Free Radicals Appear to Affect Survival of Hepatocytes at 4°C

Abstract

1) Rat hepatocytes, stored in a simple salts medium for 24 h at 4 degrees C, retain more than 80% of their capacity to synthesize glucose from lactate. 2) The combination of NH4Cl with oleate is cytotoxic during storage and during subsequent incubation of hepatocytes from 48 h starved rats, but not to hepatocytes from fed rats. 3) Protection against cytotoxicity is afforded by albumin and by a number of other compounds, notably polyols and glycerol. 4) These compounds appear to exert their effects by scavenging free radicals and, in the case of polyols and glycerol, by supplying reducing equivalents to maintain the redox state of the cell in the face of increased flux through glutathione peroxidase.

Mandatory Vaccination v. Conscientious Objection: A Comparative Analysis between the US and the European Approach

“…In my view, a balancing test should be required where fundamental rights are involved as their protection cannot be merely «a matter luck», depending on the existence of a proper secular comparator 238 . During a health crisis, although an «absolutization» of certain interests could be a tempting alternative for public policies, it gives rise to an irresolvable conflict.…”

“…241 In this way, not only would the «costs» of accommodating religion be scrutinized, but also the benefits, namely the importance that a religious practice plays for a believer: the inner value of religion can justify an assessment on whether and to what extent, a certain «amount of risk» can be imposed on civil society. 242 However, neither should a reasonable accommodation of religion imply an immunization of conscientious claims against vaccine mandates from a rigorous judicial analysis nor an undervaluation of state interests. 243 A careful balance between the interests concerned would require an assessment of the existence of a substantial burden on religious freedom, the establishment of a compelling state interest, the search for less restrictive alternatives, and is governed by the standards of necessity and proportionality.…”