The 3 ' terminal sequence of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase gene encodes an active domain in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The gua1 gene encoding inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which catalyses the first step in de novo biosynthesis of guanosine monophosphate (GMP), was cloned in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by functional complementation of a gua1ura4-D18 mutant strain from a S. pombe DNA genomic library. Complementation analysis revealed a 1.2 kb fragment which segregation analysis confirmed did not code for a suppressor gene. Only 446 nucleotides of the gua1 gene encoding the IMPDH C-terminal residues were found within this 1.2 kb sequence (GenBank, AJ293460). The comparison of this wild-type fragment with the same fragment from the gua1ura4-D18 mutant revealed that there was a point mutation at position 1261 (guanine -> adenine) from the 5' end, corresponding to the amino acid residue 421 (glycine -> serine) of the enzyme. Dot and Northern analyses showed that the gua1 gene was expressed in transformants as well as in the wild-type and the gua1ura4-D18 mutant, but enzyme activity was only detected in wild-type and transformant cells. It seems likely that a 446 by fragment from the 3' end of the gua1 gene abolished the point mutation in the mutant strain, suggesting that this fragment participates in the sequences encoding the active domain of IMPDH in S. pombe

Cost Analysis of Nosocomial Infections in a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital's Neurology Intensive Care Unit: A Case-Control Study

WOS: 000365428100009Aim: The purpose of this study is to overview nosocomial infections (NI), to determine risk factors and to evaluate the clinical and financial impact of NI on direct hospital cost among neurology intensive care unit (NICU) patients in a tertiary-care referral hospital. Material and Methods: A retrospective case control study was performed. The sample size was calculated to be at least 51 per group. A list of the last 55 patients who acquired an infection in NICU was obtained from infection control committee. These patients were matched with uninfected patients according to age, sex, diagnosis. The data were collected from patient files, accounting records. Results: A total of 79 NI occurred in 55 cases. The most common NI were pneumonia (48%), catheter related urinary tract infection (39%). Acinetobacter baumannii (25%) is most commonly responsible for NI. NI were detected less in patients who were conscious, non-intubated, without blood transfusion, tracheostomy, urinary catheter or mechanical ventilation. The mortality ratio was 53.1% in cases and 30.8% in controls. The excess costs of NI were $7121.15 and extra length of stay was 26.9 days. Although reimbursement took longer than six months, the Social Security Institution paid back the total billing amount. Conclusion: Given the impact on monetary and health costs of NI, measures to prevent NI in the hospital are strongly recommended for patient safety and for hospital reputation. NICUs in tertiary care referral facilities do not cause financial burden; on the contrary, they provide an opportunity to balance the budget

Investigation of the Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Glucose Signaling in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The invertase mutant defective in the glucose signaling pathway of () is resistant to glucose repression. This mutant is able to consume sucrose alongside glucose and grows in glucose-containing media with a generation time close to that of the wild type. Intracellular oxidation, protein carbonyl, and reduced glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activity were investigated in , to determine the relationship between oxidative stress response and glucose signaling. The expression profiles of some genes involved in regulation of glucose repression ( fructose-1,6-bis-phosphatase; hexokinase) and stress response ( and transcription factors; catalase; Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase) were analyzed using the quantitative real-time PCR technique. Oxidative stress response in seems to be affected by glucose signaling in a manner different from that caused by glucose deprivation

Successful treatment of massive pulmonary embolism with low-dose tissue plasminogen activator after meniscus surgery

Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disease which represents with high mortality and morbidity. Systemic fibrinolysis is the first-line recommended therapy in hemodynamically instable patients with massive pulmonary embolism. Systemic fibrinolytic treatment remains controversial for pulmonary embolism after surgery due to high risk of hemorrhage. Herein, we report a 49-year-old man with massive pulmonary embolism after meniscus surgery, successfully treated with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue type plasminogen activator

Influence of the chosen process parameters on the efficiency of seawater desalination: SWRO pilot plant results at Urla Bay seashore

EuroMedLab 2008 Conference -- NOV 09-13, 2008 -- Dead Sea, JORDANWOS: 000267309400025The most widely used desalination method used in order to produce potable water from seawater is reverse osmosis (RO). In this study, desalination tests were performed at a seashore of Urla Bay, Izmir, Turkey. The tests were carried out at different pressures (55-62 bar) using a single RO module at different feed seawater temperatures (10-15 degrees C). Variables Such as pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, turbidity, relative rejection of some ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-) and B levels in permeates collected were measured