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Selected AbstractsVarious cells of the immune system and intestine differ in their capacity to reduce hexavalent chromiumFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Richa Shrivastava Abstract The cells of the immune system form a strong line of defence against foreign substances. The present study was undertaken to investigate the capacity of different cells of Wistar rats to reduce potentially carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) into less toxic trivalent chromium in vitro. 5×106 cells were incubated with 10 or 25 ,g ml,1 of Cr (VI) in the form of K2Cr2O7 at 37°C in the presence of 5% CO2 in air. At various time periods the remaining amount of Cr (VI) was measured and the percentage of Cr (VI) reduced was calculated. Among the single cell suspensions from the splenic cells a peak reduction of 55% was observed with the total spleen cells, 40% with the B-lymphocyte-enriched subpopulation, 10% with T-lymphocytes and 24% with the macrophages. The reduction by splenic and peritoneal macrophages was similar. Total thymocytes reduced 54% of the Cr (VI). Since the most common route of entry of chromium is through drinking water and food, intestinal cells were also investigated. Among the intestinal cells the maximum reduction of 100% (of 10 ,g ml,1) was observed with the upper villus cells and 72% with the middle villus cells while reduction was the least (4%) with the crypt cells. The reduction in the intestinal loop in situ was 100%. The time taken by each cell type for the peak reduction to Cr (VI) was markedly different. The findings thus show that the capacity of different cells in the body differs vastly in their capacity and time taken to reduce hexavalent chromium. The most efficient handling of Cr (VI) by the intestine, due to the presence of a variety of cells and bacteria, protects the body from its adverse effects. [source] Induction of 150-kDa adenosine deaminase that acts on RNA (ADAR)-1 gene expression in normal T lymphocytes by anti-CD3-, and anti-CD28IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Dama Laxminarayana Summary We and other investigators have demonstrated up-regulation of the expression of the RNA-editing gene 150-kDa adenosine deaminase that acts on RNA (ADAR1) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) T cells and B cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), natural killer (NK) cells. The presence of a small proportion of activated T cells is the hallmark of SLE. Therefore, it was hypothesized that 150-kDa ADAR1 gene expression is induced by the physiological activation of T cells. To examine this hypothesis, normal T cells were activated by anti-CD3-, plus anti-CD28 for various time periods from 0 to 48 hr. The expression of 110-kDa and 150-kDa ADAR1, and interleukin (IL)-2 and ,-actin gene transcripts was analysed. An approximately fourfold increase in 150-kDa ADAR1 gene expression was observed in activated T cells. ADAR2 gene transcripts are substrates for ADAR1 and ADAR2 enzymes. Therefore, we assessed the role of the 150-kDa ADAR enzyme in editing of ADAR2 gene transcripts. In activated T cells, site-selective editing of the ,2 site was observed. Previous studies indicate that this site is predominantly edited by ADAR1. In addition to this, novel editing sites at base positions ,56, ,48, ,45, ,28, ,19, ,15, +46 and +69 were identified in activated T cells. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that 150-kDa ADAR1 gene expression is selectively induced in T cells by anti-CD3-, and anti-CD28 stimulation and that it may play a role in site-selective editing of gene transcripts and in altering the functions of several gene products of T cells during activation and proliferation. [source] Detergent and Sanitizer Stresses Decrease the Thermal Resistance of Enterobacter sakazakii in Infant Milk FormulaJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008T.M. Osaili ABSTRACT:, This study determined the effect of acid, alkaline, chlorine, and ethanol stresses on the thermal inactivation of Enterobacter sakazakii in infant milk formula. Unstressed or stressed cells were mixed with reconstituted powdered infant milk formula (PIMF) at temperatures between 52 and 58 °C for various time periods or mixed with PIMF prior to reconstitution with hot water between 50 and 100 °C. D - and z -values were determined using liner regression analysis. In general, detergent and sanitizer stresses decreased the thermal resistance of E. sakazakii in infant milk formula. The results of this study may be of use to regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and infant caregivers to design heating processes to eliminate E. sakazakii. [source] High-Pressure Processing of Orange Juice: Kinetics of Pectinmethylesterase InactivationJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001U. Nienaber ABSTRACT: A kinetic study of pectinmethylesterase (PME) inactivation in orange juice was conducted. Juice samples were subjected to combinations of high pressure (400, 500, 600 MPa) and thermal (25, 37.5, 50 °C) treatments for various time periods. PME inactivation followed a first-order kinetic model with a residual activity of pressure-resistant enzyme remaining. Calculated D-values ranged from 4.6 min to 117.5 min at 600 MPa/50 °C and 400 MPa/25 °C, respectively. Pressures in excess of 500 MPa resulted in sufficiently fast inactivation rates for economic viability of the process. [source] ADAM 12 as a first-trimester maternal serum marker in screening for Down syndromePRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 10 2006Jennie Laigaard Abstract Background A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 12 (ADAM 12) is a glycoprotein synthesised by placenta and it has been shown to be a potential first-trimester maternal serum marker for Down syndrome (DS) in two small series. Here we analyse further, the potential of ADAM 12 as a marker for DS in a large collection of first-trimester serum samples. Materials and Methods The concentration of ADAM 12 was determined in 10,14-week pregnancy sera from 218 DS pregnancies and 389 gestational age-matched control pregnancies, which had been collected as part of routine prospective first-trimester screening programs (DS = 105) or as part of previous research studies (DS = 113). ADAM 12 was measured using a semi-automated time resolved immunofluorometric assay and median values for normal pregnancies were established by polynomial regression. These medians were then used to determine population distribution parameters for DS and normal pregnancy groups. Correlation with previously established PAPP-A and free ,-hCG multiple of the medians (MoMs) and delta nuchal translucency (NT) were determined and used to model the performance of first-trimester screening with ADAM 12 in combination with other first-trimester markers at various time periods across the first trimester. The benefits of a contingent testing model incorporating early measurement of PAPP-A and ADAM 12 were also explored. Results The maternal serum concentration of ADAM 12 was significantly reduced (p = 0.0049) with an overall median MoM of 0.79 in the DS cases and a log10 MoM SD of 0.3734 in the DS cases and 0.3353 in the controls. There was a significant correlation of ADAM 12 MoM in DS cases with gestational age (r = 0.375) and the median MoM increased from 0.50 at 10,11 weeks to 1.38 at 13 weeks. ADAM 12 was correlated with maternal weight (r(controls) = 0.283), PAPP-A (r(controls) = 0.324, r(DS) = 0.251) but less so with free ,-hCG (r(controls) = 0.062, r(DS) = 0.049) and delta NT (r(controls) = 0.110, r(DS) = 0.151). ADAM 12 was significantly (p = 0.026) lower in smokers (0.87 vs 1.00) and elevated in Afro-Caribbean women compared to Caucasian women (1.34 vs 1.00). Population modelling using parameters from this and an earlier study showed that a combination of ADAM 12 and PAPP-A measured at 8,9 weeks and combined with NT and free ,-hCG measured at 12 weeks could achieve a detection rate of 97% at a 5% false-positive rate or 89% at a 1% false-positive rate. PAPP-A and ADAM 12 alone at 8,9 weeks could identify 91% of cases at a 5% false-positive rate. Using this as part of a contingent-screening model to select an intermediate risk group of women for NT and free ,-hCG at 11,12 weeks would enable the detection of 92% of cases with a 1% false-positive rate at a cost of providing NT and free ,-hCG for 6% of women with 94% of women having completed screening by the 10th week of pregnancy. Conclusion ADAM 12 in early first trimester is a very efficient marker of DS. In combination with existing markers, it offers enhanced screening efficiency in a two-stage sequential first-trimester screening program or in a contingent-screening model, which may have benefits in health economies where universal access to high quality ultrasound is difficult. More data on early first-trimester cases with DS are required to establish more secure population parameters by which to assess further the validity of these models. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] |