scholarly journals The action of mono- and di-functional sulphur mustards on the ribonucleic acid-containing bacteriophage μ2

1971 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. V. Shooter ◽  
P. A. Edwards ◽  
P. D. Lawley

Bacteriophage μ2 is inactivated by both mono- and di-functional sulphur mustards at relatively low extents of alkylation. No degradation of alkylated RNA was detected. Cross-linking of RNA to protein was observed with the difunctional agent, but this reaction was only a minor contribution to the inactivation. Analyses of the reaction products in bacteriophage RNA showed that, at the mean lethal doses, more than one mono-alkylation of guanine had occurred but the sum total of other types of RNA alkylation was close to a single event. The results therefore suggest that inactivation results from the mono-alkylation of adenine or cytosine. In experiments with the difunctional agent cross-linking of RNA bases or of RNA to protein also prevented replication, the existence of these reactions accounting for the greater sensitivity of the bacteriophage to this agent.

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Andong Du ◽  
Anders E. W. Jarfors ◽  
Jinchuan Zheng ◽  
Kaikun Wang ◽  
Gegang Yu

The effect of lanthanum (La)+cerium (Ce) addition on the high-temperature strength of an aluminum (Al)–silicon (Si)–copper (Cu)–magnesium (Mg)–iron (Fe)–manganese (Mn) alloy was investigated. A great number of plate-like intermetallics, Al11(Ce, La)3- and blocky α-Al15(Fe, Mn)3Si2-precipitates, were observed. The results showed that the high-temperature mechanical properties depended strongly on the amount and morphology of the intermetallic phases formed. The precipitated tiny Al11(Ce, La)3 and α-Al15(Fe, Mn)3Si2 both contributed to the high-temperature mechanical properties, especially at 300 °C and 400 °C. The formation of coarse plate-like Al11(Ce, La)3, at the highest (Ce-La) additions, reduced the mechanical properties at (≤300) ℃ and improved the properties at 400 ℃. Analysis of the strengthening mechanisms revealed that the load-bearing mechanism was the main contributing mechanism with no contribution from thermal-expansion mismatch effects. Strain hardening had a minor contribution to the tensile strength at high-temperature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Kupitz ◽  
Heiko Wissel ◽  
Jan Wuestemann ◽  
Stephanie Bluemel ◽  
Maciej Pech ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The introduction of hybrid SPECT/CT devices enables quantitative imaging in SPECT, providing a methodological setup for quantitation using SPECT tracers comparable to PET/CT. We evaluated a specific quantitative reconstruction algorithm for SPECT data using a 99mTc-filled NEMA phantom. Quantitative and qualitative image parameters were evaluated for different parametrizations of the acquisition and reconstruction protocol to identify an optimized quantitative protocol. Results The reconstructed activity concentration (ACrec) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of all examined protocols (n = 16) were significantly affected by the parametrization of the weighting factor k used in scatter correction, the total number of iterations and the sphere volume (all, p < 0.0001). The two examined SPECT acquisition protocols (with 60 or 120 projections) had a minor impact on the ACrec and no significant impact on the SNR. In comparison to the known AC, the use of default scatter correction (k = 0.47) or object-specific scatter correction (k = 0.18) resulted in an underestimation of ACrec in the largest sphere volume (26.5 ml) by − 13.9 kBq/ml (− 16.3%) and − 7.1 kBq/ml (− 8.4%), respectively. An increase in total iterations leads to an increase in estimated AC and a decrease in SNR. The mean difference between ACrec and known AC decreased with an increasing number of total iterations (e.g., for 20 iterations (2 iterations/10 subsets) = − 14.6 kBq/ml (− 17.1%), 240 iterations (24i/10s) = − 8.0 kBq/ml (− 9.4%), p < 0.0001). In parallel, the mean SNR decreased significantly from 2i/10s to 24i/10s by 76% (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Quantitative SPECT imaging is feasible with the used reconstruction algorithm and hybrid SPECT/CT, and its consistent implementation in diagnostics may provide perspectives for quantification in routine clinical practice (e.g., assessment of bone metabolism). When combining quantitative analysis and diagnostic imaging, we recommend using two different reconstruction protocols with task-specific optimized setups (quantitative vs. qualitative reconstruction). Furthermore, individual scatter correction significantly improves both quantitative and qualitative results.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110183
Author(s):  
Yasin Cinar ◽  
Cagla Cilem Han ◽  
Alparslan Sahin ◽  
Zeba A Syed

Purpose: To evaluate the long term visual, refractive, and corneal tomographic outcomes of epithelium-off accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (ACXL) in the management of pediatric keratoconus (KC). Methods: This retrospective study included patients under 18 years old with progressive KC who underwent ACXL between 2012 and 2019 at Dicle University Hospital. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, and corneal tomography. Evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 6 months intervals postoperatively. Results: Forty-nine eyes of 49 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients at the time of ACXL was 14.2 ± 1.8 (range: 9.5–17.3) years. Mean follow up was 4.61 ± 1.90 (range: 2.0–8.1) years. The mean LogMAR UDVA improved from 0.94 ± 0.41 to 0.81 ± 0.43, 0.69 ± 0.41, and 0.67 ± 0.33 after 1, 3, and 5 years respectively ( p = 0.001). The mean LogMAR CDVA improved from 0.58 ± 0.36 to 0.46 ± 0.31, 0.34 ± 0.23, and 0.39 ± 0.27 after 1, 3, and 5 years respectively ( p = 0.015). The mean refractive cylinder improved significantly from 6.01 ± 2.07 diopters (D) to 5.46 ± 1.87, 5.38 ± 2.18, and 5.02 ± 2.31 D after 1, 3, and 5 years respectively ( p = 0.005). As compared to preoperative values, steep keratometry and maximum keratometry were not significantly different ( p = 0.805 and 0.448, respectively) following ACXL, while flat keratometry significantly improved after ACXL ( p = 0.012). Although central corneal thicknesses decreased significantly ( p = 0.029), the decrease in thinnest corneal thickness was not statistically significant ( p = 0.205). Conclusion: Epithelium-off ACXL seems to be effective for halting KC progression with long term clinical benefits in pediatric patients.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (3) ◽  
pp. 869-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Steenkamp

The mitochondrial electron-transfer flavoprotein (ETF) is a heterodimer containing only one FAD. In previous work on the structure-function relationships of ETF, its interaction with the general acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (GAD) was studied by chemical cross-linking with heterobifunctional reagents [D. J. Steenkamp (1987) Biochem. J. 243, 519-524]. GAD whose lysine residues were substituted with 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionyl groups was preferentially cross-linked to the small subunit of ETF, the lysine residues of which had been substituted with 4-mercaptobutyramidine (MBA) groups. This work was extended to the interaction of ETF with ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-Q ox). ETF-Q ox was partially inactivated by modification with N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate to introduce pyridyl disulphide structures. A similar modification of ETF caused a large increase in the apparent Michaelis constant of ETF-Q ox for modified ETF owing to the loss of positive charge on some critical lysines of ETF. When ETF-Q ox was modified with 2-iminothiolane to introduce 4-mercaptobutyramidine groups, only a minor effect on the activity of the enzyme was observed. To retain the positive charges on the lysine residues of ETF, pyridyl disulphide structures were introduced by treating ETF with 2-iminothiolane in the presence of 2,2′-dithiodipyridyl. The electron-transfer activity of the resultant ETF preparation containing 4-(2-pyridyldithio)butyramidine (PDBA) groups was only slightly affected. When ETF-Q ox substituted with MBA groups was mixed with ETF bearing PDBA groups, at least 70% of the cross-links formed between the two proteins were between the small subunit of ETF and ETF-Q ox. ETF-Q ox, therefore, interacts predominantly with the same subunit of ETF as GAD. Variables which affect the selectivity of ETF-Q ox cross-linking to the subunits of ETF are considered.


1992 ◽  
Vol 282 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
C B Srikant ◽  
K K Murthy ◽  
Y C Patel

Pharmacological studies have suggested that the somatostatin (SS) receptor is heterogeneous and exhibits SS-14-and SS-28-selective subtypes. Whether such subtypes arise from molecular heterogeneity of the receptor protein has not been definitively established. Previous reports characterizing the molecular properties of the SS receptor by the cross-linking approach have yielded divergent size estimates ranging from 27 kDa to 200 kDa. In order to resolve this discrepancy, as well as to determine whether SS-14 and SS-28 interact with specific receptor proteins, we have cross-linked radioiodinated derivatives of [125I-Tyr11]SS-14 (T*-SS-14) and [Leu8,D-Trp22,125I-Tyr25]SS-28 (LTT*-SS-28) to membrane SS receptors in rat brain, pituitary, exocrine pancreas and adrenal cortex using a number of chemical and photoaffinity cross-linking agents. The labelled cross-linked receptor proteins were analysed by SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions followed by autoradiography. Our findings indicate that the pattern of specifically labelled cross-linked SS receptor proteins is sensitive to the concentration of chemical cross-linking agents such as disuccinimidyl suberate and dithiobis-(succinimidyl propionate). Labelled high-molecular-mass complexes of cross-linked receptor-ligand proteins were observed only when high concentrations of these cross-linkers were employed. Using optimized low concentrations of cross-linkers, however, two major labelled bands of 58 +/- 3 kDa and 27 +/- 2 kDa were detected. These two bands were identified as specifically labelled SS receptor proteins subsequent to cross-linking with a number of photoaffinity cross-linking agents as well. We demonstrate here that the 58 kDa protein is the major SS receptor protein in the rat pituitary, adrenal and exocrine pancreas, whereas the 27 kDa moiety represents the principal form in the brain. Additionally, the presence of a minor specifically labelled band of 32 kDa was detected uniquely in the brain, and a minor labelled protein of 42 kDa was observed in the pancreas. The labelling pattern obtained with LTT*-SS-28 was identical to that observed with T*-SS-14. Labelling of the 27 kDa band by either ligand was inhibited by SS-14 and SS-28 in a dose-dependent manner. Densitometric quantification showed that SS-14 exhibited greater than 2-fold greater potency than SS-28 for inhibiting the labelling of the 27 kDa species. These findings emphasize the need for careful interpretation of cross-linking data obtained for SS receptors, and provide evidence for molecular heterogeneity and for a tissue-specific distribution of the two principal SS receptor proteins.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Elena Loizidou
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110206
Author(s):  
Iliya Simantov ◽  
Lior Or ◽  
Inbal Gazit ◽  
Biana Dubinsky-Pertzov ◽  
David Zadok ◽  
...  

Background: Retrospective cohort study evaluating long term keratoconus progression amongst cross-linking (CXL) treated pediatric patients in the treated and the fellow untreated eyes. Methods: Data on 60 eyes of 30 patients, 18 years old or younger, who underwent CXL in at least one eye was collected and analyzed. Follow-up measurements taken from the treated and untreated eye up to 7 years after CXL treatment, were compared to baseline measurements. Parameters included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), best-corrected spectacle visual acuity (BCSVA), manifest refraction, pachymetry, corneal tomography, and topography. Results: Mean age of patients was 16 ± 2.1 years. For the treated eyes, during follow-up period mean UCDVA had improved (from 0.78 ± 0.22 at baseline to 0.58 ± 0.26 logMAR at 7 years; p = 0.13), as well as mean BCSVA (from 0.23 ± 0.107 at baseline to 0.172 ± 0.05 logMAR at 7 years; p = 0.37). The mean average keratometry showed a significant flattening (from 49.95 ± 4.04 to 47.94 ± 3.3 diopters (D); p < 0.001), However there was no change in the mean maximal keratometry. The mean minimal corneal thickness (MCT) showed a significant mild reduction of 26 µm ( p = 0.006). Although statistically insignificant, the mean manifest cylinder was also reduced to 2D ( p = 0.15). During the follow-up period, eight untreated eyes (26.6%) deteriorated and underwent CXL, while only one treated eye (3.33%) required an additional CXL. Conclusion: CXL is a safe and efficient procedure in halting keratoconus progression in the pediatric population, the fellow eye needs to be carefully monitored but only a 25% of the patients will require CXL in that eye during a period of 7 years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L. Gavin ◽  
Deli Huang ◽  
Tanya R. Blane ◽  
Therese C. Thinnes ◽  
Yusuke Murakami ◽  
...  

AbstractPhospholipase D3 (PLD3) and PLD4 polymorphisms have been associated with several important inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that PLD3 and PLD4 digest ssRNA in addition to ssDNA as reported previously. Moreover, Pld3−/−Pld4−/− mice accumulate small ssRNAs and develop spontaneous fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) characterized by inflammatory liver damage and overproduction of Interferon (IFN)-γ. Pathology is rescued in Unc93b13d/3dPld3−/−Pld4−/− mice, which lack all endosomal TLR signaling; genetic codeficiency or antibody blockade of TLR9 or TLR7 ameliorates disease less effectively, suggesting that both RNA and DNA sensing by TLRs contributes to inflammation. IFN-γ made a minor contribution to pathology. Elevated type I IFN and some other remaining perturbations in Unc93b13d/3dPld3−/−Pld4−/− mice requires STING (Tmem173). Our results show that PLD3 and PLD4 regulate both endosomal TLR and cytoplasmic/STING nucleic acid sensing pathways and have implications for the treatment of nucleic acid-driven inflammatory disease.


1990 ◽  
Vol 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Smith ◽  
Andrew S. Alimonda ◽  
Tzu-Chin Chuang

ABSTRACTThe chemistry of SiO2 deposition from N20-SiH4 plasma was studied by line-ofsight mass spectrometry coupled with film analysis. If rf power and N2O flow are sufficient, more than enough O atoms are available to convert all of the SiH4 to SiO2, and good electrical characteristics (IV and breakdown) are then obtained with or without He dilution. Gas-phase SimHn(OH)p species make a minor contribution to the deposition and may be the source of the OH in the film. Both [OH] and electron trapping are much larger than for thermal oxide, with or without He dilution.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document