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Biomedical subjects

F Federici

Publications and source records attributed to F Federici.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fumaric acid production from hydrolysates of starch-based substrates.

Fumaric acid production by Rhizopus arrhizus from commercial hydrolysates of corn starch (i.e. glucose molasses) was studied at different initial concentrations of glucose (S) and C:N ratios (R) by performing a 3(2) factorial experiment. By using the response surface methodology and statistical analysis, fumaric acid (YF) and mycelial biomass (YX) yields, as referred to the initial concentration of glucose and fumaric acid productivity (PF), were fitted to the only significant first-order effects of S and R with mean percentage errors ranging from 11 to 15%. The resulting empiric models were used to determine the optimal values of S (100-130 g dm-3) and R (150-210 g-atom C per g-atom N) associated with YF and PF varying in the ranges 40-49% and 7-8.5 g dm-3 day-1, respectively. After establishing the validity of these data at the 95% confidence level, an optimal operating condition (S = 120 g dm-3 and R = 150) was further tested using other substrates (i.e. glucose and acid or enzymatic hydrolysates of cassava, corn and potato flours). Statistically significant improvements in the fumaric acid yield and productivity were determined with respect to the predicted values. Since the highest values of YF and PF were obtained from the acid hydrolysates of the starch-based materials and such values were also found to be insensitive to the substrate used (at a probability level of 0.05), the above operating condition might be further employed to minimise fumaric acid production costs as a function of the feedstock used.

Culture Media↗

Human pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of MF 701 dermatan sulfate administered by continuous intravenous infusion.

The pharmacokinetics and haemostatic effects of MF 701 dermatan sulfate (DS) administered by i.v. infusion were studied in 11 healthy volunteers. Each subject received 0.6 mg kg-1 h-1 MF 701 for 10 h. DS plasma concentrations were measured by a chromogenic assay based on the catalysis of thrombin inhibition by HCII. DS plasma levels followed a single compartment pharmacokinetic model, with a half-life of 1.28 +/- 0.46 h, a plasma clearance of 2.75 +/- 0.46 l/h and a volume of distribution of 4.92 +/- 1.36 1 (means +/- SD). Steady-state was reached 3 to 6 h after infusion started. The maximal DS plasma concentration was 16.4 +/- 5.7 micrograms/ml. Maximal APTT prolongation over pre-infusion values was 42 +/- 7%; TCT performed with bovine and human thrombin was prolonged by 16 +/- 7% and 83 +/- 35% respectively. No anti-IIa or anti-Xa activities were detected by chromogenic tests. The treatment was well tolerated. The pharmacokinetics of MF 701 infusion are consistent with those previously described after i.v. bolus administration. The infusion of MF 701 allows fast achievement and steady maintenance of elevated DS plasma concentrations.

Adolescent↗

Enhancement and stabilization of the production of glucoamylase by immobilized cells of Aureobasidium pullulans in a fluidized-bed reactor.

Glucoamylase production by Aureobasidium pullulans A-124 was compared in free-living cells, cells immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads aerated on a rotary shaker (agitation rate 150 rpm), and immobilized cells aerated in an air bubble column reactor. Fermentation conditions in the bioreactor were established for bead concentration, substrate (starch) concentration, calcium chloride addition to the fermentation medium, and rate of aeration. Production of glucoamylase was optimized at approximately 1.5 units of enzyme activity/ml medium in the bioreactor under the following conditions: aeration rate, 2.0 vol air per working volume of the bioreactor (280 ml) per minute; gel bead concentration, 30% of the working volume; substrate (starch) concentration, at 0.3% (w/v); addition of calcium chloride to the medium at a final concentration of 0.01 M. Productivity levels were stabilized through the equivalent of ten batches of medium with the original inoculum of immobilized beads.

Alginates↗

Isolation of two cellular lines resistant to ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors to investigate the inhibitory activity of 2,2'-bipyridyl-6-carbothioamide.

The mechanism of action of a synthetic compound--2,2'-bipyridyl-6-carbothioamide--was investigated by developing tumor lines resistant to it (P388-R1.5 and P388-R4). P388-R4 is resistant to inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase (RR) while no resistance was observed to antitumor drugs having other targets (except to bleomycin). The resistance to inhibitors of the RR M2 subunit is higher than that to compounds active on the RR M1 subunit. Moreover, murine chromosome 12, in which the M2 structural gene was recently localized, was trisomic in the resistant lines. We conclude that it is possible to consider BPYTA a new inhibitor of the RR M2 subunit.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

Production, purification and partial characterization of an endo-polygalacturonase from Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus.

Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus produced an extracellular endo-polygalacturonase (poly (1,4-alpha-D-galacturonide) glycanohydrolase EC 3.2.1.15) when grown in a synthetic medium containing one of a variety of pectic substances or galacturonic acid. The highest level of enzyme activity (15.5 VU X ml-1) was obtained after 72 h of growth on 1.0% low-methoxyl pectin. The enzyme, purified by gel filtration (Sephadex G-100) after repeated ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis, showed only one band by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and had the following properties: mol wt (MWr) 41000 dal; isoelectric point (pI) = 8.10 +/- 0.10; optimum temperature and pH for activity around 37 degrees C and pH 3.75, respectively; pH stability in the pH range 4.0 to 8.0; complete heat inactivation after 10 min at 55 degrees C; Km and Vmax values 5.7 X 10(-1) mg X ml-1 and 5.1 X 10(-1) mmoles X min-1, respectively.

Chromatography↗

Preliminary study of the pectolytic activity of Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus.

A preliminary study was done on the pectolytic activity of Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus. Cell-free culture broths of six strains of this yeast species were shown to degrade pectin hydrolytically by means of a polygalacturonase-pectinmethylesterase system. Neither pectin nor pectate lyase activities were detected.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗

Synthesis of brain DNA during acquisition of an active avoidance task.

The possible involvement of cerebral DNA synthesis in the learning process was examined in rats injected intracerebrally with 3H thymidine. During the period of incorporation (4.5 hr) one rat was trained to an active avoidance task while a second animal was kept in the same experimental room. In comparison with control rats paired to learning animals, the concentration of PCA-soluble radioactivity and of radioactive DNA of the cerebral cortex increased in all animal groups, i.e., control rats paired to non-learning animals, learning rats and non-learning rats. No change occurred in liver. In the cerebral cortex the slope of the regression line obtained by plotting the concentration of radioactive DNA versus the concentration of PCA-soluble radioactivity was lower in learning rats than in the group of pooled control animals. A comparable effect was noted in the hippocampus. In non-learning animals a similar decrease was present in the cerebral cortex and in cerebellum. In addition, it was found that in learning animals the percent incorporation was inversely related to the total number of avoidances only in the cerebral cortex. In non-learning rats a similar inverse relationship was present in the cerebral cortex and in cerebellum. In the former region the regression line of learning rats was shifted upwards in comparison with the regression line of non-learning animals. These results are interpreted to indicate that the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into cerebral DNA is directly related to the level of stress and is increased by learning.

Animals↗