Regional dermolipectomy as treatment for sequelae of massive weight loss

Dermolipectomy is the most important procedure for treatment of the deformities engendered by massive weight loss. It remains the only treatment for excising redundant skin. Although liposuction is useful for removing fatty deposits without traditional surgical incisions, its application is limited by the ability of the skin to contract and conform to the newly sculpted figure. Thus liposuction may serve as an adjunct when treating the sequelae of weight loss but not as a primary procedure. In response to changing expectations, reconstructive surgeons have developed increasingly ingenious and specific dermolipectomy procedures to minimize or hide scars, lessen morbidity, and enhance function. Liposuction in combination with dermolipectomy has expanded the applicability of traditional procedures to a wider variety of patients. Surgical history, patient selection, surgical planning, a spectrum of regional dermolipectomy procedures, and potential complications are discussed herein.     

Comparative study of conventional and SBCI cardboard solar ovens

Two folding and light solar ovens designed and constructed by Solar Box Cookers International (SBCI), Sacramento, U.S.A., have been studied experimentally. Furthermore, their performance is compared with standard two glass solar ovens designed by one of us (S.S.N.), in the climate of Costa Rica. According to our measurements, made with and without load, taken during 30 different days, both cardboard ovens are 15–25% less efficient than the conventional oven and, secondly, the improved SBCI oven is slightly better than the previous SBCI oven.     

Primary immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil and antithymocyte globulin for kidney transplant recipients of a suboptimal graft

BACKGROUND: In renal transplantation the beneficial immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporin (CsA) may be curtailed by its nephrotoxicity, specially in patients receiving a cadaveric allograft from suboptimal donors or at risk of delayed graft function. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) have each demonstrated to be potent immunosuppressants in renal transplantation. In a prospective analysis we have studied the results at 6 months of the combination of MMF, ATG and low-dose steroids in patients with low immunological risk receiving a first cadaveric renal allograft from a suboptimal donor or at risk of delayed graft function. METHODS: Patients with preformed reactive antibodies < 500% receiving a first graft from a suboptimal donor (age > or = 40 years, non-heart-beating, acute renal failure, arterial hypertension) or at risk of delayed graft function (cold ischaemia time > or = 24 h) were eligible for this open single-arm pilot trial. From September 1996 to March 1997 we recruited 17 patients. They were treated with MMF 2 g p.o. preoperatively, and after transplantation at 3 g/day; rabbit ATG i.v. at 2 mg/kg preoperatively, and 1.5 mg/kg/day the first day after transplantation, followed by four doses of 1 mg/kg on alternate days; prednisone was given at 0.25 mg/kg/day and reduced progressively to 0.1 mg/kg/day at 3 months. Primary outcomes were incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection, delayed graft function, opportunistic infections, graft and patient survival, and the need for introduction of CsA treatment. RESULTS: delayed graft function occurred in two cases (12%). Four of 17 patients (24%) had a biopsy-proven acute rejection (2 grade I and 2 grade II) within the first 3 months after transplantation. CsA was added in two cases with grade II biopsy-proven acute rejection, and in one with grade I biopsy-proven acute rejection. In one patient MMF was replaced by CsA because of gastrointestinal intolerance. Mean serum creatinine 6 months after transplantation was 159+/-59 micromol/1. Cytomegalovirus tissue invasive disease occurred in one patient (6%). At 6 months follow-up all patients are alive with functioning allografts. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that in low-immunological-risk patients who receive a suboptimal renal allograft or at risk of delayed graft function, the combination of MMF, ATG, and steroids is an efficient immunosuppressive regime that may avoid the use of CsA in 70% of the recipients.     

Toxicological and kinetic study of musk xylene in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

In a prospective study of 6301 surgical patients in a university hospital, we examined the strength of association between ASA physical status classification and perioperative risk factors, and postoperative outcome, using both univariate analysis and calculation of the odds ratio of the risk of developing a postoperative complication by means of a logistic regression model. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between ASA class and perioperative variables (intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative ventilation and duration of intensive care stay), postoperative complications and mortality rate. Univariate analysis of individual preoperative risk factors demonstrated their importance in the development of postoperative complications in the related organ systems. Estimating the increased risk odds ratio for single variables, we found that the risk of complication was influenced mainly by ASA class IV (risk odds ratio = 4.2) and ASA class III (risk odds ratio = 2.2). We conclude that ASA physical status classification was a predictor of postoperative outcome.     

p70s6k function is essential for G1 progression

An essential step in the pathway by which growth factors trigger cellular proliferation is the induction of high levels of protein synthesis. This appears in part to be controlled by multiple phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 (refs 4, 5). The main kinase responsible, p70s6k (refs 6-8), is activated through the phosphorylation of four sites clustered in a putative autoinhibitory domain, which is mediated by a signalling pathway distinct from those used by other well characterized mitogen-activated serine/threonine kinases (such as p42/p44mapk or p90rsk; refs 10, 11). Here we investigate the role of p70s6k in the mitogenic response. Microinjection of quiescent rat embryo fibroblasts with any of three distinct polyclonal antibodies to p70s6k abolishes serum-induced entry into S phase of the cell cycle. This effect is preceded by almost complete abrogation of the activation of protein synthesis and the expression of an essential immediate early gene product, c-fos. The inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis is also elicited by microinjection of the antibodies late in G1 phase, consistent with the finding that p70s6k activity remains high throughout G1.     

Comparison of two interactive finite-element programs for analysisof optical and microwave waveguides

This paper presents a comparison of two- finite-element programs developed for accurate cross-sectional analysis of arbitrary optical and microwave waveguiding structures. Both techniques were developed in response to the growing demand from scientists and engineers for application-specific expert systems, and employ advanced interactive pre- and post-processing facilities. They show good agreement, strongly complement one another, and could form the core of a whole library of similar “intelligent” software for computer-assisted analysis and design, with a wide range of possible applications within both supercomputer and workstation environments