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A cell suspension culture of Taxus media was established from a stable callus line of this species. The growth rate and production of paclitaxel and baccatin III of this cell suspension were significantly increased during the shake flask culture in its respective optimum media for cell growth and product formation, which were selected after assaying 24 different culture media. The highest yields of paclitaxel (2.09 mg L(-1)) and baccatin III (2.56 mg L(-1)) in the production medium rose (factors of 7.0 and 3.0, respectively) in the presence of methyljasmonate (220 microg g(-1) FW). When the elicitor was added together with mevalonate (0.38 mM) and N-benzoylglycine (0.2 mM), the increase in the yields of paclitaxel and baccatin III was even higher (factors of 8.3 and 4.0, respectively). Thereafter, a two-stage culture for cell suspension was carried out using a 5-l stirred bioreactor running for 36 days, the first stage being in the cell growth medium until cells entered their stationary growth phase (12 days) and the second stage being in the production medium supplemented with the elicitor and two putative precursors in the concentrations indicated above. Under these conditions, 21.12 mg L(-1) of paclitaxel and 56.03 mg L(-1) of baccatin III were obtained after 8 days of culture in the production medium.

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I. SUMMARYIn humans and in animal models of stroke, collateral blood flow between territories of the major pial arteries has a profound impact on cortical infarct size. However, there is a gap in our understanding of the genetic determinants of collateral formation and flow, as well as the signaling pathways and neurovascular interactions regulating this flow. Previous studies have demonstrated that collateral flow between branches of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA) can protect mouse cortex from infarction after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Because the number and diameter of collaterals varies among mouse strains and after transgenic manipulations, a combination of methods is required to control for these variations. Here, we report an inexpensive approach to characterizing the cerebrovascular anatomy, and in vivo monitoring of cerebral blood flow as well. Further, we introduce a new, minimally invasive method for the occlusion of distal MCA branches. These methods will permit a new generation of studies on the mechanisms regulating collateral remodeling and cortical blood flow after stroke. II.

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A study was carried out on six subjects suffering from anaphylactic reactions including asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, contact urticaria and hypotension following contact with rubber gloves. All of them showed skin sensitivity and serum specific IgE to various preparations of natural latex, and not to other chemicals used in glove manufacturing. Immunoblotting techniques demonstrated that at least four soluble polypeptides from natural latex had the ability to bind specific human IgE. The results suggested that natural latex proteins present in rubber gloves can cause severe specific hypersensitivity reactions.