Characterization and adaptation of some 'Pinot Noir' clones to the environmental conditions of Serbian grape growing regions

The adequate choice of suitable cultivar/clone together with the ecological characteristics of the region and combination of agro technical measures represents the most important factors in the viticulture production. Aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of two Pinot Noir clones (R4 and 667) in two Serbian grape growing regions with different meteorological conditions. The following properties were investigated: beginning, end and length of the growing season, grape yield, mechanical composition of bunch and berry, grape and wine quality. Differences between studied 'Pinot Noir' clones and environmental conditions in grape growing regions resulted in the production of grapes and wine with different characteristics

Porphyrins with directly meso -attached disaccharide moieties: Synthesis, self-assembly and cellular study

A series of porphyrins with directly meso-attached "sucrose" moiety by the carbon C-6′ of its "fructose" end was synthesized, and their physico-chemical and aggregation properties studied by spectroscopic (fluorescence, circular dichroism, resonance light scattering) techniques. The effect of selected porphyrins on tumor cells was also evaluated

Porphyrins with directly meso-attached disaccharide moieties: Synthesis, self-assembly and cellular study

A series of porphyrins with directly meso-attached “sucrose” moiety by the carbon C-6′ of its “fructose” end was synthesized, and their physico-chemical and aggregation properties studied by spectroscopic (fluorescence, circular dichroism, resonance light scattering) techniques. The effect of selected porphyrins on tumor cells was also evaluated. </jats:p

D-retrovirus morphogenetic switch driven by the targeting signal accessibility to Tctex-1 of dynein

Despite extensive data demonstrating that immature retroviral particle assembly can take place either at the plasma membrane or at a distinct location within the cytoplasm, targeting of viral precursor proteins to either assembly site still remains poorly understood. Biochemical data presented here suggest that Tctex-1, a light chain of the molecular motor dynein, is involved in the intracellular targeting of Mason–Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) polyproteins to the cytoplasmic assembly site. Comparison of the three-dimensional structures of M-PMV wild-type matrix protein (wt MA) with a single amino acid mutant (R55F), which redirects assembly from a cytoplasmic site to the plasma membrane, revealed different mutual orientations of their C- and N-terminal domains. This conformational change buries a putative intracellular targeting motif located between both domains in the hydrophobic pocket of the MA molecule, thereby preventing the interaction with cellular transport mechanisms

Recurrent vesical calculi, hypercalciuria, and biochemical evidence of increased bone resorption in an adult male with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury: is there a role for intermittent oral disodium etidronate therapy for prevention of calcium phosphate bladder stones?

Study design: Clinical case report with comments by colleagues from Sweden, Poland, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Belgium and Switzerland.Objectives: To discuss the role of disodium etidronate therapy for prevention of calcium phosphate vesical calculi in persons with spinal cord injury, who have hypercalciuria and biochemical evidence of increased bone resorption.Setting: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, UK.Methods: A 21-year-old male sustained paraplegia (T-10; ASIA scale: A) in a road traffic accident in June 2001. He had an indwelling urethral catheter until the end of August 2001, when he started self-catheterisation. He developed bladder stones and electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) was performed in May 2002. All stone fragments were removed. Recurrence of vesical calculi was noted in October 2002. These stones were fragmented by lithoclast lithotripsy in two sessions, in December 2002 and February 2003; all stone fragments were removed at the end of the second session. This patient reverted to indwelling catheter drainage when vesical calculi recurred. in September 2003, X-ray of the abdomen showed recurrence of vesical calculi. By February 2004, the stones had increased in size and number. EHL of vesical calculi was again performed in April 2004. Complete clearance was achieved.Results: A 24-h urinalysis detected hypercalciuria - 18.7 mmol/day ( reference range: 2.5 - 7.5). Biochemical analysis of vesical calculus revealed calcium phosphate (85%) and magnesium ammonium phosphate (15%). Plasma C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) was increased - 1.06 ng/ml ( reference range: 0.1 - 0.5 ng/ml). Free deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio (fDPD/Cr) in urine was also increased - 20.2 ( reference range: 2.3 - 5.4). in April 2004, this patient was prescribed disodium etidronate 400 mg day. Nearly 3 months after commencing therapy with etidronate, plasma CTX decreased to 0.87 ng/ml. fDPD/Cr in urine also decreased to 12.4. After 4 months of etidronate therapy, 24- h urinary calcium excretion had decreased to 6.1 mmol/day.Conclusion: Etidronate ( 400 mg daily) is a very effective inhibitor of calcium phosphate crystallisation. Etidronate decreased urinary excretion of calcium, an important factor in prevention of calcium phosphate bladder stones. Etidronate therapy is not a substitute for other well-established methods for prevention of vesical calculi in spinal cord injury patients, for example, large fluid intake, avoiding long-term catheter drainage. Intermittent therapy with etidronate may be considered in selected patients, in whom hypercalciuria persists after instituting nonpharmacological therapy for an adequate period, for example, early mobilisation, weight-bearing exercises, and functional electrical stimulation. However, possible side effects of etidronate, and the fact that etidronate is not licensed in United Kingdom for prevention of urolithiasis, should be borne in mind.Dist Gen Hosp, Reg Spinal Injuries Ctr, Southport, EnglandDist Gen Hosp, Dept Biochem, Southport, EnglandSahlgrenska Univ Hosp, Dept Urol, Gothenburg, SwedenMetropolitan Rehabil Ctr, Dept Neurourol, Konstancin, PolandUniv Balearic Isl, Inst Hlth Sci Res IUNICS, Lab Renal Lithiasis Res, Palma de Mallorca, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilNagoya City Univ, Grad Sch Med Sci, Dept Nephrourol, Nagoya, Aichi, JapanUniv Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Cent Urol Revalidatie, Edegem, BelgiumUniv Hosp Balgrist, Spinal Cord Injury Ctr, Dept Neurourol, Zurich, SwitzerlandDist Gen Hosp, Dept Radiol, Southport, EnglandRoyal Liverpool & Broadgreen Univ Hosp, Dept Clin Chem, Liverpool, Merseyside, EnglandUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc