Neuropsychological functioning in children with shunted uncomplicated hydrocephalus

A neuropsychological battery was given to a CT-defmed group of children shunted for uncomplicated hydrocephalus with estimated normal range IQs. When no other brain anomalies were present, verbal 1Q estimates were inferior to age and sex matched controls, but still in the normal range. In the presence of average academie performance and nonnal range IQ. impairment of neuropsychological functioning in verbal and nonverbal memory, fine motor speed, and visuospatial problem solving was observed. Successful neurosurgical management or hydrocephalus is not necessarily equaled with achieving normal neuropsychological functioning. © 1983 S. Karger AG, Basel

Dynamic behaviour of viologen-activated nanostructured TiO2: correlation between kinetics of charging and coloration

The dynamic response of viologen-activated nanostructured titanium dioxide has been studied by means of electrical and electro-optical measurements. We show that the state of charge of the semiconductor network is the key factor mediating between the electrode potential and colouration of viologen. Theoretically, we relate the electrode potential to the statistics of occupancy of both TiO2 nanoparticles and oxidized viologen molecules attached to the surface, on the assumption of quasi-equilibrium of Fermi levels in these contacting phases. Experimentally, we determine the statistical function from steady-state measurements (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) of the capacitance of the semiconductor film. From this understanding we explain the main features that correlate the simultaneous voltammetry and transmittance responses. Finally, the redox process of viologen is resolved separately from the TiO2 response by means of transmittance data

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: recommendations for evidence-based practice, an international approach

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) may result in severe bleeding, particularly fetal and neonatal intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). As a result, FNAIT requires prompt identification and treatment; subsequent pregnancies need close surveillance and management. An international panel convened to develop evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of FNAIT. A rigorous approach was used to search, review and develop recommendations from published data for: antenatal management, postnatal management, diagnostic testing and universal screening. To confirm FNAIT, fetal human platelet antigen (HPA) typing, using non-invasive methods if quality-assured, should be performed during pregnancy when the father is unknown, unavailable for testing or heterozygous for the implicated antigen. Women with a previous child with an ICH related to FNAIT should be offered intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions during subsequent affected pregnancies as early as 12 weeks gestation. Ideally, HPA-selected platelets should be available at delivery for potentially affected infants and used to increase the neonatal platelet count as needed. If HPA-selected platelets are not immediately available, unselected platelets should be transfused. FNAIT studies that optimize antenatal and postnatal management, develop risk stratification algorithms to guide management and standardize laboratory testing to identify high risk pregnancies are needed.Research into fetal development and medicin

Disaccharides impact the lateral organization of lipid membranes

Disaccharides are well-known for their membrane protective ability. Interaction between sugars and multicomponent membranes, however, remains largely unexplored. Here, we combine molecular dynamics simulations and fluorescence microscopy to study the effect of mono- and disaccharides on membranes that phase separate into Lo and Ld domains. We find that nonreducing disaccharides, sucrose and trehalose, strongly destabilize the phase separation leading to uniformly mixed membranes as opposed to monosaccharides and reducing disaccharides. To unveil the driving force for this process, simulations were performed in which the sugar linkage was artificially modified. The availability of accessible interfacial binding sites that can accommodate the nonreducing disaccharides is key for their strong impact on lateral membrane organization. These exclusive interactions between the nonreducing sugars and the membranes may rationalize why organisms such as yeasts, tardigrades, nematodes, bacteria, and plants accumulate sucrose and trehalose, offering cell protection under anhydrobiotic conditions. The proposed mechanism might prove to be a more generic way by which surface bound agents could affect membranes