Comparative proximal and mineral analysis of iguana,poultry and beef meats

Raw meat samples from iguana, poultry and beef cattle specimens were used to compare proximal (g/100 g) and mineral (mg/100 g) composition. Iguana meat was obtained by dissecting whole specimens (Iguana iguana) captured at a ranch (n = 20). Thighs and breasts were separated from broiler (either chilled or frozen) carcasses (n = 20), and deboned to represent chicken meat samples, whereas 2.5-cm-thick longissimus (ribeyes) steaks were removed from carcasses and frozen to represent beef of several breed types (n = 20). The one-way analysis of variance performed by the least squares method (LS Means) showed specie affected significantly (p > 0.05) all composition variables under study. Moisture content did not differ between iguana and chicken meats (74.7 y 74.9%, respectively) whereas beef samples had the lowest water content (73%) (p < 0.01). LS means for protein content showed beef samples (22.3%) were highest (p < 0.05) in this nutrient, iguana meat being intermediate (20.8%). Chicken meat presented the highest amount of total lipids (7.75 +/- 0.20 g/100 g) (p < 0.01) followed by iguana (3.49 +/- 0.12 g/100 g) and beef (2.57 +/- 0.20 g/100 g). Ash and most individual minerals were more concentrated in iguana meat, except for K and Zn that were more abundant in beef samples. Non-significant differences in Mg, Na, Cu or Mn contents were detected between chicken and beef samples. It was concluded that iguana meat could be an alternate source of protein and minerals as compared to those of traditional meat species.     

Encoding amplitude information onto phase-only filters

We report a new, to our knowledge, technique for encoding amplitude information onto a phase-only filter with a single liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. In our approach we spatially modulate the phase that is encoded onto the filter and, consequently, spatially modify the diffraction efficiency of the filter. Light that is not diffracted into the first order is sent into the zero order, effectively allowing for amplitude modulation of either the first-order or the zero-order diffracted light. This technique has several applications in both optical pattern recognition and image processing, including amplitude modulation and inverse filters. Experimental results are included for the new technique.     

Attenuation of cocaine-induced locomotor activity by butyrylcholinesterase.

A primary enzyme for the metabolism of cocaine is butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). To determine whether the systemic administration of BChE can increase the metabolism of cocaine sufficiently to alter a behavioral effect, rats were tested in a locomotor activity chamber after receiving 17 mg of cocaine per kg intraperitoneally. In rats pretreated intravenously with 5,000 IU of horse serum-derived BChE, the locomotor activity effect was significantly attenuated. BChE pretreatment increased plasma BChE levels approximately 400-fold. When added to rat plasma, this amount of BChE reduced the cocaine half-life from over 5 hr to less than 5 min. BChE altered the cocaine metabolic pattern such that the relatively nontoxic metabolite ecgonine methyl ester was produced, rather than benzoylecgonine. These results suggest that systemic administration of BChE can increase the metabolism of cocaine sufficiently to alter a behavioral effect of cocaine and thus should be investigated as a potential treatment for cocaine abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Approximation to conservative surgery of Leydig cell tumor

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and histological characteristics of 5 cases of Leydig cell tumor in order to establish the criteria for conservative surgical management. METHODS: Of 31 testicular tumors diagnosed from 1982-1993, 5(16.1%) were Leydig cell tumors. We analyzed patient general characteristics, the prevalent feminizing (60%) and hypogonadal features and the histopathological characteristics that might indicate a non aggressive course of the tumor. RESULTS: No metastasis was observed at 522.9 months mean follow up. Three patients underwent orchidectomy through the inguinal approach; one case had been incidentally discovered after subalbuginea resection due to a disseminated prostatic carcinoma and the fifth patient was treated conservatively by tumorectomy and is tumor-free at more than 120 months follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Parenchyma-sparing surgery may have a place in the treatment of interstitial cell tumor, with evident endocrinological and psychological benefits, especially in the young males that meet the clinical and histological criteria for conservative surgical management.     

Controlled clinical assay in Clonidine, arginine aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate of Ornithine and Ciproheptadine as growth stimulants in children with short stature

Eighty-one healthy prepubertal children of short stature, between two and twelve years of age, were divided into four homogeneous groups. Each group was treated with a placebo for one year and for a second year with one of the following drugs (double blind): clonidine (CI), arginine asprate (AA), ornithine alphaketoglutare (OKG), or cyproheptadine (Cp). CI and OKG did not better the standard deviation of height. AA and Cp did, but to no greater extent than the placebo. The growth rate did not change in any group. The ratio of bone age/chronological age was significantly higher at the end of the OKG year than at the end of the year with placebo, a difference that was not found in any other group. The prognosis of adult height (TW2) did not change in any group. The standard deviation of weight increased in all groups, both with the placebo and the various drugs, without significant differences between the groups. The CI caused frequent clinical side effects, including a reversible increase in transaminases in one child. The Cp stimulated hunger. The AA and OKG did not produce side-effects and the placebo increased appetite in 11% of the children. Somatomedin C was significantly higher after one year with Cp than after one year with the placebo, significantly higher after the placebo than after CI and AA and there was no difference between the treatment with the placebo and OKG. Growth hormone values in a 24 hour urine sample were so scattered that we do not consider them helpful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Skinfold thickness measurements are better predictors of body fat percentage than body mass index in male Spanish children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES: Risk factors for increased blood lead concentration (BPb) has been investigated. However, the effect of sibship and Chinese herbal medicine on BPb has not been systematically studied. In this study BPb data from voluntary testing was used to determine if Chinese herbal medicine and sibship were associated with BPb. METHODS: 319 children aged 1-7 were tested for BPb. Meanwhile, parents were interviewed to obtain information including consumption of Chinese herbal medicine, living environment, lifestyle, and sibship of the children tested. RESULTS: The mean (SD) BPb of 319 preschool children was 4.4 (2.4) micrograms/dl. The consumption of Ba-baw-san (a Chinese herbal medicine) was significantly associated with increased BPb in children (p = 0.038). Further multivariate regression analysis of BPb in 50 pairs of siblings showed the factors of being brothers explained 75% of variation for BPb, and being sisters and brother-sister explained 51% and 41% of variation respectively. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine and children's play patterns within the family expressed in different types of sibship are the main determinants of low concentrations of BPb in preschool children of Taiwan.     

Histopathology of coronary lesions with early loss of minimal luminal diameter after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: is thrombus a significant contributor?

BACKGROUND: Early loss of minimal luminal diameter of >0.3 mm after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is associated with a higher incidence of restenosis. The underlying mechanism of this early loss is unknown and thrombus may be a contributing factor. METHODS: We performed a prospective study using quantitative computerized planimetry on coronary tissue specimens obtained by directional coronary atherectomy of 24 lesions in which early loss occurred 22+/-9 minutes after successful PTCA. RESULTS: Thrombus was present in 9 (37%) of 24 coronary specimens. Segmental areas (mm2) and percentage of total area were distributed as follows: sclerotic tissue, 4.07+/-0.7 mm2 (63%+/-6%); fibrocellular tissue, 0.97+/-0.27 mm2 (16%+/-4%); hypercellular tissue, 0.99+/-0.29 mm2 (12%+/-3%); atheromatous gruel, 0.18+/-0.07 mm2 (3%+/-0.1%); and thrombus, 0.24+/-0.15 mm2 (6%+/-0.4%). There was no difference in the relative early loss index between lesions with or without thrombus (35%+/-7% vs 26%+/-2%, respectively; P= .87). Multiple stepwise regression analysis did not identify any histologic predictors of relative early loss index. CONCLUSION: Histopathologic analysis of coronary lesions with early loss after successful PTCA suggests that thrombus may not play a significant role in this angiographic phenomenon.     

Brucella abortus transits through the autophagic pathway and replicates in the endoplasmic reticulum of nonprofessional phagocytes

Brucella abortus is an intracellular pathogen that replicates within a membrane-bounded compartment. In this study, we have examined the intracellular pathway of the virulent B. abortus strain 2308 (S2308) and the attenuated strain 19 (S19) in HeLa cells. At 10 min after inoculation, both bacterial strains are transiently detected in phagosomes characterized by the presence of early endosomal markers such as the early endosomal antigen 1. At approximately 1 h postinoculation, bacteria are located within a compartment positive for the lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker sec61beta but negative for the mannose 6-phosphate receptors and cathepsin D. Interestingly, this compartment is also positive for the autophagosomal marker monodansylcadaverin, suggesting that S2308 and S19 are located in autophagic vacuoles. At 24 h after inoculation, attenuated S19 is degraded in lysosomes, while virulent S2308 multiplies within a LAMP- and cathepsin D-negative but sec61beta- and protein disulfide isomerase-positive compartment. Furthermore, treatment of infected cells with the pore-forming toxin aerolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila causes vacuolation of the bacterial replication compartment. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that pathogenic B. abortus exploits the autophagic machinery of HeLa cells to establish an intracellular niche favorable for its replication within the ER.