Processing poultry feathers into keratin hydrolysate through alkaline-enzymatic hydrolysis.

Poultry feathers make up for as much as 8.5% of chicken weight and represent a considerable amount of almost pure keratin waste which is not being adequately utilized at the present time. The present study dealt with the processing of poultry feathers through a two-stage alkaline-enzymatic hydrolysis.

Extraction of collagen and gelatine from meat industry by-products for food and non food uses.

Short tendons of slaughtered cattle, which consist of relatively pure collagen, were cleaned of lipoid substances and non-collagen proteins using a commercial enzymatic preparation. Diluted acetic acid was used to separate the acid-soluble collagen (M(N) approximately 300 kDa) for a yield of around 5%. The residue was extracted with water and the extraction conditions were derived to produce gelatine with a gel rigidity of 350-410 degrees Bloom and a yield of 55-60%.

[Treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia using ECMO].

The authors present a case dealing with the treatment of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The procedure comprises surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation--ECMO, classical and non-conventional pulmonary ventilation and pharmacological treatment. By using these methods it is possible to treat successfully a certain group of neonates with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Initial experience at an ECMO center. 1].

The authors describe their initial experience, organization, and problems associated with the development of an EMCO centre. Its main activities are those of a neonatal ECMO centre (to a smaller extent paediatric ECMO and ECCO2R-LF PPV of adults) during the first 4 months of its existence. During the period the ECMO centre was contacted in 10 instances.