The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of parenteral nutrition containing medium- and long-chain triglycerides on the function of the respiratory system and to investigate mechanisms involved in this process. We studied 13 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 8 receiving lipid and 5 placebo, and 6 without ARDS, receiving lipid. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed before and 1 hour after administration of lipid or placebo. In patients with ARDS, lipid administration resulted in deterioration of oxygenation (Pa(O(2))/FI(O(2)): from 129 +/- 37 to 95 +/- 42), compliance of respiratory system (from 39.2 +/- 12 to 33.1 +/- 9.2 ml/cm H(2)O), and pulmonary vascular resistance (from 258 +/- 47 to 321 +/- 58 dyne x s x cm(-5)). In the BAL fluid of the same group, an increase in total protein and phospholipid concentrations, phospholipase activities, platelet-activating factor and neutrophils, as well as alterations in BAL lipid profile were observed. No significant changes were observed in the control or in the ARDS-Placebo groups. In conclusion, this study indicates that administration of medium- and long-chain triglycerides in patients with ARDS causes alterations in lung function and hemodynamics. Inflammatory cells, possibly activated by lipids, release phospholipase A(2) and platelet-activating factor, enhancing edema formation, inflammation, and surfactant alterations.

We report enhanced sensitivity NMR measurements of intrinsically disordered proteins in the presence of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) agents such as Ni(2+)-chelated DO2A. In proton-detected (1)H-(15)N SOFAST-HMQC and carbon-detected (H-flip)(13)CO-(15)N experiments, faster longitudinal relaxation enables the usage of even shorter interscan delays. This results in higher NMR signal intensities per units of experimental time, without adverse line broadening effects. At 40 mmol·L(-1) of the PRE agent, we obtain a 1.7- to 1.9-fold larger signal to noise (S/N) for the respective 2D NMR experiments. High solvent accessibility of intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) residues renders this class of proteins particularly amenable to the outlined approach.

Background: The assembly of nucleosomes to higher-order chromatin structures is finely tuned by the relative affinities of histones for chaperones and nucleosomal binding sites. The myeloid leukaemia protein SET/TAF-Iβ belongs to the NAP1 family of histone chaperones and participates in several chromatin-based mechanisms, such as chromatin assembly, nucleosome reorganisation and transcriptional activation. To better understand the histone chaperone function of SET/TAF-Iβ, we designed several SET/TAF-Iβ truncations, examined their structural integrity by circular Dichroism and assessed qualitatively and quantitatively the histone binding properties of wild-type protein and mutant forms using GST-pull down experiments and fluorescence spectroscopy-based binding assays.

Background: Lamin B receptor (LBR) is an integral nuclear envelope protein and contains a Tudor domain. Results:The NMR structure of LBR-Tudor was determined and its interactions with nuclear proteins, histones, and nucleosomes were explored. Conclusion: LBR-Tudor is not involved in recognition of methylated histones and binds free H3. Significance: Tudor domains may act as histone chaperone-like platforms.

BAL alterations during VAP and atelectasis suggest increased alveolar-capillary permeability, severe surfactant abnormalities, and signs of local inflammatory reaction. These alterations are associated with the observed deteriorated gas exchange and lung mechanics and could predispose to further lung injury in ventilated patients.