Synthesis, spectral and antimicrobial properties of 5-chloroarylidene aromatic derivatives of imidazoline-4-one

The synthesis of new chloro-benzylidene substituted derivatives of hydantoin and their antimicrobial activity is reported. The structure-activity relationships showed that the antibacterial effect of investigated compounds depends on the distance of the phenyl ring from the amine residue and the kind of substitutes on the phenyl ring. In the investigated group of derivatives, 5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(4-fluorobenzylamine)-imidazoline-4-one and 5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(2-phenylethylamine)-imidazoline-4-one showed the best antibacterial activity against Moraxella catarrhalis.     

The evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen determination in the pericardial fluid in the diagnosis of the cause of pericarditis

Pericardial fluid CEA level was measured with radioimmunoassay in 19 patients with large pericardial effusion of unknown origin. In 11 patients malignancy was diagnosed. In all of these patients pericardial fluid CEA levels were above 7 ng/ml (mean value 52.6 +/- 42.6 ng/ml). In 8 patients the etiology of pericarditis was non-malignant. In all of them pericardial fluid CEA levels were below 7 ng/ml (mean value 2.2 +/- 1.6 ng/ml). In 9 patients with malignant pericarditis serum CEA levels were also determined: they were found to be lower than pericardial fluid CEA values in 6 patients. It was concluded that pericardial fluid CEA elevation is a reliable criteria of neoplastic pericardial involvement.     

Microflora of periodontal pockets in advanced periodontitis

The aim of study was the evaluation of periodontal pockets microflora in patients with advanced periodontitis. From each subject 16-20 samples were taken using paper points. Pooled sample after 60 s. mixing was serially diluted in reduced BHI. For total cell counts and for the isolation of black pigmented anaerobes Brucella agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood, hemin, menadione, with and without Kanamycin-Vancomycin mixture and BM agar plates were used. For isolation of A. actinomycetemcomitans TSBV agar plates were used. Cultures were incubated in anaerobic chamber at 37 degrees C for 7 days and TSBV agar plates in an atmosphere of 95% air-5% CO2 at 37 degrees C for 5 days. Microorganisms were identified by Gram staining, colony morphology, fluorescence in UV-light, haemagglutination of 3% sheep erythrocytes, fermentation of sugars, production of indole, urease (API 20A), specific enzymes (Rapid ID 32A). Twenty seven subjects with clinically recognized periodontitis were examined. Microorganisms important in periodontitis were isolated from periodontal pockets of almost all examined subjects. The number of bacteria obtained from the sample of one patient ranged from 1 x 10(4) CFU/ml to 3,6 x 10(6) CFU/ml. Porphyromonas gingivalis was identified in the samples taken from 17 patients, Prevotella intermedia-19, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans -11, Fusobacterium nucleatum-9, Peptostreptococcus spp.-22.     

The assessment of therapeutic effectiveness of paravertebral blockades in patients with painful radicular syndromes in discopathy and in lumbar spine spondylosis

A group of 103 patients were examined for radicular painful syndromes in lumbar discopathy and lumbar spondylosis. Fifty-eight were treated by placing them in spine-decompressing position, traction and therapeutic exercises. The group of 45 patients had additionally paravertebral blockade (steroid + a local anaesthetic). In the blockade group the therapeutic effects were better, with rapid reduction of acute pain, with wellbeing improvement and better comfort, which facilitated further stages of the treatment. This made possible shortening of hospital stay by 20%, on average, as compared with the group without blockade. In patients with shorter lasting radicular pains (below 2 months) the results after paravertebral blockade were significantly better than in cases with longer duration of pains (2-6 months).     

Collagen and glycosaminoglycans of Wharton''s jelly

The survival of rat cerebellar granule cells maintained in vitro is enhanced by a KCl-enriched medium. This effect is classically interpreted as resulting from a higher cytosolic calcium concentration. This implies the presence of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and a membrane potential that can respond to changes in external K+. Since previous studies cast a doubt on these two conditions, we reinvestigated the resting membrane potential and Ca2+ influxes in rat cerebellar granule neurones during the first week in vitro using a fluorescence imaging approach. Membrane potential was assessed with the fluorescent dye bis-oxonol, and intracellular free calcium with Fura-2. Resting potential was shown to progressively decrease from -40 mV at the first day in vitro to -60 mV at day 7. At all times in culture, as early as day 0, cells were depolarized when external KCl concentration was increased from 5 to 30 mM. This depolarization resulted in an increased cytosolic calcium concentration due to Ca2+ influx through L-type and N-type voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, functional at day 0. Gross estimations of the permeabilities of Na+ and Cl- were obtained at various times in culture by measuring the changes in resting potential brought about by a reduction of their external concentration. A progressive increase of the relative permeability to K+ ions seems to underlie the evolution of the resting potential with time.     

Optimization of output power in hollow-waveguide lasers

We present an approximate analysis of the nonlinear operation of the hollow-waveguide laser, including gain saturation and longitudinal- as well as transverse-field distribution of the laser mode. The model presented is general and can be applied to the study of an arbitrary configuration of the waveguide laser. The laser characteristics obtained reveal that the optimal position of the output mirror (which provides maximal power efficiency of the laser system with the other parameters constant) depends on the output-power level and the mirror-reflectivity coefficient. Moreover, it has been shown that when an addition device is introduced into the cavity, the power efficiency also depends on which end of the laser the light power is extracted from.     

Effects of support on hydrogen adsorption/desorption on nickel

The effects of alumina, silica and carbon on hydrogen adsorption on nickel were studied by the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) method. The examinations were carried out in the flow system, starting TP measurement at 100 K, which resulted in the formation of complete characteristics of the interaction of hydrogen with supported nickel. The examinations have shown that each support modifies in its own way the state of hydrogen adsorbed on nickel. Alumina and silica insignificantly affect hydrogen strongly adsorbed on nickel, but significantly affect hydrogen weakly adsorbed; in particular, the effect of silica depends qualitatively on the way of preparation of the examined sample. Carbon affects significantly both strongly and weakly adsorbed hydrogen.     

Electrodeposition and heat treatment of nickel/silicon carbide composites

Electrodeposited Ni/SiC composite coatings were obtained in a Watts-type bath. The effect of fine SiC particles on polarization curves of the cathodic reduction of nickel ions was discussed. The incorporation of the particles into the deposit with respect to current density and SiC concentration in the bath was tested. Cathodic current efficiencies were also calculated. Structure of as-plated and heat-treated Ni/SiC composites were examined by means of metallography observations as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods. Two phase transformations in the temperatures range of 20-700 °C were found. For annealed samples, Ni₂Si and Ni₃Si₂ phases were identified. Hardening of the Ni/SiC composites as a function of the particle content in the deposit and annealing temperature was determined by means of the microhardness testing method.     

Sorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions in the presence of EDTA on monodisperse anion exchangers

Conventional precipitation methods of industrial sewage and wastewater purification are not very effective and are insufficient in many cases. This implies the necessity of searching new, effective methods exploiting cheap, accessible and ecologically safe ion exchangers and sorbents. The paper presents the studies on removal of heavy metal ions — Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Fe(III) — from aqueous solutions in the presence of EDTA carried out on commercially available, strongly basic monodisperse anion exchangers with the polystyrene skeleton gel, Lewatit MonoPlus M 500; and the macroporous, Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500, which are more widely applied in water purification processes. The research results indicate a high affinity of the Lewatit MonoPlus M 500 and Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500 anion exchangers in the chloride form for copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes with EDTA. The affinity series for the heavy metal complexes in the 0.001 M M(II)/(III)–0.001 M EDTA and 0.001 M M(II)/(III)–0.001M EDTA–0.001 M–0.002 M NaOH systems were found for the Lewatit MonoPlus M 500 anion exchanger in the chloride form to be as follows: Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II) Fe(III). In the case of the Lewatit MonoPlus MP 500 anion exchanger in the chloride form there was found the following affinity series: Cu(II) > Co(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) Fe(III). These anion exchangers can be applied in the removal of copper(II) complexes from waters and wastewaters.     

Electrochemical behaviour of palladium electrode: Oxidation, electrodissolution and ionic adsorption

In electrochemistry, Pourbaix diagrams also known as potential-pH diagrams map out the regions of stability of metals as well as the regions of possible existence of stable compounds. The stable states other than the metallic one are macroscopic compounds, typically oxides and hydroxides, or their hydrated forms. Yet, several noble metals possess the ability to form thin surface oxides, to adsorb anions, and to adsorb or to absorb hydrogen in the potential range of water stability. Palladium is a unique noble metal owing to its ability to adsorbed and to absorb H, as well as to form compact and stable surface oxides. Anodic polarization of Pd results in the formation of a surface oxide. Thus, a great majority of anodic electrode processes takes place not at a metallic surface but at a surface covered with an oxide layer. Although thin surface oxides reveal metallic conductivity, the presence of O-containing species affects the electron transfer kinetics and the adsorption behaviour of reactants, intermediates, and products. Thus, the electrocatalytic properties of Pd electrodes, and the mechanism and kinetics of the reaction under consideration are strongly affected by the oxide layer, its thickness, chemical composition (Pd oxidation state and nature of O-containing species) and 3D structure, degree of oxide hydration, and electronic properties. This contribution presents an overview of the current understanding of electro-oxidation of Pd in aqueous acidic and basic electrolytes. In particular, it describes the formation of Pd oxides under various experimental conditions and discusses their chemical and physical nature. It examines the reduction of O-containing species present on Pd electrodes as well as the adsorption of anions and cations. Since Pd can undergo electrodissolution that results in material loss, the process is analyzed in relation to experimental parameters. Recent developments in the electrochemical behaviour of single-crystal Pd electrodes are discussed. Electrochemical parameters such as the potential of zero charge, potential of zero total charge and potential of zero free charge are of importance to the structure of the electric double layer; thus, their values are discussed in relation to the absence/presence of Pd surface oxides. Finally, various experimental procedures commonly used to determine the real surface area of Pd electrodes are outlined and compared.