Holography and the possibility of its use in applied anatomy

The article deals with some methods of holography (holograms with inclined reference beam, in three-dimensional media after Yu. N. Denisiuk, holographic interferometry) as applied to studying anatomical objects. Approximate optical schemes and photographic copies of holograms of separate objects are presented. The comparative analysis of different methods enabled the authors to recommened for practical use the method of obtaining holograms in three-dimensional media for documentation of anatomical investigation and storage of information, holographic method of obtaining contour maps of the surface for quantitative characteristics of individual properties of the object and the method of double exposure for studying static and dynamic deformities.     

Protein Oxidation in Processed Meat: Mechanisms and Potential Implications on Human Health

Processed meats represent a large percentage of muscle foods consumed in the western world. Various processing steps affect the physicochemical properties of the meat, compromise its nutritional components, or produce some compounds that are of health concern. Hence, the impact of oxidation on human health and the aging process and the influence of diet on these harmful reactions are of growing interest. Past decades have seen more focus on lipid oxidation, microbial deterioration, and pathogenicity, as well as production of carcinogenic compounds during meat processing. The oxidation of protein, which is a major component in meat systems, has received less attention. Protein oxidation has been defined as a covalent modification of protein induced either directly by reactive species or indirectly by reaction with secondary by‐products of oxidative stress. Not only are these modifications critical for technological and sensory properties of muscle foods, they may have implications on human health and safety when consumed. Cooking, for example, has been observed to increase free radical generation while it also decreases the antioxidant protection systems in meat, both of which contribute to protein oxidation. Many other meat processing techniques, as well as other emerging technologies, may significantly affect protein oxidation and protein overall quality. This paper explores the current understanding of meat processing techniques and their possible effects on the status of protein oxidation and nutritional value, as well as their possible implications on human health.     

Induction of monocyte tissue factor procoagulant activity during coronary artery bypass surgery is reduced with heparin-coated extracorporeal circuit

The possible activation of monocytes to express tissue factor procoagulant activity (TF-PCA) during CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) was investigated. 22 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization were randomly assigned to two groups. In group C, heparin-coated circuits (Duraflo II) and reduced systemic heparinization (ACT > 250s) were used. In group NC, non-coated circuits and standard heparin administration (ACT > 480s) were used. Adherent monocytes retrieved from the oxygenators immediately after bypass arrest showed a 2-3-fold increase in TF-PCA when compared to circulating cells pre-CPB (P < 0.01). When cell PCA was expressed as percent change from pre-CPB (baseline) values, circulating monocytes in group NC at CPB-arrest showed a 2-fold increase in PCA compared to group C (P < 0.05). Moreover, the percent increase in PCA of oxygenator-retrieved monocytes was 7-fold in group NC and 2-fold in group C (P < 0.008 and P < 0.004, respectively). Thus, heparin-coating of the extracorporeal circuit reduced induction of adherent cell TF-PCA by 70% (P < 0.05). Thus, monocyte TF-PCA may cause activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway during CPB surgery. It is apparent that heparin-coating enhanced biocompatibility of extracorporeal circuits. Reduced systemic heparinization in group C proved to be safe. However, further reduction of heparin administration may not be advisable, since monocytes were still activated in the coated oxygenator.     

The effect of an acetylcholine analog on the activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme in the lung, kidney and plasma of the arterial and renal venous blood of rats

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity after i.v. carbachol administration increased in the renal cortex and decreased in the renal venous plasma. Carbachol did not affect the pulmonary ACE activity. The renal ACE pool seems to be more sensitive to cholinergic effect than the pulmonary one.     

Explosive school-based measles outbreak: intense exposure may have resulted in high risk, even among revaccinees

Several studies have pointed out that L-selectin on CD34-positive cells plays a role in haematopoietic reconstitution after peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. Since it is known that a decrease in L-selectin expression in lymphocytes and granulocytes can be induced by a variety of stress situations, we have investigated in this study whether the freeze-thawing procedure, used in PBSC transplantation, would affect L-selectin expression on CD34+ stem cells. Flow cytometry was performed by labelling the cells with anti-CD34 (HPCA2 PE) and anti-CD62L (FMC46 FITC). The leucapheresis procedure itself caused a slight decrease of L-selectin expression on CD34 cells in 11 out of 12 cases (mean decrease of the percentage of positive cells 11.9; range 6-23). A much larger decrease was found upon freeze-thawing: a mean of 39% (range 4-78% in 27 cases) compared to fresh material. To determine if L-selectin expression might be up-regulated after cryopreservation, thawed transplant samples (n = 11) were incubated at 37 degrees C in RPMI with 10% FCS at 5% CO2. Already early in the course of incubation two CD34-positive populations appeared in the blast region, characterized by either a low or high forward scatter. Simultaneous viability staining with the DNA dye 7-Amino Actinomycin D and the DNA/RNA dye Syto16 revealed that the population with low forward scatter was apoptotic while the population with the high forward scatter was non-apoptotic. The latter population is considered to be most relevant for transplantation. In this population an increase of L-selectin expression after overnight incubation was observed in 8/11 samples up to values of 46-120% of the values of the fresh nonfrozen samples. In addition, the mean fluorescence intensity was significantly increased in 10/11 cases. Kinetic experiments with shorter incubation times revealed that only part of the leucapheresis samples (two out of 8) showed an increase of L-selectin expression within 4 h. In addition, a decrease of L-selectin expression was found upon CD34 purification from fresh leucapheresis material by magnetic isolation (decrease ranging from 59 to 92%, n = 5). In contrast to frozen samples, L-selectin reappearance was seen already within 4 h of incubation in all samples. Both the loss of L-selectin expression on CD34 cells occurring upon freeze-thawing, the emergence of apoptosis, as well as the recovery of L-selectin expression on non-apoptotic cells varies largely between individual leucapheresis samples, and therefore it is concluded that such processes should be considered when correlations with clinical outcome after transplantation are made.