Sterilization of instruments in solar ovens.

AIMS: The sterilization of instruments in rural health clinics in less developed countries is an increasing problem as chemical methods can no longer be recommended and fuel wood is becoming increasingly scarce. It seems obvious, therefore, to utilize solar energy for sterilization purposes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A solar oven was designed and manufactured using local materials and simple tools. It was tested by physical, chemical and microbiological methods and, after successful testing, installed in a rural clinic. The oven was able to generate temperatures above 180 degrees C. On days with direct sunlight the oven fulfilled the international recommendations for hot air sterilization. The chemical indicators, Browne's tubes type 3 and 5, also changed colour. It was difficult to reach the right value for the sterilization effect during months with a low sun position. A moveable oven, or two ovens, must be installed to solve this problem. CONCLUSIONS: The solar oven has proven to be a realistic method for the sterilization of instruments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The solar oven is easy to make and use. It saves fuel and can be used in most tropical areas.

Inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation by expression of acyl-CoA-binding protein antisense RNA.

Several lines of evidence have recently underscored the significance of fatty acids or fatty acid-derived metabolites as signaling molecules in adipocyte differentiation. The acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP), which functions as an intracellular acyl-CoA pool former and transporter, is induced during adipocyte differentiation. In this report we describe the effects of expression of high levels of ACBP antisense RNA on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Pools of 3T3-L1 cells transfected with vectors expressing ACBP antisense RNA showed significantly less lipid accumulation as compared with cells transfected with the control vector. When individual clones were analyzed the degree of differentiation at day 10 was inversely correlated with the level of ACBP antisense RNA expression at day 0. Furthermore, in the clones with the highest levels of ACBP antisense expression, the induction of expression of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha as well as several adipocyte-specific genes was significantly delayed and reduced. The adipogenic potential of antisense-expressing cells was partially restored by transfection with a vector expressing high levels of ACBP. Taken together, these results are strong evidence that inhibition of differentiation is causally related to the decreased expression of ACBP, indicating that ACBP plays an important role during adipocyte differentiation.

Structure of the rat gene encoding the multifunctional acyl-CoA-binding protein: conservation of intron 1 sequences in rodents and man. Addendum.

The entire gene encoding the rat acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP), and intron 1 of the mouse and human ACBP genes were sequenced and analyzed. A CpG island has been maintained in human ACBP which, in contrast to the rodent ACBP genes, is subject to alternative splicing. Analysis of the rat intron 2 and 3 sequences identified a number of potential alternative splice donor and splice acceptor sites. However, RNase protection analysis revealed no alternatively spliced transcripts in RNA from various rat tissues. Several repetitive elements belonging to the ID, B1 and B2 families are present in introns 2 and 3.