Identification of the mechanical impedance at the human finger tip

The present study evaluates the potential of smokeless tobacco to modify the chemopreventive efficacy of minor dietary constituents, including garlic, mace or black mustard, via modulating the competing pathways of hepatic detoxication system and antioxidant defense mechanism in murine system. Garlic (100 mg/kg b.w. per day) by gavage and mace (1% w/w) or black mustard (1% w/w) in diet induced a significant increase in the levels of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acid-soluble sulfhydryl (-SH), cytochrome b5 (Cyt.b5) and cytochrome P-450 (Cyt.P-450) in murine liver. The hepatic levels of GST and -SH were significantly depressed whereas microsomal Cyt.b5, Cyt.P-450 and MDA levels were elevated in groups treated with smokeless tobacco (50 or 100 mg/kg b.w. per day). The data revealed the inhibitory potential of smokeless tobacco on garlic-induced hepatic GST/GSH system besides the significant augmentation by smokeless tobacco on garlic or mace or black mustard-induced microsomal cytochromes. The possible implications of modulation in competing bioactivation and detoxication pathways in the process of chemical carcinogenesis are discussed.     

Sublingual midazolam premedication in children: a dose response study

Regarding the development of a centrifugal blood pump to be connected directly with small diameter tubings for pediatric use while minimizing hemolysis, we have studied the inlet port side configurations of a pump using both a hemolysis test and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. We have conducted a hemolysis test on 2 models. The tapered shape inlet has proven to be lower in the index of hemolysis (IH) than the straight shape. CFD analyses utilizing expanded flow paths indicated that the flow velocity decreased as the fluid path became larger within the tapered nozzle. When entering the pump chamber, the flow rushed in at a greater velocity through the straight nozzle due to its small diameter. The straight shape showed an abrupt change in pressure around the entrance of the pump chamber while the tapered shape did not. The flow inlet angle of the straight model was observed to be larger than that of the tapered model because of its smaller turning radius.     

INCLUDING CHESTNUTS AND SUGAR BEET PULP IN DIETS FOR PIGS: THE EFFECTS ON THE QUALITY OF PORK MEAT AND THE SENSORY PROPERTIES OF DRY-CURED SAUSAGE (CHORIZO GALLEGO)

This research was aimed at evaluating how the inclusion of dried chestnuts and dried sugar beet pulp in diets for pigs affected the quality of pork meat and the sensory properties of dry-cured sausage ( chorizo gallego ). The meat from pigs that received a diet with chestnuts and sugar beet pulp (CBP) showed lower thiobarbituric acid values and higher water-holding capacity than meat from pigs fed a conventional diet (C). Significant differences were also observed between both batches in color parameters and fatty acid composition of the meat. In the sensory analysis of chorizo, the sausages manufactured with meat from pigs fed the CBP diet were significantly better rated than those with meat from pigs fed a C diet in appearance, odor, flavor, texture and overall score.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The inclusion of dried chestnuts and dried sugar beet pulp in diets for pigs during the fattening period allowed us to recover some of the ingredients more traditionally used in the feeding of pigs. This inclusion modifies some parameters of the resulting pork meat quality; (it decreases lipid oxidation and increases water-holding capacity and polyunsaturated fatty acid content) and also improves the sensory properties of any dry-cured product made with this pork meat.     

Hip-Arg-Phe-, Hip-Phe-Arg- and Hip-His-Leu-cleaving dipeptidyl carboxypeptidases in human adrenal tumors

Hip-Arg-Phe-, Hip-Phe-Arg- and Hip-His-Leu-cleaving dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase activities were measured in the supernatant (S2) and pellet (P2) fractions obtained by ultracentrifugation of human adrenal tumor preparations. Negligible enzyme activity was found in cortical tumor whereas highly significant activities were present in the P2 fractions of the two pheochromocytoma specimens. The hydrolysis rates, expressed in terms of the percent of added substrate were 58-66%/60 min for Hip-Phe-Arg, 55-58%/60 min for Hip-Arg-Phe and 19-30%/60 min for Hip-His-Leu. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, differentially inhibited the enzyme splitting Hip-His-Leu versus the one cleaving Hip-Arg-Phe; Hip-Phe-Arg is probably the substrate of both. It is concluded that the Hip-Arg-Phe-cleaving enzyme in adrenomedullary tumor is probably identical to the purportedly novel dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase that we detected earlier in rabbit ear artery wall, which converts (Met5)-enkephalin-Arg6,Phe7 to (Met5)-enkephalin.     

COLD-CONDITIONING TREATMENT REDUCES CHILLING INJURY IN MEXICAN LIMES (CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA S.) STORED AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Induction of different antioxidant enzymes by high and low temperatures prior to storage has been reported to produce tolerance to chilling injury (CI). Thus, different prestorage temperatures have been suggested to decrease CI in citrus fruits. In this work, the effectiveness of a cold‐conditioning treatment (13C for 48 h) to prevent CI was evaluated in Mexican limes (Citrus aurantifolia S.) stored at 4, 10 and 25C, and 90% relative humidity. Cold conditioning reduced 1.6‐fold CI symptoms, induced a significant increase of 2.2‐fold peroxidase activity and maintained the activity of superoxide dismutase in limes kept at 4C. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of the cold‐conditioning treatment in increasing chilling tolerance in Mexican limes depends on the induction or maintenance of antioxidant enzymatic systems during the entire storage period.     

Effect of Roasting on the Chemical Composition and Protein Quality of Lupin Seeds (Lupinus albus cv Multolupa)

The effect of roasting lupin seeds (Lupinus albus cv Multolupa) for 10, 20, 30, and 40 min at 80–90°C was studied. Raw lupin was shown to be markedly deficient in the S-amino acids. These were not affected by roasting for 10 min, although a mild loss was observed for isoleucine and valine. However, heating for up to 40 min caused important losses in lysine and methionine + cystine. PER for raw lupin was 0.80 (casein 2.93) and that of the 10 min heated sample was 0.92 (NS), while roasting for 20, 30 and 40 min caused a severe reduction in protein quality (PER 0.59, 0.53 and 0.46 respectively). All these values improved significantly (p<0.01) by supplementation with 0.1% DL-methionine. Heating lupin seeds for 10 min may help to remove the “beany” flavor of this legume.     

THE EFFECT OF CASEINOMACROPEPTIDE AND WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE ON STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS ADHESION TO POLYSTYRENE SURFACES AND CELL AGGREGATION

Caseinomacropeptide (CMP) from bovine, ovine and caprine milk and whey protein concentrate (WPC) were both evaluated for adhesion inhibition of Streptococcus mutans to polystyrene surface and cell aggregation. Adhesion inhibition by the CMPs and WPC at 1 mg/mL was higher than 84%. The CMPs and WPC caused aggregation of S. mutans cells at low concentrations. These findings suggest the application of these milk derived proteins as potential dental caries inhibitors and for possible food application uses.     

CD4+CD25+ T cells inhibit both the induction and effector function of autoreactive T cells and represent a unique lineage of immunoregulatory cells

Thymectomy of susceptible strains of mice on day 3 of life results in a spectrum of organ-specific autoimmunity that can be prevented by reconstitution of the thymectomized animals early in life with normal adult lymphocytes. The effectors and suppressors of autoimmunity in this model have been convincingly shown to be CD4+ T cells. It has been demonstrated recently that the regulatory CD4+ T cells that prevent disease coexpress CD25. We have further characterized the population of CD4+CD25+ immunoregulatory cells and demonstrated that they can suppress not only the induction of disease post-thymectomy, but can also efficiently suppress disease induced by cloned autoantigen-specific effector cells. Furthermore, the CD4+CD25+ T cells appear to be members of a unique lineage of regulatory T cells, as the induction of CD25 expression on a monospecific population of T cells derived from TCR transgenic SCID mice did not result in suppression of post-thymectomy autoimmunity. In addition, the TCR transgenic SCID mice were highly susceptible to autoimmune disease induced by the cloned line of autoantigen-specific effectors, while normal mice were relatively resistant. The capacity of the cloned line to transfer disease to nu/nu recipients could be inhibited by normal spleen cell populations containing CD4+CD25+ cells and by purified CD4+CD25+ cells. Although the target Ag(s) and mechanism of action of the CD4+CD25+ T cells remain to be determined, it is likely that they also play an important role in modulating other autoimmune diseases that are mediated by activation of "ignorant" self-reactive T cells present in the normal peripheral lymphocyte pool.     

Hepatocyte growth factor is a coupling factor for osteoclasts and osteoblasts in vitro

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor, is a powerful motogen, mitogen, and morphogen produced by cells of mesodermal origin, acting on epithelial and endothelial cells. Its receptor is the tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-MET protooncogene. We show that the HGF receptor is expressed by human primary osteoclasts, by osteoclast-like cell lines, and by osteoblasts. In both cell lineages, HGF stimulation triggers the receptor kinase activity and autophosphorylation. In osteoclasts, HGF receptor activation is followed by increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and by activation of the pp60c-Src kinase. HGF induces changes in osteoclast shape and stimulates chemotactic migration and DNA replication. Osteoblasts respond to HGF by entering the cell cycle, as indicated by stimulation of DNA synthesis. Interestingly, osteoclasts were found to synthesize and secrete biologically active HGF. These data strongly suggest the possibility of an autocrine regulation of the osteoclast by HGF and a paracrine regulation of the osteoblast by the HGF produced by the osteoclast.