Development of New Sulphonyl Resin from Modification of Commercial Resin

Summary This article deals with the handy synthesis of sulfonyl resins, which were produced by the treatment of a commercial sulfonic resin (Lewatit VPOC1812^® based at divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (STY). The preliminary chemical modification was based on the reaction of the Lewatit VPOC1812^® with thionyl chloride aiming to produce the sulfonyl chloride groups. The best conditions to obtain the sulfonyl chloride groups were: SOCl₂/SO₃H (molar ratio) =13 at 79 °C during 72 h. The resin chlorinated was afterward treated with urea, thiourea or guanidine. The functionalized resins with urea, thiourea or guanidine were produced with 56, 68 and 93% yield, respectively. The commercial and modified resins were characterized by apparent density, swelling degree, elemental analysis (CHNS), FTIR, optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Late complication of laparoscopic salpingoophorectomy: retained foreign body presenting as an acute abdomen

The technique of immunocytochemistry was used to identify myoglobin in kidney, confirming a diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome following an otherwise obscure autopsy in a decomposed body. The features of neuroleptic malignant syndrome are reviewed with a differential diagnosis of myoglobin renal casts. The report emphasizes a thorough and detailed assessment of deaths which occur during treatment with neuroleptic drugs.     

Arthroscopic lysis in knee arthrofibrosis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and toxicity of three patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine regimens. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, pilot study of three PCA morphine regimens: (1) 1 mg with 6-minute lockout (n = 10), (2) 2 mg with 12-minute lockout (n = 12), and (3) 2 mg with 20-minute lockout (n = 12). SETTING: Large teaching institution. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four patients undergoing cholecystectomy or hysterectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain scores (0 = no pain, 1 = mild pain, 2 = moderate pain, 3 = severe pain), sedation scores, analgesic consumption, and patient attempts (patient activation of PCA device) and injections (doses actually delivered) were evaluated using analysis of covariance. Distribution of pain and sedation scores and adverse effects were assessed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Data on 24 patients were evaluable. Six patients withdrew for poor pain control (2 in group 1, 1 in group 2, and 3 in group 3). Three other patients withdrew because of adverse effects and 1 withdrew because of pump problems. Mean morphine consumption did not differ significantly among the groups. Distribution of pain and sedation scores and the number of patients with nausea were similar across treatment groups. The mean injection to attempt ratio was significantly smaller in group 3 (0.71 +/- 0.11) compared with groups 1 and 2 (0.9 +/- 0.06 and 0.83 +/- 0.09, respectively; p = 0.001). Adverse events occurred similarly among treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in the efficacy or toxicity of the three morphine PCA regimens were identified.     

In-laboratory removal of femoral sheath following protamine administration in patients having intracoronary stent implantation

Two hundred twenty-eight patients with successful coronary stent implantation were randomized either to protamine administration and femoral sheath removal (group I, n = 117) or no heparin neutralization and delayed sheath removal (group II, n = 111). The hospital stay after treatment was shorter in patients receiving protamine; therefore, protamine use for neutralizing circulating heparin may be safely administered immediately after stent implantation.     

The antimicrobial effect of wine on Listeria innocua in a model stomach system

A model stomach, containing a food matrix and a synthetic gastric fluid, was used to study the bactericidal effect of ingested wine on Listeria innocua. Volumes of wine equivalent to the ingestion of one glass and half a bottle, led, over a period of less than 2 h, to a reduction of 3 and 4 logarithmic cycles of the initial population respectively. The influence of ethanol and organic acids, wine constituents with known antimicrobial properties, was investigated. Ethanol exhibited a higher bactericidal effect than the mixture of the main wine organic acids. When testing the organic acids separately, malic and lactic acids were found to have the strongest effect. The combination of ethanol with the organic acids acted synergistically but to a lesser extent than wine itself. The results suggest that the ingestion of wine during a meal may diminish the quantity of Listeria persisting further in the alimentary tract.     

Transmission Fiber Chromatic Dispersion Dependence on Temperature: Implications on 40 Gb/s Performance

In this letter, we will evaluate the performance degradation of a 40 km high‐speed (40 Gb/s) optical system, induced by optical fiber variations of the chromatic dispersion induced by temperature changes. The chromatic dispersion temperature sensitivity will be estimated based on the signal quality parameters.     

The Ultrawideband Leaky Lens Antenna

A novel directive and nondispersive antenna is presented: the ultrawideband (UWB) leaky lens. It is based on the broad band Cherenkov radiation occurring at a slot printed between different infinite homogeneous dielectrics. The first part of the paper presents the antenna concept and the UWB design. The issues that are specifically addressed include the impedance matching, the radiation pattern and the phase purity. Subsequently the hardware demonstrator and the results of the measurement campaign are shown. The results fully validate the antenna concept. The antenna presents decade bandwidth impedance matching, directive and frequency independent patterns in the H-plane over two octaves, negligible cross-polarization levels, weak amplitude dispersivity and, according to the authors, the most stable phase center for a directive antenna over an ultra wide frequency range.