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PubMed1983

Enterobacteriaceae and other gram negative bacteria in the water of lakes used as open air baths around the city of Bratislava.

During the bathing period of 1981 (June to September), and before it (September 1980 to May 1981), we monthly collected, and analysed, samples of water from a series of lakes used as recreational bathing area by inhabitants of the southern part of the City of Bratislava. We isolated and determined biochemical properties of altogether 241 strains of gram negative bacteria belonging mostly to Enterobacteriaceae and to so-called non-fermenters, with special reference to deviations in results of individual tests used for their taxonomical identification and classification. We attempted to determine also the significance of individual biochemical tests of bacterial strains from water samples, as well as the general evaluation of water quality on basis of hygienic criteria set up for the suitability of individual lakes for recreational bathing, to analyse the causes of water contamination, and to evaluate bacterial strains from the hygienic and epidemiological point of view. The qualitative and quantitative incidence of individual bacterial biotypes indicate a continuous contamination of natural baths with fecal waste containing microorganisms from healthy as well as sick persons. As a consequence, the free bathing of the City population in natural lakes studied represents a potential sanitary risk for the persons concerned.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1993

[Immune function of rheumatoid arthritis treated by medicated-bath therapy in Tibetan medicine].

The changes of the immune function of rheumatoid arthritis before and after the Tibetan medicated-bath was observed. It showed a higher level of the rheumatoid factor (RF) titre, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, M, A and CD4 cells, but the CD8 cells was obviously lower before the treatment. Clinical data indicated that the medicated-bath had significant effective rate. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the medicated-bath upon rheumatoid arthritis the RF titre, Ig level, complement C3, 3H-TdR incorporated with lymphocytes transformation and CD3, CD4, CD8 cell level were assayed. Results showed that RF titre decreased after the bath and the negative transforming rate reached 70.6%, Ig level obviously dropped as well as the number of CD4 cells while CD8 cell level increased. The transforming stimulation index of lymphocyte cells obviously decreased. All of the above mentioned showed that there was a higher concentration of the enhancing factor of interleukin-2 (IL2-EF) involved in lymphocyte culture of rheumatoid arthritis patients. They suggested that the Tibetan medicated-bath had an immunomodulating effect on rheumatoid arthritis patients through increasing the level of CD8 cells and reducing CD4 cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

[Effects of bathing on lung mechanics in patients with severe COPD].

Although it is well known that the majority of patients with severe COPD complain of exacerbated dyspnea while taking a Japanese-style bath, the mechanism has not been elucidated. We therefore investigated changes in lung volume (LV) and SaO2 in 16 seated patients with severe COPD, receiving treated with home oxygen therapy (HOT), and in 10 healthy subjects (C) immersed to the navel (N) and to the shoulder (S). We then subdivided the COPD patients into 2 groups, A and B. Group A was composed of patients taking less than 2 L oxygen/min, while group B was taking equal to or greater than 2 L oxygen/min. Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) decreased with statistical significance (p < 0.05) while inspiratory capacity (IC) substantially increased as immersion progressed. However, changes in LV were smaller, as obstructive ventilatory changes progressed. It also appeared that a significant O2 desaturation occurred in patients with COPD when movement was associated with taking a bath. The drop in SaO2 during bathing was significantly improved after patients received instructions concerning posture, slow movements, and pursed-lip breathing. These findings suggest that immersion, such as when taking a Japanese-style bath, 1) may change various LV to a lesser degree than in healthy subjects because of previously existent airway obstruction in COPD, 2) may aggravate arterial desaturation through further impairment of the VA/Q imbalance, 3) instructions for COPD patients could improve, their condition while bathing and, 4) the 6 minute walking distance (6 MD) might be important in predicting the severity of arterial desaturation while COPD patients are immersed.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Does mixed venous desaturation during a bed bath indicate cardiopulmonary decompensation in postoperative cardiac patients?].

The bed bath procedure consists of cleansing patients' body, passive position change, changing gown and making a bed. During the procedure, mixed venous desaturation was observed consistently in postoperative cardiac patients. We investigated the cause of the phenomenon in 22 patients undergoing cardiac surgery in their first postoperative day. The patients were breathing oxygen-enriched air via a Venturi mask. Cardiac index (CI), transluminal SvO2, arterial blood gas, Hb, DO2, VO2, FIO2, A-aDO2 and Qp/Qs were measured before and during the bed bath, while the patients were in the supine and left lateral position, respectively. Mean 8.5 +/- 1.5 minutes were required to complete the bed bath. During the bed bath, SvO2 decreased from 71 +/- 7% to 59 +/- 9% (P < 0.001), and returned to the baseline 6.5 +/- 7.4 minutes after the completion of the bed bath. VO2 increased markedly from 128 +/- 27 to 194 +/- 47 ml.min-1.m-2 (P < 0.001), while DO2 increased slightly from 480 +/- 91 to 513 +/- 110 ml.min-1.m-2 (P < 0.05). Among the determinants of DO2, CI increased slightly from 3.3 +/- 0.6 to 3.6 +/- 0.8 l.min-1.m-2, Hb remained unchanged and SaO2 decreased from 98.5 +/- 0.8 to 98.0 +/- 1.1%. FIO2 also decreased, while A-aDO2 and Qp/Qs remained unchanged. There was a negative correlation between VO2 change and SvO2 change, but no correlation between DO2 change and SvO2 change. There was a positive correlation between SaO2 change and SvO2 change, as well as between FIO2 change and SaO2 change. Therefore, the major cause of mixed venous desaturation was not the decreased DO2 or cardiopulmonary decompensation but the increased VO2 due to increased activity of the skeletal muscles. However, the decrease in SaO2 due to markedly increased O2 demand and the limited increase in CI might partially contribute to the marked decline in SvO2 through the limited increase in DO2.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Comparison testing of the irritancy of children's liquid bubble bath using a modified human repeat insult patch test.

BACKGROUND: Bubble baths are common products used by parents with young children. Some dermatologists and pediatricians do not recommend the use of these products. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the irritancy of nine children's liquid bubble bath solutions. METHODS: A modified human repeat insult patch test (HRIPT) was used to rank order the irritancy of nine bubble bath preparations. Erythema, scaling, and fissuring were evaluated at the patch test sites. RESULTS: The nine products tested varied in their ability to cause irritation. Based on the degree of erythema, the least irritation was produced with Sesame Street Fresh Apple Splash bubble bath. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there are differences in the irritancy of brands of children's liquid bubble bath and that recommendations can be made by both dermatologists and pediatricians when parents choose to use these products on their children.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Trimethylpsoralen bath PUVA is a remittive treatment for psoriasis vulgaris. Evidence that epidermal immunocytes are direct therapeutic targets.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis vulgaris can be effectively treated with trimethylpsoralen (TMP) bath PUVA therapy (psoralen plus UVA), but no data exist on the extent to which psoriatic pathology is affected by this treatment, or on its cellular mechanism of action. OBSERVATIONS: Eleven patients with recalcitrant psoriasis vulgaris were treated with TMP bath PUVA therapy and observed through clinical and histological measures. Clinical resolution of psoriasis was achieved in 10 of 11 patients. Histopathological resolution of epidermal hyperplasia (marked by keratin 16 expression) was achieved in 90% of individuals treated with TMP bath PUVA. Epidermal acanthosis was reduced by 40% at 2 weeks and 66% by the end of treatment. Epidermal improvement correlated best with reduction in intraepidermal T lymphocytes, which were reduced by 76% at 2 weeks of treatment and 93% at the end of treatment. Furthermore following TMP bath PUVA therapy, the numbers of epidermal CD1a+ Langerhans cells were markedly reduced, and CD86+ cells were eliminated. Through in vitro assays, TMP was found to be about 10,000-fold more active as a lymphotoxic agent compared with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). Additionally, at physiologic concentrations, lymphocytes were killed more readily by TMP PUVA (TMP plus UVA) than were keratinocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with TMP bath PUVA was effective in treating moderate to severe psoriasis, even in darker pigmented individuals. It is likely that this treatment ameliorates psoriasis through direct effects on activated leukocytes in lesional skin.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2003

Nitrogen isotopomer site preference of N2O produced by Nitrosomonas europaea and Methylococcus capsulatus Bath.

The relative importance of individual microbial pathways in nitrous oxide (N(2)O) production is not well known. The intramolecular distribution of (15)N in N(2)O provides a basis for distinguishing biological pathways. Concentrated cell suspensions of Methylococcus capsulatus Bath and Nitrosomonas europaea were used to investigate the site preference of N(2)O by microbial processes during nitrification. The average site preference of N(2)O formed during hydroxylamine oxidation by M. capsulatus Bath (5.5 +/- 3.5 per thousand) and N. europaea (-2.3 +/- 1.9 per thousand) and nitrite reduction by N. europaea (-8.3 +/- 3.6 per thousand) differed significantly (ANOVA, f((2,35)) = 247.9, p = 0). These results demonstrate that the mechanisms for hydroxylamine oxidation are distinct in M. capsulatus Bath and N. europaea. The average delta(18)O-N(2)O values of N(2)O formed during hydroxylamine oxidation for M. capsulatus Bath (53.1 +/- 2.9 per thousand) and N. europaea (-23.4 +/- 7.2 per thousand) and nitrite reduction by N. europaea (4.6 +/- 1.4 per thousand) were significantly different (ANOVA, f((2,35)) = 279.98, p = 0). Although the nitrogen isotope value of the substrate, hydroxylamine, was similar in both cultures, the observed fractionation (delta(15)N) associated with N(2)O production via hydroxylamine oxidation by M. capsulatus Bath and N. europaea (-2.3 and 26.0 per thousand, respectively) provided evidence that differences in isotopic fractionation were associated with these two organisms. The site preferences in this study are the first measured values for isolated microbial processes. The differences in site preference are significant and indicate that isotopomers provide a basis for apportioning biological processes producing N(2)O.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1988

One-bath trichrome staining: investigation of a general mechanism based on a structure-staining correlation analysis.

Dye pairs of contrasting colours were selected from acid dyes of varied chemical characteristics. The 44 dye pairs were investigated in a one-bath trichrome staining system in which the dye-baths were strongly acid. Dye concentrations, concentration ratios and staining times were varied for each dye pair. Thirty dye pairs stained collagen fibres distinctly different colours to muscle cytoplasm, while 14 dye pairs gave muddy, non-selective staining. Comparison of dye structures showed that in selective pairs the larger dye always stained the collagen fibres, with cytoplasm being coloured by the smaller species. With 28/30 of the selective dye pairs the differences in anionic weights of the dyes was greater than 200. However, in dye pairs giving non-selective staining, the anionic weights of the members of 13/14 of the dye pairs differed by less than 200. As no other structural feature correlated so clearly with selectivity, it was concluded that the selectivity of one-bath trichromes is diffusion-rate controlled, involving the interaction of differentially permeable tissue sites (collagen being more permeable than muscle cytoplasm) with dyes diffusing at different rates (large dyes slower than small). In keeping with this, lengthening staining times reduced staining selectivity. The rate control mechanism suggested a rational trouble-shooting guide for one-bath trichromes, encompassing such practical factors as dye concentration, embedding medium, fixative, dye-bath pH, section thickness and staining time.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene cluster of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

The genes encoding the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) were localised to an 8.3-kb EcoRI fragment of the genome. Genes encoding the large subunit ( cbbL), small subunit ( cbbS) and putative regulatory gene ( cbbQ) were shown to be located on one cluster. Surprisingly, cbbO, a second putative regulatory gene, was not located in the remaining 1.2-kb downstream (3') of cbbQ. However, probing of the M. capsulatus (Bath) genome with cbbO from Nitrosomonas europaea demonstrated that a cbbO homologue was contained within a separate 3.0-kb EcoRI fragment. Instead of a cbbR ORF being located upstream (5') of cbbL, there was a moxR-like ORF that was transcribed in the opposite direction to cbbL. There were three additional ORFs within the large 8.3-kb EcoRI fragment: a pyrE-like ORF, an rnr-like ORF and an incomplete ORF with no sequence similarity to any known protein. Phylogenetic analysis of cbbL from M. capsulatus (Bath) placed it within clade A of the green-type Form 1 Rubisco. cbbL was expressed in M. capsulatus (Bath) when grown with methane as a sole carbon and energy source under both copper-replete and copper-limited conditions. M. capsulatus (Bath) was capable of autotrophic growth on solid medium but not in liquid medium. Preliminarily investigations suggested that other methanotrophs may also be capable of autotrophic growth. Rubisco genes were also identified, by PCR, in Methylococcus-like strains and Methylocaldum species; however, no Rubisco genes were found in Methylomicrobium album BG8, Methylomonas methanica S1, Methylomonas rubra, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b or Methylocystis parvus OBBP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Water bath and contact methods in ultrasonic evaluation of bone.

Ultrasonic devices for the measurement of speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) generally use either a contact or water bath method. The aim of this study was to compare these two methods while determining the influence of soft tissue, pathlength (heel width and bone width), and a fixed heel dimension on SOS (m/second) and BUA (dB/MHz). Ultrasonic measurements were made using a CUBA Research system utilizing a pair of 1 MHz unfocused transducers with mean precision CV = 0.7% and 6.0% for all SOS and BUA measurements, respectively. SOS and BUA were determined in 24 human cadaveric heels under three conditions: contact method (heel intact), water bath method (heel intact), water bath method (no soft tissue). Although there were significant differences between measurements using contact and water bath techniques (heel intact), their correlations were high (r = 0.858 for SOS and r = 0. 937 for BUA; P < 0.001). After removal of soft tissue, SOS significantly increased (78 m/second; P < 0.001) whereas there was no change in BUA (P > 0.05). Heel width correlated with SOS measurements (-0.224 < r < -0.347; P < 0.001) and bone width correlated with BUA measurements (0.198 < r < 0.276; P < 0.001). The practice of using a fixed heel dimension (Lunar Achilles) was investigated by comparing SOS calculated with measured heel thickness and a value of 4 cm (Lunar Achilles). SOS increased by 42 m/second (2.7%) using the fixed heel dimension compared with measured heel widths. This study demonstrates the similarity between contact and water bath-based methods, while showing that the presence of soft tissue reduces SOS but has no effect on BUA. The use of a fixed heel dimension for calculation of SOS overestimates values obtained when using measured heel dimensions, though the values correlate highly (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). In addition, an increase in heel width tends to cause an underestimation of SOS whereas an increase in bone width tends to overestimate BUA, although the effects are relatively small.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The Turkish versions of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis and Dougados Functional Indices: reliability and validity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Dougados Functional Index (DFI) and assess their reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change. METHODS: The Turkish versions of the BASFI and DFI were obtained after a translation and back-translation process. Seventy-one patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were included in the study. For investigation of the reliability of the BASFI and DFI, 36 of the patients recompleted both indices on the following day. To assess validity, the patients were evaluated with the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath AS Patient Global Score (BAS-G), physicians' assessment of disease activity, Bath AS Radiology Index-spine (BASRI-s) and sacroiliac joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). To assess the sensitivity to change, 16 patients were included in an 8-week home exercise program. In addition, 16 who had been on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment were requested to stop the treatment for 1 to 2 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in BASFI and DFI scores on two occasions within 24 h (P>0.05). The results showed correlations between both of the functional indices and the aforementioned validation parameters except ESR, CRP, and radiologic changes in the sacroiliac joints. The BASFI and DFI scores and BASMI and BASDAI values showed significant improvements in the home-exercise group. For the group of patients whose NSAIDs were stopped, BASFI, DFI, and BASDAI scores showed significant increase, whereas the mean BASMI score did not change. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the Turkish versions of the BASFI and DFI are reliable, valid, and sensitive to change.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Adaptation of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index to the Turkish population, its reliability and validity: functional assessment in AS.

The aim of this study was to adapt the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) to the Turkish population and investigate the reliability and the validity of the Turkish version. Seventy-six patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were included in the study. The functional status of the patients was assessed by using the adapted Turkish version of the BASFI twice, at recruitment and 24 h later. For validity analysis, patients were also assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) evaluating disease activity, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Score (BAS-G) indicating effect of the disease on patient's well-being, physician's assessment of the disease activity and pain intensity. Spinal mobility was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the patients were also recorded. The lumbar region and the sacroiliac joints were assessed by Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (SASSS) and the hip joints were assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index hip (BASRI-h). The internal consistency was 0.89 (Cronbach's alpha), which showed a high reliability for the Turkish version of the BASFI. Test-retest reliability was good, with a high intraclass correlation coefficient between the two time points (ICC=0.93). Significant correlations were detected between the BASFI and the BASDAI, BAS-G, doctor's global assessment, and general pain intensity (r=0.62, p<0.001; r=0.47, p<0.001; r=0.55, p<0.001; r=0.47, p<0.001, respectively). The adaptation of the BASFI to the Turkish population was successful and it was found to be reliable and valid among Turkish patients. Thus, studies using the Turkish BASFI can be compared with international studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Secretory immunity induced in catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, following bath immunization.

Individual adult channel catfish were immunized by immersion in an antigen bath containing dinitrophenylated-horse serum albumin. Anti-DNP hemagglutination titers of serum and cutaneous mucus were determined following both primary and secondary bath immunization. The results showed that five of the six fish had a cutaneous mucosal anti-DNP titer following the bath immunizations. In contrast, only one of the six catfish was shown to have any demonstrable change in its serum anti-DNP titer following the bath immunizations. The mucous anti-DNP hemagglutinin was shown to be antibody (Ab). The affinity-purified mucous Ab was found to have the same complex tetrameric architecture as well as the same molecular weight heavy and light chains as serum anti-DNP Ab. Histological studies showed that the catfish epidermis was richly vascularized. Within the epidermis there were numerous lymphocytes which were predominantly associated with the basal layer. These studies indicate that the secretory immune system of catfish can be stimulated by external antigens. Secondly, these studies show that bath immunization can differentially effect the relative antibody response of the catfish secretory and systemic immune systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A simple modular tissue bath developed for 'in vitro' studies of the isolated spinal cord.

A tissue bath for studies of the mammalian spinal cord in vitro is described. The modular construction of the bath permits considerable flexibility for accommodating different tissue preparations. The individual components of the bath are easily constructed and the design permits multiple compartment baths to be simply formed. The design principle on which the bath is based may have much wider application than that described.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Measurement of cavitational activity within ultrasonic baths.

The formation of free iodine from the KI/CCl4 chemical dosimeter has been used to quantify the amount of cavitational activity occurring within a 25 kHz cleaning bath under various exposure conditions. The amount of activity occurring within the bath was related to the supply voltage to the cleaning bath, the time of exposure and the volume of solution. An important observation was that the amount of cavitational activity occurring within a glass beaker suspended within a water-filled bath varied by as much as a factor of ten if that beaker contained different volumes of the test solution. Also, the amount of cavitation occurring within the exposure vessel and its contents of an ultrasonic cleaning bath will assist in the cleaning of dental instruments and their accessories.

Carbon Tetrachloride↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of bithionol as a bath treatment for amoebic gill disease caused by Neoparamoeba spp.

This study examined the toxicity of bithionol to Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in fresh- and seawater and the efficacy of bithionol as a 1h seawater bath treatment for amoebic gill disease (AGD). To examine toxicity, fish were bathed for 1, 3 and 6h in bithionol, an anti-protozoal at 0, 1, 5, 10, 25 and 35mgL(-1) with toxicity determined by time to morbidity. Efficacy was examined by bathing AGD-affected Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout for 1h at bithionol concentrations of 1-25mgL(-1). Efficacy was determined by examining gill amoeba counts and identifying percent lesioned gill filaments at 1 and 24h after bath exposure to bithionol. For both species, bithionol was determined to be toxic at 25 and 35mgL(-1) exhibiting median lethal times (LT50s) ranging from 21 to 84min. Morbidity occurred in the 5 and 10mgL(-1) treatments, however, due to sampling regime there were not enough fish available to calculate LT50s. Only bithionol at 1mgL(-1) was considered non-toxic with no signs of morbidity. Bithionol was more toxic in seawater than freshwater and had no acute effects on gill Na+/K+ ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase, or plasma osmolality and chloride concentration. Bithionol at 1mgL(-1) reduced percent lesioned gill filaments in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout by 33 and 27 per cent, respectively, compared to the seawater control. Similarly, numbers of amoeba were reduced by 33 and 43 per cent for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, respectively, when compared to the seawater control. Furthermore, bithionol reduced percent lesioned gill filaments as much as did the current industry standard of freshwater. This study demonstrated that a 1h seawater bath containing 1mgL(-1) bithionol could be an improvement to the current method of treatment for AGD-affected Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout.

Amebiasis↗
PubMed2002

Occurrence and levels of indicator bacteriophages in bathing waters throughout Europe.

Somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA bacteriophages, bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli and enterococci were counted in bathing waters in the late spring and summer. We tested fresh and marine bathing waters from North, South, East and West Europe expected to contain between 100 and 500 E. coli per 100 ml, although wider ranges were sometimes found. Bacteriophages were counted after concentration, since a preliminary study proved that this step was necessary to obtain positive counts. During monitoring, a first-line quality control with reference materials for bacteria and bacteriophages was performed by all the laboratories participating in the study. The same microbes were also counted in raw sewage samples from various areas in Europe, where the bacterial indicators and the three groups of bacteriophages were detected in roughly the same numbers. All groups of bacteriophages were detected in both fresh and marine bathing waters throughout Europe. Reliable and complete results from 147 samples showed that for log-transformed values, E. coli and bacteriophages were slightly correlated. However, the slope of the regression line changed according to E. coli concentration and the correlation diminished when this concentration was close to zero per 100 ml. The ratios between E. coli and phages in bathing waters differed significantly from those in sewage. The relative amounts of bacteriophages, mainly somatic coliphages and phages infecting Bact. fragilis RYC2056, increased in bathing waters with low E. coli concentration, especially in seawater samples containing < 100 E. coli per 100 ml. The relationship of bacteriophages with respect to enterococci paralleled that of bacteriophages with respect to E. coli. Somatic coliphages and bacteriophages infecting Bact. fragilis are useful to predict the presence of some pathogens with the same origin as present bacterial indicators but with higher survival rates.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Silk suture used in standard organ bath studies contracts upon exposure to Krebs buffer.

INTRODUCTION: Muscles of all types are routinely excised and studied under isometric conditions using force transducers in standard organ baths. In such studies, the muscle is stretched or "preloaded," as the magnitudes of the contractions evoked by various stimuli can vary markedly depending on this baseline parameter: many such studies refer to an optimal length and/or preload tension. While calibrating our equipment, we were surprised to find that the silk suture, which is commonly used in such studies, can generate considerable tension of its own, completely independent of any muscle tissue. METHODS: We compared two different types of silk suture in muscle baths using the standard organ bath technique, measuring baseline tension upon addition of various solvents/buffers. RESULTS: One type of silk suture was inert in that, upon stretching to a given degree, there was no important change in preload tension upon addition of bathing medium (Krebs buffer). The second type of silk suture, however, which is also widely available commercially, exhibited substantial contractile responses upon exposure to standard Krebs buffer solution, with magnitudes typically exceeding several grams force. This change developed over the first 30-60 min of exposure to Krebs, after which tension was stable. This change was not observed if the suture was presoaked for 60 min before hanging in the muscle bath, but was observed if the suture was allowed to dry again before use. Other solvents such as ethanol and DMSO did not alter tension. DISCUSSION: While this property of silk suture may be well known in the surgical setting, it is less well appreciated by other users of this material. This phenomenon is of major importance to any experimental study of muscle function, as it alters the preload tension under which such studies are carried out.

Buffers↗