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C A Sims

Publications and source records attributed to C A Sims.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Chemical analysis and sensory evaluation of mahi-mahi (Cryphaena hippurus) during chilled storage.

Biogenic amines, total volatile base-nitrogen (TVB-N), and sensory evaluation are some of the indicators used for fish quality determination. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship among histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, TVB-N, and sensory evaluation as quality assessment tools. Two groups of six mahi-mahi fillets were refrigerated at 7 degrees C and sampled on days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. On day 3, histamine, cadaverine, and putrescine levels reached 5, 3, and 0.5 mg/100 g, respectively, whereas TVB-N reached 30 mg/100 g. Sensory scores were 6 to 6.5 (10 very fresh and 1 very spoiled) for odor, appearance, texture, and color. Correlations were 0.78 and 0.72 between histamine and cadaverine and histamine and putrescine, 0.74 and 0.80 between TVB-N and cadaverine and TVB-N and putrescine, and 0.75 and 0.78 between odor and putrescine and odor and cadaverine. AromaMaps showed distinct trends for deteriorating mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) quality.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Ringer's ethyl pyruvate solution ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-induced intestinal mucosal injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Pyruvate has been shown to be protective in numerous in vitro and in vivo models of oxidant-mediated cellular or organ system injury. Unfortunately, the usefulness of pyruvate as a therapeutic agent is abrogated by its very poor stability in solution. In an effort to take advantage of the ability of pyruvate to scavenge reactive oxygen species while avoiding the problems associated with the instability of pyruvate in solution, we sought to determine whether a simple derivative, ethyl pyruvate, would be protective in an animal model of reactive oxygen species-mediated tissue injury, namely mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion in rats. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. SETTING: Animal research center. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: Under general anesthesia, rats were subjected to 60 mins of mesenteric ischemia followed by 60 mins of reperfusion. Controls (n = 6) received intravenous lactated Ringer's solution according this dosing schedule: 1.5 mL/kg bolus before ischemia, 3.0 mL/kg bolus before resuscitation, and 1.5 mL.kg-1.hr-1 by continuous infusion. Two experimental groups received similar volumes of either pyruvate (n = 6 each) or ethyl pyruvate (n = 9) solution made up exactly like lactated Ringer's solution except for the substitution of either pyruvate or ethyl pyruvate for lactate, respectively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: To obtain tissues for assessing mucosal permeability and histology, five 10-cm long segments of small intestine were obtained at the following time points: baseline, after 30 and 60 mins of ischemia, and after 30 and 60 mins of reperfusion. Mucosal permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (molecular weight 4000 Da) was assessed ex vivo by using an everted gut sac method. Compared with controls, treatment of rats with either pyruvate solution or ethyl pyruvate solution significantly ameliorated the development of intestinal mucosal hyperpermeability during the reperfusion. Treatment with ethyl pyruvate solution also significantly decreased the extent of histologic mucosal damage after mesenteric reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with Ringer's ethyl pyruvate solution ameliorated structural and functional damage to the intestinal mucosa in a rat model of mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion. Ethyl pyruvate solution warrants further evaluation as a novel therapeutic agent for preventing oxidant-mediated injury in various disease states.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Wine modifies the effects of alcohol on immune cells of mice.

Ethanol may be detrimental to immune cells due to the generation of free radicals during detoxification. If this is true, then alcoholic beverages that contain antioxidants, like red wine, should be protective against immune cell damage. We investigated this by giving mice either a red muscadine wine (Vitis rotundifolia), a cabernet sauvignon (Vitis vinifera), ethanol (all at 6% alcohol) or water in the water bottles as the sole fluid for 8 wk. Plasma antioxidant capacity was measured with alphaalpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl and was more than doubled in the mice that consumed wine compared to control mice that consumed water or ethanol. Cytochrome P450-2E1 levels and glutathione-S-transferase activity were modified in such a way as to be interpreted as protective. An immune response was elicited by an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Later (24 h), natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes derived from the circulation were quantitated in the leukocyte fraction by flow cytometry. Ethanol consumption, as ethanol, significantly suppressed baseline cell numbers relative to the other groups. However, the mice that consumed the same amount of alcohol as wine had baseline cell numbers not different from the water-consuming controls. The lymphocyte response to lipopolysaccharide challenge was inhibited in the mice that consumed ethanol, but was normal in those that consumed the same amount of alcohol in the form of wine. We conclude that there are phytochemicals acting as antioxidants and impacting on the detoxification pathway in the wine that offset the detrimental effects of ethanol on immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effect of processing on phenolics of wines.

Phenolics of grapes are the main compounds responsible for color, taste, mouth feel, oxidation and other chemical reactions in wine and juice. Phenolic levels in wine and juice are affected by numerous processing conditions (crushing, pressing, sulfite addition, skin contact, oak aging). Studies were conducted to better understand the effect of processing on phenolic composition of three varieties of grapes. Three different processing steps: immediate press, hot press, and hull treatment (skin contact) for 7 and 14 days were applied to three different grape varieties, Vitis rotundifolia cv. Noble, Vitis vinifer cv. Cabernet Sauvignon, and the French-American hybrid Chambourcin. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and bitterness/astringency were assessed using a trained sensory panel. V. rotundifolia wines had higher levels of epicatechin and gallic acid but lower caftaric acid and procyanidins compared to the other varieties and were more astringent and bitter. Processing treatment affected phenolics and color differently among the three varieties.

Beverages↗
PubMed1998

Applications of endoscopic surgery in pediatric patients.

Although the advent of endoscopic technology is expanding the fields of reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in adults, there have been few reports of the use of this technology in the pediatric population. Because of their minimally invasive nature, yet wide range of exposure, endoscopic techniques have much appeal for this age group. Here we present our experience with endoscopic pediatric plastic surgery. From February of 1995 to August of 1997, 104 patients underwent 139 procedures utilizing 5- and 10-mm endoscopes. There were 58 male and 46 female patients. The mean age at surgery was 5.6 years (range, 3 weeks to 19 years). The most common type of procedures performed were insertion of tissue expanders (n = 34), excision of benign head and neck masses (n = 27), torticollis release (n = 20), excision of vascular lesions (n = 13), and miscellaneous procedures, (n = 10). There were 26 complications in 139 procedures (19 percent). Seventeen (65 percent) were in the tissue expander group. The rest were scattered among the groups with other diagnoses. Although there did not appear to be a specific type of complication associated with endoscopy, 77 percent occurred in the first 2 months of our study. This suggests a relatively steep technical learning curve. These results demonstrate that endoscopic techniques are eminently applicable in the pediatric population, providing the benefits of small and remote incisional wounds, with complication rates that are comparable with those of conventional open surgical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

HIV transmission through donor artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and report cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through donor artificial insemination (AI) before 1986 at five infertility clinics. DESIGN: Two types of look-back studies were performed: (1) identification of an HIV-infected woman who reported previous AI, followed by identification of the infected donor(s) and contact tracing of women who were inseminated with his semen, and (2) identification of an HIV-infected donor and subsequent examination of women receiving AI procedures using his semen. SETTING: Five infertility clinics in Los Angeles County, California; San Diego County, California; Arizona; and Vancouver, British Columbia. PATIENTS: A total of 230 women were inseminated with semen from any one of the five identified HIV-infected donors; 199 (87%) consented to HIV testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Seropositivity for HIV among AI recipients. RESULTS: Seven (3.52%) of the 199 women (95% confidence interval, 1.55% to 7.41%) who were artificially inseminated with semen from any of five HIV-infected donors and consented to HIV testing tested HIV-seropositive. Information on HIV risk was available for three of the five donors; all three reported a history of having sex with men. Four HIV-infected women were identified through uncommon circumstances, rather than through routine look-back studies of donors. CONCLUSION: Infection with HIV through donor AI performed before routine HIV screening of semen donors represents a potentially serious threat to women who underwent AI procedures. Public health policies requiring retrospective identification of HIV-infected semen donors and patients receiving AI before 1986, especially in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-prevalent areas, should be considered routine. Women diagnosed with AIDS or HIV infection, in whom no identified risk of HIV acquisition is established, should be questioned about previous AI procedures.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗