Infrared Saliva Analysis of Psoriatic and Diabetic Patients: Similarities in Protein Components

Diabetes mellitus is metabolic syndrome characterized by disorder in metabolism of carbon hydrates, lipids and proteins. The diagnosis of diabetes is established by measuring the blood glucose level using standardized methods. Frequent monitoring of blood glucose level could be inconvenient for patients because of possible pain during blood sample taking. In the last few years biological materials with non invasive sampling, like saliva, have been analyzed. Research has confirmed that some organic and inorganic components of saliva are modified in diabetic patients (glucose, lipid and protein components, oxidative stress markers, electrolytes). Beside other markers, the analysis of glucose in saliva is an attempt to find a non-invasive and painless way for frequent monitoring of glucose concentration in diabetic patients. Collecting saliva is simple and economical, it neither requires expensive equipment nor specially trained staff. Saliva can be taken many times and in unlimited quantity. In regards to the data about the possibilities for using saliva as biological sample in monitoring diabetes mellitus, which could be alternative to blood serum or plasma, the conclusion is that saliva becomes more important in this context.

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Molecular Structure of the Outermost Cell Wall Component of Spirillum Serpens

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100079218 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 342-343

Author(s):

Wah Chiu ◽

David Grano

Keyword(s):

Molecular Structure ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Electron Microscopic Examination ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Cell Wall Component ◽

Protein Components ◽

Exposure Technique ◽

Structural Aspects

The periodic structure external to the outer membrane of Spirillum serpens VHA has been isolated by similar procedures to those used by Buckmire and Murray (1). From SDS gel electrophoresis, we have found that the isolated fragments contain several protein components, and that the crystalline structure is composed of a glycoprotein component with a molecular weight of ∽ 140,000 daltons (2). Under an electron microscopic examination, we have visualized the hexagonally-packed glycoprotein subunits, as well as the bilayer profile of the outer membrane. In this paper, we will discuss some structural aspects of the crystalline glycoproteins, based on computer-reconstructed images of the external cell wall fragments.The specimens were prepared for electron microscopy in two ways: negatively stained with 1% PTA, and maintained in a frozen-hydrated state (3). The micrographs were taken with a JEM-100B electron microscope with a field emission gun. The minimum exposure technique was essential for imaging the frozen- hydrated specimens.

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Visualisation of E. coli ribosomal RNA in situ by electron spectroscopic imaging and image averaging

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100122733 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 466-467

Author(s):

Daniel Beniac ◽

George Harauz

Keyword(s):

Ribosomal Rna ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Spectroscopic Imaging ◽

Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ◽

E Coli ◽

Microscopical Technique ◽

Quantitative Image ◽

Dimensional Reconstruction ◽

Image Averaging ◽

Protein Components

The structures of E. coli ribosomes have been extensively probed by electron microscopy of negatively stained and frozen hydrated preparations. Coupled with quantitative image analysis and three dimensional reconstruction, such approaches are worthwhile in defining size, shape, and quaternary organisation. The important question of how the nucleic acid and protein components are arranged with respect to each other remains difficult to answer, however. A microscopical technique that has been proposed to answer this query is electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI), in which scattered electrons with energy losses characteristic of inner shell ionisations are used to form specific elemental maps. Here, we report the use of image sorting and averaging techniques to determine the extent to which a phosphorus map of isolated ribosomal subunits can define the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) distribution within them.

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Intramuscular Nerve and Neuromuscular Junction Alteration In Extraocular Muscles of Diabetic Mice

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100120102 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 682-683

Author(s):

Bruce R. Pachter

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Peripheral Nerves ◽

Sudden Onset ◽

Extraocular Muscles ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Oculomotor Palsy ◽

Third Nerve Palsy ◽

Patients With Diabetes ◽

Intramuscular Nerve ◽

Oculomotor Nerves

Diabetes mellitus is one of the commonest causes of neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a heterogeneous group of neuropathic disorders to which patients with diabetes mellitus are susceptible; more than one kind of neuropathy can frequently occur in the same individual. Abnormalities are also known to occur in nearly every anatomic subdivision of the eye in diabetic patients. Oculomotor palsy appears to be common in diabetes mellitus for their occurrence in isolation to suggest diabetes. Nerves to the external ocular muscles are most commonly affected, particularly the oculomotor or third cranial nerve. The third nerve palsy of diabetes is characteristic, being of sudden onset, accompanied by orbital and retro-orbital pain, often associated with complete involvement of the external ocular muscles innervated by the nerve. While the human and experimental animal literature is replete with studies on the peripheral nerves in diabetes mellitus, there is but a paucity of reported studies dealing with the oculomotor nerves and their associated extraocular muscles (EOMs).

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A Comparison Between Sterological Point Counting and Digitizing Tablets

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100120023 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 666-667

Author(s):

John M. Basgen ◽

Eileen N. Ellis ◽

S. Michael Mauer ◽

Michael W. Steffes

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Kidney Tissue ◽

Volume Density ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Normal Kidney ◽

Point Counting ◽

Normal Kidney Tissue ◽

Biopsy Specimens ◽

Mitochondrial Volume ◽

Kidney Lesions

To determine the efficiency of methods of quantitation of the volume density of components within kidney biopsies, techniques involving a semi-automatic digitizing tablet and stereological point counting were compared.Volume density (Vv) is a parameter reflecting the volume of a component to the volume that contains the component, e.g., the fraction of cell volume that is made up of mitochondrial volume. The units of Vv are μm3 /μm3.Kidney biopsies from 15 patients were used. Five were donor biopsies performed at the time of kidney transplantation (patients 1-5, TABLE 1) and were considered normal kidney tissue. The remaining biopsies were obtained from diabetic patients with a spectrum of diabetic kidney lesions. The biopsy specimens were fixed and embedded according to routine electron microscogy protocols. Three glomeruli from each patient were selected randomly for electron microscopy. An average of 12 unbiased and systematic micrographs were obtained from each glomerulus and printed at a final magnification of x18,000.

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