14-3-3 proteins: a family of versatile molecular regulators.

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of acidic regulatory molecules found in all eukaryotes. 14-3-3 proteins function as molecular scaffolds by modulating the conformation of their binding partners. Through the functional modulation of a wide range of binding partners, 14-3-3 proteins are involved in many processes, including cell cycle regulation, metabolism control, apoptosis, and control of gene transcription. This minireview includes a short overview of 14-3-3 proteins and then focuses on their role in the regulation of two important binding partners: FOXO forkhead transcription factors and an enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase.

Effect of temperature and pipe material on biofilm formation and survival of Escherichia coil in used drinking water pipes: a laboratory-based study.

Segments of used drinking water pipes of galvanised steel (GS), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), copper pipes (Cu) or new medium-density polyethylene (PE) were investigated for the formation of biofilm and survival of E. coli in biofilm and in the water phase. Pipes were filled with water and incubated at 15 degrees C or 35 degrees C under static conditions. Biofilm formation was followed during 32, 40 and 56 (58) d. The most dense biofilm was formed on GS, reaching approximately 4.7 x 10(5) CFU/cm2 measured as heterotrophic plate count (HPC), and at the other materials the density reached 3 x 10(3) CFU/cm2 on PE and PEX and 5 x 10(1) and 5 x 10(2) CFU/cm2 on Cu pipes after 58d at 15 degrees C. Biofilm HPC values were higher at 35 degrees C than at 15 degrees C, with only slightly higher values on the metals, but 100-fold higher on PE and PEX. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurements confirmed the general trends observed by HPC. Higher temperature was seen to be an important factor reducing E. coli survival in the water phase in drinking water pipes. At 15 degrees C E. coli survived more than 4 d in GS and Cu pipes and 8 d in PE pipes, but was not detected after 48 h at 35 degrees C. The E. coli survived longer at both temperatures in the glass control bottles than in the drinking water pipes. Despite the obvious biofilm formation, E. coli was not detected in the biofilm at any of the investigated surfaces.

[Portosystemic anastomosis during pregnancy]. / Portosystemische Anastomose während der Schwangerschaft

There is discussed the surgical treatment of massive otherwise uncontrolable haemorrhage from oesophageal varices during advanced pregnancy. The authors have performed in the above situation a splenorenal shunt in a women suffering from the prehepatic portal hypertension during her sixth month of pregnancy. The pregnancy was maintained but an unviable child was born. The authors were able to find only 5 quotations from the references available to them dealing with 5 similar cases in women who delivered healthy babies thanks to a surgical intervention (5 times a portal systemic shunt, once a direct operation). The most important prevention of those exceptional surgical indications is the careful evaluation of all circumstances for a pregnancy in women with portal hypertension.