Interkeratinocyte adherens junctions: immunocytochemical visualization of cell-cell junctional structures, distinct from desmosomes, in human epidermis

The intramedullary localization of schwannomas is rare, corresponding to 0.3% of all intraspinal tumors. The authors report the case of a 52-year-old white female patient that presented with symptoms of spinal compression by the presence of an intramedullary schwannoma at the level C4-C6. There were no symptoms of neurofibromatosis, entity frequently related to the lesion. The magnetic resonance imaging examination and the per-operatory biopsy were decisive factors in planning and executing the treatment, by establishing the characteristics, location and diagnosis of the lesion. Its delimitation and posterior location have facilitated total surgical exeresis. The transoperatively histopathologic examination allowed adequate surgical procedure. The Schwann cell is not found normally in the central nervous system and its presence in this site has been subject of many theories exposed in this paper, which proposes comprehensive review of the clinical aspects, imaging diagnosis, pathology, differential diagnosis and treatment of schwannomas. It is probable that, with the advances verified in the available diagnostic methods, a greater number of these lesions may be diagnosed in the future.     

Fabrication of HgBa2CuO x superconductor under atmospheric pressure

We report a simple and safe technology where rather pure Hg-1201 phase superconducting bulk samples can be fabricated. The pellet was heated at about 700°C for only 30 min in open air under atmospheric pressure. We have found that a dehydration process (heating for 20 h at 250°C) is a crucial procedure for success in forming the Hg-1201 phase.     

A failure assessment diagram for strain hardening materials under cyclic and monotonic loading

Strain hardening is introduced in the failure assessment diagram by studying two simple collapse models. These models together with the new failure curves are used both to predict the maximum load of different types of specimens and to assess the stability of these specimens under controlled displacement. The models are also used to study crack growth under a cyclic load high enough to cause gross plastic deformation and thus invalidate Paris law.     

Untersuchungen zur Resistenz von Edelmetall-Dentallegierungen

A study of the dealloying resistance of noble metal dental alloys. In connection with the development of low gold dental alloys the corrosion resistance of homogeneous gold-palladium-silver-experimental alloys was investigated in a chloride solution. Analogous measurements were made with several noble metal containing intermetallic phases which may be present in dental alloys of more complex composition. The results indicate a high corrosion resistance of the homogeneous gold-palladium-silver-alloys, since their free corrosion potentials are always situated within a region of their anodic polarization curves, where the current density of metal dissolution is extremely low. Within the composition limits of these alloys the substitution of gold by palladium did not reduce the extension of this “region of immunity” in a significant way. Intermetallic phases, however, as present in the systems silver-tin, silver-palladium-tin and silver-palladium-indium show a clearly restricted “region of immunity” and, at the free corrosion potential, are dissolved at a relatively high rate.     

Differenzierung pflanzlicher und tierischer Proteine durch isoelektrische Focussierung in Agarosegel

Zusammenfassung Am Beispiel von Fleisch-, Fischund Kartoffelproteinen wird über die Leistungsfähigkeit einer modifizierten Focussiermethode in Agarosegel berichtet. Bei erhöhtem Probendurchsatz lassen sich Analysendauer und Kosten senken.

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Differentiation of plant and animal proteins by isoelectric focusing in agarose gel

Summary A modified time and cost saving method for isoelectric focusing of protein mixtures in agarose gel is described. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by separation of meat, fish and potato proteins.

     

Readability of self-report depression inventories.

Reading grade levels were obtained for 10 depression scales (e.g., Beck Depression Inventory) using 2 empirically based readability formulae, one by R. Gunning (1952) and the other by R. F. Flesch (1949). Results suggest that most of the scales are appropriate for use with both adolescents and adult patients who have attained 9th-grade-level reading skills. The limitations of empirical estimates of readability are discussed, and it is noted that comprehension could be influenced by contextual variables such as scale format. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical and hemodynamic criteria for use of the intra-aortic balloon pump in patients requiring cardiac surgery

In order to establish criteria for elective use of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in patients having cardiac surgery, we conducted a retrospective study of 43 patients who required counterpulsation, because of inability to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, between May, 1972, and June, 1974. Patients in cardiogenic shock preoperatively were excluded. The 43 patients included 23 (Group A) who had severe preoperative left ventricular dysfunction with a mean cardiac index less than 1.8 L. per minute per square meter, ejection fraction less than 30 per cent, and end-diastolic pressure greater than 22 mm. Hg; 20 patients (Group B) had a combination of moderate cardiac dysfunction (cardiac index less than 2.2, ejection fraction less than 40, end-diastolic pressure less than 18) in the presence of acute infarction or severe aortic stenosis (gradient greater than 80 mm. Hg) with or without coronary disease. An inverse relationship was noted between survival and delay from completion of operation to the use of 1ABP. Thirty-two of 43 patients were weaned off bypass and were balloon assisted for 12 to 96 hours postoperatively; 25 patients were discharged (58 per cent). In Subgroup A, 14 of 23 (60 per cent) and, in Subgroup B, 9 of 20 (45 per cent) were long-term survivors. Based on these findings, 45 patients were operated upon between June, 1974, and December, 1975, with elective use of 1ABP and were assessed by serial hemodynamic studies. Sixteen had severe preoperative left ventricular dysfunction similar to Subgroup A and 29 had moderate dysfunction in combination with pathology similar to Subgroup B. Fifteen of these patients were hemodynamically unstable at time of arrival in the operating room; 1ABP was inserted under local anesthesia. Thirty-nine patients (87 per cent) were weaned off bypass and were hospital survivors. In Subgroup A, 13 of 16 (81 per cent) and, in Group B, 21 of 29 (72 per cent) were long-term survivors. Criteria for elective use of 1ABP in cardiac surgery should include severe preoperative left ventricular dysfunction or a combination of moderate dysfunction with coronary or valvular pathology. Elective 1ABP improves the survival with trivial iatrogenic morbidity.     

The Positive Magnetic Susceptibility for Rb3C60 Superconductor and the Differential Paramagnetic Effect

AC magnetic susceptibility of Rb₃C₆₀ superconductor as a function of temperature was measured in an applied static magnetic field perpendicular to the AC magnetic field. The peaks in real part of AC susceptibility curves located in the transitional temperature indicate that there may exist the differential paramagnetic effect (T) = dM/dH > 0 in the specimen. The amplitude of the peak and the temperature of diamagnetic onset are proportional to intensity of the applied field, and upon cooling the peaks occur before the transition temperature of zero field. Through discussing and comparing our experimental result with those reported previously, we have put forward a new opinion on producing condition of the differential paramagnetic effect (DPE).