The effects of growth factors on Tenon''s capsule fibroblasts in serum-free culture

Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that in the mouse and rat nephron Ca2+ and Mg2+ are not reabsorbed in the medullary part of the thick ascending limb (mTAL) of Henle's loop. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the absence of transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport in the mouse mTAL is due to its relative low permeability to divalent cations. For this purpose, transepithelial ion net fluxes were measured by electron probe analysis in isolated perfused mouse mTAL segments, when the transepithelial potential difference (PDte.) was varied by chemical voltage clamp, during active NaCl transport inhibition by luminal furosemide. The results show that transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ net fluxes in the mTAL are not driven by the transepithelial PDte. At zero voltage, a small but significant net secretion of Ca2+ into the tubular lumen was observed. With a high lumen-positive PDte generated by creating a transepithelial bath-to-lumen NaCl concentration gradient, no Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption was noted; instead significant and sustained Ca2+ and Mg2+ net secretion occurred. When a lumen-positive PDte was generated in the absence of apical furosemide, but in the presence of a transepithelial bath-to-lumen NaCl concentration gradient, a huge Ca2+ net secretion and a lesser Mg2+ net secretion, not modified by ADH, were observed. Replacement of Na+ by K+ in the lumen perfusate induced, in the absence of PDte changes, important but reversible net secretions of Ca2+ and Mg2+. In conclusion, our results indicate that the passive permeability of the mouse mTAL to divalent cations is very low and not influenced by ADH. This nephron segment can secrete Ca2+ and Mg2+ into the luminal fluid under conditions which elicit large lumen-positive transepithelial potential differences. Given the impermeability of this epithelium to Ca2+ and Mg2+, the secretory processes would appear to be of cellular origin.     

Furnace grown gate oxynitride using nitric oxide (NO)

Gate oxynitride was grown in NO for the first time. This approach can provide a tight N accumulation near the Si/SiO₂ interface. Much lower thermal budget is required for an NO process than for an N₂O process to produce an oxynitride with useful properties. Submicron MOSFET's with NO oxynitride showed superior current drive characteristics and comparable hot carrier immunity to those with N₂O oxynitride     

Critical issues in the instruction of the learning disabled.

This article addresses several issues and trends relevant to the instruction of the learning disabled (LD). Although the concept of LD has received some support as a diagnostic category, limited data exist that demonstrate the effect of different instructional methods on the academic deficits of LD students. In this review, attempts to remediate LD are examined according to the adequacy of the theoretical context that guides the instruction and the efficacy and validity of the remediation procedures. Selected studies representative of medical, psychoeducational, neuropsychological, behavioral, linguistic, and cognitive treatment approaches are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Orbital volume measurement in the management of pure blowout fractures of the orbital floor

With the recent advent of accurate orbital volume assessment by computed tomography, a retrospective analysis was made of 31 patients with 'pure' blowout fracture of the orbital floor, managed either surgically or conservatively, to determine whether orbital volume measurement could provide an additional parameter of use in the management of such fractures. There was a significant difference in orbital volume discrepancy between patients managed surgically or conservatively suggesting that this investigation may be of use in decision making on surgical intervention in patients with orbital blowout fractures.     

State of Practice for Positive Moment Connections in Prestressed Concrete Girders Made Continuous

Precast bridges are often constructed as single span for dead load, but continuous for live load. A diaphragm connection is provided for negative moment continuity. However, the connection may also be subjected to positive moments due to time-dependent effects. Because these moments may be large enough to damage the diaphragm or even the girders, a positive moment connection is often provided. This paper reports on a study to determine the types of positive moment connections used across the country and to identify potential problems with these types of connections. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the state of practice for precast prestressed concrete bridges made continuous. The survey provides valuable information on this type of bridge and updates a previous survey on this subject.     

Evaluation and treatment of the infected foot in a community teaching hospital

More inpatient hospital days are used for the care of diabetic foot infection than for any other diabetic sequela. Both the number of lower extremity amputations and the overall treatment cost of treating diabetic infections may be reduced by using a team approach in the care of the infected diabetic pedal wound. The authors propose an evaluation and treatment protocol of infected pedal ulcerations in an urban, community teaching institution when admitted to an established, multidisciplinary diabetic foot care team. The hospital course of 111 patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of infected pedal ulceration are retrospectively reviewed. Results revealed an average-length hospital stay of 7.4 days with a 96% limb-salvage rate. The authors suggest that in the treatment of the infected pedal wound, a diabetic foot care team with a well developed treatment protocol may yield a consistently favorable outcome and a cost-effective hospital course.     

Hepatic toxicity associated with fluorouracil plus levamisole adjuvant therapy

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and nature of hepatic toxicity associated with fluorouracil (5-FU) plus levamisole adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients had resection of stage II or stage III colon cancer and were randomized to receive observation only, levamisole alone, or 5-FU plus levamisole. Serial liver function studies were documented in 1,025 patients who did not develop recurrence during the year of therapy. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine (39.6%) of 376 patients treated with 5-FU plus levamisole showed laboratory abnormalities consistent with hepatic toxicity, compared with 16.3% of 251 patients treated with levamisole alone and 16.1% of 398 untreated controls. Most common was elevation of alkaline phosphatase, frequently accompanied by elevations of transaminase or serum bilirubin. Characteristically, these changes were mild, not associated with symptoms, and resolved when therapy was stopped. In some instances, they were associated with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests or with fatty liver seen on computed tomographic (CT) scan or liver biopsy. CONCLUSION: Mild and reversible hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of 5-FU plus levamisole adjuvant therapy, but this is only rarely symptomatic. However, the oncologist should be alert to this phenomenon, since the associated laboratory and imaging findings may simulate those associated with hepatic metastasis.     

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound signals associated with prosthetic heart valves: an in vitro study

The application of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography to asymptomatic prosthetic heart valve patients can result in detection of localized bursts of high intensity signals, similar to those caused by the passage of emboli. The origin of these signals is not known. In order to investigate this phenomenon in a simplified, more controllable environment, a TCD machine was used to record flow downstream from mechanical prosthetic heart valves in a mock circulatory loop. The model, which uses a saline solution seeded with silk particles (< 15 micrometers) as the circulatory fluid, recreates the principal hydrodynamic characteristics of the left heart and systemic circulation. Reproducibility of the system was established through repeated testing of a Monostrut valve. Three different mechanical valve types, (Monostrut, Medtronic Hall, St. Jude Medical) were tested over a range of simulated cardiac outputs, and the effect of valve size was investigated with four Omniscience tilting disc valves (21, 23, 25 and 29 mm). Average energy of the reflected Doppler signal was used to quantify the amount of high intensity Doppler signal, QTCD. TCD signals recorded in vitro were visually and aurally similar to those found in prosthetic heart valve patients. All valve types generated exponentially more QTCD with increasing simulated cardiac output. Differences amongst valve types were only significant at higher flow outputs, with the Monostrut valve producing the greatest QTCD. Larger valves consistently generated greater QTCD than smaller valves. In conclusion, TCD signals found in prosthetic heart valve patients can be reproduced, at least qualitatively, using a mock circulatory loop which does not incorporate the formed elements of blood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)