Culture of the astaxanthinogenic yeast Phaffia rhodozyma in low-cost media.

Growth of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was carried out in a simplified medium based on less expensive nutrient sources, such as diluted sugar cane juice, urea, and sodium phosphate. The usual content of the astaxanthin, an oxygenated pink carotenoid useful for fish flesh staining, was improved along with with good cell yields (respective values of > 1300 micrograms/g cells and > 5 g cells/L were observed). Yeast invertase and urease must therefore play an important role in the implementation of low-cost culture media.

Reconstitution in vitro of the motile apparatus from the amoeboid sperm of Ascaris shows that filament assembly and bundling move membranes.

We have developed an in vitro motility system from Ascaris sperm, unique amoeboid cells that use filament arrays composed of major sperm protein (MSP) instead of an actin-based apparatus for locomotion. Addition of ATP to sperm extracts induces formation of fibers approximately 2 microns in diameter. These fibers display the key features of the MSP cytoskeleton in vivo. Each fiber consists of a meshwork of MSP filaments and has at one end a vesicle derived from the plasma membrane at the leading edge of the cell. Fiber growth is due to filament assembly at the vesicle; thus, fiber elongation results in vesicle translocation. This in vitro system demonstrates directly that localized polymerization and bundling of filaments can move membranes and provides a powerful assay for evaluating the molecular mechanism of amoeboid cell motility.

Safety, feasibility and long term follow-up of a non-thoracotomy defibrillation system in patients with inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.

UNLABELLED: A non-thoracotomy lead system CPI-ENDOTAK, a transvenous lead used alone or combined with a subcutaneous patch (SQ-P), was evaluated as an alternative to epicardial patches/electrodes in patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death undergoing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) surgery. Fifty nine patients, 62 +/- 11.4 years with CAD (83.0%) cardiomyopathy (11.9%) other (5.1%), mean ejection fraction 31.8 +/- 14%, with inducible sustained VT/VF underwent testing of either lead alone or lead/SQ-P. Four configurations of NTL were tested. Fifty one patients had NTL implanted (lead alone = 60.8% and lead/SQ-P = 39.2%). Eight patients required non-NTL approaches, due to high DFT (7) or anatomic anomaly (1). DFT's were 19.1J (lead alone) and 20.8J (lead/SQ-P). Acute complications: pulmonary embolism 1, lead dislodgement 3, sensing malfunction 1. [table: see text] CONCLUSION: A NTL system using either a single transvenous lead alone or combined with SQ-P can be implanted successfully in high risk patients with a low incidence of acute complications. Non-arrhythmic survival is lowest in patients receiving defibrillation shocks. Arrhythmic survival is high in all patients.

A neonatal preventive intervention study: Issues of recruitment and retention.

Intervention to prevent negative mental health outcomes in families of ill and premature newborns is an important part of neonatal care. This study addresses the factors which influence participation in a parent support group for parents of ill and premature newborns. Demographic, social support, and infant health data were examined to determine how support group participants and nonparticipants differed. In addition, efforts at enhancing recruitment and retention into support groups were examined. Results showed participants in the support group to have less healthy infants with longer hospital stays than nonparticipants. Participants reported more favorable financial situations, slightly higher incomes and less social support as measured by fewer contacts with family and friends than nonparticipants. Recommendations for future intervention research are discussed.