Effect of sieved fractionation on the physical,flow and hydration properties of Boscia senegalensis Lam., Dichostachys glomerata Forssk. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. powders

Food Science and Biotechnology - This study aimed at evaluating the effect of successive grinding and sieving processes on the physicochemical properties of powders obtained from Boscia...     

Platinum deactivation: in situ EXAFS during aqueous alcohol oxidation reaction

With a new set‐up for in situ EXAFS spectroscopy the state of a carbon‐supported platinum catalyst during aqueous alcohol oxidation has been observed. The catalyst deactivation during platinum‐catalysed cyclohexanol oxidation is caused by platinum surface oxide formation. The detected Pt–O co‐ordination at 2.10 Å during exposure to nitrogen‐saturated cyclohexanol solution is different from what is observed for the pure oxidised platinum surface (2.06 Å).     

Effect of controlled differential sieving processing on micronutrient contents and in vivo antioxidant activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyxes powder

Food Science and Biotechnology - Sun-dried calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa were finely grinded and fractionated by controlled differential sieving processing (CDSp) into four granulometric classes....     

Primary Sj?gren''s syndrome presenting as autonomic neuropathy. Case report

A study conducted at P.G.I., Chandigarh to find out the effect of spinal anaesthesia on arterial blood gases, blood glucose, and pyruvate-lactate during spinal anaesthesia. All patients received night sedation of oral diazepam in dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight. No narcotic/antisialogogue premedication was given to any patient. All patients received spinal anaesthesia with 5% lignocaine (hyperbaric), in lateral position. All patients received normal saline intravenously as a maintenance fluid. Blood samples for the measurement of blood pyruvate, lactate levels and arterial blood gas analysis were collected preoperatively, 10 minutes after the administration of spinal anaesthesia after fixation of drug, and half hour after the end of operative procedure. Even though there was continued rise in blood sugar levels intraoperatively, which persisted in postoperative period, the values were within normal clinical range. Blood lactate levels and blood pyruvate levels remained unchanged. Hypocapnoea observed intra-operatively in our report is attributed to hyperventilation. There was 12.44% fall in bicarbonate level. (P > .001) which even though statistically significant did not alter the pH. We conclude that spinal anaesthesia up to T8 level does not affect the metabolic processes.     

Platinum catalysed aqueous methyl α- -glucopyranoside oxidation in a multiphase redox-cycle reactor

Platinum catalyst deactivation during aqueous alcohol oxidation is discussed, using the selective oxidation of methyl α- -glucopyranoside as an example. The most important causes of platinum deactivation are catalyst over-oxidation and catalyst poisoning. Deactivation by over-oxidation can be reversed by applying a redox-cycle, i.e. cyclic exposure to oxidative and reductive circumstances. A kinetic model for methyl α- -glucopyranoside oxidation, platinum deactivation, and reactivation, based on electrochemistry is presented and implemented into a three-phase stirred slurry reactor model, showing the advantages of applying redox cycles.     

The effect of ranitidine on NSAID related dyspeptic symptoms with and without peptic ulcer disease of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the autonomic response in preterm neonates born after an at-risk pregnancy. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one preterm neonates (gestational age; GA) 29-37 weeks; bodyweight (BW): 720-2113 g; postnatal age: 2-126 days), born after at-risk pregnancies (stressed (STR) group), were compared to 30 preterm neonates (GA: 26-36 weeks; BW: 813-2380 g: postnatal age: 2-86 days) without any intrauterine risk factor (C group). A 10 s pain stimulus was given on the forefoot and heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure were measured at 15 and 30 s, at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. After 10 s ocular compression six cardiac variables were recorded. RESULTS: After the pain stimulus the STR-group had a significant increase of heart rate at 15 s and an increase of diastolic blood pressure at 30 s. In the C group a significant increase of heart rate at 15 s was recorded. For the respiratory rate both groups showed an initial depression (significant at 15 s in the C group) followed by an increase. The time to react to the ocular compression was significantly shorter in the STR-group than in the C-group and thus more parasympathetic. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the different sympathetic and parasympathetic reaction patterns of the vital parameters to triggers in the STR-group are due to chronic stress, pointing to an altered maturation of the two components of the autonomic nervous system after chronic intrauterine stress (CIUSTR).     

Severe muscle weakness secondary to paraneoplastic hypophosphatemia in neuroblastoma

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the use of a bypass on the results of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. METHODS: The results of the repair of 224 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms operated upon between 1981 and the end of 1996 were evaluated retrospectively. In 122 cases we used simple cross-clamping (clamp and sew technique) and in 102 cases a left heart bypass (atrio-femoral or aorto-femoral) was the preferred method. Except for the use of cerebrospinal fluid drainage over the last years, the methods of spinal protection were the same in both groups. Renal protection was also identical in both groups. All aneurysms were repaired using the inlay technique. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 11.2%: 14.7% in cross-clamp group versus 6.8% in the bypass group (p = 0.04). Postoperative dialysis was necessary in 9.8%: 12.7% in the cross-clamp group versus 6.8% in the bypass group (p = 0.108). Paraplegia occurred in 8.4%: 7.4% in the cross-clamp group versus 9.8% in the bypass group (p = 0.517). Using the highly predictive model of Acher, there would have been 33% spinal cord lesions in the bypass group. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality, postoperative dialysis and postoperative spinal cord problems are lowered by the use of a bypass during the repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. These results evidence that the use of a bypass is indicated in this complex operation.     

Tear fluid analysis in primary Sj?gren's syndrome

Tear fluid analysis was performed in 44 patients with primary SS, 21 patients suspected of having primary SS in whom the syndrome had been excluded, and 24 control subjects. In the primary SS patients the tear fluid levels of lactoferrin and a1-antitrypsin were increased and the tear fluid levels peroxidase, lysozyme and amylase were decreased. However, a considerable overlap in the concentrations of all of the tested substances in the different groups was found and the measurement of these substances cannot be advocated for diagnostic use.     

Randomised comparison of combined step-down prednisolone, methotrexate and sulphasalazine with sulphasalazine alone in early rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: The value of intensive combination therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis is unproven. In a multicentre, double-blind, randomised trial (COBRA), we compared the combination of sulphasalazine (2 g/day), methotrexate (7.5 mg/week), and prednisolone (initially 60 mg/day, tapered in 6 weekly steps to 7.5 mg/day) with sulphasalazine alone. METHODS: 155 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (median duration 4 months) were randomly assigned combined treatment (76) or sulphasalazine alone (79). Prednisolone and methotrexate were tapered and stopped after 28 and 40 weeks, respectively. The main outcomes were the pooled index (a weighted change score of five disease activity measures) and the Sharp/Van der Heijde radiographic damage score in hands and feet. Independent health-care professionals assessed the main outcomes without knowledge of treatment allocation. FINDINGS: At week 28, the mean pooled index was 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.6) in the combined treatment group and 0.8 (0.6-1.0) in the sulphasalazine group (p < 0.0001). At this time, 55 (72%) and 39 (49%) patients, respectively, were improved according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. The clinical difference between the groups decreased and was no longer significant after prednisolone was stopped, and there were no further changes after methotrexate was stopped. At 28 weeks, the radiographic damage score had increased by a median of 1 (range 0-28) in the combined-therapy group and 4 (0-44) in the sulphasalazine group (p < 0.0001). The increases at week 56 (2 [0-43] vs 6 [0-54], p = 0.004), and at week 80 (4 [0-80] vs 12 [0-72], p = 0.01) were also significant. Further analysis suggests that combined therapy immediately suppressed damage progression, whereas sulphasalazine did so less effectively and with a lag of 6 to 12 months. There were fewer withdrawals in the combined therapy than the sulphasalazine group (6 [8%] vs 23 [29%]), and they occurred later. INTERPRETATION: This combined-therapy regimen offers additional disease control over and above that of sulphasalazine alone that persists for up to a year after corticosteroids are stopped. Although confirmatory studies and long-term follow-up are needed, this approach may prove useful in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis.