Structural studies on flagellins from shape and antigenic variants of Salmonella and Proteus flagella

The primary structures of flagellins from antigenic and shape variants of Salmonella and Proteus flagella were studied. H antigenic differences in Salmonella are related to differences in amino acid composition of the flagellin molecules: peptide differences were observed between thermolytic, and between chymotryptic peptide maps of Salmonella g.... antigenic flagellins. These differences were located on the CNBr A fragments of the flagellins. Homologous CNBr A fragments were almost as effective as homologous flagella as inhibitors of antiserum raised against g.... antigenic flagella, as measured by immobilisation-inhibition and complement fixation-inhibition assays. Thus the H antigenic determinants appear to be located primarily on the CNBr A fragment, although some results suggest that they might extend onto the CNBr B fragment in certain flagellins. The sites of amino acid substitutions in morphological mutants of Salmonella g... antigenic flagellins appear to be located at either the N-terminal (CNBr B) or C-terminal (CNBr C and CNBr D) regions of the flagellin molecule. The C-terminus of the molecule is conserved. Several epsilon-N-methyllysine residues were detected in most of the Salmonella g.... antigenic flagellins analysed and, in fewer numbers, in certain P. morganii flagellins. The absence of E-N-methyllysine residues in flagellins of diverse bacteria was noted. Arginine and tyrosine residues of various bacterial flagellins were differentiated by chemical modification into three groups: residues not accessible to modification; residues accessible in the monomer but not in the polymer; residues which are modified in both the monomer and polymer. Residues belonging to the second group may be implicated in the self-assembly of flagellin subunits into flagellar filaments. Comparison of amino acid sequences of bacterial flagellins indicated sequences of homology at the N- and C-terminal regions of the flagellin molecule. These regions may be essential for the assembly of subunits into functional filaments. The central part of the molecule, however, appears to be a variable region which is exposed in the polymer and predominantly bears the H-antigenic characteristics of the bacterium.<p

An assessment of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council\u27s community based distribution programme

Since its inception, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council’s (ZNFPC) community-based distribution (CBD) program has made significant and well-documented contributions to the demand for and use of family planning in Zimbabwe. Data from several studies have shown, however, a steady decline in this contribution and that the CBD agents spend more time resupplying existing clients than recruiting new acceptors. Moreover, the CBD program urgently needs to be able to address the AIDS crisis in the country. ZNFPC has undertaken this review to guide it in making appropriate decisions about the future direction of the program, allowing CBDs to have a broader range of responsibilities and modifying the structure to become more efficient. Some activities felt to be acceptable and feasible include: providing more detailed information on STIs/HIV/AIDS; identifying and referring individuals with STI symptoms for diagnosis and treatment at clinics; providing supportive counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS; educating communities about HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services and motivating their use; providing ongoing supportive counseling after HIV VCT testing; assisting parents to better communicate with their children on sexual and reproductive health issues; and advising adolescents like surrogate aunts and uncles

Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency presenting with failure to thrive, hypercalcemia, and nephrocalcinosis

BACKGROUND: Disaccharide Intolerance Type I (Mendelian Interance in Man database: *222900) is a rare inborn error of metabolism resulting from mutation in sucrase-isomaltase (Enzyme Catalyzed 3.2.1.48). Usually, infants with SI deficiency come to attention because of chronic diarrhea and nutritional evidence of malabsorption. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an atypical presentation of this disorder in a 10-month-old infant. In addition to chronic diarrhea, the child displayed severe and chronic hypercalcemia, the evaluation of which was negative. An apparently coincidental right orbital hemangioma was detected. Following identification of the SI deficiency, an appropriately sucrose-restricted, but normal calcium diet regimen was instituted which led to cessation of diarrhea, substantial weight gain, and resolution of hypercalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates that, similar to congenital lactase deficiency (Mendelian Interance in Man database: *223000, Alactasia, Hereditary Disaccharide Intolerance Type II), hypercalcemia may complicate neonatal Sucrase-Isomaltase deficiency. Hypercalcemia in the presence of chronic diarrhea should suggest disaccharide intolerance in young infants

Mapping Health Literacy Research in the European Union: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: To examine and compare the research productivity on selected fields related to health literacy of the curren

The costs of integrating reproductive health services: An example using syndromic management of STIs in family planning clinics in Zimbabwe

Estimates from the United Nations Population Fund indicate that the costs of family planning (FP) and other reproductive health (RH) services are increasing and that it will be difficult for donors and countries to meet these costs. Many institutions delivering RH services operate significantly below their physical capacity to see clients, and much of the equipment required for expanding RH services may already be available for use. The marginal costs of adding infrastructure could be low. Many institutions have staff that are not fully occupied, and thus the staff necessary to expand RH services may also be in place. In this paper, we examine the cost implications for labor of expanding the provision of syndromic management services in FP clinics in Zimbabwe. Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections allows health care workers to make a diagnosis without sophisticated laboratory tests because it is based on clinical syndromes and, in some cases, assessments of an individual patient’s risk for STI infection

The Palmer LTER: A Long-Term Ecological Research Program at Palmer Station, Antarctica

THE ANTARCTIC marine ecosystem-the assemblage of plants, animals, ocean, sea ice, and island components south of the Antarctic Convergence is among the largest readily defined ecosystems on Earth (36 X 106 km2 ) (Hedgpeth, 1977; Petit et al., 1991). This ecosystem is composed of an interconnected system of functionally distinct hydrographic and biogeochemical subdivisions (Treguer and Jacques, 1992) and includes open ocean, frontal regions, shelf-slope waters, sea ice, and marginal ice zones. Oceanic, atmospheric, and biogeochemical processes within this system are thought to be globally significant, have been infrequently studied, and are poorly understood relative to more accessible marine ecosystems (Harris and Stonehouse, 1991; Johannessen et al., 1994). The Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (Palmer LTER) area west of the Antarctic Peninsula (Fig. la) is a complex combination of a coastal/continental shelf zone and a seasonal sea ice zone, because this area is swept by the yearly advance and retreat of sea ice. The Palmer LTER program is a multidisciplinary program established to study this polar marine ecosystem

Considering the role of cognitive control in expert performance

© 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. Dreyfus and Dreyfus’ (1986) influential phenomenological analysis of skill acquisition proposes that expert performance is guided by non-cognitive responses which are fast, effortless and apparently intuitive in nature. Although this model has been criticised (e.g., by Breivik Journal of Philosophy of Sport, 34, 116–134 2007, Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 40, 85–106 2013; Eriksen 2010; Montero Inquiry:An interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, 53, 105–122 2010; Montero and Evans 2011) for over-emphasising the role that intuition plays in facilitating skilled performance, it does recognise that on occasions (e.g., when performance goes awry for some reason) a form of ‘detached deliberative rationality’ may be used by experts to improve their performance. However, Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1986) see no role for calculative problem solving or deliberation (i.e., drawing on rules or mental representations) when performance is going well. In the current paper, we draw on empirical evidence, insights from athletes, and phenomenological description to argue that ‘continuous improvement’ (i.e., the phenomenon whereby certain skilled performers appear to be capable of increasing their proficiency even though they are already experts; Toner and Moran 2014) among experts is mediated by cognitive (or executive) control in three distinct sporting situations (i.e., in training, during pre-performance routines, and while engaged in on-line skill execution). We conclude by arguing that Sutton et al. Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology, 42, 78–103 (2011) ‘applying intelligence to the reflexes’ (AIR) approach may help to elucidate the process by which expert performers achieve continuous improvement through analytical/mindful behaviour during training and competition

Adipocytes promote pancreatic cancer cell proliferation via glutamine transfer

AbstractAdipocytes promote progression of multiple cancers, but their role in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poorly defined. Nutrient transfer is a mechanism underlying stromal cell-cancer crosstalk. We studied the role of adipocytes in regulating in vitro PanIN and PDAC cell proliferation with a focus on glutamine metabolism. Murine 3T3L1 adipocytes were used to model adipocytes. Cell lines derived from PKCY mice were used to model PanIN and PDAC. Co-culture was used to study the effect of adipocytes on PanIN and PDAC cell proliferation in response to manipulation of glutamine metabolism. Glutamine secretion was measured with a bioanalyzer. Western blotting was used to study the effect of PanIN and PDAC cells on expression of glutamine-related enzymes in adipocytes. Adipocytes promote proliferation of PanIN and PDAC cells, an effect that was amplified in nutrient-poor conditions. Adipocytes secrete glutamine and rescue PanIN and PDAC cell proliferation in the absence of glutamine, an effect that was glutamine synthetase-dependent and involved PDAC cell-induced down-regulation of glutaminase expression in adipocytes. These findings suggest glutamine transfer as a potential mechanism underlying adipocyte-induced PanIN and PDAC cell proliferation

Increasing dominance of large lianas in Amazonian forests

Ecological orthodoxy suggests that old-growth forests should be close to dynamic equilibrium, but this view has been challenged by recent findings that neotropical forests are accumulating carbon and biomass, possibly in response to the increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. However, it is unclear whether the recent increase in tree biomass has been accompanied by a shift in community composition. Such changes could reduce or enhance the carbon storage potential of old-growth forests in the long term. Here we show that non-fragmented Amazon forests are experiencing a concerted increase in the density, basal area and mean size of woody climbing plants (lianas). Over the last two decades of the twentieth century the dominance of large lianas relative to trees has increased by 1.7–4.6% a year. Lianas enhance tree mortality and suppress tree growth, so their rapid increase implies that the tropical terrestrial carbon sink may shut down sooner than current models suggest. Predictions of future tropical carbon fluxes will need to account for the changing composition and dynamics of supposedly undisturbed forests

Differentiating cells of murine stratified squamous epithelia constitutively express plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2)

 In stratified squamous epithelia a critical balance among cell proliferation, differentiation, and death must be maintained in order for these tissues to fulfill their barrier function. Previous studies have demonstrated that plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) is a product of differentiating epidermal keratinocytes, suggesting a role for this inhibitor during squamous differentiation. Furthermore, in certain tumor cell lines, overexpression of PAI-2 confers resistance to the induction of programmed cell death, suggesting cytoprotective function(s). In the present study we demonstrate that PAI-2 mRNA and protein are constitutively and uniquely expressed in differentiating cells of murine stratified squamous epithelia, including epidermis, esophagus, vagina, oral mucosa, and tongue. PAI-2 immunohistochemical localization patterns suggest a predominantly cytosolic distribution, consistent with biochemical identification of the major PAI-2 species as a 43-kDa, presumably non-glycosylated protein. Functional analysis shows that the majority of epithelial PAI-2 is active. In contrast to the high levels of PAI-2 expression in stratified squamous epithelia, little or no PAI-2 is detectable in simple epithelia. These findings suggest that epithelial PAI-2 may mediate inhibition of intracellular proteinases associated with events during terminal differentiation and death that are unique to stratified squamous epithelia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42231/1/418-110-6-559_81100559.pd