Effects of laser therapy on lipids and antioxidants in blood of patients with bronchial asthma

Laser therapy was assessed for effects on lipoperoxides and free radical catchers in blood lipids of patients with bronchial asthma (BA). When a group of 52 BA patients was compared to healthy donors by dienic conjugates, vitamin E and overall lipid-soluble antioxidants levels in the whole blood and plasma, these appeared higher in the asthmatics. Combination of laser therapy with conventional treatment returned these parameters close to normal.     

L-cystine-di-beta-naphthylamidase activity in plasma of the snake Bothrops jararaca after chronic challenges of water balance

Plasma protein, osmolality and L-cystine-di-beta-naphthylamidase activity were measured in Bothrops jararaca snakes submitted to normal hydration, water deprivation, water loading, salt loading or argvasotocin injections. Protein and osmolality were similar for male and female snakes in all treatments. Protein content was similar in all treatments, indicating the ability of the animals to maintain fluid balance between the vascular and extravascular compartment under osmotic challenges. Osmolality was increased in water-deprived and salt-loaded and was decreased in water-loaded animals compared with normally hydrated or argvasotocin-injected snakes. Enzymatic activity differed between males and females and was higher in salt-loaded females and in arg-vasotocin-injected females and males than in water-loaded snakes. A positive linear regression between osmolality and L-cystine-di-beta-naphthylamidase was obtained for female snakes (correlation coefficient = 0.6162, P < 0.01). The data show a role of arg-vasotocin in the consistent relationship between water balance and this sex-related aminopeptidase activity.     

Frequency of lyme borreliosis and diagnostic titers of antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi in patients with neurological diseases in endemic region of Russia

The frequency of diagnostic titers of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in 289 examinees suffering from neurological diseases made up 10.4%, while in the population this figure was under 1.9%. Lyme-borreliosis was detected in 11 (3.8%) patients, 2 of them had mixed infection with tick-borne viral encephalitis. In 10 patients (3.5%) the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis required verification with other techniques. It is thought valid to perform serological screening for neuroborreliosis only in patients with tick-born encephalitis to identify mixed infection.     

Two fetal deaths associated with maternal sepsis and with thrombosis of the intervillous space of the placenta

The placental pathology in two second trimester fetal losses associated with mild maternal disseminated intravascular coagulation are reported. Case one had a dental abscess, a leukocytosis of 36300 white blood cells/m, and evidence of mild consumptive coagulopathy at 20 weeks. Case two had septic findings including disseminated intravascular thrombosis associated with pyelonephritis. The placentae had extensive intervillous thrombosis at the periphery of spiral arterial flow. It is hypothesized that in mild disseminated intravascular coagulation, the trophoblast inhibits fibrinolysis, favouring thrombosis perhaps due to production of plasminogen activator inhibitor.     

Acetogenic coccoid spore-forming bacteria isolated from the rumen

Thirteen strains of a new acetogenic bacterium were isolated from the rumen contents of lambs, llamas and bisons. This paper is the first report of Gram-positive coccoid spore-forming bacteria occurring in chains and able to use H2 + CO2 as energy source and produce acetate from this gas mixture. One of them, chosen as the reference strain for its efficiency in utilizing H2/CO2 likely via the acetyl-CoA pathway, was characterized in detail. The G + C ratio of the DNA of the organism was 46.5 mol%. The temperature and pH optimum were 37 degrees-40 degrees C and 6.3-6.8, respectively. Numerous organic substrates including some o-methylate aromatic compounds were used heterotrophically. The full 16S rRNA gene sequence was determined. The phylogeny, physiology, morphology and numerous features described here are sufficiently different from those of any bacteria described today to justify the definition of a new species. The name "New acetogenic bacterium" is temporarily proposed, awaiting a future taxonomic revision of the genus Clostridium.     

Influence of conductive electroactive polymer polyaniline on electrochemical performance of LiMn1·95Al0·05O4 cathode for lithium ion batteries

Conductive electroactive polymer polyaniline is utilized to substitute conductive additive acetylene black in the LiMn_1·95Al_0·05O₄ cathode for lithium ion batteries. Results show that LiMn_1·95Al_0·05O₄ possesses stable structure and good performance. Percolation theory is used to optimize the content of conductive additive in cathode. It shows that the conductivity of cathode reaches its maximum value when the content of conductive additives is 15 wt%. This is in agreement with the results of charge and discharge experiments. The application of polyaniline can evidently enhance the electrochemical performance of cathode. The discharge capacity of cathode using 15 wt% polyaniline is 95·9 mAh g^???1 at the current density of 170 mA g^???1. The charge transfer resistance under different depths of discharge of cathode is much lower compared with the use of acetylene black. It can be concluded that the application of polyaniline in cathode can greatly improve the electrochemical performances of LiMn_1·95Al_0·05O₄ cathode.     

Structural and mechanical behaviour of 5% Al2O3-reinforced Fe metal matrix composites (MMCs) produced by powder metallurgy (P/M) route

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of sintering temperature and time on the properties of Fe–Al₂O₃ composite (5 wt% Al₂O₃; 95 wt% Fe) prepared by powder metallurgy process. X-ray diffraction, microstructure, density, hardness and compressive strength of prepared samples have been investigated. XRD studies show the presence of Fe and Al₂O₃ along with iron aluminate phase. Iron aluminate is formed as a result of reactive sintering between iron and alumina particles. Microstructural examination of the specimen showed a dense structure with nanosize dispersion of the reinforcement of ceramic phase. Density as well as hardness of specimens depend on the formation of iron aluminate phase, which in turn depends on sintering temperature and time.