Modifications in Booth's method for the spectrophotometric determination of?-carotene in vegetables

Summary Booth's method for the spectrophotometric determination ofß-carotene gives reliable results, but the extraction method is very laborious and tedious. Removal of the acetone from the extract and elution of the acetone-free extract on the adsorption column also require much time and attention. The authors describe the modifications made to these three parts of Booth's method for the determination of carotene. The simultaneous application of Booth's original method and of the modified method to samples of carrots, five leafy vegetables and four brassicas gave, in general, corresponding results. With brassicas a tendency was observed for the modified method to yield lower carotene contents. Using the modified method, with pureß-carotene added to samples of carrots and spinach, the authors found recoveries of 98%–100% and 86%–88% respectively.

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Modifikationen der spektrophotometrischenß-Carotin-Bestimmung nach Booth in Gemüse

Zusammenfassung Die Ergebnisse der spektrophotometrischenß-Carotin-Bestimmung nach Booth sind zuverlässig, aber die damit verbundene Extraktionsmethode ist arbeitsintensiv und strapaziös. Auch das Entfernen von Aceton aus dem Extrakt und das Eluieren des acetonfreien Extrakts auf der Säule erfordert viel Zeit und Aufmerksamkeit. Die Autoren beschreiben die von ihnen angebrachten Modifikationen dieserß-Carotin-Bestimmung in den drei Stufen. Die gleichzeitige Anwendung der ursprünglichen Methode nach Booth und deren Modifikation brachte bei Karotten, fünf Blattgemüsen und vier Kohlarten im allgemeinen ähnliche Ergebnisse. Bei den Kohlarten war die Tendenz zu beobachten, daß mit der modifizierten Methode dieß-Carotingehalte etwas niedriger waren. Die modifizierte Methode hatte eine Rückgewinnungsquote von 98–100% bzw. 86–88% bei einem Zusatz von reinemß-Carotin zu Karotten- und Spinatproben.

     

Acute Effects of Ocrelizumab Infusion in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

B cell-depleting therapies such as ocrelizumab (OCR) are highly effective in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Especially at treatment start and initial infusion, infusion-related reactions (IRR) are a common adverse event. The relevance of acute changes of cell-depleting therapies on peripheral immune compartments and routine lab testing is important for clinical practice. We systematically analyzed routine blood parameters, detailed blood immunophenotyping and serum cytokine profiles in 45 MS patients starting on OCR. Blood samples were collected before and after corticosteroid premedication and directly after each OCR infusion of the first three ocrelizumab infusions. Blood B cells were rapidly depleted and accompanied only by a mild cytokine release at the first OCR infusion. Cytokine release was not significantly detectable from a third application in line with decreasing IRRs. B cell depletion was accompanied by short-lived changes in other immune cell populations in number, activation and cytokine secretion after each OCR infusion. Standard lab parameters did not show any clinically relevant changes. Our data demonstrate only mild changes during the first OCR infusion, which are not present any more during long-term treatment.     

Comparison of Nordtest FIRE 007, CEN draft proposal (Radiant Panel) and Cone Calorimeter methods in the fire testing of floor coverings

Different types of floor coverings were tested using three different methods: the Cone Calorimeter (ISO 5660), the Nordtest floor covering test NT FIRE 007 and the German Radiant Panel Method (DIN 4102 Teil 14). The results of the comparisons between both flame spread and smoke production are given. Some correlation is found between the results of the Cone Calorimeter and the NT FIRE 007. Between other methods, no correlations seem to exist.     

Sensory preconditioning in rats following early visual deprivation.

Conducted 3 experiments in which a total of 131 light- and dark-reared (LR and DR) male hooded rats were given sensory preconditioning (SPC). In each experiment, Ss were presented with 2 stimuli either paired or unpaired, followed by conditioning to 1 and extinction on the other. 2 auditory stimuli were used in Exp. I. SPC was found for both LR and DR Ss, with no significant difference due to rearing condition either in acquisition or in the SPC test. In Exp. II, light and tone were employed; SPC was demonstrated and was more effective for LR than DR Ss. In Exp. III, rectangle stimuli were employed. The effect of SPC was evidenced in LR Ss; however, performance of DR Ss was not significantly different from that of controls. Results are discussed in terms of the effect of early visual deprivation on information-processing mechanisms. (27 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ganciclovir and Its Hemocompatible More Lipophilic Derivative Can Enhance the Apoptotic Effects of Methotrexate by Inhibiting Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP)

Efflux transporters, namely ATP-binding cassette (ABC), are one of the primary reasons for cancer chemoresistance and the clinical failure of chemotherapy. Ganciclovir (GCV) is an antiviral agent used in herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene therapy. In this therapy, HSV-TK gene is delivered together with GCV into cancer cells to activate the phosphorylation process of GCV to active GCV-triphosphate, a DNA polymerase inhibitor. However, GCV interacts with efflux transporters that are responsible for the resistance of HSV-TK/GCV therapy. In the present study, it was explored whether GCV and its more lipophilic derivative (1) could inhibit effluxing of another chemotherapeutic, methotrexate (MTX), out of the human breast cancer cells. Firstly, it was found that the combination of GCV and MTX was more hemocompatible than the corresponding combination with compound 1. Secondly, both GCV and compound 1 enhanced the cellular accumulation of MTX in MCF-7 cells, the MTX exposure being 13–21 times greater compared to the MTX uptake alone. Subsequently, this also reduced the number of viable cells (41–56%) and increased the number of late apoptotic cells (46–55%). Moreover, both GCV and compound 1 were found to interact with breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) more effectively than multidrug-resistant proteins (MRPs) in these cells. Since the expression of BCRP was higher in MCF-7 cells than in MDA-MB-231 cells, and the cellular uptake of GCV and compound 1 was smaller but increased in the presence of BCRP-selective inhibitor (Fumitremorgin C) in MCF-7 cells, we concluded that the improved apoptotic effects of higher MTX exposure were raised mainly from the inhibition of BCRP-mediated efflux of MTX. However, the effects of GCV and its derivatives on MTX metabolism and the quantitative expression of MTX metabolizing enzymes in various cancer cells need to be studied more thoroughly in the future.