Photon emission from germinating gram seeds at various stages of growth exhibits a definite pattern. The pattern of emission changes when a seed is disrupted by physical processes, e.g. mechanical crushing, cooling or heating. The disrupted seeds do not grow. The change in the biological order responsible for seed growth and the observed changes in the pattern of photo emission suggest a link between the macroscopic spatio-temporal organization and metabolic processes.

Cold Temperature↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in elderly subjects.

The pharmacokinetics of single-dose oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg was ascertained in 12 elderly and 12 young subjects. Mean age of the elderly volunteers was 75.4 years and the mean measured creatinine clearance in this group was 40.7 ml/min. Serum and saliva were collected in serial order for 24 hours (elderly) and 10 hours (young), and assayed for ciprofloxacin by high-performance liquid chromatography. The geriatric subjects had higher serum levels throughout the sampling period, with a peak level of 3.24 +/- 0.79 versus 2.26 +/- 0.75 micrograms/ml for the younger group (p less than 0.005; one-way analysis of variance). A twofold increase in the ciprofloxacin half-life may be partly explained by a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate, as shown by slower ciprofloxacin renal clearance (152.4 +/- 54.2 vs 395.6 +/- 139.0 for elderly and young subjects respectively; p less than 0.001). We concluded that in elderly patients, ciprofloxacin should be administered at an interval not less than every 12 hours to prevent accumulation and eventually toxicity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mesoblastic nephroma in an adult: a case report.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Physico-chemical characterization, preparation and performance of poly (methylidene malonate 2.1.2) nanoparticles.

The present investigation confirms that initially implemented procedure to produce poly(methylidene malonate 2.1.2) (PMM 2.1.2) nanoparticles (Lescure et al. Pharm Res 1994;11:1270-77) lead to products mostly containing plasticizing oligomers which strongly lowered glass-transition temperature (Tg), dramatically reduced nanoparticle consistency and rendered them too sensitive to solubilization when diluted in an aqueous medium. From MALDI-TOF spectroscopy analysis, performed on intact colloids, emerged some structural information about these oligomeric species which could result from an intramolecular cyclization mechanism occurring soon in the course of the polymerization process. Thus, with the objective of overcoming these drawbacks, this contribution deals with the variations of manufacturing specifications such as pH and magnetic stirring speed to try and modulate molecular weight (MW) of nanoparticle constituents and reduce oligomer concentration. Although the analyses performed on these new nanoparticles were rather encouraging, the colloid formation yield became so low that it required the development of other methodologies, excluding a previous emulsion step, and allowing a controlled production of PMM 2.1.2-made nanoparticles having better physico-chemical characteristics while keeping good pharmaceutical capabilities.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Locked facets with fracture of the neural arch of the axis.

This report describes a rare variant represented by the association of locked facets at C2-3 with a fracture of the neural arch of the axis. Fracture of the neural arch of the axis is a broad term including the Hangman fracture, traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, fractures of the arch of the axis, or the more recently described fractures of the ring of the axis.

Axis, Cervical Vertebra↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunofluorescent localization of two intrinsic membrane polypeptides in adult human lenses.

Two major intrinsic membrane polypeptides of molecular weights 22K and 26K have been isolated and antisera for each prepared against highly purified preparations. The lack of reactivity of these antibodies in several other tissues suggests that they are unique to the lens. These antisera were used for localization of these polypeptides in adult human lenses by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Neither of the polypeptides is found in the epithelial cells; however those cells commencing differentiation show some fluorescent staining. The elongating fiber cells of the bow region show cytoplasmic staining for both 22K and 26K. This may reflect their sites of synthesis. In this region the species of 22K studies showed no localization in the membrane; however, 26K is concentrated at the membrane as evidenced by the intense band of fluorescent staining in this region. In the lens inner cortical region, there is a loss of cytoplasmic staining and both polypeptides appear to be membrane bound. This redistribution of the membrane polypeptides occurring in the inner cortex is at the site of considerable lens fiber contour alterations.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sodium/potassium ATPase in normal and cataractous human lenses.

Na/K ATPase activity has been determined in normal and cataractous human lenses using labeled ATP as a substrate. The enzyme is distributed throughout the lens with approximately 1/3 of the total activity in the capsule-epithelium and 1/2 of the activity in the cortex. Furthermore, the activity of Na/K ATPase decreases with increasing age and this decrease occurs primarily in the inner nuclear region. In severe cataractous lenses, a marked decrease in the Na/K ATPase activity has been demonstrated in all parts of the lens, in contrast to immature cataracts, where the decrease in the enzyme activity occurs primarily in the cortical and nuclear regions.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Stilbene estrogen produces higher levels of mitochondrial DNA adducts than nuclear DNA adducts in the target organ of cancer (liver) of male Sprague Dawley rats.

We have previously demonstrated that diethylstilbestrol is metabolized to diethylstilbestrol reactive metabolites by mitochondrial enzymes in vitro. In vitro, these reactive intermediates bind to mitochondrial DNA. Here we have investigated the in vivo formation of diethylstilbestrol adducts with mitochondrial DNA and the nature of mitochondrial DNA-diethylstilbestrol adducts. Diethylstilbestrol exposure to male rats produced several adducts in mitochondrial DNA of both kidney and liver. The total relative adduct levels were 7-fold higher in mitochondrial DNA than in nuclear DNA in the target organ of cancer (liver) of Sprague Dawley rats. The chromatographic mobility of mitochondrial DNA adducts formed in vivo were similar to that of dGMP-DES quinone adducts formed in vitro. These findings suggest that mitochondrial DNA appears more susceptible to formation of diethylstilbestrol adducts than nuclear DNA, and the results suggest that obstruction of replication and/or transcription of the mitochondrial genes by covalent modifications of the mitochondrial DNA by diethylstilbestrol may produce mitochondrial genomic instability in vivo and may provide an explanation for the carcinogenic effects of DES.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Public health professionals' perceptions regarding two dimensions of health promotion: the ecological approach and community participation].

The aim of this paper is to explore public health professionals' perceptions regarding two dimensions of the new health promotion movement: the ecological approach and the principle of community participation. Data were collected by focus-groups of public health professionals (n = 22) in one Public Health Directorate in Québec. Results indicate a fair degree of integration of these two dimensions into the respondents' professional practice. However, limitations related to the work environment and to the theoretical underpinnings of these two components might impede the respondents' ability to integrate them into their practice.

Ecology↗