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PubMed1975

Effects of mimosine, a potential chemical defleecing agent, on wool growth and the skin of sheep.

Twenty-two Merino sheep were dosed with various amounts of L-mimosine, given either as an intravenous or an intraperitoneal injection, or as a continuous intravenous infusion for periods of 1-4 days. Single injections of mimosine (1-16 g) had no effect on the strength of wool, and wool growth rates were not appreciably altered by injections of small amounts (4 g or less). Injections of larger amounts slightly reduced both length growth rate and diameter of tibres during the 4 days after dosing. The effects of intravenous infusions of mimosine depended on the rate and the duration of administration. Small amounts (0.5 or 1 g/day given for 4 days) has no effects on the strength of wool or on wool growth rates. Infusions of a total of 8 g, either at the rate of 2 or 8 g/day, weakened the wool but not sufficiently to allow the sheep to be defleeced. Both these treatments caused a temporary reduction in length growth rate and in diameter of fibres, and transient degenerative changes were observed in wool follicles. A region of the fibres representing 1-2 days' growth was constricted to about half the pre-infusion diameter when 8 g was given for 1 day. Infusions of at least 8 g mimosine over a period of 1 1/2-2 days were effective for defleecing all sheep dosed. This corresponded to a daily rate of infusion of about 80 mg/kg. No toxic effects were observed with infusions given for periods of 2 days. Defleecing was judged to be possible by 6-7 days after the start of infusion, and was readily carried out by about 14 days. Defleecing was associated with follicle retrogression and an abrupt cessation of wool growth within 2 days of the start of the infusions. It was estimated that fibre growth stopped for about 10 dyas; regrowth was first observed 17-18 days from the beginning of dosing. Low rates of infusion of mimosine (up to 2 g/day) resulted in plasma levels below 0.1 mmol/l. Infusion at the rate of 4 g/day or above, which produced defleecing, quickly resulted in levels of mimosine in plasma above 0.1 mmol/l; after 2 days the concentration was steady at aboug 0.2 mmol/l. Injections of 8 or 16 g mimosine resulted in very large, but transient, rises of the level in plasma.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function of the lungs in wool textile industry workers].

Subjects in the study were 158 female wool textile workers and 87 control non-exposed workers. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by means of a questionnaire. Ventilatory capacity was measured in wool workers by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves on Monday before and after the work shift. Forced vital capacity (FVC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity (FEF50, FEF25) were measured on MEFV curves. Significantly higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms were recorded in exposed than in control workers (P < 0.01). Exposure to wool dust caused significant across shift reductions of ventilatory capacity varying from 2.0 to 9.1%. Those reductions were similar in textile workers exposed to wool for more than 10 years showed similar across shift reductions of ventilatory capacity tests as those with shorter exposure. Smokers and non-smokers had similar acute and chronic lung function changes. In a larger number of wool workers FEF50 and FEF25 were below 70% of predicted normal values. Bronchoprovocation testing with wool dust extract did not demonstrate correlation with respiratory impairment. Our data suggest that dust exposure in wool textile mills may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and impaired lung function.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Characterization of wool dust extract in vitro].

Wool dust has been described as a cause of respiratory impairment in workers occupationally exposed in wool processing. A pharmacological investigation was performed on 30 samples of isolated guinea plg trachea with wool dust water extracts prepared from the material collected at the workplace of exposed workers. Wool extract was added into the system with Krebs solution in progressively increased concentrations of 10, 30, 100, 300 and 1000 microliters. The constriction of the tracheal smooth muscle caused by wool dust extract was diminished after pretreatment with pyrilamine (antihistamine) and verapamil (intracellular and extracellular calcium blocking agent). Atropine (anticholinergic) and indomethacin (inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis) had very little impact on the bronchoconstrictive effect of wool dust extract on the tracheal smooth muscle. This finding suggests that the airway constriction induced by wool dust is party attributable to mediators like histamine and also to calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cotton-wool spots in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome compared with diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, and central retinal vein occlusion.

The cotton-wool spot is a common fundus finding in patients with many ocular and systemic diseases. We investigated the characteristics of cotton-wool spots in patients with four major diseases, ie, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, and central retinal vein occlusion, to see if any differences were detected in their number, size, or location. A composite of all the cotton-wool spots for each of these four categories was obtained by computed reconstruction to analyze variations in their distribution and size. The cotton-wool spots had a predilection for the temporal quadrants in the four categories and were smaller in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome than the other groups. Patients with ischemic central retinal vein occlusion had more cotton-wool spots than the other groups. No other definite differences were detected. Cotton-wool spots than the other groups. No other definite differences were detected. Cotton-wool spots seem to be a common pathway following various insults to the retina, most probably of a vaso-occlusive origin.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Glass wool filtration reduces reactive oxygen species by elimination of leukocytes in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia.

PURPOSE: Two types of glass wool were used to remove leukocytes in semen for evaluation of reactive oxygen species production by spermatozoa in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia. METHODS: Semen samples were prepared using fine-structure glass wool (SpermFertil) and coarse-structure glass wool. In each treatment group, native semen was evaluated for sperm concentration, percentage motility, viability, leukocyte concentration, and production of reactive oxygen species. RESULTS: Electron microscopically, SpermFertil showed a higher number of leukocytes attached to the fibers compared to coarse-structure glass wool. Leukocytes in native semen and after glass wool filtration as determined by peroxidase cytochemistry confirmed this observation. Reactive oxygen species decreased from 45.303 counts/10(7) viable cells in native semen to 15.806 counts/10(7) cells in coarse structure wool and 7.465 counts/10(7) cells in Spermfertil, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of leukocytes from semen of oligozoospermic patients by means of glass wool filtration is a useful method to distinguish production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes versus sperm cells.

Glass↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The analysis and comparison of blue wool fibre populations found at random on clothing.

Fifty-eight garments were taped and searched for mid to dark blue wool fibres. These were then removed from the tapings, mounted on slides and examined using a high-power microscope (400x). A total of 2,740 blue wool fibres were identified and visible range microspectrophotometry (MSP) was performed on them. Three hundred independent blue wool populations were identified on 56 of the 58 garments searched. The lack of control fibres meant the spectral range of each population was unknown. The number of populations may have been underestimated by grouping together the fibres that had broad single peaks and a lack of distinguishing features in the spectra. Although blue wool is considered to be a common fibre type, 300 unique spectral shapes were identified by the use of microspectrophotometry alone. This demonstrates that the dyes used in the dyeing of blue wool are variable. Showing that many different populations of blue wool occur on a range of garments should ensure that the forensic scientist does not underestimate or understate the strength of evidence in cases where blue wool is found. Hopefully this work will enlighten scientists and enable them to also assess the true value of their findings when other commonly occurring fibres are encountered.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Long cotton wool rolls as compression enhancers in macrosclerotherapy for varicose veins.

BACKGROUND: Macrosclerotherapy in combination with compression has proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of varicose veins. Local compression is increased by pads, according to Laplace law. Firm rolls of cotton wool are fixed over the course of the entire vein to increase local compression and to reduce complications. Additional compression is given by a combination of a class I (daytime and nighttime) and class II (daytime only) medical compression hosiery. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of sclerocompression therapy with cotton wool rolls in combination with medical compression hosiery. METHOD: Prospective study with 100 patients (120 legs) with primary varicose veins, which are treated with polidocanol as sclerosant with the empty vein technique. Immediately after the injection, a long cotton wool roll is placed over the entire vein and fixed. Additional compression is obtained with class I and class II medical compression hosiery. The interface pressure on the skin, just under the cotton wool roll, is measured on 12 legs with the aid of an interface pressure measuring instrument (Oxford Pressure Monitor). RESULTS: Good sclerosing results are obtained in all patients. Side effects are classified as early and late. In 16 patients, minor side effects which needed no treatment are observed. In only 3 cases (2.5%), intravascular blood clots (2) and phlebitis (1) needed incision and expression. The mean interface pressure of all measuring sensors under the cotton wool roll is 84 mm/Hg (68 to 122 mm/Hg). CONCLUSION: This study proves the high effectiveness of a cotton wool roll compression right at the place of treatment. By using these long cotton wool compression rolls, the compression part of sclerocompression therapy becomes more effective and much easier to perform.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Amphotericin-B promotes leukocyte aggregation of nylon-wool-fiber-treated polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Severe pulmonary reactions have been reported in patients receiving leukocyte transfusion and amphotericin-B. To study the interaction of amphotericin-B with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), purified human PMN were incubated with 200 mg of nylon wool fiber for 60 min either in the absence or presence of 2 mM EDTA. PMN were recovered in acid citrate dextrose solution and were suspended in balanced salt solution for determination of their aggregation properties. The cells exposed to nylon wool fibers without EDTA aggregated in response to concentration as low as 1.25 micrograms/ml of amphotericin-B. Cells initially treated with EDTA, however, failed to aggregate. Serum from a patient treated with amphotericin-B aggregated PMN exposed to nylon wool fiber but not control cells, whereas serum taken before amphotericin was given without effect on the PMN treated with nylon wool fiber. Amphotericin-B at 5 micrograms/ml failed to potentiate the release of beta-glucocuronidase or lactic dehydrogenase by PMN treated by nylon wool beyond that seen with exposure to the fibers alone. Rabbit peripheral blood was similarly incubated with nylon wool fibers and the recovered PMN were infused into recipient rabbits that had received 1 mg/kg of amphotericin-B intravenously 1 hr prior to the infusion of the leukocytes. Rabbits were sacrificed 30 min after transfusion of PMN, and their lungs were excised for histologic sectioning. Those rabbits receiving a combination of amphotericin-B and 4 x 10(7) nylon-wool-fiber-treated PMN had evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage and accumulation of leukocytes in the pulmonary vasculature whereas those animals who received such cells alone had normal appearing lung tissue. In summary, amphotericin-B at concentrations achievable in vivo enhanced the aggregation of PMN damaged by incubation with nylon fiber with subsequent accumulation of the phagocytes in pulmonary tissue.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1977

Comparison of wool reactions with selected mono and bifunctional reagents.

The molecular structure of wool is discussed in relation to chemical reactivity and the role of disulfide crosslinks. Ideal characteristics of an effective medium (e.g. dimethylformamide) for modifying wool include the ability to penetrate and swell wool without interfering with reagents used. The extent of reaction of wool or reduced wool is compared for mono-and bifunctional activated vinyl compounds, isocyanates, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, sulfonyl chlorides, and alkyl halides. The degree of crosslinking is assessed by solubility, supercontraction, and tensile tests. Optical and electron scanning microscopy can give evidence of external polymer deposition in contrast to internal chemical modification. Effects of crosslinking by bifunctional reagents are related to changes in mechanical, chemical, and biological (moth-resisting) properties of the modified wool.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Growth of populations of lice, Damalinia ovis, on sheep and their effects on production and processing performance of wool.

Merino sheep were artificially infested with lice, Damalinia ovis, and the quantity and processing performance of the wool they subsequently produced was compared with those of wool from uninfested sheep. The experiment was conducted in a winter rainfall region of Western Australia, and was repeated yearly for three years. Louse infestation depressed clean wool production by 0.3-0.8 kg per sheep but did not affect live weight. This represented loss of income to the farmer of about $A0.72 to $A1.92 for each louse-infested sheep. The wool from lice-infested sheep, when processed into tops, yielded 4.8 to 7.2% less top and noil, than wool from uninfested sheep and the tops had a lower mean fibre length. This was estimated to cost the processor $A20.79 to $A32.20 per 100 kg of wool processed which originated from lice-infested sheep. Louse populations built up during winter, spring and early summer to reach maximum sizes during mid or late summer when the sheep were shorn and removed from the experiment. In one group of infested sheep retained for the duration of the experiment, louse populations declined after shearing each summer. It appeared that shearing may be more important in limiting growth of louse populations than climatic factors.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Transglutaminase treatment of wool fabrics leads to resistance to detergent damage.

Biological detergents are now routinely used in domestic laundry because the enzymes they contain provide the added benefit of low temperature washes with improved cleaning performance. One of the key enzymes found in these detergents are proteases, which if exposed to natural protein fibres such as wool or silk can cause irreversible damage, leading to loss of fabric strength, shape and poor colour fastness. Transglutaminases (TGases) are protein cross-linking enzymes capable of adding tensile strength to wool proteins, and as a consequence are capable of remediating the damage caused by previous chemical treatments, and more importantly, by proteases. In this paper we treated dyed wool fabric with TGase and then washed the fabric with biological and non-biological detergents to investigate whether TGases would protect wool garments from damage by the undue use of biological detergents in domestic laundry. We demonstrate using different cycles of detergent washes containing biological and non-biological detergents and different TGase treatments, that wool fabric treated previously with TGase release less dye into the washing liquor and in addition maintain fabric strength at levels greater than the washed controls. As a consequence, wool garments previously treated with TGase are likely to have increased resistance to domestic washing and thus provide increased longevity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Mechanism of aerobic biological destabilisation of wool scour effluent emulsions.

Wool scouring effluent is a highly polluted industrial wastewater in which the main pollutant, wool wax, is held in a stable oil-in-water emulsion by non-ionic detergent. The use of microbial action to cause emulsion destabilisation has been proposed as a new treatment strategy for this effluent stream. This strategy aims at improving aerobic treatment performance by physically removing the high-COD, slowly bio-degradable wool wax from the system without bio-degradation. The mechanism by which an aerobic-mixed culture destabilises the wool scouring effluent emulsion was investigated. Our results show that destabilisation is due to partial bio-degradation of both the scouring detergent and the wool wax. Cleavage of the wool wax esters was the first stage in wax degradation, when 40-50% of wax was de-emulsified. Over the same period, detergent degradation was low, at 7-21%. With further incubation, detergent degradation increased, aiding further breakdown of the emulsion. The degradation of the detergent, a nonylphenol ethoxylate, resulted in both a reduction in molar concentration (of up to 82%) and a shortening of the ethoxylate chain length. The latter reduced the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) from 12 to approximately 7, thereby reducing the ability of the residual detergent to stabilise the emulsion. Analysis of the emulsified and de-emulsified wax fractions could not identify a group of compounds that were preferentially de-emulsified based on molecular weight or polarity. These findings will assist in using a de-emulsification strategy in both existing and new treatment systems in order to save on aeration costs and treatment times for biological treatment of this highly polluted wastewater.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of wool fiber by alkali-catalyzed pyrolysis gas chromatography.

Alkali-catalyzed pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC) has been used to identify minute samples of wool fiber. The wool sample to which aqueous sodium hydroxide was added was pyrolyzed in a Curie-point pyrolyzer attached to a gas chromatograph or a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The addition of an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide increased the production of specific volatile pyrolysis products from the constitutive amino acid residues of wool protein, i.e. acetaldehyde from alanine or proline, isobutyronitrile from valine, 2-methylbutyronitrile from isoleucine, isovaleronitrile from leucine and toluene from phenylalanine. Compared with conventional non-catalyzed PyGC, the alkali-catalyzed PyGC was found to greatly improve the detection limit of wool fiber and make it possible to analyze very minute samples. The alkali-catalyzed PyGC presented here has been shown to be applicable to minute thermally-denatured samples of wool fiber which cannot be identified successfully by morphological inspection using a microscope or by using Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy. Furthermore, the present PyGC method was successfully used for several protein samples and was shown to be useful for analysis of proteins other than wool fibers by using different special pyrograms reflecting different amino acid compositions.

Alkalies↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy of dry-cleaning in removing Fel d 1 allergen from wool fabric exposed to cats.

BACKGROUND: The main cat allergen (Fel d 1) is ubiquitous, having been found even in indoor environments and public places where a cat has never been kept. Clothes of cat owners constitute a carrier for the distribution of Fel d 1 allergen in these environments. Schools, for example, may be a site of indirect exposure to cat allergens. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate the efficacy of commercial dry-cleaning in removing cat allergens from wool fabrics that had been exposed to cats to evaluate a possible preventive procedure. METHODS: Twenty-six identical wool "squares" (80 x 100 cm) were put in cat baskets for 1 week. In our laboratory, the squares were cut in half (40 x 50 cm), and one half was subjected to high-volume sampling for 5 minutes in a cat-free room. The other half was subjected to commercial dry-cleaning and then the high-volume sampling. Five wool squares not exposed to cats served as controls. Dust was collected from the wool squares with a high-volume air sampler. Particulate material was harvested onto glass fiber filters (AP 20 Millipore, Milan, Italy) with 25-mm diameter and 2-microm pore size. Each dust sample was assayed by affinity-purified monoclonal antibody against purified Fel d 1. The results were expressed as micrograms per filter. Statistical analysis was done by using the paired t test. RESULTS: Before dry-cleaning, Fel d 1 allergen was detected on all cat-exposed wool squares. No appreciable cat allergen was detected on control materials. After commercial dry-cleaning, the amounts of Fel d 1 extracted from cat-exposed squares were significantly reduced (t = 14.63; P < 0.001) but not abolished. Three of the five control squares were contaminated by Fel d 1. CONCLUSIONS: Commercial dry-cleaning effectively removes large amounts of cat allergen from wool materials exposed to cats but does not completely abolish this protein. Further, low Fel d 1 contamination may occur during this procedure.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Expression of a wool intermediate filament keratin transgene in sheep fibre alters structure.

Alteration of the protein composition of the wool fibre via transgenesis with sheep wool keratin and keratin associated protein (KAP) genes may lead to production of fibre types with improved processing and wearing qualities. Using this approach, we have demonstrated that high level cortical-specific expression of a wool type II intermediate filament (IF) keratin gene, K2.10, leads to marked alterations in both the microstructure and macrostructure of the wool fibres, which have higher lustre and reduced crimp. Analysis of mRNA found reduced levels of transcripts from endogenous cortical type I (p < 0.05) and type II (p < 0.01) keratin IF genes and from the KAP8 (p < 0.001) and KAP2 (p < 0.01) gene families. Examination of protein composition revealed an altered ratio in the keratin type II protein family of the wool fibre cortex. Whilst the over-expressed K2.10 transgene product constituted the majority of keratin type II IF protein, it appeared unable to form heterodimers with much of the expressed endogenous keratin type I IF. In comparison with non-transgenic sheep, fewer IF microfibrils were visible in the cortical cells of fibres from transgenics. The combined effect on fibre structure was disruption of the formation of orthocortical and paracortical cells in the fibre cortex, a factor which could account for the reduction in fibre crimp. No effects upon transcript or protein levels, or fibre microstructure or macrostructure were observed in transgenic sheep expressing the transgene at lower levels, indicating that subtle changes to the gene expression profile in sheep wool follicles can be tolerated. The data here also illustrate that control over endogenous transcript levels in the cortex results when factors acting on the endogenous keratin type I, keratin type II and KAP gene sequences are sequestered by the active K2.10 transgene locus. Moreover, interference to a transcriptional hierarchy shared by keratin and KAP genes may occur prior to establishment of the orthocortical and paracortical compartments of the follicle cortex, at the level of the chromatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect on wool growth of thyroxine replacement in thyroidectomized merino rams.

The effect on wool growth of thyroidectomy with subsequent thyroxine replacement at subnormal and supranormal levels has been investigated in Merino rams fed a restricted basal diet. Thyroidectomy without thyroxine replacement caused a greater than 60% reduction in wool growth. Provision of 30% of normal plasma thyroxine concentrations was sufficient to return wool growth to normal. Similarly, complete replacement of plasma thyroxine levels gave normal wool growth while increasing thyroxine concentrations to three times normal increased wool growth to levels slightly above normal. These results provide a possible explanation for the inability of other workers to correlate seasonal thyroxine patterns and annual wool growth variations.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

New infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis reduces wool production.

The effect of natural Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection on wool production and quality in sheep was examined in light of evidence that artificial C pseudotuberculosis infection causes wool production loss. A toxin ELISA was used to identify sheep that had been infected with C pseudotuberculosis. Greasy and clean fleece weights and fibre diameter were compared in infected and uninfected sheep. C pseudotuberculosis infection caused a 3.8 to 4.8% decrease in greasy wool production and a 4.1 to 6.6% decrease in clean wool production. C pseudotuberculosis infection did not affect fibre diameter. The effects of caseous lymphadenitis (the disease caused by C pseudotuberculosis infection) cause an annual loss of about $17 million in wool production to the Australian wool industry.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1990

Inflammation in the lungs of rats after deposition of dust collected from the air of wool mills: the role of epithelial injury and complement activation.

In a previous study assessing respiratory symptoms in individuals employed in wool textile mills in the north of England relations between symptoms of chronic bronchitis, breathlessness and wheeze, and rhinitis and current exposure to airborne mass concentration of dust were shown. As preliminary steps in defining the potential hazard associated with dust from the air of wool mills the ability of inspirable dust, collected from the air of wool textile mills, to cause inflammation when injected into the lungs of rats was determined. Dusts were collected from the beginning of wool processing (opening) in one factory and from the middle (combing) and late (backwinding) stages of the process in two other factories. Ability of the dusts to cause inflammation was assessed by instillation into the lungs of rats followed by bronchoalveolar lavage. All the dusts caused some inflammation which peaked on day 1 and did not persist beyond one week. A distinctive aggregation response of mononuclear cells in the lavage, however, had a different time course, peaking at day 7. An attempt was made to determine how the wool mill dusts caused inflammation and experiments showed that the dusts themselves had no inherent chemotactic activity but that they did have a pronounced ability to generate chemotaxins in serum and so could activate complement in lung fluid. In addition, dust collected from ledges in the mills had the ability to injure epithelial cells in vitro which could also contribute to inflammation. A role for endotoxin in the inflammatory activity of the dusts was not discounted and a leachate of the dust had the ability to cause inflammation when injected into the lungs of rats. Wool mill dust is likely to be a complex mixture of materials and these experiments represent a preliminary approach to understanding the biological activity of the whole unfractionated dust and further studies are in progress to define more accurately the toxic material(s) in the dust.

Animals↗