Experimental tests on commercial Sweet Product Residue (SPR) as a suitable feed for anaerobic bioenergy (H+CH) production.

Food stores can find themselves in the position of having to dispose of different types of products, such as snacks, confectionery, prepackaged food, drinks and others, Sweet Product Residue (SPR), which presents a great opportunity to produce energy through Anaerobic Digestion (AD), due to its high sugar, carbohidrate and fat contents. In order to valorise SPR, this paper takes into consideration the all necessary treatments; owing the fact that the refuses are constitute by an organic part and packaging (plastic, paper and their combinations), a pretreatment able to remove the latter is necessary. SPR refuse was initially subjected to novel pretreatment approach: extrusion at 200atm to remove the packaging, and a Basic Pre-treatment (BP) then tested through a Two-Stage AD (TSAD) process, for H and CH productions.

Impact of prior systemic corticosteroid use in patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background And Objective: Limited information is available regarding the impact of prior outpatient use of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in patients subsequently developing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We investigate the effects of prior SCS on severity of illness, microbiology and clinical outcomes for patients hospitalized with CAP.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of subjects with CAP (according to International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition codes) was conducted over a 3-year period at two tertiary teaching hospitals.

Posttraumatic growth and social support in individuals with infertility.

Background: While research on the psychological experiences of infertility has focused almost exclusively on the negative aspects, clinical experience with individuals and couples facing infertility has demonstrated that personal gain can also arise from the struggle involved. This study examined whether individuals who struggle with infertility report posttraumatic growth (PTG), and if perceived availability of and satisfaction with social support are associated with such growth. Other correlates of PTG are reported as well.

On-line generation and hydrolysis of methyl borate for the spectrophotometric determination of boron in soil and plants with azomethine-H.

A continuous-flow system for boron determination in soils and plants with spectrophotometric detection using the azometihine-H-boron complex method was developed. In order to avoid the interferences of concomitants present in samples and to increase the sensitivity, the element was separated on-line from the matrix by methyl borate generation. For this purpose, a concentrated sulfuric acid sample solution was combined with methanol in 1:3 ratio which produce enough heating for the esterification reaction without external source.

Comparison of antibody and aptamer receptors for the specific detection of thrombin with a nanometer gap-sized impedance biosensor.

Nanogap-impedance biosensors with electrode separations of 75 nm have been fabricated by means of standard optical lithography and a sacrificial layer technique. Due to a large surface-to-volume ratio and high sensitivity, these sensors are superior compared to open interdigitated electrode structures. As a model, the blood coagulation factor thrombin was detected.

Detection of Rev peptides with impedance-sensors--comparison of device-geometries.

Two different impedance-sensor geometries have been compared for the detection of Rev peptides with a molecular weight of 2.4 kDa. Planar, two-dimensional interdigitated capacitor (IDC) sensors with electrode separations of 1.

Protective effect of berberine on cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis in rats.

The urotoxicity of cyclophosphamide and the protective effect of the herb berberine were investigated in this study. Administration of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally caused a serious haemorrhagic cystitis in rats after 12 hr, including bladder oedema, haemorrhage, and dramatic elevation of nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite+nitrate) in urine and in plasma. To explore whether cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis could be prevented by berberine, rats were pretreated with a single dose or two doses of berberine at 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally then challenged with cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneally).

Nitric oxide synthases and cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in rats.

The role of inducible (iNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide (nNOS) synthases and of tachykinin NK1 receptors on the pathogenesis of cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis was investigated, in rats. CYP-induced cystitis was characterized by large increases in bladder-protein plasma extravasation (PPE), increases in the urinary excretion of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and histological evidences of urothelial damage, edema, extensive white blood cell infiltrates and vascular congestion of the bladder. The specific iNOS inhibitor, S-methylthiourea (MITU), produced marked inhibition (>90%) of CYP-induced increases in PPE associated with amelioration of tissue inflammatory changes.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in primary culture of rat bladder smooth muscle cells by plasma from cyclophosphamide-treated rats.

Intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (50-150 mg/kg) for 6 or 12 h induced edema and hemorrhagic changes in rat bladder, which were both dose and time-dependent. Pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 40 mg/kg) or with s-methylisothiourea (40 mg/kg) ameliorated the cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Cyclophosphamide administration also produced increases in NO-metabolite levels (nitrate+nitrite) in the urine and plasma of rats.

Liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for determination of cisapride in serum.

A sensitive liquid chromatographic (LC) method using electrochemical detection was developed for the identification and quantitation of cisapride in serum. The serum samples were deproteinized by a simple acetonitrile precipitation technique followed by n-hexane extraction. Cisapride in the deproteinized serum was separated by an isocratic elution with an ODS Hypersil LC column (150 x 4.

P38 MAPK, but not p42/p44 MAPK mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in C6 glioma cells.

Recently mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been reported to play an important role in phosphorylation cascades governing cell growth and protein expression in numerous cell types. In order to explore the signaling mechanism by which inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is regulated in C6 glioma cells, we investigated the role of MAPK in iNOS expression by using the specific MAPK inhibitors. First the induction of nitric oxide by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interferon gamma (IFNgamma), alone or their combination, was studied in C6 glioma cells.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in GI-101A and HL-60 cell lines.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that has a strong association with growth and metastasis of various cancers. We analyzed the expression of VEGF mRNA levels in human breast-tumor derived GI-101A cells and in human promyelocytic leukemia derived HL-60 cells using RT-PCR technique. During our RT-PCR analysis we detected the expression of three splice variants of VEGF mRNA at 400, 520 and, 650 bp lengths, which were amplified by a single set of VEGF specific forward and reverse primers.

Expression of mdm-2 oncoprotein in the primary and metastatic sites of mammary tumor (GI-101) implanted athymic nude mice.

The expression of mdm-2 oncoprotein (p90) was determined in a human breast tumor xenograft line (GI-101) that was derived from a 57 year old female cancer patient with recurrent, infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma (Stage IIIa, T3N2MX). Immunoprecipitation coupled western blot analysis of the primary tumors that have been obtained from xenograft implanted athymic nude mice, using mdm-2 (Ab-1) mouse monoclonal antibody, primarily revealed high level expression of a 90 kD full length mdm-2 protein. In the GI-101 tumor the level of full length mdm-2 (p90) protein expression increased with the increase in the size of the tumor (100 to 2,000 mm(3)) and a maximum expression was detected in 2,000 mm(3) size tumors.

Reactive oxygen species generated by cyanide mediate toxicity in rat pheochromocytoma cells.

Peroxide formation has been implicated in impairment of motor function by cyanide which occurs in both animals and man. The present study employs the neuronal model, rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells to evaluate peroxidation as a toxic mechanism of cyanide. Confocal imaging shows that peroxides form within a few seconds in cell cytoplasm after cyanide exposure and continue to accumulate over a period of several minutes.

High-performance liquid chromatography using electrochemical detection for the determination of prazosin in biological samples.

For the quantitation of prazosin a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed. This HPLC analysis method uses an electrochemical detection technique for the identification and quantitation of prazosin. In this assay the serum samples were deproteinized by using a simple acetonitrile precipitation technique that was followed by n-hexane extraction.

Physicochemical characterization of acetaminophen-ethylcellulose solid dispersion.

In this study, ethylcellulose was evaluated as a carrier for the preparation of sustained release of acetaminophen via solid dispersion technique. Physical mixture at the same level of acetaminophen and ethylcellulose was prepared. Differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscope were used to characterize the physical properties of the various systems and to determine if there is possible interaction between acetaminophen and ethylcellulose.

Enhanced lithogenicity of bile following chronic morphine administration to female guinea pigs.

Acute and chronic opiate exposure impairs the emptying of bile from the gallbladder. In this study, the effects of a 4-day morphine regimen on bile composition were examined. Bile acids and phospholipids concentration of bile obtained from the gallbladder of female morphine-treated (MT) guinea pigs were reduced by 60% and 80% respectively, resulting in a highly lithogenic bile.

Effects of chronic morphine on biliary tract responses to cholecystokinin-octapeptide in female guinea pigs.

Acute and chronic opiates impairs the emptying of bile from the gallbladder of male guinea pigs. In view of the higher incidence of gallstone attacks in women, the aim of this study was to determine if this impairment would extend to female guinea pigs. Implantation of morphine pellets (400mg) in female guinea pigs did depress CCK-induced emptying of gallbladder bile.

Ethylcellulose as a carrier for controlled-release acetaminophen tablets.

In this study ethylcellulose was evaluated as a carrier for preparation of prolonged release acetaminophen tablets. Solid dispersions containing three levels of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen (1:3; 1:1; 3:1) were prepared by the solvent method. Also physical mixtures at the same level of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen were prepared.

Effects of chronic morphine on biliary tract responses to cholecystokinin-octapeptide in male guinea pigs.

Opioid peptides share the spasmogenic action of acutely administered morphine on the sphincter of Oddi. In this study, gallbladder function was assessed following chronic opioid administration. Implantation of morphine pellets (400 mg) in male guinea pigs depressed cholecystokinin-octapeptide(CCK)-induced emptying of gallbladder bile (monitored via a duodenal cannula).

Lack of tolerance of morphine-induced spasm of guinea pig sphincter of Oddi.

To determine whether guinea pigs chronically exposed to morphine would develop tolerance to the morphine-induced contraction of the sphincter of Oddi (SO), adult male guinea pigs were implanted with morphine pellets (100 mg morphine). The effect of increasing IV doses of morphine on the SO was assessed by determining the duration of which saline perfusate stopped flowing into the duodenum of morphine-treated guinea pigs (MTGP) vs nonimplanted animals (non-MTGP). Isolated bovine and guinea pigs SO were also challenged with morphine.

Central and peripheral anti-inflammatory actions by clonidine and a structurally related imidazoline analog.

Systemic (i.p. and p.

Block by phencyclidine of acetylcholine and barium induced adrenal catecholamine secretion.

Activation of the sympathetic system by phencyclidine (PCP) should result in catecholamine release from the adrenals. However, adrenalectomy does not reduce PCP-induced hypertension. In an attempt to rectify this inconsistency, the direct effects of PCP on the bovine adrenal medulla were examined.

Local anesthetic activity and disopyramide toxicity.

In the isolated frog sciatic nerve preparation, IC50 concentrations for nerve block were 0.34 +/- 0.9 mM for lidocaine (LIDO), 0.