SCN1A mutation analysis in myoclonic astatic epilepsy and severe idiopathic generalized epilepsy of infancy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI), severe idiopathic generalized epilepsy of infancy (SIGEI) with generalized tonic clonic seizures (GTCS), and myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE) may show semiological overlaps. In GEFS+ families, all three phenotypes were found associated with mutations in the SCN1A gene. We analyzed the SCN1A gene in 20 patients with non-familial myoclonic astatic epilepsy -- including 12 probands of the original cohort used by Doose et al. in 1970 to delineate MAE. In addition, 18 patients with sporadic SIGEI -- mostly without myoclonic-astatic seizures -- were analyzed. Novel SCN1A mutations were found in 3 individuals. A frame shift resulting in an early premature stop codon in a now 35-year-old woman with a borderline phenotype of MAE and SIGEI (L433fsX449) was identified. A splice site variant (IVS18 + 5 G --> C) and a missense mutation in the conserved pore region (40736 C --> A; R946 S) were detected each in a child with SIGEI. We conclude that, independent of precise syndromic delineation, myoclonic-astatic seizures are not predictive of SCN1A mutations in sporadic myoclonic epilepsies of infancy and early childhood.

Formation of glucoside conjugates during biotransformation of dibenzofuran by Penicillium canescens SBUG-M 1139.

Penicillium canescens oxidises dibenzofuran (DBF) to produce monohydroxylated derivatives and other more hydrophilic metabolites. These substances are water-soluble but unstable in organic solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone or dichloromethane. Both extraction with ethyl acetate and enzymatic treatment of the aqueous culture filtrate with beta-glucuronidase led to decay of the hydrophilic metabolites and indicated these products to be glycoside conjugates. The glycosyl residue was identified as glucose both by liquid chromatography and by the use of glucose oxidase. The conjugate pattern formed was the same in type and amount, independent of the carbon source used for cultivation of the fungus. Clearly, DBF transformation in P canescens occurred in two phases: first the conversion to 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxydibenzofuran (phase I), followed by the formation of the corresponding glucosyl conjugates (phase II). In contrast, 2,3-dihydroxydibenzofuran added to the cultures was transformed by ring cleavage producing a muconic acid-like dead-end product.

Transformation of triclosan by Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus.

We investigated the ability of Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporous cinnabarinus to metabolize triclosan. T. versicolor produced three metabolites, 2-O-(2,4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether)-beta-D-xylopyranoside, 2-O-(2,4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 2,4-dichlorophenol. P. cinnabarinus converted triclosan to 2,4, 4'-trichloro-2'-methoxydiphenyl ether and the glucoside conjugate known from T. versicolor. The conjugates showed a distinctly lower cytotoxic and microbicidal activity than triclosan did.

Effect of selected environmental factors on degradation and mineralization of biaryl compounds by the bacterium Ralstonia pickettii in soil and compost.

By varying selected environmental factors, the degradation and mineralization of biaryl compounds by the bacterium Ralstonia pickettii in soil and compost were investigated. An optimized soil moisture and enhanced bioavailability by using the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 were of great importance for the degradation rates of biaryl compounds like biphenyl and 4-chlorobiphenyl by cells of Ralstonia picketti SBUG 290 inoculated into soil. Additionally, degradation of these compounds by the investigated strain in soil was strongly dependent upon the medium of precultivation. Also the influence of temperature and soil pH-value was tested. In contrast to the used soil, the autochthonous flora of the compost seemed to have a higher physiological activity. All investigated compounds (biphenyl, 4-chlorobiphenyl and dibenzofuran) were degraded quickly in compost. Inoculation with the investigated bacterium did not enhance the degradation rates significantly.

Evidence that intraoperative prostaglandin E1 infusion reduces impaired platelet aggregation after reperfusion in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Recent investigations measuring platelet aggregation during 10 orthotopic liver transplantations showed a significant decrease in platelet aggregation immediately after reperfusion and in the perfusate. As prostaglandin E1 has been shown to exhibit a beneficial effect in the treatment of ischemic injury of the liver, we investigated in a prospective, randomized, and open study the effect of PGE1 infusion during OLT on platelet function. Ten patients were randomized to receive a continuous PGE1 infusion (PG group) and another ten patients served as controls. Platelet function was determined ex vivo by measuring the adenosine diphosphate-, collagen-, and ristocetin-induced aggregation in platelet-rich plasma. A significantly higher platelet aggregability was measured in the PG group throughout the whole operation for ADP (1 and 2 mumol/L) and collagen (0.5 micrograms/ml). The same was true for collagen (1 microgram/ml) and ristocetin (1.2 mg/ml) after reperfusion. Not only the postreperfusional decrease in platelet aggregation but also the decline in platelet count that occurred in the control group could be prevented greatly by PGE1 infusion. In the perfusate, released from the liver graft vein by flushing with arterial blood, a significantly lower platelet aggregability was seen in comparison with the systemic circulation before reperfusion in the control group, a difference that was not found when PGE1 infusion was given intraoperatively. However, blood product requirements during OLT were comparable in both groups. In conclusion, PGE1 therapy during OLT preserves platelet function and prevents the drop in platelet count observed in the control group after revascularization.

Influence of prostaglandin E1 infusion on hemostasis in orthotopic liver transplantation.

In the control group, a significant decrease in platelet aggregability could be demonstrated after reperfusion. This was paralleled by a decrease in platelet counts. When PGE1 was infused during OLT, the post-reperfusional decreases in platelet aggregability and platelet counts in the control group could be prevented. Furthermore, our investigation demonstrated that PGE1 infusion led to higher t-PA activity during the anhepatic phase. This was paralleled and followed by lower alpha 2AP levels at the end of the anhepatic phase and after reperfusion. The higher t-PA levels in the PG group did not result in clinical signs of hyperfibrinolysis during OLT. The aprotinin administration in both groups is most certainly responsible for the absence of hyperfibrinolytic signs in the TEG and the low overall requirement for transfusions, explaining the comparable transfusion rate in the two groups (Fig. 5). Further investigations involving more patients are required to evaluate the clinical effect of PGE1 therapy.

Decreased platelet aggregation after reperfusion in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Increased blood loss is a major contributory factor to postoperative short- and longterm outcome in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Hyperfibrinolysis, occurring mainly in the anhepatic phase, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), starting immediately after reperfusion, have been observed to parallel increased bleeding tendency. However, other factors may also contribute. For the first time we investigated platelet aggregation during the course of 10 OLTs and found a marked reduction of adenosine diphosphate-, collagen-, and ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation immediately after reperfusion. Since this is the point at which increased bleeding tendency is known to occur, it would seem that, apart from DIC and hyperfibrinolysis, an intermediate dysfunction of platelet aggregation may be a major cause of intraoperative bleeding.