Subclavian vein stenosis: a potentially serious complication in chronic hemodialysis patients with permanent cardiac pacemakers

We report on two hemodialyzed patients in whom subclavian and brachiocephalic vein stenosis secondary to permanent cardiac pacemakers led to massive congestive edema of the same arm after arteriovenous fistula/grafts were created. Therapeutic solutions regarding hemodialysis access are discussed in these patients with permanent pacemakers requiring hemodialysis.     

On non-linear dynamics of shells: implementation of energy-momentum conserving algorithm for a finite rotation shell model

Continuum and numerical formulations for non-linear dynamics of thin shells are presented in this work. An elastodynamic shell model is developed from the three-dimensional continuum by employing standard assumptions of the first-order shear-deformation theories. Motion of the shell-director is described by a singularity-free formulation based on the rotation vector. Temporal discretization is performed by an implicit, one-step, second-order accurate, time-integration scheme. In this work, an energy and momentum conserving algorithm, which exactly preserves the fundamental constants of the shell motion and guaranties unconditional algorithmic stability, is used. It may be regarded as a modification of the standard mid-point rule. Spatial discretization is based on the four-noded isoparametric element. Particular attention is devoted to the consistent linearization of the weak form of the initial boundary value problem discretized in time and space, in order to achieve a quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence typical for the Newton–Raphson based solution procedures. An unconditionally stable time finite element formulation suitable for the long-term dynamic computations of flexible shell-like structures, which may be undergoing large displacements, large rotations and large motions is therefore obtained. A set of numerical examples is presented to illustrate the present approach and the performance of the isoparametric four-noded shell finite element in conjunction with the implicit energy and momentum conserving time-integration algorithm. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidant activity of phenolic and phenylethanoid glycosides from Teucrium polium L

In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae) were assessed. Fractionation of methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts of T. polium yielded one new phenylethanoid glycoside, named poliumoside B, together with four known flavonoids, two iridoid glycosides and a known poliumoside. The structures of all of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR experiments and MS spectral analyses. The antioxidant activities of the crude extracts and of the isolated compounds were evaluated through tests such as DPPH radical-scavenging capability, reducing power, xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the n-butanol extract, which also contained active polyphenols, thus suggesting that this plant could be used as a source of natural molecules, to provide safe antioxidant additives and nutraceuticals. The structure–activity relationships of the isolated compounds are also discussed.     

Confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of two unusualrans-3-monoethylenic fatty acids from the nova scotian seaweedsPalmaria palmata andChondrus crispus

The structures of two unusual fatty acids, the knownrans-3-hexadecenoic acid and a noveltrans-3-tetradecenoic acid, both isolated from the Nova Scotian sea-weedsPalmaria palmata andChondrus crispus, were positively identified. After the extraction of the total fatty acids by saponification, followed by methylation, the monoenoictrans fractions were isolated by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate. The monoenoictrans fractions were derivatized with 2-amino-2-methyl-propanol prior to analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The mass spectra showed prominent [M+1]⁺ ions but lacked the 12 amu interval useful for identifying the double bond position. Hence, alternative diagnostic peaks were used to confirm the position of the double bond in these two fatty acids. As thetrans-3-hexadecenoic acid is found in the photosynthetic tissue of all plants, it may also be present in ruminant fats and, presumably, in human adipose tissue.     

Auto-adaptive robot-aided therapy using machine learning techniques

This paper presents an application of a classification method to adaptively and dynamically modify the therapy and real-time displays of a virtual reality system in accordance with the specific state of each patient using his/her physiological reactions. First, a theoretical background about several machine learning techniques for classification is presented. Then, nine machine learning techniques are compared in order to select the best candidate in terms of accuracy. Finally, first experimental results are presented to show that the therapy can be modulated in function of the patient state using machine learning classification techniques.     

Laboratory methods for assessing API sensitivity to mechanical stress during agitated drying

Two distinct laboratory methods have been developed to assess the propensity of active pharmaceutical ingredients to undergo particle breakage during agitated drying operations. In the first method, mechanical stress is applied to particles by mechanical agitation of powders compressed under an applied normal force. For the second, particles experience stresses as they are carried within a pressurized gas stream. These methods are simple, relatively compound-sparing, and are used to rank materials according to a quantitative breakage classification scale as hard, medium, or easy to break. Based on the results obtained using these methods at laboratory scale, recommendations and precautions for processing at larger scale are made. In this paper, these methods are described in detail, and the results, obtained for several pharmaceutical compounds, are presented.     

Distribution of aflatoxin M1 during Grana Padano cheese production from naturally contaminated milk

The distribution of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) has been investigated in samples of whey, curd and a typical hard and long maturing cheese like Grana Padano (ripened for twelve months), produced with naturally contaminated milk in a range of 30–98 ng AFM₁/kg. AFM₁ determinations were carried out on 25 samples of each product by reverse-phase HPLC and fluorescence detection with post-column derivatisation, after a preliminary C18-SPE clean-up. Experimental results show that, in comparison to milk, AFM₁ concentration levels increased both in curd (3-fold) and in long maturing cheese (4.5-fold), while AFM₁ occurrence in whey decreased by 40%.