Product Packaging
DNA Packaging
Food Packaging
Virus Assembly
Drug Packaging
Bacillus Phages
Molecular Sequence Data
Virion
Influence of plasticizer-free CAPD bags and tubings on serum, urine, and dialysate levels of phthalic acid esters in CAPD patients. (1/87)
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a plasticizer-free device on exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its major metabolites in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DEHP is the most commonly used plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products; it is added to CAPD bags in order to improve the flexibility of the material. Since DEHP leaches out of the plastic matrix, patients on CAPD are exposed to considerable amounts of DEHP and its metabolites. DESIGN: A prospective cross-over study. SETTING: Department of nephrology in a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Six patients (4 female, 2 male) stable on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for at least 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were switched from a plasticizer-containing PVC CAPD system (A.N.D.Y. Plus, Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) to a polyolefine-made plasticizer-free system (stay-safe, Fresenius). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prior to and 42 days after the switch, 24-hour effluent dialysate and urine collections were performed and 10 mL blood was drawn. Concentrations of DEHP, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), phthalic acid (PA), and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) in urine, dialysate, and serum were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 5 patients. Serum levels of PA decreased significantly during the study period (0.137 +/- 0.078 mg/L vs 0.124 +/- 0.049 mg/L, p = 0.04), and the respective levels of DEHP decreased insignificantly (0.097 +/- 0.076 mg/L vs 0.069 +/- 0.046 mg/L, p = 0.07), whereas the concentrations of MEHP and 2-EH remained unchanged. Urine concentrations of PA were high (0.81 +/- 0.69 mg/L) but did not change substantially (0.70 +/- 0.50 mg/L). Effluent dialysate concentrations of MEHP and PA decreased significantly (0.0176 +/- 0.004 mg/L vs 0.0040 +/- 0.0007 mg/L, p = 0.043 and 0.158 +/- 0.056 mg/L vs 0.111 +/- 0.051 mg/L, p = 0.043, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although PD patients seem to be exposed to other sources of phthalates in addition to dialysis, use of plasticizer-free devices may help to reduce potentially immunosuppressive exposure to phthalate esters. (+info)Radioactive contamination of packing materials from a xenon-133 shipment. (2/87)
OBJECTIVE: We report on radioactive contamination of packing materials from a 133Xe shipment. METHODS: A 2-vial 133Xe shipment was monitored using a survey meter before opening. Both vials were immediately assayed in a dose calibrator. The packing materials were monitored and contamination was detected. RESULTS: The maximum surface reading of the shipment was 7.0 microSv/h. This was higher than previous shipments (1.1 +/- 0.3 microSv/h). One vial was 544 MBq while the other vial was only 474 MBq. Previous shipments were 565 +/- 13 MBq/vial. Monitoring and imaging revealed 133Xe contamination within the packing materials. Xenon-133 escaped from the packing materials over time. The lower activity vial continued to leak 133Xe over time. CONCLUSION: Careful monitoring of 133Xe shipments before and after opening along with assaying vials on receipt can indicate vial leakage and radioactive contamination so steps can be taken to minimize radiation exposure to the staff. (+info)Rapid determination of cyanide and azide in beverages by microdiffusion spectrophotometric method. (3/87)
A rapid screening method was developed for the determination of the toxic volatile anions, cyanide and azide, in beverages. This method consisted of a microdiffusion extraction combined with spectrophotometry using the Konig cyanide reaction and ferric azide complex formation in conjugation with cerium azide oxido-reduction. The time required to achieve full recovery in the extraction of hydrogen cyanide and hydrazoic acid from samples was considerably shortened by increasing the diffusion temperature from 25 degrees C to 40 degrees C. The time required to achieve saturated color development in the Konig cyanide reaction was also shortened by increasing incubation temperature to 40 degrees C. The interference in both azide color reactions was examined for volatile compounds. Cyanide interfered only in the case of ferric azide complex formation. Sulfide, sulfate, nitrite, and acetic acid interfered in both the color reactions. The established method gave a detection limit of 6 microM for cyanide and 0.5mM for azide, and it required only 1 h to determine both anions. Cyanide and azide disappeared by evaporation from beverages during 25 degrees C storage under open conditions in a pH-dependent manner as a function of their respective pKa values of 9.2 and 4.6. (+info)The antibacterial activity of triclosan-impregnated storage boxes against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus and Shewanella putrefaciens in conditions simulating domestic use. (4/87)
Antimicrobial resistance has increased over the past decade causing concern for public health. Domestic antimicrobial products containing triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenylether), a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, were introduced in 1997 and have become popular among consumers. Cross-resistance to other antibacterial agents has been suggested as a possible consequence of their widespread use. Triclosan-impregnated plastic storage boxes were tested for activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus and Shewanella putrefaciens in various conditions, including some designed to simulate usual storage conditions. Results showed inhibition up to a factor of 106 of bacteria grown in direct contact with triclosan-impregnated plastic at 30 and 22 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C. Triclosan resistance was not found to increase after repeated exposure in triclosan-impregnated boxes. Further investigation into the effect of triclosan-impregnated products on bacteria will increase understanding of domestic antimicrobial products and implications of their overuse. (+info)The dark side of marketing seemingly "Light" cigarettes: successful images and failed fact. (5/87)
OBJECTIVE: To understand the development, intent, and consequences of US tobacco industry advertising for low machine yield cigarettes. METHODS: Analysis of trade sources and internal US tobacco company documents now available on various web sites created by corporations, litigation, or public health bodies. RESULTS: When introducing low yield products, cigarette manufacturers were concerned about maintaining products with acceptable taste/flavour and feared consumers might become weaned from smoking. Several tactics were employed by cigarette manufacturers, leading consumers to perceive filtered and low machine yield brands as safer relative to other brands. Tactics include using cosmetic (that is, ineffective) filters, loosening filters over time, using medicinal menthol, using high tech imagery, using virtuous brand names and descriptors, adding a virtuous variant to a brand's product line, and generating misleading data on tar and nicotine yields. CONCLUSIONS: Advertisements of filtered and low tar cigarettes were intended to reassure smokers concerned about the health risks of smoking, and to present the respective products as an alternative to quitting. Promotional efforts were successful in getting smokers to adopt filtered and low yield cigarette brands. Corporate documents demonstrate that cigarette manufacturers recognised the inherent deceptiveness of cigarette brands described as "Light"or "Ultra-Light" because of low machine measured yields. (+info)How cigarette design can affect youth initiation into smoking: Camel cigarettes 1983-93. (6/87)
CONTEXT: Internal industry documents may shed light on how cigarettes are designed to promote youth smoking. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in the design of Camel cigarettes in the period surrounding the "Smooth Character" advertising campaign and to assess the impact of these changes on youth smoking. DATA SOURCES: Internal documents made available through the document website maintained by RJ Reynolds, manufacturer of Camel cigarettes. STUDY SELECTION: Electronic searches using keywords to identify relevant data. DATA EXTRACTION: A web based index search of documents targeting "smoothness" or "harshness" and "younger adult smokers" ("YAS") or "first usual brand younger adult smokers" ("FUBYAS") in the 10 year period surrounding the introduction of the "Smooth Character" campaign was used to identify Camel related product design research projects. A snowball methodology was used: initial documents were identified by focusing on key words, codes, researchers, committees, meetings, and gaps in overall chronology; a second set of documents was culled from these initial documents, and so on. DATA SYNTHESIS: Product design research led to the introduction of redesigned Camel cigarettes targeted to younger adult males coinciding with the "Smooth Character" campaign. Further refinements in Camel cigarettes during the following five year period continued to emphasise the smoothness of the cigarette, utilising additives and blends which reduced throat irritation but increased or retained nicotine impact. CONCLUSIONS: Industry competition for market share among younger adult smokers may have contributed to the reversal of a decline in youth smoking rates during the late 1980s through development of products which were more appealing to youth smokers and which aided in initiation by reducing harshness and irritation. (+info)Tax, price and cigarette smoking: evidence from the tobacco documents and implications for tobacco company marketing strategies. (7/87)
OBJECTIVE: To examine tobacco company documents to determine what the companies knew about the impact of cigarette prices on smoking among youth, young adults, and adults, and to evaluate how this understanding affected their pricing and price related marketing strategies. METHODS: Data for this study come from tobacco industry documents contained in the Youth and Marketing database created by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and available through http:// roswell.tobaccodocuments.org, supplemented with documents obtained from http://www.tobaccodocuments.org. RESULTS: Tobacco company documents provide clear evidence on the impact of cigarette prices on cigarette smoking, describing how tax related and other price increases lead to significant reductions in smoking, particularly among young persons. This information was very important in developing the industry's pricing strategies, including the development of lower price branded generics and the pass through of cigarette excise tax increases, and in developing a variety of price related marketing efforts, including multi-pack discounts, couponing, and others. CONCLUSIONS: Pricing and price related promotions are among the most important marketing tools employed by tobacco companies. Future tobacco control efforts that aim to raise prices and limit price related marketing efforts are likely to be important in achieving reductions in tobacco use and the public health toll caused by tobacco. (+info)The cigarette pack as image: new evidence from tobacco industry documents. (8/87)
OBJECTIVES: To gain an understanding of the role of pack design in tobacco marketing. METHODS: A search of tobacco company document sites using a list of specified search terms was undertaken during November 2000 to July 2001. RESULTS: Documents show that, especially in the context of tighter restrictions on conventional avenues for tobacco marketing, tobacco companies view cigarette packaging as an integral component of marketing strategy and a vehicle for (a) creating significant in-store presence at the point of purchase, and (b) communicating brand image. Market testing results indicate that such imagery is so strong as to influence smoker's taste ratings of the same cigarettes when packaged differently. Documents also reveal the careful balancing act that companies have employed in using pack design and colour to communicate the impression of lower tar or milder cigarettes, while preserving perceived taste and "satisfaction". Systematic and extensive research is carried out by tobacco companies to ensure that cigarette packaging appeals to selected target groups, including young adults and women. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette pack design is an important communication device for cigarette brands and acts as an advertising medium. Many smokers are misled by pack design into thinking that cigarettes may be "safer". There is a need to consider regulation of cigarette packaging. (+info)I'm sorry for any confusion, but "Product Packaging" is not a medical term. Product packaging generally refers to the process of designing and producing containers or wrapping for a product. This is typically a term used in the context of consumer goods, retail, and industrial manufacturing, rather than in medicine. In medicine, terms like "medication packaging" or "pharmaceutical packaging" might be used to refer to the specific ways that medications are packaged for distribution and use.
DNA packaging refers to the way in which DNA molecules are compacted and organized within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. In order to fit into the nucleus, which is only a small fraction of the size of the cell, the long DNA molecule must be tightly packed. This is accomplished through a process called "supercoiling," in which the DNA double helix twists and coils upon itself, as well as through its association with histone proteins.
Histones are small, positively charged proteins that bind to the negatively charged DNA molecule, forming structures known as nucleosomes. The DNA wraps around the outside of the histone octamer (a complex made up of eight histone proteins) in a repeating pattern, creating a "bead on a string" structure. These nucleosomes are then coiled and compacted further to form higher-order structures, ultimately resulting in the highly condensed chromatin that is found within the cell nucleus.
Proper DNA packaging is essential for the regulation of gene expression, as well as for the protection and maintenance of genetic information. Abnormalities in DNA packaging have been linked to a variety of diseases, including cancer.
I'm sorry for any confusion, but "Food Packaging" is not a medical term. It is a term used to describe the process and materials used to package food products to protect them from contamination, damage, and to provide information about the product. Medical definitions are typically related to diseases, conditions, treatments, or anatomical terms. If you have any questions related to medical terminology, I'd be happy to help with those!
Virus assembly, also known as virion assembly, is the final stage in the virus life cycle where individual viral components come together to form a complete viral particle or virion. This process typically involves the self-assembly of viral capsid proteins around the viral genome (DNA or RNA) and, in enveloped viruses, the acquisition of a lipid bilayer membrane containing viral glycoproteins. The specific mechanisms and regulation of virus assembly vary among different viral families, but it is often directed by interactions between viral structural proteins and genomic nucleic acid.
Drug packaging refers to the process and materials used to enclose, protect, and provide information about a pharmaceutical product. The package may include the container for the medication, such as a bottle or blister pack, as well as any accompanying leaflets or inserts that contain details about the drug's dosage, side effects, and proper use.
The packaging of drugs serves several important functions:
1. Protection: Proper packaging helps to protect the medication from physical damage, contamination, and degradation due to exposure to light, moisture, or air.
2. Child-resistance: Many drug packages are designed to be child-resistant, meaning they are difficult for young children to open but can still be easily accessed by adults.
3. Tamper-evidence: Packaging may also include features that make it easy to detect if the package has been tampered with or opened without authorization.
4. Labeling: Drug packaging must comply with regulatory requirements for labeling, including providing clear and accurate information about the drug's ingredients, dosage, warnings, and precautions.
5. Unit-dose packaging: Some drugs are packaged in unit-dose form, which means that each dose is individually wrapped or sealed in a separate package. This can help to reduce medication errors and ensure that patients receive the correct dosage.
6. Branding and marketing: Drug packaging may also serve as a tool for branding and marketing the product, with distinctive colors, shapes, and graphics that help to differentiate it from similar products.
Bacillus phages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria of the genus Bacillus. These phages, also known as bacteriophages or simply phages, are a type of virus that is specifically adapted to infect and multiply within bacteria. They use the bacterial cell's machinery to produce new copies of themselves, often resulting in the lysis (breakdown) of the bacterial cell. Bacillus phages are widely studied for their potential applications in biotechnology, medicine, and basic research.
A viral genome is the genetic material (DNA or RNA) that is present in a virus. It contains all the genetic information that a virus needs to replicate itself and infect its host. The size and complexity of viral genomes can vary greatly, ranging from a few thousand bases to hundreds of thousands of bases. Some viruses have linear genomes, while others have circular genomes. The genome of a virus also contains the information necessary for the virus to hijack the host cell's machinery and use it to produce new copies of the virus. Understanding the genetic makeup of viruses is important for developing vaccines and antiviral treatments.
A viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) is the genetic material found in certain types of viruses, as opposed to viruses that contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). These viruses are known as RNA viruses. The RNA can be single-stranded or double-stranded and can exist as several different forms, such as positive-sense, negative-sense, or ambisense RNA. Upon infecting a host cell, the viral RNA uses the host's cellular machinery to translate the genetic information into proteins, leading to the production of new virus particles and the continuation of the viral life cycle. Examples of human diseases caused by RNA viruses include influenza, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C, and polio.
Molecular sequence data refers to the specific arrangement of molecules, most commonly nucleotides in DNA or RNA, or amino acids in proteins, that make up a biological macromolecule. This data is generated through laboratory techniques such as sequencing, and provides information about the exact order of the constituent molecules. This data is crucial in various fields of biology, including genetics, evolution, and molecular biology, allowing for comparisons between different organisms, identification of genetic variations, and studies of gene function and regulation.
A virion is the complete, infectious form of a virus outside its host cell. It consists of the viral genome (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein coat called the capsid, which is often surrounded by a lipid membrane called the envelope. The envelope may contain viral proteins and glycoproteins that aid in attachment to and entry into host cells during infection. The term "virion" emphasizes the infectious nature of the virus particle, as opposed to non-infectious components like individual capsid proteins or naked viral genome.
Viral DNA refers to the genetic material present in viruses that consist of DNA as their core component. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is one of the two types of nucleic acids that are responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information in living organisms. Viruses are infectious agents much smaller than bacteria that can only replicate inside the cells of other organisms, called hosts.
Viral DNA can be double-stranded (dsDNA) or single-stranded (ssDNA), depending on the type of virus. Double-stranded DNA viruses have a genome made up of two complementary strands of DNA, while single-stranded DNA viruses contain only one strand of DNA.
Examples of dsDNA viruses include Adenoviruses, Herpesviruses, and Poxviruses, while ssDNA viruses include Parvoviruses and Circoviruses. Viral DNA plays a crucial role in the replication cycle of the virus, encoding for various proteins necessary for its multiplication and survival within the host cell.
A capsid is the protein shell that encloses and protects the genetic material of a virus. It is composed of multiple copies of one or more proteins that are arranged in a specific structure, which can vary in shape and symmetry depending on the type of virus. The capsid plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle, including protecting the viral genome from host cell defenses, mediating attachment to and entry into host cells, and assisting with the assembly of new virus particles during replication.
A base sequence in the context of molecular biology refers to the specific order of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule. In DNA, these nucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In RNA, uracil (U) takes the place of thymine. The base sequence contains genetic information that is transcribed into RNA and ultimately translated into proteins. It is the exact order of these bases that determines the genetic code and thus the function of the DNA or RNA molecule.