Characterisation of Epstein-Barr virus-specific memory T cells from the peripheral blood of seropositive individuals.

We have investigated the regression phenomenon which occurs when EBV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seropositive individuals are cultured for one month at high cell concentration and have confirmed that regression is mediated by E+ lymphocytes. When helper/inducer (Leu 3a+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (Leu 2a+) cells are separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from fresh peripheral blood and co-cultured with EBV-infected autologous E- mononuclear cells, regression only regularly occurs in cultures receiving suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes. Titration experiments show that suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes are more active in the regression assay that unfractionated E+ cells. When Ia+ E+ and Ia- E+ cells are separated one week after initiation of co-cultures of E+ cells and EBV-infected E- cells, both Ia+ E+ and Ia- E+ cells are active in the regression assay although regression occurs earlier in cultures receiving Ia+ E+ cells. Experiments in which NK cells are isolated using the monoclonal antibodies H25 and H366 show that NK cells do not influence the regression phenomenon in normal individuals

Our policy in intraventricular colloid cysts. Experience of 31 operated cases.

The colloid cyst of the third ventricle is abenign tumor situated in the anterior partof the third ventricle. This lesion representsless than 1% of the primary brain tumorbeing more common in young adults.Because of its particular location, thecolloid cyst can obstruct the Monroforamen, producing intermittentintracranian hypertension with headache,vomiting and visual disturbances. Thirtyonecases of colloid cysts have beenoperated using the microsurgical approachin the First Neurosurgical Department ofEmergency Clinical Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni” between January 1995 andDecember 2008. The age of the patientswas between 17 and 46 years, with amedium age of 31 years. The follow-upperiod was between 9 months and 7 years.In three cases TTA approach has beenperformed. One of the cases developed avenous cerebral infarct after this procedure,but the patient had finally a good outcome.For 28 patients the transcortical approachhas been performed. In all cases the totalresection of the colloid cyst has beenperformed. Of all 31 cases, one casepresented a transitory hemiparesis, twocases showed negativist behavior, and threecases had transitory memory disturbances.There was no intraventricular hemorrhageafter colloid cyst resection in our series. Inconclusion, according to our policy, themicrosurgical approach is the besttreatment for third ventricular colloid cystsbecause of its main advantages comparedwith the endoscopic approach: thepossibility of total resection of the cyst, thegood control of the bleeding source duringthe procedure, and a better exposure of theanatomical landmarks

Perceptual learning in flavor preference conditioning: restricting generalization of acquired preferences between flavors

Two experiments with rats investigated perceptual learning using a conditioned preference procedure. Experiment 1 used a between-subject procedure in which rats received either intermixed preexposure (AX, BX, AX, BX…) or blocked preexposure (AX, AX…, BX, BX…) to flavor compounds before a conditioned preference was established to AX by pairing it with sucrose. During a test, rats given intermixed preexposure showed a greater preference for AX over BX than those given blocked preexposure. Experiment 2 showed that after intermixed preexposure to AX and BX, and a block of preexposure to CX, a preference established to AX was less likely to generalize to BX than to CX. These results represent the first demonstration of the impact of the schedule of preexposure on perceptual learning using a flavor preference procedure, and they parallel those previously observed using flavor aversion procedures

Mechanical failures of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts

Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt placement represents the most widely accepted form of treatment for most patients with hydrocephalus. Despite significant improvements in VP shunt procedures, various complications remain a common situation. The diagnosis of shunt failure can be confounded by a variety of factors, mechanical failure being the most common cause of multiple shunt revisions in a lifetime. A better understanding of mechanisms of shunt failure will cause an improvement in the management of this neurosurgical procedure

Measurement of neutron detection efficiency between 22 and 174 MeV using two different kinds of Pb-scintillating fiber sampling calorimeters

We exposed a prototype of the lead-scintillating fiber KLOE calorimeter to neutron beam of 21, 46 and 174 MeV at The Svedberg Laboratory, Uppsala, to study its neutron detection efficiency. This has been found larger than what expected considering the scintillator thickness of the prototype. %To check our method, we measured also the neutron %detection efficiency of a 5 cm thick NE110 scintillator. We show preliminary measurement carried out with a different prototype with a larger lead/fiber ratio, which proves the relevance of passive material to neutron detection efficiency in this kind of calorimeters

Measurement of the neutron detection efficiency of a 80% absorber - 20% scintillating fibers calorimeter

The neutron detection efficiency of a sampling calorimeter made of 1 mm diameter scintillating fibers embedded in a lead/bismuth structure has been measured at the neutron beam of the The Svedberg Laboratory at Uppsala. A significant enhancement of the detection efficiency with respect to a bulk organic scintillator detector with the same thickness is observed.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Our experience in surgical treatment of intraorbital tumors

Orbital tumors are complex lesions representing a great challenge for the neurosurgeons and ophthalmologist.Methods: We analyse the database for 57 patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of orbital tumors at our institution between 2001 and 2010. Data from clinical notes, surgical reports, and radiological findings were extracted for the statistical analysis.Results: Predominant symptoms were exophthalmos (68%), visual disturbance (42%) and ocular mobility limitation (37%). The most used surgical approache was superior orbitotomy. Orbital tumors histopathological results showed that hemangiomas were the most common tumors type (35%). Malignant tumors accounted for 23% of cases. Total resection of tumors was achieved in 78% of patients.Conclusion: Surgical treatment could be considered an optimal treatment option for most of the orbital tumor. A better imaging anatomy analysis of the orbit correlated with good surgical skills is needed to overcome the pitfalls of intraorbital surgery

Shedding New Light on Kaon-Nucleon/Nuclei Interaction and Its Astrophysical Implications with the AMADEUS Experiment at DAFNE

The AMADEUS experiment deals with the investigation of the low-energy kaon-nuclei hadronic interaction at the DA{\Phi}NE collider at LNF-INFN, which is fundamental to respond longstanding questions in the non-perturbative QCD strangeness sector. The antikaon-nucleon potential is investigated searching for signals from possible bound kaonic clusters, which would open the possibility for the formation of cold dense baryonic matter. The confirmation of this scenario may imply a fundamental role of strangeness in astrophysics. AMADEUS step 0 consisted in the reanalysis of 2004/2005 KLOE dataset, exploiting K- absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C in the setup materials. In this paper, together with a review on the multi-nucleon K- absorption and the particle identification procedure, the first results on the {\Sigma}0-p channel will be presented including a statistical analysis on the possible accomodation of a deeply bound stateComment: 6 pages, 2 figure, 1 table, HADRON 2015 conferenc

Technique possibilities for volumetric assessment of intracranial aneurysms

Volume measurement techniques of intracranial aneurysms from 3D rotational angiography vary on different factor settings and, therefore, are operator-dependent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application and the precision of ellipsoidal approximation (mathematics and computer technique) and software methods to measure intracranial aneurysms volume starting from planar (DR and SD) and 3-dimensional (3D) angiographic images. The reliability of the methods was statistically compared in a clinical setting of 42 angiograms and 100 measurements performed by the same users. This study suggests that both techniques could be used for clinical applications with similar efficiency results. The 3D rotational angiography is an increasingly used method for cerebral aneurysms treatment planning. This complex imagistic method permits a better evaluation of cerebral aneurysms anatomy by an improved delimitation of vessels and aneurysms contours. Moreover, the 3D dataset can be used to calculate aneurysm volume. It is known the important role of aneurysm volume calculation in coil embolization treatment. To assess an optimal degree of coils aneurysm packing, it has become imperative to determine preoperatively the volume of the aneurysm to be embolized

First experience in intracranial aneurysm occlusion by balloon assisted coiling technique

Particular anatomical situation like wide-neck aneurysms or a large neck/fundus ratio, located on an arterial bifurcation or a small artery, are still a challenge for endovascular coil occlusion. These are due to the risk of coil migration or coil protrusion into the parent vessels. In our study we describe the balloon assisted coiling technique regarding the efficacy and safety of its practice and the problems that could appear