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Notes: Abstract A chemiluminescence (CL) flow system is described for the determination of isoniazid based on its enhancement on the chemiluminescence (CL) emission produced upon mixing a hexacyanoferrate(III) solution with an alkaline luminol solution. The system responds linearly to isoniazid concentration in the range 0–1 mg/L with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.03 μg/L, relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.2% for 0.1 mg/L isoniazid (n = 11). The system has been successfully applied to the determination of isoniazid in pharmaceutical preparations.

Notes: A soluble polyschiff base containing triarylamine unit in backbone was synthesised by condensation polymerisation. The hole transport properties of such polyschiff base were studied. The mobility of the hole carrier in the polyschiff base film was also measured and found to be µ=1.68×10-4?cm2/V?s by means of time of flight technique. A polymer electroluminescence device was prepared with the polyschiff base used as hole transporting moiety by spin coated.

Notes: : Salt and moisture contents in cold-smoked salmon were determined using short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy (600 to 1100 nm). Partial least square (PLS) regression models yielded the best results among 3 linear regression methods tested. Back-propagation neural networks (BPNN) exhibited a somewhat better capability to model salt and moisture concentrations (Salt: R2= 0.824, RMS = 0.55; Moisture: R2= 0.946, RMS = 2.44) than PLS (Salt: R2= 0.775, RMS = 0.63; Moisture: R2= 0.936, RMS = 2.65). Selection of samples from different axial locations on a fish did not affect the prediction error for salt or WPS but affected the prediction error for moisture.

Notes: : :Tenderization treatments of black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) were conducted using papain solutions (0.25% or 0.50%) with tumbling (10 or 20 min) prior to canning. The treated adductor and opercular (foot) muscle were evaluated by sensory and instrumental methods and compared to untreated black abalone, to untreated blue abalone (H. fulgens) and to commercially canned blue abalone. Treatment with papain did not significantly alter the texture of the abalone but did increase metallic and bitter character notes, possibly by releasing amino acids on protein degradation. Instrumental texture measurements correlated with sensory texture measurements and may aid in the establishment of quality parameters for canned abalone.

Notes: : Moisture (49.70 to 74.20% w/w) and salt (0.13 to 12.30% w/w) concentrations in cured Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) or teijin were determined by short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy (600 to 1100 nm) using partial least square regression (PLS) and artificial neural networks (ANN) calibration methods. ANN and PLS yielded similar results (Salt: ANN RMS = 1.43% w/w, PLS RMS = 1.37% w/w; Water, ANN RMS = 2.08% w/w, PLS RMS = 2.04% w/w). Sampling the dorsal or ventral portion of the fish did not appear to affect the prediction error of the salt or moisture models.

Notes: Abstract Hydrogels are cross-linked hydrophilic polymers that can imbibe water or biological fluids. Their biomedical and pharmaceutical applications include a very wide range of systems and processes that utilize several molecular design characteristics. This review discusses the molecular structure, dynamic behavior, and structural modifications of hydrogels as well as the various applications of these biohydrogels. Recent advances in the preparation of three-dimensional structures with exact chain conformations, as well as tethering of functional groups, allow for the preparation of promising new hydrogels. Meanwhile, intelligent biohydrogels with pH- or temperature-sensitivity continue to be important materials in medical applications.

Notes: Abstract. After clear-felling of a first generation Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest, mixed stands of Chinese fir and Michelia macclurei (a broadleaf tree) (MCM), pure M. macclurei stands (PMS) and pure Chinese fir stands (PCS) were established in 1983. The effects on soil were evaluated 20 years after planting by measuring physicochemical, microbiological and biochemical parameters. Both broadleaf monoculture and mixtures of broadleaf and conifer exerted a favourable effect on soil fertility. A soil quality index (SQI) decreased in the order: PMS (0.62) 〉 MCM (0.57) 〉 PCS (0.41). Improvement in soil quality, enhanced biological activity and forest productivity demonstrated that mixed stands are an effective measure to maintain sustainable forest productivity, as well as to control soil degradation under successive stands of Chinese fir. In addition, since the microbiological and biochemical parameters measured were sensitive to the forest management, they may be potential indicators for assessing the sustainability of different management systems. The results also showed that total organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and microbial biomass carbon are effective indicators of the improvement or deterioration of soil quality under forest.

Notes: Abstract. Eulaliopsis binata is a perennial fibre-producing plant, which has a growing market in southern China and also has favourable effects on soil and water conservation. In the present study, three land use treatments, Eulaliopsis binata (EB), undisturbed natural grassland (NG) and orange grove (OG) were compared with respect to their effects upon a red soil after 20 years. Of these treatments, EB had the most favourable effects on soil physicochemical and biological properties and on soil microclimate. These properties were combined in a relative soil quality index (RSQI), which gave values in the order EB 〉 OG 〉 NG. Soil microbial numbers and enzyme activities were shown to be sensitive indicators of overall changes in soil properties.

Notes: Summary.  We retrospectively analysed 15 non-haemophilic patients with acquired factor VIII inhibitors seen in our regional haemophilia centre. The median age was 55 years (range: 21–80). About 70% of patients older than 50 were male, while all five patients younger than 50 were female. The most common underlying condition was pregnancy or postpartum status (20%). About 27% of cases had no identifiable underlying condition. About 27% of patients had medical conditions that were unlikely to be related to acquired inhibitors. The most frequent presenting symptom was spontaneous haemorrhage of soft tissues, skin or joints. Twelve of 13 (92.3%) evaluable patients achieved complete remission (CR) with prednisone alone and/or combined prednisone and cyclophosphamide, but their clinical courses were highly variable. The median time to response was 21.5 weeks (range: 2–176) and the median treatment duration was 9 months (range: 1.25–66). All six patients treated with prednisone initially, and then combined prednisone/cyclophosphamide if no response (NR) to prednisone within 3–4 months (three patients), achieved CR; while four of five patients treated initially with combined prednisone/cyclophosphamide had CR. Patients older than 50 years had a similar response rate, median time to response and median treatment duration as did patients younger than 50 years (83% vs. 100%; 21.5 vs. 32 weeks, and 8 vs 16.5 months, respectively). Furthermore, the differences in the median time to response and treatment duration for patients with high or low baseline or peak inhibitor titres were negligible. Only one patient died of a treatment-related pulmonary aspergillosis 18 months after an acquired inhibitor was diagnosed. None of these patients died of bleeding complications.In conclusion, our patients with acquired FVIII inhibitor had highly variable clinical courses and responses to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. The inhibitors in the majority of patients resolved in less than 6 months although in two cases it persisted for longer than 1 year before resolving. Treatment with prednisone alone as first line, then combined prednisone with cyclophosphamide if NR to prednisone seemed equally effective when compared with using combined prednisone and cyclophosphamide initially. Further studies of newer therapeutic agents such as 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CDA) and rituximab are warranted for patients refractory to conventional immunosupressive therapy.

Notes: Aims:  Focal papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)-like nuclear alterations have been documented in Hashimoto's thyroiditis; however, the molecular association between PTC and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether molecular expression patterns of PTC are present in association with PTC-like nuclear alterations in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.Methods and results:  The expression of four genes known to be up-regulated in PTC [LGALS3 (galectin3), CITED1, KRT19 (cytokeratin 19) and FN1 (fibronectin-1)] and the human mesothelial cell protein identified by monoclonal antibody HBME1 was evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 23 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with focal or diffuse Hürthle cell change and PTC-like nuclear alterations, 37 PTC and 18 normal thyroids. Focal expression of galectin3 (GAL3), CITED1, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), HBME1 and fibronectin-1 (FN1) was seen in 87%, 65%, 43%, 26% and 17% of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, respectively, only in thyrocytes showing PTC-like nuclear alterations. In contrast, diffuse expression of GAL3, CITED1, CK19, HBME1 and FN1 was seen in 100%, 95%, 70%, 87% and 89% of PTC, respectively. Normal thyroid tissues did not express any of these proteins. Following immunohistochemistry, four Hashimoto's thyroiditis cases were found to contain foci of PTC. These foci were highlighted by the diffuse and strong expression of PTC-associated proteins, which prompted additional retrospective scrutiny of the haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections leading to appreciation of complete PTC-type nuclear atypia.Conclusions:  Focal PTC-like immunophenotypic changes in Hashimoto's thyroiditis suggest the possibility of early, focal premalignant transformation in some cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.