Liver transplantation in biliary atresia with concomitant hepatoma.

Two cases are reported in which the very infrequently reported association was found of liver cell carcinoma and biliary cirrhosis secondary to congenital biliary atresia. A search of the literature revealed 4 previous reports of cases with similar pathology. Our 2 patients were both operated upon within the first few months of life, at which time congenital biliary atresia was documented, and in 1 instance temporarily corrected. They ran a progressive downhill course until they both received replacement livers, one at 4 years of age and the other at 12, at which times hepatoma was found in the excised cirrhotic livers. One patient is in good health 18 months post-transplantation. The other developed metastases but died of gastro-intestinal bleeding and pneumonia 76 days post-transplantation

Adsorption behavior of conjugated {C}3-oligomers on Si(100) and HOPG surfaces

A pi-conjugated {C}3h-oligomer involving three dithienylethylene branches bridged at the meta positions of a central benzenic core has been synthesized and deposited either on the Si(100) surface or on the HOPG surface. On the silicon surface, scanning tunneling microscopy allows the observation of isolated molecules. Conversely, by substituting the thiophene rings of the oligomers with alkyl chains, a spontaneous ordered film is observed on the HOPG surface. As the interaction of the oligomers is different with both surfaces, the utility of the Si(100) surface to characterize individual oligomers prior to their use into a 2D layer is discussed

H.E.S.S. observations of galaxy clusters

Clusters of galaxies, the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe, are expected to contain a significant population of hadronic and leptonic cosmic rays. Potential sources for these particles are merger and accretion shocks, starburst driven galactic winds and radio galaxies. Furthermore, since galaxy clusters confine cosmic ray protons up to energies of at least 1 PeV for a time longer than the Hubble time they act as storehouses and accumulate all the hadronic particles which are accelerated within them. Consequently clusters of galaxies are potential sources of VHE (> 100 GeV) gamma rays. Motivated by these considerations, promising galaxy clusters are observed with the H.E.S.S. experiment as part of an ongoing campaign. Here, upper limits for the VHE gamma ray emission for the Abell 496 and Coma cluster systems are reported.Comment: Contribution to the 30th ICRC, Merida Mexico, July 200

320g Ionization-Heat Cryogenic Detector for Dark Matter Search in the EDELWEISS Experiment

The EDELWEISS experiment used in 2001 a 320g heat-and-ionization cryogenic Ge detector operated in a low-background environment in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane for direct WIMP detection. This detector presents an increase of more than 4 times the mass of previous detectors. Calibrations of this detector are used to determine its energy resolution and fiducial volume, and to optimize the detector design for the 1kg phase of the EDELWEISS-I experiment. Analysis of the calibrations and characteristics of a first series of 320g-detectors are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Biomechanical Performance of Variable and Fixed Angle Locked Volar Plates for the Dorsally Comminuted Distal Radius

Background The ideal treatment strategy for the dorsally comminuted distal radius fracture continues to evolve. Newer plate designs allow for variable axis screw placement while maintaining the advantages of locked technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the biomechanical properties of one variable axis plate with two traditional locked constructs. Methods Simulated fractures were created via a distal 1 cm dorsal wedge osteotomy in radius bone analogs. The analogs were of low stiffness and rigidity to create a worst-case strength condition for the subject radius plates. This fracture-gap model was fixated using one of three different locked volar distal radius plates: a variable axis plate (Stryker VariAx) or fixed axis (DePuy DVR, Smith & Nephew Peri-Loc) designs. The constructs were then tested at physiologic loading levels in axial compression and bending (dorsal and volar) modes. Construct stiffness was assessed by fracture gap motion during the different loading conditions. As a within-study control, intact bone analogs were similarly tested. Results All plated constructs were significantly less stiff than the intact control bone models in all loading modes (p\u3c0.040). Amongst the plated constructs, the VariAx was stiffest axially (p=0.032) and the Peri-Loc was stiffest in bending (p\u3c0.024). Conclusion In this analog bone fracture gap model, the variable axis locking technology was stiffer in axial compression than other plates, though less stiff in bending

Muscle-only versus chimeric musculocutaneous gastrocnemius pedicled flap in complex orthoplastic reconstructions of the knee region: A retrospective study

Background: The knee region represents a challenging area of soft tissue reconstruction. Specifically, in the context of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or following high-energy trauma with fractures and hardware fixation, soft tissue defects can expose critical structures such as joint, bone or tendon, besides the implant/plates themselves, with dramatic consequences in terms of postoperative infection and hardware contamination. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on a prospectively maintained database from January 2016 to February 2021. Inclusion criteria involved all patients who underwent an implant-associated infection of the knee and upper third of the leg coupled with a soft tissue reconstruction (STR) using the traditional gastrocnemius muscle (GM) pedicled flap or the chimeric GM-MSAP (medial sural artery perforator) flap. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included (group A, GM flap, 22 patients; group B, chimeric GM-MSAP flap, 16 patients). No statistically significant differences were detected in terms of age, comorbidities, defect size, follow-up, and flap complications. A statistically significant difference was seen among the groups in terms of successful flap re-raise (required because of a persistent infection of the implant or in a two-stage procedure setting, including the use of a cemented spacer) in favour of the GM-MSAP group. Conclusion: The chimeric GM-MSAP, being safer to reraise if required, can be a significantly more powerful tool in those cases in which a two-stage procedure is planned or when there is a high probability for secondary intervention need, reducing the need to convert to either free flap coverage or amputation

Cellular and Cytokine Responses in the Granulomas of Asymptomatic Cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis in Ethiopia

Cells (CD3+ T cell and CD68+ macrophages), cytokines (IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+) and effector molecule (iNOS+) responses were evaluated in the lymph nodes and tissue of cattle naturally infected with Detailed post mortem and immunohistochemical examinations of lesions were performed on 16 cows positive for single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) test which were identified from dairy farms located around the Addis Ababa City. The severity of the gross lesion was significantly higher (p=0.003) in culture positive (n=12) cows than in culture negative (n=4). Immunohistochemical techniques showed that in culture positive cows, the mean immunolabeling fraction of CD3+ T cells decreased as the stage of granuloma increased from stage I to stage IV (p<0.001). In contrast, the immunolabelling fraction of CD68+ macrophages, IFN-γ+, TNF-α+ and iNOS+ increased from stage I to stage IV (p< 0.001). In culture negative cows, early stages showed a significantly higher fraction of CD68+ macrophages (p=0.03) and iNOS+ (p=0.007) when compared to culture positive cows. Similarly, at advanced granuloma stages, culture negative cows demonstrated significantly higher mean proportions of CD3+ T cells (p< 0.001) compared to culture positive cows. Thus, this study demonstrates that following natural infection of cows with , as the stage of granuloma increases from stage I to stage IV, the immunolabelling fraction of CD3+ cells decreases while the immunolabeling fraction of CD68+ macrophages, IFN-γ+, TNF-α+ and iNOS+ increases. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2020 Tulu et al.