Electrochemical changes in media due to microbial

Microbial metabolism affected the electrical impedance parameters of a two terminal-measuring cell-containing growth media. The relationship between microbial growth and relative changes in both The capacitive and resistive parts of impedance was examined. Both components of impedance were shown to be indicative of bacterial growth. In low conductivity media the change in the conductance of the media (G_sol) clearly correlated to bacterial growth. In more conductive media the relative changes in G_sol were smaller, and in these media measurements of the changes of polarization capacitance (C_pol) were useful for monitoring bacterial growth.Yeast growth in two media resulted in large changes in C_pol (20–100%) while the changes in G_sol were very small (1–4%). This result indicated that, for some combinations of microorganisms and media, measuring C_pol might be preferable over G_sol for the detection of microbial growth.Microbial metabolism resulted in a change of 2–2.5 units in pH. This pH change resulted in a 40% change in C_pol but less than a 14% change in G_sol.     

Cardiodynamic response to psychological and cold pressor stress: Further evidence for stimulus response specificity and directional fractionation

In the present study 36 police officers were exposed to a psychological stressor (IQ quiz) and to cold pressor stress while several cardiovascular variables were monitored. Impedance cardiography was used to provide measures of heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, myocardial contractility, and total peripheral resistance. In addition, measures of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and peripheral skin temperature were obtained. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that significant increases in diastolic and systolic blood pressure during the cold pressor test were mediated by large increases in total peripheral resistance, whereas blood pressure elevation during the IQ quiz were accompanied by significant increases in heart rate and, to a lesser extent, cardiac output. Peripheral skin temperature decreased in response to each stressor. Additional analysis indicated a degree of stimulus specificity for several variables. For example, diastolic blood pressure showed greater increases to cold pressor than quiz, whereas systolic blood pressure increased more with the psychological than the physical stressor. Directional fractionation occurred for both myocardial contractility and cardiac output.     

Effects of selection and fate of substrates supplied to anaerobic bacteria involved in the corrosion of pipe-line steel

Summary The corrosion of AISI C1020 carbon steel in an anoxic, marine, sulphide-containing environment was examined as a function of bacterial physiology and consortial complexity. The carbon steel was exposed to three organism;Eubacterium limosum, Desulfovibrio sp. andDesulfobacter sp. which were provided with H₂/CO₂, butanol, glucose, and acetate as carbon and electron sources. A consortium of these bacteria utilizing hydrogen gave rise to relatively high corrosion rates (5.7×10^–4 mhos cm^–2) with respect to corrosion resulting from bacteria supplied with organic electron sources (0.6–1.6×10^–4 mhos cm^–2). Disproportionation of electrons between sulphate reduction and fermentation had a significant effect on the corrosion rate in the case ofDesulfovibrio. Surface examination using scanning electron microscopy coupled with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy supported the hypothesis that the corrosion rate was controlled by the relative intactness of a ferrous sulphide film in which the bacteria were embedded.     

心阻抗图的弹性腔-边值问题理论模型

分析了造成Ｎｙｂｏｅｒ－Ｋｕｂｉｃｅｋ公式与用其它较可靠的方法测得的每搏心排量相差较大的五个主要原因,并针对其中前三个原因,修改了原有的物理模型,用弹性腔模型及解边值问题的方法得出了一种心阻抗图的新理论模型;最后对此新理论模型作了初步的讨论     

Label-free detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms utilizing the differential transfer function of field-effect transistors

We present a label-free method for the detection of DNA hybridization, which is monitored by non-metallized silicon field-effect transistors (FET) in a microarray approach. The described method enables a fast and fully electronic readout of ex situ binding assays. The label-free detection utilizing the field-effect is based on the intrinsic charge of the DNA molecules and/or on changes of the solid–liquid interface impedance, when biomolecules bind to the sensor surface. With our sensor system, usually a time-resolved, dc readout is used. In general, this FET signal suffers from sensor drift, temperature drift, changes in electrolyte composition or pH value, influence of the reference electrode, etc. In this article, we present a differential ac readout concept for FET microarrays, which enables a stable operation of the sensor against many of these side-parameters, reliable readout and a possibility for a quick screening of large sensor arrays. We present the detection of point mutations in short DNA samples with this method in an ex situ binding assay.     

Ultrasound enhanced methanol penetration of zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>) embryos measured by permittivity changes using impedance spectroscopy

Studies on permittivity changes in fish embryos measured by impedance spectroscopy after ultrasound treatment during exposure to cryoprotectant is reported here for the first time. The permittivity changes of zebrafish embryos in cryoprotectant solutions before and after ultrasound treatment were measured using impedance spectroscopy. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos at 50% epiboly stage were exposed to 2 M methanol for 25 min before ultrasound treatment for 5 min at 22 degrees C. Embryos were treated with ultrasound in different frequencies (24 and 48 kHz) and voltages (50, 100, 150 and 175 V) combinations. The results showed a clear increasing trend of permittivity from voltage 50 to 175 V over lower impedance frequency range of 10-10(3) Hz indicating increased methanol penetration into the embryos after ultrasound treatment. The embryo survival was not compromised after ultrasound treatment under conditions used in the present study. The use of impedance spectroscopy technique provides a useful none-invasive tool for detecting changes of cryoprotectant penetration in fish embryos after ultrasound treatment. The technique is especially useful for the selection of the suitable cryoprotectants in embryo cryopreservation and may also allow quantitative measurements in embryo membrane permeability studies.     

Haemodynamic response to exercise in healthy young and elderly subjects

Whereas with advancing age, peak heart rate (HR) and cardiac index (CI) are clearly reduced, peak stroke index (SI) may decrease, remain constant or even increase. The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of HR, SI, CI, arteriovenous difference in oxygen concentration (C _a-vO₂), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), stroke work index (SWI) and mean systolic ejection rate index (MSERI) in two age groups (A: 20–30 years, n = 20; B: 50–60 years n = 20. After determination of pulmonary function, an incremental bicycle exercise test was performed, with standard gas-exchange measurements and SI assessment using electrical impedance cardiography. The following age-related changes were found: similar submaximal HR response to exercise in both groups and a higher peak HR in A than in B[185 (SD 9) vs 167 (SD 14) beats · min⁻¹, P < 0.0005]; increase in SI with exercise up to 60–90 W and subsequent stabilization in both groups. As SI decreased towards the end of exercise in B, a higher peak SI was found in A [57.5 (SD 14.0) vs 43.6 (SD 7.7) ml · m⁻², P < 0.0005]; similar submaximal CI response to exercise, higher peak CI in A [10.6 (SD 2.5) vs 7.2 (SD 1.3) l · min⁻¹ · m⁻², P < 0.0005]; no differences in C _a-vO₂ during exercise; higher MAP at all levels of exercise in B; higher SVRI at all levels of exercise in B; lower SWI in B after recovery; higher MSERI at all levels of exercise in A. The decrease in SI with advancing age would seem to be related to a decrease in myocardial contractility, which can no longer be compensated for by an increase in preload (as during submaximal exercise). Increases in systemic blood pressure may also compromise ventricular function but would seem to be of minor importance. Accepted: 24 September 1996     

Binding of Breviscapine Toward Serum Albumin Studied by Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Techniques

Breviscapine, a cerebrovascular drugs extracted from the Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapinus, has been frequently used to clinically treat cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral thrombosis, cerebral infarction, and cerebral circulation insufficiency. In order to understand its pharmacology or toxicity, the binding mechanism of breviscapine to a model protein, human serum albumin (HSA), was probed by fluorescence, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy approaches. The binding affinities and number of the drug with HSA were about 1.73 × 10⁴ M^?1 and 0.99 at 293 K, respectively. The conformation of the protein was slightly altered after interacting with breviscapine. The drug–protein complex was mainly stabilized by electrostatic forces.     

无创血流动力学监测指导严重脓毒症患者血管活性药物的应用

目的:探讨无创血流动力学监测技术在严重脓毒症患者液体复苏后指导血管活性药物使用的意义。方法:选择2014年6月至2016年6月我院急诊处收治的严重脓毒症患者56例为研究对象,分为观察组和对照组,每组各28例。对照组进行常规对症治疗,观察组在对照组治疗基础上使用无创血流动力学监测仪指导治疗。观察两组患者在治疗前及治疗后6 h血流动力学及微循环灌注指标、液体复苏6 h后液体平衡量及血管活性药物使用量,及在重症监护病房(EICU)的入住时间。结果:治疗后两组患者尿量均大于30 m L/h,提示复苏成功。两组患者治疗后血液动力学指标和微循环灌注指标较治疗前均明显好转(均P0.05);治疗后,两组间血液动力学指标和微循环灌注指标比较无明显差异(P0.05)。观察组液体复苏6 h后液体平衡量明显少于对照组(P0.05),观察组血管活性药物用量均明显高于对照组(P0.05),观察组患者在EICU病房住院时间明显短于对照组(P0.05)。结论:无创血流动力学监测对严重脓毒症患者的液体恢复管理和治疗过程具有指导意义,使血管活性药物得到有效利用,精确进行液体管理,减少盲目补液,缩短病程,减少患者的住院时间,经济高效,是指导治疗和评估治疗疗效的重要手段。