Thermal conductivity as influenced by the temperature and apparent viscosity of dairy products.

This study aimed to evaluate the rheological behavior and thermal conductivity of dairy products, composed of the same chemical components but with different formulations, as a function of temperature. Subsequently, thermal conductivity was related to the apparent viscosity of yogurt, fermented dairy beverage, and fermented milk. Thermal conductivity measures and rheological tests were performed at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C using linear probe heating and an oscillatory rheometer with concentric cylinder geometry, respectively. The results were compared with those calculated using the parallel, series, and Maxwell-Eucken models as a function of temperature, and the discrepancies in the results are discussed. Linear equations were fitted to evaluate the influence of temperature on the thermal conductivity of the dairy products. The rheological behavior, specifically apparent viscosity versus shear rate, was influenced by temperature. Herschel-Bulkley, power law, and Newton's law models were used to fit the experimental data. The Herschel-Bulkley model best described the adjustments for yogurt, the power law model did so for fermented dairy beverages, and Newton's law model did so for fermented milk and was then used to determine the rheological parameters. Fermented milk showed a Newtonian trend, whereas yogurt and fermented dairy beverage were shear thinning. Apparent viscosity was correlated with temperature by the Arrhenius equation. The formulation influenced the effective thermal conductivity. The relationship between the 2 properties was established by fixing the temperature and expressing conductivity as a function of apparent viscosity. Thermal conductivity increased with viscosity and decreased with increasing temperature.

Antagonizing the parathyroid calcium receptor stimulates parathyroid hormone secretion and bone formation in osteopenic rats.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an effective bone anabolic agent, but it must be administered parenterally. An orally active anabolic agent would provide a valuable alternative for treating osteoporosis. NPS 2143 is a novel, selective antagonist (a "calcilytic") of the parathyroid cell Ca(2+) receptor. Daily oral administration of NPS 2143 to osteopenic ovariectomized (OVX) rats caused a sustained increase in plasma PTH levels, provoking a dramatic increase in bone turnover but no net change in bone mineral density. Concurrent oral administration of NPS 2143 and subcutaneous infusion of 17beta-estradiol also resulted in increased bone turnover. However, the antiresorptive action of estrogen decreased the extent of bone resorption stimulated by the elevated PTH levels, leading to an increase in bone mass compared with OVX controls or to either treatment alone. Despite the sustained stimulation to the parathyroid gland, parathyroid cells did not undergo hyperplasia. These data demonstrate that an increase in endogenous PTH secretion, induced by antagonism of the parathyroid cell Ca(2+) receptor with a small molecule, leads to a dramatic increase in bone turnover, and they suggest a novel approach to the treatment of osteoporosis.

Evolution of hepatorenal syndrome after orthotopic liver transplantation: comparative analysis with patients who developed acute renal failure in the early postoperative period of liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prognosis of patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HS) prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by comparisons with a group of selected patients with normal renal function (NRF) pretransplantation who developed acute renal failure (ARF) in the early postoperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two OLT cases developed ARF in the early postoperative period between March 1999 and October 2004; 17 cases experienced HS prior to OLT. ARF was defined as serum creatinine level (Cr) >1.5 mg/dL or a creatinine clearance (CrCl) <50 mL/min. The immunosuppressive therapy was the same in both groups: low doses of tacrolimus were prescribed to reach trough levels of 5 ng/mL in the first week after OLT, where patients were administered monoclonal antibodies and corticosteroids. RESULTS: No differences were observed between the groups for gender, age or APACHE II Score in the first 24 hours after OLT. Patients with HS pretransplantation showed higher Cr and urea (U) levels than the other group (Cr: 2.1 +/- 0.8 HS vs 0.9 +/- 0.2, P = .000; U: 93.6 +/- 51.9 HS vs 42.1 +/- 19.3, P = .001). The ICU days of stay were similar (12.8 +/- 0.5 HS vs 19.7 +/- 15.2, P = .053). At the end of 1 year follow-up after OLT there were no differences in mortality (35% HS vs 26%), need for renal replacement therapy (23% HS vs 34%), infection (59% HS vs 51%), or rejection (6% HS vs 29%, P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HS prior to OLT showed a similar prognosis to a group of selected patients with NRF pretransplantation, but developed ARF in the early postoperative period which was treated with monoclonal antibodies and low doses of tacrolimus.

[Coronary ischemia caused by pseudoxanthoma elasticum and myocardial revascularization with double arterial graft]. / Isquemia coronaria producida por seudoxantoma elástico y revascularización miocárdica con doble injerto arterial.

We present a case of an 18 year-old woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, who had a biopsy taken from a lesion. Although she was asymptomatic, we tried to rule out myocardial ischemia with a treadmill and cardiac gammagraphy with Talio. The isotopic studies and the ergometry were positive and the patient underwent coronariography. This study showed a severe triple-vessel disease. We did an angiography of the supraaortic arteries, mamarian artery, and mesenteric artery. These studies showed no obstructive lesions. The treatment of patient was a double by-pass with internal mammary artery and one by-pass with safena vein grafts with satisfactory results.

Early cessation of breast feeding as a major cause of severe malnutrition in under twos: a hospital based study--Dodoma Region, Tanzania.

One hundred and ten consecutive children under two years of age were admitted because they were affected by severe Protein Energy Malnutrition. They were investigated to know the precipitating cause of their condition. 68 (62%) of them had a history of early weaning from the breast before 2 years, which was followed by a drastic drop of the growth curve. 16 (15%) of them adopted unilateral breast feeding. The study confirms the danger of stopping breast feeding before two years. This contrasts with other findings from Uganda, Zambia and Botswana which indicate that prolonged breast feeding is associated with higher prevalence of malnutrition in children. Further studies from other countries are necessary and opportune since the basic socio-economic conditions of the population, especially when these are as low as the case in Dodoma Region.

[Angiosarcoma of gingival presentation]. / Angiosarcoma de presentación gingival.

We present the case of a woman of 62 years old with changes history in the intestinal habit, weak, thing, anemia, violet injuries in the gums and hemoptysis of small quantity. After the various tests accomplishment of image and biopsy of the injuries gingival and of lymphadenopathy supraclavicular was demonstrated the existence of a angiosarcoma of high degree of malignity. This neoplasm is originated in the cells of vascular endothelium and constitutes 1% of all the sarcomas and solely 4% appear the the oral cavity. These tumors has a high mortality (superior to the 20%) to five years. Once diagnosed its manage must be aggressive in spite of its wrong therapeutic response.

[Paraquat poisoning and hemoperfusion with activated charcoal]. / Envenenamiento por Paraquat y hemoperfusión con carbón activado.

Paraquat is a common herbicide in Spain. In our country there are a few cases of this intoxication and it presents a high mortality even if the patients ingest a minimal amount. We present two cases of accidental poisoning with paraquat. These patients were admitted three hours after ingestion of toxin. They were treated with with orogastric lavage, activated charcoal, N-acetylcysteine, Fuller's earth, cathartics, support measures and hemoperfusion with activated charcoal. With these treatments both patients had a undetectable levels of paraquat 48 hours after and improvement of their symptoms, gastric and intestinal predominantly . We present the graphics of evolution of the plasma and urine levels of paraquat in both patients. We review the different aspects of treatment and update of this poisoning.

Factors affecting the demand for congregate meals at nutrition sites.

This paper examines the relative importance of factors affecting attendance by elderly persons at congregate meal sites, with particular attention to need and service variables. A 25% systematic random sample survey of nutrition projects was conducted; those project sites where attendance was not limited by a lack of capacity were then analyzed. A demand model which predicts the number of daily meals served at a congregate site was estimated via generalized least squares regression methods. The study determined that measures of the quality of services provided--such as method of food preparation, type of building used, and the presence of other nutrition programs in the community--were more important in predicting attendance at nutrition sites than conventional demographic measures of need such as persons with incomes below poverty, minority status, or living alone.