Human recombinant anti-Rh(D) monoclonal antibodies: improvement of biological properties by in vitro class-switch

The aim of this study was to investigate how intrauterine growth retardation affects body proportions in VLBW infants. The cohort consisted of 135 surviving and 80 deceased preterm infants weighing less than 1250 grams at birth. Gestational age varied between 24 and 36 weeks (mean age 29.7 and 27.5 weeks, respectively). Birth weight was more than 2 SD below the mean birth standard values in 32% of the surviving, and in 27% of the deceased infants. Reduction of weight, length and head circumference at birth was analysed using Z scores based on Swedish birth standards. Z scores of weight, length and head circumference were highly correlated in the surviving and the deceased infants (r = 0.78 to 0.94 and 0.65 to 0.97, respectively). Length was significantly more affected by growth retardation than weight. Weight and head circumference were proportionately reduced. Intrauterine growth retardation influences body proportions in VLBW infants differently than in larger preterm and term infants.     

In times of survival, the right of silence

The purpose of this study was to assess cortical and cancellous bone responses to unilateral limb immobilization and, subsequently, to remobilization with exercise, in a young adult canine model. Right forelimbs of 14 1-2-year old mongrel dogs were immobilized in a non-weight-bearing position by a bandage for 16 weeks. Six control dogs were untreated. At 16 weeks, seven immobilized and three control dogs were euthanized. The remaining seven immobilized dogs began a recovery protocol consisting of 16 weeks of kennel confinement (without the right forelimb bandaged) followed by 16 weeks of treadmill exercise conducted three times per week. These seven dogs and three control dogs were euthanized at 48 weeks. Bone mineral density of the proximal radii was determined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and humeral middiaphyseal cross-sectional areas were determined with computed tomography. Humeri were tested in cranio-caudal three-point bending to failure. Cancellous bone cores from the lateral humeral condyles had wet apparent density determined and were tested to failure in compression. Mechanical properties, bone density, and cross-sectional areas were compared between immobilized (right forelimb), contralateral weight bearing (left forelimb), and control forelimbs with Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc tests. At 16 weeks, bone mineral density, cortical load, yield, and stiffness as well as cancellous bone failure stress, yield stress, and modulus were significantly lower (p < 0.02) for immobilized limbs than control limbs. Immobilized limb cancellous bone mechanical properties were 28%-74% of control values, and cortical bone mechanical properties were 71%-98% of control values. After 32 weeks of remobilization, cortical and cancellous bone mechanical properties were not different from control values except that cortical bone failure stress and modulus were significantly higher (p < 0.01) between remobilized and control limbs. In summary, 16 weeks of forelimb immobilization was associated with significantly lower mechanical properties, and with greater differences in cancellous than cortical bone properties. Mechanical properties were not different from control values after 32 weeks of recovery that included 16 weeks of treadmill exercise.     

攀钢1450热轧带钢厂精轧机组电动压下机构带钢压下时的动特性计算和探讨

从理论上和实践上对武钢１７００、鞍钢１７００改造前后、本钢１７００改造前后和攀钢１４５０精轧机组的电动压下机构在带钢压下时的动特性进行计算和探讨，得出有说服力的结论。主题词：     

Surfactant replacement therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome from viral pneumonia

A modified natural surfactant was administered to a patient with life-threatening adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by viral pneumonia. Subsequently, there was a marked improvement in gas exchange. In order to assess the mechanism for improved oxygenation, computed tomography of the lungs was done. Quantitative analysis of the scans taken before and after surfactant administration indicates that improvement in gas exchange was largely due to the expansion of underinflated and collapsed lung areas. Although this is a single case report, it provides insight into the possible beneficial effect of instilled surfactant in severe respiratory distress from viral pneumonia.     

Production of proteinase A by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a cell-recycling fermentation system: experiments and computer simulations

Overproduction of proteinase A by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated by cultivations in a cell-recycling bioreactor. Membrane filtration was used to separate cells from the broth. Recycling ratios and dilution rates were varied and the effect on enzyme production was studied both experimentally and by computer simulations. Experiments and simulations showed that cell mass and product concentration were enhanced by high ratios of recycling. Additional simulations showed that the proteinase A concentration decreased drastically at high dilution rates and the optimal volumetric productivities were at high dilution rates just below washout and at high ratios of recycling. Cell-recycling fermentation gave much higher volumetric productivities and stable product concentrations in contrast to simple continuous fermentation.     

Economic and ecological aspects of plasma surface engineering

For new developments such as plasma surface technologies, it is first necessary to prove their scientific possibilities and limits. Therefore it is mainly questions of process understanding and process handling, quality of the substrate and coating as well as its interactions which are considered and discussed.

To use these technologies in industry it is also necessary to consider ecological aspects as well as economic and marketing aspects. For a scientist at first these aspects are not as important.

An overview of different economic aspects of the application of plasma surface technologies is presented by considering the following: investment and running costs of plants; costs of process development for special applications; comparison of different technologies; certainty and reproducibility of the coating technologies; cost and profit balance of coated work pieces; costs of marketing.

Recently, the importance of the ecological aspects of industrial technologies has increased greatly. In most cases these questions are closely linked to the economic aspects. Nearly all ecological problems can be solved and handled, but the costs for this are increasing greatly. Although the laws currently differ in different countries, in future the laws everywhere will become more strict. The main concerns of the application and handling of a plasma assisted process are for example the use or production of toxic media, security of plants for the staff and for the environment, and handling of used coated material.     

Analyses of rhythms of the body temperature in free running in rats

The objective of this study was to determine the disturbances of urea in serum and urine of endurance trained volunteers during prolonged exposure to hypokinesia (decreased number of km/day). The studies during hypokinesia (HK) were performed for 364 days on twenty long-distance runners in the age of 23 to 26 years, with an average peak oxygen uptake, of 66 ml.kg.min-1. All volunteers were divided into two equal groups: Ten volunteers were placed on a continuous regime of exercise 14.8 km/day and served as control subjects (CS). The remaining volunteers were subjected to continuous HK without the use of any preventive measures and were considered as the hypokinetic subjects (HS). For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the HS were kept continuously under an average of 2.7 km/day for the duration of the study. Prior to exposure to HK, the HS were on the same exercise regime as the CS. During a 60 day pre-HK period and during the experimental period, urinary excretion of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and calcium and concentrations thereof in serum were measured. In the HS the concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and calcium in serum and the rate of excretion thereof in urine increased significantly when compared to the CS. It was concluded that prolonged restriction of muscular activity induces significant disturbances of urea in serum and urine of endurance trained volunteers.