Worsening of cerebral hyperemia by the administration of terlipressin in acute liver failure with severe hepatic encephalopathy

There is increasing evidence that terlipressin is useful in patients with cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome, but there are no data of its use in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) in whom hepatorenal syndrome is common. Although terlipressin produces systemic vasoconstriction, it produces cerebral vasodilatation and may increase cerebral blood flow (CBF). Increased CBF contributes to intracranial hypertension in patients with ALF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of terlipressin in patients with ALF with respect to cerebral haemodynamics. Six successive patients with ALF were electively ventilated for grade IV hepatic encephalopathy. Patients were monitored invasively and CBF was measured (Kety- Schmidt technique). Measurements were made before, at 1, 3 hour and 5 hours after intravenous (single bolus) administration of terlipressin (0.005 mg/kg) )intravenously (single bolus), median 0.25mg (range 0.2-0.3). There was no significant change in heart rate, mean arterial pressure or cardiac output. CBF and jugular venous oxygen saturation both increased significantly at 1 hour (p<0.0=0.016) respectively. Intracranial pressure increased significantly at 21 hours (p<0=.0.031), returning back to baseline values at 42 hours. This study shows that administration of terlipressin, at a dose that did not alter systemic haemodynamicshemodynamics, resulted in worsening of cerebral hyperemia and intracranial hypertension in patients with ALF and severe hepatic encephalopathy. These data suggest the need to exercise extreme caution in the use of terlipressin in these patients in view of its potentially deleterious consequences on cerebral haemodynamics

Potential of bacteriophage application as an intervention strategy against Salmonella in pigs

Bacteriophage (phage) lysate was used for reducing the dissemination of Salmonella in pigs. The phage lysate was administrated into pigs beginning 1 hour after challenge for 2-hour duration. Three hours postchallenge, pigs were killed and necropsied. The numbers of Salmonella were enumerated in various tissue samples. Administration of the phage lysate lowered the numbers of Salmonella by 2 logs compared with controls in the colon and cecum contents. It suggests that use of phage could be considered as an alternative intervention strategy against Salmonella in pigs at the preharvest stage with further studies

The effect of bacteriophage treatment to reduce the rapid dissemination of Salmonella typhimurium in pigs

Bacteriophage treatment significantly reduced the rapid dissemination of Salmonella typhimurium in tonsil and cecum, where the highest number of Salmonella was recovered in pigs experimentally infected with S. typhimurium. The rapid dissemination of Salmonella in market weight pigs prior to slaughter may pose a potential risk in contaminating pork products. Phage treatment should be considered as an intervention strategy to reduce the number of Salmonella in pigs

Effective scraping in a scraped surface heat exchanger: some fluid flow analysis

An outline of mathematical models that have been used to understand the behaviour of scraped surface heat exchangers is presented. In particular the problem of the wear of the blades is considered. A simple model, exploiting known behaviour of viscous flow in corners and in wedges, and accounting for the forces on the blade is derived and solutions generated. The results shows initial rapid wear but that the wear rate goes to zero

Novel Synthesis and High Pressure Behavior of Na0.3CoO2 x 1.3 H2O and Related Phases

We have prepared powder samples of NaxCoO2 x yH2O using a new synthesis route. Superconductivity was observed in Na0.3CoO2 x 1.3H2O between 4 and 5K as indicated by the magnetic susceptibility. The bulk compressibilities of Na0.3CoO2 x 1.3H2O, Na0.3CoO2 x 0.6H2O and Na0.3CoO2 were determined using a diamond anvil cell and synchrotron powder diffraction. Chemical changes occurring under pressure when using different pressure transmitting media are discussed and further transport measurements are advocated.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, PRrapid submitte

Replicon Particle Administration Prior to Challenge Reduces PRRSV Viremia

Vaccination of swine with an alphavirus-derived replicon particle vaccine stimulates a non-specific immune response. This effect was seen when animals were challenged with PRRSV at 24 hours post-vaccination. Animals that received vaccine had reduced viremia as measured by quantitative RT-PCR when compared to placebo. These results highlight the potential of replicon particle vaccines to induce robust immune responses in swine

Clinimetric properties of the motor activity log for the assessment of arm use in hemiparetic patients

Background and Purpose - The Motor Activity Log (MAL) is a semistructured interview for hemiparetic stroke patients to assess the use of their paretic arm and hand (amount of use [AOU]) and quality of movement [QOM]) during activities of daily living. Scores range from 0 to 5. The following clinimetric properties of the MAL were quantified: internal consistency (Cronbach α), test-retest agreement (Bland and Altman method), cross-sectional construct validity (correlation between AOU and QOM and with the Action Research Arm (ARA] test), longitudinal construct validity (correlation of change on the MAL during the intervention with a global change rating [GCR] and with change on the ARA), and responsiveness (effect size). Methods - Two baseline measurements 2 weeks apart and 1 follow-up measurement immediately after 2 weeks of intensive exercise therapy either with or without immobilization of the unimpaired arm (forced use) were performed in 56 chronic stroke patients. Results - Internal consistency was high (AOU: a=0.88; QOM: a=0.91). The limits of agreement were -0.70 to 0.85 and -0.61 to 0.71 for AOU and QOM, respectively. The correlation with the ARA score (Spearman p) was 0.63 (AOU and QOM). However, the improvement on the MAL during the intervention was only weakly related to the GCR and to the improvement on the ARA, Spearman p was between 0.16 and 0.22. The responsiveness ratio was 1.9 (AOU) and 2.0 (QOM). Conclusion - The MAL is internally consistent and relatively stable in chronic stroke patients not undergoing an intervention. The cross-sectional construct validity of the MAL is reasonable, but the results raise doubt about its longitudinal construct validity

Magnetic Field Effect for Two Electrons in a Two Dimensional Random Potential

We study the problem of two particles with Coulomb repulsion in a two-dimensional disordered potential in the presence of a magnetic field. For the regime, when without interaction all states are well localized, it is shown that above a critical excitation energy electron pairs become delocalized by interaction. The transition between the localized and delocalized regimes goes in the same way as the metal-insulator transition at the mobility edge in the three dimensional Anderson model with broken time reversal symmetry.Comment: revtex, 7 pages, 6 figure