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Surfactant Activity (surfactant + activity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Phospholipase A2 is present in meconium and inhibits the activity of pulmonary surfactant: an in vitro study

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2001
AJJ Schrama
Atelectasis, a major contributor to pulmonary dysfunction in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), is produced by bronchiolar obstruction and surfactant inactivation. It has been shown that substances in meconium, e.g. fatty acids, inhibit surfactant activity. However, the role of the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which hydrolyses surfactant in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), has not yet been studied. Our objective was to investigate whether PLA2 is present in meconium and inhibits pulmonary surfactant activity in vitro. Therefore, the presence of PLA2 activity in meconium, collected from 10 newborns, was measured by the formation of lysophosphatidylcholine after incubation of meconium with radioactively labelled dipalmitoylphosphati-dylcholine. Meconium was fractionated by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography and the fractions were assayed for PLA2 activity. Also, their effect on the surface tension of surfactant (Curosurf) was measured using a pulsating bubble surfactometer (PBS). PLA2 activity was present in all meconium samples. Addition of meconium to surfactant significantly increased surface tension (mean ± SD: 17 ± 1.6 mN/m to 24.3 ± 6.7 mN/m, p= 0.0001) and only the addition of the PLA2 containing fraction from meconium to surfactant also significantly increased surface tension (mean 1.7 ± 1.6mN/m to 19.0 ± 3.58 mN/m, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: PLA2 is present in meconium and inhibits the activity of pulmonary surfactant in vitro. Therefore, PLA2 in meconium may contribute to surfactant inactivation and alveolar ateectasis in MAS. [source]

Rainwater Dissolved Organic Carbon: Characterization of Surface Active Substances by Electrochemical Method

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 19-20 2007
osovi
Abstract Surface active substances as organic constituents of bulk precipitation were studied by AC voltammetric method. Adsorption characteristics at the mercury electrode of real rainwater samples are compared with aqueous solutions of a number model substances suggested to be representative of water soluble organic compounds (WSOC) in atmospheric aerosols and droplets: monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic, and polyacidic compounds, levoglucosan, polyaromatic hydrocarbon naphtalene and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. On the basis of the capacitance vs. potential curves and the surfactant activity normalized to the organic carbon content it is concluded that humic like substances, monocarboxylic acids and polyaromatic hydrocarbons may play an important role in atmospheric aquatic system because of their surface active potential. [source]

Characterization of extracellular polymers synthesized by tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
B.O. Ortega-Morales
Abstract Aim:, This study was performed to determine the potential of tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria as a source of novel exopolymers (EPS). Methods and Results:, A screening procedure was implemented to detect EPS-producing biofilm bacteria. Isolates MC3B-10 and MC6B-22, identified respectively as a Microbacterium species and Bacillus species by 16S rDNA and cellular fatty acids analyses, produced different EPS, as evidenced by colorimetric and gas chromatographic analyses. The polymer produced by isolate MC3B-10 displays significant surfactant activity, and may chelate calcium as evidenced by spectroscopic analysis. Conclusions:, Polymer MC3B-10 appears to be a glycoprotein, while EPS MC6B-22 seems to be a true polysaccharide dominated by neutral sugars but with significant concentrations of uronic acids and hexosamines. EPS MC3B-10 possesses a higher surfactant activity than that of commercial surfactants, and given its anionic nature, may chelate cations thus proving useful in bioremediation. The chemical composition of polymer MC6B-22 suggests its potential biomedical application in tissue regeneration. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This is the first report of a Microbacterium species producing EPS with surfactant properties, which expands our knowledge of the micro-organisms capable of producing these biomolecules. Furthermore, this work shows that tropical intertidal environments are a nonpreviously recognized habitat for bioprospecting EPS-producing bacteria, and that these molecules might be involved in ecological roles protecting the cells against dessication. [source]

Bilirubin influence on oxidative lung damage and surfactant surface tension properties

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Carlo Dani MD
Abstract To study the hypothesis that hyperbilirubinemia might reduce in vivo oxidative lung damage while also diminishing lung surfactant surface tension properties during acute lung injury, we performed a randomized study in a rabbit model of acute lung injury. Twenty rabbits were randomized to receive bilirubin or saline intravenously. Acute lung injury was induced by lung lavages with saline. Lung tissue oxidation was evaluated by measuring total hydroperoxide (TH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and protein carbonyls (PC) in bronchial aspirate (BA) samples. Surface surfactant activity was studied in BA samples using a capillary surfactometer. Bilirubin BA concentration increased in bilirubin-treated rabbits, while it remained undetectable in controls. A similar increase in TH, AOPP, and PC bronchial aspirate concentrations was found in both the study and control groups, while surfactant surface activity was lower in the bilirubin than in the control group. We conclude that during hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubin enters the lung tissue, where it can be detected in BA fluid. Bilirubin is not effective as an antioxidant agent and exerts a detrimental effect on lung surfactant surface tension properties. These findings may have relevance to the management of premature neonates suffering from respiratory distress syndrome and hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]