Increased antibiotic resistance of E. coli exposed to static magnetic fields.

The present study demonstrates that exposure of bacteria to medium strength static magnetic fields can significantly alter antibiotic sensitivity. Cultures of Escherichia coli were exposed to fields produced by permanent magnets. Samples of bacterial cultures continuously growing in the presence and in the absence of static magnetic fields were left untreated or were treated with an antibiotic and measured at 45 min intervals for cell growth and survival. It was found that exposure of E. coli to the static fields significantly increased antibiotic resistance. Bioelectromagnetics 22:129-137, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Stroma-free methemoglobin solution as an antidote for cyanide poisoning: a preliminary study.

Effective treatment of cyanide poisoning requires rapid diagnosis, good supportive treatment and the use of a specific antidote. The currently available antidotes offer demonstrated efficacy along with significant potential adverse side effects. We have investigated an alternate approach to antidote therapy for cyanide poisoning by using Stroma-Free Methemoglobin Solution ( SFMS ). Rats injected with an LD100 intravenous dose of cyanide were treated with SFMS equal to 1.5% of their total body hemoglobin. There was a highly significant increase in the survival rate of the treated group compared to saline controls. The potential advantages of SFMS over current antidotes include an immediate onset of action, rapid elimination of cyanide from the body and a mode of action that doesn't compromise any of the patients' oxygen carrying capacity. SFMS shows promise as a significant adjunct in the treatment of cyanide poisoning.

Simplified body-composition analysis using deuterium dilution and deuteron photodisintegration.

A number of approaches to estimating human body composition (water, lean mass, and fat) are available, and each approach has its own limitations. Deuterium dilution is a comparatively safe and valid procedure for assessing body composition; however, its use has been restricted by the relative complexity of measuring deuterium at low concentrations. A simplified scheme for quantifying low levels of deuterium in body fluid samples promises to expand the use of D2O in body composition studies. The deuterons are quantified by measuring the neutron emission induced by gamma-ray irradiation from 228Th(2.61 MeV). The in vitro aspects of the procedure exhibit coefficients of variation of under 1% throughout the range of assay and near 100% recovery of added D2O. In vivo comparison studies with a reference tritium dilution procedure indicate close agreement in a group of 38 subjects. The chief advantages of the procedure are a small oral dose of D2O and the use of either serum or urine samples. The physical condition of the sample does not affect the measurement so distillation is not required. Thus, small medical facilities can enjoy the advantages of low cost, minimum patient inconvenience, and technical simplicity by submitting subject samples to larger agencies for analysis.