Refrigerated storage of lyophilized and rehydrated, lyophilized human red cells

Human red cells (RBCs) were collected in CPDA-1 and then freeze-dried in lyoprotective solution. The lyophilized RBCs were then stored at -20 degrees C for 7 days. At the end of the storage period, the lyophilized RBCs were rehydrated and washed in dextrose saline. The washed, reconstituted, lyophilized RBCs were resuspended in final wash solutions of ADSOL, CPDA-1, or a special additive solution containing glucose, citrate, phosphate, adenine, and mannitol, and then they were stored at 4 degrees C for an additional 7 days. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether human RBCs can be lyophilized in such a manner that normal metabolic, rheologic, and cellular properties are maintained during rehydration and subsequent storage in standard blood bank preservative solutions. Our results show that reconstituted, lyophilized RBCs maintained levels of ATP, 2,3 DPG, lactate, and cellular properties that are equal to or better than those in control nonlyophilized RBCs stored for a comparable period in CPDA-1. Reconstituted, lyophilized RBCs stored at 4 degrees C after rehydration also show better maintenance of ATP, 2,3 DPG, and lactate than do control RBCs stored in the same preservative solutions for comparable periods.     

PCr/ATP ratio mapping of the human head by simultaneously imaging of multiple spectral peaks with interleaved excitations and flexible twisted projection imaging readout trajectories at 9.4 T

Quantitative ³¹P magnetic resonance imaging of the whole human brain is often time‐consuming even at low spatial resolution due to the low concentrations, long T₁ relaxation times, and low detection sensitivity of phosphorus metabolites. We report herein the results of combining the increased detection sensitivity of an ultra‐high field 9.4 T scanner designed for human imaging with a new pulse sequence termed simultaneously imaging of multiple spectral peaks with interleaved excitations and flexible twisted projection imaging readout trajectories to rapidly sample multiple resonances in the ³¹P spectrum. The phosphocreatine and γ‐adenosine triphosphate images, obtained simultaneously from the entire human head, are demonstrated at 1.5 cm isotropic nominal resolution in a total acquisition time of 33 min. The phosphocreatine/γ‐adenosine triphosphate ratio calculated for brain parenchyma ( 1 , 2 ) and the superficial temporalis muscle ( 3 - 5 ) are in agreement with literature values. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Patterns of Insulin Dependence in an African Diabetic Clinic

SUMMARY Analysis of the age of onset of diabetes amongst insulin-treatedpatients in a large African diabetic clinic revealed a bimodaltype of distribution, 23 per cent having an age of onset before30 years and 77 per cent with onset at 30 years of age. All66 of the young insulin-treated group (21.7±4.8 years(mean±1 SD)), and a random selection of 50 older insulin-treatedpatients (49.7±10 years), were studied. The older groupwere better controlled (HbA₁ 8.4±1.7 per cent vs. 10.8±2.6per cent, p<0.001), on lower doses of insulin (49±23vs. 71±23 u/day, p<0.001) and had higher body massindex (26.0±5.6 vs. 21.8±3.5, p<0.001). SerumC-peptide (0.24±0.15 vs. 0.07±0.10 nmol/l, p<0.0001),and C-peptide/glucose ratio (2.57±2.65 vs. 0.56+0.98nmol/mmolx 10², p<0.001) were very significantly higher inolder patients. Patients with later onset disease thus had betterpreservation of pancreatic function, higher body mass indexand better glycaemic control on lower doses of insulin. Thesefeatures suggest that older insulin-treated patients could infact be ‘Type 2’ or non-insulin dependent patients,and the condition may be controllable with diet and/or oralhypoglycaemic agents, at least in some.     

Maturation of widely distributed brain function subserves cognitive development

Cognitive and brain maturational changes continue throughout late childhood and adolescence. During this time, increasing cognitive control over behavior enhances the voluntary suppression of reflexive/impulsive response tendencies. Recently, with the advent of functional MRI, it has become possible to characterize changes in brain activity during cognitive development. In order to investigate the cognitive and brain maturation subserving the ability to voluntarily suppress context-inappropriate behavior, we tested 8-30 year olds in an oculomotor response-suppression task. Behavioral results indicated that adult-like ability to inhibit prepotent responses matured gradually through childhood and adolescence. Functional MRI results indicated that brain activation in frontal, parietal, striatal, and thalamic regions increased progressively from childhood to adulthood. Prefrontal cortex was more active in adolescents than in children or adults; adults demonstrated greater activation in the lateral cerebellum than younger subjects. These results suggest that efficient top-down modulation of reflexive acts may not be fully developed until adulthood and provide evidence that maturation of function across widely distributed brain regions lays the groundwork for enhanced voluntary control of behavior during cognitive development.     

Management Strategies for Pain in Breast Carcinoma Patients: Current Opinions and Future Perspectives

Breast cancer is the most frequently encountered carcinoma in women worldwide. Pain is the most distressing symptom in patients with breast carcinoma and can occur at all stages of the disease due to the cancer per se as well as due to various diagnostic and treatment modalities. A proper pain assessment helps in identification of pain syndromes and guides in formulating analgesic strategies. Primary therapies of breast carcinoma like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for bony metastases can cause substantial pain relief. However, multimodal analgesic approaches incorporating pharmacological, interventional as well as non-conventional techniques should be employed prior to, in conjunction with, and after primary therapies of breast cancer. The prevalence of chronic neuropathic pain following breast cancer surgery may exceed 50% by current estimates, and with the increase in life expectancy of these patients, providing adequate pain relief is of paramount importance to improve their quality of life. In this review, we discuss prevailing methods of evaluation and management of pain in patients of breast carcinoma and the new techniques that may become the mainstay of pain management protocols in future.     

Lysozyme Activity in the Plasma of Rodents Infected With Their Homologous Trypanosomes

Background

In this study the concentration of lysozyme in blood plasma of Microtus agrestis, Clethrinomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, BK rats and outbred white mice before and after infection with culture forms of Trypanosoma microti, T, evotomys, T. grosi, T. lewisi and T. musculi respectively was measured.

Methods

Blood samples of rodents, Microtus agrestis, Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, BK rats and outbred mice infected with T. microti, T. evotomys, T. grosi, T. lewisi and T. musculi respectively were collected in heparinized micro- tubes immediately before inoculation and 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and more than 400 days after intra- perituneal inoculation with 5×10⁵of their homologous trypanosome parasites of which more than half were metacyclic trypomastigote in 0.2 ml of culture medium. Micro- tubes were centrifuged and plasma samples were separated and the lysozyme activity was measured by the agar method.

Results

Levels of lysozyme rose rapidly three to six days after the inoculation to ten to twenty than their pre- infection levels. They then gradually decreased, although after more than one year they were still two to ten folds higher than controls. The highest level measured occurred in rats infected with T. lewisi and the lowest in A. sylvaticus infected with T. grosi. After one year the highest concentration of lysozyme was in mice infected with T. musculi and lowest in A. sylvaticus.

Conclusion

Persistent enhanced lysozyme levels may prevent re- infection with trypanosomes.