Fractures in myelomeningocele

BACKGROUND: In patients with myelomeningocele (MMC), a high number of fractures occur in the paralyzed extremities, affecting mobility and independence. The aims of this retrospective cross-sectional study are to determine the frequency of fractures in our patient cohort and to identify trends and risk factors relevant for such fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1988 and June 2005, 862 patients with MMC were treated at our hospital. The medical records, surgery reports, and X-rays from these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 11% of the patients (n = 92) suffered one or more fractures. Risk analysis showed that patients with MMC and thoracic-level paralysis had a sixfold higher risk of fracture compared with those with sacral-level paralysis. Femoral-neck z-scores measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) differed significantly according to the level of neurological impairment, with lower z-scores in children with a higher level of lesion. Furthermore, the rate of epiphyseal separation increased noticeably after cast immobilization. Mainly patients who could walk relatively well were affected. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with thoracic-level paralysis represent a group with high fracture risk. According to these results, fracture and epiphyseal injury in patients with MMC should be treated by plaster immobilization. The duration of immobilization should be kept to a minimum (<4 weeks) because of increased risk of secondary fractures. Alternatively, patients with refractures can be treated by surgery, when nonoperative treatment has failed

The effect of UVB radiation on the vitamin D2 content of white and cream type button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus Lange/Imbach) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm)

Vitamin D2 is essential for the human body and mushrooms are proved to be one of the best sources of it. In our experiment biologically active, pre-harvest white and cream type button mushrooms and oyster mushroom were treated with UVB light in order to increase their vitamin D2 level, by transforming their natural ergosterol content into vitamin D2. UVB lamps (operating on 312 nm) and six time periods of irradiation (15 to 90 min) were used. After three consecutive days of treatments the yield were measured and samples were taken for vitamin D2 analysis. Data showed considerable increase in vitamin D2 levels at every time period in each cultivar

Bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium chemistry. Molecular structures of [(C(5)HMe(4))(mu-eta(1): eta(5)-C(5)Me(4))Ti](2) and [(C(5)HMe(4))(2)Ti]N-2(2)

Thermolysis of bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)-stabilized titanium(III) compounds (C(5)HMe(4))(2)TiR (R = Me (2), Ph (3)) yields, in marked contrast with the bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) analog, the dimeric product [(C(5)HMe(4))(mu-eta(1):eta(5)-C(5)Me(4))Ti](2) (4), With a bridging metalated tetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligand. The hydride (C(5)HMe(4))(2)TiH (5), synthesized by hydrogenolysis of 2 or 3, reacts with N-2 to form the dinuclear Ti(II) dinitrogen compound [(C(5)HMe(4))(2)Ti]N-2(2) (8) Under a dynamic vacuum, the dinitrogen complex 8 loses the N-2 ligand to give the titanocene (C(5)HMe(4))(2)Ti (10). The molecular structures of both 4 and 8 were determined by X-ray diffraction methods

In Situ Comparison of Ionothermal Kinetics Under Microwave And Conventional Heating

We have used in situ energy dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction to study the crystallization of aluminum phosphate frameworks under ionothermal conditions with conventional and microwave heating. The reaction is shown to follow slightly different routes depending on the type of heating used and a kinetic analysis shows that the rate constant is 10 times higher under microwave heating (1.4 compared to 0.14 min(-1)). The conventionally heated reaction is shown to proceed by a transformation of SIZ-3 to SIZ-4 via an intermediate, while the microwave-heated reaction forms SIZ-4 directly. The kinetic analysis is used to rationalize the differences in reaction rate and the findings are supported by SEM images of the crystal morphologies which result from the two heating methods.</p

CCDC 198867: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: O.K.B.Staal, D.J.Beetstra, A.P.Jekel, B.Hessen, J.H.Teuben, P.Stepnicka, R.Gyepes, M.Horacek, J.Pinkas, K.Mach|2003|Collect.Czech.Chem.Commun.|68|1119|doi:10.1135/cccc20031119,An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.