Engineering aspects of radio-wave heating for soil remediation and compatibility with biodegradation.

Dielectric heating of soil using radio waves (RW) can be applied to support various remediation techniques, namely biodegradation and soil vapor extraction, under in situ, on site or ex situ conditions. To improve the spatial resolution of energy dissipation, the design of rod electrodes was modified with an air gap around the electrode allowing thermal treatment focused to the desired soil volume. A combination of low- and high-frequency electrical energy was successfully applied to homogeneously heat the capillary fringe, the boundary region of saturated and unsaturated zones. The energetic efficiency of the method was evaluated showing that an efficient transformation of RW energy to heat in the target volume can be achieved. By comparing biodegradation and soil respiration under conventional and electric (low-frequency resistive and dielectric RW) heating, the compatibility of the electric heating methods with bioremediation processes could be proven. Therefore, RW-supported microbial degradation of pollutants is a real option for accelerated soil remediation.

Results of field tests on radio-wave heating for soil remediation.

After developing the radio-wave technique for various conditions in laboratory-scale and technical plant-scale experiments, field tests in combination with biodegradation and soil vapor extraction were carried out at three sites: (i) a bioremediation facility for ex situ cleaning of soil, (ii) in situ remediation of contamination at a former storage facility for organic solvents, and (iii) a polluted soil under a former petrol station. Various electrode arrangements such as parallel plates, rod arrays, and coaxial antenna were applied in order to meet the site-specific requirements optimally. Soil temperatures between 35 and 100 degrees C were established. The successful tests gave much insight into the engineering, physical, biological, and chemical aspects of radio-wave application. General conclusions on the appropriateness and competitiveness of the radio-wave method as well as on preferred application fields are drawn.

Effect of sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Due to possible antiinflammatory effects, sulfur baths are widely used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Previously it was demonstrated that drinking cures with sulfur can improve the antioxidative defense system and lower the peroxide levels of patients with chronic degenerative osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: This study therefore sought to investigate the effect of 3-week therapy with sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations, and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After randomization one group of patients (n = 19) received sulfur baths during their stay at a health resort (sulfur group), whereas the other age-matched patient group served as controls (n = 19, control group), only receiving spa therapy. Total cholesterol levels, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and the antioxidative status, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and peroxide concentration, as an oxidative stress parameter, were evaluated at the begin and end of therapy. RESULTS: A 17.2% decline in peroxide concentrations (p = 0.10, n.s.) and significant lower SOD activities (p < 0.001) were detected in the sulfur group at the end of the therapy. Until the end of therapy total cholesterol levels changed differentially (p = 0.007) in the sulfur group (from 229.11 +/- 34.47 mg/dl to 217.46 +/- 40.45 mg/dl) and in the control group (from 197.63 +/- 34.66 mg/dl to 207.95 +/- 33.02 mg/dl). A similar significant group difference was found for LDL (p = 0.017), with a 5.9% reduction in the sulfur group and a 6.1% increase in the control group. Triglyceride concentrations were nonsignificantly reduced in both groups after 3 weeks at the health resort (sulfur group 11.2%, control group 20.2%). HDL values only minimally changed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here suggest that a sulfur bath therapy could cause a reduction in oxidative stress, alterations of SOD activities, and a tendency towards improvement of lipid levels.

The induction of tomato leucine aminopeptidase genes (LapA) after Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato infection is primarily a wound response triggered by coronatine.

Tomato plants constitutively express a neutral leucine aminopeptidase (LAP-N) and an acidic LAP (LAP-A) during floral development and in leaves in response to insect infestation, wounding, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato infection. To assess the physiological roles of LAP-A, a LapA-antisense construct (35S:asLapA1) was introduced into tomato. The 35S:asLapA1 plants had greatly reduced or showed undetectable levels of LAP-A and LAP-N proteins in healthy and wounded leaves and during floral development. Despite the loss of these aminopeptidases, no global changes in protein profiles were noted. The 35S:asLapA1 plants also exhibited no significant alteration in floral development and did not impact the growth and development of Manduca sexta and P. syringae pv. tomato growth rates during compatible or incompatible infections. To investigate the mechanism underlying the strong induction of LapA upon P. syringae pv. tomato infection, LapA expression was monitored after infection with coronatine-producing and -deficient P. syringae pv. tomato strains. LapA RNA and activity were detected only with the coronatine-producing P. syringae pv. tomato strain. Coronatine treatment of excised shoots caused increases in RNAs for jasmonic acid (JA)-regulated wound-response genes (LapA and pin2) but did not influence expression of a JA-regulated pathogenesis-related protein gene (PR-1). These results indicated that coronatine mimicked the wound response but was insufficient to activate JA-regulated PR genes.

[Effect of sulfur administration on lipid levels, antioxidant status and peroxide concentration in health resort patients]. / Einfluss von Schwefeltrinkkuren auf Parameter des Lipidstoffwechsels, den antioxidativen Status und die Konzentration von Peroxiden bei Kurpatienten.

The aim of the study was to test the effect of drinking sulphurous mineral water on lipid status and antioxidative balance in patients with degenerative arthroses during a 3-week stay in a health resort. Two groups of patients with and without drinking sulphurous water were investigated. Lipid levels, glutathione peroxidase, superoxidedismutase, antioxidative status, and peroxide concentration in plasma were measured. In both groups similar alterations of the activities of antioxidative enzymes as well as peroxide concentrations could be detected. Possible specific effects of drinking sulphurous mineral water have to be investigated in further studies.

Leucine aminopeptidases: the ubiquity of LAP-N and the specificity of LAP-A.

The wound-induced leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1) genes, LapA1 and LapA2, from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were isolated and characterized. The genes were organized in a tandem array with approximately 6 kb separating their coding regions. Quantitation of LapA mRNA levels in conjunction with nuclear run-on experiments indicated that LapA genes were primarily under transcriptional control after wounding and infection with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. In contrast, actin genes were down-regulated after pathogen infection. The sequences of the LapA1 and LapA2 5'-flanking regions were determined and several potential regulatory motifs were identified. Ribonuclease protection studies revealed that LapA1 and LapA2 had short 18-bp 5'-untranslated regions (UTR), both genes were expressed after wounding, and LapA1 mRNAs were 3.3-fold more abundant than LapA2 transcripts. While the region surrounding LapA1 was conserved, the 3'-UTRs and 3'-flanking regions of LapA2 had diverged in two inbred tomato lines. The accumulation of LapA mRNAs and of LAP-A (acidic pI), LAP-N (neutral pI) and LAP-related proteins were examined in two monocot and five dicot species. The LAP-N and 66- and 77-kDa LAP-related proteins were detected in healthy and wounded leaves of all plants examined. The LAP-A proteins were only detected in nightshade and their accumulation was distinct from that observed in tomato.

Overexpression, purification and biochemical characterization of the wound-induced leucine aminopeptidase of tomato.

Wounding of tomato leaves results in the accumulation of an exoprotease called leucine aminopeptidase (LAP-A). While the expression of LapA genes are well characterized, the specificity of the LAP-A enzyme has not been studied. The LAP-A preprotein and mature polypeptide were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. PreLAP-A was not processed and was inactive accumulating in inclusion bodies. In contrast, 55-kDa mature LAP-A subunits assembled into an active, 357-kDa enzyme in E. coli. LAP-A from E. coli cultures was purified to apparent homogeneity and characterized relative to its animal (porcine LAP) and prokaryotic (E. coli PepA) homologues. Similar to the porcine and E. coli enzymes, the tomato LAP-A had high temperature and pH optima. Mn2+ was a strong activator for all three enzymes, while chelators, zinc ion, and the slow-binding aminopeptidase inhibitors (amastatin and bestatin) strongly inhibited activities of all three LAPs. The substrate specificities of porcine, E. coli and tomato LAPs were determined using amino-acid-p-nitroanilide and -beta-naphthylamide substrates. The tomato LAP-A preferentially hydrolyzed substrates with N-terminal Leu, Met and Arg residues. LAP-A had substantially lower levels of activity on other chromogenic substrates. Several differences in substrate specificities for the animal, plant and prokaryotic enzymes were noted.

A Complex Array of Proteins Related to the Multimeric Leucine Aminopeptidase of Tomato.

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) mRNAs are induced in response to mechanical wounding, pathogen infection, and insect infestation (V. Pautot, F.M. Holzer, B. Reisch, L.L. Walling [1993] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90: 9906-9910). Polyclonal antibodies to a glutathione S-transferase-LAP fusion protein and affinity-purified antibodies recognizing LAP antigenic determinants detected four classes of polypeptides in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves. All four classes had multiple polypeptides in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblots. Although antigenically related to the wound-induced tomato LAP proteins, the 77- and 66-kD LAP-like proteins accumulated in both healthy and wounded leaves. Two classes of 55-kD polypeptides with distinctive isoelectric points were designated as plant LAPs; only the acidic LAP proteins accumulated to high levels after mechanical wounding or Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato infection of tomato leaves. The temporal accumulation of LAP mRNAs was correlated with the increase in acidic LAP protein subunits. A slow-migrating LAP activity was detected using a native gel assay after wounding. The molecular mass of the native wound-induced LAP enzyme was 353 kD. The 55-kD acidic LAP proteins were associated with induced LAP activity, whereas the neutral LAPs and the LAP-like proteins were not associated with this exopeptidase. A second, fast-migrating aminopeptidase was detected in both healthy and wounded tomato leaves. Cell fractionation experiments revealed that wound-induced LAP is a soluble enzyme.

Leucine aminopeptidase: an inducible component of the defense response in Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato).

A leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1) cDNA clone (DR57) that was induced in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (P.s. tomato) infection was isolated using a subtractive hybridization-enriched cDNA probe. Genomic DNA blot analysis showed that the tomato genome had two leucine aminopeptidase genes. The levels of DR57 mRNAs after P.s. tomato infection and mechanical wounding were determined in two inbred tomato lines that exhibit susceptibility and resistance to P.s. tomato. DR57 mRNAs were detected 12 hours after infection and 4 hours after wounding. Furthermore, DR57 mRNAs were systemically induced in response to wounding. DR57 mRNAs were induced in leaves after Spodoptera littoralis feeding but were not detected in detached leaf controls. Possible roles for the DR57 leucine aminopeptidase in the defense reactions are discussed.

Differential expression of tomato proteinase inhibitor I and II genes during bacterial pathogen invasion and wounding.

Expression of proteinase inhibitor I and II genes was investigated during infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, the causal agent of bacterial speck disease in tomato. Inoculation of leaves with P. s. pv. tomato of two inbred tomato lines that are resistant and susceptible to the pathogen resulted in the accumulation of proteinase inhibitor I and II mRNAs in this organ. Our data showed that in the lines used in this study, proteinase inhibitor II mRNAs accumulated in leaves to higher levels than proteinase inhibitor I mRNA in response to P. s. pv. tomato infection and wounding. Proteinase inhibitor II mRNAs accumulated more rapidly in disease-resistant than in disease-susceptible plants. Proteinase inhibitor I mRNAs were first detected in the disease-susceptible line during infection and wounding. In contrast to wounding, the systemic induction of these genes during pathogen ingression was limited. These data show that the plant proteinase inhibitors constitute one of the components of the plant defense system that are induced in response to bacterial pathogen invasion.

Isolation, characterization and evolutionary relatedness of three members from the soybean multigene family encoding chlorophyll a/b binding proteins.

The soybean light-harvesting complex II (LHC II) was composed of one major and three minor chlorophyll a/b (Cab) binding proteins. This study demonstrated that the soybean genome contained at least 11 genes that code for these Cab proteins. Three members of the soybean Cab gene family were characterized. Cab 3 coded for a 25.7 kD mature apoprotein with a 32 amino acid transit peptide. Comparisons with previously published Cab protein sequences indicated that Cab 3 coded for the major Cab protein of LHC II. Cab 2 coded for a novel Cab protein with an apparent molecular weight of 24.6 kD. Cab 2 retained a high degree of similarity with Cab 3, but distinguished itself from previously reported minor photosystem II type II Cab genes and products. Finally, Cab 1 was determined to be a pseudogene that had two deletions relative to Cab 2 and Cab 3.

Bases microanatómicas para los accesos quirúrgicos a la región pineal / Microanatomical bases for surgical ways to the pineal region

Se estudia la microanatomía y se comparan los diferentes accesos quirúrgicos a la región pineal en 25 cerebros no fijados e inyectadas las arterias y venas con resina coloreada. Los accesos infratentorial supracerebeloso y transtentorial sub-occipital se efectúan por debajo del sistema venoso profundo. El acceso infratentorial es útil en las lesiones localizadas en el vermis, lámina cuadrigémina con mínima extensión a la parte posterior del tercer ventrículo, fisura cerebelo mesencefálica y cisternas ambiens. El acceso transtentorial estaría indicado en las lesiones ubicadas en la lámina cuadrigémina con extensión ipsilateral al vermis, fisura cerebelo mesencefálico y cisterna ambiens con mínima extensión a la parte posterior del tercer ventrículo. En el acceso transcalloso es necesario dividir el cuerpo calloso o el splenium y la desección se efectúa entre las venas cerebrales internas y basales de Rosenthal. Es útil en las lesiones localizadas por encima del sistema venoso profundo con extensión hacia la parte posterior de tercer ventrículo y la lámina cuadrigémina y que no se extiende hacia la fosa posterior o las cisternas ambiens. El acceso transventricular es útil para las lesiones con extensión lateral e hidrocefalia importante

The effect of a home exercise programme in children with cystic fibrosis and asthma.

Sixty-nine children with asthma and 86 with cystic fibrosis (CF) were assessed for lung function, respiratory muscle function and exercise tolerance. Thirty-seven with asthma and 41 with CF subsequently undertook an at home exercise program and the remainder were matched controls. There was no significant change in pulmonary function after 3 months of the exercise program. Compliance with the program decreased markedly towards the end of the 3 months and this lack of compliance may have contributed to the failure to show any significant training effect. A previously supervised program showed increased fitness and increased peak pressures in children with asthma following intensive exercise. There appears limited value in promoting unsupervised home exercise programs for children with CF and asthma. In those groups of children who will benefit with increased physical activity, supervised programs and more interesting play activities may need to be organized to obtain optimal benefit.

Tumores de fosa posterior e hidrocefalia. / Posterior fossa tumors and hydrocephalus

Se revisan 77 casos de tumores de fosa posterior asociados con hidrocefalia. En 60 pacientes el tumor se intervino directamente y en 17 pacientes se trato en forma previa la hidrocefalia mediante una derivativa interna. Se comparan ambas conductas terapeuticas. Las condiciones clinicas en el preoperatorio eran peores en el grupo con derivativa previa (p<0.01).La comparacion de ambos grupos en el postoperatorio no muestra diferencia significativa desde el punto de vista clinico o en los indices de mortalidad (p>0.1). Se deduce una mejoria considerable en el pronostico de los pacientes que se presentan en malas condiciones clinicas cuando son tratados previamente de la hidrocefalia secundaria mediante una derivativa

Tractotomia espino-talamica percutanea por via lateral. / Lateral percutaneous spinal-thalamic tractotomy

Se presentan los elementos fundamentales de la tecnica de tractotomia espino-talamica percutanea por via lateral y se muestran los resultados obtenidos en 55 pacientes. Se destaca la importancia de recurrir precozmente a este procedimiento terapeutico frente a casos de dolor intratable evitando la drogadiccion, asi como la sencillez del metodo que lo hace ambulatorio.Este mismo aspecto permite menos estrictez en la seleccion de los pacientes que con la cordotomia clasica a cielo abierto