The presynaptic mechanism of interaction of cholinesterase reactivator and muscarinic antagonists in the animal''s defence in organophosphate intoxication

Since the year 1987 to 1996 all kinds of thyroid surgeries were performed at the ENT Department. Altogether 604 patients underwent 655 surgeries. Total lobectomy or total thyroidectomy represented the most common procedures. Due to a gentle surgical technique, which we call "preparation", good results were achieved in the morbidity of laryngeal recurrent nerve (permanent palsy in 0.6%), and in perioperative or postoperative bleeding (0.3% of wound revisions, 0.5% of blood transfusions). Postoperative hypoparythyroidism was found in 4.7% patients. There is no correlation between postoperative hoarseness and laryngeal recurrent nerve palsy. Laryngeal endoscopy immediately after surgery is the most valuable diagnostic procedure.     

Thermal and morphological properties of high‐density polyethylene/ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer composites with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanostructure

The demand for improved properties of common polymers keeps increasing, and several new approaches have been investigated. In the study reported here, composites with a polymer matrix comprising a blend of high‐density polyethylene with ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as a nanostructure, were processed and characterized in terms of their thermal and morphological properties. For the preparation of the composites, the concentrations of the blend components (0, 50 and 100 wt%) and of the POSS (0, 1 and 5 wt%) were varied. X‐ray diffraction results indicated that the presence of EVA in the composites led to the appearance of crystalline domains at lower POSS concentrations. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that samples with 1 wt% of POSS had a homogeneous distribution in the polymer matrix with average dimensions of ca 150 nm. However, the formation of aggregates occurred in samples with 5 wt% of POSS. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetic analyses indicated that the POSS did not affect the melt and degradation temperatures of the polymer matrix. POSS underwent aggregation at higher concentrations during the composite processing, indicating a solubility limit of around 1 wt%. The presence of EVA in the composite favors POSS aggregation due to an increase in the polarity of the polymer matrix. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Optical and Electrical Properties of ZnSe:Cu Ceramics

ZnSe:Cu ceramics were prepared by hot-pressing powder mixtures of ZnSe and Cu at 900–1200°C under a pressure of 30 MPa. The luminescence spectra of the ceramics were found to be dominated by a green emission centered at 540 nm, whose intensity can be controlled by varying the Cu concentration and hot-pressing temperature. The nature of the green-emission centers is discussed. The electrical properties of the ZnSe:Cu ceramics studied can be understood in terms of percolation theory.     

Reaction products of triammonium pyrophosphate in different Indian soils

Studies were undertaken on the isolation and identification of reaction products of triammonium pyrophosphate (TPP), the major non-orthophosphate constituent of ammonium polyphosphate newly introduced in India, in representative soils of the alfisol, oxisol, entisol, mollisol and vertisol groups of India. Saturated solution of TPP were reacted with soils for periods of 30 minutes and one day with corresponding precipitation times of 15 days, three months and one year to isolate reaction products which were identified by X-ray diffraction technique, infra-red spectroscopy and chemical analyses. Six reaction products, namely, Ca(NH₄)₂P₂O₇ · H₂O, Mg(NH₄)₂P₂O₇ · 4H₂O, Ca(NH₄)₄H₂(P₂O₇)₂, Ca₃(NH₄)₄H₆(P₂O₇)₄·3H₂O, FeNH₄P₂O₇ and NH₄Al_0·33 Fe_0·67P₂O₇ were identified in different soils; Ca(NH₄)₂P₂O₇·H₂O and Mg(NH₄)₂P₂O₇ · 4H₂O occurring in abundance in most soils. Significant hydrolytic degradation of pyrophosphate reaction products to orthophosphate was not observed.Complementary studies where TPP in solid form was applied to soil, and reaction formed at and around the site of TPP placement were identified after six weeks incubation also showed the formation of Ca(NH₄)₂P₂O₇ · H₂O and Mg(NH₄)₂P₂O₇ · 4H₂O in the soils examined.     

Drug and non-drug immunocorrection in peptic ulcer

Drug immunocorrection and microwave resonance therapy allowed to normalize the immune status in 93% of patients with ulcer disease. This allowed to achieve clinico-endoscopic remission in 82%, reduce scarring time on the average by 6-7 days and to reduce markedly the recurrence frequency.