Nutritional Management of Thyroiditis of Hashimoto

Since the thyroid gland is one of the organs most affected by autoimmune processes, many patients with thyroiditis of Hashimoto (TH) seek medical advice on lifestyle variance and dietary modifications to improve and maintain their hyroid function. In this review, we aim to present and discuss some challenges associated with the nutritional management of TH, focusing on environmental and dietary deficits, inflammatory and toxic nutrients, cyanotoxins, etc. We discuss the relationships among different diets, chronic inflammation, and microbiota, and their impact on the development and exacerbation of TH in detail. We share some novel insights into the role of vitamin D and melatonin for preserving thyroid function during chronic inflammation in autoimmune predisposed subjects. A comprehensive overview is provided on anti-inflammatory nutrients and ecological diets, including foods for cleansing and detoxification, which represent strategies to prevent relapses and achieve overall improvement of life quality. In conclusion, data from biomedical and clinical studies provide evidence that an appropriate dietary and lighting regimen could significantly improve the function of the thyroid gland and reduce the reactivity of autoantibodies in TH. Compliance with nutritional guidelines may help TH patients to reduce the need for medicines.     

Smart polymer recycling: Synthesis of novel rigid polyurethanes using phosphorus‐containing oligomers formed by controlled degradation of microporous polyurethane elastomer

This article describes a new approach for the recycling of microporous polyurethane elastomers by Tris(1‐methyl‐2‐chloroethyl) phosphate‐induced degradation. The phosphorus‐containing degradation products formed are transformed into reactive intermediates by reaction with propylene oxide and are used for the preparation of rigid polyurethane foams. These new phosphorus‐containing materials have higher density and better mechanical properties compared to the standard rigid polyurethane foams. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Polyphosphoester‐based paclitaxel complexes

We demonstrated a feasible approach for the preparation of a biodegradable, water soluble polyphosphoester based paclitaxel complex. Applying poly(hydroxyoxyethylene phosphate) which contains both a strong proton accepting P?O group and a proton donating P? OH group, paclitaxel has been physically immobilized onto the polymer via H‐bonding. The water soluble complex contained 16.7 wt % paclitaxel and more than 4000 times increased drug solubility was achieved. The polymer‐drug complex formed nanosized aggregates that were characterized by dynamic light scattering. Intravenous injection of poly(hydroxyoxyethylene phosphate) in rats at a dose of 1000 mg/kg did not induce any clinical signs or body weight gain reduction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42772.     

Fully integrated gate drive supply Around Power switches

Main power switches such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors or insulated gate bipolar transistors have reached very high performances from an electrical point of view. If their electrical characteristics are getting closer to physical limits, there is still a lot to do to improve their functionalities. The paper presents the monolithic integration of a gate drive power supply with the power switch to be driven. The operating principle is discussed to demonstrate that all needed components for this function can be integrated with the power switch. It is also demonstrated that the solution does not require any main power switch technological process modification-leading to a cost effective solution. Modeling and analysis comments are provided in order to clarify and to present operating principles and possible design constraints. Finally, the realization itself is presented. Prototypes are used to highlight the interest of such function.     

Influence of picrotoxin and strychnine on the spectral sensitivity of the turtle ERG b- and d-waves: II. Light adaptation

Clinical and laboratory features of acute meningococcal meningitis according to age were studied in 255 patients. Whereas males accounted for three out of five patients aged 0-4 years, females accounted for three out of four patients older than 50 years of age. All patients had clinical signs of nuchal rigidity and fever. Patients older than 30 years of age had less frequent petechiae (62%) than younger patients (81%). Furthermore, elderly patients above 50 years of age were prone to an obtunded mental state and a prolonged disease course with fever. Without relation to age, 2/3 had purulent meningitis and 2/3 had marked peripheral leucocytosis (> 15 x 10(9) cells/l); 90% of patients had at least one of these findings. The cellular inflammatory response in peripheral blood indicated a bacterial aetiology in > 95% of the cases. More than 80% of children and adults had abnormal CSF biochemical findings, but the level of protein and the glucose ratio (CSF/serum) were positively and negatively correlated to increasing age of the patient, respectively: thus, in children these biochemical markers may be unreliable in the differentiation between a bacterial and non-bacterial aetiology. Thrombocytopenia (< 100.000 x 10(9)/I) was not associated with age, though the lowest platelet count was found in elderly patients. The case fatality rate was 7.5%, but neither age, sex nor sign of septicaemia was associated with fatality. Thrombocytopenia, a lowered coagulation index (< 0.5, factors II, VII, X), a moderate anaemia (haemoglobin < 11 g/dl), an obtunded mental state and a history of convulsions were poor prognostic factors; only anaemia was independently correlated to fatality so this should be considered as an important prognostic marker in the acute phase of meningococcal meningitis.