Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the duodenum together with multiple intra-abdominal thromboses and hepatitis C virus infection: a case report

Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue MALT lymphoma is a low grade malignancy that arises most commonly from the gastric mucosa. Small intestinal involvement is very rare. The causative relationship between Helicobacter pylori and the gastric MALT lymphoma is a well known issue, but recently there are several data suggesting the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the pathogenesis of lymphoma including MALT lymphoma. Herein we present a rare case of duodenal MALT lymphoma with multiple intra-abdominal thromboses together with HCV infection that was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction detecting HCV-RNA within the peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Tannin- caprolactam and Tannin- PEG formulations as outdoor wood preservatives: Weathering properties

International audienceAbstractKey messageThis article presents the leaching, fire and weathering resistance improvements of samples treated with tannin-based wood preservatives added of caprolactam. PEG-added formulations show limited applicability. The FT-IR and13C-NMR analyses of the caprolactam-added formulations show some evidences of copolymerization.ContextTannin-boron wood preservatives are known for their high resistance against leaching, biological attacks, fire as well as for the good mechanical properties that they impart to wood. These properties promoted these formulations for being a candidate for the protection of green buildings. However, the low elasticity of these polymers and their dark colour implied limited weathering resistances.AimsThe aim of the study is to find suitable additives for tannin-based formulations to overcome their limited weathering resistances, without compromising the other properties.MethodsTreatment, leaching and fire tests, dimensional stability as well as artificial and natural weathering of the timber treated with caprolactam-added and PEG-added formulations were performed. FT-IR and 13C-NMR of the formulations were presented.ResultsThe presence of caprolactam improved the properties of the formulation with particularly significant results in terms of resistance against leaching and dimensional stability. These enhancements were imparted also to the weathering resistance of the tannin-caprolactam formulations. Indeed, the colour changes during the artificial and natural exposures were stable for longer periods. FT-IR and 13C-NMR investigations of the advanced formulations were led, and covalent copolymerization of the caprolactam with the tannin-hexamine polymer was observed.ConclusionThe tannin formulations with caprolactam improved the durability of the wood specimens, while the PEG-tannin presented strong application drawbacks

In Vivo Methods to Study Uptake of Nanoparticles into the Brain

Several in vivo techniques have been developed to study and measure the uptake of CNS compounds into the brain. With these techniques, various parameters can be determined after drug administration, including the blood-to-brain influx constant (Kin), the permeability-surface area (PS) product, and the brain uptake index (BUI). These techniques have been mostly used for drugs that are expected to enter the brain via transmembrane diffusion or by carrier-mediated transcytosis. Drugs that have limitations in entering the brain via such pathways have been encapsulated in nanoparticles (based on lipids or synthetic polymers) to enhance brain uptake. Nanoparticles are different from CNS compounds in size, composition and uptake mechanisms. This has led to different methods and approaches to study brain uptake in vivo. Here we discuss the techniques generally used to measure nanoparticle uptake in addition to the techniques used for CNS compounds. Techniques include visualization methods, behavioral tests, and quantitative methods

Non-traumatic elevation techniques of the hypoglossal nerve during carotid endarterectomy: A cadaveric study

WOS: 000229421500008PubMed: 15906206Objective: Ligation and dissection techniques of sternocleidomastoid artery, vein, ansa cervicalis and posterior belly of digastric muscle were developed in a cadaveric study for achieving minimally invasive elevation of the hypoglossal nerve during carotid endarterectomy and were subsequently used in patient treatment. Methods: Carotid bifurcations, the extracranial part of the hypoglossal nerve, the sternocleidomastoid artery and vein and neighboring neurovascular structures were studied on 10 formalin-fixed adult cadaver heads (20 sides) under the surgical microscope. Landmarks and measurements for identification of the sternocleidomastoid artery and vein are described. Results: The distance between the hypoglossal loop and the carotid bifurcation was measured as 14.5-25.2mm (mean: 19.24 mm). 30 of 20 sides were determined to have a Zone II-type carotid bifurcation. In 33 % of the Zone-II-type bifurcations, a low-lying hypoglossal loop was demonstrated. The sternocleidomastoid artery begins 2.2 - 3.5 mm (mean: 2.94 mm) supero-posterior from the occipital artery after the crossing point between the occipital artery and the hypoglossal nerve. The sternocleidomastoid artery and vein complex was 17.1 +/- 21.5 mm (mean 18.47 mm) away from the carotid bifurcation and forms a right angle with the descending hypoglossal nerve. The contribution of the sternocleidomastoid branch of the occipital artery always reaches the middle parts of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Conclusion: Carotid endarterectomy through having knowledge of the normal and variable trajectories of the Structures can almost always be accomplished as a safe procedure when appropriate maneuvers are applied. Dissection and ligation of the sternocleidomastoid artery, vein, ansa cervicalis and posterior belly of digastric muscle are very simple but effective techniques to obtain adequate exposure either for safe arterial reconstruction or to diminish the necessity for more complicated technical procedures

HYPOGONADISM IS NOT RELATED TO THE ETIOLOGY OF LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

We investigated the clinical and laboratory findings of hypogonadism and feminization in male patients with viral or alcoholic cirrhosis to determine whether chronic liver disease plays a primary role in the development of sexual dysfunction and hormonal changes. Two groups of male patients with liver cirrhosis (23 alcoholic, 33 viral) age- and Child's grade-matched, and 20 age-matched healthy men, as a control group, were included in this study. Clinical signs of hypogonadism and feminization were examined in the cirrhotic patients. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin were estimated in all groups. Seminal fluid was also analyzed in 7 alcoholic and 15 viral cirrhotics. Serum levels of estradiol, androstenedione, and sex hormone-binding globulin were significantly higher, and free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were significantly lower in both groups of cirrhotics compared with the control group. Child's C patients in both groups; of cirrhotics were found to have higher estradiol and lower free testosterone levels than child's A and B patients. Alcoholic and viral cirrhotics had markedly reduced sperm motility and density. The differences between alcoholic and viral cirrhotic patients in the clinical signs of hypogonadism, serum levels of sex steroids, and the results of seminal fluid analysis were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that liver cirrhosis per se, independent of etiology, causes hypogonadism and feminization, and that the degree of hypogonadism and feminization correlates well with the severity of liver failure