Middle cerebral artery main stem thrombosis in two siblings with familial thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is frequently complicated by microinfarcts in cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter. We describe two sisters who suffered massive hemispheric infarction due to thrombosis of the middle cerebral artery main stem during exacerbations of TTP. Acute TTP may be associated with intraluminal thrombosis of large-diameter arteries in addition to arterioles and capillaries.     

The use of force modulation microscopy to investigate block copolymer morphology

Force modulation microscopy (FMM) is used to characterize the external surface and internal fracture surface morphologies of three different block copolymer samples. A roll-cast poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) triblock copolymer film, spin-coated poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) thin films, and an ultrathin poly(styrene-b-hexyl isocyanate) rod-coil block copolymer film were investigated. For each sample, height and elasticity images were obtained for the same areas allowing direct comparison. The elasticity images obtained using force modulation microscopy were independent of surface roughness and found to exhibit better contrast and spatial resolution of the respective block copolymer domains than the height images. The lateral resolution of the elasticity images was sufficient to show microphase separated domains having length scales as small as about 10 nm. The poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) samples demonstrate that FMM can even be successfully used to study block copolymers in which both blocks are glassy under the conditions of measurement.     

Cellular mechanisms for developmental toxicity of chlorpyrifos: targeting the adenylyl cyclase signaling cascade

Developmental neurotoxicity caused by chlorpyrifos exposure is generally thought to target cholinesterase but chlorpyrifos may also act on cellular intermediates, such as adenylyl cyclase, that serve global functions in the coordination of cell development. In the current study, neonatal rats were exposed to apparently subtoxic doses of chlorpyrifos (no weight loss, no mortality) either on Postnatal Days 1-4 or on Postnatal Days 11-14, and the effects on components of the adenylyl cyclase cascade were evaluated in brain regions that are enriched (forebrain) or sparse (cerebellum) in cholinergic innervation, as well as in a nonneural tissue (heart). In all three, chlorpyrifos evoked deficits in multiple components of the adenylyl cyclase cascade: expression and activity of adenylyl cyclase itself, functioning of G-proteins that link neurotransmitter and hormone receptors to cyclase activity, and expression of neurotransmitter receptors that act through this cascade. Disruption of signaling function was not restricted to transduction of cholinergic signals but rather extended to adrenergic signals as well. In most cases, the adverse effects were not evident during the immediate period of chlorpyrifos administration, but appeared after a delay of several days. These results suggest that chlorpyrifos can affect cell development by altering the activity and reactivity of the adenylyl cyclase signaling cascade, a major control point for trophic regulation of cell differentiation. The effects are not restricted to cholinergic targets, nor even to the central nervous system. Hence, disruption of cell development by chlorpyrifos is likely to be more widespread than previously thought.     

Eradication of Barrett''s mucosa with argon plasma coagulation and acid suppression: immediate and mid term results

Microcapsules are used for the formulation of drug controlled release and drug targeting dosage forms. Encapsulated hydrophobic drugs are often applied as their solutions in plant oils. The uptake of the oils in the complex coacervate microcapsules can be improved by the addition of surfactants. In this study, soybean, olive and peanut oils were chosen as the representatives of plant oils. The well characterized complex coacervation of gelatin and acacia has been used to produce the microcapsules. The amount of encapsulated oil has been determined gravimetrically. The encapsulation of the oils was high (75-80%). When the surfactants with HLB values from 1.8 to 6.7 were used, the amount of encapsulated oil was high (65-85%). A significant decrease of the oil content in the microcapsules was found when Tween 61 with HLB = 9.6 had been added into the mixture. No oil was found inside the microcapsules from the coacervate emulsion mixture containing Tween 81 (HLB = 10) and Tween 80 (HLB = 15), respectively. The results of the experiment confirm the dependence of hydrophobic substance encapsulation on the HLB published recently for Squalan.     

Depression as a dynamical disease

Mathematical models are helpful in the understanding of diseases through the use of dynamical indicators. A previous study has shown that brain activity can be characterized by a decrease of dynamical complexity in depressive subjects. The present paper confirms and extends these conclusions through the use of recent methodological advances: first episode and recurrent patients strongly differ in their dynamical response to therapeutic interventions. These results emphasize the need for clinical follow-ups to avoid recurrence and the necessity of specific therapeutic intervention in the case of recurrent patients.     

Aortic dissection: a medical perspective

Over the past 3 years, a greater understanding of predisposing factors and the pathology of the aortic wall has yielded more insights into the pathogenesis, as well as into more accurate diagnostic and preventive methods. This update will discuss: (1) the incidence, definition, and recent classification of aortic dissection; (2) epidemiology, medical, and recent surgical series; (3) the pathogenesis and risk factors; (4) clinical features and evolving noninvasive imaging approaches to diagnosis; and (5) management from a medical perspective.     

Red blood cell glutathione status in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies treated with 5-fluorouracil

As an alternative to surgical splenectomy, partial splenic embolization was performed in seven children for hypersplenism manifested by splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and erythrocyte hemolysis. Within a few days, platelet and leukocyte counts rose significantly in all patients and were maintained in six of seven patients during a follow-up period of 9 to 69 months. Spleen size and abdominal distention also decreased significantly in all children. There were no infectious complications.     

Software for dynamic reconfigurable order picking systems

This paper describes an approach, conceptual framework, and software architecture for dynamic reconfiguration of the order picking system. The research and development project was sponsored by the Material Handling Research Center (MHRC), a National Science Foundation sponsored Cooperative Industry/University Research Center. The storage configuration is assumed to be an in-the-aisle order picking system in which stockkeeping units (SKUs) can occupy variable capacity storage locations and stock-splitting is allowed among zones (clusters). The product mix may include multiple product families with different life cycles, correlated demand within families and commonality of demand across families.