The impact of potassium peroxymonosulphate and chlorinated cyanurates on biofilms of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: effects on biofilm control, regrowth, and mechanical properties.

The activity of two chlorinated isocyanurates (NaDCC and TCCA) and peroxymonosulphate (OXONE) was evaluated against biofilms of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an emerging pathogen isolated from drinking water (DW), and for the prevention of biofilm regrowth. After disinfection of pre-formed 48 h-old biofilms, the culturability was reduced up to 7 log, with OXONE, TCCA, and NaDCC showing more efficiency than free chlorine against biofilms formed on stainless steel. The regrowth of biofilms previously exposed to OXONE was reduced by 5 and 4 log CFU cm-2 in comparison to the unexposed biofilms and biofilms exposed to free chlorine, respectively. Rheometry analysis showed that biofilms presented properties of viscoelastic solid materials, regardless of the treatment. OXONE reduced the cohesiveness of the biofilm, given the significant decrease in the complex shear modulus (G*). AFM analysis revealed that biofilms had a fractured appearance and smaller bacterial aggregates dispersed throughout the surface after OXONE exposure than the control sample. In general, OXONE has been demonstrated to be a promising disinfectant to control DW biofilms, with a higher activity than chlorine. The results also show the impact of the biofilm mechanical properties on the efficacy of the disinfectants in biofilm control.

Inhibition of cardiac potassium currents by oxidation-activated protein kinase A contributes to early afterdepolarizations in the heart.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to prolong cardiac action potential duration resulting in afterdepolarizations, the cellular basis of triggered arrhythmias. As previously shown, protein kinase A type I (PKA I) is readily activated by oxidation of its regulatory subunits. However, the relevance of this mechanism of activation for cardiac pathophysiology is still elusive. In this study, we investigated the effects of oxidation-activated PKA I on cardiac electrophysiology. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from redox-dead PKA-RI Cys17Ser knock-in (KI) and wild-type (WT) mice and exposed to H2O2 (200 µmol/L) or vehicle (Veh) solution. In WT myocytes, exposure to H2O2 significantly increased oxidation of the regulatory subunit I (RI) and thus its dimerization (threefold increase in PKA RI dimer). Whole cell current clamp and voltage clamp were used to measure cardiac action potentials (APs), transient outward potassium current (Ito) and inward rectifying potassium current (IK1), respectively. In WT myocytes, H2O2 exposure significantly prolonged AP duration due to significantly decreased Ito and IK1 resulting in frequent early afterdepolarizations (EADs). Preincubation with the PKA-specific inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cAMPS (10 µmol/L) completely abolished the H2O2-dependent decrease in Ito and IK1 in WT myocytes. Intriguingly, H2O2 exposure did not prolong AP duration, nor did it decrease Ito, and only slightly enhanced EAD frequency in KI myocytes. Treatment of WT and KI cardiomyocytes with the late INa inhibitor TTX (1 µmol/L) completely abolished EAD formation. Our results suggest that redox-activated PKA may be important for H2O2-dependent arrhythmias and could be important for the development of specific antiarrhythmic drugs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Oxidation-activated PKA type I inhibits transient outward potassium current (Ito) and inward rectifying potassium current (IK1) and contributes to ROS-induced APD prolongation as well as generation of early afterdepolarizations in murine ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Cardiolipin, a key component to mimic the E. coli bacterial membrane in model systems revealed by dynamic light scattering and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy.

The phase transition temperatures of several lipidic systems were determined using two different techniques: dynamic light scattering (DLS) and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy, using two fluorescent probes that report different membrane regions (TMA-DPH and DPH). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used as a complementary technique to characterize different lipid model systems under study. The systems were chosen due to the increased interest in bacterial membrane studies due to the problem of antibiotic drug resistance. The simpler models studied comprised of mixtures of POPE and POPG lipids, which form a commonly used model system for Escherichia coli membranes. Given the important role of cardiolipin (CL) in natural membranes, a ternary model system, POPE/POPG/CL, was then considered. The results obtained in these mimetic systems were compared with those obtained for the natural systems E. coli polar and total lipid extract. DLS and fluorescence anisotropy are not commonly used to study lipid phase transitions, but it was shown that they can give useful information about the thermotropic behaviors of model systems for bacterial membranes. These two techniques provided very similar results, validating their use as methods to measure phase transitions in lipid model systems. The temperature transitions obtained from these two very different techniques and the AFM results clearly show that cardiolipin is a fundamental component to mimic bacteria membranes. The results suggest that the less commonly used ternary system is a considerably better mimic for natural E. coli membranes than binary lipid mixture.

A direct comparison of experimental methods to measure dimensions of synthetic nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles have properties that depend critically on their dimensions. There are a large number of methods that are commonly used to characterize these dimensions, but there is no clear consensus on which method is most appropriate for different types of nanoparticles. In this work four different characterization methods that are commonly applied to characterize the dimensions of nanoparticles either in solution or dried from solution are critically compared. Namely, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) are compared with one another. The accuracy and precision of the four methods applied nanoparticles of different sizes composed of three different core materials, namely gold, silica, and polystyrene are determined. The suitability of the techniques to discriminate different populations of these nanoparticles in mixtures are also studied. The results indicate that in general, scanning electron microscopy is suitable for large nanoparticles (above 50 nm in diameter), while AFM and TEM can also give accurate results with smaller nanoparticles. DLS reveals details about the particles' solution dynamics, but is inappropriate for polydisperse samples, or mixtures of differently sized samples. SEM was also found to be more suitable to metallic particles, compared to oxide-based and polymeric nanoparticles. The conclusions drawn from the data in this paper can help nanoparticle researchers choose the most appropriate technique to characterize the dimensions of nanoparticle samples.

A regular meal and insulin infusion regimen: its use in the treatment of acute-onset ketotic diabetes and in stabilization of poorly controlled established diabetic subjects.

A simple regimen, consisting of a constant intravenous insulin infusion at either a basal, nocturnal rate or at a daytime rate matched by seven small, isocaloric meals taken every 2 h, has been applied to two clinical situations requiring optimal blood glucose control. In eight poorly controlled established diabetic subjects, quantitative estimates of daily insulin requirements were possible, with consequent improved control upon reinstitution of twice-daily subcutaneous insulin. In five acute-onset, ketotic diabetic subjects first treated by intravenous saline and low-dose intramuscular insulin, the regimen was used to achieve and maintain basal and postprandial normoglycemia. Ketonuria was abolished quickly in these patients, and falling insulin requirements and large doses of insulin were handled easily. In both clinical situations, subsequent subcutaneous insulin doses required little adjustment. The regimen is cheap, convenient to use, and widely applicable.

Lipid hydroperoxide modification of proteins during myocardial ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) are lipid peroxidation products formed during oxidative stress. A component of their cytotoxicity is mediated by the direct modification of proteins. OBJECTIVES: (i) To assess whether ischaemia and reperfusion in the isolated rat heart generates LOOH-protein (ii) to characterise the extent, time-course and subcellular localization of any protein adducts formed. METHODS: Using a well-characterised antibody which binds to LOOH-modified proteins and densitometry of Western blots, we quantified the amounts of LOOH-protein in control aerobically perfused rat hearts and those subjected to ischaemia with and without reperfusion. RESULTS: Hearts (n=3/4 group), analysed after various periods (0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min) of zero-flow global ischaemia, exhibited a time-dependent increase in the LOOH-mediated modification of a number of proteins. In hearts subjected to 30 min of ischaemia and then reperfused for various times (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 or 60 min) no changes in LOOH-protein content achieved during the proceeding ischaemic episode were detected. Reperfusion after short periods of ischaemia (5 or 10 min) also did not result in reperfusion-induced LOOH-protein formation. Administration of mercaptopropionylglycine (1 mM) to hearts for 5 min before the onset of 30 min ischaemia efficiently attenuated the formation of LOOH-protein, maintaining the modified proteins at control levels. These Western immunoblot results were confirmed by additional in situ immunofluorescent studies which showed marked LOOH-protein immunostaining in ischaemic tissue around the sarcolemmal membrane. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the modification of proteins (particularly those associated with sarcolemmal membranes) by LOOH during ischaemia may contribute to the pathophysiology of ischaemic injury. In addition, these modifications may be initiators of oxidant-induced signal transduction pathways. These findings are consistent with an oxidant stress occurring during ischaemia which is not exacerbated or reduced during the first 60 min of reperfusion.

4-substituted cubylcarbinylamines: a new class of mechanism-based monoamine oxidase B inactivators.

Cubylcarbinylamine (1a), (4-cyclopropylcubyl)carbinylamine (1b), and (4-phenylcubyl)carbinylamine (1c) were synthesized and shown to be time-dependent, irreversible inactivators of monoamine oxidase B (MAO B). Substrate protects the enzyme from inactivation, but beta-mercaptoethanol does not, suggesting that these compounds are mechanism-based inactivators. All three compounds were also substrates for MAO B with partition ratios ranging from 152 to 536. The 4-substituted analogues were more potent inactivators than the unsubstituted analogue, indicating a benefit to 4-substitution in this class of inactivators.

LiCB(11)Me(12): a catalyst for pericyclic rearrangements.

[structure: see text] Benzene and 1,2-dichloroethane solutions of the Li(+) salt of the weakly coordinating anion CB(11)Me(12)(-) catalyze the rearrangement of cubane to cuneane, quadricyclane to norbornadiene, basketene to Nenitzescu's hydrocarbon, and diademane to triquinacene. The Claisen rearrangement of phenyl allyl ether is also strongly accelerated.

Neurocontroller alternatives for "fuzzy" ball-and-beam systems with nonuniform nonlinear friction.

The ball-and-beam problem is a benchmark for testing control algorithms. In the World Congress on Neural Networks, 1994, Prof. L. Zadeh proposed a twist to the problem, which, he suggested, would require a fuzzy logic controller. This experiment uses a beam, partially covered with a sticky substance, increasing the difficulty of predicting the ball's motion. We complicated this problem even more by not using any information concerning the ball's velocity. Although it is common to use the first differences of the ball's consecutive positions as a measure of velocity and explicit input to the controller, we preferred to exploit recurrent neural networks, inputting only consecutive positions instead. We have used truncated backpropagation through time with the node-decoupled extended Kalman filter (NDEKF) algorithm to update the weights in the networks. Our best neurocontroller uses a form of approximate dynamic programming called an adaptive critic design. A hierarchy of such designs exists. Our system uses dual heuristic programming (DHP), an upper-level design. To our best knowledge, our results are the first use of DHP to control a physical system. It is also the first system we know of to respond to Zadeh's challenge. We do not claim this neural network control algorithm is the best approach to this problem, nor do we claim it is better than a fuzzy controller. It is instead a contribution to the scientific dialogue about the boundary between the two overlapping disciplines.

Preliminary observations on enteritis associated with a coronavirus-like agent in rabbits.

An outbreak of fatal enteritis in 3-8-week old rabbits in a barrier-maintained breeding colony is described. The laboratory findings and treatments attempted suggest that a viral agent was the primary pathogen.

Financial control of laboratory animal facilities: partial cost recovery in an academic institution.

The objective of cost management in the animal house is to make efficient use of resources and to regulate the activity of the user. Regular charging of users keeps them aware of their responsibility both ethically and financially. Forward budgetary control is encouraged and regulation of the work load achieved through planned requirements helps to reduce animal wastage.

Enterotoxaemia involving Clostridium perfringens iota toxin in a hysterectomy-derived rabbit colony.

During an explosive outbreak of fatal enteropathic disease involving Clostridium perfringens iota (i) toxin, a total of 183 deaths occurred in 18 weeks. The clinical signs and post-mortem findings are reported. Examinations for virus, Bacillus piliformis and coccidia were negative. Clostridium perfringens i toxin was detected in 22 of 27 animals examined (81.5%), but clostridia were not isolated. Various treatments were attempted. It is concluded that i toxin and the syndrome described are closely related.

Water-borne Bacillus licheniformis infection in mice.

A water-borne Bacillus licheniformis infection was associated with depressed haemoglobin content, white cell and platelet count. The epidemic was resolved by changing from tanked to mains water supply.

Migration and intervening opportunities.

An analysis of factors affecting migration is presented. The authors "extend the investigation of the roles of information, intervening opportunities, and psychic costs by focussing on differences in migrant destinations with respect to the deterring effect of distance. [They develop] a reservation-wage model of migration which implies that the distance effect is weaker for high-wage destinations and stronger for low-wage destinations." The model is tested using data for Brazil, Japan, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela.

Rural-urban migration and underemployment among females in the Brazilian Northeast.

PIP: The relationships among rural-urban migration, underemployment, and government policy are explored using data from two surveys on female migration to Fortaleza, Brazil. The results suggest that for this segment of the labor force, the unfavorable responses to government policy predicted by Michael Todaro and others do not occur.^ieng

Contribution of the cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale L.) for development of layer-by-layer films with potential application in nanobiomedical devices.

The search for bioactive molecules to be employed as recognition elements in biosensors has stimulated researchers to pore over the rich Brazilian biodiversity. In this sense, we introduce the use of natural cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale L.) as an active biomaterial to be used in the form of layer-by-layer films, in conjunction with phthalocyanines, which were tested as electrochemical sensors for dopamine detection. We investigated the effects of chemical composition of cashew gum from two different regions of Brazil (Piauí and Ceará states) on the physico-chemical characteristics of these nanostructures. The morphology of the nanostructures containing cashew gum was studied by atomic force microscopy which indicates that smooth films punctuated by globular features were formed that showed low roughness values. The results indicate that, independent of the origin, cashew gum stands out as an excellent film forming material with potential application in nanobiomedical devices as electrochemical sensors.

Musculoskeletal CPD revision: cases from the New Zealand Bone & Soft Tissue Tumour Registry.

This case report has been selected from the New Zealand Bone & Soft Tissue Tumour Registry to highlight some key concepts and findings in musculoskeletal imaging with radiological-pathological correlation. The case is presented in a question and answer format, with clinical information and selected images in one section, followed by the diagnosis, discussion and teaching points.