Modification of some properties of spherical lipid membranes induced by the association with fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase

AbstractThe influence of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, as a membrane peripheral protein, on some electrical and transport properties of spherical lipid membranes was investigated. It was found that the association of the enzyme with the membrane did not effect markedly the electrical conductance or capacity of the membrane but decreased the water filtration coefficient and the cationic transferance number. The enzyme association also modifies temperature characteristics of the membrane parameters

Brown recluse spider bite. A literature review and case report.

A review of the literature on brown recluse spider bite is presented, including clinical presentation and treatment. Emphasis is placed on the treatment of local tissue necrosis. A case report of a severe necrotic ulcer secondary to a spider bit is presented. Tissue necrosis following a brown recluse spider bit can be debilitating, and healing may be prolonged for many months. Even with early treatment, prognosis often is poor. Future studies might help establish better treatment regimens

Evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation using piezoelectric tuning forks mass sensors

AbstractA novel method of biofilm growth evaluation is presented in this paper. Using quartz tuning forks as disposable mass sensors, authors were able to observe Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm growth in all its phases. Applied fully electric tuning fork resonance frequency measurement methods eliminate the use of additional actuator. Admittance versus frequency characteristics of tuning forks where used to estimate their resonant frequency. High resonant frequency measurement resolution of around 10 mHz achieved owing to high tuning fork quality factor and good temperature influence compensation in developed electronic circuits resulted in a mass change measurement resolution of around 50 pg. Such resolution is sufficient to observe all phases of biofilm growth on the sensors surface. Presented method is fast, cost effective and doesn’t require any complicated sample preparation

Influence of long-term administration of Curcuma longa extract on explorative activity in aged rats

The effects of long-term administration of a standardised extract of Curcuma longa on the explorative activity in aged 24-month-old male Wistar rats were estimated in a hole-board test. The animals received the extract orally for two months in rodent chow at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg/day. The correlations between concentration of some neurotransmitters and amino acids in selected brain regions, as well as the level of corticosterone in plasma (described previously), and the parameters of exploration were calculated. The antioxidant processes (GSH, GST, CAT and MDA levels) in heart and skeletal muscles were also investigated. The results suggested that the explorative activity of plant extract-treated rats was enhanced; however, no correlations between brain neurotransmitter concentration or plasma corticosterone level and the parameters of explorative activity were observed. In biochemical investigation, chronic C. longa extract administration influenced antioxidant processes (CAT, GST and MDA levels) in skeletal muscles of aged rats, but not in the heart muscle