The effect of antimicrobial agents on the induction of tumour necrosis factor by alveolar macrophages in vitro in response to endotoxin

1. In the present study, we evaluated the role of repeated administration on conditioning place preference (CPP) induced by fencamfamine (FCF) in male rats. 2. Repeated FCF (3.5 mg/kg) or saline once or daily for ten consecutive days enhanced sniffing duration and decreased locomotion and rearing duration. 3. At the 3.5 mg/kg dose, FCF produced a significant place-preference effect. 4. Repeated exposures to FCF intensified its reinforcing properties. 5. These results suggest that repeated FCF administration sensitizes its rewarding effects, as with other addictive substances.     

Economics of liquid hydrogen from water electrolysis

Using the data from vendors and open literature, we have constructed a preliminary cost model to predict the cost of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) from water electrolysis. The model has been applied to two LH₂ plants. Both have a production rate of 10 886 kg day⁻¹. The first plant (Plant 1) consists of a tank-type electrolyzer and a liquefier and runs all day at the base-load (or equivalent base-load) power rate. The second (Plant 2) consists of a tank-type electrolyzer, a liquefier, a compressor, and storage vessels. The electrolyzer and the compressor shall run only during the off-peak hours at the off-peak power rate. However, the liquefier shall run all day at the base-load (or equivalent base-load) power rate. The costs of LH₂ from both plants are presented. Unless the base-load power rate is high and the off-peak power rate is substantially low, Plant 1 appears to be economically more feasible than Plant 2.     

Mechanical properties of poly(ether-ether-ketone) for engineering applications

An outline of the characteristics of PEEK and the versatility of its compositional forms (micro and macro composites) are given to illustrate its wide potential for success in engineering applications. Although it is necessary to have particular tabulations of mechanical properties for engineering design, these are seldom available and consequently it is argued that an understanding of stiffness, toughness and strength properties are required to fully exploit available manufacturer's data and thus develop the full potential of PEEK and its composites. Stiffness characteristics are considered in terms of a modulus function which is dependent on time under load and temperature. In its composite forms, whether reinforced with short or continuous fibres, stiffness anistropy can be both considerable and complex, but some empirical ground-rules are apparent. For continuous fibre composites even in the form of complex lay-ups, it is also possible to attempt some stiffness prediction from certain pseudo-elastic constants. Toughness of PEEK and its composites is described in terms of both comparative and intrinsic properties. Instrumented falling weight impact data, particularly as a function of temperature enable some insight into ductile-brittle transitions for the unreinforced material, but crack initiation and crack propagation processes for the various fibre reinforced forms. Intrinsic toughness is described in terms of linear elastic fracture mechanics theory. Strength properties are described for static and dynamic loading configurations. In particular, PEEK and its composites are evaluated for increasing test severities for strength characteristics; stress concentration, loading form and test temperature are considered.     

The impact of pre-clerking clinics on surgical operation cancellations: a prospective audit

Pre-clerking of all patients undergoing elective general surgical operations was introduced at our hospital in an attempt to reduce an unacceptably high operation cancellation rate. A prospective audit has been performed on the effect of this policy on the cancellation rate. Before the introduction of pre-clerking there was a marked seasonal variation in the number of patients who failed to attend for surgery, which could be explained by absence on holiday. This seasonal variation disappeared after the start of pre-clerking clinics, but there has been no reduction in the number of cancellations for medical reasons.     

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene polymorphism is a determinant of HDL cholesterol and of the lipoprotein response to a lipid-lowering diet in type 1 diabetes

The TaqIB cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene polymorphism (B1B2) is a determinant of HDL cholesterol in nondiabetic populations. Remarkably, this gene effect appears to be modified by environmental factors. We evaluated the effect of this polymorphism on HDL cholesterol levels and on the lipoprotein response to a linoleic acid-enriched, low-cholesterol diet in patients with type 1 diabetes. In 44 consecutive type 1 diabetic patients (35 men), CETP polymorphism, apolipoprotein (apo) E genotype, serum lipoproteins, serum CETP activity (measured with an exogenous substrate assay, n = 30), clinical variables, and a diet history were documented. The 1-year response to diet was assessed in 14 type 1 diabetic patients, including 6 B1B1 and 6 B1B2 individuals. HDL cholesterol was higher in 10 B2B2 than in 14 B1B1 homozygotes (1.63 +/- 0.38 vs. 1.24 +/- 0.23 mmol/l, P < 0.01). HDL cholesterol, adjusted for triglycerides and smoking, was 0.19 mmol/l higher for each B2 allele present. CETP activity levels were not significantly different between CETP genotypes. Multiple regression analysis showed that VLDL + LDL cholesterol was associated with dietary polyunsaturated:saturated fatty acids ratio (P < 0.02) and total fat intake (P < 0.05) in the B1B1 homozygotes only and tended to be related to the presence of the apo E4 allele (P < 0.10). In response to diet, VLDL + LDL cholesterol fell (P < 0.05) and HDL cholesterol remained unchanged in 6 B1B1 homozygotes. In contrast, VLDL + LDL cholesterol was unaltered and HDL cholesterol decreased (P < 0.05) in 6 B1B2 heterozygotes (P < 0.05 for difference in change in VLDL + LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio). This difference in response was unrelated to the apo E genotype. Thus, the TaqIB CETP gene polymorphism is a strong determinant of HDL cholesterol in type 1 diabetes. This gene effect is unlikely to be explained by a major influence on the serum level of CETP activity, as an indirect measure of CETP mass. Our preliminary data suggest that this polymorphism may be a marker of the lipoprotein response to dietary intervention.     

Use of pooled time series in the study of naturally occurring clinical events and problem behavior in a foster care setting.

Pooled time series is an underused analytic technique with the potential to increase researchers' ability to exploit clinical data. This article demonstrates the value of pooled time series by analyzing the behavior of youths in a specialized foster care treatment setting in response to a naturally occurring clinical event: changes in the number of youths living together in a treatment foster care setting. Pooled time series moves beyond typical clinical analyses with an increased capability of controlling statistically for complex within-S effects and with a clinically useful measure of effect size. The complexity of the intra-S data made it virtually impossible to determine the relevant significance (i.e., clinical meaning) of the clinical event by the use of standard n?=?1 visual analysis procedures or standard statistical methods (e.g., chi square). After things such as autocorrelation and individual time trends were statistically controlled, each additional youth increased the number of problematic behaviors by one behavior per youth per day on the Parent Daily Report. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevalence of artificial hip implants and use of health services by recipients

Intraneural injection of 10-20 x 10(6) viable Mycobacterium leprae into the sciatic nerve of normal, unsensitized, Swiss white mice gives rise to a tuberculoid type of granulomatous response in 2 weeks. The same dose of viable M. leprae when injected into the sciatic nerves of unsensitized immunosuppressed mice (T200 x 5R) elicited a macrophage response. When macrophages were systemically immobilized using an intraperitoneal injection of silica quartz dust in normal mice, the lesion produced was of the lepromatous type, suggesting a role for the macrophage in the induction of the tuberculoid type of granulomatous response. In all of these in situ experiments, M. leprae failed to enter the Schwann cells.     

Use of Mono Mac 6 human monocytic cell line and J774 murine macrophage cell line in parallel antimycobacterial drug studies

The Mono Mac 6 (MM6) human monocytic cell line was evaluated with the established J774 murine macrophage cell line to ascertain its effectiveness in determining the intracellular activities of antimycobacterial drugs. Cells were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and treated with drug concentrations corresponding to the MICs, as well as to threefold higher than and threefold less than the MICs. Changes in CFU were compared after 7 days to determine significant differences between treated and nontreated groups. The results suggest that MM6 will make a useful model for testing the intracellular activities of antituberculosis drugs.