Computer-assisted evaluation of isoelectric focusing patterns in electrophoretic gels: identification of smoothhounds (Mustelus mustelus, Mustelus asterias) and comparison with lower value shark species.

In this work, the most commercially important Selachian species, smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) and starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias), have been identified by polyacrylamide isoelectric focusing (IEF-PAGE), along with several shark species of minor commercial value. In Italy, these two smoothhound species are commonly subjected to fraudulent substitution with lesser valued sharks. After the electrophoretic runs, the band patterns of the two Mustelus species were compared with those of dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), spurdog (Squalus acanthias), blue shark (Prionace glauca) and black-mouthed dogfish (Galeus melanostomus), both visually and with gel analysis software. The actual isoelectric points were then submitted to cluster analysis to differentiate the single species, despite the possible occurrence of electrophoretic variations or protein polymorphism. Every shark showed species-specific band patterns and could therefore be well differentiated, as confirmed by statistical analysis.

Substitution of fish species detected by thin-layer isoelectric focusing and a computer-assisted method for the evaluation of gels.

Fourteen fish species susceptible to substitution were analysed by the thin-layer isoelectric focusing technique on polyacrylamide gels of pH 3.5-9.5. Four fish per species were run on the same gel to verify the possibility to differentiate them according to their protein banding patterns. The occurrence of intraspecific differences due either to electrophoretic variations or to protein polymorphism was also observed. In fact, some of them showed few dissimilarities among their protein profiles. However, the differentiation was possible for all species, even for those belonging to the same order, family and genus. Computer-based tools combined with statistical analysis were implemented and usefully applied to avoid a subjective evaluation of the isoelectric focusing gels, and to verify the reliability of the preliminary visual comparison of protein patterns.

Gas chromatographic determination of galactose in milk. Example of a switching valve used for the protection of the capillary column.

Galactose, a marker of heat treatment, has been analysed in milk as pentafluorobenzyloxime acetate by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection using a simple switching valve system. The procedure did not entail any prederivatization clean-up for lactose elimination from the sample. In a short pre-column, reagent and lactose derivative excess were separated and the galactose and internal standard derivatives were transferred to the analytical column by a four-port valve. Thus, the analytical column was protected from overloading, so avoiding rapid deterioration.

Ostrich meat: Physico-chemical characteristics and comparison with turkey and bovine meat.

In several European countries ostrich breeding has now become quite common. In Italy this has also given rise to the need for regulations for the slaughtering of Ratites. The present work studies and compares the physico-chemical characteristics of the meat from the thigh of the ostrich with the same anatomical cuts of turkey and bovine. The ostrich meat muscle of the thigh was imported vacuum packed from Israel and France, the muscles considered were m. flexor cruris and m. iliofibularis. The turkey thighs were from the domestic market (supermarket) and the bovine muscle m. pectineus was from spent milking animals from an EEC slaughterhouse. Needless to say that the breeding, the feeding and the system of slaughtering could influence some parameters of the different kinds of meat; however these factors could not be assessed. Due to its tenderness, low fat content and cholesterol levels ostrich meat is, in accordance with modern-day nutritional principles, a valid alternative to other kinds of meat.

A new procedure for the specific high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of hydroxyproline.

A procedure suitable for a selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of the imino acid hydroxyproline in the presence of a large excess of amino acids is proposed. To deaminate the amino acids, the well-known reaction with nitrous acid is exploited. The N-nitroso derivatives of imino acids obtained are extracted in ethyl acetate, denitrosated by hydrobromic acid, and treated with dabsyl-chloride. The final HPLC separations are carried out on a reversed-phase column in a rapid isocratic run. The use of the cis isomer of hydroxyproline as an internal standard allows good reproducibility. As an application of the described method, the hydroxyproline content in samples containing collagen and an excess of bovine serum albumine (up to 20:1) is determined.

[Study by radiolabelling of the residual time of a therapeutic gel in the nasal fossae]. / Etude par radiomarquage de la rémanence d'un gel thérapeutique dans les fosses nasales.

The residence times in the nose of the liquid and gel forms of the same therapeutic preparation were compared in 7 healthy subjects. A 50 microliters drop of the preparation, labelled with Tc99m, was placed down the head of the inferior turbinate, and the kinetics of its clearance from the site of deposition was monotired using a gamma camera, during 60 minutes for the liquid and 120 minutes for the gel. The average times for removal of 50% of the labelled material from the site of deposition were 10.3 minutes and 28.6 minutes for the liquid and gel forms respectively. The slower removal of the gel form is probably due to a mechanical effect, and seems to affect the whole nasal passage. The contact time between the preparation and the mucosa is increased in this galenic form and this should improve the efficiency of the preparation.

[Results of the evaluation of nasal respiration in maxillo-mandibular malocclusion in children. Apropos of 53 cases]. / Résultats de l'appréciation de la ventilation nasale dans les dysharmonies maxillo-mandibulaires de l'enfant. A propos de 53 observations.

The authors measured nasal resistance in 53 children aged 5 to 13 years treated for bite disorders. Comparison of the results with a normal control group of children of the same age demonstrated that major nasal incompetence was 4 times more common in the group of children with orthodontic abnormalities. Nasal incompetence with permanent buccal respiration leads to disordered growth and modification of the morphogenesis of the naso-ethmoid-maxillary unit. Adaptation of deglutition and phonation to these new conditions produces modifications in the tension of the velo-pharyngo-facial and pharyngo-hyoglossal musculo-aponeurotic bands with a tendency to produce more vertical mandibular growth in children. The prevention of nasal incompetence in children and its treatment are important for coherent facial growth and guarantee the stability of the results of orthodontic treatment.

[The cochlea and underwater diving]. / Cochlée et plongée sous-marine.

Internal ear barotrauma are dangerous for cochlea. Out of accidents, long-term scuba diving involves no deafness. A study carries on 272 skin divers of the French Navy shows that only presbyacusis and industrial noise exposure give audiometric damages.

Electronystagmography and saturation deep diving at 4.6 MPa.

In the course of the ENTEX V and VIII saturation deep diving experiments at 4.6 MPa for 12 d, electronystagmography monitoring was performed on divers before, during, and after the stay in the diving chamber. In a vestibular sense, these dives were well-tolerated subjectively, clinically, and infraclinically by the divers. However, a decrease in the nystagmus induced by caloric stimulation was seen in 4 out of 8 divers during the confinement period at 0.2 MPa and in 6 out of 8 divers upon reaching 4.6 MPa, followed by variable responses dependent on the subject, with total recovery on reaching the surface. These results are explained on one hand in terms of the thermal conductivity of helium, and on the other in terms of a rough form of HPNS.

[Complications of decompression of the internal ear during diving]. / Les accidents de décompression de l'oreille interne lors de la plongée sous-marine.

Inner ear decompression sickness belongs inner ear barotrauma. It occurs after a dive with factors of risk. The diagnostic needs an accurate history and physical examination which allows emergency treatment: therapeutic recompression, then hyperbaric oxygen and perfusions of vasodilators + corticoids. The symptomatology is mainly vestibular and the discussion between peripheric and/or central lesions is still open.

[Current status of objective measurements of nasal airflow]. / Etat actuel des mesures objectives de la ventilation nasale.

Objective quantitative measurements of nasal airway patency are badly known and used in clinical practice. However lot of difficulties may be overcame. The modern instruments have a good preciseness and the results are given with reproducibility. The authors sum up principal indications, wether medical or surgical, and insist on a necessary severe methodology.

[Bacteriological study of maxillary sinusitis]. / Etude bactériologique des sinusites maxillaires.

Suppurated maxillary sinusitis are frequent diseases. Diameatic puncture allows bacteriological investigations. Our results are positive in two thirds of cases. The bacterial flora is very varied, whose identification and antibiograms involve efficient treatment with daily washing and in situ antibiotherapy.

[Solitary tumors of the vagus nerve in the carotid sulcus: neurofibroma and schwannoma. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Tumeurs solitaires du pneumogastrique dans la gouttière carotidienne: neurofibrome et schwannome. A propos de deux cas.

Neurinoma of the vagus is a rare disease (less than a hundred cases published) and even more exceptional when it develops in the carotid cervical sulcus. Indeed, nevous tumors of the neck are usually situated in a high position, in the lateo-pharyngeal space. Clinical diagnosis is difficult: a chronical enlarged lymph node is the usual suggestion. Nevertheless, two signs, albeit inconsistent are very important: cough and bradycardia on palpation of the tumefaction. Enucleation, when possible, is the best procedure for exeresis, leaving the recurrent fibers intact. But in most cases, the tumor cannot be separated from the nervous fibers and the vagus nerve must be severed at both ends. This results in definitive paralysis of the homolateral vocal cord. Microscopically, it is not always easy to distinguish between neurofibroma and schwannoma because both tumors share a common cytogenetic origin and many intermediary forms are found. Only electronic microscopy can solve litigious cases. The importance of this distinction is not only speculative, a schwannoma assumes a solitary course but a neurofibroma may belong to Recklinghausen's disease. Both schwannoma and the rare solitary neurofibroma of the cervical portion of the vagus nerve can be surgically removed, their prognosis is favorable. nervous tumors of the neck in Recklinghausen's Disease must not be operated on account of possible aggravation.

[Electrogustometric threshold in diabete and chronic ethylism. Survey on 230 patients (author's transl)]. / Le seuil électrogustométrique dans le diabète sucré et l'éthylisme chronique. (Enquête sur 230 malades).

This study completes a previous one in which the authors tested the electrogustometric threshold in 300 normal subjects used as controls. The collected datas has been computerized on a programable calculator according to a lognormal model. Comparison between the electrogustometric threshold in diabetic patients, ethylic ones and controls demonstrate that they are statistically different. More than a half of the diabetics and ethylics have abnormaly high electrogustometric thresholds. The responses have been studied as a function of the evolution of the disease, of the clinical form and of gravity. Diabete and chronic ethylism do not disturb the gustatic function at the same speed and with the same intensity: one year evolution is at least necessary for diabetics, and ten years for ethylics in order to detect abnormal electrogustometric thresholds. But if the action of ethylic intoxication is slower, it determines the most important gustometric deteriorations.