Effect of propranolol on the factors promoting bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats with ascites.

Bacterial translocation appears to be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of spontaneous infections in cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients are commonly treated with beta-adrenoceptor blockers, but the impact of this treatment in the factors promoting bacterial translocation has not been investigated. This study was aimed at investigating in cirrhotic rats with ascites the effect of propranolol on intestinal bacterial load, transit, and permeability of the bowel and on the rate of bacterial translocation.

Influence of different chemical cross-linking treatments on the properties of bovine pericardium and collagen.

The use of biological materials in the construction of bioprostheses requires the application of different chemical or physical procedures to improve the mechanical performance of the material without producing any undesirable effects. A number of cross-linking methods have been tested in biological tissues composed mainly of collagen. The basis for most of them is the use of glutaraldehyde (GA), which acts on the Lys or Hyl residues.