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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Nuclear actin: to polymerize or not to polymerize.

The form and function of actin in the nucleus have been enigmatic for over 30 years. Recently actin has been assigned numerous functional roles in the nucleus, but its form remains a mystery. The intricate relationship between actin form and function in the cytoplasm implies that understanding the structural properties of nuclear actin is elementary to fully understanding its function. In this issue, McDonald et al. (p. 541) use fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to tackle the question of whether nuclear actin exists as monomers or polymers.

Actins↗

Early enteral feeding in postsurgical cancer patients. Fish oil structured lipid-based polymeric formula versus a standard polymeric formula.

OBJECTIVES: The authors compared the safety, gastrointestinal tolerance, and clinical efficacy of feeding an enteral diet containing a fish oil/medium-chain triglyceride structured lipid (FOSL-HN) versus an isonitrogenous, isocaloric formula (O-HN) in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for upper gastrointestinal malignancies. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies suggest that feeding with n-3 fatty acids from fish oil can alter eicosanoid and cytokine production, yielding an improved immunocompetence and a reduced inflammatory response to injury. The use of n-3 fatty acids as a structured lipid can improve long-chain fatty acid absorption. METHODS: This prospective, blinded, randomized trial was conducted in 50 adult patients who were jejunally fed either FOSL-HN or O-HN for 7 days. Serum chemistries, hematology, urinalysis, gastrointestinal complications, liver and renal function, plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid analysis, urinary prostaglandins, and outcome parameters were measured at baseline and on day 7. Comparisons were made in 18 and 17 evaluable patients based a priori on the ability to reach a tube feeding rate of 40 mL/hour. RESULTS: Patients receiving FOSL-HN experienced no untoward side effects, significant incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid into plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids, and a 50% decline in the total number of gastrointestinal complications and infections compared with patients given O-HN. The data strongly suggest improved liver and renal function during the postoperative period in the FOSL-HN group. CONCLUSION: Early enteral feeding with FOSL-HN was safe and well tolerated. Results suggest that the use of such a formula during the postoperative period may reduce the number of infections and gastrointestinal complications per patient, as well as improve renal and liver function through modulation of urinary prostaglandin levels. Additional clinical trials to fully quantify clinical benefits and optimize nutritional support with FOSL-HN should be undertaken.

Adolescent↗

Interaction between polymeric materials and tissue -- biodeterioration of polymeric materials.

Styrene-isoprene block copolymer/methyl methacrylate graft copolymer (SIS-MMA), styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS), polyethylene, 1,2-polybutadiene, polysulfone, polycaprolactone polyurethane (PU) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) were implanted subcutaneously in dogs for 1 year. The same materials were stored in physiological saline solution at 37 degrees C (in vitro) and in air at room temperature (in air) for 1 year for comparative purpose. Biodeterioration or biodegradation of these materials was studied by mechanical property testing, viscometry, x-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and microscopy. A little deterioration of the mechanical properties of all the implanted samples was noticed as compared with the samples stored in vitro and in air. The infrared spectrum and x-ray diffraction pattern of the implanted sample except SIS-MMA were practically identical with the control. The implanted samples of SIS-MMA and SBS showed a cracked surface under a differential interference microscope. Viscosity measurements suggested a possible main chain scission for SIS-MMA and cross-linking for SBS and showed that the molecular weight of the other materials was almost unchanged. The intactness was rather surprising in regard to the infrared spectrum and viscosity of PU and EVA, because they were supposed to be more biodegradable. Deterioration of the mechanical properties was not always due to the results of biodegradation, as is often believed, but it must be considered that it might also be due to the absorption of some constituents such as lipids, steroids and amino acid from the body fluids and/or leaching of low molecular weight substances from the implanted materials.

Absorption↗