Aminopeptidase C of Aspergillus niger is a Novel Phenylalanine Aminopeptidase

A novel enzyme with a specific phenylalanine aminopeptidase activity (ApsC) from Aspergillus niger (CBS 120.49) has been characterized. The derived amino acid sequence is not similar to any previously characterized aminopeptidase sequence but does share similarity with some mammalian acyl-peptide hydrolase sequences. ApsC was found to be most active towards phenylalanine beta-naphthylamide (F-betaNA) and phenylalanine para-nitroanilide (F-betaNA), but it also displayed activity towards other amino acids with aromatic side chains coupled to betaNA; other amino acids with nonaromatic side chains coupled to either pNA or betaNA were not hydrolyzed or were poorly hydrolyzed. ApsC was not able to hydrolyze N-acetylalanine-pNA, a substrate for acyl-peptide hydrolases

Edge-preserving noise reduction in digital video sequences

In this paper an edge-preserving method for the enhancement of noisy sequences of pictures has been described and some experimental results have been reported. The experimental results give rise to the following remarks. Using the 5-point scale for picture quality, the method is able to restore noisy pictures of quality level 4 to a picture quality level 5 and of quality level 2 to quality level 4. For pictures with a very low SNR//i//n the method manages to make details, that were lost in the noise, recognizable

Dose-effect relations in time-limited combined psycho-pharmacological treatment for depression

BACKGROUND: A limited number of psychotherapy sessions in combination with medication is preferable to pharmacotherapy only in the treatment of ambulatory patients with major depression. Whether there is a relation between the number of sessions and the efficacy of the treatment is uncertain. METHOD: Randomized clinical trial comparing two treatment conditions in outpatients with major depression. All patients studied had a baseline score of at least 14 points on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The two conditions consist of 8-session or 16-session Short Psychodynamic Supportive Psychotherapy, both in combination with pharmacotherapy. Efficacy was assessed using the 17-item HDRS, the CGI of Severity and of Improvement, the depression subscale of the SCL-90 and the Quality of Life Depression Scale. RESULTS: The rate of change would seem to indicate that eight sessions are preferable for both moderately and severely depressed patients, although the results converged again at the end. Furthermore, in terms of satisfaction with the number of sessions and drop-out percentages during treatment, no differences were found between the conditions. CONCLUSION: In the light of the outcome analysis (faster remission after fewer sessions), a short version of the psychotherapy treatment in a combined course of treatment seems to be justifie

Carotid arterial remodeling - A maladaptive phenomenon in type 2 diabetes but not in impaired glucose metabolism: The Hoorn Study

Background and Purpose-Deteriorating glucose tolerance is associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Arterial remodeling is the change in structural properties through time in response to atherogenic and/or hemodynamic alterations and aims to maintain circumferential wall stress constant (