The use of enzymes in treating patients with malignant lymphoma with a large tumor mass]

Systemic enzymes (wobenzime and wobe-mugos) were approved, that had been prescribed as part of polychemotherapy to 24 patients with malignant lymphomas, who presented with large masses of lymphatic nodes poorly resorbable against the background of polychemotherapy and who were assigned for a high-total dose irradiation, which fact would undoubtedly entail sclerosing of adjacent intact tissues. The use of the enzymes made for the optimum realization of the polychemotherapy effect and permitted avoiding a good many of undesirable side events and complication thereof. The above systemic enzymes are well tolerated by patients; they induce no significant changes in the cellular composition or in blood biochemical indices.     

COMPUTER-AIDED GRAPHICS OF LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

An algorithm has been developed and tested for steady-state liquid-liquid extraction, using rectangular coordinates. It is capable of handling common types of stagewise contact, i.e., single stage extraction, multistage cross-current, and continuous countercurrent multistage extraction. The results depend on the nature of the extraction scheme and the extent of separation desired. While equilibrium data for some systems are stored in its data bank, the present portable computer simulator ( LIQEXT) has the flexibility of reading equilibrium data for other systems, as well as overriding stored data

Both design and rating cases can be performed. In the design mode, i.e., given the feed and solvent rates and the outlet concentration, it calculates the number of stages, the exit stream flow rates, and the concentration profile. In the rating ( or simulation) mode, i.e., given the feed and solvent rates, and the number of stages, it computes the exit streams flow rates and compositions, and the concentration profile. In both cases a graphical output of the concentration profile is produced, either on the screen or on a hard-copy plotter.     

Cotton Seed Oil Oxidation Catalysed by Amino Acids and Albumin in Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Media

The oxidation of refined cotton seed oil catalysed by various α-amino acids and albumin have been studied in aqueous and non-aqueous media. Cysteine, phenylalanine and albumin possessed pro-oxidant effect in cotton seed oil in aqueous and non-aqueous media. Serine exhibited pro-oxidant activity in aqueous media and minor anti-oxidant effect in non-aqueous media. The effectiveness of the amino acids on cotton seed oil oxidation was in the following descending order in both aqueous and non-aqueous media: cysteine > phenylalanine > serine. The pro-oxidant effect in aqueous media might be due to the predominant presence of the protonated amino nitrogen. Whilst, amino acid-metal complex might be responsible for the pro-oxidant effect in non-aqueous media.     

Mass transfer characteristics of gas-sparged fixed-bed electrodes composed of stacks of vertical screens

Mass transfer rates at a gas-sparged fixed-bed electrode made of stacks of vertical screens were studied by measuring the limiting current for the cathodic reduction of potassium ferricyanide. Variables studied were air flow rate, physical properties of the solution and bed thickness. The mass transfer coefficient was found to increase with increasing air flow rate up to a certain point and then remain almost constant with further increase in air flow rate. Increasing bed thickness was found to decrease the mass transfer coefficient. Mass transfer data were correlated by the equation $$J = 0.2(ReFr)^{ - 0.28} ({L \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {L d}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} d})^{ - 0.28} $$ For a single vertical screen electrode the data were correlated by the equation $$J = 0.187(ReFr)^{ - 0.26} $$      

GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF MULTISTAGE FLUIDIZED BED HEAT EXCHANGER

The design of multistage fluidized beds for heat exchange necessitates the solution of the mass and energy balance equations combined with the equilibrium relations for each stage. This paper presents a novel way of applying well known methodology to a different technology, one where it has not been widely applied.

In the present work a McCabe-Thiele type of graphical approach is presented for both counter-current and cross-current contacting multiple fluidized beds. The necessary equations for a multistage calciner are developed and the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. Generalized fluidized bed efficiency for counter-current and cross-current multiple fluidized bed is presented.     

Evaluation of the pollution load discharged at an upstream industry--Egypt--and methods for its reduction

Oil exploration in Egypt is a major contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With 50-65% of the oil resources located in the Gulf of Suez (GoS) region, the impact of such activity upon the region's water environment and its quality cannot be overlooked because of the volume of effluent generated. The objective of this study (September 2000-September 2001) was to assess the impact of a 650,000 barrels/day (bl/d) (100,000 m3/d) effluent arising from a major oil exploration site located south of GoS upon the local water environment. Another objective was to identify the pollutant contents amenable for reduction relative to the new Egyptian regulations. This was achieved by the characterization of the main contributing streams and the identification of the final effluent parameter constraints relative to the type of injection waters used. Subsequent investigations for the reduction of these contents were conducted on site and the results obtained are reviewed herewith.     

Purification, characterization, and high performance liquid chromatography assay of Salmonella glucose-1-phosphate cytidylyltransferase from the cloned rfbF gene

We report the purification and characterization of glucose-1-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, the first of five enzymes committed to biosynthesis of CDP-D-abequose from Salmonella enterica strain LT2. The purification was greatly facilitated by using a cloned rfbF gene encoding this enzyme. Pure enzyme was obtained by 64-fold enrichment in three chromatography steps. The NH2-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme was in agreement with the sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the rfbF gene. The SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis estimated subunit M(r) of 31,000 agrees well with the M(r) of 29,035 calculated from the amino acid composition deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the rfbF gene. The glucose-1-phosphate cytidylyltransferase catalyzes a reversible bimolecular group transfer reaction and steady-state kinetic measurements, including product inhibition patterns, indicate that this reaction proceeds by a "ping-pong" type of mechanism. The Km values for CTP, alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate, CDP-D-glucose, and pyrophosphate are 0.28, 0.64, 0.11, and 1.89 mM, respectively.     

A critique of the application of sensory integration therapy to children with learning disabilities

Sensory integration (SI) therapy is a controversial--though popular--treatment for the remediation of motor and academic problems. It has been applied primarily to children with learning disabilities, under the assumption that such children (or at least a subgroup of them) have problems in sensory integration to which some or all of their learning difficulties can be ascribed. The present article critically examines the related issues of whether children with learning disabilities differentially exhibit concomitant problems in sensory integration, and whether such children are helped in any way by means specific to SI therapy. An overview of theoretical contentions and empirical findings pertaining to the first issue is presented, followed by a detailed review of recent studies in the SI therapy research literature, in an effort to resolve the second issue. Results of this critique raise serious doubts as to the validity or utility of SI therapy as an appropriate, indicated treatment for the clinical population in question--and, by extension, for any other groups diagnosed as having "sensory integrative dysfunction." It is concluded that the current fund of research findings may well be sufficient to declare SI therapy not merely an unproven, but a demonstrably ineffective, primary or adjunctive remedial treatment for learning disabilities and other disorders.     

Comparative effects of gamma and microwave irradiation on the quality of black pepper

Powdered black pepper from Egyptian markets, was irradiated with different recommended doses of gamma rays (5.0 and 10.0 kGy) and with microwaves for different periods (20, 40 and 75 s) to improve its hygienic quality. The most common bacterial isolates were of three generaBacillus, Clostridium andMicrococcus (7.5 × 10⁶), whereas the predominant fungi (7.8 × 10⁴) wereAspergillus species,A. glaucus, A. flavus, A. niger andA. ochraceus. Doses of gamma irradiation used (5.0 and 10 kGy) were sufficient to decrease spore-forming bacteria (SFB) and to inhibit the fungal flora and coliforms which contaminated the black pepper powder. Microwave treatments for 40 s and 75 s were of the same effectiveness whereas treatment for 20 s was less so. GLC analysis proved the presence of 31 peaks, only 19 compounds were identified as monoterpene hydrocarbons (56.21%), the major one being -phellandrene and limonene. Sesquiterpenes were also present, mainly -caryollphyllene (3.69%) as well as oxygenated compounds such as terpenol, geraniol, Me-chavicol, eugenol and anisol. Gamma irradiation at 5 kGy and 10 kGy respectively decreased the numbers of identified compounds from 21 (86.58% concentration) in untreated pepper to 16 (59.22% concentration), 15 (54.06% concentration). In comparison, microwave treatments, particularly for 40 s and 75 s, increased the concentration of the same compounds. The results obtained indicate that microwave treatment, under these conditions, is a safe and suitable technique for decontamination of black pepper which does not result in a great loss of flavour compounds, as compared with recommended doses of gamma irradiation.     

Electromyographic and neuromuscular variables in post-polio subjects

OBJECTIVE: Post-polio subjects experience functional deterioration many years after developing acute poliomyelitis and have been shown previously to have a deficit in strength recovery after isometric activity. This study characterized the size and stability of the motor units in a group of post-polio subjects with macro and single fiber electromyography (EMG) and correlated these variables with isometric strength, endurance, "work capacity," and strength recovery after fatiguing isometric exercise. DESIGN: A cohort of 12 post-polio subjects was tested for neuromuscular function. Electromyographic variables were determined on a separate day. SETTING: Volunteers were recruited from the community and tested in our neuromuscular research laboratory. SUBJECTS: A volunteer sample was obtained from advertisements. All subjects acknowledged post-polio syndrome symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuromuscular variables were isometric knee extension peak torque, endurance (time to exhaustion) at 40% of maximal torque, tension time index, and recovery of torque at 10 minutes. Electromyographic variables were macro EMG and single fiber EMG (percent blocking and jitter). RESULTS: Macro EMG amplitude was ninefold the control value, and both jitter and blocking were greatly increased in comparison to control values. Isometric strength significantly (p < .05) correlated negatively with macro EMG amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: The weakest subjects had the greatest number of muscle fibers within the motor unit (as measured by macro EMG amplitude). Jitter and blocking did not correlate with neuromuscular function.