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The effect of relative humidity (RH) on the composition and concentrations of gas-phase products and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated from the photooxidation of isoprene under high-NOx conditions was investigated. The yields of most gas-phase products were the same regardless of initial water vapor concentration with exception of hydroxyacetone and glycolaldehyde, which were considerably affected by RH. A significant change was observed in the SOA composition, with many unique condensed-phase products formed under humid (90% RH) vs. dry (<2% RH) conditions, without any observable effect on the rate and extent of the SOA mass growth. There is a 40% reduction in the number and relative abundance of distinct particle-phase organic nitrogen (ON) compounds detected by high resolution mass spectrometry. The suppression of condensation reactions, which produce water as a product, is the most important chemical effect of the increased RH. For example, the total signal from oligomeric esters of 2-methylglyceric acid was reduced by about 60% under humid conditions and the maximum oligomer chain lengths were reduced by 7-11 carbons. Oligomers formed by addition mechanisms, without direct involvement of water, also decreased at elevated RH but to a much smaller extent. The observed substantial reduction in the extent of condensation-type oligomerization at high RH may have substantial impact on the phase characteristics and hygroscopicity of the isoprene aerosol. The reduction in the amount of organic nitrates in the particle phase has implications for understanding the budget of ON compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jirakrit Leelarungrayub,1 Araya Yankai,1 Decha Pinkaew,1 Rungthip Puntumetakul,2 James J Laskin,3 Richard J Bloomer4 1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 2Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 3School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 4Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory, School of Health Studies, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA Objective: The aims of this preliminary study were to evaluate the antioxidant and lipid status before and after star fruit juice consumption in healthy elderly subjects, and the vitamins in star fruit extracts.Methods: A preliminary designated protocol was performed in 27 elderly individuals with a mean (±SD) age of 69.5±5.3 years, by planning a 2-week control period before 4 weeks of consumption of star fruit twice daily. Oxidative stress parameters such as total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, malondialdehyde, protein hydroperoxide, multivitamins such as L-ascorbic acid (Vit C), retinoic acid (Vit A), and tocopherol (Vit E), and the lipid profile parameters such as cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were analyzed. Moreover, Vit C, Vit A, and Vit E levels were evaluated in the star fruit extracts during the 4-week period.Results: In the 2-week control period, all parameters showed no statistically significant difference; after 4 weeks of consumption, significant improvement in the antioxidant status was observed with increased total antioxidant capacity and reduced malondialdehyde and protein hydroperoxide levels, as well as significantly increased levels of Vit C and Vit A, when compared to the two-time evaluation during the baseline periods. However, glutathione and Vit E showed no statistical difference. In addition, the HDL-C level was higher and the LDL-C level was significantly lower when compared to both baseline periods. But the levels of triglyceride and cholesterol showed no difference. Vit C and Vit A were identified in small quantities in the star fruit extract.Conclusion: This preliminary study suggested that consumption of star fruit juice twice daily for 1 month improved the elderly people’s antioxidant status and vitamins, as well as improved the lipoproteins related to Vit C and Vit A in the star fruit extract. Keywords: star fruit, elderly, antioxidants, vitamins, lipid, oxidative stress

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physical therapists often test ball-playing skills of children with disabilities using standardized testing, which may not predict performance of ball skills in games with peers. This type of testing is used by physical therapists to determine whether children have delays in ball-handling skills. The purpose of this study was to compare ball skill performance of children with and without developmental delay in a one-to-one testing situation and in a structured game with peers. SUBJECTS: Five-year-old children with developmental delay (n=20) and 5-year-old children without disabilities (n=20) participated in the study. METHODS: We used the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales receipt and propulsion scale to test children one-to-one with a therapist and during a structured game with peers. RESULTS: Subjects without developmental delay performed better than subjects with developmental delay under both testing conditions. Children with developmental delay performed better in the one-to-one testing condition than in the game with peers. The performance of children without developmental delay did not differ under the 2 conditions. Boys performed better than girls. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Physical therapists should consider the potential effect of environment on the ball-handling skills of children with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cites a case of mandibular tumorous condition in a 9-month-old child in the U.S. Differential diagnosis of the disease; Radiographic appearance of the tumor; Recurrence of the lesion after the original biopsy.

Loads at the articulating surface of the head of the condyle were recorded in one male adult Macaca arctoides. Following surgical implantation of the pressure-sensitive foil, the monkey was given hard and soft foods to chew. Loads were recorded during incisal biting and molar chewing. The bite data showed the following: The Condylar head was loaded during molar chewing with a maximum load of 1-3 lb. The condylar head was loaded with a larger load of 3-4 lb during incisal biting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet light, a procedure known as PUVA, has been found to be useful in the management of systemically disseminated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In the present study we used a highly sensitive flow cytometric assay in conjunction with the hydroperoxide-sensitive dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate to measure intracellular hydrogen peroxide in normal lymphocytes and CTCL following PUVA treatment. Based on their laser light-scattering properties, lymphocytes were separated into three major subpopulations. We found that ultraviolet light alone caused an increase in the hydrogen peroxide content of each of the subpopulations, a response that was augmented when the cells were pretreated with 8-MOP (50 ng/ml). Cells from CTCL patients were more sensitive to the effects of 8-MOP than were normal lymphocytes. In both cell types, the production of hydrogen peroxide was found to be inhibitable by catalase. We noted an increase in hydrogen peroxide production following photopheresis; however, this was observed only 24 h after treatment. In addition, a further increase in hydrogen peroxide production was observed in lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood that had been obtained from patients at 15 min after a second photopheresis treatment. Hydrogen peroxide is known to modulate the action of cytokines as well as the immunological responses of leukocytes. Our data suggest that the production of hydrogen peroxide by lymphocytes may be important in the action of PUVA in CTCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of psoralens and ultraviolet light (UVA, 320-400 nm), referred to as PUVA, inhibits proliferation of a variety of cell types. In the present studies, we used S-180 cells to investigate the mechanism underlying the antiproliferative actions of PUVA. We found that inhibition of growth of S-180 cells by PUVA was dependent on the concentration of psoralen as well as the dose of UVA light. Neither the psoralens nor UVA light by themselves inhibited cell growth. Several clinically important psoralen analogs inhibited cell growth. The potent phototoxin 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen was the most active psoralen analog tested, followed by 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen. The angular furocoumarin, 5-methylangelicin, was the least active inhibitor of growth. Multivariate (isobologram) analysis of the growth-inhibition curves revealed that combinations of psoralens and UVA light were not simply additive but synergistic. Similar results were observed when inhibition of DNA synthesis was used as an endpoint for the biological effects of PUVA. These studies are the first to demonstrate that psoralens and UVA light act synergistically. Our results suggest that the synergism between the psoralens and UVA light may be an important property of PUVA that contributes to its therapeutic efficacy in proliferative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]