Comparison of three different atrial septal defect occlusion devices

Three different devices were used to close secundum-type atrial septal defects in 28 patients. The "Amplatzer" is associated with an easier and shorter procedure than are the "Sideris Buttoned Device" and the Microvena "Angel Wings" devices.     

Platelet sialic acid and platelet survival after aggregation by ADP

Some investigators have reported recently that platelet surface sialic acid is decreased during ADP-induced aggregation, whereas others have reported an increase. Since removal of sialic acid from the platelet surface shortens platelet survival, we have determined the survival of platelets that have been aggregatad by ADP. We have also measured the amount of sialic acid in the suspending fluid of platelets after ADP-induced aggregation. ADP-induced aggregation did not cause the loss of sialic acid from rabbit platelets (which do not undergo a release reaction in response to ADP) nor from washed human platelets in a medium containing physiologic concentrations of calcium in which granule contents are not released. In a medium without added calcium, ADP caused the release of 14C-serotonin (42.5% +/- 3%) from human platelets, but less than 4% of the sialic-acid-containing material was released. It seems likely that little of the releasable sialic acid of platelets is in the dense granules or the alpha-granules. Thrombin (5 U/ml) released 90.0% +/- 3.4% of the serotonin from human platelets but only 20.6% +/- 7.4% of the total sialic-acid-containing material. Neuraminidase removed 42.3% of the total sialic acid, presumably from the platelet surface. Rabbit platelets that had been aggregated by ADP and deaggregated survived normally when returned to the circulation. This observation also provides evidence that they had not lost membrane sialic acid during aggregation and deaggregation.     

Comparison Between the Induced Changes in the Intensities of Mid and Near Infrared Absorption Bands of Poly[Vinyl Alcohol] Due to Temperature and Solvents

The temperature induced changes in the intensities of the infrared absorption bands of PVA in both MID and NIR regions are presented. The absorption band at 1141cm^-1 is the only band among the bands in the mid region which is markedly affected by temperature. This band is taken as a measure of crystallinity of PVA. PVA shows two phase transitions at 80c⁰ and 120c⁰. The absorbances of the 1940nm in the near region is also temperature sensititve. The temperature dependence of the other bands in either mid or near regions is very weak. The effect of non polar and polar solvents such as n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, chloroform, methanol and acetone is discussed. Comparison between the solvent induced changes in the intensities of the bands in mid and near regions is carried out. The data demonstrate that the bands in the near region ( overtone and combinations) are more sensitive to solvents than the bands in the mid regions. The combined effect of temperature and solvents on the intensities of absorption bands of PVA is also studied.     

Morphological and Mechanical Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles and Parent Human Synoviocytes under Physiological and Inflammatory Conditions

The morphology of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) issued from the synovial fluid (SF) of patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or from healthy subjects (H), as well as the ultrastructure and mechanical properties of the FLS-secreted extracellular vesicles (EV), were analyzed by confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and tribological tests. EV released under healthy conditions were constituted of several lipid bilayers surrounding a viscous inner core. This “gel-in” vesicular structure ensured high mechanical resistance of single vesicles and good tribological properties of the lubricant. RA, and to a lesser extent OA, synovial vesicles had altered morphology, corresponding to a “gel-out” situation with vesicles surrounded by a viscous gel, poor mechanical resistance, and poor lubricating qualities. When subjected to inflammatory conditions, healthy cells developed phenotypes similar to that of RA samples, which reinforces the importance of inflammatory processes in the loss of lubricating properties of SF.     

A recursive hierarchical parametric estimation algorithm for nonlinear systems described by Wiener‐Hammerstein models

In this paper, a recursive hierarchical parametric estimation (RHPE) algorithm is proposed for stochastic nonlinear systems which can be described by Wiener‐Hammerstein (W‐H) mathematical models. The formulation of parameters estimation problem is based on the prediction error approach and the gradient techniques. The convergence analysis of the developed RHPE algorithm is derived using stochastic gradient‐based theory. Wiener‐Hammerstein hydraulic process is treated to prove the efficiency of the proposed approach.     

Short communication: Effects of systemic treatment with penethamate hydriodide on udder health and milk yields in dry primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The effects of penethamate hydriodide (Mamyzin, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany) on udder health and milk yields were evaluated in primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). An intramuscular administration of 10 million international units was performed in 20 buffaloes at 7 d precalving (treatment group; TG), and 20 animals were enrolled as the control group (CG). Evening milk samplings were performed at 10, 30, and 60 d in milk (DIM). Somatic cell count (SCC) values were evaluated on composite milk samples, whereas bacteriological culture and California Mastitis Test were performed on quarter milk. Daily milk yields were recorded after all milkings. After 60 DIM, composite milk samples from each animal were collected for monthly SCC and bacteriological culture until drying off. Statistically significant differences were found between the prevalence of mastitic quarters in the 2 groups at 10 and 30 DIM, and between the incidence of mastitic animals during the examined period (TG: 4/20, 20% vs. CG: 10/20, 50%). Even though lower and higher values of SCC and milk yields were found in TG during each sampling, statistically significant differences were only found at 30 (SCC) and 60 DIM (milk yields). In our study, the antibiotic administration precalving showed good bactericidal activity against the most common udder-specific pathogens that cause mastitis in primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes, and greater efficacy was observed at 10 and 30 DIM compared with 60 DIM. Given the significant decrease in SCC and increase in yields achieved, use of this antibiotic could be economically beneficial in buffalo breeding.     

The pig caecum model: a suitable tool to study the intestinal metabolism of flavonoids

Pig caecum was used under anaerobic conditions to metabolize flavonoids from several classes, i.e., chrysin 1, naringenin 2, quercetin 3, and hesperetin 4. Whereas chrysin 1 was not converted by the pig intestinal flora under the experimental conditions used, naringenin 2 was transformed to 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid and 3-phenylpropionic acid. Quercetin 3 was metabolized to phloroglucinol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxytoluene. Hesperetin 4 was degraded via eriodictyol to 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid and phloroglucinol. Structural elucidation of the formed metabolites was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography--diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) as well as HPLC-electrospray ionization--mass spectrometry (ESI-MS (MS)) and high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS) analyses. The time course of microbial conversion of 2-4 was determined by HPLC-DAD analysis, revealing slow degradation of 2 and rapid transformation of 3 and 4. The results lead to the conclusion that the pig caecum model is a suitable ex vivo model for studying the intestinal degradation of flavonoids.     

Reflectance-yarn geometry relation of false-twist textured olive hue poly(ethylene terephthalate) mass dyed yarn in visible–near-infrared region

This study was conducted on the visible–near-infrared camouflage properties of olive hue poly(ethylene terephthalate) multifilament mass dyed yarn textured by two texturizing method (simultaneous and conventional). The effect of thermal process and structural changes on the reflectance, mechanical, and crimp properties of these yarns was studied using the DSC, XRD, and birefringence analyses. It was observed that simultaneously textured mass dyed multifilament yarns have higher crimp properties and lower mechanical properties. Furthermore, the effect of yarns’ geometry in the fabric structure on the reflectance properties was investigated using images of fabric structure. The results showed that the reflectance behavior of fabric sample is affected by two major factors, namely structural and geometrical factors; it is clear that the geometrical factor has a significant effect on the reflectance properties.