A peptide encoding a B-cell epitope from the N-terminus of the capsid protein L2 of bovine papillomavirus-4 prevents disease

In recent years, time-resolved spectroscopy systems using near infrared pulsed laser have been applied to develop optical computed tomography. We applied this technique to measure the optical properties of osseous tissues. First, we gradually demineralized 10 mm blocks of bovine trabecular bone with EDTA, maintaining the absorption characteristics and structure but varying the hydroxyapatite content, thus creating specimens differing only in light scattering properties. We used computer densitograms to assess light penetration, and analyzed the correlation with bone mineral density (BMD) as with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. The light penetration increased with decreasing BMD. Second, using the above-mentioned pulsed laser time-resolved spectroscopy system, we investigated the correlation between the BMD and the time response waveforms of 10-mm blocks of bovine cortical bone, trabecular bone, and surrounding tissue as well as human trabecular bone. The human lumbar vertebral bone also displayed an inverse correlation between BMD and maximum light penetration and a positive correlation between BMD and peak time delay. This is the first demonstration of a correlation between BMD and light scattering properties showing that BMD can indeed be measured with light. Our results show the possibility of obtaining information on internal bone structure and composition in vivo through assessment of the waveforms obtained by a time-resolution system in the near infrared region.     

Late capsular hematoma after breast reconstruction with polyurethane-covered implants

We report two patients who developed late hematomas after breast reconstruction with polyurethane-covered implants. Although the cause of these hematomas is not absolutely clear, they are believed to have been caused by the intense, highly vascular inflammatory response that polyurethane coating is known to elicit. The development of late hematoma has not been previously stressed in the literature as a late complication of polyurethane-covered breast implants.     

A comparison of stool characteristics from normal and constipated people

In people with constipation, it is not known if decreased frequency of defecation is associated with abnormalities in the weight or in the consistency of stools or if the weight or the consistency of stools correlates with the severity of various discomforts associated with bowel movements. In neither normal nor constipated subjects has the consistency of stools been carefully correlated with their relative contents of water and solids. Our aim was to gain insight into these questions. Twenty subjects with idiopathic chronic constipation and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited by advertisement. Stools were collected for one week. After each bowel movement, the subject's perception of various discomforts associated with the bowel movement were recorded. The stools were then analyzed. The results and conclusions were as follows: (1) Stool weight per bowel movement was similar in the two groups but stool weight per week was markedly reduced in constipated subjects. (2) Reduced stool weight per week in constipated subjects was due to a nearly proportional reduction in stool water and stool solids output. (3) Using data from both groups, there was a curvilinear correlation between percent insoluble stool solids and stool hardness, as measured by a texture analyzer; hardness increased only slightly as percent insoluble solids increased between 7 and 20%, but hardness increased dramatically when percent insoluble solids exceeded 25%. (4) Only 6% of stools from constipated subjects (2 of 34) had abnormally high values for percent stool solids and physical hardness. (5) In subjects with constipation, the severity of various discomforts associated with bowel movements (such as straining) correlated poorly with the weight or the hardness of stool that was produced by the bowel movement.     

Determination of halogenated hydrocarbons by helium microwave plasma torch time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled to gas chromatography

A helium microwave plasma torch (MPT) was coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) for the detection of halogenated hydrocarbons separated by capillary gas chromatography (GC). The GC-MPT-TOFMS system offered excellent stability over the course of the experiments and avoided mass spectral peak distortions caused by spectral skew. In the initial studies, empirical formulas based on the halogen-to-carbon ratio were predicted utilizing a flow cell apparatus. The MPT proved to be very robust and could handle large amounts of organic vapor. Results from this study indicate that, for both aromatic and aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons, the ratios of carbon to chlorine signals correlate well (r = 0.994) with the ones expected from their chemical composition. This study was later extended to include chromatographic separation. For a series of homologous aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons, a correlation coefficient of 0.999 was obtained for both peak heights and peak areas obtained from a single chromatogram. A novel Nichrome wire-heated transfer line was developed to ensure that the capillary column was heated efficiently from the GC oven to the MPT and then through the length of the MPT up to the microwave plasma itself. No appreciable peak broadening and no detectable memory effects were associated with the heated transfer line. The GC-MPT-TOFMS system offered equal sensitivity for I, Br, and Cl. Absolute detection limits for the halogenated hydrocarbons ranged from 160 to 330 fg, constituting an improvement by a factor of 5-35 over earlier results obtained with MIPs supported in a TM010 cavity and combined with quadrupole-based mass spectrometry. In addition, the effect of molecular gases on the MPT performance was investigated. Up to about 1% (v/v) of either oxygen or hydrogen in the central channel helium flow attenuated the signal levels for both carbon and chlorine, with the larger loss seen in the chlorine signal.     

Transient memory impairment in monkeys with bilateral lesions of the entorhinal cortex

Performance on five behavioral tasks was assessed post-operatively in Macaca fascicularis monkeys prepared with bilateral lesions of the entorhinal cortex (E group). Three of the tasks were also readministered 9-14 months after surgery. Initial learning of the delayed nonmatching-to-sample (DNMS) task was impaired in the E animals relative to unoperated control monkeys. On the delay portion of DNMS, the performance of E animals was nearly at control levels at short delays (up to 60 sec) but was impaired at 10 min and 40 min retention intervals. On the retest of DNMS, the E animals performed normally at all retention intervals. The E animals were unimpaired on the four other memory tasks. Neuroanatomical studies revealed a significant transverse expansion of the terminal field of the perirhinal cortical projection in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Compared to unlesioned, anatomical control monkeys, the transverse length of the perirhinal terminal field in CA1 increased approximately 70% in the E monkeys. Although this was a striking morphological alteration, it is not known whether the sprouting of this projection influenced the behavioral recovery. The results of these studies suggest that the entorhinal cortex may normally participate in the learning and performance of tasks that are dependent on the medial temporal lobe memory system. However, recovery of normal DNMS performance demonstrates that the entorhinal cortex is not, by itself, essential for learning and performance of such tasks.     

Uses of electroplated aluminum for the development ofmicrostructures and micromachining processes

In this paper, electroplated aluminum is explored as both a material for the fabrication of microstructures and use in the development of micromachining processes. A method for the fabrication of aluminum microstructures based on electrodeposition from organic solutions is presented. An extension of this process involving the use of plated aluminum structures as plating molds for subsequent electrodeposition of other materials is also discussed. Maximum structure aspect ratios of 21:1 have been demonstrated using this extended micromolding process. Finally, an aluminum-based process, in which the width of a metallic microstructure or the gap between metallic microstructures is achieved by controlling the plating time, is discussed. Using this process, vertical-gap aspect ratios between metallic microstructures of 25:1 have been demonstrated. Since the width of these features is controlled by the plating time and not by photolithography, gaps between metallic microstructures or widths of electroplated features ranging from submicron to tens of microns can be easily achieved using this process