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Biomedical subjects

M Minor

Publications and source records attributed to M Minor.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Microencapsulation of oils using whey protein/gum Arabic coacervates.

Microencapsulating sunflower oil, lemon and orange oil flavour was investigated using complex coacervation of whey protein/gum arabic (WP/GA). At pH 3.0-4.5, WP and GA formed electrostatic complexes that could be successfully used for microencapsulation purposes. The formation of a smooth biopolymer shell around the oil droplets was achieved at a specific pH (close to 4.0) and the payload of oil (i.e. amount of oil in the capsule) was higher than 80%. Small droplets were easier to encapsulate within a coacervate matrix than large ones, which were present in a typical shell/core structure. The stability of the emulsion made of oil droplets covered with coacervates was strongly pH-dependent. At pH 4.0, the creaming rate of the emulsion was much higher than at other pH values. This phenomenon was investigated by carrying out zeta potential measurements on the mixtures. It seemed that, at this specific pH, the zeta potential was close to zero, highlighting the presence of neutral coacervate at the oil/water interface. The influence of pH on the capsule formation was in accordance with previous results on coacervation of whey proteins and gum arabic, i.e. WP/GA coacervates were formed in the same pH window with and without oil and the pH where the encapsulation seemed to be optimum corresponded to the pH at which the coacervate was the most viscous. Finally, to illustrate the applicability of these new coacervates, the release of flavoured capsules incorporated within Gouda cheese showed that large capsules gave stronger release and the covalently cross-linked capsules showed the lowest release, probably because of a tough dense biopolymer wall which was difficult to break by chewing.

Biopolymers↗
PubMed2000

"Subcortical" cognitive impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Studies of cognitive functioning in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have found deficits even in patients without other evidence of neurologic involvement. The present study used scores on the 11 items of the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to classify the cognitive impairment of 93 SLE patients as suggestive of "cortical" or "subcortical" dysfunction using a validated statistical algorithm. Ninety-five percent of patients were categorized as having "subcortical" deficits, and 5% were categorized as having "cortical" deficits. When the analysis was limited to only those with total MMSE scores < or = 24, 81% were classified as "subcortical" and 19% as "cortical." These results suggest that SLE patients can have psychomotor and mental tracking deficits of a type seen in patients with subcortical brain disease, even in the absence of gross neurologic involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Association of coping responses with fibromyalgia tender points in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between fibromyalgia (FM) tender points (TP) and psychological constructs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: One hundred seventy-three patients with SLE were examined for FM TP, and asked to complete 2 questionnaires at the same visit, the Health-Related Hardiness Scale (HRHS), and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS). RESULTS: The examination of FM TP showed that 38.2% had no TP, 44.5% had 1-10 TP, and 17.3% had > or = 11 TP. The mean +/- SD score of the HRHS was 155.6 +/- 19.7 (range 105.0-198.0; higher scores indicate greater hardiness), and the MUIS was 85.3 +/- 18.7 (range 41.0-132.0; higher scores indicate uncertainty). There were significant associations between FM TP and HRHS (no TP 161.2 +/- 20.2, 1-10 TP 152.5 +/- 19.7, > or = 11 TP 151.0 +/- 15.8; p = 0.0108) and between FM TP and MUIS (no TP 78.2 +/- 20.2, 1-10 TP 86.9 +/- 17.6, > or = 11 TP 95.8 +/- 14.7; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study shows a strong association between FM TP and uncertainty or lack of "hardiness." We conclude that SLE patients with FM TP are less likely to be good "copers." Prospective studies to determine if "poor coping" predicts FM in SLE are recommended. If the association between coping and FM is causal, it will justify interventions to improve coping and similar constructs, such as self-efficacy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Low-Frequency Dielectric Response of Polystyrene Latex Dispersions.

The low-frequency permittivity and the conductivity increments of a well-characterized polystyrene sulfate latex with constant surface charge density were measured in KCl electrolyte solutions. The ionic strength was varied in the range 0.4-6 mM. The data could be explained with one absolute surface-conductivity parameter over the complete concentration range. The titratable surface charge density correlates well with the surface conductivity, the ions in the double layer having the bulk mobility. The results are in good agreement with static conductivities of plugs composed of the same particles obtained in a previous study (1). The electrokinetic charge obtained from streaming potentials (1) in that study is significantly lower, confirming the presence of conduction behind the shear plane. In order to interpret the conductivity data, simple analytical expressions have been derived for the frequency-dependent complex conductivity of a dilute dispersion of spherical particles with relatively thin double layers (kappaa >>1, where a is the particle radius and kappa-1 the Debye screening length). The expressions are restricted to binary suspending electrolytes. However, no restrictions on the ion mobilities and ion valencies are made. Our results agree well with the numerical results of the dielectric model of Mangelsdorf and White (2, 3) and reduce to O'Brien's static conductivity results (4) in the limit of low frequencies. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Biofeedback/relaxation training and exercise interventions for fibromyalgia: a prospective trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of biofeedback/relaxation, exercise, and a combined program for the treatment of fibromyalgia. METHODS: Subjects (n = 119) were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: 1) biofeedback/relaxation training, 2) exercise training, 3) a combination treatment, or 4) an educational/attention control program. RESULTS: All 3 treatment groups produced improvements in self-efficacy for function relative to the control condition. In addition, all treatment groups were significantly different from the control group on tender point index scores, reflecting a modest deterioration by the attention control group rather than improvements by the treatment groups. The exercise and combination groups also resulted in modest improvements on a physical activity measure. The combination group best maintained benefits across the 2-year period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that these 3 treatment interventions result in improved self-efficacy for physical function which was best maintained by the combination group.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Conductivity and Dielectric Dispersion of Gram-Positive Bacterial Cells

The conductivity of bacterial cell suspensions has been studied over a wide range of ionic strengths and is interpreted in terms of their cell wall properties. The experimental data have been analyzed after improving the high kappaa double-layer theory of Fixman, by accounting for ionic mobility in the hydrodynamically stagnant layer, i.e., in the bacterial wall. Static conductivity and dielectric dispersion measurements both show that the counterions in the porous gel-like cell wall give rise to a considerable surface conductance. From a comparison of the mobile charge with the total cell wall charge it is inferred that the mobilities of the ions in the bacterial wall are of the same order but somewhat lower than those in the bulk electrolyte solution. The occurrence of surface conductance reduces the electrophoretic mobility in electrophoresis studies. If this effect is not taken into account, the zeta-potential will be underestimated, especially at low electrolyte concentrations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy of low load resistive muscle training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis functional class II and III.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a low load resistance exercise training program on muscle strength, functional outcome, and cardiovascular endurance. METHODS: Forty-nine patients, 37 women and 12 men between the ages of 35-76 yrs (mean 60.5 yrs), with definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) functional class II and III (mean disease duration of 10.5 yrs) were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups for a 12 wk resistive muscle training program. A circuit weight bearing form of training was incorporated using light loads with high repetitions. A video tape demonstrating the exercises was given to all exercising participants to enable them to continue the program at home at least 3 times per wk with a biweekly self-report evaluation. Baseline and post-intervention evaluations included joint activity, muscle strength, endurance, functional outcome, and self-report. Cardiovascular fitness measured by treadmill time, anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in this group were assessed at baseline and 12 wks. RESULTS: A significant improvement at 12 wks was noted in the exercise group for self-reported joint count (p = 0.02), number of painful joints (p = 0.004), HAQ (p = 0.012), sit-to-stand time (p = 0.02), grip strength (p = 0.05) knee extension 60 degrees (p = 0.03), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales dexterity (p = 0.02), and time to anaerobic threshold (p = 0.03). Significant improvement in the exercise group compared to the control group was noted for self-reported joint count (p = 0.02), night time pain (p = 0.05), and sit-to-stand time (p = 0.02). Increase in treadmill time was not statistically significant nor was a change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) noted. Abnormalities on initial treadmill screening were detected in 2 of 49 asymptomatic patients. They were excluded from the study and subsequent workup revealed significant coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Low load resistive muscle training increased functional capacity as reported by patients and is a clinically safe form of exercise in functional class II and III RA. Screening this population for dormant coronary artery disease is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Inadequate erythroid response to hypoxia in cystic fibrosis.

An increase in hemoglobin concentration characterizes the normal compensatory response to chronic tissue hypoxia. We observed no such increase in 42 chronically hypoxic patients with cystic fibrosis, in whom the mean concentration was 12.6 gm/dl; one third of the patients were anemic. Compared with patients with cyanotic heart disease, patients with cystic fibrosis did not have a compensatory increase in P50 or 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Despite anemia, erythropoietin levels in patients with cystic fibrosis were not significantly different from normal control values. The growth of colony-forming units-erythroid in patients with cystic fibrosis was similar to that in control subjects, and there was no inhibition of growth with the addition of autologous serum. Erythropoietin sensitivity, determined by measuring the CFUe dose response curve, was normal in both patients and controls. Results of iron studies were consistent with iron deficiency in the majority of patients. Impaired absorption of iron was observed in six of 13 iron-deficient patients with cystic fibrosis. An inverse correlation between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and peak serum iron was obtained during the iron absorption study. Eight patients who underwent a therapeutic trial of iron demonstrated a 1.8 gm/dl rise in hemoglobin concentration. Two patients with previously documented iron malabsorption responded to parenteral iron therapy after failure to respond to oral supplementation. These studies demonstrate that patients with cystic fibrosis not only have an impaired erythroid response to hypoxia, but are frequently anemic. Their inadequate erythroid response to hypoxia results in part from disturbances in erythropoietin regulation and iron availability.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ectopic ACTH syndrome due to pheochromocytoma: case report and review of the literature.

A 51-year-old female was diagnosed preoperatively to have a pheochromocytoma producing ACTH. This diagnosis was based upon her paroxysmal hypertension, hyperpigmentation, and hypokalemia. Elevated levels of serum and urine corticosteroids, plasma ACTH, urinary VMA, and catecholamines fell after a right adrenal pheochromocytoma was removed. Subsequently this tumor was found to have a high content of ACTH. Review of the literature indicates a mortality rate of 57% for this syndrome. Proper preoperative recognition and management can result in total cure.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗