Steady state fluorescence studies on lipase-vesicle interactions

The interaction of lipase from Candida cylindracea (CCL) with positively charged polymerizable surfactant vesicles was studied by the use of steady-state fluorescence techniques. The phase transition of vesicles composed of nonpolymerized and polymerized N-allylbis[2-(hexadecanoyloxy)ethyl]methylammonium bromide (ABHEMA Br) was determined in the absence of lipase, by measuring the change in fluorescence anisotropy of the membrane probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). The phase transition temperature for nonpolymerized vesicles is 49°C and for the polymerized analogues 45°C. Fluorescence anisotropy and resonance energy transfer measurements were used to illustrate the incorporation of the lipase in the vesicle membrane. These studies demonstrated that CCL is incorporated into the hydrophobic bilayer of the vesicle. By using an interfacial membrane probe 1-[4-(trimethylammonium)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene p-toluene sulphonate, TMA-DPH) and an internal membrane probe (DPH), it could be determined that the enzyme is incorporated more efficiently into nonpolymerized vesicles, and that the penetration of the enzyme into the bilayer is less deep in the case of the polymerized vesicles

A Novel Imaging System Permits Real-time in Vivo Tumor Bed Assessment After Resection of Naturally Occurring Sarcomas in Dogs

Background Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) includes complete tumor excision. However, in some patients, residual sarcoma cells remain in the tumor bed. We previously described a novel hand-held imaging device prototype that uses molecular imaging to detect microscopic residual cancer in mice during surgery. Questions/purposes To test this device in a clinical trial of dogs with naturally occurring sarcomas, we asked: (1) Are any adverse clinical or laboratory effects observed after intravenous administration of the fluorescent probes? (2) Do canine sarcomas exhibit fluorescence after administration of the cathepsin-activated probe? (3) Is the tumor-to-background ratio sufficient to distinguish tumor from tumor bed? And (4) can residual fluorescence be detected in the tumor bed during surgery and does this correlate with a positive margin? Methods We studied nine dogs undergoing treatment for 10 STS or mast cell tumors. Dogs received an intravenous injection of VM249, a fluorescent probe that becomes optically active in the presence of cathepsin proteases. After injection, tumors were removed by wide resection. The tumor bed was imaged using the novel imaging device to search for residual fluorescence. We determined correlations between tissue fluorescence and histopathology, cathepsin protease expression, and development of recurrent disease. Minimum followup was 9 months (mean, 12 months; range, 9–15 months). Results Fluorescence was apparent from all 10 tumors and ranged from 3 × 107 to 1 × 109 counts/millisecond/cm2. During intraoperative imaging, normal skeletal muscle showed no residual fluorescence. Histopathologic assessment of surgical margins correlated with intraoperative imaging in nine of 10 cases; in the other case, there was no residual fluorescence, but tumor was found at the margin on histologic examination. No animals had recurrent disease at 9 to 15 months. Conclusions These initial findings suggest this imaging system might be useful to intraoperatively detect residual tumor after wide resections. Clinical Relevance The ability to assess the tumor bed intraoperatively for residual disease has the potential to improve local control

A Dog in the Cancer Fight: Comparative Oncology in Osteosarcoma

Since the great Rudolf Virchow advised, “Between animal and human medicine there is no dividing line, nor should there be,” limited attention has been paid to cancer in animals. This is finally changing thanks to a renewed focus on studying pet dogs with cancer. Unlike the laboratory mice who have been the mainstay of animal models of disease, pet dogs share an environment with their human owners, have an intact immune system, and often develop diseases spontaneously in ways that mimic their human counterparts. Osteosarcoma (OSA) – while uncommon in humans - is a common malignancy in dogs. This comparatively high incidence alone renders pet dogs an ideal “model” to conduct translational and clinical research into OSA. Indeed, there are many similarities between the two species with respect to this disease. However, owing to the shorter life span and accelerated disease progression, treatment effects can be assessed much more rapidly in canines than in humans. Overall, dogs represent a unique model to study OSA; this chapter aims to discuss the ways that comparative oncology between dogs and humans are being used from basic science research, to genetics and mechanisms of disease, to tumor biology and finally to developing novel treatments

Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients.

Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB

D + 106 to V-E: the story of the 2nd Division

From the Introduction: This booklet is designed to give a general picture of the Second Infantry Division in its operations from the time it reached the Siegfried Line in Germany on October 4, 1944, until it arrived in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, its location on V-E Day, May 8, 1945. A preceding booklet told how the Second, which was activated in France in 1917 and which probably gained more renown in World War I than any other division, opened its campaign in World War II when it came ashore on Omaha Beach in France, D plus 1, June 7. The story described the manner in which the wearers of the Indianhead patch fought their way through Treviers, Cerisy La Foret, and then, in one mighty effort, crushed the powerful Nazi defenses on Hill 192, grassy slope holding up the advance on St. Lo. In the speedy breakthrough South that followed, the Second stepped out in front and pushed through St. Jean des Baisants, Vire, and Tinchebray in victorious but hard fighting. It was next ordered along with two other divisions to take Brest, heavily defended seaport which the Germans had used as a submarine base. After a bitter four-week struggle, in which the Nazis fought desperately to prevent the port from passing into U. S. hands, the garrison formally surrendered to Major General Walter M. Robertson, Division Commander, from Nelson County, Virginia, on September 18, 1944. The division then moved by truck and train across France and Belgium to the Siegfried Line, where this story begins.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1095/thumbnail.jp

Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) on Robben Island: Preliminary results from LepiMAP

Some aspects of the biodiversity of Robben Island, in Table Bay, South Africa, have been well studied, while others have been neglected; the bibliography of publications relating to the biodiversity of Robben Island was dominated by birds, especially seabirds. This paper aims to help fill the gap in knowledge of the invertebrates of Robben Island, by searching the LepiMAP database for records from the island. Its objective is to provide an initial list of the butterflies and moths recorded from Robben Island

On a heuristic point of view concerning the expression of numerous genes during the cell cycle

The current model of the eukaryotic cell cycle proposes that numerous genes are expressed at different times during the cell cycle. The existence of myriad control points for gene expression leads to theoretical and logical problems for cell cycle control. Each expressed gene requires a control element to appear in a cell‐cycle specific manner; this control element requires another control element and so on, ad infinitum . There are also experimental problems with the current model based on ineffective synchronization methods and problems with microarray measurements of mRNA. Equally important, the efficacy of mRNA variation in affecting changes in protein content is negligible. An alternative view of the cell cycle proposes cycle‐independent, invariant accumulation of mRNA during the cell cycle with decreases of specific proteins occurring only during the mitotic period of the cell cycle. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2011.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90359/1/571_ftp.pd

Theologisch grondonderzoek met predikanten als intermediair

‘Duurzaamheid is voor mij al jaren een belangrijk, en tegelijk lastig onderwerp. Er is een verlangen om duurzamer te leven. Tegelijk stuit het moralisme waarmee het onderwerp vaak is omgeven, mij tegen de borst. Ook in de dagelijkse praktijk van het werk als gemeentepredikant vind ik die moralistische tendens van het onderwerp lastig. Hoe preek en bid je op een manier die ruimte schept, en mensen (mijzelf incluis) niet klem zet? De reden om deel te nemen aan de cursus ‘Van U is de aarde’ is voor mij om geloof, werk en dagelijks leven dichter bij elkaar te brengen.

Gestión de los organizadores gráficos en la mejora de comprensión de textos, estudiantes de Segundo Secundaria I.E. Jorge Basadre - Pacaipampa, 2020

La investigación tiene como objetivo determinar el efecto de los organizadores gráficos con la intención de mejorar la comprensión de textos en los educandos de segundo de secundaria de la I.E. Jorge Basadre del distrito de Pacaipampa, Ayabaca, 2020. El estudio es pre experimental y se intervino con un solo grupo. Así mismo, se utilizó la metodología hipotético-deductivo y cuantitativa. El universo de estudio estuvo configurado por 51 educandos, a quienes respondieron a los instrumentos de recojo de información. Los procesos usados se tomaron de la estadística, que dio paso a la elaboración de tablas, gráficos y la utilización de la prueba de hipótesis. En relación a la comprensión de textos antes de aplicar los talleres de gestión de organizadores gráficos se constató que el 4% de los educandos tienen un nivel destacado y el 57.0% de alumnos tiene un nivel logrado, después de la intervención el 47% de estudiantes está en el nivel destacado y el 24% en logrado. Se concluyó que hay unos efectos significativos en la comprensión de textos por parte de los educandos. Estos resultados permiten aceptar las hipótesis planteadas