Thymol (5-methyl-2-isopropylphenol) is a phenolic compound that is used to inhibit oral bacteria. Because little is known regarding the effects of this compound on ruminal microorganisms, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of thymol on growth and lactate production by the ruminal bacteria Streptococcus bovis JB1 and Selenomonas ruminantium HD4. In addition, the effect of thymol on the in vitro fermentation of glucose by mixed ruminal microorganisms was investigated. Neither 45 nor 90 microg/ml of thymol had any significant effect on growth or lactate production by S. bovis JB1, but 180 microg/ml of thymol completely inhibited growth and lactate production. In the case of S. ruminantium HD4, 45 microg/ml of thymol had little effect on growth and lactate production; however, 90 microg/ml of thymol completely inhibited growth of S. ruminantium HD4. Thymol also decreased glucose uptake by whole cells of both bacteria. When mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated in medium that contained glucose, 400 microg/ml of thymol increased final pH and the acetate to propionate ratio and decreased concentrations of methane, acetate, propionate, and lactate. In conclusion, thymol was a potent inhibitor of glucose fermentation by S. bovis JB1 and S. ruminantium HD4. Even though thymol treatment decreased methane and lactate concentrations and increased final pH in mixed ruminal microorganism fermentations of glucose, concentrations of acetate and propionate were also reduced.

This suggests that varicose veins are a dynamic response to venous hypertension and are not thin walled structures as previously thought.

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To investigate whether statins reduce the concentration of MMP-9 in the aortic wall, we randomised patients undergoing elective open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to a pre-operative course of either simvastatin or placebo. MMPs in aortic biopsies were measured using gelatin zymography. Although recruitment closed early because of increasing statin use among eligible patients, with only 21 patients we demonstrated a 40% reduction in MMP-9 levels in the AAA wall in patients randomised to simvastatin. This provides a possible molecular mechanism to explain the reportedly beneficial effects of statins to slow AAA growth.

These data demonstrate that statins decrease MMP-9 and MMP-3 levels and represent a potential pharmacotherapy in established AAA.

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The effects and interactions of added artificial substrate with different stocking densities of prawns were evaluated. Juvenile prawns (0.2 * 0.1 g) were stocked into 12 0.04-ha ponds at 60,000ha and 120,000ha with and without substrate. Added substrate consisted of horizontal plastic mesh and strips of "oyster netting" sutlicient to increase available surface area 80%. There were no statistically significant (P > 0.05) interactions between stocking density and presence of added substrate, allowing these main effects to be compared separately.Increasing stocking density produced a significant increase (P < 0.01) in total production but a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in average prawn size and production (P < 0.05) of market size prawns (>20 g, -27%; > 30 g, -56%). Added substrate also produced a significant increase (P < 0.05) in total production (18%). However, average prawn size was not decreased and production of marketable shrimp was increased (>20 g, 25%; >30 g, 19%). Feed conversion ratios were significantly decreased (P <: 0.01) by the presence of substrate. Increased stocking density significantly increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of males which were small males (SM) and decreased (P < 0.01) the percentage of orange claw males (OC), but had no impact (P > 0.05) on numbers of reproductive (RF) and virgin (VF) female morphotypes. Increased stocking density also produced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in average size of OC, RF, and VF morphotypes while the addition of substrate had no statistically significant impact (P > 0.05) on the number or size of different morphotypes. The mathematical relationship between available surface area and average prawn size should be determined to produce recommended inclusion rates for added substrate based on desired levels of total production, stocking rates, and optimum market sizes.