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Selected AbstractsDiversity examination based on physical, technological and chemical traits in a locally grown landrace of faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. major)INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Giovanni Avola Summary Fifteen accessions of a locally adapted Sicilian population (,Larga di Leonforte') of faba bean were evaluated for their physical and technological properties and chemical composition. Results showed a high seed weight (1000 seed weight around 2500 × g) along with a great seed size with wide variability among accessions. When all data were combined, the seeds initial water uptake was 0.21 g min,1. Differences between accessions were found in hydration capacity (ranging between 133% and 160%) and retainable firmness after 40 min of cooking (ranging between 18.8 and 13.6 N cm,2). In addition, the average contents of 46.0, 25.2 and 2.6 g 100 g,1 dry weight basis were ascertained for starch, protein and tannin, respectively, with considerable variation among accessions. The result's interpretation, carried out through a methodological approach based on multivariate analysis, seem to support the view that parameters such as seed dimension, starch, protein and tannin content, can be effectively adopted as elements of comparison among landraces in grain legumes. [source] The association between metabolic syndrome, microalbuminuria and impaired renal function in the general population: impact on cardiovascular disease and mortalityJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007K. P. Klausen Abstract. Objective:, Microalbuminuria and metabolic syndrome are both associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to determine the potential association between numbers of components in the metabolic syndrome, different levels of microalbuminuria and renal function. We also aimed to determine the risk of death and CVD at different levels of microalbuminuria and renal function and numbers of components in the metabolic syndrome. Design:, Population-based observational follow-up study Setting:, Epidemiological research unit (Copenhagen City Heart Study). Subjects:, A total of 2696 men and women, 30,70 years of age. Baseline measures:, Urinary albumin excretion (UAE), creatinine clearance and metabolic risk factors were measured in 1992,1994. Main outcome measurements:, The participants were followed prospectively by registers until 1999,2000 with respect to CVD, and until 2004 with respect to death. Results:, We found a strong association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome: 2% with none and 18% with five metabolic risk factors had microalbuminuria (P < 0.001). No association between impaired renal function defined as creatinine clearance <60 mL min,1 and the metabolic syndrome was found. Microalbuminuria was associated with increased risk of death and CVD to a similar extend as the metabolic syndrome, irrespective of concomitant presence of metabolic syndrome (RR,2; P < 0.001). Impaired renal function was not associated with increased risk of death and CVD in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions:, Microalbuminuria (UAE >5 ,g min,1) confers increased risk of death and CVD to a similar extent as the metabolic syndrome. [source] Method for improving the accuracy of quantitative cerebral perfusion imaging,JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 5 2005Ken E. Sakaie PhD Abstract Purpose To improve the accuracy of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV). Materials and Methods In eight volunteers, steady-state CBV (CBVSS) was measured using TrueFISP readout of inversion recovery (IR) before and after injection of a bolus of contrast. A standard DSC (STD) perfusion measurement was performed by echo-planar imaging (EPI) during passage of the bolus and subsequently used to calculate the CBF (CBFDSC) and CBV (CBVDSC). The ratio of CBVSS to CBVDSC was used to calibrate measurements of CBV and CBF on a subject-by-subject basis. Results Agreement of values of CBV (1.77 ± 0.27 mL/100 g in white matter (WM), 3.65 ± 1.04 mL/100 g in gray matter (GM)), and CBF (23.6 ± 2.4 mL/(100 g min) in WM, 57.3 ± 18.2 mL/(100 g min) in GM) with published gold-standard values shows improvement after calibration. An F-test comparison of the coefficients of variation of the CBV and CBF showed a significant reduction, with calibration, of the variability of CBV in WM (P< 0.001) and GM (P < 0.03), and of CBF in WM (P < 0.0001). Conclusion The addition of a CBVSS measurement to an STD measurement of cerebral perfusion improves the accuracy of CBV and CBF measurements. The method may prove useful for assessing patients suffering from acute stroke. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:512,519. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Comparative Cerebrospinal Fluid Diffusion of Imipenem and Meropenem in RatsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 9 2000ANTOINE DUPUIS The main objective of this study was to compare the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diffusion of imipenem and meropenem at steady state, following intravenous infusions at various rates in rats. A preliminary experiment was conducted to estimate the elimination half-lives of these two carbapenem antibiotics, and then to evaluate the infusion duration necessary to reach steady state. CSF diffusion of imipenem was essentially linear over the wide range of infusion rates (66,1320 ,g min,1) and corresponding steady-state plasma concentrations (11.7,443.0 ,g mL,1). Conversely the CSF diffusion of meropenem was saturable, with a predicted maximum CSF concentration equal to 1.3 ,g mL,1. Extrapolation of these data to the clinical situation may not be possible since the rats had normal blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers whereas patients with diseases such as meningitis may not. However, it is suggested that the observed differences in the diffusion characteristics of imipenem and meropenem may be partly responsible for their differences in toxicity and efficacy at the central level. [source] Uterine blood flow responses to ICI 182 780 in ovariectomized oestradiol-17,-treated, intact follicular and pregnant sheepTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Ronald R. Magness Oestrogen dramatically increases uterine blood flow (UBF) in ovariectomized (Ovx) ewes. Both the follicular phase and pregnancy are normal physiological states with elevated levels of circulating oestrogen. ICI 182 780 is a pure steroidal oestrogen receptor (ER) antagonist that blocks oestrogenic actions in oestrogen-responsive tissue. We hypothesized that an ER-mediated mechanism is responsible for in vivo rises in UBF in physiological states of high oestrogen. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of an ER antagonist on exogenous and endogenous oestradiol-17, (E2,)-mediated elevations in UBF. Sheep were surgically instrumented with bilateral uterine artery blood flow transducers, and uterine and femoral artery catheters. Ovx animals (n= 8) were infused with vehicle (35% ethanol) or ICI 182 780 (0.1,3.0 ,g min,1) into one uterine artery for 10 min before and 50 min after E2, was given (1 ,g kg,1i.v. bolus) and UBF was recorded for an additional hour. Intact, cycling sheep were synchronized to the follicular phase using progesterone, prostaglandin F2,(PGF2,) and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). When peri-ovulatory rises in UBF reached near peak levels, ICI 182 780 (1 or 2 ,g (ml uterine blood flow),1) was infused unilaterally (n= 4 sheep). Ewes in the last stages of pregnancy (late pregnant ewes) were also given ICI 182 780 (0.23,2.0 ,g (ml uterine blood flow),1; 60 min infusion) into one uterine artery (n= 8 sheep). In Ovx sheep, local infusion of ICI 182 780 did not alter systemic cardiovascular parameters, such as mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate; however, it maximally decreased ipsilateral, but not contralateral, UBF vasodilatory responses to exogenous E2, by ,55,60% (P < 0.01). In two models of elevated endogenous E2,, local ICI 182 780 infusion inhibited the elevated UBF seen in follicular phase and late pregnant ewes in a time-dependent manner by ,60% and 37%, respectively; ipsilateral , contralateral effects (P < 0.01). In late pregnant sheep ICI 182 780 also mildly and acutely (for 5,30 min) elevated mean arterial pressure and heart rate (P < 0.05). We conclude that exogenous E2,-induced increases in UBF in the Ovx animal and endogenous E2,-mediated elevations of UBF during the follicular phase and late pregnancy are partially mediated by ER-dependent mechanisms. [source] Functionalization of high density polyethylene with maleic anhydride in the melt state through ultrasonic initiationPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 4 2003Yuncan Zhang Grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto high density polyethylene (HDPE) performed in the melt state through ultrasonic initiation by a laboratory-scale ultrasonic extrusion reactor was studied in this paper. The effect of sonic intesity on the amount of grafted MAH, viscosity-average molecular weight and melt flow index of the grafted product was investigated. The results show that the ultrasonic waves can obviously decrease the molecular weight of the grafted product and cause the increase of the amount of grated MAH, implying that the grafting reaction consists of the chain scission and the grafting reaction of the produced macroradicals with MAH. The percentage of grafting of the product amounts to 0.6%; its melt-flow index is between 0.5 and 2.0 g/10 min, depending upon ultrasonic intensity, MAH content and grafting temperature. Compared with the method of peroxide initiation, in this method the crosslinking reaction can be prevented easily through the allocation of ultrasonic intensity. The mechanical properties of the improved HDPE/GF composite produced by ultrasonic initiatives are higher than in those produced by peroxide initiatives. [source] 70 vs 120 W thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet 2 µm continuous-wave laser for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic ex-vivo evaluationBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010Thorsten Bach Study Type , Aetiology (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To evaluate the ablative and haemostatic properties of the recently introduced 120-W thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Tm-YAG) laser and to assess these results against those of the previously introduced 70-W Tm-YAG laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ex-vivo model of the isolated blood-perfused porcine kidney was used to determine the ablation capacity, haemostatic properties and coagulation depth of a 2 µm continuous-wave Tm-YAG laser. The energy was delivered using a 550-µm and an 800-µm bare-ended fibre. The results of the recently introduced 120-W Tm-YAG were compared to the established 70-W device. Kidney tissue was embedded for histological evaluation. After staining (haematoxylin and eosin, H&E; and NADH) of the specimen, the coagulation zone and depth of the necrotic tissue layer were measured. RESULTS With increased power output, the mean (sd) rate of vaporization of tissue increased, from 9.80 (3.03) g/10 min at 70 W to 16.41 (5.2) g/10 min at 120 W using the 550 µm fibre. The total amount of ablated tissue using the 800 µm fibre was lower than with the 550 µm fibre. With increasing power output the bleeding rate remained stable in either group. Tissue penetration remained shallow, even with increasing power output. In contrast to H&E staining, where the coagulation zone was measured, NADH staining showed an inner zone of necrotic tissue, again with no difference between the 70- and the 120-W Tm-YAG. CONCLUSION The 120-W Tm-YAG offers significantly higher ablation rates than the 70-W device, and despite the increased rate of ablation with the 120-W Tm-YAG, the bleeding rate and depth of tissue penetration were comparable to those using the 70-W device. [source] | ||||||||||