Production, purification and biochemical characterization of cyclodextrin glucanotrans-ferase from bacillus cereus N1

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase [CGTase], [EC .2.4.1.19] producing bacteria were isolated from different sources of soils and identified as Bacillus cereus N1 and the best source was the soil of the National Research Centre. The maximum production of the crude CGTase enzyme was observed after 48hr of incubation at 37°C producing CGTase activity of 3.5 U/ml. The effect of nutritional requirements on the CGTasc production were carried out. Soluble starch and yeast extracts were found to be the best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The enzyme was successively purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose and sephadex G-100 column chromatography and the final specific activity of CGTasc enzyme was increased by 24 fold. The SDS-PAGE showed that the purified CGTase enzyme was homogenous and the molecular weight of the purified enzyme was about 75 kDa. The characterization of the enzyme exhibited optimum pH and temperature at 6.0 and 40°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable at pH 6.5 to 8.0 and retained its high activity up to 45°C

Evaluation of the accuracy of endoscopic versus pathologic mapping of laryngeal carcinoma

27 patients with operable carcinoma of the larynx who underwent primary laryngectomies without previous radiotherapy were the material of this prospective study. The accuracy of direct laryngoscopy in mapping the tumor and its spread was compared with the pathologic findings in the post surgical specimens [using the whole organ laryngeal sectioning technique]. Sensitivity of direct laryngoscopy to diagnose tumor at each laryngeal site was calculated. Site- specific diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy is pointed out

contribution to the study of the diagnosis and management of the solitary thyroid nodule

Forty nine patients with a solitary nodule of the thyroid gland were clinically examined, investigated and managed surgically. Investigations included laboratory serum estimations, fine needle aspiration biopsy, thyroid ultrasonography and scanning as well as histopathological examination of a surgical specimen. The diagnostic role of clinical examination and the investigations carried out was discussed. It was found that the only reliable diagnostic tool to achieve a definite diagnosis and to differentiate accurately between benign and malignant solitary thyroid nodules has been the histopathological examination. This study showed that surgical excision should be the recommended practice for all solitary thyroid nodules

Changes in thermal textural and acidic properties of alumina induced by surfactants

Alumina gels were precipitated in presence of nonionic, anionic and cationic surfactants. The gel was dried and calcined in the temperature range 400-800C. The textural and acidic properties of these thermal products were compared with the corresponding calcination products of pure alumina gel. Surfactants affected the thermal behavior of the gel, ionic surfactants being more effective. Textural changes resulted also in the thermal products of the gels precipitated in presence of surfactants at their critical micelle concentration [CMC]. Addition of cationic surfactants increased surface acidity whereas anionic surfactants resulted in an opposite effect

Effect of prostaglandins on catecholamine induced changes in the free fatty acids of plasma in the rabbit

Prostaglandins E[1], E[2], E[3] and F[1] alpha were given intravenously to anesthetize rabbits during continuous infusion of norepinephrine. PGE[2] and PGE[3] in doses of 5 micrograms all significantly reduced the arterial concentration of free fatty acids of plasma [FFA], while the same dose of PGF[1] alpha had no significant effect. Continuous intraarterial infusions of PGE[1] during continuous infusion of norepinephrine had a more pronounced effect on FFA than continuous intravenous infusion. Infusion of PGE[1], almost completely blocked the usual increase of FFA caused by epinephrine, PGE[1]diminished the plasma glucose response to epinephrine only slightly. Studies on the turnover rate of FFA with labeled albumin bound palmitate showed that PGE[1]completely blocked the norepinephrine induced stimulation of lipid mobilization. Infusion of PGE[1]during continous infusion of norepinephrine also decreased the elevated plasma glycerol concentration