Using thermochromism to simulate blood oxygenation in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) training programs employ real ECMO components, causing them to be extremely expensive while offering little realism in terms of blood oxygenation and pressure. To overcome those limitations, we are developing a standalone modular ECMO simulator that reproduces ECMO’s visual, audio and haptic cues using affordable mechanisms. We present a central component of this simulator, capable of visually reproducing blood oxygenation color change using thermochromism. Methods: Our simulated ECMO circuit consists of two physically distant modules, responsible for adding and withdrawing heat from a thermochromic fluid. This manipulation of heat creates a temperature difference between the fluid in the drainage line and the fluid in the return line of the circuit and, hence, a color difference. Results: Thermochromic ink mixed with concentrated dyes was used to create a recipe for a realistic and affordable blood-colored fluid. The implemented “ECMO circuit” reproduced blood’s oxygenation and deoxygenation color difference or lack thereof. The heat control circuit costs 300 USD to build and the thermochromic fluid costs 40 USD/L. During a ten-hour in situ demonstration, nineteen ECMO specialists rated the fidelity of the oxygenated and deoxygenated “blood” and the color contrast between them as highly realistic. Conclusions: Using low-cost yet high-fidelity simulation mechanisms, we implemented the central subsystem of our modular ECMO simulator, which creates the look and feel of an ECMO circuit without using an actual one.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

IMPACT OF SOWING DATE OF WHEAT UNDER WATER STRESS IN NORTH NILE DELTA-EGYPT

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EFFECT Of CALCIUM CONCENTRATION IN NUTRIENT SOLUTION AND ITS APPLICATION TIME ON TOMATO FRUIT COMPOSITION .

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Exercise modulates the insulin-induced translocation of glucose transporters in rat skeletal muscle

AbstractInsulin and acute exercise (45 min of treadmill run) increased glucose uptake into perfused rat hindlimbs 5-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively. Following exercise, insulin treatment resulted in a further increase in glucose uptake. The subcellular distribution of the muscle glucose transporters GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 was determined in plasma membranes and intracellular membranes. Neither exercise nor exercise→ insulin treatment altered the distribution of GLUT-1 transporters in these medmbrane fractions. In contrast, exercise, insulin and exercise→ insulin treatment caused comparable increases in GLUT-4 transporters in the plasma membrane. The results suggest that exercise might limit insulin-induced GLUT-4 recruitment and that following exercise, insulin may alter the intrinsic activity of plasma membrane glucose transporters

Changes in Physico-Chemical Quality and Volatile Compounds of Orange-Carrot Juice Blends During storage

The present study aimed to determine the changes in physico-chemical parameters (pH, total soluble solids “TSS”, total acidity, vitamin C, total carotene, total phenolic and antioxidant activity) as well as sensory evaluation and volatile constituents of the orange juice samples mixed with carrot juice at ratios (1:3, 3:1 and 1:1). While, the polyphenol content was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu, antioxidant activity was measured using two in vitro assays 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH0) and metal chelating assays. While, the acidity increased, total carotene and pH of the juice decreased during the storage period. There were no significant changes in total phenolics throughout the storage period at the three blending ratios. A slight increase in antioxidant capacity during the storage period had been observed. The headspace volatiles of fresh orange and carrot juices as well as fresh and stored blend juice with ratio (1:3) for 14 days at refrigerator were collected and subjected to Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometery (GC-MS) analysis. A total of 26 volatile compounds were identified in samples of fresh orange and carrot juices as well as fresh and stored blend including 7 alcohols, 4 aldehydes, 9 monoterpene hydrocarbon and 6 esters. Limonene was the one most abundant monoterpene, representing in orange, carrot, fresh and stored blend 47.38, 42.37, 39.24 and 37.25%, respectively. Keywords: Orange- carrot juice, Blend, Antioxidant, Volatile compound

High-Pressure Stopped-Flow Study of Inclusion Reactions with α-Cyclodextrin: Dynamic Aspects in Host-Guest Interactions

The full volume and entropy profiles of the inclusion reaction between α-cyclodextrin and the guest molecules, ethylorange (1) and mordant yellow 7 (2), have been constructed from variable-pressure and -temperature stopped-flow kinetic experiments

Lymphocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Beta cell apoptosis has been associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) onset in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. There is an emerging evidence that T cell-induced apoptosis is a dominant effector mechanism in diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). Pancreatic β-cells derived from newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics were found to have increased cell surface expression of Fas (CD95) compared to β-cells from healthy subjects. Objective: The study investigates the spontaneous lymphocyte apoptosis via CD95 molecule expression to demonstrate activation induced cell death in children with high risk of DM1 and in type 1 diabetics under insulin therapy. Methods: This study comprised 90 children and adolescents, divided into 3 groups. G(1) comprised 40 type-1 diabetics, their ages ranging from 8.0 to 17.0 years and disease duration between 2.0 and 12.0 years. G(2) (prediabetics) included 30 euglycaemic subjects who were first degree relatives of type 1 diabetics, with normal fasting blood glucose and positive first phase insulin release (FPIR) and/or positive islet cell (ICA) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies. G(3) comprised 20 healthy, age and sex matched subjects with no clinical or laboratory signs or family history of type-1DM. Patients were subjected to clinical evaluation with special emphasis on signs suggestive of microvascular complications. The study measurements included random blood sugar (RBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urinary microalbumin assay and flow cytometric assessment of apoptosis by measuring CD95 percentage expression on CD3 lymphocytes. Results: The percentage of CD95 positive T-lymphocytes was significantly higher in prediabetics than in type-1 diabetics and controls (57.687±6.68, 45.01±6.648,16.75±4.98% respectively; p < 0.001). CD3 positive lymphocytes were significantly lower in prediabetics than type-1 diabetics and controls (52.93±11.64, 66.23±7.04, 63.910±3.4% respectively; p < 0.001). The percentage of CD95 on T-lymphocytes could not be correlated with age, insulin dose and RBS, but HbA1c was positively correlated with both CD3 lymphocytes and CD95% expression. Complicated type-1 diabetics showed higher CD95% expression compared to noncomplicated patients. Conclusion: Peripheral blood lymphocytes with CD95 antigen expression are increased in prediabetics. As CD95 is an important receptor for activation-induced cell death, CD95 mediated apoptosis could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of DM1.Keywords: lymphocyte apoptosis; CD95 system; type 1 DM; prediabetesEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2008; 6(2): 57-6

Using Non-Dietary Gastropods in Coastal Shell Middens to Infer Kelp and Seagrass Harvesting and Paleoenvironmental Conditions

Archaeologists analyzing shell middens typically focus on larger (\u3e2 cm) mollusks to examine subsistence practices, impacts on littoral habitats, and paleoenvironmental conditions as well as a host of other natural and cultural phenomena. Small (\u3c2 cm), non-dietary gastropods in archaeological shell middens also provide important clues regarding human resource procurement in littoral areas and coastal paleoenvironments. We present data from two sites on the California Channel Islands to demonstrate the range of information that can be gained by analyzing small gastropod shells. Identifications revealed the remains of over 4500 non-dietary small gastropods from 75 taxa. Human harvesting of marine macrophytes is suggested by the presence of 18 species that are predominantly associated with seaweeds and seagrasses. Quantification measures revealed high diversity and equitability indices, oscillating taxonomic richness, and decreasing densities through time at both sites. Likelihood ratio tests revealed differences in assemblage composition between Early Holocene and later components at one site, and demonstrated similarities in the relative composition of non-dietary shell assemblages between both sites during the Middle Holocene. Incorporating detailed studies of less conspicuous “incidental” shellfish remains in archaeological midden studies has the potential to contribute to our understanding of past human land use practices and littoral paleoecology. Our findings are applicable to archaeologists working in coastal settings around the world, as well as marine ecologists interested in intertidal paleo-habitats and kelp forest ecosystems

Mucin1 expression and gustatory function in postmenopausal females : a case-control observational study

Investigating possible relationship between Mucin1 expression levels in saliva, gustatory function, and taste perception in postmenopausal females. Using whole mouth taste test, twenty-five post-menopausal females (51.35 ± 5.22 years) and twenty-five p