Transport of acetic acid in Zygosaccharomyces bailii: effects of ethanol and their implications on the resistance of the yeast to acidic environments.

Cells of Zygosaccharomyces bailii ISA 1307 grown in a medium with acetic acid, ethanol, or glycerol as the sole carbon and energy source transported acetic acid by a saturable transport system. This system accepted propionic and formic acids but not lactic, sorbic, and benzoic acids. When the carbon source was glucose or fructose, the cells displayed activity of a mediated transport system specific for acetic acid, apparently not being able to recognize other monocarboxylic acids.

Ultrastructural study on thyroid glands of Bufo arenarum larvae kept in potassium perchlorate solution.

The ultrastructure of thyroid glands in Bufo arenarum tadpoles was studied with inhibited thyroid function. After hatching, larvae were kept in potassium perchlorate solution, a goitrogenic substance known to prevent absorption of iodine from water or food, resulting in impaired thyroid hormone synthesis. Increased thyroid gland volume and follicular cell height were observed in treated larvae.

Isolation of the human PC6 gene encoding the putative host protease for HIV-1 gp160 processing in CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Production of infectious HIV-1 virions is dependent on the processing of envelope glycoprotein gp160 by a host cell protease. The protease in human CD4+ T lymphocytes has not been unequivocally identified, yet members of the family of mammalian subtilisin-like protein convertases (SPCs), which are soluble or membrane-bound proteases of the secretory pathway, best fulfill the criteria. These proteases are required for proprotein maturation and cleave at paired basic amino acid motifs in numerous cellular and viral glycoprotein precursors, both in vivo and in vitro.

Predictive value of digital subtraction angiography in patients with tuberculous meningitis.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 24 adults with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and results were correlated with 24 admission and 16 follow-up CT examinations. 19 MRI studies and clinical outcome at a mean follow-up of 44 weeks. DSA was abnormal in 11 patients.

Immunocytochemical and morphometric study on the changes of TSH, PRL, GH and ACTH cells during the development of Bufo arenarum.

The development and dynamics of thyrotropin (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) cells have been studied using immunocytochemical techniques and rabbit antisera, raised against the relevant human hormone, in the pars distalis of Bufo arenarum larvae at different stages of development. The four types of cells studied were identified in different zones of the pars distalis: TSH cells occurred mainly in the centro-ventral zone, ACTH cells in the rostral and dorsal zones, GH cells in the central and caudal zones, and PRL cells in the anterior two-thirds of the gland. This distribution pattern does not show significant changes with development.

Envelope V3 region sequences of Cuban HIV-1 isolates.

The origin of HIV-1 species, responsible for the AIDS epidemic in Cuba, is a subject that has been intensely debated. This study represents an initial attempt to shed light on this issue, through sequence analysis of the V3 regions of viruses isolated from 15 Cuban subjects. We now report that these viruses fall within three distinct, well-recognized groupings.

Immunocytochemical and morphometric study of TSH, PRL, GH, and ACTH cells in Bufo arenarum larvae with inhibited thyroid function.

Changes in the pituitary cells involved in amphibian metamorphosis were studied in Bufo arenarum tadpoles with inhibited thyroid function. After hatching, larvae were treated for 5 months with potassium perchlorate (KClO4), a goitrogenic substance known to prevent absorption of iodine from water or food, resulting in impaired thyroid hormone synthesis. Treated larvae continued to grow but halted their development in premetamorphosis, showing hyperplastic thyroid glands with disorganized follicles lacking colloid.

[Placenta praevia accreta and obstetric hysterectomy].

We present the case of a 38-years-old tertipara at full term with a diagnosis by ultrasound of placenta previa who underwent elective cesarean under spinal anesthesia. After a difficult birth, anomalous adhesion of the placenta prevented its removal and caused massive hemorrhage of the placental bed and hypovolemic shock. Blood volume was restored and emergency hysterectomy under general anesthesia was effected, as bleeding and hemodynamic state were brought under control.

Clinical experience with balanced reciprocal translocations.

Clinical experience with balanced reciprocal translocations: In order to evaluate past experience with respect to the occurrence of balanced reciprocal translocations (BRT) in patients with malformation syndromes and/or mental retardation (MS/MR) and in couples with reproductive failure, 4,335 karyotypes from the Genetics Unit of the Universidad del Zulia from January 1971 to December 1994 were reviewed, resulting in the identification of 15 cases of BRT (0.34%). All BRT were classic (CT) according to the number of breakpoints.

[Hemolytic anemia in the malfunction of a mitral bioprosthesis].

Valvular cardiac prosthesis have dramatically altered the prognosis of patients with valvular cardiac disease; however, they are not free of complications. Prosthesis disfunction and problems related to anticoagulation are the more common, but hemolytic anemia should also be considered. In this case, hemolytic anemia appears as the major complication of a mitral bioprosthesis; the decision concerning the presentation of this case report rests upon its rarity and peculiar circumstances of appearance.

[Annuloaortic ectasia: report of a case].

The authors describe a case of a patient with annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) and severe aortic regurgitation. The diagnostic was made by angiography. He was submitted to a Bentall's procedure; replacement of the ascending aorta by a conduit and of aortic valve by a mechanical prosthesis with reimplantation of coronary arteries into the conduit.

Health policy dilemmas related to high technology infertility services.

As cost containment in health care becomes an important concern, the costs and benefits of specific health care services will be more closely examined. The costs and benefits of one type of health care, high technology infertility services, are explored in this paper. These services may be particularly susceptible to cost containment since they are costly, raise ethical issues, and because they currently are provided to healthy individuals not experiencing life-threatening illness who can afford them.

Endothelial-derived relaxing factor released by endothelial cells of human umbilical vessels and its impairment in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The principal objective of this study was to determine and compare the capability of human umbilical vessels of normal and pregnancy-induced hypertensive parturients to produce and to release the endothelial-derived relaxing factor. A bolus of bradykinin injected in the perfusion system of human umbilical vessels induces a release of a relaxant factor, detectable by bioassay, that is pharmacologically similar to the endothelial-derived relaxing factor. Human umbilical cords were collected from normal and pregnancy-induced hypertensive parturients.