On the effect of peroxisomal β-oxidation and carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity by eicosapentaenoic acid in liver and heart from rats

Repeated administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (as ethyl ester) resulted in a decrease in plasma triglycerides and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This was accompanied by a stimulation in the activities of carnitine palmitoyltransferase, fatty acyl-CoA oxidase and peroxisomal β-oxidation in the liver. The results suggest that the triglyceride-lowering effect observed with eicosapentaenoic acid may be due to a reduced supply of fatty acids for hepatic triglyceride synthesis because of increased fatty acid oxidation. Eicosapentaenoic acid feeding marginally affected the triglyceride content of heart and mitochondrial and peroxisomal enzyme activities.     

Pore Propagation Directions in P+ Porous Silicon

A comparative study is presented on the pore propagation directions of porous silicon layers (PSL) formed on p⁺-type substrates of different orientations. PSLs were formed on plain (0 0 1) and (1 1 1) silicon wafers as well as on structured (0 0 1) wafers containing facets of various orientations. During anodization, regular pores follow the 0 0 1 direction on the (0 0 1) planes. While on the (1 1 1) planes fewer regular pores develop and seemingly propagate closely to the 1 1 1 direction. These results indicate that the pores propagate perpendicular to the surface i.e. along the field lines when the surface orientation is either (0 0 1) or (1 1 1).When the silicon surface provided (1 1 0) orientation (Chuang, Collins, and Smith, 1989), or its position is in between the (0 0 1) and (1 1 1) planes then the pores do not propagate perpendicular to the surface but along the 0 0 1 direction.All the phenomena exhibited might be explained by presuming that during formation, the pores propagate along the 1 0 0 directions, and that those 1 0 0 directions are preferred which are closely to the field lines. In PSLs formed on (0 0 1) surfaces the field lines and the 0 0 1 crystallographic direction are coincident. However, in the (1 1 1) oriented wafer where three equally probable 1 0 0 directions exist around the field lines, more irregular structure of PSLs will develop.     

Degradation of HDPE and LLDPE in closed mixing chamber: a comparison

Summary Degradation of linear high density polyethylene (HDPE) and butyl branched linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) was studied during moulding in a closed mixing chamber. At the beginning of the process the rate of oxidative degradation was found faster for LLDPE than for HDPE but later this relation reversed. The degradation mechanism was the same for both types of polyethylenes but the rate of elementary steps depended on the chemical structure of the polymer chain. The differences were attributed to the structural differences in the original materials and the products formed during degradation.     

A study on the possibilities of using 3-methylhistidine to quantify skeletal proteins in meat trimmings

The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the amino acid 3-methylhistidine can be used to quantify skeletal meat protein in meat trimmings. 3-Methyhistidine from different carcass trimmings was quantified by a fluorescent HPLC method. Four trimmings with three subsamples each were examined. The subsamples were analysed in duplicate. The results showed high analytical variations between duplicates and subsamples. The average concentration of 3-methylhistidine in the four trimmings was 135 μg/g fat-free and connective tissue-free meat. Compared to earlier studies this value is high. Because of the rather high analytical variation, further research must be done to evaluate the use of 3-methylhistidine as an indicator for skeletal meat proteins in whole carcass trimmings.     

Ärztliche Verantwortung gegenüber Palliativpatienten unter dem neuen Paradigma der Kundenorientierung

Definition of the problem

Establishing a good physician–patient relationship based on mutual trust and professional responsibility is a central element in physicians’ professionalism. Recently, however, there has been considerable debate in the field of medical ethics regarding trends toward an economic approach to medicine, which could potentially undermine healthy doctor–patient relationships. Part of this economic approach to medicine involves viewing the patient as an autonomous customer. But what does the customer role mean for vulnerable patients who are restricted in their autonomy and what effect does it have on the physician–patient relationship?

Arguments

In the following article, we pursue the question whether the physicians’ responsibility and the physician–patient relationship change when the (vulnerable) patient attributes the customer role to him-/herself. The study was conducted within the field of palliative care because terminally ill patients represent an especially vulnerable patient population. We base our argumentation in this article on the results of a qualitative interview study that investigated terminally ill patients’ attitudes regarding the topic “the patient as customer” as well as autonomy and decision-making.

Conclusion

The interview results show that autonomy must be understood in relational terms; furthermore, the analysis of the interviews indicates that the physician plays a crucial role in enabling the patient’s autonomy, regardless of whether patients view themselves as a patient or a customer. Subsequently, we deliberate whether the patients’ statements point to potential changes in the doctor–patient relationship and physicians’ responsibility towards patients. Based on these findings, practical implications for the doctor–patient relationship are considered in regard to the “Ethics of Care”, emphasizing the need for an individualized approach to working with patients, especially those with particularly vulnerable conditions.     

The stability of refractory oxides in sodium-rich environments

The infiltration of molten electrolyte and sodium is known to deteriorate the refractory in aluminum electrolysis. The mineralogical changes due to reactions with molten fluorides have previously been described throughly, while the effect of sodium has not been considered in detail. This paper presents an experimental study of the chemical stability of some refractory materials in sodium-rich environments. The materials were exposed to sodium vapor at 800°C for 4 hours. The mineralogical transformations and deterioration of the materials due to reactions with sodium were analyzed by x-ray diffraction and optical and electron microscopy.