Fatigue performance of RC beams strengthened with CFRP under coupling action of temperatures and vehicle random loads

Considering significant influence of servicing environments and vehicle random loads on fatigue performance of main load‐bearing members of bridges, in this paper, fatigue performance of reinforced concrete bridge structures strengthened with carbon fibre–reinforced polymer under coupling action of environmental temperatures and vehicle random loads was studied. A vehicle random loading spectrum for fatigue tests was simulated and compiled. A fatigue testing method with coupling action of random loads and temperatures was proposed, and 3‐point bending fatigue tests of the reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fibre–reinforced polymer under coupling action of temperatures and vehicle random loads were performed. Effects of temperatures and loading form on the fatigue damage mechanism were preliminarily discussed. A modified Palmgren‐Miner rule and semiempirical fatigue equations were proposed and proved effective.     

Increased sialylation of polymeric immunoglobulin A1: mechanism of selective glomerular deposition in immunoglobulin A nephropathy?

Monoclonal antibodies which recognize antigenic determinants expressed by T-cells and Ig-bearing cells, respectively, allowed lymphocyte subpopulations involved in allograft rejection of muscle transplants to be identified in the teleost fish Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). The monoclonal antibody DLT15 first allowed recognizing T-cells involved in an in vivo antigen-driven cellular response in teleosts. Immunohistochemical studies showed a high density of lymphocytes in allografts and provided evidence of predominance of T-cells. The heterogeneity of the cell populations recognized by the antibodies was evidenced by the different size, cytology, and staining patterns of T-cells and Ig-bearing cells.     

Optical coherence tomography of macular thickness after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate macular thickness changes after uneventful cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compare the findings with those of flare and cell measurements of the anterior chamber. SETTING: Clinique Sourdille, Nantes, France. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 41 eyes having uneventful cataract surgery with a clear corneal small incision and intracapsular fixation of a foldable intraocular lens were evaluated by OCT and laser flare and cell measurements preoperatively and 1, 8 to 12, and 30 to 60 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Some postoperative increase in macular thickness was noted in 11 eyes. This was not related to a higher postoperative flare. Visual consequences were proportional to the macular elevation. CONCLUSION: Clinical and subclinical thickness changes, without breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier, can be detected after cataract surgery. Most of these changes resolve spontaneously, but their mid- and long-term significance is unknown.     

5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in the radiotherapy of brain tumors in rats

Glial neoplasms of the human central nervous system have defied treatment, in part because of the limited selectivity of available cytotoxic agents. The thymidine analog 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine radiolabeled with the Auger electron emitter 125I (125IUdR) is highly toxic to dividing cells when it is deoxyribonucleic acid incorporated, but it is relatively innocuous when located outside the nucleus. Previous studies have shown that 125IUdR has significant antineoplastic potential against mammalian cells in vitro and direct administration of 125IUdR is effective therapy for ovarian ascites tumors in mice and neoplastic meningitis in rats. Studies using external gamma imaging and autoradiography have also shown that direct intratumoral administration of 123IUdR/125IUdR into intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas in rats results in selective uptake of the radionuclide into tumor cells. Based on these encouraging results, we have evaluated the therapeutic potential of 125IUdR in rats bearing intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas. METHODS: Iodine-125-IUdR was infused intracerebrally over a 2-day period into rats bearing 1-day-old 9L tumors and over a 6-day period into animals with 9-day-old 9L tumors; equimolar concentrations of 127IUdR were infused into control animals. Tumor growth was monitored by contrast-enhanced 1H MRI and animal survival was followed over time. RESULTS: Intracerebral tumors (3-7 mm) were readily detected by MRI. Tumor-bearing rats treated with 127IUdR succumbed within 17-24 days, whereas tumor-bearing animals treated with 125IUdR survived significantly longer, and 10%-20% of the animals were cured of tumors. CONCLUSION: These data substantiate the antineoplastic potential of 5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and indicate that it may be a useful agent for the therapy of solid tumors that are accessible to direct radiopharmaceutical administration.     

Neonatal benign sacrococcygeal teratoma with N-type rectobulbar fistula

A unique case of benign sacrococcygeal teratoma associated with an N-type rectobulbar fistula is reported.     

Angiokeratoma and fucosidosis. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

INTRODUCTION: Angiokeratoma can lead to diagnoses other than Fabry's disease. We report a case of angiokeratoma in a child with fucosidosis. CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old child with psychomotor retardation presented angiokeratoma located on the penis. Uptake of type I Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin antilectin antiserum was intense in the endothelial structure. This antibody is specific for alpha-L-fucose residues which were thus found in large quantities in the vacuoles of the ultrastructure. The patient also had a major deficiency in leukocyte, serum and fibroblast alpha-fucosidase. COMMENTS: This is a typical case of fucosidosis, a rare hereditary disease with autosomal recessive transmission due to generalized deficiency in alpha-L-fucosidase. Diffuse angiokeratosis should suggest, other than Fabry's disease, fucosidase and other enzyme deficiencies including sialidase, GM1 gangliosidase as well as Kanzaki's disease.     

Arteriovenous malformation presenting as a complex pelvic mass with ureteral obstruction. A case report

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are an abnormal communication between arterial and venous structures. Pelvic AVMs have been infrequently described in the literature and represent an uncommon cause of a palpable pelvic mass. CASE: A case of pelvic AVM with ureteral obstruction occurred. The location and radiologic appearance of the AVM suggested a complex adnexal mass. During exploration and resection of the mass, significant bleeding was encountered. The diagnosis of AVM was made only retrospectively, with histologic examination of the specimen. CONCLUSION: AVMs are an uncommon and unique cause of pelvic pathology. Preoperative diagnosis will alert the surgeon as to the technically difficult resection that may be encountered and to the massive bleeding that can be associated with their removal.     

Modelling biological gel contraction by cells: mechanocellular formulation and cell traction force quantification

Traction forces developed by most cell types play a significant role in the spatial organisation of biological tissues. However, due to the complexity of cell-extracellular matrix interactions, these forces are quantitatively difficult to estimate without explicitly considering cell properties and extracellular mechanical matrix responses. Recent experimental devices elaborated for measuring cell traction on extracellular matrix use cell deposits on a piece of gel placed between one fixed and one moving holder. We formulate here a mathematical model describing the dynamic behaviour of the cell-gel medium in such devices. This model is based on a mechanical force balance quantification of the gel visco-elastic response to the traction forces exerted by the diffusing cells. Thus, we theoretically analyzed and simulated the displacement of the free moving boundary of the system under various conditions for cells and gel concentrations. This model is then used as the theoretical basis of an experimental device where endothelial cells are seeded on a rectangular biogel of fibrin cast between two floating holders, one fixed and the other linked to a force sensor. From a comparison of displacement of the gel moving boundary simulated by the model and the experimental data recorded from the moving holder displacement, the magnitude of the traction forces exerted by the endothelial cell on the fibrin gel was estimated for different experimental situations. Different analytical expressions for the cell traction term are proposed and the corresponding force quantifications are compared to the traction force measurements reported for various kind of cells with the use of similar or different experimental devices.