Low sensitivity of computed tomography in the staging of gastric lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue: impact on prospective trials and ordinary clinical practice

The natural history and management of gastric lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALTomas) are not completely understood. Most stage I cases are now entered into prospective trials to confirm the excellent results obtained with conservative treatment, whereas current therapeutic policies are based on accumulated experience. The limits of staging work-ups may have a significant impact on prospective trials and ordinary clinical practice. The authors explore the sensitivity of computed tomography scanning in detecting perigastric adenopathy in 20 patients with gastric MALToma treated by gastrectomy. Clinical staging identified 17 patients as having stage I MALTomas and three patients as having stage II1 MALTomas. Histopathologic staging showed that 8 of 17 patients formerly diagnosed with stage I MALToma had perigastric nodal involvement, whereas the three patients with clinical stage II1 were confirmed as such. Computed tomography scanning has low sensitivity in detecting perigastric lymphadenopathy in gastric MALTomas. This leads to understaging, with a significant impact on therapeutic decision, and distorts newly acquired knowledge about the disease's natural history and management, introducing a bias in prospective clinical trials. Endoscopic ultrasonography should be tested as a staging procedure both in prospective trials and in ordinary clinical practice.     

A one-million-year-old Homo cranium from the Danakil (Afar) Depression of Eritrea

One of the most contentious topics in the study of human evolution is that of the time, place and mode of origin of Homo sapiens. The discovery in the Northern Danakil (Afar) Depression, Eritrea, of a well-preserved Homo cranium with a mixture of characters typical of H. erectus and H. sapiens contributes significantly to this debate. The cranium was found in a succession of fluvio-deltaic and lacustrine deposits and is associated with a rich mammalian fauna of early to early-middle Pleistocene age. A magnetostratigraphic survey indicates two reversed and two normal magnetozones. The layer in which the cranium was found is near the top of the lower normal magnetozone, which is identified as the Jaramillo subchron. Consequently, the human remains can be dated at approximately 1 million years before present.     

Topographic diagnosis of hearing loss in patients with ischemic heart disease. Use of high-rate brain stem evoked response audiometry

Hearing loss in patients with ischemic heart disease traditionally has been attributed to atheromatous cerebral vascular disease. In this study, the site of the auditory lesion was sought in patients with ischemic heart disease and perceptive hearing loss. Standard brainstem evoked response audiometry (BSER) with increased stimulation rate (ISR) were performed. Sixty-seven patients admitted for coronary artery disease were examined. Fifty-seven recordings were complete and evaluable. All the cases of hearing loss were endocochlear. In 4 patients. BSER and ISR detected subclinical retrocochlear lesions that were compatible with ischemic disease. The results suggest that selective early cochlear ischemia can occur in young persons with heart disease. The sensitivity of BSER with ISR for detecting ischemic brainstem lesions was confirmed.     

Structure and ion dynamics in AgI : Ag2B4O7 vitreous electrolytes

Compounds of the system (AgI)_x(Ag₂B₄O₇)_1?x can be thought of as a network made by an equal number of BO₃ and BO₄ groups containing silver iodide polyhedra. Partially crystalline compounds are obtained when the AgI molar fraction, x, is more than two times the Ag₂B₄O₇ fraction. For the same iodine concentration, the ionic conductivities of the AgI : Ag₂B₄O₇ glasses are comparable with those of other AgI : Ag-oxysalt glasses. However, their glass transition temperatures are substantially higher. With increasing silver iodine content, the physical properties which have been investigated approach smoothly the corresponding values expected for α-AgI. However, it is shown that Ag⁺ within the iodide polyhedra is not the unique current carrier and that a wide distribution of barrier heights exists in these glasses.     

Effect of natural fermentation on the content of inositol phosphates in lentils

The effects of natural fermentation upon phytic acid and less phosphorylated inositol phosphates ofLens culinaris var vulgaris cultivar Magda-20 were investigated. Seven fermentation runs were made following a 2² complete factorial design with three replicated centre points to study the effect of different conditions of temperature (28, 35 and 42°C) and broth concentration (79, 150 and 221 g/l). Samples were taken for each of them at daily intervals (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h). The pH value declined sharply in the first 24 h of fermentation, becoming stabilized from this time. The relation between lactic acid and titratable acidity presented important differences between the different fermentations, ranging from 30–80%. Phytic acid (IP ₆), inositol pentakis (IP ₅), tetrakis (IP ₄) and tris-(IP ₃) phosphates were quantitatively determined. The content of total inositol phosphates showed a maximum reduction of 63% at 72 h under the fermentation conditions of 42°C and 79 g/l.     

An evaluation of the relative effectiveness of NCTM standards-based interventions for low-achieving urban elementary students.

The effects of 2 instructional methods, problem solving and peer collaboration, were evaluated for enhancing mathematics achievement, academic motivation, and self-concept of 104 low-achieving 3rd and 4th graders. Students were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 conditions: control, problem solving, peer collaboration, and problem solving?+?peer collaboration. Students in all conditions met twice weekly for 30-min mathematics sessions over a 7-week period. Results indicate that problem-solving students performed significantly higher than their counterparts who did not receive problem solving on measures of computation and word problems and reported higher levels of academic motivation, academic self-concept, and social competence. Students who participated in peer collaboration scored higher on measures of computation and word problems and reported higher levels of academic motivation and social competence than did students who did not participate in peer collaboration. No significant interaction effect was found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrical conductivity of polycrystalline Fe2(MoO4)3

Measurements of the electrical conductivity of polycrystalline Fe₂ (MoO₄)₃ in the temperature range 370 to 900 K and in the oxygen partial pressure region 10^?4 to 1 atm are presented. Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ is found to be a semiconductor. Differing conduction mechanisms operate, depending on the crystallographic form of Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ and the oxygen partial pressure, and their nature is discussed.     

The acerola fruit: composition, productive characteristics and economic importance

The acerola (Malpighia emarginata Sessé y Moci?o ex DC) is a wild plant grown in zones of tropical and subtropical climate. Acerola is origin from South of Mexico, Central America and Septentrional area of South America. Its scientific name was adopted in 1986 by the International Council of Vegetable Genetic Resources. Malpighia emarginata has a subglobulose drupa fruit with three seeds which account between the 19 - 25% of the total weight. The diameter and weight of the fruit varies between 1 - 4 cm and 2 - 15 g, respectively. The fruit shows green color when it is developing, which changes to yellow and red tones when it is mature. Each plant produces annually 20 - 30 kg of fruits. This fruit contents macro and micronutrients: proteins (0.21-0.80 g/100 g), fats (0.23-0.80 g/100 g), carbohydrates (3.6-7.80 g/100 g), mineral salts (iron 0.24, calcium 11.7, phosphorus 17.1 mg/100 g) and vitamins (thiamine 0.02, riboflavine 0.07, piridoxine 8.7 mg/100 g). Its high content in vitamin C (695 a 4827 mg/100 g) is remarkable, therefore acerola has an increasing economic value by its great consume during last years. Acerola also presents carotenoids and bioflavonoids which provide important nutritive value and its potential use as antioxidant. Brazil has a climate and soil appropriate for the culture of acerola, thus this country is the main mundial productor. Acerola is commercialised as juices, jams, ices, gelatins, sweets or liquors. Bibliographical data have been mainly supplied by Electronic Resources of the University of Seville and the University do Vale do Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brazil).     

Wideband uniplanar 180° phase switch

A wideband 180° phase switch is developed at millimetre-wave frequencies (31 GHz centre frequency) using uniplanar technology. The circuit is designed using coplanar-to-slotline transitions and commercial pin diodes as switching devices. The implementation is straightforward, fast in terms of fabrication and low-cost. The circuits tested, made on an alumina substrate, show a phase difference between states of 180° ± 2°, providing 40% bandwidth with in-band insertion loss lower than 2.5 dB and a return loss better than 10 dB. The phase switch provides a ±5° phase error in a bandwidth of around 60%, from 18 to 38 GHz.