Regional chemotherapy directed by individual chemosensitivity testing in vitro: a prospective decision-aiding trial

A prospective decision-aiding trial was performed to select drugs for regional chemotherapy of various liver tumors (n = 36) by individual drug testing. The drugs were chosen for hepatic artery infusion according to the individual chemosensitivity of tumor biopsies in the human tumor colony-forming assay (HTCA). In vitro HTCA sensitivity correlated with complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) + no change (NC) 93% of the time and with CR + PR 55% of the time. The test sensitivity was 90%, and the specificity was 67% for CR + PR + NC versus progressive disease (PD), whereas the sensitivity and specificity were 89% and 28%, respectively, for CR + PR versus NC + PD. The overall predictive accuracy of the test was 86% for CR + PR + NC versus PD and 58% for CR + PR versus NC + PD. Overall, 83% of this heterogenous patient group with various tumors achieved CR + PR + NC and a 50% clinical response (CR + PR). In vitro-sensitive patients showed a significantly lower intrahepatic progression rate (7% PD) than in vitro-resistant patients (57%; P < 0.05). These results indicate that the HTCA could identify active drugs for individualized hepatic artery infusion, and patients may profit from the use of in vitro-sensitive drugs.     

Genetic influence on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult mice

To address genetic influences on hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice, we compared C57BL/6, BALB/c, CD1(ICR), and 129Sv/J mice to examine proliferation, survival, and differentiation of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus. Proliferation was highest in C57BL/6; the survival rate of newborn cells was highest in CD1. In all strains approximately 60% of surviving newborn cells had a neuronal phenotype, but 129/SvJ produced more astrocytes. Over 6 days C57BL/6 produced 0.36% of their total granule cell number of 239,000 as new neurons, BALB/c 0.30% of 242,000, CD1 (ICR) 0.32% of 351,000, and 129/SvJ 0.16% of 280,000. These results show that different aspects of adult hippocampal neurogenesis are differentially influenced by the genetic background.     

Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the cleanliness of a new ultrasonic root end preparation

Recently introduced ultrasonic instrumentation techniques for root end preparation have revolutionized the field of endodontic surgery. The specially designed tips offer improved access to the root end and create more conservative root and preparations while decreasing the amount of retained debris. This study compared the cleanliness of root end preparations made using ultrasonic instrumentation with that of those prepared in a traditional manner using a microhandpiece bur. We used 10 extracted maxillary human premolars and molars. After cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canals, a 3 mm root end resection perpendicular to the long axis of the root was performed with a carbide fissure bur. The roots were randomly divided into two groups and root end preparations were made using the two aforementioned techniques. The roots were longitudinally split and sputter-coated with gold for scanning electron microscopic study. Three independent dentists used a standardized grading system to evaluate the cleanliness of the root end preparations. The ultrasonic preparation had significantly less superficial debris and a thinner smear layer than the microhandpiece preparation (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the canal and isthmus portions of the root end preparations within each group in either superficial debris or smear layer. This indicates that cleaner surfaces for root end cavities are created using ultrasonic retrotips than using microhandpiece burs.     

The slag-metal equilibrium in tin smelting

An equilibrium study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the CaO/SiO₂ and Fe/SiO₂ ratios and the SnO and Al₂O₃ contents of slags on the distribution of Fe and Sn between slag and metal in tin smelting. The experiments were performed at 1200 °C by equilibrating Sn-Fe alloys with silicate slags under reducing conditions in closed crucibles. The slag and metal analyses were used to calculate the γ_SnO/γ_FeO ratio in the slags and a multiple-linear regression on these values indicated that, in the range of slag compositions investigated, γ_SnO/γ_FeO is a function only of the CaO/SiO₂ ratio. At 1200 °C, γ_SnO/γ_FeO varies from about 1.1 for CaO-free slags to 3.6 for slags in which the CaO/SiO₂ ratio is 1.0. In practical applications, the slag-metal equilibrium in tin smelting is usually discussed in terms of the variation of the distribution coefficient,k, with the Fe content of the metal, wherek is defined ask = [pct Sn]/[pct Fe] · (pct Fe)/(pct Sn). An equation fork was derived in terms of the atom fraction of iron in the metal, the γ_SnO/γ_FeO in the slag, and the temperature. This equation was used to construct graphs ofk as a function of the iron content over the slag compositions and at temperatures which cover the range of tin smelting practice.     

Diacetyl levels and volatile profiles of commercial starter distillates and selected dairy foods

Starter distillates (SDL) are used as ingredients in the formulation of many food products such as cottage cheese, margarine, vegetable oil spreads, processed cheese, and sour cream to increase the levels of naturally occurring buttery aroma associated with fermentation. This buttery aroma results, in part, from the presence of the vicinal dicarbonyl, diacetyl, which imparts a high level of buttery flavor notes and is a key component of SDL. Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) is a volatile product of citrate metabolism produced by certain bacteria, including Lactococcus lactis ssp. diacetylactis and Leuconostoc citrovorum. In the United States, SDL are regarded as generally recognized as safe ingredients, whereby usage in food products is limited by good manufacturing practices. Recently, diacetyl has been implicated as a causative agent in certain lung ailments in plant workers; however, little is published about the volatile composition of SDL and the levels of diacetyl or other flavoring components in finished dairy products. The objective of this work was to characterize the volatile compounds of commercial SDL and to quantitate levels of diacetyl and other Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association-designated high-priority flavoring components found in 18 SDL samples and 24 selected dairy products. Headspace volatiles were assessed using a solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition to diacetyl (ranging from 1.2 to 22,000 μg/g), 40 compounds including 8 organic acids, 4 alcohols, 3 aldehydes, 7 esters, 3 furans, 10 ketones, 2 lactones, 2 sulfur-containing compounds, and 1 terpene were detected in the SDL. A total of 22 food samples were found to contain diacetyl ranging from 4.5 to 2,700 μg/100g. Other volatile compounds, including acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetoin, benzaldehyde, butyric acid, formic acid, furfural, 2,3-heptanedione, 2,3-pentanedione, and propanoic acid, were also identified and quantified in SDL or food samples, or both. The results obtained in this work summarize the volatile composition of commercial SDL and the approximate levels of diacetyl and other Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association-designated high-priority flavoring components found in SDL and selected dairy foods.     

Analysis and comparison of key proteins in Maiwa yak and bovine milk using high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Yak milk is an essential and predominant food resource for Tibetan people for subsistence purposes and to combat altitude-induced challenges. Due to its unique qualities, yak milk has recently been gaining broader attention from consumers across China as well in other parts of the world. One of the key characteristics of yak milk is the protein content, which is about 40 to 60% higher than that of native bovine milk. In this work, a sensitive and reproducible high-throughput analytical method was developed employing both ultra high-performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap (Thermo Fisher Scientific) high-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-HRAM-MS) and UHPLC coupled with triple quadrupole tandem MS (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) to simultaneously analyze 8 milk proteins. A total of 15 Maiwa yak milk samples and 15 bovine milk samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using targeted proteomics and compared for α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, α_S1-casein, α_S2-casein, β-casein, κ-casein, lactoferrin, and osteopontin. Peptides of β-lactoglobulin were used to specifically distinguish yak and bovine milk. The results showed that this novel detection method could quantitatively detect these major and minor milk proteins with >0.99 linear correlation coefficient and a recovery rate between 90 and 120%, with relative standard deviations typically less than 10%. The data revealed that yak milk not only had higher overall milk protein content than bovine milk but higher lactoferrin and osteopontin contents as well. The lactoferrin content of yak milk was about 30% higher than that of bovine milk, and the osteopontin content of yak milk was nearly twice that of bovine milk. The application of this method demonstrates that UHPLC-HRAM-MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS are suitable for high-throughput qualitative and quantitative analysis of major and minor proteins of yak and bovine milk.     

Radiation intensity imaging measurements of methane and dimethyl ether turbulent nonpremixed and partially premixed jet flames

Quantitative time-dependent images of the infrared radiation intensity from methane and dimethyl ether (DME) turbulent nonpremixed and partially premixed jet flames are measured and discussed in this work. The fuel compositions (CH₄/H₂/N₂, C₂H₆O/H₂/N₂, CH₄/air, and C₂H₆O/air) and Reynolds numbers (15,200–46,250) for the flames were selected following the guidelines of the International Workshop on Measurement and Computation of Turbulent Nonpremixed Flames (TNF Workshop). The images of the radiation intensity are acquired using a calibrated high speed infrared camera and three band-pass filters. The band-pass filters enable measurements of radiation from water vapor and carbon dioxide over the entire flame length and beyond. The images reveal localized regions of high and low intensity characteristic of turbulent flames. The peak mean radiation intensity is approximately 15% larger for the DME nonpremixed flames and 30% larger for the DME partially premixed flames in comparison to the corresponding methane flames. The trends are explained by a combination of higher temperatures and longer stoichiometric flame lengths for the DME flames. The longer flame lengths are attributed to the higher density of the DME fuel mixtures based on existing flame length scaling relationships. The longer flame lengths result in larger volumes of high temperature gas and correspondingly higher path-integrated radiation intensities near and downstream of the stoichiometric flame length. The radiation intensity measurements acquired with the infrared camera agree with existing spectroscopy measurements demonstrating the quantitative nature of the present imaging technique. The images provide new benchmark data of turbulent nonpremixed and partially premixed jet flames. The images can be compared with results of large eddy simulations rendered in the form of quantitative images of the infrared radiation intensity. Such comparisons are expected to support the evaluation of models used in turbulent combustion and radiation simulations.     

The Effects of Fat Structures and Ice Cream Mix Viscosity on Physical and Sensory Properties of Ice Cream

The purpose of this work was to investigate iciness perception and other sensory textural attributes of ice cream due to ice and fat structures and mix viscosity. Two studies were carried out varying processing conditions and mix formulation. In the 1st study, ice creams were collected at ?3, ?5, and ?7.5 °C draw temperatures. These ice creams contained 0%, 0.1%, or 0.2% emulsifier, an 80:20 blend of mono‐ and diglycerides: polysorbate 80. In the 2nd study, ice creams were collected at ?3 °C draw temperature and contained 0%, 0.2%, or 0.4% stabilizer, a blend of guar gum, locust bean gum, and carrageenan. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine relationships between ice crystal size, destabilized fat, and sensory iciness. In the ice and fat structure study, an inverse correlation was found between fat destabilization and sensory iciness. Ice creams with no difference in ice crystal size were perceived to be less icy with increasing amounts of destabilized fat. Destabilized fat correlated inversely with drip‐through rate and sensory greasiness. In the ice cream mix viscosity study, an inverse correlation was found between mix viscosity and sensory iciness. Ice creams with no difference in ice crystal size were perceived to be less icy when formulated with higher mix viscosity. A positive correlation was found between mix viscosity and sensory greasiness. These results indicate that fat structures and mix viscosity have significant effects on ice cream microstructure and sensory texture including the reduction of iciness perception.     

Short communication: Oral and intranasal administration of a modified-live Salmonella Dublin vaccine in dairy calves: Clinical efficacy and serologic response

Our objectives were to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral and intranasal administration of a commercial modified-live Salmonella Dublin vaccine in dairy calves and to determine the serologic response associated with these extralabel routes of administration. We conducted a randomized field trial with calves from a New York dairy farm following an outbreak of Salmonella Dublin. A total of 399 Holstein calves were allocated by pen to 3 treatment groups: oral vaccination, intranasal vaccination, and an unvaccinated control group. Administration of the vaccine through oral and intranasal routes did not have a significant effect on pneumonia incidence risk or weight gain; however, calves vaccinated orally and intranasally had lower mortality risk as compared with control calves. Among calves tested using a Salmonella Dublin ELISA, vaccination did not induce an increase in antibody production relative to control calves, indicating that oral and intranasal administration will not hinder diagnosis based on this assay.