Rectangular configuration improves superconducting cable

Superconducting cable for a cryogenic electromagnet with improved mechanical and thermal properties consists of a rectangular cross-sectioned combination of superconductor and normal conductor. The conductor cable has superconductors embedded in a metallic coating with high electrical and mechanical conductivity at liquid helium temperatures

Interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 production by mononuclear cells from patients with advanced head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment. METHODS: Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied. Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated during the preoperative and late postoperative periods were stimulated with concanavalin A and Bacille Calmette-Guerin, and the supernatant concentrations of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 were measured. RESULTS: For non-stimulated cultures, the interferon-gamma levels produced by the preoperative period and the late postoperative period cultures were lower than the levels produced by the control group cultures. The interferon-gamma levels after stimulation with concanavalin A were higher in the late postoperative period cultures than in the preoperative evaluation cultures. Stimulation with Bacille Calmette-Guerin led to the production of similar levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by all cultures; thus, stimulation increased the levels of interferon-gamma produced by both the preoperative and postoperative cultures relative to the levels produced by the corresponding unstimulated cultures. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer exhibit an in vitro deficiency in interferongamma secretion by mononuclear cells. Stimulated cells seem to recover this function during the postoperative period

Interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 production by mononuclear cells from patients with advanced head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment. METHODS: Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied. Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated during the preoperative and late postoperative periods were stimulated with concanavalin A and Bacille Calmette-Guerin, and the supernatant concentrations of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 were measured. RESULTS: For non-stimulated cultures, the interferon-gamma levels produced by the preoperative period and the late postoperative period cultures were lower than the levels produced by the control group cultures. The interferon-gamma levels after stimulation with concanavalin A were higher in the late postoperative period cultures than in the preoperative evaluation cultures. Stimulation with Bacille Calmette-Guerin led to the production of similar levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by all cultures; thus, stimulation increased the levels of interferon-gamma produced by both the preoperative and postoperative cultures relative to the levels produced by the corresponding unstimulated cultures. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer exhibit an in vitro deficiency in interferongamma secretion by mononuclear cells. Stimulated cells seem to recover this function during the postoperative period

Dermatoses em pacientes com diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: It is yet unknown the relationship between diabetes and determinants or triggering factors of skin lesions in diabetic patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of unreported skin lesions in diabetic patients and their relationship with metabolic control of diabetes. METHODS: A total of 403 diabetic patients, 31% type 1 and 69% type 2, underwent dermatological examination in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The endocrine-metabolic evaluation was carried out by an endocrinologist followed by the dermatological evaluation by a dermatologist. The metabolic control of 136 patients was evaluated using glycated hemoglobin. RESULTS: High number of dermophytosis (82.6%) followed by different types of skin lesions such as acne and actinic degeneration (66.7%), pyoderma (5%), cutaneous tumors (3%) and necrobiosis lipoidic (1%) were found. Among the most common skin lesions in diabetic patients, confirmed by histopathology, there were seen necrobiosis lipoidic (2 cases, 0.4%), diabetic dermopathy (5 cases, 1.2%) and foot ulcerations (3 cases, 0.7%). Glycated hemoglobin was 7.2% in both type 1 and 2 patients with adequate metabolic control and 11.9% and 12.7% in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients, respectively, with inadequate metabolic controls. A higher prevalence of dermatophytoses was seen in the both groups with inadequate metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a high prevalence of skin lesions in diabetic patients, especially dermatophytoses. Thus, poor metabolic control of diabetes increases patient's susceptibility to skin infections.OBJETIVO: Ainda é desconhecida a relação do diabetes com fatores determinantes ou precipitantes de lesões dermatológicas em pacientes diabéticos. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi investigar a presença de lesões cutâneas, não referidas pelo paciente diabético e sua relação com o controle metabólico da doença. MÉTODOS: Foram examinados 403 pacientes, dos quais 31% eram diabéticos do tipo 1 e 69% do tipo 2. Em ambulatório de um hospital universitário, os pacientes foram atendidos por endocrinologista para a avaliação endócrino-metabólica e por dermatologista para a avaliação dermatológica. O grau de controle metabólico foi documentado em 136 pacientes por meio da dosagem de hemoglobina glicada. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de dermatofitoses (82,6%), seguido de grupo de dermatoses como acne e degeneração actínica (66,7%), piodermites (5%), tumores cutâneos (3%) e necrobiose lipoídica (1%). Entre as dermatoses mais comuns em diabéticos, foram confirmados com exame histológico: dois diagnósticos de necrobiose (0,4%), cinco de dermopatia diabética (1,2%) e três casos de mal perfurante plantar (0,7%). Os valores da hemoglobina glicada foram: 7,2% em pacientes com controle metabólico adequado nos dois tipos de diabetes e de 11,9% e 12,7% nos tipos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com controle inadequado. Nos pacientes com controle metabólico inadequado foi observada freqüência maior de dermatofitoses, em ambos os tipos de diabetes. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados revelaram freqüência elevada de lesão dermatológica nos pacientes diabéticos, especialmente dermatofitoses. Dessa forma, o descontrole metabólico do diabético propicia maior suscetibilidade a infecções cutâneas

Controle de hiperglicemia intra-hospitalar em pacientes críticos e não-críticos

Hiperglicemia é uma condição frequente encontrada no ambiente intra-hospitalar. Quando presente em pacientes críticos internados pode levar a maior morbi-mortalidade, comprometendo o tratamento da doença de base. Essa revisão tem por objetivo padronizar a conduta terapêutica na hiper e hipoglicemias nos pacientes internados em ambiente hospitalar, de forma a reduzir tempo de internação e mortalidadeHyperglycemia is a common condition found in-hospital environment. When present in critically ill patients admitted can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, affecting the treatment of the underlying disease. This protocol aims to standardize the therapeutic approach in hyper-and hypoglycemia in patients admited to hospital in order to reduce length of stay and mortality.

Concurrent Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling and Calcium Dynamics

Synaptic transmission involves the calcium dependent release of neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles. Genetically encoded optical probes emitting different wavelengths of fluorescent light in response to neuronal activity offer a powerful approach to understand the spatial and temporal relationship of calcium dynamics to the release of neurotransmitter in defined neuronal populations. To simultaneously image synaptic vesicle recycling and changes in cytosolic calcium, we developed a red-shifted reporter of vesicle recycling based on a vesicular glutamate transporter, VGLUT1-mOrange2 (VGLUT1-mOr2), and a presynaptically localized green calcium indicator, synaptophysin-GCaMP3 (SyGCaMP3) with a large dynamic range. The fluorescence of VGLUT1-mOr2 is quenched by the low pH of synaptic vesicles. Exocytosis upon electrical stimulation exposes the luminal mOr2 to the neutral extracellular pH and relieves fluorescence quenching. Reacidification of the vesicle upon endocytosis again reduces fluorescence intensity. Changes in fluorescence intensity thus monitor synaptic vesicle exo- and endocytosis, as demonstrated previously for the green VGLUT1-pHluorin. To monitor changes in calcium, we fused the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin to the recently improved calcium indicator GCaMP3. SyGCaMP3 is targeted to presynaptic varicosities, and exhibits changes in fluorescence in response to electrical stimulation consistent with changes in calcium concentration. Using real time imaging of both reporters expressed in the same synapses, we determine the time course of changes in VGLUT1 recycling in relation to changes in presynaptic calcium concentration. Inhibition of P/Q- and N-type calcium channels reduces calcium levels, as well as the rate of synaptic vesicle exocytosis and the fraction of vesicles released