Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S J Turco

Publications and source records attributed to S J Turco.

142 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Developmental modification of the lipophosphoglycan from Leishmania major promastigotes during metacyclogenesis.

Lipophosphoglycan was isolated from the dividing, noninfective stage and from the nondividing metacyclic stage of Leishmania major promastigotes. The lipophosphoglycans were characterized by SDS-PAGE and by chromatographic and quantitative analysis of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C- and mild acid-generated fragments. The results revealed two stage-specific structural differences: (i) an increase in size of the metacyclic form of the glycoconjugate due to an approximate doubling in the number of its salient phosphorylated saccharide units; and concomitantly, (ii) a subtle compositional change in these units. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis indicated that the phosphatidylinositol lipid anchor was developmentally conserved. These developmental modifications suggest important roles for the lipophosphoglycan which have not been previously considered, such as promoting complement resistance within the vertebrate host, and midgut attachment and release within the sand fly vector.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mapping size distributions of parenteral fluorocarbon emulsions by a novel method of centrifugal sedimentation followed by densitometry.

A novel method for characterization of size distributions of parenteral fluorocarbon emulsions is described. Prepared emulsions were centrifuged to sediment droplets above predetermined diameters out of a known supernatant sample volume using the Bostok-Stoke's equation. Centrifugation times may be calculated using centrifuge parameters and physical properties of the fluorocarbon oil phase and the dispersion medium. The fluorocarbon content of the supernatant sample volume at successive centrifugation times was determined both by densitometry and by Gas Chromatography. A close correlation was found between the two methods. The density data was processed and converted into a volume distribution histogram by means of a program written in BASIC. The speed, simplicity of use, non reliance on costly equipment and good correlation to absolute particle counting methods makes the density method suitable for submicron size characterization.

Centrifugation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of the interaction of selected drugs and plastic syringes.

It is common hospital pharmacy practice to preload syringes with selected drugs and store them ready for use. Because the several components of syringes, (such as barrels, gasket seals, etc.) may vary among manufacturers, there exists the possibility that syringe components of differing provenance might interact e.g., by sorption, with stored drugs to differing degrees. To examine possible interactions, three brands of commercially available syringes were compared to determine what influence, if any, short term storage of injectable solutions might exert on the solutions or the syringes. Four drugs; dexamethasone sodium phosphate, diazepam, diatrizoate meglumine and nitroglycerin USP were individually loaded into 3 mL syringes and stored at temperatures between -20 degrees C and + 25 degrees C for periods from 6 hours to 30 days. The syringes were examined for any gross changes. Drug solutions were analyzed after storage to determine the presence of organic leachates from the syringes and any change from original drug concentration values. No syringes showed gross physical changes after storage with drug solution nor were any drug solutions found to contain leachates on gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic analysis. Drug concentrations were seen to change following storage, the greatest changes occurring with the highly lipophilic drugs dexamethasone and diazepam. In most instances loss of drug concentration was most rapid at room temperature. Although there were clear differences among the three brands of syringe, no overall pattern emerged which might allow the selection or rejection of one syringe over another for the extemporaneous preloading of the drugs examined.

Drug Stability↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A multicenter study of costs and nursing impact of cartridge-needle units.

A multicenter study of the overall costs and impact on medication administration of sterile cartridge-needle units (Carpuject) and conventional disposable syringes with multiple- and single-dose vials was conducted in six hospitals in the Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) system. Data collection involved a time and motion phase measuring procurement, preparation, and disposal of both systems and a 6-month prospective global cost analysis of component costs, waste disposal, nursing time, needlestick injuries, and subsequent treatment. Nonacquisition costs were substantially lower with the use of the cartridge-needle units. When all costs are considered, sterile cartridge-needle units are a cost-effective alternative to conventional disposable syringes and multidose vials.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗