Spectrophotometric assay of immobilized tannase

A procedure for the assay of immobilized tannase with Polyacrylamide gel, collagen and Duolite-S-762 as matrices is described. It is based on the spectrophotometric determination of gallic acid formed by the enzymatic hydrolysis of tannic acid. The kinetic parameters of the enzymatic reaction have been studied and an assay procedure has been formulated. This method appears to be much more accurate than those reported earlier

Are There Limitations to Exercise Benefits in Peripheral Arterial Disease?

Substantial evidence exists indicating that inactivity contributes to the progression of chronic disease, and conversely, that regular physical activity can both prevent the onset of disease as well as delay the progression of existing disease. To that end “exercise as medicine” has been advocated in the broad context as general medical care, but also in the specific context as a therapeutic, to be considered in much the same way as other drugs. As there are non-responders to many medications, there also are non-responders to exercise; individual who participate but do not demonstrate appreciable improvement/benefit. In some settings, the stress induced by exercise may aggravate an underlying condition, rather than attenuate chronic disease. As personalized medicine evolves with ready access to genetic information, so too will the incorporation of exercise in the context of those individual genetics. The focus of this brief review is to distinguish between the inherent capacity to perform, as compared to adaptive response to active exercise training in relation to cardiovascular health and peripheral arterial disease

Evidence for modulation of pericryptal sheath myofibroblasts in rat descending colon by Transforming Growth Factor β and Angiotensin II.

BACKGROUND: Absorption of water and Na(+) in descending colonic crypts is dependent on the barrier function of the surrounding myofibroblastic pericryptal sheath. Here the effects of high and low Na(+) diets and exposure to whole body ionising radiation on the growth and activation of the descending colonic pericryptal myofibroblasts are evaluated. In addition the effect of a post-irradiation treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor Captopril was investigated. METHODS: The levels of Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1), ACE, collagen type IV, transforming growth factor-β type 1 receptor (TGF-βR1), OB cadherin and α-smooth muscle actin in both descending colon and caecum were evaluated, using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy, in rats fed on high and low Na(+) diets (LS). These parameters were also determined during 3 months post-irradiation with 8Gy from a (60)Co source in the presence and absence of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, Captopril. RESULTS: Increases in AT1 receptor (135.6% ± 18.3, P < 0.001); ACE (70.1% ± 13.1, P < 0.001); collagen type IV (49.6% ± 15.3, P < 0.001); TGF-β1 receptors (291.0% ± 26.5, P < 0.001); OB-cadherin (26.3% ± 13.8, P < 0.05) and α-smooth muscle actin (82.5% ± 12.4, P < 0.001) were observed in the pericryptal myofibroblasts of the descending colon after LS diet. There are also increases in AT1 receptor and TGF-β1 receptor, smooth muscle actin and collagen type IV after irradiation. Captopril reduced all these effects of irradiation on the pericryptal sheath and also decreased the amount of collagen and smooth muscle actin in control rats (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate an activation of descending colonic myofibroblasts to trophic stimuli, or irradiation, which can be attenuated by Captopril, indicative of local trophic control by angiotensin II and TGF-β release

Inhalation of rod-like carbon nanotubes causes unconventional allergic airway inflammation

Peer reviewe

Immobilization of alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and glucose isomerase on CNBr activated Sepharose-6MB

Two enzymes (Glucoamylase from Rhizopus Sp. and Glucose isomerase from Streptomyces fradiae) or three enzymes (the above two and &#945;-amylase from Bacillus subtilis) were coupled to CNBr activated Sepharose-6MB. Some of the parameters such as the pH and temperature activity relationships of the immobilized enzyme systems are described. A 5% soluble starch solution was converted by the enzyme system into a mixture of glucose and fructose within 6 hr at 60&#176; C

Purification and properties of polyphenol oxidase from mango peel (Mangifera indica. Var. Raspuri)

Polyphenol oxidase from the peel of ripe mango fruit (Mangifera indica. Var. Raspuri) was purifed 126-fold to homogeneity by ammoniun sulphate fractionation, column chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B and gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200. It had an iso-electric point (pI) of 4.1&#177;0.2 and molecular weight of 137,000 daltons as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. It was more specific for catechol (than for other substatres tested) with a Km of 8.2 mM. 2-mercaptoethanol, L-cysteine, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and thiourea were effective inhibitors of this enzyme. It had pH and temperature optima of 5.5 and 46&#176;C, respectively. It lost 50% activity by exposure to 85&#176;, 75&#176; and 65&#176;C for 3, 16 and 25.5 min, respectively. Copper content was one atom per mole of enzyme and copper was essential for its activity. Unlike most of the polyphenol oxidases, multiple forms were not detected in the crude extract