Two-dimensional analysis of proteins secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae regenerating protoplasts: a novel approach to study the cell wall.

Protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae incubated in regenerating conditions secrete cell wall components in order to allow the biosynthesis of this structure. During the first hours of incubation, many of these are not retained in the forming cell wall but remain in the medium. We have developed a method for collecting the secreted proteins and have analysed these by two-dimensional electrophoresis to obtain a reference map of putative cell wall proteins.

Purification, properties and enhanced expression under nitrogen starvation of the NADP+-isocitrate dehydrogenase from the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum.

Nitrogen starvation enhances up to 8-fold the cellular level of the NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity (isocitrate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), IDH, EC 1.1.1.

The efficacy and safety of clozapine versus chlorpromazine in geriatric schizophrenia.

Background: There has been an absence of controlled studies focusing specifically on neuroleptic treatment in the elderly schizophrenic population. Therefore, we conducted a 12-week double-blind comparison study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of clozapine and chlorpromazine in a group of elderly inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

Method: Forty-two elderly DSM-IV schizophrenic veterans were randomly assigned to clozapine or chlorpromazine and assessed for efficacy at baseline and at termination with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI).

Pharmacokinetics, antifolate activity and tissue distribution of PT523 in SCC VII tumor-bearing mice.

Purpose: To monitor the pharmacokinetics of PT523 and methotrexate in C3H mice with transplanted SCC VII tumors; to compare the impact of PT523 and methotrexate on tumor and normal host 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate levels; and to synthesize [14C]PT523 and determine its time-dependent tissue distribution in tumor and host tissues.

Methods: C3H mice bearing SCC VII tumors were given i.p.

Effects of the ribavirin-interferon alpha combination on cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients.

The effects of ribavirin and interferon (IFN) alpha have been investigated on cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained from 15 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. At clinically relevant serum concentrations achieved during therapeutic administration, ribavirin did inhibit moderately the mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cell proliferation and growth of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets without apparent cytolysis. The ribavirin-IFN-alpha combination showed activity against HCV with disappearance of HCV RNA in 27% of cases, and a synergy in the inducibility of the intracellular enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase.

[Treatment of dysphagia of malignant origin with the endoprosthesis of Strecker].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of metallic Strecker stents for palliation of malignant dysphagia.

Patients And Methods: From June 1992 to August 1995, 66 Strecker stents were inserted in 55 consecutive patients, 50 male and 5 female, with a mean age of 62 years (range 25-83). The cause of dysphagia was incurable malignant obstruction of the esophagus.

Intramuscular low flow vascular malformations: treatment by means of direct percutaneous embolization.

Purpose: Intramuscular hemodynamically inactive vascular malformations are infrequent entities whose surgical treatment is often impossible, crippling, or inefficient. We describe a nonsurgical therapeutic approach consisting on embolization by direct puncture with sclerosant substances.

Methods: Four patients have been treated from April to November 1994, three female and one male, ranging in age from 13 to 31 years.

[Endovascular treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysms using bifurcated endoprosthesis].

Objective: To obtain an initial assessment of the implantation technique of bifurcated vascular endoprothesis in the treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysms (AAA).

Methods: Eleven Vanguard type endoprostheses were implanted in eleven patients with infra-renal aortic aneurysm. The technique was performed with surgical approach in one femoral artery, and percutaneously in the other.

Quantitation of hepatitis C virus in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Since the natural history of hepatitis C virus-associated liver disease and the therapeutic responsiveness might vary according to liver and blood mononuclear cells viral levels, it may be important to quantitate viral RNA in liver, blood mononuclear cells and serum, and to compare these data with genotype, biochemical and histologic data. A polymerase chain reaction-based assay available for serum hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation has been optimized to quantitate viral genomes in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 47 chronic hepatitis C patients. The procedure permitted hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation in freshly isolated mononuclear cells and in total RNA extracted from frozen mononuclear cells and liver tissue.

[Percutaneous implant of Hickman catheters and reservoirs. Long-term experience].

Objective: To report our experience with long term external catheters and implantable ports in the last 8 years.

Material And Methods: From December 1987 to August 1995 a total of 617 central venous catheters were implanted in 541 patients in our Interventionist Vascular Radiology Unit, 265 men (49%) and 276 women (51%), with a mean age of 46 years. A total of 335 (54%) were partially implantable external catheters and 241 (39%) implantable ports in chest and 41 (7%) in the forearm.

Treatment of complete and partial obstruction of the nasolacrimal system with polyurethane stents: initial experience.

Purpose: To present our experience in the treatment of nasolacrimal occlusion by means of polyurethane stents.

Methods: Forty polyurethane stents were placed under fluoroscopic guidance in 35 consecutive patients with epiphora due to total or partial obstruction of the nasolacrimal system. The set designed by Song was used in all patients.

A pilot study of recombinant interleukin-2 for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

The optimal and safer interleukin-2 (IL-2) dose for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been studied in 33 HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 5 days per week during 12 weeks IL-2 doses of: 0.9 MIU (n = 10), 1.

Sialic acid measurement by a modified Aminoff method: a time-saving reduction in 2-thiobarbituric acid concentration.

Our results show that if the 2-thiobarbituric acid concentration is decreased, its co-precipitation with the chromophore is diminished. Subsequent running of this reaction mixture by high-performance liquid chromatography still allows measurement of Neu-5-Ac in the picomole order, with a substantial time and reactive saving, as compared with the original assay.

Protection of dogs against canine distemper by vaccination with a canarypox virus recombinant expressing canine distemper virus fusion and hemagglutinin glycoproteins.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a live canarypox virus recombinant-canine distemper virus (CDV) combination vaccine against virulent CDV challenge exposure, and to document lack of interference among the other modified-live virus (MLV) components.

Animals: 33 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Beagle pups (7 to 10 weeks old).

Procedure: A canarypox virus recombinant-CDV combination vaccine was tested for safety and efficacy along with MLV components (canine adenovirus type 2, canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine parvovirus) in 26 SPF Beagle pups.

GB virus C RNA in serum, liver, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis B, C, and D.

Background & Aims: No conclusive data about GB virus C (GBV-C) tropism are available. We have studied the presence of genomic and antigenomic GBV-C RNA in serum, liver, and peripheral blood cells of 56 patients with chronic hepatitis B, C, or D virus infection.

Methods: Genomic and antigenomic GBV-C RNA were detected by reverse-transcription nested polymerase chain reaction.

Population dynamics of a selfish B chromosome neutralized by the standard genome in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans.

Effects of the B chromosome polymorphism of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans were analyzed in two natural populations. Postmating sexual selection, female fertility, and survival were studied. The B chromosome lacks drive and has no detectable effects on fitness.

Line-focusing holographic mirrors for solar ultraviolet energy concentration.

We report on the design and the construction of a 1.3-m(2) UV selective solar concentrator intended for photocatalytic water detoxification processes. This concentrator was made by assembling 30 cm x 30 cm line-focusing holographic mirrors.

Impaired interferon induction of human MxA protein in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

MxA protein is interferon inducible, and its role as an antiviral mediator is being studied in various viral diseases. Several cytokines, including type 1 interferons (alpha and beta), interleukins 2 and 12, and granulocyte, macrophage, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors, were tested for their ability to induce human MxA protein synthesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 15 chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients and 6 healthy subjects as controls. Constitutive MxA expression was scarce in patients and controls but increased significantly in response to type I interferons.

Decreased nitric oxide production in chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

Nitric oxide is a free radical gas molecule which may be implicated in antiviral defense. However, there is no information about its possible role in chronic viral hepatitis B and C. In this study we have analyzed the serum levels of NO2- (as an index of nitric oxide generation) from patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C and relationship of same with the response to interferon therapy.

Symptom change and extrapyramidal side effects during acute haloperidol treatment in chronic geriatric schizophrenics.

Haloperidol (HAL) has been widely used in the elderly. Little is known about the phenomenology of schizophrenia in late life or the response to antipsychotic treatment. We prospectively studied 19 elderly patients treated with HAL for 25 days.

[Fluoroscopy-controlled percutaneous gastrostomy in ambulatory care. Our experience].

The present article describes our experience and evolution of 96 patients who underwent 96 percutaneous gastrostomies with fluoroscopic control. In 74 cases (75.5%), the procedure was performed in the out patient setting.

Patterns of immune responses to the host-encoded GOR and hepatitis C virus core-derived epitopes with relation to hepatitis C viremia, genotypes, and liver disease severity.

Antibody responses to the GOR epitope and hepatitis C virus (HCV) core were investigated in 136 patients with chronic HCV infection. Patient age (P = .011) and necroinflammatory activity (P < .

Evaluation of PCR and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on milk samples for diagnosis of brucellosis in dairy cattle.

A study was performed to evaluate the previously described PCR (C. Romero, C. Gamazo, M.