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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Enhanced elution of sperm from cotton swabs via enzymatic digestion for rape kit analysis.

This report describes development of a method for enhanced cell elution from cotton swabs. The method exploits an enzyme mixture for digestion of the cotton to remove intact cells, and can be utilized in conjunction with or to circumvent conventional differential extraction (DE). Samples digested with Aspergillus niger cellulase yielded sperm cell recoveries (18+/-3.5%) similar to conventional DE buffer (23+/-7.8%) while providing intact epithelial cells. Storage time affected the concentration of enzyme required for optimal sperm cell recovery, with longer times requiring increased cellulase concentrations. Cellulase from A. niger yielded a twofold enhancement in sperm cell elution over buffer alone, and preliminary testing of higher activity cellulases from Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma viride showed even greater enhancement. These results indicate that cellulose-digesting enzymes enhance the release of sperm and epithelial cells from a cotton swab over buffer alone, providing for efficient DNA analysis.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed2005

Use and abuse of cotton buds.

Ear injuries caused by cotton buds are commonly seen in ear, nose and throat (ENT) practice. We asked 1000 patients attending an ENT referral clinic whether they used cotton buds to clean the ear canal. Of the 325 who responded, 171 said they did. The frequency of use was no higher in those with ear complaints than in those with nose and other complaints. 15-20% of respondents disagreed with the statements that cotton buds can cause infections, wax impaction or perforations. On the evidence of this survey, manufacturers' warnings need to be fortified.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlative measurement of four biological contaminants on cotton lint, and their implications for occupational health.

Four biological contaminants of cotton fibers (gram-negative bacterial cells, endotoxin, fungal cells, and (1-3)-beta-D-glucan) were measured in 13 cotton lint samples from international origins, using traditional microbiological spread plating and adaptation of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Correlations were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation analyses. Contamination levels ranged from 713 +/- 212 to 216,830 +/- 30,413 CFU/g gram-negative bacteria; 281 +/- 29 to 9,250 +/- 820 CFU/g fungal cells; 8.30 +/- 0.89 to 137.89 +/- 21.55 ng/g endotoxin; and 15.96 +/- 5.18 to 2,964.42 +/- 313.90 LAL-reactive units/g glucan. Positive correlations existed between all contaminants; however, they were significant only between fungal cells and glucan (p < 0.05) and between endotoxin and glucan (p < 0.01). The highly significant positive correlation between endotoxin and glucan has implications for the health risk posed by the cotton-production environment, as simultaneous inhalation of these agents may cause or exacerbate lung inflammation.

Cotton Fiber↗
PubMed2003

Cotton Bezoar--a rare cause of intestinal obstruction: case report.

BACKGROUND: Bezoars usually present as a mass in the stomach. The patient often has a preceding history of some psychiatric predisposition. Presentation could be in the form of trichophagy followed by trichobezoar (swallowing of hair leading to formation of bezoar), orphytobezoar (swallowing of vegetable fibres). Rapunzel syndrome is a condition where the parent bezoar is in the stomach and a tail of the fibres or hair extends in to the jejunum. Presentation as intestinal obstruction due to a bezoar in the intestine without a parent bezoar in the stomach is rare, therefore we report it here. CASE REPORT: A 35 year old lady tailor with a previous history of receiving treatment for depression on account of being infertile- years after her marriage, presented to the surgical emergency department with features of acute intestinal obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy and enterotomy revealed a cotton bezoar in the terminal ileum without a parent bezoar in the stomach. She was managed by resection of the affected segment of the ileum and end-to-end anastomosis of the bowel. In the postoperative period the patient gave a history of ingesting cotton threads whenever she was depressed. CONCLUSION: Presence of cotton bezoar is rare and an intestinal bezoar in the absence of parent bezoar in the stomach is still rarer.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

An evaluation of UV protection imparted by cotton fabrics dyed with natural colorants.

BACKGROUND: The ultraviolet properties of textiles dyed with synthetic dyes have been widely reported in literature. However, no study has investigated the ultraviolet properties of natural fabrics dyed with natural colorants. This study reports the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of cotton fabrics dyed with colorants of plant and insect origins. METHODS: Three cotton fabrics were dyed with three natural colorants. Fabrics were characterized with respect to fabric construction, weight, thickness and thread count. Influence of fabric characteristics on Ultraviolet Protection Factor was studied. Role of colorant concentration on the ultraviolet protection factor was examined via color strength analysis. RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between the weight of the fabric and their UPF values. Similarly, thicker fabrics offered more protection from ultraviolet rays. Thread count appears to negatively correlate with UPF. Dyeing with natural colorants dramatically increased the protective abilities of all three fabric constructions. Additionally, within the same fabric type UPF values increased with higher depths of shade. CONCLUSION: Dyeing cotton fabrics with natural colorants increases the ultraviolet protective abilities of the fabrics and can be considered as an effective protection against ultraviolet rays. The UPF is further enhanced with colorant of dark hues and with high concentration of the colorant in the fabric.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Amino acid regions of family 45 endoglucanases involved in cotton defibrillation and in resistance to anionic surfactants and oxidizing agents.

In the detergent industry, fungal endoglucanases are used to release microfibrils from the surfaces of dyed cellulosic fabrics to enhance color brightness. Family 45 endoglucanase (glycoside hydrolase family 45, GH45) EGL3 from Humicola grisea is more resistant to anionic surfactants and oxidizing agents than family 45 endoglucanase RCE1 from Rhizopus oryzae, while in the present study, a catalytic domain of RCE1 had higher defibrillation activity on dyed cotton fabrics than did that of EGL3. To identify the amino acid regions involved in these properties, we compared the characteristics of RCE1, EGL3, and three chimeric endoglucanases, in which each of the three regions of the catalytic domain of EGL3 was replaced by the corresponding region of the catalytic domain of RCE1. Amino acids in the N-terminal region were involved in resistance to anionic surfactants and oxidizing agents. Furthermore, amino acids in the region adjacent to the N-terminal region were involved in releasing microfibrils and in binding to dyed cotton fabrics, indicating that the binding of the amino acids in this region might be important in the release of microfibrils from dyed cotton fabrics.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2002

Possibilities for recycling cellulases after use in cotton processing: part I: Effects of end-product inhibition, thermal and mechanical deactivation, and cellulase depletion by adsorption.

Preliminary recycling experiments with cellulase enzymes after cotton treatments at 50 degrees C showed that activity remaining in the treatment liquors was reduced by about 80% after five recycling steps. The potential problems of end-product inhibition, thermal and mechanical deactivation, and the loss of some components of the cellulase complex by preferential and or irreversible adsorption to cotton substrates were studied. End-product inhibition studies showed that the build-up of cellobiose and glucose would be expected to cause no more than 40% activity loss after five textile treatment cycles. Thermal and mechanical treatments of cellulases suggested that the enzymes start to be deactivated at 60 degrees C and agitation levels similar to those used in textile processing did not cause significant enzyme deactivation. Analysis of cellulase solutions, by fast protein liquid chromatography, before and after adsorption on cotton fabrics, suggested that the cellobiohydrolase II (Cel6A) content of the cellulase complex was reduced, relative to the other components, by preferential adsorption. This would lead to a marked reduction in activity after several treatment cycles and top-up with pure cellobiohydrolase II would be necessary unless this component is easily recoverable from the treated fabric.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2002

Possibilities for recycling cellulases after use in cotton processing: part II: Separation of cellulases from reaction products and released dyestuffs by ultrafiltration.

The adsorption and activity of a total cellulase (Trichoderma reesei) was measured and compared on undyed and dyed cotton fabrics. Recovery of enzymes from the reaction mixture and by desorption from the cotton substrate was evaluated. About 80% of the initial protein could be recovered. The removal of released products (soluble reducing sugars and dyes) from the treatment liquor and subsequent concentration of cellulase proteins was performed using an ultrafiltration membrane. Strong protein-dye interactions made it impossible to separate efficiently the dyes from the enzyme-containing treatment liquors. The use of surfactants did not enhance cellulase desorption from cotton fabric. Although anionic surfactants have a deactivating effect on cellulases, this effect seems to be reversible, since after ultrafiltration the cellulase activity was similar to that of enzymes desorbed with buffer only. Humicola insolens cellulases were shown to be much more sensitive to anionic surfactant than T. reesei cellulases. The use of cellulases that bind reversibly to cellulose is suggested for achieving more efficient cellulase recycling and for reducing backstaining by dye-cellulase complexes.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

Cotton-tipped applicators used in surgery of the nose.

BACKGROUND: A variety of uses have been described for cotton-tipped applicators. OBJECTIVE: We describe an additional application in surgeries involving the nose. This technique uses 8-inch obstetrics-gynecology applicators with oversized cotton tips, unlike most articles, which report the use of 6-inch applicators with smaller cotton heads. The applicators function to stabilize and support the nasal structures and thus provide a steadier operating field. CONCLUSION: It can be used in procedures of the nose, including curettage, electrocautery, hemostasis, and Mohs and other surgical excisions.

Cotton Fiber↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of shading at blossoming and boll-forming stages on cotton fiber quality].

The study on the effects of different shading level at blossoming and boll-forming stages on cotton fiber quality of Zhongmiansuo No.41 and Lumianyan No. 18 showed that with increasing shading, the maximum fiber length of cotton decreased, while the elongation period increased. The fiber length in 70% shading treatment was 1.01 mm shorter than that in 40% shading treatment. Without shading, the fiber reached its maximum length 25 days after anthesis, while in shading treatments, the fiber reached its maximum length 35 days after anthesis. Fiber gauge tenacity was also decreased with increasing shading. Comparing with the control, both 40% and 70% shading significantly decreased the fiber maturation and maturity. Two test cotton varieties presented the same change trend under shading condition.

Biomass↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pleural mesothelioma in cotton spinning workers].

BACKGROUND: Cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in the non-asbestos textile industry have recently been described, but asbestos exposure in spinning and looming has seldom been reported. Nevertheless, on a national level the Italian Mesothelioma Registry (Re.Na.M) contains numerous cases of MM with past non-asbestos textile work but classified as "unknown" exposure due to poor information. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to investigate possible past occupational exposure to asbestos in this specific industrial sector. METHODS: The MM cases were collected from the Mesothelioma Registry of Brescia. Work histories were obtained via a standardized questionnaire. Investigations were conducted in textile machinery manufacturing plants in order to collect information regarding the possible use of asbestos parts; at the same time, the use of asbestos friction materials and the use of sprayed asbestos for noise abatement purposes or thermal insulation was checked in the cotton industry by interviewing the management of two companies where a cluster of MM was observed. RESULTS: The Mesothelioma Registry of Brescia retrieved and collected 15 MM cases with past work in the cotton spinning industry, 4 of them employed in the same company. Further search of asbestos use gave positive results as the use of friction materials has been widespread since the fifties, while sprayed asbestos was not found anywhere in the cotton industry. On the other hand, half of the cases were employed during the thirties and forties, when friction materials appear to have been asbestos-free. Therefore the other hypothesis of exposure could be direct manufacture of asbestos yarn. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation indicate the attribution, at least, of possible asbestos exposure"for those cases employed in textile industries since the fifties, according to the Re.Na.M guidelines; for those cases employed before that period the same classification can be attributed on an epidemiological basis. Previous work periods need further investigation in order to demonstrate the circumstances of the occupational asbestos exposure, given the heterogeneity of work processes and machinery characteristic of this industrial sector.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Transmission of Black Creek Canal virus between cotton rats.

Black Creek Canal (BCC) virus is a hantavirus associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in southeastern North America. The virus was isolated from the spleen of a cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) trapped in southern Florida. Our previous studies have shown that we could consistently infect male cotton rats with BCC virus in the laboratory. These animals became persistently infected and virus could be detected in salivary glands, urine, and feces. In this report we show: (1) female and male cotton rats are equally susceptible to BCC virus infection, (2) susceptibility to infection was not influenced by age, (3) all inoculated rats transmitted the infection to uninoculated cage mates, and (4) offspring of infected rats became infected despite the presence of high maternal antibodies. The course of BCC virus infection, as determined by antibody response and the ability to isolate or detect virus, appeared to be similar regardless of whether the rats obtained their infection by inoculation or contact with inoculated rats. J. Med. Virol. 60:70-76, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The role of endotoxin for reactions after exposure to cotton dust.

Gram-negative bacteria and their endotoxins are present on all parts of the cotton plant and occur in large numbers after rain or frost. Endotoxins activate pulmonary macrophages that in turn recruit neutrophils into the airways. Platelets accumulate in pulmonary capillaries. The presence of these cells allows for the initiation of acute and chronic inflammation. Dose-response relationships have been demonstrated between endotoxin and fever, chest tightness, and reduction in air flow (bronchoconstriction) in cotton workers. Limited data suggest that after cotton dust exposure, other symptoms, such as airway hyperreactivity and chronic inflammation, are also related to the endotoxin exposure. Tentative thresholds for airborne endotoxins are presented.

Byssinosis↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of the association of acute overshift change in pulmonary function and atopy using OSHA cotton dust surveillance data.

OSHA surveillance data were collected for 769 individuals employed in four different cotton textile mills. Current workers were asked to complete a questionnaire about personal and family history of atopy or asthma. Both surveillance and survey data were available for 502 individuals. The prevalence of atopy in the population as reported by questionnaire was 18%, while asthma was reported by 4%. Dust levels at the four mills were in compliance with the cotton dust standard during the period of surveillance. No relationship was found between a self-reported history of atopy or asthma and the magnitude or frequency of acute overshift declines in forced expiratory volume during 1 second (FEV1). Nonsmokers had annual changes in FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) comparable to nonexposed populations. In one of the four mills surveyed, annual declines in FEV1 and FVC for current smokers were significantly greater than declines for smokers in the other mills or the general smoking population (p < 0.02). This mill effect was also observed for subjects who were categorized as atopic (p < 0.02). For nonsmokers there appears to be no significant adverse health effect from exposure to the levels of cotton dust observed in these mills.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A cotton rat model of effectors of immunity to respiratory syncytial virus other than serum antibody.

A model for studying effectors of immunity to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was developed. Paris of inbred cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) were joined surgically using the technique of parabiosis. One week later, one animal of each pair was primed intranasally with a small volume of RSV suspension. Fourteen days after priming, both animals of each pair were bled for determination of serum neutralizing antibody titers, and challenged intranasally with a standard dose of RSV suspension. Single, unprimed cotton rats were challenged concomitantly and served as controls. Four days after challenge, all animals were sacrificed for virus titration of nasal tissues and lungs. Parabiosed cotton rats were surgically separated at varying intervals between priming and challenge (days 7, 9, 12, or 14 after priming) or were kept joined until sacrificed (day 18). Significant transfer of nasal and pulmonary immunity from primed to unprimed parabionts began 9 days after priming, gradually increasing through 18 days. Resistance to RSV challenge in spite of low levels of serum neutralizing antibody suggests that non-antibody immunologic mediators were responsible for the transferred immunity. Evidence is presented for three broad categories of RSV immunologic effectors: systemic, local with a transient systemic phase, and local without a systemic phase. These categories are now amenable to further study using the described model.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A modified hot borate method significantly enhances the yield of high-quality RNA from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

The isolation of biologically active RNA from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is difficult due to interference by high levels of endogenous phenolics, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites. A modified hot borate procedure was developed to combat these cellular constituents during tissue homogenization, resulting in the quantitative recovery of RNA suitable for hybridization analysis, in vitro translation, and cDNA synthesis. The efficacy of several hot borate buffer adjuvants for the qualitative and quantitative recovery of leaf RNA was monitored by absorbance spectra, gel electrophoresis, protein, and cDNA synthesis. Of the buffer adjuvants evaluated, polyvinylpyrrolidone-40 (PVP-40) exhibited the single, most significant impact on the yield and quality of RNA isolated from cotton leaves, although inclusion of deoxycholate and/or Nonident-40 (NP-40) further enhanced the quality of the RNA. The unsurpassed qualitative and quantitative recovery of total RNA from cotton by hot borate buffer at alkaline pH, supplemented with PVP-40, deoxycholate, and/or NP-40 had also proven satisfactory for other recalcitrant plant species as well as for especially difficult tissue types.

Boric Acids↗
PubMed1996

Hormonal responses to parental and nonparental conditions in male cotton-top tamarins, Saguinus oedipus, a New World primate.

The socially monogamous cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) monkey is a cooperative breeder with the breeding male providing extensive parental care shortly after birth. We examined the relationship of urinary prolactin and cortisol excretion both to male parental care and as a stress response in the cotton-top tamarin monkey. First-morning urine samples were collected to determine hormonal concentrations. Hormonal and behavioral data were collected on 8 male cotton-top tamarins during the 2 weeks before and the 2 weeks following birth of infants to their mate, 11 nonparental males with exposure to females, and three eldest sons from large family groups. Prolactin levels were significantly higher in experienced fathers during the postpartum period than in the other males, while cortisol levels were significantly lower in experienced fathers and eldest sons. Prolactin levels in experienced fathers were consistently elevated before birth, following birth, and after infants were weaned; prolactin levels during times of infant independence were still significantly higher than those in nonfather males. First-time fathers exhibited prolactin levels that were significantly higher after the births of infants than these same males did when they were paired with nonpregnant females. Elevated prolactin concentrations also occurred prior to the first birth, suggesting that males may be receiving cues from their pregnant females. The elevated prolactin levels in parental males may be associated with the experience of the fathers. Correlation between prolactin levels and number of successful births, number of previous births, and age were high. The care of newborn infants did not appear to be a stressful event since cortisol levels were not elevated postpartum. Both cortisol and prolactin were elevated following capture and injection of saline or a dopaminergic receptor antagonist, indicating that prolactin does respond to acute stress. Cortisol levels did not coincide with prolactin levels except under acute stress conditions, suggesting that different neural pathways are probably involved in prolactin release during parental care versus acute stress. These studies provide evidence that male urinary prolactin levels may be elevated due to cues from pregnant females and the constant exposure of males to the family environment.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Phylogeny, duplication, and intraspecific variation of Adh sequences in New World diploid cottons (Gossypium l., malvaceae).

The 13 "D-genome"cotton species are a monophyletic assemblage of morphologically diverse diploids that inhabit arid to semiarid regions in Mexico, with 1 disjunct species each in Peru and the Galapagos Islands and 1 species whose range extends northward into Arizona. While these species lack commercially significant fiber (i. e., cotton), they are important in that they represent one of the parental genomes of the cultivated tetraploid cottons. To assess phylogenetic relationships among these species, we sequenced and analyzed a region of a nuclear-encoded alcohol dehydrogenase gene (AdhA). Phylogenetic analysis resulted in a topology that is generally consistent with current taxonomic alignment of the species, although the phylogeny based on AdhA sequences conflicts with those inferred from cpDNA and ITS data sets, most notably in the position of the anomalous species Gossypium gossypioides. In one lineage, we detected both gene duplication and sequence polymorphisms that transcend species boundaries; sequences in this lineage formed a monophyletic clade, yet no taxon within the clade contained a monophyletic collection of sequences. Potential explanations for this latter phenomenon, including gene duplication, gene flow, and lineage sorting, are discussed.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗