Reversible binding of chlorpromazine to brain tubulin

Isolated lamb hearts perfused at 13degrees C. with acellular perfusates developed progressive intersitital edema and a rise in vascular resistance. They did not exhbit any electrical or mechanical activity. In contrast, hearts perfused with whole fresh blood remained well preserved, had no edema or change in vascular resistance, and contracted vigorously while being perfused at 10degrees and 13degrees C. This study was designed to determine which particular component(s) of whole blood contributed to improved cardiac preservation. Isolated lamb hearts were perfused for 18 hours at 13degrees C. with plasma containing platelets and some or no red blood cells. Continuously fresh plasma was obtained from a donor animal by means of a flow-through centrifuge. Hearts perfused at 13degrees C. with fresh plasma of either low or high platelet count contracted during the initial 2 to 4 hours of the perfusion only and were as poorly preserved as hearts perfused with acellular microfiltered plasma. A hematocrit value of 2 to 5 per cent in the plasma perfusate resulted in the hearts being preserved almost as well as with fresh whole blood; they showed a forceful cardiac activity at 13degrees C., there was no edema, the vascular resistance was stable, and after rewarming they had good ventricular function. The improvement in cardiac preservation brought about by addition of a minimal amount of red blood cells suggests a specific effect of erythrocytes on the cardiac microcirculation.     

Hepatitis among plasma fractionation workers. An industry-wide study

An industry-wide survey of plasm fractionation facilities in the United States was conducted during 1973-74. Hepatitis was reported among the workers with varying degrees of plasma contact at all plant sites. For each of fourteen facilities in this investigation, field inspections disclosed: (1) numerous overt instances of employee-product contact: (2) inconsistent methodologic approaches at virtually all stages of the plasma fractionation process; (3) at low level of management and employee awareness regarding the potential bio-hazard identified; and (4) disparate examples of hepatitis surveillance and prophylaxis. Our data suggests that there is a high risk of hepatitis among plasma fractionation workers and, as such, much more attention needs to be focused on the reduction of health hazards within this industry.     

A comparative diuretic and tissue distribution study of bumetanide and furosemide in the dog

Intravenous dose-response data obtained from renal clearance studies in anesthetized dogs indicated that bumetanide was approximately 30-fold more potent than furosemide in enhancing sodium excretion. After the administration of 0.01 mg/kg of bumetanide or 1.0 mg/kg of furosemide, the relationship between i.v. diuretic activity and tissue distribution was evaluated. In dog renal clearance experiments, bumetanide and furosemide significantly enhanced urine flow, sodium and potassium excretion. Inulin clearance as an estimate of glomerular filtration rate was not altered by either drug, but sodium reabsorption was decreased with bumetanide (13%) and furosemide (12%). At these diuretic doses, both compounds were bound to dog plasma protein to about the same extent (86-91%), although total plasma levels were 100-fold higher for furosemide. Within 1/2 hour after the i.v. administration of 14C-bumetanide or 14C-furosemide, 86 to 99% of the 14C in urine, plasma, kidney, and liver appeared as unchanged drug. One minute after maximal diuresis bumetanide was found to have a higher affinity (3-fold) for kidney compared to furosemide. These data offer a possible explanation for the i.v. diuretic potency difference between these two compounds. Furthermore, the lack of significant difference in plasma protein binding and the absence of urinary metabolites of either drug suggest that other factors may also contribute to the marked differences in diuretic activity between bumetanide and furosemide.     

Present status of positive scintigraphic imaging of myocardial infarction

Community hospital graduate medical education programs have been judged deficient in several areas when compared with university programs. Generally community programs are smaller, they have a greater percentage of foreign house officers and unfilled house staff positions, and their graduates do less well on specialty board examinations. Difficulties may exist in offering a balanced and broad-based educational exposure. Four separate pediatric residencies in Phoenix became affiliated in 1972. The traditional deficiencies have been overcome, and a very popular and well-balanced program has ensued. Additionally, wasteful duplication has been avoided. Disadvantages have included complex scheduling and loss of continual close contact with house officers. Assigning patients to residents for continuity of care has been difficult. Experiences gained in this amalgamation may well apply to other hospitals facing similar problems. Local consortiums, such as this, fit well into university affiliated programs or statewide organizations.     

A general mechanism of martensitic nucleation: Part II. FCC → BCC and other martensitic transformations

The general mechanism of martensitic nucleation by faulting from groups of existing dislocations, as proposed in Part I, is applied to the fcc → bcc, bcc → fcc, bcc → hcp, and related transformations, including mechanical twinning. Where thermodynamic data are available, the conditions at the observedM _s temperatures are consistent with nucleation from a defect composed of four or five properly spaced lattice dislocations. Examples of nucleation by faulting on the planes predicted are found in published electron microscopy. The faults are observed at the types of sites where the required dislocation groups are expected. These include grain boundaries, incoherent twin boundaries, and inclusion particle interfaces. Having defined the function of a nucleation site, mechanisms of strain induced nucleation and autocatalysis are then considered. This paper is Part II of a three-part series based on a thesis submitted by G. B. Olson for the degree of Sc.D. in Metallurgy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 1974.     

The bacterial quality of red meat and offal in Casablanca (Morocco)

The present study aimed to evaluate the bacteriological quality of beef (n = 52), lamb (n = 52) and beef offal (n = 52) marketed in Casablanca, Morocco. Meat and offal samples (n = 156), were collected randomly from butcheries, supermarkets, and slaughterhouses. Two sampling periods were considered, one during the hot season and the second one during the cold season. The samples were analyzed for the presence of the following bacteria: Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Results indicated that counts of the aerobic plate count, and fecal coliforms were particularly high in all the samples analyzed. E. coli, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and C. perfringens were detected in 37.8, 16, and 4.5% of the meat samples, respectively. Neither Salmonella nor L. monocytogenes were isolated from meat samples. Approximately 26.9% of beef, 34.6% of lamb and 28.8% of beef offal samples contained bacteria above the maximum limits established by the Moroccan regulatory standards for meat and meat products. Seasonality and the distribution location significantly (p < 0.05) affected bacterial populations: the hot season and butcheries appeared to be cases where the highest populations of bacteria in meat were observed. These high levels of microbiological contamination attest the poor hygienic quality of meat and offal, possibly due to uncontrolled processing, storage, and handling of these products.     

A bacteriophage reagent for Salmonella: molecular studies on Felix 01

Felix 01 (F01) is a bacteriophage originally isolated by Felix and Callow which lyses almost all Salmonella strains and has been widely used as a diagnostic test for this genus. Molecular information about this phage is entirely lacking. In the present study, the DNA of the phage was found to be a double-stranded linear molecule of about 80 kb. 11.5 kb has been sequenced and in this region A + T content is 60%. There are relatively few restriction endonuclease cleavage sites in the native genome and clones show this is due to their absence rather than modification. A restriction map of the genome has been constructed. The ends of the molecule cannot be ligated although they contain 5' phosphates. At least 60% of the genome must encode proteins. In the sequenced portion, many open reading frames exist and these are tightly packed together. These have been examined for homology to published proteins but only 1 to 17 shows similarity to known proteins. F01 is therefore the prototype of a new phage family. On the basis of restriction sites, codon usage and the distribution of nonsense codons in the unused reading frames, a strong case can be made for natural selection that reacts to mRNA structure and function.     

Moisture migration in idealized bilayer systems: relationships among water-associated properties, structure, and texture

The effects of composition and thermal treatment on the water sorption and diffusional properties of idealized protein gels arranged in bilayer configurations were determined; these water binding/migration properties were related to the mechanical characteristics of the gels. Samples were prepared from whey protein concentrate (WPC), they consisted of water:WPC ratios of 1.5 to 5.67, and were thermally set for 20–60 min. Moisture migration rates from samples interfaced with filters were determined, as were moisture sorption capacities of samples immersed in water. The physical properties of the gels were assessed by uniaxial compression and microscopy. Results showed that gel strength and consequent extent of protein interaction—as affected by thermal treatment—controlled the ability of the gel structure to absorb water. Sorption was exponentially correlated with gel modulus and linearly correlated with a function of protein content, heating time, and immersion time. Rates of diffusion from interfaced gels were dependent solely on water content. It was concluded that the degree of protein interaction, whether influenced by concentration or thermal treatment, affected network extensibility and thus the capacity of the gels to act as receptors of moisture. Results have implications for the functionality of shelf-stable sandwiches and other multicomponent foods.     

Engineered polymeric nanoparticles for soil remediation

Hydrophobic organic groundwater contaminants, such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), sorb strongly to soils and are difficult to remove. We report here on the synthesis of amphiphilic polyurethane (APU) nanoparticles for use in remediation of soil contaminated with PAHs. The particles are made of polyurethane acrylate anionomer (UAA) or poly(ethylene glycol)-modified urethane acrylate (PMUA) precursor chains that can be emulsified and cross-linked in water. The resulting particles are of colloidal size (17-97 nm as measured by dynamic light scattering). APU particles have the ability to enhance PAH desorption and transport in a manner comparable to that of surfactant micelles, but unlike the surface-active components of micelles, the individual cross-linked precursor chains in APU particles are not free to sorb to the soil surface. Thus, the APU particles are stable independent of their concentration in the aqueous phase. In this paper we show that APU particles can be engineered to achieve desired properties. Our experimental results show that the APU particles can be designed to have hydrophobic interior regions that confer a high affinity for phenanthrene (PHEN) and hydrophilic surfaces that promote particle mobility in soil. The affinity of APU particles for contaminants such as PHEN can be controlled by changing the size of the hydrophobic segment used in the chain synthesis. The mobility of colloidal APU suspensions in soil is controlled by the charge density or the size of the pendent water-soluble chains that reside on the particle surface. Exemplary results are provided illustrating the influence of alternative APU particle formulations with respect to their efficacy for contaminant removal. The ability to control particle properties offers the potential to produce different nanoparticles optimized for varying contaminant types and soil conditions.     

Value‐added use of mushroom ergothioneine as a colour stabilizer in processed fish meats

BACKGROUND: Ergothioneine (ESH), a potent antioxidant, has been found in certain edible mushrooms. Our previous research showed that ESH extracted from the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes has a positive effect on the colour stability of beef and tuna meat. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy and applicability of ESH extracts prepared from different mushroom species as a colour stabilizer in fish meats. RESULTS: Levels of ESH higher than 2.8 mg mL^?1 were found in extracts prepared from the fruiting bodies of F. velutipes, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus eryngii and the processing waste of F. velutipes. When 1 mL of each of the extracts was added to 100 g of minced bigeye tuna and yellowtail meats, the bright‐red colour remained after 5 and 2 days, respectively, of ice storage. The anti‐discoloration efficacy of 1 mL of the extracts prepared from 10 g of the fresh waste portion of F. velutipes was similar to that of its fruiting body or 0.5 g kg^?1 of sodium ascorbate when added to 100 g of minced bigeye tuna meat under ice storage. CONCLUSION: The results of this study clearly showed that ESH prepared from different mushroom species stabilized the colour of fish meats, and the extract from the F. velutipes was the most effective. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry