agrofood industry, makes it a good candidate for aqueous/organic biphasic photoproduction. In the present work we have investigated the viability of a two-phase system for the production of beta-carotene by the marine microalgae Dunaliella salina using decane as organic phase.

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children.

Objective: Delineation of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is important because of its frequent occurrence in the pediatric intensive care unit and its association with high mortality. However, studies in children are scarce, all have been done in developed countries, and, unlike adult studies, some showed that sepsis is not related to mortality. The aim of this study was to learn about the epidemiology of MODS in our pediatric intensive care unit and to observe if sepsis is associated with mortality.

Using robotics to teach the spinal cord to walk.

We have developed a robotic device (e.g. the rat stepper) that can be used to impose programmed forces on the hindlimbs of rats during stepping.

The structure and function of MCM from archaeal M. Thermoautotrophicum.

Eukaryotic chromosomal DNA is licensed for replication precisely once in each cell cycle. The mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) complex plays a role in this replication licensing. We have determined the structure of a fragment of MCM from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (mtMCM), a model system for eukaryotic MCM.

The rat lumbosacral spinal cord adapts to robotic loading applied during stance.

Load-related afferent information modifies the magnitude and timing of hindlimb muscle activity during stepping in decerebrate animals and spinal cord-injured humans and animals, suggesting that the spinal cord mediates load-related locomotor responses. In this study, we found that stepping on a treadmill by adult rats that received complete, midthoracic spinal cord transections as neonates could be altered by loading the hindlimbs using a pair of small robotic arms. The robotic arms applied a downward force to the lower shanks of the hindlimbs during the stance phase and measured the position of the lower shank during stepping.

Diversity of nitrifying bacteria in full-scale chloraminated distribution systems.

Chloramination for secondary disinfection of drinking water often promotes the growth of nitrifying bacteria in the distribution system due to the ammonia introduced by chloramine formation and decay. This study involved the application of molecular biology techniques to explore the types of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) present in several full-scale chloraminated systems. The results of AOB community characterization indicated the ubiquitous detection of representatives from the Nitrosomonas genus, with Nitrosospira constituting a negligible or small fraction of the AOB community in all but one sample.

Use of robotics in assessing the adaptive capacity of the rat lumbar spinal cord.

We have developed a robotic device that can record the trajectory of the hindlimb movements in rats. The robotic device can also impose programmed forces on the limbs during stepping. In the present paper we describe experiments using this robotic device, i.

Comparison of in vitro cell culture and a mouse assay for measuring infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum.

In vitro cell cultures were compared to neonatal mice for measuring the infectivity of five genotype 2 isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocyst doses were enumerated by flow cytometry and delivered to animals and cell monolayers by using standardized procedures. Each dose of oocysts was inoculated into up to nine replicates of 9 to 12 mice or 6 to 10 cell culture wells.

Prorenin concentration in the hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma prorenin levels during the three trimesters of normal pregnancy, their prognostic value, and their correlation with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Design: A prospective study in which plasma prorenin and renin levels were measured in 55 healthy pregnant women and 66 who developed gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. The patients were classified as mild preeclampsia (mild PE), severe preeclampsia (severe PE), chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia upon chronic hypertension (superimposed PE).

Use-dependent modulation of inhibitory capacity in the feline lumbar spinal cord.

The ability to perform stepping and standing can be reacquired after complete thoracic spinal cord transection in adult cats with appropriate, repetitive training. We now compare GAD(67)A levels in the spinal cord of cats that were trained to step or stand. We confirmed that a complete spinal cord transection at approximately T12 increases glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)(67) in both the dorsal and ventral horns of L5-L7.

Chiropractic manipulative therapy of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common work-related injury. This case report discusses conservative, non-medical treatment of CTS in the form of chiropractic manipulative therapy, nutritional recommendations, physiotherapy modalities, orthotics and rehabilitation as used in the treatment of a patient suffering from this debilitating condition.

Inhibition of nitrate consumption by nitrite in entrapped Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells.

Whereas in freely suspended cell cultures growing photoautotrophically under non-limiting carbon conditions nitrite and nitrate were simultaneously consumed after ammonium consumption was complete, in alginate-entrapped cell cultures a sequential consumption of nitrite (first) and nitrate was observed after ammonium had almost been fully removed. In this paper results are reported that show inhibition of nitrate consumption by nitrite in immobilized cells. However no inhibition of nitrate active transport was observed.

Field trial with oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in the Philippines.

Background: The potential role of oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in the Philippines was investigated in terms of safety and efficacy.

Methods: Prior to the vaccination campaign, a house-to-house survey was carried out to collect data on the dog population in the study area, the coastal village of Mindoro. During the vaccination campaign all households were visited again, and all dogs encountered (>2 months old) were, if possible, vaccinated.

Is the recovery of stepping following spinal cord injury mediated by modifying existing neural pathways or by generating new pathways? A perspective.

The recovery of stepping ability following a spinal cord injury may be achieved by restoring anatomical connectivity within the spinal cord. However, studies of locomotor recovery in animals with complete spinal cord transection suggest that the adult mammalian spinal cord can acquire the ability to generate stepping after all descending input is eliminated and in the absence of neuronal regeneration. Moreover, rehabilitative gait training has been shown to play a crucial role in teaching existing spinal pathways to generate locomotion and appropriately respond to sensory feedback.

Development of the sexual reproductive cycle of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

Conditions inducing the development of holobasidia with terminal basidiospores in wild-type and astaxanthin mutant strains of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous were reexamined. Important factors for the development of holobasidia were the incubation temperature and the medium composition. A temperature of 9 degrees C was demonstrated to enhance holobasidia formation.

Quantitation of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in cell culture using a colorimetric in situ hybridization assay.

A quantitative colorimetric in situ hybridization assay was developed for detecting Cryptosporidium parvum infection in cell cultures using a digoxigenin-labeled probe targeting 18S rRNA. Intra-cellular developmental stages of C. parvum such as trophozoites and meronts were clearly discerned by light microscopy as localized areas of dark purple/black precipitate against a colorless background.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 25-mg estradiol implants in postmenopausal Mexican women.

Objective: To assess the serum concentrations of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), gonadotrophins, sex hormone-binding globulin, and lipids, and to determine degree of symptom relief after subcutaneous implantation of 25 mg estradiol in postmenopausal Mexican women.

Design: Fifteen postmenopausal, hysterectomized women participated in an open, observational study. Blood samples were obtained before implantation and at regular intervals during a study period of 24 weeks.

Limits to tree species invasion in pampean grassland and forest plant communities.

Factors limiting tree invasion in the Inland Pampas of Argentina were studied by monitoring the establishment of four alien tree species in remnant grassland and cultivated forest stands. We tested whether disturbances facilitated tree seedling recruitment and survival once seeds of invaders were made available by hand sowing. Seed addition to grassland failed to produce seedlings of two study species, Ligustrum lucidum and Ulmus pumila, but did result in abundant recruitment of Gleditsia triacanthos and Prosopis caldenia.

A multiphasic hollow fiber reactor for the whole-cell bioconversion of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol to (r)-beta-hydroxyisobutyric acid.

This paper describes the bioconversion of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol to (R)-beta-hydoxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) by Acetobacter ALEI in a hollow fiber membrane bioreaction system arrangement that allows the integration of three liquid phases: the aqueous bioconversion phase, the organic phase consisting of a solution of trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) in isooctane, and the third phase consisting of a basic stripping solution that allows reextraction of HIBA from the organic phase. A comparison of HIBA mass transfer experiments was carried out in the membrane reactor with two and three phases for different pH and TOPO concentrations. The use of the three-phase arrangement allows the extraction of high quantities of HIBA from the aqueous medium (higher than 85%) independently of the pH, whereas in the two-phase system the percentage of HIBA extracted from the aqueous medium was lower, 42% in the best case, and strongly influenced by the pH.