Growth characteristics of selected fungi on polyvinyl chloride film

The objective of this study was to determine if plasticized polyvinyl chloride film would support the growth of any of nine species of fungi. The film was suspended in distilled water with no nutrients or with glucose or ammonium sulfate. Spores of each of the test species were inoculated into the suspension medium, and the mixture was incubated at 30 degrees C for up to 18 weeks. Most species were found to be capable of utilizing the film for carbon or nitrogen when the other nutrient was supplied. Only two species, Aspergillus fischeri and Paecilomyces sp., were found to be capable of utilizing components of the film without added nutrients. Components of the polyvinyl chloride film were then incorporated into mineral salts medium to determine if these components could serve as carbon sources in the presence of ammonium nitrate. The only component found to be utilized by all the fungi as a carbon source was epoxidized oil, a plasticizer-stabilizer. Calcium-zinc stearate was an available carbon source for all except the Penicillium and Verticillium strains. The only other component utilized was a stearamide, which was metabolized solely by the Aspergillus sp. Only the stearamide contained enough nitrogen to serve as a primary source in the film. The compound, however, did not support growth of fungi in the presence of glucose. It was theorized that either the nitrogen of the stearamide was more readily available to the fungi in the whole film due to the presence of trace nutrients or the nitrogen was supplied by exogenous sources.     

Quality parameters of cryoprecipitates from stored blood preservation

The investigations of a series of 281 cryoprecipitates produced from blood stored at 10 degrees C for 12-18 hours resulted in equal values as compared with those preparations from a control group of 53 preparations which had been prepared from blood maximally stored for 4 hours. Thus, international experiences could be confirmed. An improvement in the quality of erythrocyte concentrates simultaneously produced can be regarded as an additional advantage with respect to the formation of microaggregates during the time the stored blood can be made use of.     

Growth characteristics of selected fungi on polyvinyl chloride film.

The objective of this study was to determine if plasticized polyvinyl chloride film would support the growth of any of nine species of fungi. The film was suspended in distilled water with no nutrients or with glucose or ammonium sulfate. Spores of each of the test species were inoculated into the suspension medium, and the mixture was incubated at 30 degrees C for up to 18 weeks. Most species were found to be capable of utilizing the film for carbon or nitrogen when the other nutrient was supplied. Only two species, Aspergillus fischeri and Paecilomyces sp., were found to be capable of utilizing components of the film without added nutrients. Components of the polyvinyl chloride film were then incorporated into mineral salts medium to determine if these components could serve as carbon sources in the presence of ammonium nitrate. The only component found to be utilized by all the fungi as a carbon source was epoxidized oil, a plasticizer-stabilizer. Calcium-zinc stearate was an available carbon source for all except the Penicillium and Verticillium strains. The only other component utilized was a stearamide, which was metabolized solely by the Aspergillus sp. Only the stearamide contained enough nitrogen to serve as a primary source in the film. The compound, however, did not support growth of fungi in the presence of glucose. It was theorized that either the nitrogen of the stearamide was more readily available to the fungi in the whole film due to the presence of trace nutrients or the nitrogen was supplied by exogenous sources.     

Immobilization of pancreatic lipase on polyvinyl alcohol by cyanuric chloride

Porcine pancreatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) was covalently immobilized onto 2,4,6-trichloro-s-triazine (cyanuric chloride) activated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The influence of activating agent and enzyme concentration on the immobilization process were evaluated.Hydrolytic activities of free and immobilized enzyme were determined and the immobilization yield was estimated by measuring the quantity of protein, both in free enzyme solution and in washing solutions after immobilization. After the optimization of immobilization process, the physical and chemical characterization of immobilized enzyme was performed. Additionally, the thermal, pH, storage, and operational stability of the immobilized and free enzymes were tested. Obtained data showed that the immobilized enzyme seemed better and offered some advantages in comparison with free enzyme.     

Sources of error in A-aDO2 calculated from blood stored in plastic and glass syringes

Wu, Eugene Y., Khalid W. Barazanji, and Robert L. Johnson,Jr. Sources of error in A-aD_O2calculated from blood stored in plastic and glass syringes.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(1):196-202, 1997.We studied the effects of time delay on bloodgases, pH, and base excess in blood stored in glass and plasticsyringes on ice and the effects of resulting errors on calculatedalveolar-to-arterial PO₂ difference(A-aD_O2).Matched samples of dog whole blood were tonometered with gasmixtures of 5% CO₂-12%O₂-83% N₂ (mixtureA), 10% CO₂-5%O₂-85%N₂ (mixtureB), and 2.88%CO₂-4% O₂-93.12%N₂ (mixtureC). Tonometered blood samples were transferred to5-ml glass (5G), 5-ml plastic (5P), and 3-ml plastic (3P) syringes andstored on ice. Blood gases were measured every 1 h up to 6 h. In 5G,PO₂ progressively decreased in bloodtonometered with mixture A but rose inblood tonometered with mixtures B and C.O₂ saturation progressively fellin all cases. In 5G, blood PCO₂progressively rose regardless of which gas mixture was used, and pH aswell as base excess progressively fell. The rise inPO₂ was faster in plastic than inglass syringes, and O₂ saturationalways rose in plastic syringes. Differences between storage in plasticand glass syringes on PO₂ change weregreatest when initial blood PO₂ washighest (mixture A). At the highestPO₂,O₂ exchange was faster in 3P thanin 5P. The rise of PCO₂ was just asfast in plastic as in glass syringes, but in both the rise inPCO₂ was faster at a higher initialPCO₂ (mixtureB) than at lower initialPCO₂ (mixturesB and C). Rates ofPO₂ andPCO₂ change in matched samples weresignificantly faster in 3P than in 5P. Errors due to rises inPCO₂ andPO₂ cause additive errors incalculatedA-aD_O2,and when blood is stored in plastic syringes for >1 h significant errors result. Errors are greater in normoxic blood, in which estimatedA-aD_O2decreased by >10 Torr after 6 h on ice in plastic syringes, than inhypoxic blood.

     

Human red blood cells with normal or improved oxygen transport function prepared and frozen in the primary polyvinyl chloride plastic blood collection container.

This is a report a a new system for freezing human red blood cells in the same polyvinyl chloride plastic container in which the blood is collected and separated into components. This polyvinyl chloride plastic collection bag with integrally attached transfer packs for blood collection, component separation, red blood cell biochemical modification, freezing, storage, and post-thaw dilution before washing, represents a major advancement in the freeze-preservation process. The label with the donor's blood type and identification number affixed to the bag at the time of collection remains in place throughout the freezing and thawing process. The transfused red blood cells are of superior quality, and the processing cost is less than with other methods of freeze-preservation. There is a lower risk of contamination with these red blood cells because manipulation of the product is kept at a minimum. "Rejuvenation", a bioengineering process by which outdated red blood cells can be salvaged, can be incorporated into the preservation process using one of the attached transfer packs of the primary collection bag. This process has been introduced as a possible means of alleviating the dramatic blood shortages which occur periodically. Red blood cells may also be "rejuvenated" after storage in the liquid state to increase their 2,3 DPG and ATP levels to 150 to 200% of normal, and these red blood cells with improved oxygen transport function have been administered to anemic patients with and without cardiopulmonary insufficiency, patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and treatment with hypothermia during cardiac surgery, and in instances where nonhemolytic transfusion reactions might be expected.     

Preservation of resuspended red cell concentrate. Release of vesicles from stored red cells

The effect of carbohydrates (sucrose, mannitol) and guanosine on red cell vesiculation was studied during storage of red cell concentrates (RCC) in glass bottles and plastic bags for 35 days. The course of vesicle release was followed by measuring acetylcholinesterase activity. It was found that sucrose and mannitol reduce the loss of membrane microvesicles. Preservation of red blood cells (RBC) in plastic bags results in a drastically retarded vesicle release.     

Inhibition of membrane Na(+)-K+ Atpase of the brain, liver and RBC in rats administered di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) a plasticizer used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood storage bags

Significant amounts of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) leach out into blood stored in DEHP plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags resulting in the exposure of recipients of blood transfusion to this compound. The aim of this study was to find out whether DEHP at these low levels has any effect on the activity of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase, since a decrease in this enzyme activity has been reported to take place in a number of disorders like neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, coronary artery disease and stroke, syndrome-X, tumours etc. DEHP was administered (ip) at a low dose of 750 microg/100 g body weight to rats and the activity of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase in liver, brain and RBC was estimated. Histopathology of brain, activity of HMG CoA reductase (a major rate limiting enzyme in the isoprenoid pathway of which digoxin, the physiological inhibitor of Na(+)-K+ ATPase is a product), intracellular concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in RBC (which is altered as a result of inhibition of Na(+)-K+ ATPase) were also studied. (In the light of the observation of increase of intracellular Ca2+ load and intracellular depletion of Mg2+ when Na(+)-K+ ATPase is inhibited). Histopathology of brain revealed areas of degeneration in the rats administered DEHP. There was significant inhibition of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase in brain, liver and RBC. Intracellular Ca2+ increased in the RBC while intracellular Mg2+ decreased. However activity of hepatic HMG CoA reductase decreased. Activity of Na(+)-K+ ATPase and HMG CoA reductase, however returned to normal levels within 7 days of stopping administration of DEHP. The inhibition of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity by DEHP may indicate the possibility of predisposing recipients of transfusion of blood or hemodialysis to the various disorders mentioned above. However since this effect is reversed when DEHP administration is stopped, it may not be a serious problem in the case of a few transfusion; but in patients receiving repeated blood transfusion as in thalassemia patients or patients undergoing hemodialysis, possibility of this risk has to be considered. This inhibition is a direct effect of DEHP or its metabolites, since activity of HMG CoA reductase, (an enzyme which catalyses a major rate limiting step in the isoprenoid pathway by which digoxin, the physiological inhibitor of Na(+)-K+ ATPase is synthesized) showed a decrease.     

Biosorption of copper by a bacterial biofilm on a flexible polyvinyl chloride conduit

Inexpensive technologies with less-than-optimal efficiencies as a strategy for countering economic restraints to pollution control have been evaluated by using a laboratory-scale biotreatment process for copper-containing effluent. Economizing measures include the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders fashioned from commercially available flexible PVC conduit to support a biofilm that was cultured in an inexpensive medium prepared in wastewater. The biofilm was challenged by aqueous copper solution in a bioreactor and subsequently analyzed under a scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.     

Lysis of erythrocytes from stored human blood by phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus).

The ability of phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) to lyse erythrocytes from human blood that had been stored under Transfusion Service conditions for up to 16 weeks has been examined. When incubated at 20 degrees C with enzyme (0.03 mg/ml, 55 units/ml) for up to 1 h fresh erythrocytes were not lysed. After about 4 weeks of storage a population of very readily lysed erythrocytes appeared. The morphological changes in erythrocytes from blood stored up to 16 weeks were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The proportion of very readily lysed erythrocytes correlated well with the proportion of spheroechinocytes I. This morphological form was shown to be preferentially removed by phospholipase C and before lysis a transient appearance of smooth spheres occurred. The decrease in blood ATP concentrations on storage was measured and found to correlate with the disappearance of discoid erythrocyte forms, but not directly with the increased susceptibility of the erythrocytes to lysis by the enzyme. However, erythrocytes of up to at least 15 weeks of age could be made less susceptible to lysis by pre-incubation in a medium designed to cause intracellular regeneration of ATP. During the lysis of spheroechinocytes I by electrophoretically pure recrystallized phospholipase C a rapid degradation of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol) occurred together with a slower degradation of sphingomyelin.