The Multifunctional Catalytic Hemoglobin from : Protocols on Isolation, Taxonomic Identification, Protein Extraction, Purification, and Characterization.

The multifunctional catalytic hemoglobin from the terebellid polychaete , also named dehaloperoxidase (DHP), utilizes the typical oxygen transport function in addition to four observed activities involved in substrate oxidation. The multifunctional ability of DHP is presently a rare observation, and there exists a limitation for how novel dehaloperoxidases can be identified from macrobenthic infauna. In order to discover more infaunal DHP-bearing candidates, we have devised a facilitated method for an accurate taxonomic identification that places visual and molecular taxonomic approaches in parallel.

Increased sensitivity in detection of deficits following two commonly used animal models of stroke.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Most strokes are ischemic, resulting in both cognitive and motor impairments. Animal models of ischemic stroke such as the distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) and photothrombotic stroke (PTS) procedures have become invaluable tools, with their own advantages and disadvantages.

A Report of Haemophilus influenzae Bacteremia With Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

Sexually-transmitted organisms that frequently originate from the flora of the lower genital tract are often implicated in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). , a pathogen found primarily in the upper respiratory tract, has been rarely associated with PID. Here we report a case of a young woman with PID whose blood cultures grew biotype II, a reminder that the endometrium can be the source of systemic  infection when no typical primary focus is found.

Sunscreen Secondary Claims: Market Differentiation or Market Confusion?

This chapter is focused on those products that are sold primarily as sun protection products and considers the additional claims made for these that are intended to differentiate and imply additional benefits. It is essentially an overview, as each claim would require an individual chapter to deal with in detail. We do not consider products with another intended primary use, such as moisturizer or colour comments, which are, in themselves "secondary sunscreens," defined specifically in Australia [AS/NZS 2604:2012 Sunscreen products - Evaluation and classification] or Canada.

The effect of deuteration on the keto-enol equilibrium and photostability of the sunscreen agent avobenzone.

The remarkable properties of deuterium have led to many exciting and favourable results in enhancing material properties, for applications in the physical, medical, and biological sciences. Deuterated isotopologues of avobenzone, a sunscreen active ingredient, were synthesised to examine for any changes to the equilibrium between the diketone and enol isomers, as well as their UV photostability and photoprotective properties. Prior to UV irradiation, deuteration of the diketone methylene/enol moiety (i.

Mechanism of Time-Dependent Adsorption for Phosphatidylcholine onto a Clean Air-Water Interface from a Dispersion of Vesicles: Effect of Temperature and Acyl Chain Length.

Dynamic surface tension measurements were used to track adsorption kinetics for dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) from monodisperse vesicle dispersions to an air-water interface at elevated temperatures ≥30 °C. Effects of vesicle concentration, aqueous solubility of the lipids, and temperature on the adsorption kinetics were determined, and the controlling transport pathway was identified. Adsorption dynamics were tracked for 0.

Mechanism of Time-Dependent Adsorption for Dilauroyl Phosphatidylcholine onto a Clean Air-Water Interface from a Dispersion of Vesicles.

This study focused on mechanisms of adsorption for dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) from a dispersion of large, unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) onto a clean air-water interface. The adsorption kinetics were tracked using dynamic surface tension measurements for 0.01-10 mM concentrations of DLPC, contained within monodisperse LUVs with mean diameters between 100 and 300 nm.

Investigating self-efficacy, disease knowledge and adherence to treatment in adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Aim: Patient adherence is integral to the effectiveness of prescribed treatment, and is associated with beneficial disease outcomes, yet in adolescents with cystic fibrosis, adherence is often sub-optimal. Multiple factors may contribute to treatment adherence, including disease knowledge and self-efficacy. In adolescents with cystic fibrosis: (i) to compare the disease knowledge of adolescents and their parents before transition to adult care; (ii) to determine the relationship between disease knowledge (adolescent, parent) and adherence; and (iii) to evaluate self-efficacy and its association with disease knowledge and adherence.

Assessing the thermodynamic signatures of hydrophobic hydration for several common water models.

Following the conclusions of an information theory analysis that hydrophobic hydration is dictated by the equation of state of liquid water, we perform simulations of ten different water models to examine the correlation between the fidelity of each model to the experimental density of liquid water and the accuracy of its description of methane hydration. We find that the three- and five-point water models provide an inferior description of both the liquid density and methane solubility compared to the four-point water models. Of the four-point water models, TIP4P/2005 provides the best description of both the aqueous equation-of-state and methane hydration thermodynamics.

Temperature-induced protein release from water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions.

A model water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsion was prepared by a two-step emulsification procedure and subsequently subjected to temperature changes that caused the oil phase to freeze and thaw while the two aqueous phases remained liquid. Our previous work on individual double-emulsion globules1 demonstrated that crystallizing the oil phase (O) preserves stability, while subsequent thawing triggers coalescence of the droplets of the internal aqueous phase (W1) with the external aqueous phase (W2), termed external coalescence. Activation of this instability mechanism led to instant release of fluorescently tagged bovine serum albumin (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-BSA) from the W 1 droplets and into W2.

Upregulation of protein S by progestins.

Background: Users of progestin-only contraceptives have raised protein S (PS) levels compared with baseline. This contrasts with the reduction in PS levels observed in users of combined oral contraceptives, which contain both a progestin and an estrogen.

Objectives: To determine the effect of progesterone and other progestin isoforms on the expression of PS and to describe the mechanism involved.

C-reactive protein in ischemic stroke and its etiologic subtypes.

The possible role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the etiology and prognosis of ischemic stroke remains to be clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CRP levels are elevated in patients with stroke, whether they remain persistently elevated, and whether CRP levels are higher in patients with etiologic subtypes of stroke caused by large or small artery disease ("atherogenic hypothesis") or whether they may be higher in patients with more extensive cerebral infarction caused by large artery or cardiogenic embolism ("inflammatory hypothesis"). We conducted a case-control study of 199 hospital cases with a first-ever ischemic stroke and 202 randomly selected community controls.

Polymorphisms in the tissue factor pathway inhibitor gene are not associated with ischaemic stroke.

The present study aimed to determine whether four previously described polymorphisms found within the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene are associated with free plasma TFPI levels or with TFPI activity as well as the risk of ischaemic stroke in stroke patients and control individuals. We conducted a case-control study of 162 first-ever ischaemic stroke cases and 170 randomly selected community control individuals. The TFPI genotype was determined for the T-287C, C-399T, Intron 7 C-33T, and Val264Met (G874A) polymorphisms.

Increased vulnerability of hippocampal neurons with age in culture: temporal association with increases in NMDA receptor current, NR2A subunit expression and recruitment of L-type calcium channels.

Excessive glutamate (Glu) stimulation of the NMDA-R is a widely recognized trigger for Ca(2+)-mediated excitotoxicity. Primary neurons typically show a large increase in vulnerability to excitotoxicity with increasing days in vitro (DIV). This enhanced vulnerability has been associated with increased expression of the NR2B subunit or increased NMDA-R current, but the detailed age-courses of these variables in primary hippocampal neurons have not been compared in the same study.

A novel method to radiolabel gastric retentive formulations for gamma scintigraphy assessment.

Purpose: To develop a robust radiolabeling technique to enable evaluation of difficult to radiolabel gastric retentive formulations using gamma scintigraphy. The use of a successful radiolabel will allow accurate assessment of the gastric residence time of the formulations.

Materials And Methods: The retention of two radionuclides, indium ((111)In) and samarium ((153)Sm), with and without further processing to improve radiolabel performance were evaluated in simulated gastric pH in vitro.

The tissue factor pathway in ischemic stroke.

To explore the role of the the tissue factor (TF) pathway in ischemic stroke. We measured blood concentrations of markers of the TF pathway [TF antigen, free tissue factor pathway inhibitor antigen (TFPIf) and activity (TFPIac), and activated factor VII (FVIIa)] within 7 days (acute phase) and after 3-6 months (convalescence) in 150 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and 150 community controls. During the acute phase, TF antigen and TFPIf were not significantly altered but TFPIac was increased (mean 1.

Association between phosphodiesterase 4D gene and ischaemic stroke.

Background: An association between the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene and risk of ischaemic stroke in an Icelandic population has been suggested by the deCODE group.

Methods: A case-control study of 151 hospitalised patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke and 164 randomly selected age-matched and sex-matched community controls was conducted. PDE4D genotypes for the six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously reported to be independently associated with stroke were determined, common haplotypes were inferred using the expectation-maximisation algorithm, and SNP and haplotype associations with stroke were examined.

Enhanced antiplatelet effect of clopidogrel in patients whose platelets are least inhibited by aspirin: a randomized crossover trial.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether adding clopidogrel to aspirin in patients at high risk of future cardiovascular events would suppress laboratory measures of the antiplatelet effects of aspirin; and have greater platelet inhibitory effects in patients with the least inhibition of platelets by aspirin.

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, comparing clopidogrel 75 mg day(-1) versus placebo, in 36 aspirin-treated patients with symptomatic objectively confirmed peripheral arterial disease.

Results: The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin did not suppress platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, urinary 11 dehydro thromboxane B2 concentrations, or soluble markers of platelet activation markers (P-selectin, CD40-ligand) and inflammation (high sensitivity serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6).

Analysis of VX nerve agent hydrolysis products in wastewater effluents by ion chromatography with amperometric and conductivity detection.

An analytical method, based on the use of ion chromatography, was developed to monitor the levels of three regulated VX hydrolysis products in the effluent from a biological wastewater treatment process--ethylmethylphosphonic acid, methylphosphonic acid and 2-(diisopropyl)aminoethanethiol. Previous methods have not been applied to wastewater matrices or 2-(diisopropyl)aminoethanethiol. Despite the specificity and sensitivity constraints of this method, it was possible to measure the compounds in bioreactor effluents down to a level substantially below the US Army discharge limit of 0.

Excipient effects on gastrointestinal transit and drug absorption in beagle dogs.

Previous work has shown that polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) has an accelerating effect on gastrointestinal transit and a modulating influence on drug absorption in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of various excipients, PEG 400, propylene glycol, d-alpha-tocopheryl-polyethylene glycol-1000 succinate (TPGS) and Labrasol on gastrointestinal transit and drug absorption in four beagle dogs using scintigraphy. Each dog received, on five separate occasions, water (control) or a dose of excipient equivalent to 1 g PEG 400, 2 g propylene glycol, 1 g TPGS or 2 g Labrasol dissolved in water and administered in the form of two capsules.

Protein Z gene polymorphisms, protein Z concentrations, and ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to determine whether A-13G or G79A polymorphisms of the protein Z gene that have been reported to be an important determinant of blood concentrations of protein Z are associated with risk of ischemic stroke in a broad range of stroke patients and controls.

Methods: We conducted a case control study of 151 hospital cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 164 randomly selected community controls. Protein Z genotype was determined for the A-13G promoter polymorphism and the G79A intron F polymorphism, and plasma protein Z concentrations were measured during the first 7 days and at 3 to 6 months after the acute stroke event.

Protein Z in ischemic stroke and its etiologic subtypes.

Background And Purpose: Protein Z is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein whose significance in arterial thrombosis remains uncertain. The objectives of this study were to determine the association between protein Z, ischemic stroke, and etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 173 hospital cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 186 randomly selected community controls.

Endothelial and platelet activation in acute ischemic stroke and its etiological subtypes.

Background And Purpose: Activation of endothelial cells and platelets is an important mediator of atherothrombosis. Markers of endothelial cell and platelet activation such as soluble adhesion molecules can be measured in plasma. We hypothesized that patients with acute ischemic stroke would have increased blood concentrations of soluble E-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF), primarily reflecting activation of endothelial cells, and increased concentrations of soluble P-selectin and platelet-derived microvesicles (PDM), primarily reflecting activation of platelets, compared with healthy controls.

Collagen platelet receptor polymorphisms integrin alpha2beta1 C807T and GPVI Q317L and risk of ischemic stroke.

Several polymorphisms of integrin alpha2beta1 and glycoprotein (GP) VI that may modify platelet-collagen interactions or subsequent signaling have been described. We conducted a case-control study involving 180 stroke patients and 172 controls to determine whether the alpha2 C807T and GPVI Q317L polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. We found no statistically significant differences in the distribution of alpha2 C807T and GPVI Q317L in patients and controls overall or after stratification by etiological subtype.