Histomorphometric study in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

There is agreement on the clinical diagnostic criteria for acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP/GBS) however, there is lack of consensus for detection of demyelination. In order to critically evaluate the prevailing criteria, sixty-six patients who fulfilled NINCDS criteria and had typical features of GBS were studied for electrophysiological abnormalities of peripheral nerves by using standard methods (median, common peroneal, sural and ulnar) between 1 to 12 weeks after the onset of symptoms. The commonest abnormality on motor nerve conduction study was prolonged distal latency (75%-83%) followed by reduction in CMAP amplitude (63%-82%), decreased velocity (48%-62%), conduction block (17%-39%) and f-wave abnormalities (37.8%-59%). Sensory conduction abnormalities were detected in over 20% of median, 25% of ulnar and 33% of sural nerves. All the patients had abnormality of at least two motor conduction parameters in one nerve when values beyond 2 SD of the mean were considered abnormal and over 70% of patients had three abnormalities in two nerves or two abnormalities in three nerves. Comparison with the prevailing criteria for demyelination revealed that the number of patients fulfilling them varied widely: Albers et al. (1985): 74.2%, Albers et al. (1989): 40.9% and Cornblath: 30.3%. We believe that the current criteria for detection of demyelination in acute neuropathy are too strict, underestimate the underlying pathology in GBS and need reassessment.     

Synthesis and characterization of cyclic pseudopeptide libraries containing thiomethylene and thiomethylene-sulfoxide amide bond surrogates

Resistance-modifying agents (RMAs) such as Verapamil have been proved to be effective in reversing multi-drug resistance (MDR) in many in vitro assays. In this study we have investigated the efficacy of Dex-Verapamil, the R-isomer of Verapamil, as a chemosensitizer in a murine leukemia cell line (P388) and in its resistant counterpart (P388/Dx) expressing a typical MDR phenotype. We have examined in vivo the effect of the co-administration of Dex-Verapamil and Doxorubicin in mice transplanted with P388 or P388/Dx cells. Mice treated with the combination of Doxorubicin plus RMA had a significant increase in survival rate as compared to controls; however, the effect was modest. On the contrary, in vitro Dex-Verapamil can enhance Doxorubicin cytotoxicity in P388/Dx cells with a much greater effect depending on the treatment scheme used, by increasing the intracellular content of drug. Taken together our data indicate that Dex-Verapamil can indeed increase the sensitivity to Doxorubicin in resistant cells, but the limited efficacy shown in vivo demonstrates that this phenomenon is strongly dependent on the treatment scheme used and on the maintenance of constantly elevated serum levels.     

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy for patients with recurrent pericardial effusion: using a novel double-balloon technique with one long and one short balloon

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy is effective and less invasive for the treatment of recurrent pericardial effusion. This study suggests that the double-balloon method with 1 longer and 1 shorter balloon is the procedure of choice for percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy.     

Preceramic organoboron–silicon polymers

Several boron-containing organosilicon polymers were synthesized from a sodium-coupling reaction of silicon and boron halides with and without alkyl halide in hydrocarbon solvents. The B–Si preceramic polymers were characterized using techniques such as IR, UV, and NMR spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, molecular weight measurement, and thermal analyses (TGA, DSC, DTA, and TMA). The chemical structures of the preceramic polymers were postulated based on the analytical results. Black ceramic materials were obtained from the precursor polymers upon thermal degradation at temperatures above 1000°C in an inert atmosphere. The precursor polymers had a ceramic yield of up to 70%. Thermogravimetric analysis of the ceramic material in air at a flow rate of 100 mL/min showed it was stable up to 1000°C with little weight gain or loss. Several methods were used to characterize the ceramic materials: XRD, solid NMR, high-temperature DTA, elemental analysis, and acid digestion. The analyses indicated that the ceramic materials comprised a mixture of silicon carbide (SiC), silicon borides (SiB₄, SiB₆), and amorphous Si–B–C ceramics, with small amounts of silica and free silicon.     

Effect of atherogenic diet on chicken plasma lipids and lipoproteins

Adult male White Leghorn chickens were used in an experimental model system to study atherogenesis, and the effects of an atherogenic diet on plasma lipoprotein composition including carotenoids were determined. This model also included treatment with diazepam, a drug known to reduce formation of atherogenic plaques. After 6 wk consumption of a high-cholesterol, high-triglyceride diet, chickens had mean total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and carotenoid concentrations that were significantly increased over those from chicks that consumed the standard diet. Diazepam treatment had no significant effect on whole plasma concentrations of these lipids. Total body weight gain was unaffected by diet, but liver weight expressed as percentage of body weight was significantly increased in chickens that consumed the atherogenic diet. High density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions were isolated from plasma samples by ultracentrifugation. The atherogenic diet increased the carotenoid, cholesterol, and protein content of the LDL fractions but not the HDL fractions.     

p53 expression in neurofibroma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. An immunohistochemical study of sporadic and NF1-associated tumors

OBJECTIVES--(1) to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with single photon emission computed tomography and 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime in patients with the idiopathic adult hydrocephalus syndrome (IAHS); (2) to examine regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), gait, and psychometric functions before and after CSF removal (CSF tap test); (3) to assess abnormalities in subcortical white matter by MRI. METHODS--Thirty one patients fulfilling the criteria for IAHS (according to history and clinical and neuroradiological examination) were studied. Quantified gait measurements, psychometric testing, and rCBF before and after removal of CSF were obtained. Pressure of CSF and CSF outflow conductance were investigated with a constant pressure infusion method. Brain MRI was used to quantify the severity of white matter lesions and periventricular hyperintensities. In IAHS a widespread rCBF hypoperfusion pattern was depicted, with a caudal frontal and temporal grey matter and subcortical white matter reduction of rCBF as the dominant feature. Removal of CSF was not accompanied by a concomitant increase in rCBF. Significant white matter lesions were detected only in a minority of patients by MRI. An altered CSF hydrodynamic state with a higher CSF pressure and lower conductance was confirmed. IAHS is characterised by an abnormal CSF hydrodynamic state, associated with a widespread rCBF reduction with preference for subcortical white matter and frontal-temporal cortical regions. Furthermore in most patients MRI did not show white matter changes suggestive of a coexistent subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy. At least in the idiopathic group of patients with AHS, measurements of rCBF before and after temporary relief of the CSF hydrodynamic disturbance will not provide additional information that would be helpful in the preoperative evaluation but is suggestive of a preserved autoregulation of rCBF.     

The globally Bi-3-connected property of the honeycomb rectangular torus

The honeycomb rectangular torus is an attractive alternative to existing networks such as mesh-connected networks in parallel and distributed applications because of its low network cost and well-structured connectivity. Assume that m and n are positive even integers with n ? 4. It is known that every honeycomb rectangular torus HReT(m,n) is a 3-regular bipartite graph. We prove that in any HReT(m,n), there exist three internally-disjoint spanning paths joining x and y whenever x and y belong to different partite sets. Moreover, for any pair of vertices x and y in the same partite set, there exists a vertex z in the partite set not containing x and y, such that there exist three internally-disjoint spanning paths of G-{z} joining x and y. Furthermore, for any three vertices x, y, and z of the same partite set there exist three internally-disjoint spanning paths of G-{z} joining x and y if and only if n ? 6 or m = 2.     

C pm MPPAC for manufacturing quality control applied to the precision voltage reference process

The multiprocess performance analysis chart (MPPAC) based on the process capability index C_pm, called C_pm MPPAC, is developed for analysing the manufacturing quality of a group of processes in a multiple process environment. The C_pm MPPAC conveys critical information of multiple processes regarding the departure of the process and process variability from one single chart. Existing research works on MPPAC are restricted to obtaining quality information from one single sample of each process ignoring sampling errors. The information provided from existing MPPAC charts, therefore, is unreliable and misleading and results in incorrect decisions. In this paper, we consider the natural estimator of C_pm based on multiple samples. Based on the natural estimator of C_pm, we consider the sampling errors by providing an explicit formula with the Matlab program to obtain the estimation accuracy of the C_pm. We tabulate the sampling accuracy of C_pm for sample size determination so that the engineers/practitioners can use it for their in-plant applications. An example of multiple precision voltage reference (PVR) processes is presented to illustrate the applicability of C_pm MPPAC for manufacturing quality control.     

Cracking Go

Many of the early computer-chess researchers hailed from the fields of psychology or artificial intelligence and believed that chess programs should mimic human thinking. Specifically, they wanted computers to examine only playing sequences that were meaningful according to some human reasoning process. In computer chess this policy, known as selective search, never really made progress. The reason is that humans are extremely good at recognizing patterns; it is one of the things that we do best. The article focuses on weiqi, an ancient Chinese board game, better known in the West by the Japanese name of Go, whose combinatorial complexity is many orders of magnitude greater than that of chess. Go is played on a board crisscrossed by 19 vertical and 19 horizontal lines whose 361 points of intersection constitute the playing field. The object is to conquer those intersection points.     

The high jugular bulb: report of five cases and a review of the literature

The jugular bulb varies widely in position and dimensions. A high jugular bulb is not an uncommon finding in temporal bones. Besides our five cases with different clinical manifestations, we review 52 cases diagnosed clinically and published previously in the English literature. The high jugular bulb occurs more often on the right temporal bone. Certain pathologic conditions, such as an abnormal bone formation, an aberrant sinusojugular system, or decreased pneumatization of the mastoid bone, may predispose an individual to its occurrence. Most people with this anatomical variation remain asymptomatic. However, various otologic problems and symptoms may be attributed to this condition. A high resolution computed tomography scan is the most convenient diagnostic tool at present. Law projection plain mastoid radiography may reveal a high jugular bulb in certain cases, providing a preoperative warning to an otologic surgeon. An exploratory tympanotomy is not suggested for those with a high jugular bulb with a conductive hearing loss, while jugular vein ligation has been reported to have good results in alleviating intractable pulsatile tinnitus. For most asymptomatic patients, regular long-term follow-up is recommended.