Tumor growth parameters of in-vivo human breast carcinoma: a proposed mathematical model for tumor growth kinetics

Many mathematical models have been proposed to study tumor growth parameters in vivo. Nevertheless most of the medical models have given variable results even when experimental conditions are exactly the same. There are multiple factors that are capable of affecting tumor growth that should be taken into account when proposing a mathematical model for tumor growth in vivo. We discuss here own proposed model for tumor growth kinetics utilizing a modified Gompertz function that better responds to the growth characteristic of in [quot ]vivo[quot ] tumors.

Effect of a dietary supplement combination on weight management, adipose tissue, cholesterol and triglycerides in obese children

A dietary supplement combination consisting of vitamins, minerals and fibers was studied to determine its safety and efficacy on weight/fat loss, cholesterol and triglycerides in children between ages 7-13. This open label trial measured total body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides before and after 6 weeks of treatment. The study population consisted of 25 mildly to moderate obese, otherwise healthy children of both sexes. After 6 weeks of treatment, the combination supplement had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) weight reducing effect. This weight reduction was associated with a corresponding statistically significant (p < 0.0001l) decrease in body fat percentage. In addition, significant decreases in total cholesterol (p < 0.0001) and triglycerides (p < 0.0001) were obtained, plus reductions in waist measurements. We conclude that the combination supplement studied herein is a safe and effective way to assist children in weight, fat percentage, cholesterol and triglyceride reduction.

Virulencia y enterotoxigenicidad de Yersinia enterocolitica aislada de alimentos y otros materiales biológicos / [Virulence and enterotoxigenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from foods and other biological material]

Enterotoxigenicity, virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility were studied in thirteen strains of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from meat foods and organs of slaughtered animals. The following biotypes (B), serotypes (O) and lisotypes (Lis) were studied: B2, O:9, Lis X3 and B1, O:7,8, Lis Xo (from thick fresh sausages); B1, O:5, Lis Xz (from slender sausages); B1, O:5, Lis Xz and B2, O:9, Lis X3 (from bovine tongues); B1, O:6, Lis Xz (from porcine tongues) and B1, O:6, Lis Xz (from porcine caeca) (Table 1). Virulence was determined by i) the autoagglutination test (Laird and Cavanaugh), replacing in the Eagle medium amino acids and vitamins with proteose peptone (1

) and yeast extract (0.5

), and ii) the calcium dependency test. The LD50 of five strains was determined by i.p. injection of O.5 ml of cell suspensions into white mice and estimated by the Spearman Kõrber method. LD50 varied from 2 x 10(9) to 7 x 10(9) viable cells per ml. The enterotoxigenicity test was carried out in suckling white mice and the invasiveness test (Sereny) in adult white mice. Two strains showed autoagglutination, five calcium dependency, two were invasive and eight produced enterotoxin. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assayed by the modified Kirby and Bauer test. All the strains were susceptible to kanamycin, amikacin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin, mezlocillin, nitrofurantoin, piperacillin, piperimidic acid, polymyxin B, sisomycin and tobramycin, and resistant to cephalotoxin, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)