The liver as a source of somatomedin

Somatomedin (Sm) activity (measured by [35S] utake in chick embryo cartilage) was determined in serum samples simultaneously drawn from the hepatic vein, portal vein, femoral artery and demoral vein of seventeen anaesthezied normal adult dogs). A pool of human serum was taken as reference (Sm = 1 U/ml). Sm levels in the peripheral vein of dogs were 0.38 +/- 0.03 U/ml). Mean +/- SEM). Sm activity was greater in the hepatic vein (0.48 U/ml) than in the other vessels (0.36, 0.39, 0.38 U/ml), and the paired differences were significant (P less than 0.002 to P less than 0.05). In three dogs which received b-GH (20 IU/day), the Sm levels were significantly increased after nine days in the femoural vein (P less than 0.05) and in the hepatic vein (P less than 0.05). The validity of the assay is discussed; a possible interference of NEFA in the assay is eliminated. The difference of Sm levels between hepatic and portal veins, related to hepatic flow measured in seven of these dogs, indicate an important production of Sm by the liver.     

Protoplasts of Cosmarium as a potential protein source

Cosmarium turpinii, a fast-growing desmid alga, transforms into protoplasts in 4 h when incubated in a mineral medium + 0.4 M mannitol + 0.5% Cellulysin.     

Wooden sticks as the source of a pseudoepidemic of infection with Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis among immunocompromised patients

Wooden sticks used to suspend feces obtained for surveillance cultures were found to be the source of Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis causing a pseudo-outbreak among 17 immunocompromised patients cared for in three different wards. Nonsterile wooden products should therefore not be used for collecting, handling, and processing specimens for microbiological examination.     

Vegetables for human consumption as probable source of Toxocara sp. infection in man

Although Toxocara canis life cycle is known, other possible mechanisms dynamically involved in its transmission to man are still ignored. The object of the present investigation was to search the occurrence of Toxocara sp. eggs in vegetables which humans consume. Five hundred and thirty six vegetables from a supply distribution center in Mexico City (Distrito Federal) were examined. Those included 212 carrots, 76 potatoes, 31 radishes, 22 mushrooms, 27 lettuces, 20 sweet potatoes and 66 bundles of spinaches, 32 bundles of salt-worts, 29 bundles of coriander, and 21 bundles of purslane. Each unit or bundle was washed with 50 ml of sterilized water, allowing sedimentation at room temperature for 8 hours. Five ml of sediment were centrifugated at 3,000 r.p.m. for 5 minutes. Sediment was examined in lugol stained fresh plates through light microscopy, which turned to be Toxocara sp. eggs were found only in two vegetables: 1.9% of carrots and 6.5% of radishes. Toxocara sp. eggs were: 66.7% recently emitted and 33.3% embryonated. Other parasite elements were: Ascaris lumbricoides eggs 1.9% in carrots, 2.6% in potatoes, 9.1% in mushrooms, 6.9% in corianders, 20.0% in sweet potatoes and 6.1% in spinachs. Entamoeba histolytica cyts were found in 0.9% of carrots. Soil contamination with Toxocara sp. eggs from parasitized dogs or cats, or with either sewage systems or contaminated water where vegetables for human consumption are grown, play a role as a transmission mechanism must be deeperly studied since 33.3% of Toxocara sp. eggs found contained larvae, potentially infective to man.     

Use of polyfilament suture as a source of microsuture

We present a case of reconstruction of the anterior leaflet in mitral valve prolapse and subacute bacterial endocarditis in which the resected prolapsing segment of the posterior leaflet was used as patch material. Competence of the valve was achieved with no recurrence of infection. Quadrangular resection of the posterior leaflet supplies presumably viable patch material for valve repair, which is particularly useful in bacterial endocarditis and when pliability is required.     

Distal radial artery lesion as a source of digital emboli

Ischemic changes of the digits caused by emboli are rare. When they do occur, the typical sites of origin include the heart, the proximal subclavian artery, and the thoracic outlet. Dialysis access or iatrogenic injuries may be a more distal source of emboli. Two patients, each with embolization to the thumb and index finger from a lesion in the anatomical snuff-box, were studied. Neither patient had any other atherosclerotic occlusive disease, and both lesions occurred precisely where the extensor pollicis longus crossed the artery and would be expected to compress it against the proximal epiphysis of the first metacarpal when the hand was closed. These lesions were excised, and bypass was performed, with rapid resolution of symptoms. This is an unusual cause of digital embolization that should be considered in patients with emboli to the thumb and index finger.     

Behavioral anchors as a source of bias in rating.

Behavioral anchors may affect the way that raters process information about ratees, and may in some cases be a source of bias in rating. This study tested the hypothesis that the presence of behavioral anchors that closely matched behaviors actually observed by raters would bias performance ratings. Subjects (N?=?180) viewed videotaped lectures and rated them, using scales that contained examples of either good or bad performance that had actually occurred on the tapes, but that were not representative of the ratee's overall performance. One half of the subjects read the scales before viewing the lectures; the remaining subjects read the scales only after viewing the lectures. There was a significant scale effect, but no Scale?×?Order interaction; ratings were biased in the direction of unrepresentative anchors. These results suggest that behavioral anchors can be a source of bias in ratings and they may lead to biased recall, but they probably do not bias the observation and encoding of ratee behavior. Our results suggest that behaviorally anchored scales are not necessarily more objective or less prone to bias than are scales without behavioral anchors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

污泥的蚯蚓处理技术研究进展

本文概述了污泥蚯蚓处理技术的生态经济可行性、处理效果及目前存在的问题和发展前景.利用蚯蚓处理污泥可利用最少的能耗,最低的成本,实现污泥的减量化、稳定化和资源化,在兼顾环境生态平衡的条件下,达到污泥利用的经济效益和社会效益的最大化,是解决污泥处理处置问题的最有效途径.     

Gas cookers as a source of benz(a)pyrene emission

The spectrofluorimetric method of bez(a)pyrene was used without separating it from other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. On the basis of that method the content of that compound was measured in air contaminated with gas after burning of gas cookers. The study showed that this compound is not present in Warsow when earth gas is burning, but burning of propane-butane mixture contaminates air with this compound in a considerable degree.     

Invasive streptococcal infection as a complication of chickenpox

Two girls aged 11 months and 6 years, presented with an invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infection during the course of primary varicella. The infant had severe cellulitis of the left arm and leg, fever and bacteraemia. She developed osteomyelitis of ulna and tibia. The 6-year-old girl had a fever > 38.5 degrees C, hypotension, an acute respiratory distress syndrome, liver function abnormalities, and positive cultures of blood and joints. Her clinical picture was compatible with a GAS-associated toxic shock syndrome. If during the course of primary varicella persistent fever, secondary fever or pain in one or more extremities occurs, invasive bacterial infection by GAS or Staphylococcus aureus should be considered, even in the absence of skin infection or cellulitis.