Impact of pneumococcal microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules on colonization.

Microorganisms have evolved elaborate strategies to adhere to host cells and to evade the host complement and immune attack, ensuring survival in various host niches and dissemination into sterile parts of the human body. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is not only a commensal of the human respiratory tract but also the etiological agent of severe and life-threatening diseases. Pneumococcal attachment to mucosal surfaces is a highly dynamic process requiring the contact of pneumococcal surface-exposed proteins with soluble or immobilized host factors. These avid interactions may trigger proteolytic cascades or result in engagement of cell surface receptors and intracellularly associated signaling machineries for subsequent uptake of pneumococci into host cells. In the present review, the intimate communication of S. pneumoniae molecules recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) with their host counterparts and their individual role in pneumococcal colonization is discussed.

Unraveling the spin polarization of the ν = 5/2 fractional quantum Hall state.

The fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect at filling factor ν = 5/2 has recently come under close scrutiny, as its ground state may possess quasi-particle excitations obeying nonabelian statistics, a property sought for topologically protected quantum operations. However, its microscopic origin remains unknown, and candidate model wave functions include those with undesirable abelian statistics. We report direct measurements of the electron spin polarization of the ν = 5/2 FQH state using resistively detected nuclear magnetic resonance. We find the system to be fully polarized, which unambiguously rules out the most likely abelian contender and lends strong support for the ν = 5/2 state being nonabelian. Our measurements reveal an intrinsically different nature of interaction in the first excited Landau level underlying the physics at ν = 5/2.

Current-induced anisotropy and reordering of the electron liquid-crystal phases in a two-dimensional electron system.

The correlated phases in a two-dimensional electron system with a high index partially filled Landau level are studied in transport under nonequilibrium conditions by imposing a dc-current drive. At filling 1/4 and 3/4 of these Landau levels, where the charge density wave picture predicts an isotropic bubble phase, the dc drive induces anisotropic transport behavior consistent with stripe order. The easy axis of the emerging anisotropic phase is perpendicular to the drive. At half filling the anisotropic stripe phase is stabilized by the dc drive provided drive and easy-axis directions coincide.

Characterization of Cr(VI) binding and reduction to Cr(III) by the agricultural byproducts of Avena monida (oat) biomass.

Chromium contamination of the environment has become an important issue due to the potential health threat it poses. Conventional technologies to clean up heavy metal ions from contaminated waters have been utilized, but these technologies are not cost-effective. However, the use of agricultural waste byproducts for the removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated waters may be a new cost-effective alternative. Oat byproducts from the Juarez Valley in Mexico were studied for the ability to bind Cr(VI) under different temperature and time conditions. The metal binding ability of oat byproducts was calculated from experimental data collected at temperatures of 8, 26, and 54 degrees C, and time exposures of 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h at each temperature. These results showed that the binding of Cr(VI) to oat biomass increased as time and temperature increased. The bound chromium was recovered from the oat biomass by treatment with 0.2M HCl. Through the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was determined to occur by the oat byproducts. These results indicate that the use of agricultural waste byproducts could be a better alternative for the removal and subsequent reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) from contaminated waters.

Reduction and Accumulation of Gold(III) by Medicago sativa Alfalfa Biomass: X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, pH, and Temperature Dependence.

We report herein the use of Medicago sativa alfalfa shoot biomass for the removal of gold from aqueous solutions. The accumulation process involves the reduction of Au(III) to colloidal Au(0) and is shown to increase at elevated temperatures and at lower pH. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to determine that gold(III) was reduced to form gold(0) colloids, which varied in size depending on the pH of the initial solution. The gold cluster radius was 6.2 ± 1 Å at pH 5 and 9.0 ± 1 Å at pH 2. Our findings indicate that essentially another layer of gold atoms was deposited onto the colloid surface at pH 2. Possible mechanisms of bioreduction and accumulation are discussed.

Effects of chemical competition for multi-metal binding by Medicago sativa (alfalfa).

Alfalfa shoot biomass has demonstrated the ability to bind an appreciable amount of cadmium(II), chromium(III), copper(II), lead(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) separately from aqueous solutions. Since most heavy metal contaminated waters contain more than one heavy metal ion, it was necessary to determine the binding abilities of the alfalfa biomass with multi-metal solutions. Batch laboratory experiments were performed with a solution containing 0.1 mM of each of the following metal ions: cadmium(II), chromium(III), copper(II), lead(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II). We determined the pH profile, time dependency, and binding capacity by the alfalfa biomass of each metal ion under multi-elemental conditions. For all the metal ions studied, the alfalfa biomass showed to have a high affinity for metal binding around pH 5.0 within a time period of approximately 5 min. The binding capacity experiments showed that there was a preferential binding of the metal ions from the multi-elemental solution with the following amounts of metal ion bound per gram of biomass: 368.5 micromol/g for copper(II), 215.4 micromol/g for chromium(III), 168.0 micromol/g for lead(II), 56.9 micromol/g for zinc(II), 49.2 micromol/g for nickel(II), and 40.3 micromol/g for cadmium(II). Reacting the biomass from the capacity experiments with 0.1 M HCl resulted in 90% or greater recovery of bound cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. However, only 44% of the bound chromium was recovered. These experiments show the ability of Medicago sativa (alfalfa) to bind several metal ions under multi-contaminant conditions. Similar results were obtained when the experiments were performed under flow conditions using silica-immobilized alfalfa biomass. Chromium bound on the silica-immobilized biomass was also difficult to be desorbed with 0. 1 M HCl. The information obtained will be useful for the future development of an innovative technology to remove heavy metal contaminants from polluted ground waters.

Use of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Esterification to Investigate Cr(III) and Ni(II) Ligands in Alfalf a Biomass.

Previously performed studies have shown that alfalfa shoot biomass can bind an appreciable amount of nickel(II) and chromium(III) ions from aqueous solution. Direct and indirect approaches were applied to study the possible mechanis ms involved in metal binding by the alfalfa biomass. The direct approach involves investigations of the metal-bound alfal fa shoot biomass by X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis (XANES and EXAFS). Results from these studies suggest that ni ckel(II) and chromium(III) binding mostly occurs through coordination with oxygen ligands. Indirect approaches consist of chemical modification of carboxylate groups that have been shown to play an important role in metal binding to the alfal fa biomass. An appreciable decrease in metal binding resulted after acidic methanol esterification of the biomass, indica ting that carboxyl groups are entailed in the metal binding by the alfalfa biomass. In addition, base hydrolysis of the a lfalfa biomass increased the binding of these metals, which further indicates that carboxyl groups play an important role in the binding of these metal ions from solution. Therefore, by combining two different techniques, our results indicate that carboxylate groups are the major ligands responsible for the binding of nickel(II) and chromium(III) by alfalfa bio mass.

[Assessment of health needs of the aged]. / Valoración de necesidad en el anciano.

The increase of ancient population constitutes a challenge for society in general and for the health services in particular in relation with the offer planning and adequacy. It is important to know the health needs and status of our old people population to determine the intervention priorities and, on the other part, to measure the programmes efficiency and efficacy. As years go on, body organs get old in a different way, which leads to individual variations in the speed of organs and systems deterioration; that is why, a reasonable good scale of and overall health does not exist in contrast with functional status and psychological health. Certain cultural attitudes towards aging and the health care resources availability make measurement more difficult, as well. For all elaborated with and overall point of view, by means of a systematic search of problems and a total valuation of his health needs.

[Anti-flu vaccination: satisfaction study in a vaccinated population]. / Vacunación antigripal: estudio de satisfacción en una población vacunada.

Most of the studies on the coverage of our country with regard to flu vaccinations reveal figures which do not surpass 50%-70% of the target population. In the USA, this figure only amounts to 20%-30%. There seems to be a certain "reticence" on the part of the population with regard to taking these injections or to continue the vaccination programs yearly. For this reason, we have made a prospective surveillance and monitoring study of the individuals vaccinated with the flu vaccine, which has taken in two flu injection campaigns (1988-1989) for the purpose of ascertaining the possible causes of this "reticence" and the degree of satisfaction achieved with the flu vaccine procedures. The study reveals the only 51.8% of the population receiving the vaccine was satisfied with the procedure, although 75.2% repeated the procedure the following year. The highest degree of insatisfaction is shown among women, and the customary patients who visit their physicians for every ache and pain, and those receiving the vaccine for the first time confuse acute respiratory symptoms with flu symptoms.

Anti-inositolglycan antibodies selectively block some of the actions of insulin in intact BC3H1 cells.

We have studied the mechanism of generation of insulin mediators by using specific antibodies raised against the oligosaccharide anchor of membrane proteins. These antibodies (i) block the in vitro effects of purified insulin mediators and (ii) block the insulin-induced stimulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in intact BC3H1 myocytes but not insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, generation of diacylglycerol, or generation of insulin mediators. When added to intact cells in the presence of insulin, these antibodies induce the accumulation of insulin mediator activity in the extracellular medium. We therefore conclude that these anti-inositolglycan antibodies block some of the effects of insulin by inhibiting the uptake of specific insulin mediators generated outside the cell.

Morphometric analysis of intramuscular nerves.

Intramuscular nerves were obtained at autopsy from five adult controls and were morphometrically analyzed. The number of myelinated fibers was directly proportional to the diameter of the fascicles. The fascicles were grouped into six sizes according to diameter. For each group, the normal range of distribution of the number of myelinated fibers could be estimated. Fiber size distribution and myelinated fiber density were also calculated. A unimodal fiber size distribution was observed for the small fascicles (less than 50 microns in diameter), and a bimodal pattern was observed for the large fascicles. Total myelinated fiber density was high in the small fascicles, and it decreased as the fascicles became larger in size, approaching the values observed in the large peripheral nerves. This study will be helpful in objectively evaluating morphological changes of intramuscular nerves in adult neuromuscular disorders.