Imaging and pathological features of primary malignant rhabdoid tumours of the brain and spine

In this article two cases of primary malignant extrarenal rhabdoid tumour are described. In the affected children the brain and the spinal cord were the primary sites of origin of the tumour. The imaging findings are presented and the pathology discussed. Although the imaging features are non-specific, rhabdoid tumour should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood intracranial and spinal neoplasms.     

Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis infection in schoolchildren from Bolivar City, Venezuela

Blastocystis hominis is found in about 25% of feces in normal asymptomatic people. Its pathogenic role is still discussed. A prospective study was performed to determine the prevalence of B. hominis infection in schoolchildren from Bolivar City. We evaluated 446 children, between five and fourteen years old, both sexes, using direct examination of feces and Willis Method. They were also evaluated clinically. Results showed that B. hominis had a prevalence of 16.8%. We did not find a statistically significant association between sex (P > 0.05) or age and infection with B. hominis (x2 = 1.94 g.l = 4). In 39 schoolchildren (52.0%) we identified other parasites along with B. hominis, the most frequent was Trichuris trichiura as helminth and Giardia lamblia as protozoan. We observed B. hominis alone in 36 cases (48.0%). There was a spectrum of clinical symptoms in 41 (54.7%) of all children evaluated. Diarrhea was the most frequently clinical manifestation observed. Other studies are necessary to determine clinical relevance of B. hominis in school population in Bolivar City.     

Indentation characteristics of rapidly solidified Al-Cu-V and Al-Cu-Ti alloys

We report indentation characteristics of metallic glasses and nano-composites in Al-Cu-V as well as in Al-Cu-Ti systems. The melt spun ribbons of these alloys are employed to study the surface hardness characteristics of the specimen containing microstructural features at various length scales. The characterization of these materials has been done with the help of transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The surface hardness characteristics of melt spun ribbons with and without crystallization have been studied using a micro-hardness tester. We shall discuss the indentation behavior of ribbons in relation to their structures and microstructures.     

The evolution of microstructure in the undercooled Zn-Sn entrained droplets

The existence of a metastable miscibility gap has been indicated from the metastable phase diagram of the Zn-Sn system calculated using regular solution and Krupkowski's models. To validate this phenomenon experimentally, the entrained droplet technique was used to achieve high undercooling and to access the metastable regions. The microstructural analysis confirms the miscibility gap and the associated monotectic reaction. Evidence is also presented for a possible massive solidification of the undercooled melt. J.P.N. Srivastava, formerly Undergraduate Student with the Department of Metallurgy, Indian Institute of Science     

Polarcardiographic criteria for myocardial infarction in Chinese men

A biochemical study was performed in two patients submitted to insulin coma therapy. The injection of insulin resulted in a decrease of free and total tryptophan as well as tyrosine in plasma, while NEFA were not influenced by this treatment. The ratio of tryptophan to tyrosine was enhanced. The administration of glucose after insulin provoked an increase of free and total tryptophan. The results support the hypothesis that in man insulin may favor the uptake of tryptophan by the brain, and enhance the synthesis of cerebral serotonin.     

Treatment of vaccinial keratitis with vidarabine

Vaccinial epithelial keratitis was produced in rabbits. When the therapeutic effect of vidarabine on the experimentally-induced disease was evaluated and compared to the effect of idoxuridine, vidarabine was found to be highly effective, substantially more effective than idoxuridine, and nontoxic to the eye.     

Complex esters as antiwear agents

Diol centered complex esters using diethylene glycol, 1,3-butane diol, neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 200–1000), 1-phenoxy 2,3 propane diol as centered diols and sebacic acid as dibasic acid with outer monohydric alcohols as 2-ethyl hexanol, 1-benzyloxy propanol-2 and methyl digol were prepared and assessed as antiwear agents in aviation turbine fuels, diesel fuels and light mineral oil. These types of complex esters, in general, were found to be effective antiwear agents.