Urinary cytology of transitional-cell carcinoma

The authors report on their experience about urinary cytology in 1991. They studied 100 patients with cytology and histology, carried by cystoscopy and cold-mapping biopsy, trying to have notice about cytological value and proficiency.     

Prenatal diagnostic testing for familial dysautonomia using linked genetic markers

Familial dysautonomia (FD), a recessively inherited disease, has been mapped to chromosome 9q31. Highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeat markers flanking the genetic locus and at the same genetic location have been identified. We describe the prenatal diagnosis of FD using linkage and linkage disequilibrium analyses with these markers. Twelve families were analysed for informativeness and of these, seven went on to have prenatal testing (a total of eight fetuses tested). All of these fetuses were predicted to be heterozygous unaffected (FD carriers). Seven fetuses have come to term and are normal. In the absence of a recombinant proband, a panel of three proximal and three distal markers is sufficient to provide informative flanking markers and an 87-96 per cent likelihood of a highly predictive test. In an additional family at 1:4 risk for FD, no DNA was available from the propositus. This family was analysed using linkage disequilibrium to the #18 allele of the tightly linked marker D9S58 in conjunction with linkage analysis using data from two unaffected children. Prenatal diagnosis in this family indicated an affected fetus.     

Atmospheric and low pressure shadow masked MOVPE growth of InGaAs(P)/InP and (In)GaAs/(Al)GaAs heterostructures and quantum wells

The shadow masked growth technique is presented as a tool to achieve thickness and bandgap variations laterally over the substrate during metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Lateral thickness and bandgap variations are very important for the fabrication of photonic integrated circuits, where several passive and active optical components need to be integrated on the same substrate. Several aspects of the shadow masked growth are characterized for InP based materials as well as for GaAs based materials. Thickness reductions are studied as a function of the mask dimensions, the reactor pressure, the orientation of the masked channels and the undercutting of the mask. The thickness reduction is strongly influenced by the mask dimensions and the reactor pressure, while the influence of the orientation of the channels and the amount of undercutting is only significant for narrow mask windows. During shadow masked growth, there are not only thickness variations but also compositional variations. Therefore, we studied the changes in In/Ga and As/P ratios for InGaAs and InGaAsP layers. It appears that mainly the In/Ga-ratio is responsible for compositional changes and that the As/P-ratio remains unchanged during shadow masked growth.     

Influence of vacuum skin packaging on color stability of beef longissimus lumborum compared with vacuum and high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging

The objective of this study was to investigate how color stability of beef is affected by vacuum skin packaging (VSP) compared with vacuum packaging (VP) and high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 80% O(2) and 20% CO(2)). Longissimus lumborum muscles were aged in vacuum for 7days and then cut into 2-cm-thick slices and repacked using VSP, VP and MAP for another 7days. Color stability was measured during the next 5days in air and samples for α-tocopherol and NADH analyses were obtained at the beginning and end of aerobic storage. Color stability, α-tocopherol and NADH of steaks were affected by packaging methods and storage time in air (P<0.05). Higher a* value was obtained in VSP on day 5 compared with VP. Steaks packed in VSP had better color stability than in VP and their color was similar to MAP at the end (day 5) of storage.     

Sustained release of IL-1Ra from biodegradable microspheres prolongs its IL-1-neutralizing effects

A sustained delivery system for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) may have great therapeutic and industrial potential due to the cytokine activity as an IL-1 inhibitor. Here, we investigated the capability of biodegradable polymeric microspheres to sustain the release and prolong the therapeutic efficacy of IL-1Ra. IL-1Ra was encapsulated within rapidly degrading poly(lactic/glycolic acid) PLGA RG502H microspheres, which showed a desirable release profile of IL-1Ra in vitro. Pharmacokinetic study in mice revealed elevated serum levels of the recombinant IL-1Ra (rIL-1Ra) for up to 8 days following subcutaneous injection of IL-1Ra microspheres. In comparison, the serum levels of rIL-1Ra following subcutaneous or intravenous bolus injection of the soluble cytokine decreased very rapidly; within 48 h no recombinant cytokine was detected in mice sera. The sustained delivery of rIL-1Ra for over two weeks was efficient in inhibiting IL-1ß-stimulated induction of serum IL-6. These results suggest that the present therapeutic protocol of daily bolus injections of the IL-1Ra may be replaced by a weekly injection of IL-1Ra within PLGA RG502H microspheres.     

Variability and molecular typing of Streptococcus thermophilus strains displaying different proteolytic and acidifying properties

Proteolytic and acidifying properties of Streptococcus thermophilus strains isolated from yoghurt or cheeses were evaluated. Among 30 strains tested, 12 exhibited cell envelope-associated proteinase activity (PrtS⁺), three displayed a slight PrtS activity (PrtS^+/?) and 15 were PrtS^?, despite the presence of the corresponding gene (prtS) in eight of them. Sequencing of the prtS gene in four PrtS^? and one PrtS⁺ strains revealed that the absence of PrtS activity in the PrtS^? strain probably results from an alteration of the prtS regulation. The strains displaying the highest acidifying capacities were all PrtS⁺. All but one PrtS⁺ strains were phylogenetically close, as shown by the sequencing of their rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 16S-23S. More specifically, the high proteolytic and acidifying capacities are associated with the presence of a type II-ITS.     

HIV knowledge, beliefs and sexual behavior of male heterosexual drug users and non-drug users attending an HIV testing clinic in Israel

The aim of the study was to compare HIV-related knowledge, beliefs in self-control and sexual behavior of non-drug using and drug using heterosexual men. All individuals attending an HIV testing site during a two-month period were asked to complete a questionnaire anonymously. Data for 49 drug users (DU), most of them non-injectors, were compared to that of 94 non-drug using (non-DU) men with similar education levels (high school or less). Sexual behavior items refer to previous six months. FINDINGS: HIV-related knowledge was reported correctly by the majority of men in both groups, but the DU showed significantly more misconceptions (p < 0.01). Consistent but statistically insignificant lower levels of self-control were reported by the DU. Type of sexual relations and the number of regular sexual partners were not different between the groups: 55% of the DU and 67% of the non-DU were not monogamous. DU had either none or many casual partners (three or more), significantly different from the non-DU. The proportion of DU who never used condoms (65%) was higher as compared to non-DU men (43%, p < 0.05). However, when controlling for type of partnership, this difference was sustained only among monogamous men (82% of DU vs. 42% of non-DU never used condoms, p < 0.05). Condom use was significantly associated with age, HIV knowledge and sexual partnership in the DU. The greater deficiencies in HIV-related knowledge, and the prevalence of risk behaviors among DU require intensive individual and group counselling, specifically adapted for the needs and the culture of drug users in Israel and incorporated with social-influence-orientated change processes.     

Electrochemical oxidation of organics in water: Role of operative parameters in the absence and in the presence of NaCl

The electrochemical oxidation of organics in water was investigated theoretically and experimentally to determine the role of several operative parameters on the performances of the process in the presence and in the absence of sodium chloride. Theoretical considerations were used to design the experimental investigation and were confirmed by the results of the electrochemical oxidation of oxalic acid (OA) at boron doped diamond (BDD) or IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (DSA-O₂) anodes in a continuous batch recirculation reaction system equipped with a parallel plate undivided electrochemical cell. Polarization curves and chronoamperometric measurements indicated that, in the presence of chlorides, the anodic oxidation of OA is partially replaced by an indirect oxidation process. This result was confirmed by electrolyses experiments that show that, in the presence of suitable amount of chlorides, oxidation of OA takes place mainly by a homogeneous process. Interestingly, a very different influence of the nature of the anodic material, the flow rate and the current density on the performances of the process arises in the absence and in the presence of chlorides so that optimization of the two processes requires very different operative conditions. In the absence of chlorides, high current efficiency (CE) is obtained at BDD when most part of the process is under charge transfer controlled kinetics, i.e. when low current densities and high flow rates are imposed. On the other hand, in the presence of NaCl, higher CE are generally obtained at DSA anode when high current densities and low flow rates are imposed, i.e. when a high concentration of chemical oxidants is obtained as a result of the chloride oxidation. The effect of other operative parameters such as the OA concentration and the pH were further investigated.     

Physical coloring of multilayered polymeric structures

Multilayered polymer structures made of two transparent, hyperelastic thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) have been studied. The sheets, made by co‐extrusion and layer multiplication techniques, exhibited “physical coloring”, where a preferred wavelength range was reflected and visualized, due to the refractive index difference and nanometric thicknesses of the alternating layers. The extrusion system comprises two extruders and a series of multiplying units, each doubling the number of layers, such that 12 multiplying units render 2^{12 + 1}+1 (= 8,193) layers. For a 0.8 mm‐thick die, the resulting layers after die swell are ～ 150 nm thick. The extrusion temperatures of both grades were adjusted to equilibrate the viscosities and thus stabilize the layers. TPUs are highly elastic, and large stretching ratios allow for significant reduction in thickness. Physical coloring developed in a controlled, reversible manner. The visual color correlates with elongation, and can be offset by choice of initial thickness. Both reflected and transmitted wavelengths change throughout the whole visible range. A model was developed to fit the reflectance data, by introducing a “stress–volume coefficient” due to volume changes during stretch. This model fits the data very well. Characterization by AFM and TEM showed few discontinuous layers and some defects in the structure, nevertheless the multilayer structure is demonstrated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:112–119, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers