Evaluation of the effects of omega-3 fatty acid-containing diets on the inflammatory stage of wound healing in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the effects of dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on biochemical and histopathologic components of the inflammatory stage of wound healing. ANIMALS: 30 purpose-bred Beagles. PROCEDURE: Dogs were allotted to 5 groups of 6. Each group was fed a unique dietary fatty acid ratio of omega-6 to n-3--diet A, 5.3:1; diet B, 10.4:1; diet C, 24.1:1; diet D, 51.6:1; and diet E, 95.8:1. Dogs were fed once daily for 12 weeks, then biopsy specimens were taken from 4-day-old wounds of each dog and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for: prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) metabolites, and ratios of omega-6 to n-3 fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), adrenic acid to docosahexaenoic acid, and PGE2 to prostaglandin E3 (PGE3) metabolites. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis was carried out on AA, EPA, adrenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and the major metabolite from the PGE2 and PGE3 pathway. These molecules were further quantified with respect to diet to determine significant differences. By analysis of the AA-to-EPA ratio, diet A was different from diets D and E and diets B and C were different from diet E (P < 0.05). By analysis of the PGE2-to-PGE3 metabolite ratio, diet A was different from diet E (P < 0.05). Though biochemical analysis indicated dietary dependence, histopathologic data indicated no significant difference with respect to diet groups. CONCLUSION: The biochemical component of the inflammatory stage of wound healing can be manipulated by diet. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diets can be used to control inflammation associated with dermatologic conditions.     

复杂技术产品的协同开发

以机床为例，介绍了一个计算机辅助产品开发的方案。应用该方法，在同步工程技术的基础上，能快速地实现复杂技术产品的协同开发，并使产品开发的风险最小。     

Inhibition of adenosine deaminase by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) mimics the effect of inescapable shock on escape learning in rats.

Three experiments examined the role of adenosine neuroregulation in the production of shuttle-escape deficits caused by prior exposure to inescapable electric shock in rats (learned helplessness). Intracerebroventricular administration of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), a selective adenosine deaminase inhibitor, mimicked the effect of earlier inescapable shock at a dose of 2.5 μM in previously restrained rats. Performance deficits produced by EHNA or by earlier exposure to inescapable shock were reversed by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg caffeine, an adenosine receptor antagonist. Finally, preexposure to an ineffective number of shocks interacted in synergy with an ineffective pretest dose (1.0 μM) of EHNA to maximize shuttle-escape latencies. These data implicate endogenous adenosine neuroregulation as a proximate mechanism in learned helplessness and conservation-withdrawal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rechtliche Implikationen zur Verwendung von Nanopartikeln in Lebensmitteln und Kosmetika

Zusammenfassung:  Die Verwendung von Nanopartikeln in Lebensmitteln und kosmetischen Mitteln ist anhand der lebensmittelrechtlichen bzw. der für Kosmetika geltenden Rechtsvorschriften zu beurteilen, da es keine nanotechnologischen Sonderregelungen gibt. Das Hauptproblem besteht dabei insoweit, die gegenw?rtig begrenzten Kenntnisse über m?gliche Gesundheitsrisiken sachgerecht unter den gegebenen Rechtsrahmen zu subsumieren. Damit geht die Frage einher, ob ein Defizit an naturwissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen durch ein Mehr an „schützenden“ Regelungen kompensiert werden kann.

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Eingegangen: 29. Januar 2008; angenommen: 4. Februar 2008     

Magnesium borohydride as a hydrogen storage material: Properties and dehydrogenation pathway of unsolvated Mg(BH4)2

The decomposition of crystalline magnesium borohydride upon heating was studied using thermal desorption, calorimetry, in situ X-ray diffraction, and solid state NMR. Hydrogen release from Mg(BH₄)₂ occurs in at least four steps via formation of several polyborane intermediate species and includes an exothermic reaction yielding crystalline MgH₂ as an intermediate. The decomposition products may be only partially recharged after the very first step and also via hydrogenation of Mg metal. The intermediate formation of amorphous MgB₁₂H₁₂, was confirmed by ¹¹B NMR. A four-stage pathway for the thermal decomposition of Mg(BH₄)₂ is proposed.     

FMS Approach to Construction Automation

The need to increase safety, productivity, quality, and resource efficiency in construction is a challenge to researchers that requires bold innovative changes. Technological adaptation of successful concepts from other industries to construction offers an important path for innovative progress. This paper provides insight into some central aspects of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) that show the greatest transferability to construction. A flexible manufacturing system is a production facility consisting of computer‐controlled machines, or work stations, connected by an automated material‐handling system, which is used to produce a variety of parts in low and medium volume. The state of the art in automated material handling and process planning is presented as a basis for construction automation, a new field of civil engineering. Ongoing research in flexible construction systems is described, and directions for future research needed to establish a knowledge base of principles relating to construction automation are outlined.     

Separation of tubulin subunits under nondenaturing conditions

The dissociation and separation of the tubulin alpha- and beta-subunits have been achieved by binding alpha-subunits to an immunoadsorbent gel and selectively inducing release of free beta-subunits. The immunoadsorbent gel was prepared by coupling the monoclonal antibody YL1/2 to Sepharose 4B which specifically recognizes the C-terminal end of tyrosinated alpha-subunits. Extensive tubulin subunit dissociation and separation occurred in Tris buffer at neutral pH but was greatly enhanced at basic pHs (8. 0-8.5). The binding of colchicine to heterodimeric tubulin resulted in a marked protection against dissociation. The dissociation of tubulin subunits was accompanied by loss of colchicine binding capacity, and ability to polymerize into microtubules. As shown by circular dichroism, loss of functional properties was not due to extensive denaturation of tubulin, as tubulin retained most of its secondary structure. Neither of the separated alpha- or beta-subunits was able to bind colchicine, but functional tubulin that was able to bind colchicine could be reconstituted from the dissociated subunits by changing the buffer to a neutral mixture of Tris and Pipes. The yield of reconstitution, as estimated from kinetic measurements of colchicine binding capacity, amounted to about 25%. Such a yield can probably be improved with minor changes in experimental conditions. The quantitative dissociation of tubulin into separated "native" alpha- and beta-subunits should provide a powerful tool for further studies on the properties of the individual tubulin subunits and the structure-function relationships of the tubulins.     

Infantile and juvenile hypothyroidism with the gland in place and low radio-iodide uptake

27 hypothyroid infants of children, with a low iodine uptake in spite of a thyroid gland or thyroid tissue in normal pretracheal place, have been studied. 21 cases are related to primary thyroid involvement leading to vanishing iodine or technetium uptake. In 8 of these cases, clinical onset in late childhood, high frequency of antithyroid antibodies and of familial thyroid dysfunction were similar to those found in childhood's thyroiditis. 8 other cases had a precocious onset (first months in 6, first year in 1, second year in 1) with some pretracheal iodine uptake when first studied and no uptake at further examinations, 1 patient having received no treatment from first to second study, the others being without treatment from more than two months and certain of them receiving injections of TSH. The last 5 cases of this group were those of children born to 2 mothers with treated hypothyroidism, with low iodine uptake in pretracheal place. The role of genetic factors and auto-immunity in theses cases is discussed. The 6 other patients had clinically isolated hypothyroidism secondary to TSH deficiency, eventually associated to clinically inapparent GH or ACTH deficiencies, most of them by hypothalamic defect with normal response to TRH.