Comparison of laparoscopic versus open repair of paraesophageal hernia

Of seven cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes (P450s 1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) examined, P450 1A2 was the most active in catalyzing 2- and 4-hydroxylations of estradiol and estrone. P450 3A4 and P450 2C9 also catalyzed these reactions although to lesser extents than P450 1A2. P450 1A2 also efficiently oxidized estradiol at the 16alpha-position but was less active in estrone 16alpha-hydroxylation; the latter reaction and also estradiol 16alpha-hydroxylation were catalyzed by P450 3A4 at significant levels. Anti-P450 1A2 antibodies inhibited 2- and 4-hydroxylations of these two estrogens catalyzed by liver microsomes of some of the human samples examined. Estradiol 16alpha-hydroxylation was inhibited by both anti-P450 1A2 and anti-P450 3A4, while estrone 16alpha-hydroxylation was significantly suppressed by anti-P450 3A4 in human liver microsomes. Fluvoxamine efficiently inhibited the estrogen hydroxylations in human liver samples that contained high levels of P450 1A2, while ketoconazole affected these activities in human samples in which P450 3A4 levels were high. alpha-Naphthoflavone either stimulated or had no effect on estradiol hydroxylation catalyzed by liver microsomes; the intensity of this effect depended on the human samples and their P450s. Interestingly, in the presence of anti-P450 3A4 antibodies, alpha-naphthoflavone was found to be able to inhibit estradiol and estrone 2-hydroxylations catalyzed by human liver microsomes. The results suggest that both P450s 1A2 and 3A4 have major roles in oxidations of estradiol and estrone in human liver and that the contents of these two P450 forms in liver microsomes determine which P450 enzymes are most important in hepatic estrogen hydroxylation by individual humans. P450 3A4 may be expected to play a more important role for some of the estrogen hydroxylation reactions than P450 1A2. Knowledge of roles of individual P450s in these estrogen hydroxylations has relevance to current controversies in hormonal carcinogenesis [Service, R. F. (1998) Science 279, 1631-1633].     

Effect of anaesthesia and surgery on blood sugar and carbohydrate tolerance in African children

The effect of pre-operative starvation, anaesthesia and surgery on blood sugar levels and the handling of carbohydrate load during operation were studied in 28 Nigerian children between 2 months and 15 years of age. (1) Age and body weight were important factors influencing the relationship between duration of pre-operative fast and the pre-induction blood sugar level in children. Hypoglycaemic values occurred in 7 per cent of the subjects studied although none was clinically hypoglycaemic. (2) Halothane anaesthesia alone did not affect blood sugar levels but relaxant anaesthesia in this study caused significant rise of blood sugar. (3) There was a marked hyperglycaemic response to surgery and handling of glucose load during operation was significantly poorer than before operation.     

Systolic mitral flutter, an echocardiographic clue to the diagnosis of ruptured chordae tendineae

A new finding of fine systolic fluttering of the mitral leaflet is described in two patients with ruptured chordae tendinease and severe mitral regurgitation. The flutter is caused by the action of high-velocity blood flow upon the leaflet margin that has lost its support. The jet stream of blood evokes a high-frequency vibratory motion of the tensed leaflet as opposed to the previously described, lower frequency, less specific, diastolic flutter. This finding was not seen in the echocardiograms of 75 patients with other forms of mitral regurgitation. Systolic flutter appears to be specific for ruptured chordae tendineae.     

澳门智慧城市建设与降低环境噪声的进展

澳门在过去十年中迅速发展。同时,基础设施项目数量大幅增加,包括新区的发展,机场航站楼的延伸,轻轨交通,路凼的新道路,以及废物管理和污水处理设施。其中一些项目还处于规划阶段,一些正在设计中,一些正在建设中,另一些正在运营中。为了整合各种各样的基础设施项目,改善民生,澳门政府已着手实施建设智慧城市,智慧医疗,智能城市管理,智慧旅游等的举措。文章介绍了澳门智慧城市的建设与降低环境噪声的进展。     

Spray Drying, Freeze Drying, or Freezing of Three Different Lactic Acid Bacteria Species

Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris D11, Lactobacillus casei ssp. pseudo-plantarum UL137, and Streptococcus thermophilus CH3TH, were separately frozen, freeze dried or spray dried, and tested for survival and lactic acid production before and after processing. Virtually all cells survived freezing. Of the survivors, 60 to 70% survived the dehydration step of freeze drying. In contrast to freezing and freeze drying, spray drying caused considerable delay in lactic acid production and reduction in survival. After spray drying, survival was greatest for S. thermophilus and lowest for Lc. cremoris.     

Survival of Brevibacterium linens (ATCC 9174) after Spray Drying, Freeze Drying, or Freezing

The objectives of this work were to: (1) contrast spray drying, freeze drying and freezing for large-scale preservation of B. linens, (2) determine the thermal resistance curves, and (3) measure the storage stability. When B. linens was freeze-dried and frozen in feed suspensions containing 3% (w/v) cell paste and 25% (w/w) total solids, survival was 100%. During spray drying, lethal thermal injury was the main cause of loss of viability. Accordingly, by extrapolation, 100% viability would be possible at an outlet-air temperature of 57°C. Spray-dried and freeze-dried cells were stable during storage at 4°C in the absence of oxygen and moisture.