Purification and characterization of a 34-kDa, heat stable glycoprotein from Synadenium grantii latex: action on human fibrinogen and fibrin clot

Latex glycoprotein (LGP) from Synadenium grantii latex was purified by the combination of heat precipitation and gel permeation chromatography. LGP is a heat stable protein even at 80 degrees C showed a sharp single band both in SDS-PAGE as well as in native (acidic) PAGE. LGP is a monomeric protein appears as single band under reducing condition. It is a less hydrophobic protein showed sharp single peak in RP-HPLC with retention time of 13.3 m. The relative molecular mass of LGP is 34.4 kDa. CD spectrum of LGP explains less content of alpha-helix (7%), and high content of beta-pleated sheets (48%) and random coils (46%). The N-terminal sequence of LGP is D-F-P-S-D-W-Y-A-Y-E-G-Y-V-I-D-R-P-F-S. Purified LGP is a fibrinogen degrading protease hydrolyses all the three subunits in the order of Aalpha, Bbeta and gamma. The hydrolytic pattern is totally different from plasmin as well as thrombin. LGP reduces recalcification time from 165 to 30 s with citrated human plasma but did not show thrombin like as well as factor Xa-like activity. Although LGP induces procoagulant activity, it hydrolyses partially cross-linked fibrin clot. It hydrolyses all the subunits of partially cross-linked fibrin clot (alpha- chains, beta-chain and gamma-gamma dimer). LGP is a serine protease, inhibited by PMSF. Other serine protease inhibitors, aprotinin and leupeptin did not inhibit the caseinolytic activity as well as fibrinogenolytic activity. We report purification and characterization of a glycoprotein from Synadenium grantii latex with human fibrino(geno)lytic activity.

External auditory canal cholesteatoma: reassessment of and amendments to its categorization, pathogenesis, and treatment in 34 patients

OBJECTIVE: External auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) is a rarity. Although there have been numerous case reports, there are only few systematic analyses of case series, and the pathogenesis of idiopathic EACC remains enigmatic. STUDY DESIGN: In a tertiary referral center for a population of 1.5 million inhabitants, 34 patients with 35 EACC (13 idiopathic [1 bilateral] and 22 secondary) who were treated between 1994 and 2006 were included in the study. RESULTS: EACC cardinal symptoms were longstanding otorrhea (65%) and dull otalgia (12%). Focal bone destruction in the external auditory canal with retained squamous debris and an intact tympanic membrane were characteristic. Only 27% of the patients showed conductive hearing loss exceeding 20 dB. Patients with idiopathic EACC had lesions typically located on the floor of the external auditory canal and were older, and the mean smoking intensity was also greater (p < 0.05) compared with patients with secondary EACC. The secondary lesions were assigned to categories (poststenotic [n = 6], postoperative [n = 6], and posttraumatic EACC [n = 4]) and rare categories (radiogenic [n = 2], postinflammatory [n = 1], and postobstructive EACC [n = 1]). In addition, we describe 2 patients with EACC secondary to the complete remission of a Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the external auditory canal. Thirty of 34 patients were treated surgically and became all free of recurrence, even after extensive disease. DISCUSSION: For the development of idiopathic EACC, repeated microtrauma (e.g., microtrauma resulting from cotton-tipped applicator abuse or from hearing aids) and diminished microcirculation (e.g., from smoking) might be risk factors. A location other than in the inferior portion of the external auditory canal indicates a secondary form of the disease, as in the case of 2 patients with atypically located EACC after years of complete remission of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which we consider as a new posttumorous category and specific late complication of this rare disease.

Long-run performance of initial public offerings: The evidence for Switzerland

We estimate the underpricing and long-run performance of Swiss initial public offerings (IPOs) from 1983 to 2000. The average market adjusted initial return is 34.97%. To examine the long-run performance of Swiss IPOs, we compute buy-and-hold abnormal returns, skewness-adjusted wealth ratios, and cumulative abnormal returns using 120 months of secondary market returns. In contrast to previous findings for the U.S. and Germany, we do not find strong evidence for a distinct IPO effect. We attribute long-run underperformance to the fact that IPO firms tend to be small firms. It virtually vanishes when we use a small capitalization index as a benchmark. In spite of distinct economic implications and statistical properties, our basic results are similar for all performance measures applied.

Treatment decisions in 330 cases referred for apical surgery

INTRODUCTION Apical surgery is an important treatment option for teeth with postendodontic apical periodontitis. However, little information is available regarding treatment planning in cases referred for apical surgery. This study evaluated the decisions made in such cases and analyzed the variables influencing the decision-making process. METHODS The study retrospectively assessed clinical and radiographic data of 330 teeth that had been referred to a specialist in apical surgery with regard to the treatment decisions made in those teeth. The clinical and radiographic variables were divided into subcategories to analyze which factors influenced the decision-making process. RESULTS The treatment decisions included apical surgery (59.1%), tooth extraction (25.8%), no treatment (9.1%), and nonsurgical endodontic retreatment (6.1%). Variables that showed statistically significant differences comparing treatment decisions among subcategories included probing depth (P = .001), clinical attachment level (P = .0001), tooth mobility (P = .012), pain (P = .014), clinical signs (P = .0001), length (P = .041) and quality (P = .026) of the root canal filling, and size (P = .0001) and location (P = .0001) of the periapical lesion. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that apical surgery was the most frequently made treatment decision in teeth referred to a specialist in apical surgery, but every fourth tooth was considered nonretainable and was scheduled for extraction. The data showed that the most common variables that influenced the decision to extract teeth were teeth with an increased probing depth and tooth mobility and teeth presenting with lesions not located at the apex.

Effects of Gender on the Incidence of Cardiac Tamponade Following Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Results from a Worldwide Survey in 34,943 AF Ablation Procedures.

BACKGROUND -Cardiac tamponade is the most dramatic complication observed during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and the leading cause of procedure-related mortality. Female gender is a known risk factor for complications during AF ablation; however, it is unknown whether women have a higher risk of tamponade. METHODS AND RESULTS -A systematic Medline search was used to locate academic electrophysiologic (EP) centers that reported cases of tamponade occurring during AF ablation. Centers were asked to provide information on cases of acute tamponade according to gender and their mode of management including any case of related mortality. Nineteen EP centers provided information on 34,943 ablation procedures involving 25,261 (72%) males. Overall 289 (0.9%) cases of tamponade were reported: 120 (1.24%) in females and 169 (0.67%) in males (odds ratio 1.83, P<0.001). There was a reciprocal association between center volume and the occurrence of tamponade with substantial lower risk in high volume centers. Most cases of tamponade occurred during catheter manipulation or ablation; females tended to develop more tamponades during transseptal catheterization. No gender difference in the mode of management was observed. However, 16% cases of tamponade required surgery with lower rates in high volume centers. Three cases of tamponade (1%) culminated in death. CONCLUSIONS -Tamponade during AF ablation procedures is relatively rare. Women have an almost twofold higher risk for developing this complication. The risk of tamponade among women decreases substantially in high volume centers. Surgical back-up and acute management skills for treating tamponade are important in centers performing AF ablation.

Panel report ECIS 2012: publication strategy for junior researchers: quantity vs. quality, importance of the first authorship and collaboration

The publication record is a key component of a successful academic career in IS. Despite its importance, its definition - especially for junior researchers―remains unclear. Is it better to have one A-publication or three Bpublications? Does being the third author on an A-publication carry more weight than being the first author on a Bpublication? Is it better to publish with as few co-authors as possible to demonstrate ability for independent work or is publishing with others a sign of good teamwork and academic excellence? Faced with these uncertainties, young researchers increasingly question the choices they make regarding their publication strategy. If unaddressed, these issues are bound to interfere with the quality of the IS research and scholars’ job satisfaction. This article raises these concerns associated with a publication strategy for junior researchers and reports the views voiced by five academics at a panel session at the European Conference on Information Systems 2012. In particular, the following topics are discussed: quantity vs. quality, value of the first authorship, the “optimal” number of authors, and the issues of co-authorship with an academic supervisor.

Adaptation to Changes in the Coffee Value Chain and the Price of Coiffee among Coffee Producers in Two Villages in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Market liberalization in Tanzania has eroded the monopoly of the cooperative unions by allowing private coffee buyers (PCBs) to compete with them on equal footing. Similarly, farmers groups and primary societies are now allowed to sell coffee at auction. Thus, farmers have various options for selling their coffee. Similarly, the coffee industry has experienced large fluctuations in prices and stagnation in production. How do farmers react to these changes? Can and do farmers profit from different market conditions and sell to different traders at the lower end of the value chain, or do they remain with cooperatives or farmers groups? This study was conducted in Mruwia and Mshiri villages in Moshi Rural district. Whereas Mshiri village remains attached to the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU), Mruwia has detached from this organization and sells coffee independently. The sample (103) was randomly selected from the coffee farmers in the two villages. Data were collected through surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and socio-anthropological methods (participant-observation, biographies, and thematic interviews). Results indicate that the selection of whom to sell coffee depends largely on farmers’ dependence on coffee and prices, other benefits accrued, and whether the initial costs are covered by buyers. Additionally, most respondents did not sell coffee to PCBs. Thus, prices, the institutional infrastructure, and the structure of local communities were important when making decisions about how and with whom to trade.