Nonaqueous Phase Liquid Pool Dissolution as a Function of Average Pore Water Velocity

Bench-scale reactor experiments were performed to study the dissolution of a binary naphthalene-in-nonane mixture nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) pool over a wide range of average pore water velocities, vx (≈0.1–60 m/day). Experimental NAPL pool dissolution flux values were determined using a steady-state mass balance approach. The experimental flux data were compared to model predictions made assuming either local equilibrium or mass-transfer limited conditions. The local equilibrium model could describe the trends in the average effluent concentration and dissolution flux with 0.110?m/day. Data determined to be under mass-transfer limited conditions were fit to the nonequilibrium model to estimate values for an overall mass-transfer coefficient. The calculated overall mass-transfer coefficients had an average value of 0.407 m/day and showed no correlation with vx, probably due to mass-transfer resistance becoming dominated by the diffusional resistance in the NAPL. These results suggest that the nonequilibrium approach is better suited for describing high velocity (vx>10?m/day) dissolution of multicomponent NAPL pools, and that flushing of groundwater at very high velocities may not be an effective approach for enhancing NAPL-pool dissolution flux.     

The double dermal keyhole pattern for breast reduction

A small contribution is made to the dependable keyhole pattern in breast reduction. A double dermal modified keyhole closure is described. It is a simple, versatile, and adaptable method of closure regardless of the pedicle technique used for reduction mammaplasty. A triangular flap (skin and dermis) is incorporated on the medial keyhole flap. A deepithelialized dermal flap is created on the lateral keyhole flap. In the final closure of the wound, the medial triangular flap is sutured over the lateral deepithelialized dermal flap. A double dermal closure at the inverted T region is thereby created. The frequency of occurrence of wound spread and early postoperative wound dehiscence is decreased by this closure, which provides cosmetic improvement and wound support where it is needed the most.     

Evidence for glaucoma-induced horizontal cell alterations in the human retina

In this study we investigated changes to horizontal cells in human retinae affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma is characterized by raised intraocular pressure and is responsible for retinal ganglion cell and, possibly, photoreceptor degeneration. It was therefore assumed that horizontal cells might also be affected. The carbocyanine dye DiI was placed at discrete points on fixed, whole-mounted retinae obtained from normal and glaucomatous patients. After allowing 6-24 weeks for intramembranous diffusion within the lipid layers of the nerve cells and, therefore, fluorescent labeling, we measured horizontal cell soma and dendritic field sizes. Selected cells were then embedded in Araldite and cut at 4 microns. Horizontal cells in glaucomatous eyes appeared larger and had a granulated outline as compared with cells from normal retinae. Analysis of the mean cell soma size indicated that cells were 26% larger in the glaucomatous retinae and that this increase was significantly different from that seen in normal retinae (P < 0.05). The dendritic field size was unaffected (P > 0.05). As seen in cross section there was a clear loss of photoreceptor outer segments, and shrunken silhouettes of photoreceptor inner segments with pyknotic nuclei were observed. It is proposed that the increase in some size is indicative of horizontal cell responses that are likely to culminate in degeneration as a result of heightened intraocular pressure. In addition, this paper provides further evidence that photoreceptors are affected by advanced glaucoma.     

Effect of profound hearing loss on a central auditory nucleus

The present study was designed to investigate the type and extent of degeneration occurring in the human central auditory system subsequent to profound hearing loss. The authors have examined the size of one population of neurons in the ventral cochlear nucleus in seven subjects with profound hearing loss (audiometric responses poorer than 90-100 dB HL). Six normal subjects, ages 35-78, were used as controls. Cell size in the hearing-impaired subjects ranged from normal to reduced by more than 50 percent. Two factors appear to contribute to the variability in cell size reduction. The correlation coefficient (Spearman rs) of cell size with duration of profound deafness was -0.48, indicating a moderate tendency for neurons to become smaller with longer periods of deafness. The correlation coefficient of cell size with number of surviving cochlear ganglion cells was 0.73, indicating a stronger tendency for neurons to be larger with greater eighth nerve innervation of the cochlear nucleus. Two cases of Scheibe degeneration showed the most severe degenerative change in the central auditory system.     

Identifying acute pulpalgia as a factor in TMD pain

An acute pulpalgia and temporomandibular disorders can produce many of the same symptoms. To illustrate identification of an acute pulpalgia as a component in TMD, the authors review the evaluation of 11 patients at a clinic that specializes in TMD treatment. During the evaluation, thermal testing and periodontal ligament anesthesia were used to identify the offending tooth. After receiving endodontic treatment or having the tooth extracted, patients reported either complete or partial relief of TMD symptoms. The authors provide questions that may help practitioners identify a tooth with an acute pulpalgia as a contributing factor to TMD symptoms and suggest a technique to confirm this diagnosis.     

Neuronal migration disorders increase susceptibility to hyperthermia-induced seizures in developing rats

PURPOSE: Retrospective studies suggest that adult patients with intractable epilepsy may have a history of febrile seizures in childhood. Risk factors for a febrile seizure may include the rate of increase in the core temperature (T-core), its peak (Tmax), the duration of the temperature increase, or an underlying brain pathology. Recently, neuronal migration disorders (NMD) have been diagnosed with increasing frequency in patients with epilepsy, but the link between NMD, febrile seizures, and epilepsy is unclear. We studied rat pups rendered hyperthermic to ascertain the incidence of seizures, mortality, and extent of hippocampal cell loss in each group. METHODS: We exposed 14-day-old rat pups with experimentally induced NMD (n = 39) and age-matched controls (n = 30) to hyperthermia (core body temperature > 42 degrees C). RESULTS: The incidence of hyperthermia-induced behavioral seizures and mortality rate were significantly higher in rats with NMD than in controls (p < 0.05). The longer duration of hyperthermia resulted in a higher incidence of behavioral seizures and higher mortality rate (p < 0.05). In rats with NMD, hyperthermia resulted in hippocampal pyramidal cell loss independent of seizure activity; the extent of neuronal damage correlated positively with the duration of hyperthermia. In control rats, occasional neuronal loss and astrocytosis occurred only after prolonged hyperthermia. CONCLUSIONS: In immature rats, NMD lower the threshold to hyperthermia-induced behavioral seizures and hyperthermia in the presence of NMD may cause irreversible hippocampal neuronal damage.     

Detection rates for abnormal cervical smears: what are we screening for?

We analysed rates of detection for smear abnormalities in 255,000 women served by the Bristol screening programme. The programme began in 1966 with the aim of eradicating the 30-40 deaths each year in Bristol from cervical cancer. Organisation has been good and population uptake has been high for the past 15 years. Records were computerised in 1977. During the 1988 to 1993 screening round, 225,974 women were tested. New smear abnormalities were found in 15,551, of whom nearly 6000 were referred for colposcopy. These numbers are excessively high in comparison with the incidence of the malignancy we are trying to prevent. The effect of screening on death rates in Bristol is too small to detect. Our conclusion is that despite good organisation of the service, much of our effort in Bristol is devoted to limiting the harm done to healthy women and to protecting our staff from litigation as cases of serious disease continue to occur. The real lesson from 30 years' cervical screening is that no matter how obvious the predicted benefit may seem for any screening test, introduction should never take place without adequate prior evaluation of both positive and negative effects in controlled trials.     

Physiological regulation of early and late stages of megakaryocytopoiesis by thrombopoietin

Thrombopoietin (TPO) has recently been cloned and shown to regulate megakaryocyte and platelet production by activating the cytokine receptor c-mpl. To determine whether TPO is the only ligand for c-mpl and the major regulator of megakaryocytopoiesis, TPO deficient mice were generated by gene targeting. TPO-/- mice have a >80% decrease in their platelets and megakaryocytes but have normal levels of all the other hematopoietic cell types. A gene dosage effect observed in heterozygous mice suggests that the TPO gene is constitutively expressed and that the circulating TPO level is directly regulated by the platelet mass. Bone marrow from TPO-/- mice have decreased numbers of megakaryocyte-committed progenitors as well as lower ploidy in the megakaryocytes that are present. These results demonstrate that TPO alone is the major physiological regulator of both proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells into mature megakaryocytes but that TPO is not critical to the final step of platelet production.     

A morphofunctional validation of the use of electrostimulation by paired impulses combined with vibromassage for the treatment of patients with trauma to the peripheral nerves of the extremities

The exposure to paired electric impulses and vibromassage promotes completeness of repair in the treatment of injured peripheral nerves of the limb. The effect is achieved due to marked stimulation of myelinization and differentiation of the nerve fibers, regeneration of the nerve system in the denervated muscle.