A new device for measurement of fibrin clot lysis: application to the Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time

BACKGROUND: Determination of clot lysis times on whole blood, diluted whole blood, plasma or plasma fraction has been used for many years to assess the overall activity of the fibrinolytic system. We designed a completely computerised semi-automatic 8-channel device for measurement and determination of fibrin clot lysis. The lysis time is evaluated by a mathematical analysis of the lysis curve and the results are expressed in minute (range: 5 to 9999). We have used this new device for Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time (ECLT) determination, which is the most common test used in laboratories to estimate plasma fibrinolytic capacity. RESULTS: The correlation between ECLT and manual method is very tight : R = 0,99; p < 10(-6). The efficiency scores of the method are <4% in intra-assay and <7% in inter-assay. It allows to achieve the tests on hyperlipaemic samples. This new device has been easily integrated in laboratory routine and allows to achieve several ECLT every day without disturbance of laboratory workflow. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of this new device could be useful in various situations such as assessment in atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis associated diseases, coagulation survey of liver transplantations, cardiovascular surgery or pharmacological research. It has already provided highly promising results in preliminary studies on the relation between fibrinolysis and cardiovascular risk factors

Coexistence of Spin Canting and Metamagnetism in a One-Dimensional Mn(II) Compound Bridged by Alternating Double End-to-End and Double End-On Azido Ligands and the Analog Co(II) Compound

Two new compounds of general formula [M(N3)2(dmbpy)] in which dmbpy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, and M = Mn(II) or Co(II), have been solvothermally synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. The structures consist of zig-zag polymeric chains with alternating bis-µ(azide-N1)2M and bis-µ(azide-N1,N3)2M units in which the cis-octahedrally based coordination geometry is completed by the N,N’-chelating ligand dmbpy. The molecular structures are basically the same for each metal. The Mn(II) compound has a slightly different packing mode compared to the Co(II) compound, resulting from their different space groups. Interestingly, relatively weak interchain interactions are present in both compounds and this originates from π–π stacking between the dmbpy rings. The magnetic properties of both compounds have been investigated down to 2 K. The measurements indicate that the manganese compound shows spin-canted antiferromagnetic ordering with a Néel temperature of TN = 3.4 K and further, a field-induced magnetic transition of metamagnetism at temperatures below the TN. This finding affords the first example of an 1D Mn(II) compound with alternating double end-on (EO) and double end-to-end (EE) azido-bridged ligands, showing the coexistence of spin canting and metamagnetism. The cobalt compound shows a weak ferromagnetism resulting from a spin-canted antiferromagnetism and long-range magnetic ordering with a critical temperature, TC = 16.2 K

Synthesis and physical properties of pyrochlore cobalt oxides Bi1.56-xCaxSb1.48Co0.96O7-δ

Abstract A new solid solution Bi1.56-xCaxSb1.48Co0.96O7-δ (0≤x≤0.3) with a pyrochlore-like structure (A2B2O7) was synthesized in air by chemical solid-state reaction. The solution crystallized in the cubic system with the Fd-3m space group. A regular decrease of the lattice parameter was observed when calcium replaced bismuth in the A site. The electric measurements showed that the electrical conductivity increased with the temperature and that high values of relative permittivity and dielectric loss were put in evidence. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility indicated a paramagnetic behavior of the samples with an effective moment included between 4.81 and 5.12 μB and at a low temperature para-ferromagnetic transition was observed for fractions x= 0.2 and 0.3

Production and partial characterization of chitinase from a halotolerant Planococcus rifitoensis strain M2-26

peer reviewedThis paper is the first to investigate the production and partial characterization of the chitinase enzyme from a moderately halophilic bacterium Planococcus rifitoensis strain M2-26, earlier isolated from a shallow salt lake in Tunisia. The impact of salt, salinity concentration, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources on chitinase production and activity have been determined. This is the first report on a high salt-tolerant chitinase from P. rifitoensis, since it was active at high salinity (from 5 to 30% NaCl) as well as in the absence of salt. This enzyme showed optimal activity at 70 C and retained up to 82 and 66% of its original activity at 80 or 90 C, respectively. The activity of the enzyme was also shown over a wide pH range (from 5 to 11). For characterization of the enzyme activity, the chitinase secreted in the culture supernatant was partially purified. The preliminary study of the concentrated dialysed supernatant on native PAGE showed at least three chitinases produced by strain M2-26, with highest activity approximately at 65 kDa. Thus, the thermo-tolerant and high salt-tolerant chitinases produced by P. rifitoensis strain M2-26 could be useful for application in diverse areas such as biotechnology and agro-industry