Proteins were extracted from castor bean cake by solubilization in alkaline medium (pH 12 with NaOH) at 50 degrees C and freeze-dried, obtaining a material with 69% protein. The films were produced by dehydration of film-forming solutions (FFS) containing 2, 4, 6, 8, and log protein/100g FFS, 1 g GX or GT/100 g protein and 25g glycerol/100g protein. Films were characterized for thickness,

humidity, solubility in water, microstructure, color, opacity, gloss, and mechanical properties by puncture and tensile tests. The protein concentration influenced positively the solubility and mechanical properties of the GSK1838705A datasheet films, being that the film produced with 6 g protein/100 g FFS showed the best properties. With respect to the cross linking agent, the films produced with glyoxal presented improved mechanical properties and lower film solubility than those produced using glutaraldehyde. These results are consistent with the amino acid composition of proteins extracted from the castor bean cake. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Contents This study was performed to characterize the normal blood

flow of the canine testis and to measure the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of testicular arteries weekly during a period of 6 months in five healthy Beagle dogs and to evaluate whether there were any change along this time. The ultrasonographic exams were made with an 11 MHz linear transducer. The vessels of the testes were subdivided into three categories: supratesticular arteries, marginal artery and intratesticular selleck chemicals vessels. At the supratesticular arteries, two measurements were recorded at the cranial and the looping parts. No significant differences click here in any of the parameters studied were observed for the 6 months that the study was performed. The cranial part of the supratesticular artery showed a flow pattern of high-resistive vessel, whereas in the looping part of the supratesticular artery, marginal and intratesticular arteries, the flow showed a low-resistance

pattern. PSV, RI and PI values were higher at the cranial part of the supratesticular artery, followed by the looping part of the supratesticular artery, marginal and intratesticular vessels. EDV measurements were higher in the looping part of the supratesticular artery.”
“OBJECTIVE: Hereditary angioedema is a serious medical condition caused by a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder and it is associated with deficient production or dysfunction of the C1 esterase inhibitor. In most cases, affected patients experience unexpected and recurrent crises of subcutaneous, gastrointestinal and laryngeal edema. The unpredictability, intensity and other factors associated with the disease impact the quality of life of hereditary angioedema patients.