Absolute Emission Spectra from Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Vegetative Cells in Solution.

Spectrally resolved emission (270-560 nm) from dilute suspensions of washed Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were measured by use of tunable laser excitation between 270 and 300 nm. Integrated absolute emission cross sections increase with decreasing excitation wavelength and range from 1.8 x 10(-12) to 6.

First results using automated epifluorescence microscopy to detect Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis in WBC-reduced platelet concentrates.

Background: Many methods have been tested for the detection of bacterial contamination in platelets. However, only those using molecular biology or cell culturing consistently detect contamination at levels below 10(5) bacteria per mL. This report describes the initial investigation into an alternative method that offers the possibilities of high sensitivity and rapid response while using available laboratory equipment and supplies.

Characterization and nitric oxide release studies of lipophilic 1-substituted diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates.

Lipophilic esters of the naturally occurring polyamines putreanine and spermic acid were synthesized, characterized, and modified with nitric oxide to form the corresponding 1-substituted diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates (previously known as NONOates). The resulting compounds were insoluble in water but were able to release nitric oxide (NO) when placed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at physiological pH. The two categories of compounds examined were putreanate esters of cholesterol or hexadecanol, and spermate diesters of cholesterol or hexadecanol.

Intratracheal instillation of a novel NO/nucleophile adduct selectively reduces pulmonary hypertension.

We examined the pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic effects of administering soluble nitric oxide (NO) donor compounds (NO/nucleophile adducts, i.e., NONOates) directly into the trachea of animals with experimentally induced pulmonary hypertension.

Melatonin inhibition and pinealectomy enhancement of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors in the rat.

The effects of the pineal hormone, melatonin, and of pinealectomy on the incidence of mammary adenocarcinoma in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)-anthracene (DMBA) were investigated. Melatonin (2.5 mg/kg), begun on the same day as DMBA (5 mg) treatment and given daily in the afternoon for 90 days, significantly reduced the incidence of mammary tumors from 79% (control) to 20% (treated) (p less than 0.