Lithium and preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of some chemotherapy regimens. Lithium has been suggested for CIPN in some animal studies. We aimed to study lithium's preventive effect on CIPN in breast cancer patients treated with taxanes and platinum-based medications. METHOD: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) was implemented on 36 breast cancer patients in two equal-size groups by block randomization. Participants in both groups consumed daily tablets, either placebo or lithium (300 mg), for 5 days in each course of chemotherapy. The tablets were prescribed 1 day before the start of chemotherapy. The electromyography (EMG) and nerve-conduction-velocity (NCV) tests were achieved before the first chemotherapy, 3 and 9 months after the treatment. The changes and signs or symptoms of CIPN, such as numbness, tingling, freezing, sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, fibrillation, and knee and elbow reflex disorders, were recorded by examination. The trend of outcome changes was compared between two groups during the 9 months of study. RESULTS: In both groups, neurologic signs and symptoms were exacerbated during the first 3 months and improved up to the ninth month of study. Results showed significant changes of all EMG-NCV variables during the 9 months of research in each group (P < 0.001), but the interaction of time and group effect was not significant in none of those indices. All symptoms changed significantly over the study time (P < 0.001) without significant statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.352). No side effect was found during the study. CONCLUSION: The study showed that 300 mg lithium prescription once daily for 5 days might not effectively prevent CIPN in breast cancer patients. Evaluation of lithium effect on CIPN on different cancers in future studies is suggested. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20160813029327N10 .  Registration date: May 16, 2018.

Impact of loganin on pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in male diabetic rats.

Behavioral disturbances are observed in most patients suffering from diabetes. According to some evidence, pro-inflammatory cytokines have a key role both in diabetes and behavioral disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In this study, the effect of chronic administration of loganin, as a bioflavonoid, was investigated on pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM), and open field test (OFT), respectively. Body weight was also measured before the interventions and after the experiments in all groups. Our findings show that loganin-treated animals had significantly lower serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α compared with the diabetic group. In the EPM test, loganin treatment significantly increased the percentage of the open arm time and open arm entries. Moreover, loganin treatment significantly decreased the grooming time and restored distance traveled and center crossing in the OFT. However, it decreased immobility time in the FST. Loganin treatment also significantly restored body weight gain and attenuated blood glucose changes in the diabetic rats. These results indicate that loganin possibly alleviates depression- and anxiety-like behaviors associated with diabetes through lowering the blood glucose and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. More research is required to show the exact mechanism of antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of loganin in diabetes.

Impact of loganin on pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in male diabetic rats.

Behavioral disturbances are observed in most patients suffering from diabetes. According to some evidence, pro-inflammatory cytokines have a key role both in diabetes and behavioral disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In this study, the effect of chronic administration of loganin, as a bioflavonoid, was investigated on pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM), and open field test (OFT), respectively. Body weight was also measured before the interventions and after the experiments in all groups. Our findings show that loganin-treated animals had significantly lower serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α compared with the diabetic group. In the EPM test, loganin treatment significantly increased the percentage of the open arm time and open arm entries. Moreover, loganin treatment significantly decreased the grooming time and restored distance traveled and center crossing in the OFT. However, it decreased immobility time in the FST. Loganin treatment also significantly restored body weight gain and attenuated blood glucose changes in the diabetic rats. These results indicate that loganin possibly alleviates depression- and anxiety-like behaviors associated with diabetes through lowering the blood glucose and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. More research is required to show the exact mechanism of antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of loganin in diabetes.

Early versus late traumatic cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation.

PurposeTo determine the proper time for traumatic cataract surgery after open globe injuries.SettingFarabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.DesignRandomized clinical trial.Patients and methodsIn a randomized clinical trial, 30 eyes with traumatic cataract after open globe injury with IOL implantation underwent early (in the first week after the trauma) and 30 eyes underwent late cataract surgery (from the first to second month after the trauma). We excluded patients who were under 12-year-old. All patients were visited at 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months after surgery. In each visit, patients were examined regarding visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber inflammation, IOL position, and posterior synechiae. In addition, posterior segment evaluation and fundoscopy were performed. Intraoperative complication including posterior capsular rupture, anterior vitrectomy, and zonulysis as well as the site of IOL implantation were documented and post-operative complications including raised IOP, anterior chamber inflammation, visual axis opacity, posterior synechiae, subluxation of IOL, and IOL pigment deposition were listed.ResultsBest-corrected visual acuity 6 months after surgery was not different between the two groups. Also in early cataract surgery group, the rate of posterior capsular rupture was not significantly higher than the late surgery group (P=0.069). On the other hand, zonulysis was significantly higher in the late procedure group (P=0.039). Other complications including anterior vitrectomy, raised IOP, anterior chamber inflammation, visual axis opacity, posterior synechiae, subluxation of IOL, and IOL pigment deposition were not different in the two groups.ConclusionsEarly and late traumatic cataract surgery and IOL implantation after open globe injuries, have no significant difference regarding the post-surgical BCVA and prominent intraoperative and post-operative complications.

A strategy to improve nitrogen utilization, reduce environmental impact, and increase performance and antioxidant capacity of fattening lambs using pomegranate peel extract.

Dietary natural plant secondary metabolites (PSM) extracted from a pomegranate peel (PP) byproduct have the potential to improve milk yield and the milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows. This experiment was performed to assess the influence of different dietary levels of PP extract (PPE) on feedlot performance, ruminal status, nutrient utilization, and antioxidant status in fattening Moghani lambs. Thirty-two lambs (initial BW of 22 ± 1.2 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with a 72-d period and 4 treatments: PPE0 (no extract), PPE15 (15 mL PPE/kg of diet DM), PPE30 (30 mL PPE/kg of diet DM), and PPE45 (45 mL PPE/kg of diet DM). Feed intake, lamb growth, diet digestibility, microbial nitrogen (N) synthesis (MNS), N retention, rumen parameters, and blood metabolites were determined. The addition of PPE to the diet of lambs had no effect on DMI (linear [L], = 0.96; quadratic [Q], = 0.65). In vivo digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, and Ash-free NDF were not affected (L, ≥ 0.28; Q, ≥ 0.26) by different levels of PPE, but it increased ADG (L, = 0.045; Q, = 0.19) and G:F (L, = 0.046; Q, = 0.20). Rumen pH, VFA concentrations, and acetate-to-propionate ratio were not affected (L, ≥ 0.14; Q, ≥ 0.23) by PPE supplementation. Dietary inclusion of PPE decreased the ruminal concentration of ammonia N (L, = 0.014; Q, = 0.67), total protozoa enumeration (L, < 0.001; Q, = 0.043), population (L, < 0.001; Q, = 0.19), urinary N excretion (L, = 0.005; Q, = 0.26), whereas MNS (L, = 0.019; Q, = 0.23) and N retention (L, < 0.001; Q, = 0.66) increased. Feeding PPE had no effect (L, ≥ 0.11; Q, ≥ 0.17) on plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, or albumin-to-globulin ratio. Blood urea N (L, = 0.021; Q, = 0.32) decreased with dietary addition of PPE, while total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the rumen fluid (L, = 0.032; Q, = 0.64) and TAC in the blood (L, = 0.041; Q, = 0.51) increased. Overall, dietary inclusion of PPE, up to 45 mL/kg of diet DM, linearly improved animal growth, N retention, and antioxidant capacities of the blood and rumen fluid. The PPE is a safe natural additive for use in sheep diets that can help to reduce environmental pollution by reducing urinary N excretion.

Identification of Visceral Leishmaniasis-Susceptible Areas using Spatial Modelling in Southern Caucasus.

This study explores the application of spatial modelling techniques to generate susceptibility maps for a neglected zoonotic disease, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in an endemic area in southern Caucasus that includes Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The social and physical environment of southern Caucasus has been mainly characterized by the presence of several factors that are strongly associated with VL, which has caused a significant number of infections during the past decade. Three popular spatial modelling techniques, consisting of the weights of evidence, logistic regression and fuzzy logic methods, were evaluated and trained using a study area in north-western Iran where an inventory of highly infected areas and high-quality evidential factors was available. Model performance was assessed using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) approach. According to the results of these assessments, the fuzzy logic method with γ = 0.5 was chosen for the prediction of VL incidence in southern Caucasus. The susceptibility map generated using the fuzzy logic method indicated that VL followed a spatial pattern at the conjunction of the three countries, which suggests that the prevalence of VL in southern Caucasus is socio-ecologically dependent.

Efficacy and safety of permethrin 5% topical gel vs. placebo for rosacea: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a chronic, multifactorial, dermatological condition. Increased density of Demodex folliculorum mites in the skin of rosacea patients suggests a possible role for these mites in the pathophysiology of rosacea. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of permethrin 5% topical gel vs. placebo on Demodex density (Dd) and clinical presentations of rosacea patients, and also to further refine the quantitative assessment of Dd in the non-invasive standard skin surface biopsy (SSSB). METHODS: Twenty patients with bilateral papulopustular rosacea and ≥5 mites/cm2 were enrolled in the study. Participants and physicians were blinded to the group assignments. Each patient applied permethrin on one side and placebo on the other side of the face twice daily for 12 weeks. SSSB and photography and Rosacea Clinical Scorecard of the National Rosacea Society were used to assess the patients at the baseline, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 12th weeks for both sides of the face. Causality and severity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were assessed by WHO Scale and Hartwig Scale, respectively. RESULTS: Dd was not significantly different between the two groups at the baseline. In both groups, Dd significantly decreased after 12 weeks compared to the baseline. At the end of the 12th week, the Dd in the permethrin group was significantly lower than the placebo group. Severity of the clinical presentations decreased in both groups at the end of week 12 in comparison to the baseline, particularly in the permethrin group. ADRs were all mild and in most cases unlikely related to permethrin. CONCLUSION: Permethrin 5% gel can significantly reduce the Dd and severity of presentations in rosacea patients and can be a safe and effective option in the management of this chronic disorder. This new SSSB technique offers an easy, quick, inexpensive, and non-invasive sampling method proper for quantitative assessment of Dd.

Comparison of nickel oxide and palladium nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon for efficient removal of methylene blue: kinetic and isotherm studies of removal process.

Palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) and nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) were synthesized and loaded on activated carbon (AC). This novel material successfully used for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous medium. Full characterization of both material using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller analyses for Pd-NP show their high surface area (>1340 m(2)/g) and low pore size (<20 Å) and average particle size lower than 45 Å and for NiO-NP show their high surface area (>1316.1554 m(2)/g) and low pore size (<20 Å) and average particle size lower than 46 Å in addition to high reactive atom and presence of various functional groups. These unique properties make them possible for efficient removal of MB. In batch experimental set-up, optimum conditions for maximum removal of MB by both adsorbents were attained following searching effect of variables such as central composite design. The Langmuir isotherm was found to be highly recommended for fitting the experimental equilibrium data. The kinetic of adsorption of MB on both adsorbents strongly can be fitted by a combination of pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion pathway. The experimental result achieved in this article shows the superiority of Pd-NP-AC for MB removal than NiO-NP-AC, so the maximum adsorption capacities of Pd-NP-AC and NiO-NP-AC were 555.5 mg/g and 588.2 mg/g, respectively.

General anesthesia in cesarean sections: a prospective review of 465 cesarean sections performed under general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: In many countries, neuraxial blocks comprise the majority of anesthetics given for cesarean section. In Iran, however general anesthesia for cesarean section is prevalent. In our institution, the rate of general anesthesia for cesarean section is 39%, providing an opportunity to collect data regarding airway management in the parturients. We report on the outcomes of a series of patients who received general anesthesia for cesarean section. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in two university hospitals, with approximately 5,500 deliveries annually. Demographics and airway characteristics were recorded. Eight potential risk factors for difficult intubation (short neck, obesity, facial edema, swollen tongue, receding mandible, and single, missing or protruding maxillary incisors) were analyzed. Then, laryngoscopic view, difficulty at intubation, and major complications were recorded. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 465 patients. There was a significant correlation between higher Mallampati score and both higher laryngoscopic view graded on the Cormack-Lehane system (P < 0.001) and difficulty at intubation (P-Value = 0.05). Emergency cesarean section was not associated with difficult intubation (P = 0.67). Multivariate analysis showed that receding mandible was the only potential risk factor for difficult tracheal intubation (P < 0.001) and removed short neck or protruding maxillary incisor which initially was powered as a risk factor by univariate analysis. A grade 3 laryngoscopic view was obtained in 15 cases (3.2%). There was no case of grade 4 view. There was only one failed intubation (0.2%), and 9 cases of very difficult intubation (1.9%). CONCLUSION: General anesthesia for cesarean section is safe with minimal risk.

Application of response surface methodology for optimization of ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of cadmium from water samples.

A new, rapid, and simple method for the determination of cadmium in water samples was developed using ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In the proposed approach, 2-(5-boromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethyamino) phenol was used as a chelating agent and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoro methylsulfonyl)imide and acetone were selected as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. Sample pH, concentration of chelating agent, amount of ionic liquid (extraction solvent), disperser solvent volume, extraction time, salt effect, and centrifugation speed were selected as interested variables in IL-DLLME process. The significant variables affecting the extraction efficiency were determined using a Placket-Burman design. Thereafter, the significant variables were optimized using a Box-Behnken design and the quadratic model between the dependent and the independent variables was built. The optimum experimental conditions obtained from this statistical evaluation included: pH: 6.7; concentration of chelating agent: 1.1 10(-) (3) mol L(-1); and ionic liquid: 50.0 mg. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration factor obtained was 100. Calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.2-60 µg L(-1) with correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The limit of detection was 0.06 µg L(-) (1), which is lower than other reported approaches applied to the determination of cadmium using FAAS. The relative SD (n = 8) was 2.4%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of cadmium in the real water samples with satisfactory results.

Efficacy and necessity of nasojejunal tube after gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Nasojejunal tube (NJT) decompression is routinely used for intestinal drainage after total gastrectomy. It is supposed that it would protect anastomosis, but since the stomach should be completely removed, today its efficacy is under question. On the other hand, the tube leads to the discomfort of patients and aspiration disorders or nasopharyngial ulceration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and necessity of the nasojejunal tube decompression after gastrectomy. METHODS: In this interventional study, 50 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy in Ghaem and Omid hospitals, which are affiliated with the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, from 2001 to 2008 were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of with NJT (25 cases) and without NJT (25 cases). The rate of complications, hospital stay duration and the time of beginning their diet were evaluated. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in age, sex, state of the disease, bleeding volume and length of removed esophagus. There was no significant difference between these two groups considering the initial passing of gas, the beginning of their diet, and hospital stay duration. But the incidence of sore throat, nasal discomfort, speech disorders, and patients' dissatisfation were higher in the group with NJT. CONCLUSION: It seems that patients without NJT were more comfortable and satisfied after total gastrectomy. Thus, there is no need for the insertion of the NJT after gastrectomy.

Acoustic resonance scattering from a multilayered cylindrical shell with imperfect bonding.

The method of wave function expansion is adopted to study the three dimensional scattering of a time-harmonic plane progressive sound field obliquely incident upon a multi-layered hollow cylinder with interlaminar bonding imperfection. For the generality of solution, each layer is assumed to be cylindrically orthotropic. An approximate laminate model in the context of the modal state equations with variable coefficients along with the classical T-matrix solution technique is set up for each layer to solve for the unknown modal scattering and transmission coefficients. A linear spring model is used to describe the interlaminar adhesive bonding whose effects are incorporated into the global transfer matrix by introduction of proper interfacial transfer matrices. Following the classic acoustic resonance scattering theory (RST), the scattered field and response to surface waves are determined by constructing the partial waves and obtaining the non-resonance (backgrounds) and resonance components. The solution is first used to investigate the effect of interlayer imperfection of an air-filled and water submerged bilaminate aluminium cylindrical shell on the resonances associated with various modes of wave propagation (i.e., symmetric/asymmetric Lamb waves, fluid-borne A-type waves, Rayleigh and Whispering Gallery waves) appearing in the backscattered spectrum, according to their polarization and state of stress. An illustrative numerical example is also given for a multi-layered (five-layered) cylindrical shell for which the stiffness of the adhesive interlayers is artificially varied. The sensitivity of resonance frequencies associated with higher mode numbers to the stiffness coefficients is demonstrated to be a good measure of the bonding strength. Limiting cases are considered and fair agreements with solutions available in the literature are established.

Determination of the relationship between Basal cell carcinoma and human papilloma virus, based on immunohistochemistry staining method.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer among Caucasians, and in most cases, occurs in the sun-exposed areas. In recent years, in addition to many other etiologies such as exposure to UV radiation, and occasionally xeroderma pigmentosa, burns, tattoos, and pox scars, human papillomavirus (HPV) is also considered to have an etiologic role. Different studies were conducted with varied results in this regard. AIMS: We evaluate this plausible relationship between HPV and BCC by means of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. METHODS: This is an analytic cross-sectional study in which 160 samples were selected randomly consisting of 80 BCC lesions and 80 safe margins. Sampling was done among paraffin-embedded blocks in pathology ward of Kashani and Alzahra hospitals, Isfahan-Iran, from 2004-2007. A section of each block was IHC stained for HPV immunoreactivity (DAKO, Denmark). This was followed by microscopic evaluation in terms of being positive or negative. RESULTS: Fifty seven point five percent of the samples belonged to men and the others to women. In 10%, HPV marker was positive, both in lesion and margin. In 83.8% neither the lesions nor the margins were immunoreactive for HPV. Only in 5 cases (6.3%) the lesion was positive and the margin was negative for this marker. There was no case of immunoreactivity for HPV marker in margins, while it was negative in lesions. Our study results followed by McNemar analysis did not show a significant relationship between BCC incidence and HPV existence. This was consistent in both genders (P > 0.05, power > 90%). CONCLUSION: In this study we did not find a significant relationship between BCC and HPV, but based on review of articles it appears that large multicentric studies are to be conducted in this regard.

Acoustic scattering characteristics of a thick-walled orthotropic cylindrical shell at oblique incidence.

The method of wave function expansion is adopted to study the scattering of a plane harmonic acoustic wave incident at an arbitrary angle upon an arbitrarily thick cylindrically orthotropic homogeneous cylindrical shell submerged in and filled with compressible ideal fluids. A laminate approximate model and the so-called state space formulation in conjunction with the classical transfer matrix (T-matrix) approach are employed to present an analytical solution based on the three-dimensional exact equations of anisotropic elasticity. The solution is used to correlate the perturbation in the material elastic constants of an air-filled and water-submerged aluminium cylindrical shell to the sensitivity of resonances associated with various modes of wave propagation appearing in the backscattered amplitude spectrum (i.e., axially guided, Lamb, Rayleigh and Whispering Gallery waves). The effects of shell wall thickness as well as inner fluid loading on the frequency response of the shell are also examined. A limiting case is considered and good agreement with the solution available in the literature is obtained.

Development of immunoaffinity solid phase microextraction probes for analysis of sub ng/mL concentrations of 7-aminoflunitrazepam in urine.

We report on the development of solid phase microextraction probes for drug analysis, prepared with antibodies specific for benzodiazepines covalently immobilized to the surface. In the technique, immobilized antibody probes are exposed to a sample containing the drug for 30 min. Extracted drugs are subsequently desorbed from the probes in 500 microL of methanolic desorption solution, which is dried, reconstituted in a small volume of injection solution and analysed by LC-MS/MS. The antibodies were characterized both before and after immobilization, to facilitate the rational selection of antibodies for such analyses. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were compared as was the impact of affinity purification of the polyclonal antibody to isolate the drug-specific fraction. The probes were evaluated for utility in analyzing 7-aminoflunitrazepam at sub ng/mL concentrations in urine, which is expected to be found several days after a single oral dose of 2 mg of flunitrazepam. Such analyses are required in monitoring for abuse of this drug, both in terms of 'club drug' use and in cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault. In these cases drug concentrations in blood and urine are much lower than in chronic abuse cases and are difficult to analyse by conventional methods. The method developed has a limit of detection of 0.02 ng/mL, with accuracy ranging from 1% to 27% and precision (% R.S.D.) ranging from 2% to 10% between the lower and upper limits of quantitation for the analysis of 7-aminoflunitrazepam in urine. The dynamic range of the method is from 0.02 ng/mL, which is limited by the instrument sensitivity, to 0.5 ng/mL, which is approaching the capacity of the probes. This would allow for quantitative analysis of samples at concentrations below that measurable by many other methods for general benzodiazepines analysis from urine, and a highly selective screen for samples at higher concentrations. The method has similar limits of detection to the most sensitive literature methods specifically designed for such analysis but with the advantage of significantly simplified sample preparation. This simplification makes the technique more amenable for use by both professionals and non-professionals.

Preparation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against mannoprotein of Candida albicans.

BALB/c mice were immunized via injection with whole cell of Candida albicans serotype A. The spleens were fused with myeloma cells of SP2/0 origin. A mannoprotein-reactive monoclonal antibody (MAb) was selected and characterized by ELISA technique. This MAb reacted with strains of Candida such as C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. albicans of the Persian Type Culture Collection (PTCC). However, our antibody did not react with other Candida species such as C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. stellatoidae, C. lusitania, C. krusei, and S. cervisiae. These antibodies also did not recognize extracts of other fungal species such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus, and bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Polyclonal antibody produced in this study could not differentiate the above species and was reactive towards all fungal species mentioned above except bacterial strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Western blot analysis of ligand affinity-purified mannoproteins of C. albicans wall protein using this MAb showed reactivity toward a single protein band in the region of 55-65 kDa molecular weight. The same antibody, when examined with unpurified C. albicans extract, reacted with a broad band in the region of 55-105 kDa, which we concluded was due to a possible different glycosylation pattern of mannoprotein in crude extract in which the higher molecular weight protein was eliminated by ligand-binding affinity purification.

Preconcentration of chromium (III) and speciation of chromium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using cellulose adsorbent.

A simple and sensitive method has been developed for species selective determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The procedure is based on selective absorption of Cr(III) on a cellulose micro column (pH 11, 0.5 mol L(-1) NaCl). Total chromium was subsequently determined after appropriate reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Recoveries of more than 97% were found. A concentration factor of 100 was achieved. The relative standard deviations (n=10) at the 40 ng L(-1) level for chromium(III) and chromium(VI) were 2.3% and 1.8% and corresponding limits of detection (based on 36) were 1.8 ng L(-1) and 5.1 ng L(-1), respectively. No interference effects have been observed from other investigated species and the method has been successfully applied to natural water samples.