Pharmacokinetics of hyperimmune anti-human immunodeficiency virus immunoglobulin in persons with AIDS

Hyperimmune anti-human immunodeficiency virus immunoglobulin (HIVIG) is an intravenous immunoglobulin prepared from HIV-infected asymptomatic donors with a CD4 cell count greater than 400 cells/microl and a high titer of antibody to HIV-1 p24 protein. Twelve persons with AIDS received four doses of HMG (two at 50 mg/kg of body weight and then two at 200 mg/kg) every 28 days. Pharmacokinetics were evaluated by measurement of anti-p24 antibody. HIVIG was well tolerated, and all participants completed the study. Three subjects who were not receiving Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis developed PCP. The mean value for HIVIG clearance was 3.02 ml/kg/day at 50 mg/kg and 3.65 ml/kg/day at 200 mg/kg (P = 0.027); the mean trough antibody titers (reciprocal units) were 1,442 and 4,428, respectively. This study indicates that high titers of anti-p24 antibody can be maintained with a monthly administration schedule of HIVIG and that short-term safety is acceptable. Comparisons to evaluate the therapeutic potential of HIVIG are justified.     

Effects of feeding whole cottonseed to lactating dairy cows on glucose and palmitate metabolism

Eight lactating Holstein dairy cows were fed corn silage-based diets with or without whole cottonseed at 18.5% of the dietary dry matter. At 42 days postpartum, a pulse injection of 100 mg glucose/kg body weight was given intravenously and plasma glucose concentration was monitored for 45 min. At 50 d postpartum, biopsies of adipose tissue and mammary tissue were taken and tissue slices were incubated in vitro with either uniform carbon-14 glucose or 1-carbon-14 palmitate. Basal concentration of plasma glucose was not affected by diet, although apparent distribution volume of glucose did seem to decrease due to feeding whole cottonseed. Feeding whole cottonseed decreased uptake of glucose and palmitate in both adipose tissue and mammary tissue and also decreased oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide in both tissues. Palmitate oxidation was not affected by diet. Incorporation of carbon-14 from glucose into adipose tissue lipids was decreased in cows fed whole cottonseed. Results indicate that fat supplementation in the form of whole cottonseed may decrease palmitate incorporation and glucose utilization for glycerol and reducing equivalent synthesis in both adipose tissue and mammary tissue of lactating dairy cows.     

Validation of the Lifestress Inventory for people with a mild intellectual disability

The Subjective Stress Scale (SSS; Bramston & Bostock, 1994) was developed to measure stress in people with a mild intellectual disability. In previous research, the SSS was found to measure two broad dimensions of stress (a) a General Worry factor and (b) a factor that tapped concerns about Negative Interpersonal Relations (Bramston & Fogarty, 1995). The present study sought to continue this line of research by introducing a slightly modified form of the SSS, to be known as the Lifestress Inventory (LI) and examining the psychometric properties of the scale when administered to a new sample of 221 people with mild intellectual disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that three underlying factors corresponding to General Worry, Negative Interpersonal Relations, and Coping were sufficient to account for the correlations among the items in the LI. Rasch analysis indicated some improvements to the scoring format for the LI and also showed that the most easily experienced stressors were associated with the Negative Interpersonal Relations dimension. The refinements introduced by the LI and the further demonstration that some of the broad stress dimensions identified in the general population can also be found in people with an intellectual disability represent important milestones for researchers interested in exploring reactions to stress among this population.     

Investigation of the Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Activity of (+)-Tanikolide- and (+)-Malyngolide-Based Analogues Prepared by Asymmetric Synthesis

Herein, we report antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of a series of previously prepared (+)-tanikolide analogues. One analogue, (4S,6S)-4-methyltanikolide, displayed promising anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity with a MIC of 12.5 µg/mL. Based on the antimicrobial properties of the structurally related (−)-malyngolide, two further analogues (4S,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide and (4R,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide bearing a shortened n-nonyl alkyl side chain were prepared in the present study using a ZrCl₄-catalysed deprotection/cyclisation as the key step in their asymmetric synthesis. When these were tested for activity against anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the MIC increased to 50 µg/mL.     

MOBILIZATION OF SLUDGE IN HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL TANKS WITH SUBMERGED NOZZLES

Over 378,000 m³ (100 million gal) of radioactive waste is being stored in hundreds of tanks at several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites. The environment within the tanks is highly radioactive and chemically harsh. The waste typically consists of a heterogeneous sludge layer covered by a layer of supernatant. A few of the tanks have leaked to the environment, while others are corroding. Removing the waste from the tanks and processing it to a stable final form are desired to prevent any additional contamination of the environment. The tanks vary in size and geometric shape and do not have systems for removing the sludge waste.

Mobilization and mixing studies were conducted with a surrogate sludge (e.g., kaolin clay) using submerged jets in two sizes of horizontal tanks with nominal capacities of 0.87 m³ (230 gal) and 95 m³ (25,000 gal). Mobilization efficiencies and mixing times were determined for single and bidirectional jets in both tanks with the discharge nozzles positioned at various locations in the tanks. Approximately 80% of the surrogate sludge was mobilized in the 95-m³ tank using a fixed bidirectional jet (inside diameter = 0.035 m) and a jet velocity of 6.4m/s (21 ft/s). The effective cleaning length, which is defined as the distance between the jet and the edge of the remaining sludge bank, was approximately 3.2 m (10 ft) on each side of the bidirectional jet.     

Form,interpretation, and the uniqueness of content: Response to Morris

In response to Michael Morris, I attempt to refute the crucial second premise of the argument, which states that the formality condition cannot be satisfied non-stipulatively in computational systems. I defend the view of representation urged in Meaning and Mental Representation against the charge that it makes content stipulative and therefore irrelevant to the explanation of cognition. Some other reservations are expressed.     

Clinical outcomes of an integrated treatment for depression and substance use disorders.

The authors compared longitudinal treatment outcomes for depressed substance-dependent veterans (N = 206) assigned to integrated cognitive–behavioral therapy plus standard pharmacotherapy (ICBT + P) or 12-step facilitation therapy plus standard pharmacotherapy (TSF + P). Drug and alcohol involvement and depressive symptomology were measured at intake and at 3-month intervals during treatment and up to 1 year posttreatment. Participants in both treatment conditions showed decreased depression and substance use from intake. ICBT + P participants maintained improvements in substance involvement over time, whereas TSF + P participants had more rapid increases in use in the months following treatment. Decreases in depressive symptoms were more pronounced for TSF + P than ICBT + P in the 6 months posttreatment. Within both treatment groups, higher attendance was associated with improved substance use and depression outcomes over time. Initial levels of depressive symptomology had a complex predictive relationship with long-term depression outcomes. Early treatment response predicted long-term substance use outcomes for a portion of the sample. Although both treatments were associated with improvements in substance use and depression, ICBT + P may lead to more stable substance use reductions compared with TSF + P. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dietary exposure assessment of β-glucan in a barley and oat based bread

The objective of this study was to develop a β-glucan human exposure assessment model for a barley and a oat based bread and to compare the resulting exposure to the current FDA recommendation for a health promoting effect (3 g β-glucan/day, 0.75 g/portion of β-glucan). Three formulated barley and oat based breads with 30% (S1), 50% (S2) and 70% (S3) substitution of wheat flour were used in the Monte Carlo simulation model to predict human consumption levels. The level of soluble β-glucan was found to reach 0.77 g/portion for some barley and oat based breads with a substitution level of S3. Under normal consumption patterns, consumption of barley based bread can meet up to 50% of the FDA recommended intake with S1, 70% with S2, and 100% with S3, whereas by consuming an oat based bread the FDA recommended intake is met 30% with S1, 50% with S2 and 70% with S3. The model predicted that total cholesterol (TC) lowered with an increase intake of β-glucan content from ?0.27 to ?0.30 mmol/l and ?0.18 to ?0.29 mmol/l from S1 to S3 for barley and oats based bread, respectively. No significant change was noted for the blood glucose level.     

Influence of pH on colour and iron content of peptide fractions obtained from bovine Hb concentrate hydrolysates

The effect of pH on colour and iron content (Fe) of peptide fractions obtained from bovine haemoglobin concentrate (BHC) hydrolysates was studied. Four hydrolysates were obtained using three enzymes: Protex‐6‐L (P), Fungal–Protease–Concetrate (FC) and Flavourzyme (F). BHC and its hydrolysates (P, FC, P + F, FC + F) were fractioned at pH 4.5, 7.0 and 9.5. Solubility and Fe from different fractions were measured. Correlations between CIELAB colour parameters and Fe from different fractions were analysed. The colour from different fractions varied from red to yellow (a* and b* positives). Lightness values (L*) ranged from twenty‐four to seventy. FC4.5 and FC + F4.5 fractions were the clearest and yellow (higher L*, b*, h), while BHC9.5 and P + F9.5 fractions had the lowest values of L*, b* and h. There was an inverse linear relationship between b* and L* parameters and Fe from fractions. This relationship could be associated with the pH of extraction. As pH increases Fe significantly increases and lower b* and L* values were obtained.