The impact of psyllium gelation behaviour on in vitro colonic fermentation properties

Psyllium is a viscous, gel forming fibre with properties that have led it to be used for alleviating gastrointestinal discomfort. We have used previously identified fractions of psyllium with differing flow properties. Fraction 1 (F1) forms a non-gelling solution containing rhamnose. galactose, and arabinose. Fraction 2 (F2) forms a fluid-like gel containing mainly xylose and arabinose, Fraction 3 (F3) has almost identical monosaccharide and linkage composition to F2, but forms an insoluble, self-supporting gel. We performed in vitro batch fermentation experiments seeded with human stool. Metabolomics were performed using 1H NMR, and FISH with calcofluor white and direct red 23 were used to visualise the gels after in vitro fermentation of the fractions. The total amount of gas and short chain fatty acid produced was significantly higher for F1, compared to F2 and F3. F3 gas production was significantly lower than F2, but metabolite production between F2 and F3 did not differ. All fractions preferentially lead to the production of propionate instead of butyrate and were produced in the ratio of 58:35:7, 54:38:8, and 61:33:6 (acetate: propionate: butyrate) for F1, F2, and F3 respectively. Microscopy showed differences in how the fractions broke down and demonstrated the localisation of bacteria on the outer edge of each fraction. These results suggest that for these psyllium fractions the structure is a key factor that determines fermentability. Flow properties may play a role in gas production, suggesting directions for future investigation. Isolated fractions may have clinical benefit above that of unrefined psyllium powder aiding in the treatment of gastrointestinal discomfort

Преобразование кардиологических палат интенсивной терапии в кардиологическую реанимацию. Пятилетняя эволюция

The article highlights the key elements and results of the restructuring of emergency care for patients with acute myocardial infarction, the core of which is the teamwork of surgeons, anesthesiologist-intensivists and cardiologists of the department. The restructuring included a change in ideology, personnel changes, updating and expanding the range of equipment, development of inner protocols and their implementation. It took two years to transform the intensive care unit for patients with acute myocardial infarction into the cardiac intensive care unit, where patients with acute cardiac pathologies of various etiologies are treated and preoperative preparation and postoperative nursing are carried out.В статье освещаются ключевые элементы и результаты реструктуризации неотложной помощи пациентам с острым инфрактом миокарда, ядром которой является командная работа хирургов, анестезиологов-реаниматологов и кардиологов в отделении. Реструктуризация включала в себя изменение идеологии, кадровые перестановки, обновление и увеличение номенклатуры оборудования. Трансформация отделения интенсивной терапии для пациентов с острым инфарктом миокарда в отделение кардиореанимации, где проходят лечение пациенты с острой кардиальной патологией разной этиологии и проводится предоперационная подготовка и послеоперационное выхаживание, заняла два года

Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, suramin and heparin inhibit DNA-dependent protein kinase activity

Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides and suramin bind to heparin binding proteins including DNA polymerases, and inhibit their functions. In the present study, we report inhibition of DNA-dependent protein kinase activity by phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, suramin and heparin. Inhibitory effect of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides on DNA-dependent protein kinase activity was increased with length and reached a plateau at 36-mer. The base composition of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides did not affect the inhibitory effect. The inhibitory effect by phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidine 36-mer can be about 200-fold greater than that by the phosphodiester oligodeoxycytidine 36-mer. The inhibitory effect was also observed with purified DNA-dependent protein kinase, which suggests direct interaction between DNA-dependent protein kinase and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. DNA-dependent protein kinase will have different binding positions for double-stranded DNA and phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidine 36-mer because they were not competitive in DNA-dependent protein kinase activation. Suramin and heparin inhibited DNA-dependent protein kinase activity with IC50 of 1.7 μM and 0.27 μg ml−1 respectively. DNA-dependent protein kinase activities and DNA double-stranded breaks repair in cultured cells were significantly suppressed by the treatment with suramin in vivo. Our present observations suggest that suramin may possibly result in sensitisation of cells to ionising radiation by inactivation of DNA-dependent protein kinase and the impairment of double-stranded breaks repair

Development of Flux Structure for Processing of Aluminium Casting Production Wastes

The objective of research is to define aluminium and its production wastes melting modes in electric unit while applying protective fluxes layer. This article cites the results of researches on development of flux structure for melting of aluminium production wastes. Melting unit diagram and results of research defining aluminium production wastes melting temperature regime are exemplified. Modes of metal charging, heating-up and melting of aluminium and its production wastes are exemplified for the electric unit with movable upper and immovable lower electrodes. The article describes the results of researches and recommendations that smelting chamber temperature to be maintained in the range of 1000-1100 °С, with melting zone temperature at 1400-1500 °С. It is recommended that charging of production wastes slag was carried after flux melt and reached 700-750 °С. Tables cite fluxes compositions that allow conducting aluminium melting process in various units. In the conclusion it is stated that application of a corresponding design of melting unit in aggregate with graphite electrodes and protective fluxes provides: - reduction of irretrievable metal burn-off losses; - savings on energy expenditures; - quality upgrade of liquid smelt due to decrease of oxide inclusions and occluded gas concentration

Efficiency of synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides strains of Lipomyces yeast

The formation of extracellular polysaccharides is a fairly well-studied property of bacteria that is used for the industrial production of such extracellular bacterial as xanthan, dextran, gellan, hyaluronan, etc.. Polysaccharides synthesized by fungi are also widely used, such as schizophillan and scleroglucan. However, polysaccharides synthesized by yeast and yeast-like fungi have not yet found wide industrial application, with the exception of pullulan produced by Aureobasidium pullulans yeast, although there are a number of promising developments in the use of yeast polysaccharides in medicine. Yeast synthesizes polymers that contain mannans, glucans, phosphomannans, galactomannans, and glucuronoxylmannans. Polysaccharides produced by different species, and sometimes even by different strains of the same species, may differ in chemical composition and structure. Such a variety of composition and properties opens up great prospects for their use in various fields: medicine, chemical, food and cosmetic industries, as well as feed additives. In this regard, the search for new producers of polysaccharides is very relevant. Yeast of the genus Lipomyces is found in the soils of the southern and northern hemispheres of the Earth, except in the high-mountainous regions and tundra soils, where soil formation processes are in early stages of development, but the soils are rich in steppe and forest zones. As a result of the research, it turns out that from the point of view of biomass growth on the presented nutrient medium at the temperatures studied, the strains of the Lipomyces lipofer yeast КБП Y-6267 and КБП Y-6265 attract the most attention, especially at low temperatures. With an increase in temperature, the increase in biomass in these yeasts decreases markedly. As producers of extracellular polysaccharide, it is worth noting the КБП Y-6267 and КБП Y-6264 strains at 20 °C and the КБП Y-6268 strains and the КБП Y-6234 at 30 °C, which indicates the possibility of using for these purposes different species of the genus Lipomyces. At 30 °C, Lipomyces lipofer strains of the КБП Y-6268 and Lipomyces kononenkoae КБП Y-6234 had the highest enzyme activities, however, there was no relationship between enzyme activities, biomass gains and polysaccharide yields at low temperatures