Hypervitaminosis A and matrix alterations in maxillary explants from 16-day rat embryos

Hypervitaminosis A in treated pregnant rats has been shown to interfere with normal palatal closure and fusion, as demonstrated by the presence of cleft palates in offspring. The observation that palatal shelves of excess vitamin A exposed fetuses are stunted and delayed in rotation suggests that vitamin A may inhibit a biochemical event crucial to the successful contact of the palatal shelves. Maxillary explants from 16 day Wistar rat embryos cultured in the presence or absence of 30 IU/ml retinyl palmitate were analyzed for DNA, glycosaminoglycan, and collagen synthesis. Maxillary explants cultured in vitamin A-containing medium showed an inhibition in DNA, GAG, and collagen synthesis in comparison to control explants. Excess vitamin A in the culture medium of maxillary explants also resulted in a reduction of intermolecular cross-links in collagen. The possible significance of the results in terms of cleft palate and normal secondary palate formation is discussed.     

Social and psychological changes after tubal sterilization: A reevaluation study on 425 women

Four hundred and twenty-five women replied to a questionnaire designed to assess social and psychological changes occurring after tubal sterilization. Dissatisfaction with the outcome of the operation was unrelated to patient age at the time of the operation, parity, religious affiliation and history of emotional instability. While the incidence of negative social and psychological changes was low, a substantial proportion of the sample reported positive effects, particularly in emotional and sexual adjustment.     

Anaesthesia of the tympanic membrane using iontophoresis

Experience is described of the use of iontophoresis of 2% lignocaine to achieve effective tympanic membrane anaesthesia. The main uses are for outpatient myringotomy and transtympanic electrocochleography. Complete anaesthesia of the drum has been obtained in all cases, and those patients who had previously had these procedures carried out without anaesthetic, or with surface 'anaesthesia' only, all stated a marked preference for iontophoresis. No complications have occurred.     

Adsorption and reduction of CO2 on 12-tungstophosphoric and 12-molybdophosphoric acids in the absence of added reductants

12-tungstophosphoric and 12-molybdophosphoric acids are capable of sorbing and reducing CO₂ without the presence of added reductants. The adsorbed CO₂ (physisorbed as CO₂) desorbs from the acids and salts at low temperatures (50–200°C). Carbon dioxide also desorbs only from the acids at high temperatures (500–600°C), suggesting the direct or indirect involvement of the protons in the process and the importance of the Keggin unit as well. Raman and DRIFTS results show that the species responsible for the evolution of CO₂ (at high temperatures) are carbonaceous in nature. Carbon deposits extract the anionic oxygen atoms from the Keggin units during the high-temperature desorption process. The extraction of anionic oxygen atoms by carbon is confirmed using labeled carbon dioxide. The spectroscopic data imply that carbon exists on the surface as such but, additionally, as either carbon or CO₂ bound to the terminal oxygen atoms of the Keggin anion. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Presence of indigestible peptide aggregates of soybean meal in pig ileal digesta residue

With the purpose of analysing the molecular size and composition, proteinaceous material was extracted from the insoluble components of a digesta sample obtained from pigs fed a feed consisting of only soybean meal. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that the alkali‐extractable fraction of the proteinaceous material from the residue was of relatively high apparent molecular weight. However, the combined results from gel electrophoresis, RPLC‐MS, and MALDI‐ToF MS showed that the extracted protein material was in fact, to a high extent, composed of aggregated peptides. To our knowledge this has not previously been described. Aggregates extracted by dilute alkali were fully degraded upon subsequent proteolytic treatment. N‐terminal sequencing of selected protein bands from SDS‐PAGE gels indicated the presence of partly degraded β‐conglycinin alpha subunits in the residue. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry