Discovery of a novel thermostable Zn2+ -dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus through conserved domains mining.

AIMS: The purpose of the study was to demonstrate feasibility of the Conserved Domains Database (CDD) for identification of novel biocatalysts with desirable properties from a class of well-characterized biocatalysts. METHODS AND RESULTS: The thermostable ADH from Sulfolobus solfataricus with a broad substrate range was applied as a template for the search for novel thermostable ADHs via CDD. From the resulting hits, a putative ADH gene from the thermophilic organism Chloroflexus aurantiacus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The resulting enzyme was purified and characterized. With a temperature activity optimum of 70°C and a broad substrate spectrum especially for diketones, a versatile new biocatalyst was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Database-based mining in CDD is a suitable approach to obtain novel biocatalysts with desirable properties. Thereby, the available diversity of similar but not equal enzymes within this class can be increased. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: For industrial applications, there is a demand for larger diversity of similar well-characterized enzymes in order to test them for a given process (biodiversity screening). For fundamental science, the comparison of enzymes with similar function but different sequence can provide insight into structure function relationships or the evolution of enzymes. This study gives a good example on how this demand can be efficiently met.

[Rivet-like titanium clamps for refixation of bone covers after craniotomy--radiologic identification, safety and image quality in CT and MR studies]. / Nietenartige Titan-Klammern zur Refixierung von Knochendeckeln nach Kraniotomie--Radiologische Identifizierung, Anwendungssicherheit und Bildqualität bei CT- und MR-Untersuchungen.

PURPOSE: The MRI and CT compatibility of a new design of metallic fixation implants for cranial bone flaps was investigated experimentally and following clinical application in craniotomy patients. Is imaging quality impaired through implant-induced artifacts? METHODS: Possible induced movement and heating of the clamp implant as well as the magnitude of susceptibility artifacts were assessed experimentally by MRI at 1.5 T. Additionally, implant-induced artifacts were evaluated under clinical conditions for all relevant MRI-sequences in 100 craniotomy patients whose skull flaps were re-affixed using the new clamp implant. RESULTS: In T1-weighted spin echo and fast spin echo sequences the sizes of implant-induced artifacts were equal to the size of the implant or slightly larger; in T2-weighted gradient echo images artifacts were maximally double the size of the implant itself. Induced movement or heating was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The safety in radiological imaging of titanium clamp implants for fixation of craniotomy bone flaps was established experimentally as well as under clinical conditions. The clamps can be easily identified by radiological imaging, cause no hazards to the patients, and have little effect on image quality.

Detection of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in women with salpingitis confirmed by laparoscopy.

The sera from 12 consecutive symptomatic women with laparoscopy-confirmed salpingitis were screened for the presence of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis by a single antigen (L-2) immunoperoxidase assay. All women were found to have IgG and IgA antibodies to C trachomatis. Six women had positive endocervical cultures for C trachomatis, and one of these had positive cultures from the conjunctiva and fallopian tubes. Serum chlamydial IgA antibodies may serve as markers for active infection with C trachomatis regardless of whether organisms can be identified by culture or direct fluorescent antibody techniques from endocervical or fallopian tube samples.

Prevalence of IgA and IgG antichlamydial antibodies in women in the third trimester of pregnancy.

The prevalence of serum antichlamydial IgA and IgG antibodies was investigated by screening 77 randomly selected patients who were in the third trimester of pregnancy. An indirect immunoperoxidase assay that quantitates IgA and IgG was used for screening. Twenty-five women had both IgA and IgG antibodies; an additional ten women had only IgG antibodies. These findings suggest that greater than 45 percent of pregnant women tested had been exposed to Chlamydia trachomatis, and more than 32 percent had evidence of active infection.

A comparison of culture, direct fluorescent antibody test, and a quantitative indirect immunoperoxidase assay for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women.

An indirect immunoperoxidase assay that quantitates antichlamydial immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies in serum was compared with endocervical culture and direct fluorescent antibody (MicroTrak) for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic pregnant women. Of the 64 women tested by the three methods, 22 (34%) had antichlamydial IgG and IgA in their serum. The culture was positive in nine patients (14%) and the MicroTrak was positive in eight (12.5%). All positive cultures were immunoperoxidase-positive. One positive MicroTrak was immunoperoxidase- and culture-negative. Thirteen patients had IgG and IgA antichlamydial antibodies with no organisms detected in the endocervix by culture or by direct fluorescent antibody screen.

Algumas reflexöes sobre a responsabilildade jurídica como fator de promoçäo da segurança e higiene do trabalho / Juridical responsibility as promotion factor of the safety and occupational hygiene

Estuda-se, o impacto das responsabilidades civil e penal sobre a prevençäo e indenizacäo de acidentes e enfermidades profissionais. A autora examina os respectivos deveres de empregadores e trabalhadores, o efeito dissuasivo da açäo no âmbito civil e o papel de compensaçäo por danos e prejuízos para substituir ou completar a compensaçäo da previdência social assim como a eficácia das sançöes penais. Apresenta-se a conclusäo de que a possibilidade de se contar com um inspetorado do trabalho, facultado para ditar ordens para a correçäo ou proibiçäo, juntamente com cotizaçöes de previdência social de acôrdo com a taxa de acidentes, seria talvez mais eficaz que a imposiçäo de multas

Induction of tolerance in vitro by autologous murine testicular cells.

We have investigated the regulation of self tolerance in mice by examining lymphocyte reactivity in vitro against two subpopulations of autologous testicular cells: germ cells that were derived from the seminiferous tubules, and interstitial somatic cells. In the presence of germ cells, lymphocyte proliferation was strongly reduced. In contrast, somatic interstitial cells stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. In both cases, reactive lymphocytes were mostly T cells. Suppressor T cells activated by autologous germ cells were nonspecific and capable of inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation against autologous and allogeneic somatic testicular cells as well as against allogeneic spleen cells. Suppression was abrogated after treatment of the responder lymphocytes with anti-Ly-2.2 serum plus complement. Lymphocyte proliferation by autologous interstitial cells was considerably reduced, but not completely abolished, by complement-dependent lysis with anti-Thy-1.2 serum. This may indicate the participation in proliferation of a lymphoid cell population other than T cells.