A laboratory-scale microbubble dispersion (MBD) generator was shown to improve oxygen transfer to aerobic microorganisms when connected to a conventional air sparger. However, this process setup had ...not been tested with fungi, where the morphology of microorganisms causes a very viscous broth rheology that impedes the oxygen mass transfer. Trichoderma reesei RUT C30 was chosen as a model fungus as it shows both the challenging rheology and a cellulase enzyme complex product that is shear-sensitive. Conventional and MBD sparged fermentations where carried out to compare the effect of aeration methods on oxygen transfer and product formation. MBD sparged fermentations showed fivefold higher k(sub L)a values and nearly twofold higher cell mass productivities. The cellulase enzyme activities were similar for both the MBD and the conventional sparged fermenters.
Introduction:
Transrectal multi-core biopsies of the prostate can cause substantial discomfort with the need for high dose systemic analgesics. In a prospective randomised trial we investigated the ...efficacy of fine-needle administered local anaesthesia for bilateral prostatic nerve block prior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy.
Materials and Methods:
One hundred and eight men suspected of having cancer of the prostate were randomised to receive TRUS-guided bilateral prostate nerve block prior to biopsy or not, when having no history of previous prostate biopsies (groups I and II,
n=68). In group III (
n=40) all patients with history of previous biopsies exclusively received local anaesthesia injection. Patients routinely underwent a 10-core biopsy regimen. For repeat biopsy 12 cores were taken. The consented patients documented pain on a visual analogue pain score.
Results:
In the randomised groups I and II average pain score was 1.85 with versus 3.29 without periprostatic nerve block (
p<0.0001). In group III the difference in pain stated for the present biopsy with local anaesthesia nerve block in comparison to the pain experienced with the previous biopsy solely under transrectal lidocaine gel was even higher (1.71 versus 4.59;
p<0.0001). Pain relief was independent of the number of biopsy cores sampled. Overall cancer detection rate was 46% (50/108).
Conclusion:
Bilateral local anaesthesia nerve block prior to multi-core TRUS-guided prostate biopsy significantly reduces pain independent of the number of cores taken.
A cell suspension culture of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), a producer of immunologically active polysaccharides, was cultivated in a 5-L stirred tank bioreactor, operated in batch mode. After some ...changes in the internal bioreactor design a stable growth of Helianthus cells was achieved and the accumulated biomass reached 15.2 g/L (only approximately 5% lower compared to the accumulated biomass in shake-flasks). Flow cytometry used for measuring the cell cycle parameters of suspended Helianthus cells did not reveal significant differences between shake-flasks and bioreactor cultivation modes. For both cultivation methods significant enhancement of the percentage of S-phase cells was observed at the beginning of the cultivation process. Concerning the metabolite production the maximum in exopolysaccharides was reached at day 9 of the cultivation period (1.9 g/L), while the highest amounts of alpha-tocopherol were accumulated at the beginning of the cultivation process (day 2 of the cultivation). These finding were related to the respective stress levels caused by the inoculation procedure. The kinetic parameters of growth and polysaccharide production as well as the time course of carbon source utilization were monitored and discussed.
Caffeine affects the stereoselectivity of microbial high cell density reductions with commercial grade Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast). Cyclic beta-keto esters ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanoate (1) ...and ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanoate (3) were shown to be reduced with increased diastereoselectivity (1: 90.1 --> 92.1% de, 3: 75.0 --> 90.0% de) after addition of caffeine. Effects on enantioselectivity were less pronounced (1: 97.3 --> 98.5% ee, 3: 90.1 --> 92.1% ee). The observations are ascribed to the action of caffeine on cellular calcium homeostasis. These effects are accompanied by caffeine-induced cell-death, which preferably takes effect on pre-stressed cells which were found to decrease diastereoselectivity.
Callus cultures of Salvia tomentosa Mill. were induced and analyzed for their capacity to produce oleanolic and ursolic acids. The obtained callus lines showed high variability in their biosynthetic ...potentials. Flow cytometric investigations showed that this variability was due to polyploidization of plant cells in calli. Polyploidization of callus cell seems to be promoted by the growth regulators used for callus induction. One octaploid line (consisting of 8C, 16C and 32C cells) was selected as prospective producer of oleanolic (991.57 μg/g DW) and ursolic (641.85 μg/g DW) acids. To our knowledge, this is the first report for obtaining of triterpenes producing callus culture of S. tomentosa Mill.
One of the challenges of intracorporeal ureterolithotripsy is undesired stone migration. Stone-trapping devices have been designed to prevent this quite common phenomenon. These devices have to be ...effective in terms of ureteral obstruction and safe in terms of resistance to the action of commonly used lithotriptors. This work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the recently approved Accordion^sup ®^ stone-trapping device in vitro. In a rigid, submerged ureteral model with two different diameters (8 and 10 mm), artificial stones were positioned in direct contact with the engaged Accordion^sup ®^ device. A defined number of pneumatic pulses of the LithoClast^sup ®^ master at different performance levels was applied and the migration distance of the stone was measured after each single pulse. As a control, the same series was repeated without the stone-trapping device. Secondly, the Accordion device was exposed to a previously defined number of pneumatic or Ho:YAG-laser pulses, in direct contact with the lithotripsy probe, up to a total activation time of 2 min. At different time points, the device was controlled for damage and functionality. The mean stone migration distance without the Accordion^sup ®^ device was between 39.2 and 52.8 mm and between 37.8 and 75.4 mm in the 8 and 10 mm tubes, respectively. In comparison, the stone or fragment travelling distance with the device was in the 0-2 mm range. This difference was highly significant. Both pneumatic and laser lithotriptor did not affect the functionality of the Accordion^sup ®^ device. The Ho:YAG laser causes small perforations of the film without affecting the devices' stability. The Accordion device appears to be highly efficient and safe in vitro. Clinical trials will have to assess its value in endourological practice. Randomised comparative trials comparing different stone-trapping devices are needed.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
A new device for percutaneous nephrolithotomy, combining Lithoclast (LC) and ultrasound (US) lithotripsy, was developed. Under standardized in vitro conditions, we evaluated the efficacy of the new ...technique using artificial stones. Combined application of pneumatic and US lithotripsy was compared with each of the two components alone.
Five different artificial stones of defined hardness were used. Disintegration was performed under defined pressure in a water bath. The time until the first fragmentation and until complete disintegration to fragments of 2 mm or smaller was measured for LC and US alone and for combined lithotripsy. Furthermore, the disintegrated partition after 1 minute and time until 50% disintegration of each stone was determined.
With regard to first fragmentation and complete disintegration, LC and US combination showed superior efficacy. First fragmentation was achieved 25 to 200 times faster and complete disintegration in a range of 11 to 15 minutes. No complete disintegration was possible by LC and US alone within a time limit of 20 minutes. The disintegrated stone mass after 1 minute was 1.5 to 4 times larger in combined lithotripsy and the 50% disintegration time was 30% to 50% compared with LC or US alone. No technical defects occurred.
Combining LC and US in one device for percutaneous nephrolithotomy shows promising in vitro results in an artificial stone model. It seems to provide superior efficacy in the disintegration parameters important for clinical practice.
PDF
