The ges-1 gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans codes for a nonspecific carboxylesterase that is expressed only in the intestinal lineage. This esterase has turned out to be a convenient biochemical marker for lineage-specific differentiation. In the present paper, we describe the production of several C. elegans strains that lack detectable activity of the ges-1 esterase. To isolate thes...

Hereditary angioedema (HAE), is an autosomal immunological disease, that is characterized by repetitive diffuse non-pitting painless edema without urticaria or pruritus. HAE is a rare disease with wide range of manifestation, thus diagnosis can be easily missed. Screening for HAE should be warranted in any patient with following manifestations; recurrent self-limiting unexplained abdominal pain...

Activation of plasma kallikrein arginine esterase activity by kaolin resulted in peak activity at 1 min of incubation and a 50% reduction in activity at 5 min in normal plasma, and 30% reduction in the plasma of patients with hereditary angioneurotic edema who lacked the C1 inactivator. The peak esterolytic activity was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor whereas the 5 min activity was resis...

Neurotoxic esterase activity was measured in homogenates of human placenta and hen brain, spinal cord, liver, kidney and spleen. The activity in liver comprised less than 20% of the Paraoxon-resistant esterases, but in the other tissues neurotoxic esterase accounted for over 50%. The same tissues were labelled with [3H]di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate, and any isopropyl group transferred on to ...

Meloidogyne incognita race 1, M. javanica, M. arenaria race 1, M. hapla, and an undescribed Meloidogyne sp. were analyzed by comparing isozyme phenotypes of esterase, malate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Isozyme phenotypes were obtained from single mature females by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. Of these five isozy...

The value of the one minute leucocyte esterase-nitrite chemical strips as a screening procedure for detecting appreciable levels of pyuria and bacteriuria was assessed by comparison with microscopy and culture results. The likelihood that a negative leucocyte esterase result indicated < 10 white cells/cu mm by microscopy (the negative predictive value), was 90 1% and that a negative nitrite res...

The value of the one minute leucocyte esterase-nitrite chemical strips as a screening procedure for detecting appreciable levels of pyuria and bacteriuria was assessed by comparison with microscopy and culture results. The likelihood that a negative leucocyte esterase result indicated < 10 white cells/cu mm by microscopy (the negative predictive value), was 90 1% and that a negative nitrite res...

Acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency is a rare condition, usually presenting after the 2nd decade of life, and is often related to underlying conditions such as autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. This case report describes a man whose initial clinical presentation with acute angioedema and whose initial estimation of a low C1 esterase inhibitor concentration indicated that he ha...

Branhamella catarrhalis, an occasional cause of human respiratory infections, unlike most other members of the family Neisseriaceae, produces a butyrate esterase. This is capable of breaking the ester linkage between butyryl groups and carrier molecules. B. caviae and B. ovis, which are rarely encountered in pathological specimens, also produce butyrate esterase. This property can be used as a ...

Highly purified C'1 esterase of human serum is capable of inactivating isolated fourth component of human complement (beta(1E)-globulin). Inactivation is accompanied by changes in electrophoretic and ultracentrifugal properties of beta(1E)-globulin. If non-sensitized sheep erythrocytes are present during the action of C'1 esterase on beta(1E)-globulin, a complex is formed consisting of cells an...