Differential Effects of Falcarinol and Related Aliphatic C17-Polyacetylenes on Intestinal Cell Proliferation

Quantitative major polyacetylenes of carrots (falcarinol and falcarindiol) and American ginseng roots (falcarinol and panaxydol) were isolated and tested in human intestinal epithelial cells of normal (FHs 74 Int.) and cancer (Caco-2) origin. A hormesis effect was seen for all isolated polyacetylenes when added to Caco-2 cells in concentrations ranging from 1 ng/mL to 20 μg/mL. The relative inhibitory potency was falcarinol > panaxydol > falcarindiol. No hormesis effect was observed when adding the polyacetylenes to FHs 74 Int. cells. Instead, an inhibitory growth response was observed above 1 μg/mL. The relative inhibitory potency was panaxydol > falcarinol > falcarindiol. Maximal inhibition at 20 μg/mL corresponded to approximately 95% and 80% inhibition of cell proliferation in normal and cancer cells, respectively. Combinations of falcarinol and falcarindiol added to normal and cancer cells showed a synergistic response for the inhibition of cell growth. Furthermore, the oxidized form of falcarinol, falcarinon, showed a significantly less growth inhibitory effect in intestinal cells of both normal and cancer origin; hence, a hydroxyl group at C-3 may be important for activity of falcarinol-type polyacetylenes. Extracts of carrots, containing different amounts of falcarinol, falcarindiol, and falcarindiol 3-acetate had significant inhibitory effects on both normal and cancer cell proliferation. In cancer cells, the extract containing the highest concentration of falcarinol tended to have the highest growth inhibitory effect, in accordance with a higher potency of falcarinol than falcarindiol. The present study demonstrates that aliphatic C17-polyacetylenes are potential anticancer principles of carrots and related vegetables and that synergistic interaction between bioactive polyacetylenes may be important for their bioactivity

Prehospital trauma care reduces mortality. Ten-year results from a time-cohort and trauma audit study in Iraq

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blunt implementation of Western trauma system models is not feasible in low-resource communities with long prehospital transit times. The aims of the study were to evaluate to which extent a low-cost prehospital trauma system reduces trauma deaths where prehospital transit times are long, and to identify specific life support interventions that contributed to survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the study period from 1997 to 2006, 2,788 patients injured by land mines, war, and traffic accidents were managed by a chain-of-survival trauma system where non-graduate paramedics were the key care providers. The study was conducted with a time-period cohort design.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>37% of the study patients had serious injuries with Injury Severity Score ≥ 9. The mean prehospital transport time was 2.5 hours (95% CI 1.9 - 3.2). During the ten-year study period trauma mortality was reduced from 17% (95% CI 15 -19) to 4% (95% CI 3.5 - 5), survival especially improving in major trauma victims. In most patients with airway problems, in chest injured, and in patients with external hemorrhage, simple life support measures were sufficient to improve physiological severity indicators.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In case of long prehospital transit times simple life support measures by paramedics and lay first responders reduce trauma mortality in major injuries. Delegating life-saving skills to paramedics and lay people is a key factor for efficient prehospital trauma systems in low-resource communities.</p

Prediction of early race starts in Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Less than a third of Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters (NSCTs) have started racing as three year olds since the year 2000 despite the fact that large sums are paid out as price-money in the three year season. Recruitment races are arranged by the Norwegian Trotting Association (NTA) to stimulate early training. The management of young horses varies considerably and a large majority is reared by amateurs. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of early race starts in young NSCT horses under field conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Of the 801 registered NSCT horses born in 2005, 144 were randomly selected by stratified sampling with gender and paternal progeny as stratification factors. All horses were examined clinically. Further data were collected from NTA and by interviews of breeders, owners and trainers. The set of dependent variables consisted of "passed recruitment race", "start in regular race by the end of the three year season" and "start in regular race by the end of October in the four year season". Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genetic performance potential, as indicated by best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) indices, was the major predictor of the three dependent variables despite large variation in management. Dam's index was a better predictor than sire's index. However, the probability of early race starts in a horse with a low genetic performance potential can be increased by a favourable management. Examples of advantageous management factors in the present study were a flat pasture the first summer and early training. Nearly all horses racing in the three or four year seasons had passed a recruitment race in the two year season.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results confirm the value of the published BLUP index as an important tool for the NSCT breeding program. Recruitment races stimulate early training.</p

NMR Investigations Of Aggregation Of Nonionic Surfactants In A Hydrocarbon Medium

Proton NMR, carabon-13 NMR, light-scattering, and density measurements were used to investigate association structures and molecular interactions during water solubilization in polyoxymethylene dodecyl ether/benzene systems at high surfactant concentrations. The results indicated an absence of association aggregates at low water concentrations. At water contents between 10 and 20%, association structures started to form, probably micelles of the inverse type, in which the water-polyoxymethylene chain interaction is the predominant feature. There is evidence that the average chain conformation changes with water content, and that bound water molecules are distributed evenly along the polyethoxyethylene chain. At higher water concentration, the results indicated a water-rich core to be formed, supported by the close resemblance of the water properties to these of native water. © 1980 American Chemical Society

Lyotropic Liquid Crystals From Lecithin, Water, And Polyethylene Glycol

Lyotropic liquid crystals with lecithin as the amphiphile and with water/polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions as the solvent were prepared with polyethylene glycol/water ratios from 182 to 0. The liquid crystals were lamellar and the interlayer spacing was independent of the solvent content for water/PEG ratios ≤1 but increased strongly with the water/PEG ratio. Higher ratios gave increased interlayer spacing with solvent content similar to the variation for liquid crystals with water as solvent but the absolute values of the spacing were higher. © 1984 Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved

Dynamic Structure Of A Nonaqueous Lamellar Liquid Crystal: Comparison With The Aqueous Case

The lamellar phase of sodium dodecyl sulfate/decanol/glycerol has been compared to the analogous water-based system. Results of NMR studies of deuteriated alcohol and surfactant showed the bilayer to be more disordered in the nonaqueous case than in the phase made with water. The order profiles of the two systems, however, were of the same form, implying that the same essential packing requirements applied to each case. The overall increase in dynamic disorder observed in the glycerol system is a result of a transversely more disordered bilayer/solvent interface. © 1987, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Farm-level risk factors for Fasciola hepatica infection in Danish dairy cattle

Recent studies suggest that liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) infections in cattle have increased in Denmark in recent years. This study aimed to identify potential farm level risk factors for liver fluke infection in Danish dairy farms using two different diagnostic methods. Based on liver condemnation data of all individual cattle slaughtered in Denmark, 145 and 77 farms were selected as cases and matched controls. The selection criteria were; 1) minimum 50 animals were slaughtered in 2013, 2) minimum three cases of liver condemnation due to liver flukes in 2013 (case) / no history of liver condemnation due to liver flukes for the last three years (control), and 3) control farms were located within 10 km from the case farms. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from the farms were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and telephone interviews were used to obtain information on the type of production, the farmers’ knowledge about liver fluke infection, grazing pattern, anthelmintic treatments and management routines. Preliminary results based on 132 case and 64 control farms indicate that grazing was significantly associated with liver fluke infection (p=0.006). However, in 12 case herds, grazing was not applied (all-in systems), suggesting indoor rearing does not completely prevent liver fluke infections, although misdiagnosis or incorrect registration at slaughter is possible. The percentage of farms allowing heifers to graze on wet areas was significantly higher in case than control farms (p<0.001). Using grazing for heifers and drinking from natural waterways were associated with liver fluke infections (p=0.07 and p=0.01). Approximately 30% of case farms tried actively to avoid infection by anthelmintic treatment or preventive management measures. The prevalences of liver flukes estimated by BTM ELISA were 75% and 12.5% for case and control groups, respectively. The negative ELISA results in some of the case herds may be due to their low in-herd prevalence, but it is still under investigation. Based on the risk analysis, we expect grazing management can be improved on many infected farms as part of the control of liver fluke. The substantial discrepancy between different diagnostic methods should be taken into account for future studies