Legal aspects of endoscopy probed: instrument classification, standard of care questioned.
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Disinfection↗
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Results for “fiber quality”
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[Myocardial viability and contractile reserve with echocardiography].
The recovery of the mechanical function of the myocardium is the best parameter of viability. Therefore, it is necessary that tissue perfusion and metabolic interchange at myocardiac fiber level be sufficient in both amount and quality, and also that the channels by which the nutrients arrive (microcirculation) are adequate, and the substratum (myocardium), still has the response capacity, meaning that it has its contractile reserve.
Humans↗
Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves early stretch marks.
BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Stretch marks are disfiguring lesions usually caused by excessive stretching of skin. We investigated the response of early, clinically active stretch marks to topical 0.1% tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream. In a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study, 22 patients applied either 0.1% tretinoin (n = 10) or vehicle (n = 12) daily for 6 months to the affected areas. Patients were evaluated by physical examination monthly and by analysis of biopsy specimens of stretch marks obtained before and at the end of therapy in comparison with untreated normal skin. RESULTS: After 2 months, patients treated with tretinoin had significant improvements in severity scores of stretch marks compared with patients who received vehicle (P < .05). After 6 months, eight (80%) of the 10 tretinoin-treated patients had definite or marked improvement compared with one (8%) of the 12 vehicle-treated patients (P = .002). Targeted stretch marks in patients treated with tretinoin had a decrease in mean length and width of 14% and 8%, respectively, compared with an increase of 10% (P < .001) and 24% (P = .008), respectively, in patients who received vehicle. There were no significant differences in various measures of quality and quantity of dermal collagen and elastic fibers in stretch marks when tretinoin and vehicle treatments were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of tretinoin significantly improves the clinical appearance of early, active stretch marks. The processes that are responsible for the clinical improvement remain unknown.
Administration, Cutaneous↗
[Chemical and biological evaluation of ripe banana peel].
Chemical and biological evaluation of ripe banana peel was conducted, aiming its potential use as a source of dietary fiber in human nutrition. Two types of flour were prepared from banana peel: a) untreated (UT), using washed and dried peel; b) treated (SMB), using peel treated with sodium metabisulfite and citric acid, in attempt to minimize the darkening of the flour. As expected, banana peel flour revealed to be an important source of fiber (NDF), corresponding about 32% of its dried weight. The addition of this flour to a basal casein diet lowered its protein digestibility and increased the fecal bulk of the rats, which are the known effects of dietary fiber. However, it did not alter the protein quality, since there was no difference in the PER values of the diets studied; in addition, the growth of the rats fed diets containing banana peel did not differ from those fed control diet. These results suggest the feasibility of technological studies aiming the development of food products with banana peel. Besides, biological assays should be realized in the elucidation of its effects in food intake and biochemical parameters.
Nutritive Value↗
Does your dental blue light have hot spots?
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Dental Equipment↗
Carpal tunnel syndrome in 100 patients: sensitivity, specificity of multi-neurophysiological procedures and estimation of axonal loss of motor, sensory and sympathetic median nerve fibers.
This prospective study meets all six criteria recently recommended by a quality assurance committee of the AAEM and defines criteria of abnormality, sensitivity and specificity of 19 sensorimotor and sympathetic parameters in 100 patients who were suspected on clinical grounds of having carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and in 70 control subjects. Nine parameters reached a specificity of 97%, permitting the electrodiagnosis of CTS in 87% of the patients studied. The results in this study confirm that median sensory nerve conduction studies are more frequently abnormal than are studies of motor nerve conduction. The so far unknown usefulness of parameters such as median F-wave abnormalities and residual latency, terminal latency index and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude was assessed; these parameters were not found sensitive enough, yet high specific (SNAP amplitude) or high sensitive yet low specific (F-wave abnormalities, residual latency and terminal latency index) and are therefore of little value in the early clinical electrodiagnostic evaluation of patients with CTS. Finally, in the patients studied, some degree of axonal loss for motor, sensory and sympathetic median nerve fibers was found in 42% of cases and 6 patients had a double-crush syndrome and 6 others had a concomitant ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
Action Potentials↗
Manipulation of light signal transduction as a means of modifying fruit nutritional quality in tomato.
Fruit constitutes a major component of human diets, providing fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. Carotenoids are a major class of compounds found in many fruits, providing nutritional benefits as precursors to essential vitamins and as antioxidants. Although recent gene isolation efforts and metabolic engineering have primarily targeted genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, factors that regulate flux through the carotenoid pathway remain largely unknown. Characterization of the tomato high-pigment mutations (hp1 and hp2) suggests the manipulation of light signal transduction machinery may be an effective approach toward practical manipulation of plant carotenoids. We demonstrate here that hp1 alleles represent mutations in a tomato UV-DAMAGED DNA-BINDING PROTEIN 1 (DDB1) homolog. We further demonstrate that two tomato light signal transduction genes, LeHY5 and LeCOP1LIKE, are positive and negative regulators of fruit pigmentation, respectively. Down-regulated LeHY5 plants exhibit defects in light responses, including inhibited seedling photomorphogenesis, loss of thylakoid organization, and reduced carotenoid accumulation. In contrast, repression of LeCOP1LIKE expression results in plants with exaggerated photomorphogenesis, dark green leaves, and elevated fruit carotenoid levels. These results suggest genes encoding components of light signal transduction machinery also influence fruit pigmentation and represent genetic tools for manipulation of fruit quality and nutritional value.
Alleles↗
Elucidating coding of taste qualities with the taste modifier miraculin in the common marmoset.
To investigate the relationships between the activity in different types of taste fibers and the gustatory behavior in marmosets, we used the taste modifier miraculin, which in humans adds a sweet taste quality to sour stimuli. In behavioral experiments, we measured marmosets' consumption of acids before and after tongue application of miraculin. In electrophysiological experiments responses of single taste fibers in chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves were recorded before and after tongue application of miraculin. We found that after miraculin marmosets consumed acids more readily. Taste nerve recordings showed that after miraculin taste fibers which usually respond only to sweeteners, S fibers, became responsive to acids. These results further support our hypothesis that the activity in S fibers is translated into a hedonically positive behavioral response.
Animals↗
Phase locking to high frequencies in the auditory nerve and cochlear nucleus magnocellularis of the barn owl, Tyto alba.
The auditory system of the barn owl is an important model for temporal processing on a very fast time scale and for the neural mechanisms and circuitry underlying sound localization. Phase locking has been shown to be the behaviorally relevant temporal code. This study examined the quality and intensity dependence of phase locking in single auditory nerve fibers of the barn owl to define the input to the known brainstem circuit for temporal processing. For direct comparison in the same individuals, recordings were also obtained from the relevant next higher center, the nucleus magnocellularis (NM). Phase locking was regularly seen at sound pressure levels (SPL) below those eliciting an increase in spike rate, thus providing an additional cue for signal detection. The quality of phase locking, expressed as vector strength, decreased with increasing frequency. Auditory nerve fibers showed an unusual step-like decline with a prominent plateau in the mid-frequency range (1.5-3 kHz), indicating that some specialization enables the owl to halt the deterioration and extend phase locking to frequencies up to 10 kHz, above the range commonly observed in other species. Phase locking in the NM was consistently inferior to that of auditory-nerve fibers at frequencies above 1 kHz, suggesting that the synapse plays a limiting role in temporal precision. The response delays, or group delays, derived from the phase-versus-frequency functions of auditory nerve fibers were not consistent with the unusual spatial frequency representation in the owl cochlea. This questions the common assumption that group delays reflect cochlear wave travel times.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Distribution of neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers in the human submandibular gland, with special reference to the difference between serous and mucous acini.
Distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-, galanin (GAL)-, substance P (SP)-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the human submandibular gland was examined by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method with attention to high-quality fixation and the condition of patients. NPY-, VIP-, and GAL-immunoreactive varicose fibers were densely distributed around the acini and ducts. Some of these fibers extended between acinar cells. The density of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive fibers was relatively low. The number of NPY-, VIP-, and GAL-immunoreactive fibers around the mucous acini was significantly higher than around the serous acini. In the perivasculature, NPY-immunoreactive fibers were more numerous than other immunoreactive fibers. No somatostatin-, leucine-, or methionine-enkephalin-immunoreactive fibers were detected. Our findings suggest that a large number of periacinar VIP-, NPY-, and GAL-immunoreactive fibers may participate in regulating the synthesis of saliva and its secretion. Since the VIP-, NPY-, and GAL-immunoreactive fibers are more numerous around the mucous acini than around the serous ones, these fibers may take part more actively in regulating the secretory mechanisms in the mucous acini than in the serous ones. The relatively low number of CGRP- and SP-immunoreactive fibers suggests that they are less involved in the function of the human submandibular gland. Perivascular peptidergic fibers, especially NPY-immunoreactive fibers, may be involved in controlling local blood flow in this gland.
Aged↗
Practical approaches to obtaining hand radiographs and special techniques in hand radiology.
Radiography of the hands and joints involves a certain amount of decision making by the radiographer. Many disorders of the wrists are evaluated with radiography, and the positions and radiographic technique factors should be adjusted to reveal as much of the desired anatomy as possible. Immobilizing the patient can be of significant value in obtaining good quality radiographs. It is essential that the processed radiograph contains all pertinent anatomy and that all structures have been demonstrated anatomically as well as radiographically. A number of radiographic positions and procedures are useful in identifying specific structures. The knowledge of the radiographer is essential in obtaining these projections. Other special imaging methods, such as tomography, xeroradiography, and magnification radiography, permit the study of those structures too small to be noted on conventional radiographs. Fine-grain mammography film and rare earth screens in carbon fiber cassettes are essential tools in obtaining high-quality detailed images of the hand. A proper quality assurance program of scheduled and preventative maintenance will ensure an efficient radiology service with the least radiation dose to the patient.
Carpal Bones↗
Methodological contributions for the morphometric study of the lung: approximation to the ideal sample size and quantification of collagen fiber.
BACKGROUND: A morphometric study of the rat lung was done to determine the importance, within the precision of a morphometric study, of the sample size in relation to the quality of the image and to propose a method for the quantification of lung collagen fiber. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats, divided into two age groups consisting of adult and old rats, were used. The left lungs were studied and processed for light microscopy. Methylene blue, resorcin-fuchsin, and Sirius red stainings were performed. The variables were quantified automatically. In the sections stained with methylene blue, the variables alveolar chord, wall thickness, mean linear intercept index, tissue density, and internal alveolar perimeter were quantified, in two series, one with x40 magnification (panoramic image) and the other with x100 magnification. In the sections stained with resorcin-fuchsin, elastic fiber was quantified and the result related with that obtained for the variable tissue density. The results were compared statistically, and those obtained with different magnifications for single variables were related by using the correlation test; the misclassification indices were also calculated. In the sections stained with Sirius red, the surface that was birefringent to polarized light was quantified and related to the collagen fiber; the results were compared statistically. RESULTS: Concerning results obtained for single variables with different magnifications good, correlation indices were obtained (r > or = 0.62) for all but the wall thickness (r = 0.3). The results obtained for the panoramic images were the highest. The misclassification index was lower for the panoramic images. Significant differences (P < 0.5) were not found when comparing the mean birefringent surface in the two groups of animals. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained lead us to consider that, despite the fact that the quality of the panoramic images is poorer, the results for these images are more accurate, possibly because a greater number of structures was analyzed. The measurement of the birefringent surfaces of the sections stained with Sirius red may be used in the study of lung collagen fiber.
Animals↗
Hollow-core photonic crystal fiber-optic probes for Raman spectroscopy.
We have implemented a new Raman fiber-optic probe design based on a hollow-core photonic-crystal excitation fiber surrounded by silica-core collection fibers. The photonic-crystal fiber offers low attenuation at the pump radiation wavelength, mechanical flexibility, high radiation stability, and low background noise. Because the excitation beam is transmitted through air inside the hollow-core fiber, silica Raman scattering is much reduced, improving the quality of the spectra obtained using probes of this design. Preliminary results show that the new probe design decreases the Raman background from the silica by approximately an order of magnitude compared to solid-core silica Raman probes.
Crystallization↗
Response properties of macaque monkey chorda tympani fibers.
Many of the chorda tympani fibers of crab-eating monkeys respond to more than one of the four basic stimuli (NaCl, sucrose, HCl, and quinine hydrochloride) as well as cooling or warming of the tongue. Fibers could be classified into four categories depending on their best sensitivity to any one of the four basic stimuli. Sucrose-best and quinine-best fibers are rather specifically sensitive to sucrose and quinine, respectively, while salt-best and acid-best fibers respond relatively well to HCl and NaCl, respectively. Saccharin, dulcin, and Pb acetate produce a good response in sucrose-best fibers, but quinine-best and salt-best fibers also respond to saccharin. Highly significant positive correlations exist between amounts of responses to sucrose and those to saccharin, dulcin, and Pb acetate, indicating that these substances produce in the monkey a taste quality similar to that produced by sucrose. Compared with chroda tympani fibers of rats, hamsters, and squirrel monkeys, macaque monkey taste fibers are more narrowly tuned to one of the four basic taste stimuli and more highly developed in sensitivity to various sweet-tasting substances. Also LiCl and NaCl are more effective stimuli for gustatory receptors in macaque monkeys than NH4Cl and KCl. This contrasts with a higher sensitivity to KCl and NH4Cl than to NaCl in chorda tympani fibers of squirrel monkeys.
Animals↗
Quantitative trait loci for cell-wall components in recombinant inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) I: stalk tissue.
Maize silage is a significant energy source for animal production operations, and the efficiency of the conversion of forage into animal mass is an important consideration when selecting cultivars for use as feed. Fiber and lignin are negatively correlated with digestibility of feed, so the development of forage with reduced levels of these cell-wall components (CWCs) is desirable. While variability for fiber and lignin is present in maize germplasm, traditional selection has focused on the yield of the ear rather than the forage quality of the whole plant, and little information is available concerning the genetics of fiber and lignin. The objectives of this study were to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fiber and lignin in the maize stalk and compare them with QTLs from other populations. Stalk samples were harvested from 191 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of B73 (an inbred line with low-to-intermediate levels of CWCs) x De811 (an inbred line with high levels of CWCs) at two locations in 1998 and one in 1999 and assayed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). The QTLs were detected on nine chromosomes, mostly clustered in concordance with the high genetic correlations between NDF and ADF. Adjustment of NDF for ADF and ADF for ADL revealed that most of the variability for CWCs in this population is in ADF. Many of the QTLs detected in this study have also been detected in other populations, and several are linked to candidate genes for cellulose or starch biosynthesis. The genetic information obtained in this study should be useful to breeding efforts aimed at improving the quality of maize silage.
Breeding↗
Diffusion tensor brain imaging and tractography.
Diffusion-tensor MR imaging is a promising tool to evaluate white-matter integrity by quantitative and graphic maps including neural fiber tractogram. Current challenges afoot are to obtain higher quality diffusion-weighted MR images (high SNR, isotropic voxel, and high spatial resolution), to create a robust mathematical framework to process the data, to construct a user-friendly computer-based algorithm, to reveal determinants of diffusion process, and to establish analytical methodology.
Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
Immunohistochemical investigations of the autonomous innervation of the cervine testis.
The innervation of the cervine testis was studied in 6 roe deers, 7 red deers and 14 fallow deers. The results for the three species are rather similar. With anti-sera to neurofilament (NF) and neuron specific enolase (NSE), all small and large nerve fascicles can be demonstrated, but single fibers are incompletely stained. Immunoreactions against protein gene product-9.5 (PGP-9.5) and GAP-43 (growth-associated protein-43) are better suited to depict the complete innervation pattern. Bundles of the superior spermatic and inferior spermatic nerves reach the testis via three access routes as funicular, mesorchial and caudal nerve contributions. We found no morphological evidence that the nerves in the cervine testis are directly involved in regulating Leydig cell function or seminiferous tubular motility. The majority of the testicular nerves are associated with the testicular arteries, but the musculature in the walls of the venous plexus pampiniformis is also innervated. All vascular nerve fibers represent postjunctional sympathetic axons displaying a strong dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity, mostly co-expressed with neuropeptide Y (NPY). The presence of cholinergic fibers in the testis of the deer is only sporadic and probably of no functional importance. In all three species of deer, a small quantity of myelinated nerve fibers is encountered in spermatic cord and tunica albuginea and regarded as afferent. The viscerosensory quality in the testicular intrinsic innervation is very likely mediated by the CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide)-positive fibers that run independently from the testicular vessels and end in the connective tissue of spermatic cord and tunica albuginea. The testis of the red deer contains significantly more VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide)-positive axons than that of roe and fallow deer. The nerve density in the interior of the testicular lobules shows no regional differences, but there are age- and season-related changes that correlate with the developmental and functional state of the seminiferous tubules. Small testes with solid and narrow tubules, as seen in the prepuberal phase and during seasonal reproductive quiescence, are better innervated than large testes with expanded and spermatogenetically active seminiferous tubules.
Acetylcholinesterase↗
Low-quality roughages in high-concentrate pelleted diets for sheep: digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and energy as affected by dietary fiber concentration.
Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of, and interactions between, level and source of fiber in the diet on ruminal environment, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestion and flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of multiple-fistulated sheep (trial 1; 4 X 4 Latin square design) and on ruminal, digestive and metabolic characteristics of early-weaned lambs (trial 2; randomized complete block design; 3 periods). All diets tested were pelleted and were formulated to contain either 39% or 25% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), with corncobs or cottonseed hulls (CSH) as the major NDF (roughage) sources. In trial 1, dry-matter (DM) and organic-matter (OM) digestibilities were not different (P greater than .05) among treatments. Digestibility of NDF was higher (P less than .05) with high-fiber. Bacterial N synthesis (g N/kg OM truly digested) was not different (P greater than .05) among treatments. Molar proportion acetate was higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) when sheep were fed high-fiber diets. In trial 2, apparent DM digestibility was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Energy digestibility was higher (P less than .05) at the low-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Apparent NDF digestibility by lambs was higher (P less than .05) at the high-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs. Nitrogen retained (percentage of N intake) was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing CSH. Ruminal pH and molar proportion acetate were higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) for lambs fed high-fiber diets. Although responses to corncob vs CSH inclusion in high-energy pelleted diets differ, both roughages are effective as fiber sources in sheep diets.
Animal Feed↗