High-throughput fluorescence screening of antioxidative capacity in human serum.

Diphenylhexatriene-labeled phosphatidylcholine and propionic acid have been established as selective fluorescence markers for the continuous determination of oxidation processes in the lipid and aqueous phases of unfractionated human serum. Oxidation of the respective fluorophores leads to a decrease in fluorescence intensity from which the time-dependent degradation of the marker molecule can be determined. The lag times preceding the propagation of oxidation are representative for the antioxidative capacity of the system, which may be influenced by exogenous factors, e.g., the antioxidants from the diet. Supplementation of human serum by quercetin, rutin, vitamin E, vitamin C, or total apple phenolics in vitro led to a decrease in oxidizability depending on the oxidation marker and the hydrophobicity of the antioxidant. Quercetin and vitamin E showed a higher in vitro capacity of protecting lipoproteins against oxidation. In contrast, rutin and vitamin C were more efficient as inhibitors in the aqueous phase. The same effect on serum was found after dietary consumption of apples. This result is in line with the known observation that intake of plant polyphenols leads to an increase in serum levels of hydrophilic antioxidants.

Dermatomiosite amiopática associada a fibrose pulmonar: relato de caso e artigo de revisäo / Amyopathic dermatomyositis (dermatomyositis siné myositis): case report and review article

No espectro clínico da polimiosite/dermatomiosite, a variante dermatomiosite amiopática ou dermatomiosite siné miosite pode ser definida como a presença de manifestaçöes cutâneas características da dermatomiosite, sem qualquer envolvimento muscular durante o curso da doença. A creatina quinase (CK) é a enzima muscular mais extensamente usada para diagnóstico das miopatias inflamatórias e seguimento da resposta terapêutica. Essa pode estar normal em 5 por cento dos pacientes com dermatomiosite definida. Foi citada a correlaçäo entre nível normal de CK e pior prognóstico quanto á malignidade e doença pulmonar intersticial. A literatura é menos clara quanto à incidência de malignidade na dermatomiosite amiopática, mas parece ser similar à associaçäo entre dermatomiosite clássica e malignidade. Relata-se o caso de uma paciente com quadro cutâneo típico de dermatomiosite, fraqueza muscular e fibrose pulmonar intersticial na ausência de comprovaçäo laboratorial ou histológica de miosite (CK, eletroneuromiografia e biópsia muscular normais), sugerindo dermatomiosite amiopática do tipo 2

Complex venation patterns in the leaves of selaginella: megaphyll-like leaves in lycophytes.

Venation patterns of the leaves of two lycophytes, Selagiella adunca and Selaginella schaffneri, do not fit the definition of microphylls as having a single, unbranched vein. Although S. adunca has a simple pattern, S. schaffneri has a complexity matching that of many megaphylls, with numerous branching veins. The veins of S. schaffneri undergo an average of 13 branchings (range, 8 to 21), and reticulation between veins is frequent. The discovery of this radical departure from the familiar microphylls of lycophytes indicates that complex venation patterns in leaves do not necessarily arise from fusion of whole branches. The microphyll may not be as structurally stable as formerly believed.

Prevention of intravascular thrombus formation on plastic catheters with heparin-benzalkonium complex: in vivo and in vitro studies.

A complex of heparin and a quaternary ammonium compound dissolved in an organic solvent was investigated for its potential ability to prevent clotting on the surface of plastic catheters. Despite the complexing of heparin to ammonium, anticoagulant activity remained on in vitro testing. Both the heparin complex and its organic solvent alone partially prevented catheter thrombus formation when tested in an in vivo animal model system. Neither, however, was totally effective in preventing thrombosis.

The African green monkey as an alternate primate host for studying Machupo virus infection.

African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) are highly susceptible to Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF). Six monkeys were inoculated with 1,000 plague-forming units of Machupo virus, the etiologic agent of BHF. They were observed and monitored for clinical signs, body temperature, viremia, hematologic changes, and virus neutralizing antibody. Onset of fever, anorexia, and depression was noted on days 3 to 6 postinoculation. These and other signs increased in severity and all monkeys died: 5 of 6 died by day 13 and one survived until day 24. The median time to death for the group was 12.5 days. The mean value for hematocrit determinations gradually decreased to 30 on day 10 but subsequently increased. Mean neutrophil and lymphocyte values increased slightly until day 3, and then decreased to minimal values of 3,000 and 2,000, respectively, on day 10. Four monkeys were viremic by day 7 and all were viremic on day 10. The monkey that survived until day 24 had a neutralizing antibody titer of 1:32 on day 14 and appeared to recover from the initial acute illness by day 16. It died following onset of severe neurologic signs on day 23. BHF in the African green monkey is similar to the disease described in two species of macaques.

Pathogenesis of Machupo virus infection in primates.

Experimental Machupo virus infection of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys produced a severe illness consisting of an initial clinical phase and a later neurological phase. Cumulative mortality during the two phases was 80% and 95% respectively. Attempts to alter the pathogenesis with decomplementation or immunosuppression resulted in earlier deaths of the monkeys.

Protection of monkeys against Machupo virus by the passive administration of Bolivian haemorrhagic fever immunoglobulin (human origin).

Bolivian haemorrhagic fever immunoglobulin of human origin, given either prior to or shortly after experimental infection with Machupo virus, protected rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys against initial clinical illness. Some survivors developed severe neurological signs 30-47 days after virus inoculation and died 4-6 days later. Results from one of the experiments suggested that the development of neurological signs was associated more frequently with high doses of immunoglobulin than with intermediate or low doses.