Changes in myosin heavy chain mRNA and protein expression in human skeletal muscle with age and endurance exercise training.

Aging is associated with reduced muscle strength and atrophy of type II muscle fibers. Muscle fiber type and contractile function are primarily determined by myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. There are few data available on the effects of aging on MHC isoform expression in humans. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that MHC isoform protein composition and mRNA abundance would favor a fast-to-slow isoform shift with aging and in response to endurance exercise training. Muscle biopsies were obtained from previously sedentary, healthy men and women, aged 21-87 yr before (n = 77) and after (n = 65) 16 wk of bicycle training (up to 45 min at 80% peak heart rate, 3-4 days/wk). At baseline, MHC I mRNA was unchanged with age, whereas IIa and IIx declined by 14 and 10% per decade, respectively (P < 0.001). MHC IIa and IIx protein declined by 3 and 1% per decade with a reciprocal increase in MHC I (P < 0.05). After training, MHC I and IIa mRNA increased by 61 and 99%, respectively, and IIx decreased by 50% (all P < 0.001). The increase in MHC I mRNA was positively associated with age, whereas the changes in MHC IIa and IIx mRNA were similar across age. MHC I protein increased by 6% and was positively related to age, whereas IIx decreased by 5% and was inversely related to age. These results suggest that the altered expression of MHC isoforms with aging is transcriptionally regulated. In response to endurance exercise, regulation of MHC isoform transcripts remains robust in older muscle, but this did not result in corresponding changes in MHC protein expression.

Comparison of line probe assay and DNA sequencing of 5' untranslated region for genotyping hepatitis C virus: description of novel line probe patterns.

We compared a commercial line probe assay (INNO-LiPA HCV II, Innogenetics, N.V., Ghent, Belgium, distributed by Bayer Diagnostics) to an in-house 5' untranslated region direct DNA sequencing method for genotyping hepatitis C virus (HCV). Initial evaluation demonstrated that the INNO-LiPA HCV II assay and sequencing assay assigned the same genotype for 110/132 (83.3%) patient specimens (98 subtype and 12 genotype only identifications). Following the initial evaluation, the INNO-LiPA HCV II assay was used routinely to genotype HCV from patient specimens submitted to our laboratory for genotyping (n = 1,739). During this second part of the study, novel line probe patterns have been noted and interpreted using the in-house direct sequencing assay. Reactivity at bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 (n = 4) or 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 (n = 2) represented HCV genotype 1. Reactivity at bands 1, 2, 5 and 9 (n = 1) represented HCV genotype 2. Reactivity at bands 1, 2, 5, 9 and 16 (n = 1) represented HCV genotype 4. Reactivity at bands 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11 (weak band) and 12 (n = 118) most likely represented HCV genotype 2b. This information should be of use to INNO-LiPA HCV II assay users.

New approach to control the methanogenic reactor of a two-phase anaerobic digestion system.

A new control strategy for the methanogenic reactor of a two-phase anaerobic digestion system has been developed and successfully tested on the laboratory scale. The control strategy serves the purpose to detect inhibitory effects and to achieve good conversion. The concept is based on the idea that volatile fatty acids (VFA) can be measured in the influent of the methanogenic reactor by means of titration. Thus, information on the output (methane production) and input of the methanogenic reactor is available, and a (carbon) mass balance can be obtained. The control algorithm comprises a proportional/integral structure with the ratio of (a) the methane production rate measured online and (b) a maximum methane production rate expected (derived from the stoichiometry) as a control variable. The manipulated variable is the volumetric feed rate. Results are shown for an experiment with VFA (feed) concentration ramps and for experiments with sodium chloride as inhibitor.

Structure analysis of turbulent mixing patterns in inert and reactive turbulent liquid flows.

The paper contains an extended summary of an invited plenary talk given at the Workshop on Active Chaos at the Los Alamos National Laboratory on 29-31 May 2001 by one of us (F.S.R.). (c) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Efficient adsorption of the mycotoxins zearalenone and T-2 toxin on a modified yeast glucan.

1,3-Beta-D-glucan derived from baker's yeast was chemically modified in two steps yielding crosslinked carboxymethyl glucan as the sodium salt (2). After cation exchange with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, a hydrophobic adsorbent (3) was obtained which showed an excellent binding of the estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone with a maximum adsorption of up to 183 mg/g. Compound 3 additionally showed a relatively high adsorption capacity for the trichothecene T-2 toxin of at least 10 mg/g. Starting from 2, various derivatives were prepared by cation exchange using quaternary ammonium salts bearing substituents besides methyl from four to 18 carbon atoms. The adsorption of T-2 toxin on these derivatives were compared with compound 3 leading to the conclusion that 3 is the best adsorbent of all investigated tetraalkylammonium-modified derivatives of 2.