VOLATILE NITROGEN-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS GENERATED FROM MAILLARD REACTIONS UNDER SIMULATED DEEP-FAT FRYING CONDITIONS

A total of 29 volatile nitrogen-containing compounds were identified from model systems containing glutamine, glutamic acid, asparagine and aspartic acid, respectively, with glucose under simulated deep-fat frying conditions in corn oil. Alkylpyrazines were the most important flavor compound generated. Glutamine, which released free ammonia easily under this condition gave the highest yield of alkylpyrazines. The profiles of pyrazines produced by each amino acid were significantly different. In a glutamine system, 2-(2-furyl)pyrazine, 2-(2-furyl)- 5-methylpyrazine and 2-(2-furyl)-6-methylpyrazine were the major compounds generated.     

Isolation and Identification of Volatile Compounds from Roasted Peanuts

Volatile flavor compounds were isolated from 70 kg of freshly roasted Florida Runner peanuts by a specially designed apparatus. The isolated volatile flavor compounds were subjected to extensive gas chromatographic fractionation and the pure fractions obtained were identified by infrared and mass spectrometry. A total of 131 compounds was identified. The following compounds are reported for the first time as flavor components of roasted peanuts: five lactones, incluing γ-crotolactone, 3-methyl-γ-crotolactone and 5-hydroxy-4-nonenoic acid, lactone; four pyrazines, three pyrroles; three pyridines, 13 sulfides, including three monosulfides, six disulfides and four trisulfides; seven thiazoles, two thiophenes, five furanoids, including 2-methyL3(2H)furanone; five oxazoles, three oxazolines, including 2-methyl-3-oxazoline; 12 hydrocarbons, one alcohol, one ketone, two acids, two esters, 2-acetoxy-2-butene, and maltol.     

THE INFLUENCE OF RECYCLE ON MULTI-PASS LAMINAR COUNTERFLOW HEATERS OR COOLERS

A multi-pass laminar counterflow cooler or heater is an open duct divided into four subchannels with uniform wall temperature by inserting three impermeable sheets. Only the temperature of the flow stream varies along the subchannels. Improvements in heat transfer efficiency were investigated analytically with the use of eigenfunction expansions in the power series. The enhancement results in heat-transfer efficiency for two multi-pass devices (flow pattern A and flow pattern B) are represented graphically and compared with those in a single-pass device (without three impermeable sheets inserted) and those in a double-pass device (only one impermeable sheet inserted). Analytical results show that suitable impermeable-sheet position adjustments can effectively enhance heat transfer efficiencies for two multi-pass devices (flow pattern A and flow pattern B) compared with the efficiencies of single and double-pass devices.     

Linear optimal control problem of a system with circuit-free graph structure

We solve a linear optimal control problem with state and control restrictions by the method of region analysis, where the state equations describe the flow in a directed graph without a circuit. The results are used for the optimal control of a system of hydroelectric power plants.     

Complete spontaneous remission in a patient with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Case report, review of the literature, and discussion of possible biological pathways involved

Spontaneous remission of cancer (SR) is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of all or at least some relevant parameters of a soundly diagnosed malignant disease without any medical treatment or with treatment that is considered inadequate to produce the resulting regression. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with extensive metatastic disease five months after pneumonectomy for poorly differentiated large cell and polymorphic lung cancer. A vast metastatic tumour mass of the abdominal wall was confirmed histolologically and there was clinical and radiographic evidence of liver and lung metastases. Eight months later, the patient was operated on for a hernia, which had developed in the inguinal biopsy scar and the surgeon confirmed complete clinical SR of the abdominal wall metastases. Again five months later there was no longer any radiologic evidence of liver and lung metastases. Complete remission has persisted more than five years. Histology of the primary and of the abdominal metastases were reviewed by several independent pathologists. SR is an extremly rare event in lung cancer. This is the first documented case of clinically evident visceral metastases of a bronchiogenic adenocarcinoma developing after complete resection of the primary and then showing complete SR. The epidemiology of SR is reviewed and possible mechanisms involved in SR are discussed.     

Platelet morphology in patients with mechanical circulatory support

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical circulatory support is a therapy for patients with end stage cardiac insufficiency. The thromboembolic events are feared complications during support, due to the surface thrombogenicity of the implanted device. Activated blood platelets play a major role in this context. Consequently the platelet morphology of patients was investigated. METHODS: Platelets of eight patients were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy during the period of support with the Novacor left ventricular assist system N100. Blood was collected preoperatively and daily during the first week as well as weekly during the first 3 months. Samples were fixed with cacodylic-acid buffered glutaraldehyde. Platelet alterations were classified as non-activated, activated and aggregated, based on the so-called 'shape change' morphology. In addition, blood coagulation parameters were evaluated (e.g. activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, antithrombin III). RESULTS: Preoperatively, 15.0 +/- 4.6% (overall mean values) of activated platelets were found. Within the first postoperative week, the mean level of activated platelets increased to 32.8 +/- 8.0% (P < 0.05). Comparing short- (< 30 days; n = 4) vs. long-period (> 30 days; n = 4) support, a significant difference of activated platelets was evaluated (24.3 +/- 3.3% vs. 34.8 +/- 3.4%, P = 0.004). A correlation was found between the values of activated clotting time and activated platelets. Specific platelet deformations and damages appeared during support, which could not be found preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The platelet morphology showed alterations in all patients probably most strongly induced by the surface activation of the implanted device. These observations should be taken into consideration in management of postoperative anticoagulation therapy.     

Antiatherogenic effect of estrogen abolished by balloon catheter injury in cholesterol-clamped rabbits

The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of an intact endothelial cell layer for the direct antiatherogenic effect of estrogen on the arterial wall. Thirty rabbits were bilaterally ovariectomized and subjected to mechanical injury of the endothelium by balloon catheterization of the upper thoracic aorta. Immediately after the operation, treatment was initiated with either 17 beta-estradiol or placebo given intramuscularly. All rabbits were clamped at a similar plasma cholesterol level from 1 week before the operation until the experiment was terminated 13 weeks later. In the undamaged aorta, ie, the aortic arch, the lower thoracic aorta, and the upper abdominal aorta, the estrogen-treated rabbits had one third (P = .06), one sixth (P = .002), and one seventh (P = .001), respectively, the accumulation of cholesterol of the placebo-treated rabbits. In the upper thoracic aorta that had been subjected to mechanical injury of the endothelium, however, aortic cholesterol accumulation was not significantly different between the two groups. Similar results were obtained by histological evaluation of the aortic tissues. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and T lymphocytes revealed no significant differences in the intimal distribution of cells between estrogen- and placebo-treated rabbits, except for a higher number of T lymphocytes per unit intimal area of the undamaged aortic arch (P < .0005) in the estrogen-treated-rabbits than the placebo-treated rabbits. This is the first study to demonstrate that the antiatherogenic effect of estrogen is abolished by balloon catheter injury in cholesterol-clamped rabbits. These results may indicate that an intact endothelial cell layer is crucial for the direct antiatherogenic effect of estrogen on the arterial wall.     

Audit of ascertainment of deaths to children born in Cumbria, UK, 1950-89 through the NHS central register

Expression of mdm-2 mRNA was measured in 90 ovarian-cancer tissue specimens using the S1 nuclease assay, to investigate a possible association between MDM2 expression and prognosis. mdm-2 mRNA expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with primary ovarian cancer, FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stages III and IV (n = 57), who all received chemotherapy with carboplatin or cisplatin and cyclophosphamide. Median survival time for patients (FIGO stages III and IV) with no detectable expression of mdm-2 mRNA (n = 14) was 171 days, as compared with 839 days for patients (n = 43) with detectable mdm-2 mRNA (p = 0.0194; log-rank test). However, no association between mdm-2 mRNA expression and survival was observed for patients with FIGO stages I and II who did not receive chemotherapy. mdm-2 expression was not associated with FIGO stage, residual disease, histologic grade and type. Our results suggest that mdm-2, which is known to disrupt p53 function, sensitizes ovarian-cancer cells to cisplatin/cyclophosphamide, possibly by inhibition of p53-mediated G1 cell-cycle arrest and p53-stimulated nucleotide-excision repair.