Visual function in full-term infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Malignant melanoma with primary onset in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses remains a scarcely encountered malignancy and we report 12 cases of our own experience from 1991. These mucosal melanomas occur mainly in the elderly and present most commonly as a one sided airway obstructive syndrome with often bleeding in the nasal cavity. No sex or race ratio is found. Histological examination of the surgical specimen has been made easier since the use of immunohistochemical studies. The original site of onset is commonly located at the inferior part of the nasal cavity but in many cases, it is noted several sites of tumor localization. Despite well conducted treatment the prognosis remains quite deceiving and significantly poor. In our study, the 4-year actuarial survival was 26%. The 5-year survival rate ranges in the literature from 10% to 40%. Short and long term follow-up show an important rate of recurrence (local and lymph node metastases as well as distant metastases). The insidious evolution of the malignancy usually happens during the first year. Computed tomography and MRI are essential in the evaluation of tumor extension. The treatment is based on the combination of surgery and radiotherapy: Surgery is practised first and must ensure sufficient excision of the tumor without minimal functional or aesthetic damage in this complex region. This surgery is based on surgical approaches to the midface known as Lateral rhinotomy and midfacial degloving. When there is cervical lymph node involvement at the time of diagnosis it is suitable to treat it, even in case of recurrence. Complementary high dose radiation is required to treat tumors which could not undergo surgery and also as adjuvant therapy after removal of the mass.     

Divergent association of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with vascular disease in patients with NIDDM and control subjects

We analysed a well-characterized group of 83 patients (43 men, 40 women; mean age +/- SEM: 65.5 +/- 0.6 years at the 10-year examination) with non-insulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in 123 control subjects (56 men, 67 women; mean age +/- 0.9 years) retrospectively for the relationship of apolipoprotein E (apo E) genotypes (E2/3, E3/3 vs E3/4, E4/4) to the incidence of clinical macrovascular disease and its risk factors and the incidence of microvascular complications of diabetes during the first 10 years of NIDDM, as well as carotid intima-media thickness measured by B-mode ultrasound at the 10-year examination. In patients with NIDDM, apo E4 genotype showed no relationship to clinical events or carotid intima-media thickness. However, in the control subjects with apo E4, the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction during the follow-up was increased (apo E4 positivity: 17.1%; apo E4 negativity 5.1%; p = 0.035) and they had higher common carotid intima-media thickness than those with apo E2/3 or apo E3/3 (1.15 +/- 0.05 mm vs 1.01 +/- 0.03 mm, p = 0.008). Apo E genotype groups showed no relationship to microvascular complications of diabetes, although control subjects with apo E4 positivity showed a higher frequency of microalbuminuria than those lacking apo E4. We conclude that apo E4 was a marker of vascular disease and increased atherosclerosis in non-diabetic subjects, whereas in the diabetic patients these relationships were absent. It is likely that NIDDM per se influences the vascular risk so overwhelmingly that the effects of other risk factors are obscured.     

Hyperpolarization induces a rise in intracellular sodium concentration in dopamine cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta

We investigated the effect of changes in membrane-voltage on intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) of dopamine-sensitive neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta in a slice preparation of rat mesencephalon. Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were combined with microfluorometric measurements of [Na+]i using the Na+-sensitive probe, sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI). Hyperpolarization of spontaneously active dopamine neurons (recorded in current-clamp mode) caused the cessation of action potential firing accompanied by an elevation in [Na+]i. In dopamine neurons voltage-clamped at a holding potential of -60 mV elevations of [Na+]i were induced by long-lasting (45-60 s) voltage jumps to more negative membrane potentials (-90 to -120 mV) but not by corresponding voltage jumps to -30 mV. These hyperpolarization-induced elevations of [Na+]i were depressed during inhibition of I(h), a hyperpolarization-activated inward current, by Cs+. Hyperpolarization-induced elevations in [Na+]i might occur also in other cell types which express a powerful I(h) and might signal lack of postsynaptic activity.     

Soil Moisture Measurements: Comparison of Instrumentation Performances

It has long been recognized that reliable, robust, and automated instrumentation for the measurement of soil moisture content can be extremely useful, if not essential, in hydrological, environmental, and agricultural applications. A number of automated techniques for point measurement of soil water content have been developed to operational level over the past few decades. While each of those techniques has been individually calibrated by the gravimetric method, typically under laboratory conditions, there have been few studies that made a direct comparison between the various techniques, particularly under field conditions. This paper compares ECH2O probes, EC-5 (both sensors based on capacitance measurements, developed by Decagon Devices) and time domain reflectometer sensors (CS616 Campbell Scientific Water Content Reflectometer), with gravimetric data and with each other, under field conditions. Data were collected during two field experiments characterized by different soils and a wide range of soil moistures, resulting from irrigation/drying cycle. Results show that all the tested probes give acceptable results after being calibrated in the field. The capacitive sensors can be used in each type of soil with the same calibration equation, independently from depth, with root mean square error (RMSE) ranging between 2.5 and 3.6%. Time Domain Reflectometry probes showed a dependence on depth but a lower RMSE (1.6%).     

Cerium-based phosphors: blue luminescent properties for applications in optical displays

In this paper, we describe the blue photoluminescence (PL) observed in the multi-component oxosalt phosphor GdVO₄:Ce³⁺. Different doping concentrations (0.25–1 mol%) and heat treatment (900–1100 °C) were used to evaluate which conditions would lead to the most suitable blue phosphor for optimal display performance. The cerium doping concentration influences the profile of the emission spectrum (broad peak at 412 nm under UV excitation at 330 nm), as reflected on the values of chromaticity coordinates. On the basis of luminescent properties, we can conclude that, among the phosphors prepared in this work the most adequate for a blue display is the one obtained via the combustion method using glycine as fuel, a 0.50 mol% cerium doping concentration, and heat treatment at 1000 °C.     

Immobilization of liposomes in nanostructured layer-by-layer films containing dendrimers

Artificial vesicles or liposomes composed of lipid bilayers have been widely exploited as building blocks for artificial membranes, in attempts to mimic membrane interaction with drugs and proteins and to investigate drug delivery processes. In this study we report on the immobilization of liposomes of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (Sodium Salt) (DPPG) in layer-by-layer (LbL) films, alternated with poly(amidoamine) G4 (PAMAM) dendrimer layers. The average size of the liposomes in solution was 120 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering, with their spherical shape being inferred from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in cast films. LbL films containing up to 20 PAMAM/DPPG bilayers were assembled onto glass and/or silicon wafer substrates. The growth of the multilayers was achieved by alternately immersing the substrates into the PAMAM and DPPG solutions for 5 and 10 min, respectively. The formation of PAMAM/DPPG liposome multilayers and its ability to interact with BSA were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The structural features and film thickness were obtained using X-ray diffraction and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).     

Extraskeletal retroperitoneal osteosarcoma. A case report and review of the literature

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas, localized in the retroperitoneal space, are very rare neoplasms (only 200 cases have been described); the case indicated is the second one observed in Literature. The extraskeletal osteosarcomas are very malignant mesenchymal neoplasms reproducing osseous and cartilaginous tissue disconnected from the skeletal system. From a histological point of view, the extraskeletal osteosarcomas are constituted of osseous and cartilaginous tissue with osteo-fibro-chondroblastic cells: the different representation of three types of cells define the variety of extraskeletal osteosarcomas (osteoblastic, chondroblastic, fibroblastic). Histological and ultrastructural study failed to find differences between skeletal and extraskeletal osteosarcomas. In the clinical history of some patients traumas or irradiation has been referred; although extraskeletal osteosarcomas etiology is frequently unknown. Diagnosis is generally delayed because symptoms are often absent of uncertain. Prognosis of these neoplasms is always very poor, and specially in relation to the dimension and to the possibility of its radical removal. All patients died until 2-3 years after surgery.     

Allelochemical effects of eudesmane and eremophilane sesquiterpenes on Tribolium castaneum larvae

Eight eudesmane and eremophilane sesquiterpenes administered to Tribolium castaneum larvae caused different allelochemical effects. Topical application of 3-oxo--costic acid produced the greatest lengthening in the duration of the pupal stage. Morphological deformities were found, specifically when ilicic, costic, and -costic acids and costic aldehyde were used. Ilicic acid exhibited the major toxicity 72 hr following topical application. All compounds were significantly toxic at the end point of the experiment (60 days). Treated surface toxicity was lower than when topical assays were carried out. Responses to tessaric acid in choice bioassays had the highest attractive effect. Maximum repellency was caused by the 3-oxo--costic acid. However, experimental series carried out using -costic acid, eremophilan-1(10),2,11(13)-trien-12-oic acid, costic aldehyde, and ilicic aldehyde showed no clear response.