Microscale fluctuation assay coupled with Sep-PakR concentration as a rapid and sensitive method for screening mutagens in drinking water

A sensitive short-term mutagenicity test, the microscale fluctuation test has been coupled with a concentration method based on adsorption on Sep-Pak^R C₁₈ cartridges as a method for screening drinking water mutagens. Comparison with XAD-2 concentration method showed that Sep-Pak adsorbed 5 times higher quantity of organics but was slightly less efficient for adsorbing TOX.Microscale fluctuation test was found to be more sensitive than Ames test by testing known direct-acting mutagens and concentrates of drinking water. Samples derived from conventional treatment including chlorination from eight surface water supplies in Norway were concentrated at pH 2 by adsorption on the disposable columns. The adsorbates were tested at different doses by the microscale fluctuation assay. The mutagenic properties of drinking water samples were also related to total organic carbon (TOC), total organic halogen (TOX) and trihalomethanes (THM) concentrations. Dose-related mutagenic responses were found for all the samples with S. typhimurium TA 100 and TA98 strains without metabolic activation. Good relationship was found between mutagenicity data and TOX and THM results. The method showed to be simple, rapid and suitable for routine screening of mutagens in drinking water.     

Early effects of ganciclovir therapy on the quantity of cytomegalovirus DNA in leukocytes of immunocompromised patients

The management of patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia of warm type (AIHA) is often problematic. Recently, pulsed high-dose dexamethasone (HDD) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP). In this study we treated seven patients with AIHA with HDD. The regimen recommended for treatment of refractory AITP (40 mg dexamethasone for 4 d at the beginning of each 28 d cycle) was employed in almost all cases. Prior to dexamethasone administration, haemolysis was decompensated in all seven patients. HDD was well tolerated and led to an improvement of haemolysis in all cases.     

Kraft lignin in polyurethanes I. Mechanical properties of polyurethanes from a kraft lignin–polyether triol–polymeric MDI system

Polyurethanes with various NCO/OH ratios and kraft lignin contents were synthesized by polymerization of kraft lignin (free of the low and high molecular weight fractions), a propylene–oxide-based polyether triol and polymeric MDI in tetrahydrofuran solution. Films were made by solvent casting and tested with respect to swelling behavior and tensile properties. The main findings were: At low NCO/OH ratios, kraft lignin contributed effectively to the formation of the three dimensional network; under particular conditions of NCO/OH ratio and kraft lignin content, polyurethanes of considerable toughness were obtained; at high kraft lignin contents, the obtained polyurethanes were hard and brittle regardless of the NCO/OH ratio used.     

THE INFLUENCE OF THE METHOD OF PREPARATION OF PITCHING YEAST ON ITS PRODUCTION OF DIACETYL AND ACETOIN DURING FERMENTATION

Yeasts propagated under different conditions have been tested for their ability to produce diacetyl and acetoin during fermentation of wort. It has been shown that the method of preparation of the pitching yeast can have a considerable influence on the production of these fermentation by-products and that different yeast strains respond differently in this respect.