Freezing point and other technological properties of milk of the Polish Coldblood horse breed.

Mare milk is a valued and sought-after raw material for the production of innovative dairy products. The high demand, low supply, high price, and lack of accurate characterization of the milk of a given horse breed may provoke its deliberate fraudulent dilution. The aim of this work was to analyze the freezing point against a background of various selected technological parameters of Polish Coldblood mare milk. Research was carried out on multiparous Polish Coldblood mares from 5 to 8 yr of age with live weights between 618 and 851 kg. Their milk was tested on d 1, 3, and 7 postpartum and once a month for the next 9 mo of lactation (n = 52). Milk from 13 mares, taken daily in mo 4 of lactation, was collected for the dilution study (n = 403). The basic composition of the milk was as follows: solids-not-fat, 84.4 g/kg, fat 15.1 g/kg, lactose 65.3 g/kg, and total protein 24.2 g/kg (made up of casein, 14.6 g/kg, and whey protein, 9.5 g/kg). The dominant amino acids were glutamic acid, proline, leucine, and aspartic acid. The mean freezing point during a 9-mo lactation was -0.557°C (coefficient of variation = -2.787; 5th to 95th percentile: -0.563 to -0.550°C). Based on our analysis, we adopted -0.550°C (from 3 to 6 mo) as the reference value for milk from the Polish Coldblood horse. Analysis of the model of changes in freezing point, after dilution, using the coefficient of determination and Akaike's information criterion, showed that a linear model could be recommended (y = 79.35 + 144.35x). Addition of 1% water increased the freezing point of Polish Coldblood mare milk by 0.0069°C.

High-Field High-Repetition-Rate Sources for the Coherent THz Control of Matter.

Ultrashort flashes of THz light with low photon energies of a few meV, but strong electric or magnetic field transients have recently been employed to prepare various fascinating nonequilibrium states in matter. Here we present a new class of sources based on superradiant enhancement of radiation from relativistic electron bunches in a compact electron accelerator that we believe will revolutionize experiments in this field. Our prototype source generates high-field THz pulses at unprecedented quasi-continuous-wave repetition rates up to the MHz regime. We demonstrate parameters that exceed state-of-the-art laser-based sources by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The peak fields and the repetition rates are highly scalable and once fully operational this type of sources will routinely provide 1 MV/cm electric fields and 0.3 T magnetic fields at repetition rates of few 100 kHz. We benchmark the unique properties by performing a resonant coherent THz control experiment with few 10 fs resolution.

Formation of volatile compounds in kefir made of goat and sheep milk with high polyunsaturated fatty acid content.

This article explored the formation of volatile compounds during the production of kefir from goat and sheep milks with high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as a result of feeding animals forage supplemented with maize dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). The increased PUFA content of the goat and sheep milks resulted in significant changes to the fermentation process. In particular, apart from an increase in the time taken to ferment sheep milk, fermentation yielded less 2,3-butanedione. The highest quantities of this compound were assayed in kefir produced from goat milk with an increased content of PUFA. An increase of PUFA significantly elevated ethanal synthesis during lactose-alcohol fermentation of sheep milk. Neither the origin of milk (sheep or goat) nor the level of PUFA had any statistical effect on the amount of ethanal assayed during the fermentation of milk and within the finished product. The proportion of l(+)-lactic acid was higher in kefirs produced using goat milk compared with sheep milk and did not depend on the content of PUFA in milk fat. The content of PUFA had a significant effect on the aroma profile of the resulting kefirs. An increase in PUFA content resulted in the loss of whey aroma in goat milk kefirs and the animal odor in sheep milk kefirs, and a creamy aroma became more prevalent in kefirs made from sheep milk.

Microemulsion flame pyrolysis for hopcalite nanoparticle synthesis: a new concept for catalyst preparation.

A new route to highly active hopcalite catalysts via flame spray pyrolysis of an inverse microemulsion precursor is reported. The nitrate derived nanoparticles are around 15 nm in diameter and show excellent conversion of CO under ambient conditions, outperforming commercial reference hopcalite materials produced by co-precipitation.

A Phase I, open label, dose ranging trial of intravenous bolus zoledronic acid, a novel bisphosphonate, in cancer patients with metastatic bone disease.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastases typically are associated with osteolytic bone destruction, resulting in bone pain, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcemia. Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of normal and pathologic bone resorption and represent a significant therapeutic improvement in the management of patients with lytic bone metastases. Zoledronic acid is a new-generation, highly potent, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that to the authors knowledge is the most potent inhibitor of bone resorption currently in clinical trials. The objectives of the current study were to assess the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of zoledronic acid and to determine its activity with respect to reducing biochemical markers of bone resorption in cancer patients with bone metastases. METHODS: Forty-four cancer patients with bone metastases or primary bone lesions were enrolled sequentially into 1 of 5 fixed ascending-dose treatment groups. Each patient received a single intravenous bolus injection of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg of zoledronic acid over 30-60 seconds. Patients were monitored for 8 weeks for the evaluation of clinical findings, adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, markers of bone resorption, and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. RESULTS: Zoledronic acid was safe and well tolerated at all dose levels tested. Commonly reported adverse events included bone pain, fever, anorexia, constipation, and nausea, which were experienced by a similar proportion of patients in each treatment group. Seven patients reported serious adverse events, none of which appeared to be related to the study drug. Zoledronic acid effectively suppressed biochemical markers of bone resorption, including the highly specific markers N-telopeptide and deoxypyridinoline, for up to 8 weeks in the 2-16-mg dose groups and for a shorter duration in the 1-mg group. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, zoledronic acid was safe and well tolerated and demonstrated potent inhibition of bone resorption. The authors believe it may improve the treatment of metastatic bone disease.

Investigations on the pharmacokinetics of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy volunteers.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of racemic alpha-lipoic acid in twelve healthy volunteers following single oral administration of 200 and 600 mg (Thioctacid 200 film tablets). SUBJECTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Each film tablet contained 200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid. In addition, an injection solution containing 200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid was administered. Plasma concentrations of alpha-lipoic acid were determined using a validated reversed-phase HPLC method with electrochemical detection having a lower limit of quantitation of 1 ng/ml. The areas under curve (AUC) were 46.82 +/- 21.46 and 157.97 +/- 35.05 microg x min/ml for the oral and intravenous administration of 200 mg, respectively. RESULTS: The AUC following oral administration of 600 mg was 157.83 +/- 35.82 microg x min/ml. The difference in mean t(1/2) for the two oral doses and the i.v. dose (in the range of 25.3-32.7 min) was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The lack of a significant difference between values for apparent total plasma clearance for the 200 and 600 mg doses indicates non-saturable kinetics of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy volunteers in this dose range. The absolute bioavailability after the 200 mg dose was 29.1 +/- 10.3%.

High-performance liquid chromatography methods for determination of lipoic and dihydrolipoic acid in human plasma.

This assay method was applied to determine plasma levels of lipoic acid in humans. The method consists of enzymatic hydrolysis to release the protein-bound lipoic acid, solid-phase extraction, and electrochemical detection at a potential of +1.1 V. Previous methods did not provide adequate sensitivity for these studies or required procedural modifications for detection of low levels of plasma lipoic acid. The chromatographic system is capable of separating lipoic acid from dihydrolipoic acid. Both reduced and oxidized lipoic acid can be detected. Therefore, oxidation of dihydrolipoic acid must be prevented. In the described procedure, we do not prevent oxidation and the whole content is measured as lipoic acid. The method does not detect lipoic acid covalently bound to lysine. The detection limit for this method is 1 ng of lipoic acid per milliliter of plasma.

Determination of lipoic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A selective and sensitive method for the determination of lipoic acid in human plasma samples has been developed. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the sample, the liberated lipoic acid was extracted by a solid-phase cartridge and measured by HPLC using electrochemical detection. The detection limit was 1 ng/ml lipoic acid in plasma. The calibration curve was non-linear in the range 0.01-50 microgram/ml but could be described by a power function. The average extraction recoveries were 82.5 and 85.1% at the 25 and 2500 ng/ml levels, respectively. Coefficients of variation for both within-day and day-to-day analysis were between 2.1 and 9.4%. The assay method is sensitive, reproducible and suitable for disposition studies of lipoic acid in humans.

HPLC-methods for determination of lipoic acid and its reduced form in human plasma.

A method has been developed for the HPLC analysis of lipoic acid and its reduced form (dihydrolipoic acid) in biological samples. Both substances are released from the samples by enzymatic hydrolysis and extracted by solid phase column. The extracts, after evaporation, were chromatographed and quantified by electrochemical detection. The basic level was in the range 1-25 ng/ml for lipoic acid and 33-145 ng/ml for dihydrolipoic acid (6 healthy volunteers).

[Possibilities and limitations of rapid radiologic detection of selected chemicals in acute poisoning of unknown origin]. / Möglichkeiten und Grenzen eines radiologischen Schnellnachweises ausgewählter Chemikalien bei akuten Vergiftungen unbekannter Provenienz.

Knowledge of the radiopacity of bromine-containing hypnotics and of halogenated hydrocarbons has led to numerous recommendations and speculations. Supported by own investigations the sensible application of a rapid radiological determination in the practice of clinical toxicology is discussed. This should always be carried out, if solvent residues, gastric contents or gastric lavage fluid are available, a ingestion is suspected, and the result of chemical analysis is not promptly obtainable. However, a hint at the group of halogenated hydrocarbons is only possible, if additional information about miscibility with water is accessible. Revealing the presence of radiopaque material in tablet or liquid form by radiologic studies of the abdomen may be very helpful for the rapid evaluation of symptomatology and first therapeutic consequences, but it does not allow any chemical identification of the poison.

Temporal and spatial pattern of plastid gene expression during crucifer seedling development and embryogenesis.

Several genes which are located close together on mustard (Sinapis alba L.) chloroplast DNA have been found to differ in their temporal mode of expression throughout seedling development. One predominant expression program, exemplified by thepsbA gene, is characterized by an early (light-independent) rise in transcript levels, followed by subsequent further accumulation to levels which are much higher in the light than in darkness (development of 'competence' for photocontrol). Other genes located next to thepsb A gene show transient or constitutive modes of expression, with no light-dark difference in transcript levels throughout seedling development. The characteristics of light-responsive expression were shown for the nuclearrbcS gene family inBrassica napus L. andSinapis alba L. cotyledons. The spatial distribution ofrbcS andpsbA transcripts across sections of crucifer cotyledons appeared to be relatively uniform, but restricted to photosynthetically active cells. Finally, assessment of these transcripts in immature seeds and embryos ofCapsella bursa-pastoris has provided in-situ evidence for tissuespecific gene expression during early development.