A new species of Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) of the Bolitoglossa franklini group from an isolated cloud forest in northern Guatemala.

We describe Bolitoglossa qeqom sp. nov. from an isolated cloud forest in Cerro Guachmalén, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, based on multiple lines of evidence (morphological, molecular, and biogeographic data). This region comprises a mountain ridge without previous herpetological surveys. The new species is a large salamander with uniform purplish-black coloration and is distinguished by having relatively long legs with only one costal groove between adpressed limbs, numerous maxillary teeth, few vomerine teeth, only one phalange free of webbing in digit III of feet, and a relatively short tail. It is geographically closest to its sister clade of B. lincolni + B. franklini and the xeric Chixoy river canyon appears to be the major biogeographic barrier that isolated the new taxon. The cloud forest inhabited by this species has undergone severe habitat destruction in the region and land conservation actions are urgent.

Pathological gambling subtypes: A comparison of treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking samples from Brazil and Canada.

BACKGROUND: Pathological gambling (PG) is a heterogeneous disorder. The identification and characterization of PG subtypes could lead to tailored treatment approaches, which may, in turn, improve treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate PG subtypes based on personality traits across two different cultural and clinical settings. Consistent with the Pathways Model, we hypothesized the presence of three subtypes (behaviorally conditioned - BC, emotionally vulnerable - EV, and antisocial impulsivist - AI). METHODS: 140 PG adults from São Paulo, Brazil (SP sample) and 352 adults with PG (n=214) or sub-clinical PG (n=138) from Toronto, Canada (TO sample) completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Latent-class analysis was used to investigate subtypes. RESULTS: A 2-class solution was the best model for the pooled SP and TO samples. Class 1 presented a normative personality profile and was composed exclusively of participants from Toronto (BC subtype). Class 2 was characterized by high novelty seeking, high harm avoidance, and low self-directedness, and included participants from both SP and TO (EV subtype). When sub-clinical PGs were excluded from the analysis, a single-class solution better characterized the SP and TO samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PG severity, rather than community or clinical settings, may have an effect on PG subtypes. The generalizability of the results is limited by the demographic and clinical features of the selected samples. Future neurobiological studies may contribute to the categorization of subjects into PG subtypes based on different underlying biological pathways.

Immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on magnetized Dacron: kinetic study.

Candida rugosa lipase has been covalently immobilized on ferromagnetic azide polyethyleneterepthalate (Dacron) with specific activity retention of 16% for 4-nitrophenyl palmitate and 24% for hydrolysis of triolein in hexane. The immobilized enzyme was more thermal stable than the soluble one, retaining 78.8% of the activity after 1 h at 60 degrees C. Also, this immobilized derivative was stable at the storage at 4 degrees C. It has been used 5 cycles for pNPP hydrolysis without loss of activity. Soluble and immobilized Candida rugosa lipase showed a Michaelian behavior for fatty acid 4-nitrophenyl esters and different apparent K(M) values: 0.110 mM and 0.124 mM (4-nitrophenyl palmitate - C16); 0.193 mM and 0.235 mM (4-nitrophenyl laurate - C12) and 0.206 mM and 0.119 mM (4-nitrophenyl butyrate - C4), respectively. The immobilized lipase was more efficient for catalyzing the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl esters with short chain length fatty acid (4-NPB - C4) than soluble enzyme. The ferromagnetic Dacron-lipase derivative was able to catalyze the synthesis of triolein from glycerol and oleic acid with 50% of conversion after 72 h at 40 degrees C.

Sleep-disordered breathing in Prader-Willi syndrome and its association with neurobehavioral abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and type of sleep-disordered breathing among patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and its relationship to such neurobehavioral abnormalities as mental retardation, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and conduct disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Polysomnography (PSG) studies were conducted in 13 unselected subjects with PWS (age 1.5 to 28 years). PSG results were compared with tests of behavior and cognition (Development Behavior Checklist [DBC], Auditory Continuous Performance Test [ACPT], and Wechsler Intelligence Scale appropriate for age). RESULTS: Nine of 13 (69%) subjects had > 10 apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep. Apart from a 2-year-old subject with normal body weight who demonstrated severe central hypopnea in rapid eye movement sleep, the sleep-breathing disturbance was due to upper airway obstruction. Age-adjusted body mass index was associated with more severe hypoxemia during sleep (min SaO2, r = -.87, P < .005) and more sleep disruption (arousals/hour of sleep, r = .62, P < .05; sleep efficiency, r = -.66, P < .05). Increasing severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or sleep disturbance was associated with daytime inactivity/sleepiness and autistic-relating behavior (DBC) and with impulsiveness (ACPT). Unexpectedly, sleep hypoxemia appeared to be predictive of increased performance IQ. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is prevalent among subjects with PWS and is associated with increased body mass, daytime inactivity/ sleepiness, and some behavioral disturbances.

Isolation of a trypsin inhibitor from Echinodorus paniculatus seeds by affinity chromatography on immobilized Cratylia mollis isolectins.

A highly purified trypsin inhibitor was obtained from Echinodorus paniculatus when an extract prepared from E. paniculatus seed flour (25 gl(-1), with 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 8.3, under agitation for 6 min at 28 degrees C) was chromatographed on Sephadex G-25 (12 mlh(-1)), followed by affinity chromatography on immobilized Cratylia mollis isolectins (Cra Iso 1,2,3-Sepharose). The column chromatography was performed at 24 degrees C; the matrix was washed (30 mlh(-1)) with 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 or with the same buffer containing 0.2 M glucose, followed by application of inhibitor sample and elution with 0.015 M sodium borate buffer, pH 7.4, or 1.0 M NaCl. A purified fraction of inhibitor was obtained by gel filtration chromatography (GF-450/HPLC column). Trypsin inhibitory activity was eliminated when the inhibitor was treated with metaperiodate showing that the carbohydrate moiety was important for trypsin inhibition. Binding of inhibitor was also evaluated on immobilized concanavalin A (Con A-Sepharose) using previously described chromatographic conditions with results similar to Cra Iso 1,2,3-Sepharose chromatography.

Immobilization of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine on silicon oxide wafer for an acoustical biosensor.

One the most important aspects of a biosensor is related to immobilization and maintenance of specific reference compounds on sensing surfaces. A method for the immobilization of polysaccharides to a silicon oxide surface intended for Surface Acoustical Waves (SAW) sensors is described. Silicon oxide is a hydrophobic inorganic support used for the fabrication of many electronic devices. The pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) vaccine is immobilized via Protein A after pre-treatment of the surface with hydrochloric acid. The effects of non-specific binding are discussed. The results indicate that the immobilization of PPS via Protein A increases the sensitivity of detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies in human sera and offers greater reproducibility of response compared with ELISA methods. The principles of this technique are simple and are applicable to the immobilization of many capsular polysaccharides.

Women's knowledge and attitudes, and the acceptability of voluntary antenatal HIV testing.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pregnant women's knowledge of, and attitudes towards, antenatal HIV testing, and its acceptability to them. SETTING: Antenatal clinic at Guy's Hospital, London, six community antenatal clinics and a midwifery group practice. POPULATION: Eight hundred and forty-three women attending the antenatal clinics. METHOD: The women received a leaflet explaining HIV testing, and completed a questionnaire before and after their booking appointment. This included an assessment of their knowledge of, and attitudes towards HIV testing, and its acceptability. RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty-nine women (94%) completed questionnaires. Fifty-one percent (n = 405) were Caucasian, 25% (n = 195) African, 11% (n = 86) West Indian and 13% (n = 100) were from other ethnic groups. Fifty-eight percent received the HIV information leaflet, of whom 86% had read it. Knowledge relating to HIV was good, the median knowledge score being 6 out of a possible 8, but it was less in non-Caucasian women and those with lower educational qualifications. Knowledge was not related to uptake of testing. Thirty-five percent of women accepted the offer of an HIV test, rates being higher in hospital clinics (41%) than in the midwifery group practice (10%) and the community clinics (30%). Women more likely to accept the offer of an HIV test were non-Caucasian (P = 0.0443), those who had thought about the HIV test before this pregnancy (P = 0.0298) and those seeing one particular midwife (P = 0.0003). Most women (67%) thought that all pregnant women should be offered the HIV test and then make their own decision. Overall, 64% women did not change their original pre-discussion decision on testing for HIV. Thirty-six percent of women changed their decision from 'yes' to 'no' or 'don't know' after seeing the midwife. Women attending the community clinics (P = 0.003) and those who had been tested before (P = 0.0451) were more likely to change their decision. CONCLUSION: This study, in a multiethnic population, has shown that knowledge regarding HIV is good but does not increase the uptake of testing. Women prefer to be offered the HIV test and make their own choice regarding whether to accept it.

[Dopaminergic system genes in Mexican schizophrenics]. / Evaluación de genes del sistema dopaminérgico en esquizofrénicos mexicanos.

This investigation reports an association study with alleles of the dopaminergic system genes (tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), D2 and D4 receptors) in schizophrenic patients and non-schizophrenic subjects. The genotypes were typed using a polymerase chain reactions PCR-based CA repeat polymorphisms. There were no significant associations between the studied alleles and schizophrenia. Also, a linkage analysis was performed using the same genes (TH, D2 and D4) in two multiple affected schizophrenic families. There was no linkage among any of three genes and schizophrenia. The maximum lod score (Z = 0.43, theta = 0.10 penetrance 100%) was for the tyrosine hydroxylase gene. Linkage analysis significantly excluded the D2 receptor gene (Z = 5.6, theta = 0.01), assuming an autosomal dominant pattern and complete penetrance, However, when the lod scores were calculated with other penetrance values, they lost significance.

Properties of a thermostable nonspecific fructofuranosidase produced by Cladosporium cladosporioides cells for hydrolysis of Jerusalem artichoke extract.

Thermostable invertase (E.C. 3.2.1.26) and inulinase 2,1-beta-D-fructan fructanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.7) activities were produced by Cladosporium cladosporioides grown on sucrose, inulin, yam extract, or Jerusalem artichoke. The ratio I (inulinase)/S(invertase) activity was between 0.31 and 0.36. Both activities had high temperature optima (60 degrees C) and were stable during pretreatment for 4.5 h at this temperature. Whole cells of C. cladosporioides were used for batch fructose production from Jerusalem artichoke extract at several concentrations. With the highest extract concentration used (260 g total sugars/L), total hydrolysis was achieved in 150 min at 60 degrees C. Thin-layer chromatography of the enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin and Jerusalem artichoke extract showed that from the beginning of the reaction, fructose was the only product released. This suggests an exoaction mechanism, beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase [E.C. 3.2.1.2.6].

Controlled trial of bicarbonate therapy in high-risk premature newborn infants.

Sixty-two high-risk acidemic premature newborn infants, given maintenance intravascular infusions of 10% glucose, were assigned to liberal or restricted sodium bicarbonate treatment groups. Those infants in the liberal group received 5 to 15 mEq bicarbonate/dl 10% glucose, depending on the degree of acidosis. Among infants given bicarbonate, correction of pH was not more rapid and mortality was not decreased. Instead, there was a small increase in the number of deaths, but the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage was similar to that in infants not given bicarbonate.

Therapeutic approach to pancreatic extract-induced hyperuricosuria in cystic fibrosis.

The relationship between the dosage of pancreatic extract and the excretion of uric acid was investigated in 29 patients with cystic fibrosis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Urinary excretion of uric acid was normal in patients receiving small doses of pancreatic extracts and abnormally high in those receiving large amounts. In the latter group, normouricosuria was achieved by reducing the dose of pancreatic extract. Normal stool patterns and adequate weight gains were preserved by a diet modification that was well accepted by the patients. To eliminate the potential renal consequences of hyperuricosuria, it seems appropriate to control the need for increasing amounts of pancreatic enzymes by limiting the dietary intake of fat and maintaining a positive caloric and nitrogen balance with high intake of protein and carbohydrates and supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides.