A clinico-radiological correlation of breast diseases during lactation and the significance of unilateral failure of lactation

OBJECTIVES: The Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell line is hormonally responsive, expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) when grown in traditional monolayer culture. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a three-dimensional spheroid culture system for cancer cells. We used this system to determine the response of the Ishikawa cell line to estradiol-17 beta (E), tamoxifen (T), megestrol acetate (MA), and progesterone (P). METHODS: Ishikawa cells were incubated in polyurethane culture bags using phenol red-free media containing ethanol (0.1%, controls), E (1 mumol, or 1 nmol), T (1 mumol, or 10 nmol), MA (1 mumol, or 10 nmol), or P (1 mumol). Cellular morphology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors was determined immunohistochemically using an immunoperoxidase technique. RESULTS: Cells in control cultures demonstrated minimal organization and lacked hormone receptors. In contrast, cells exposed to either E or T displayed significant glandular formation, with multicellular, microvilli-rich, columnar epithelia exhibiting polarized nuclear arrangements. Within 4 weeks, E- and T-treated cultures showed upregulated nuclear staining for PR, with little ER present. Cells treated with MA or P showed less glandular organization but expressed ER with PR downregulation. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the use of this novel three-dimensional culture system to study the modulation of tumor cell biologic activity in response to hormonal agents. Future applications of this model include examining in vitro responsiveness of cancer cell lines to additional biologic agents and chemotherapeutic regimens.     

IDENTIFICATION OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT STAGES OF MALT WHISKY DISTILLERY FERMENTATIONS

A number of strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified from samples obtained from different stages of malt whisky distillery fermentations. Isolates were subjected to a range of biochemical and physiological tests and results obtained were used to make tentative identifications. The types of lactic acid bacteria associated with a particular stage of the fermentation are discussed. Results obtained suggest that Leuconostoc was the most common bacterial contaminant and tends to die off at the later stages of the fermentation. The most likely sources of bacterial contamination in the distillery are discussed. Results have shown that yeast is a very important source of contamination on an industrial scale.     

Effect of Moisture Content,Nut Size and Hot-Oil Roasting Time on the Whole Kernel “Out-Turn” of Cashew Nuts (Anacardium occidentale) During Shelling

The effect of moisture content (MC), nut size and roasting time (RT) on the whole kernel out-turn (WKO) of cashew nuts during shelling was investigated in this study. Cashew nuts were graded into three sizes: small (18 – 22 mm), medium (23 – 25 mm) and large nuts (26 – 35 mm). About 3 kg of nuts from each grade was conditioned with water at 25°C to five moisture levels of 8.34, 11.80, 12.57, 15.40 and 16.84% (wb). The nuts were subjected to roasting in hot cashew nut shell liquid at a temperature range between 180 and 190°C for 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50 min. The nuts were then shelled using a hand-operated shelling machine. The results showed that pre-shelling treatment of cashew nuts enhanced WKO. The single effect of MC, roasting time (RT) or nut size distribution is not enough for estimating WKO; it is rather by an interaction of these parameters. The average WKO of raw nuts was characteristically below 50% at all combinations of MC and RT. Pre-treatment by roasting was found to improve WKO considerably. The highest values were 96.96, 99.63 and 100% for large, medium and small-sized nuts at MC*RT of 16.84%*1 min, 16.84%*1 min and 15.4%*1.5 min respectively. As RT and MC increased, WKO increased within the experimental range.     

Fracture Resistance of Cashew Nuts as Influenced by Pre-Shelling Treatment

The fracture resistance of raw and pre-treated cashew nuts during uni-axial compressive loading was investigated. Cashew nut samples were subjected to two pre-shelling treatments, namely: steam boiling and roasting in hot cashew nut shell liquid. Two loading rates of 2.5 and 50 mm/min and two loading orientations (longitudinal and transverse) were considered for fracture resistance of pre-treated cashew nuts using a 50 kN capacity Instron testing machine. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance. The average values at 2.5 mm/min were 342 and 318 N for raw nuts, 321 and 242 N for roasted nuts, and 341 and 309 N for steam boiled nuts during longitudinal and transverse loading, respectively; whereas corresponding values at 50 mm/min were 784 and 763 N for raw nuts, 517 and 464 N for roasted nuts, and 436 and 398 N for steam boiled nuts, respectively. In each of the pre-treatment methods and loading rates, more force was required to crack cashew nuts during longitudinal loading than transverse loading; and for each loading rate, pre-treated nuts generally required less force than raw nuts.     

Compositional,Mass-Volume-Area Related and Mechanical Properties of Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) Seeds

Some physical, mechanical and compositional properties of sponge gourd seeds were determined according to standard methods. The length, width, thickness and equivalent diameter were 9.6, 6.17, 1.59 and 4.53 mm for whole seeds and 6.99, 4.31, 0.79 and 2.84 mm for the dehulled seeds respectively. Sphericity, surface area, seed mass, bulk density, apparent density and porosity were 0.47, 0.57 cm², 0.079 g, 0.43, 0.50 g/cm³ and 0.14 for whole seeds and 0.41, 0.33 cm², 0.044 g, 0.57, 0.93 g/cm³ and 0.39 for dehulled seeds, respectively. Coefficient of friction against wood, aluminum, galvanized steel and mild steel surfaces were 0.50, 0.59, 0.64 and 0.70 for the whole seeds and 0.55, 0.66, 0.67, and 0.76 for the dehulled seeds, respectively. Sponge gourd seeds contain 33.38 and 39.11 g of protein and fat per 100 g of sample, respectively, the fat being largely made up of 50.1% linoleic and 31.03 % stearic acids.     

Seeded emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate: order of reaction with respect to initiator

The emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate has been studied using carefully prepared seed lattices. Experiments were carried out in which temperature, particle size and the monomer-polymer ratio could be varied independently. In all cases the polymerization rate was proportional to the initiator concentration raised to the 0.7 power. No new particles were formed. The importance of polymerization in the aqueous phase and changes in the propagation rate coefficient are discussed.     

Radiological evaluation of complications of intestinal tuberculosis

We have recently observed that the selective adenosine A3 receptor agonist N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA) augments interleukin-10 and inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in endotoxemic mice. In the present study, we extended our investigations into the effect of this compound on the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)-induced inflammatory response in the BALB/c, as well as in the C57BL/6 interleukin-10+/+ and the interleukin-10 deficient C57BL/6 interleukin-10(0)/0 mice strains. In the BALB/c mice, i.p. pre-treatment with IB-MECA (0.2 and 0.5 mg/kg) decreased lipopolysaccharide (60 mg/kg i.p.)-induced plasma levels of interleukin-12 (p40 and p70), interferon-gamma, and nitrite/nitrate (breakdown products of nitric oxide (NO)). On the other hand, pre-treatment with this compound failed to influence lipopolysaccharide-induced plasma interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-6, and corticosterone concentrations. Similar to its effect in BALB/c mice, IB-MECA enhanced the release of interleukin-10 in the C57BL/6 interleukin-10+/+ mice. Furthermore, IB-MECA inhibited the production of interleukin-12, interferon-gamma, and NO in both the C57BL/6 interleukin-10+/+ and C57BL/6 interleukin-10(0)/0 mice, suggesting that the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production by this compound is independent of the increased release of interleukin-10. Finally, pre-treatment with this compound protected mice against lipopolysaccharide (60 mg/kg i.p.)-induced lethality. These results indicate that stimulation of adenosine A3 receptors has potent anti-inflammatory effects and may represent a potential strategy in the treatment of septic shock and other inflammatory diseases.