Splenic melanosis during normal murine C57BL/6 hair cycle and after chemotherapy

Cancer chemotherapy is associated with serious side effects, including temporary hair loss and impairment of pigmentation. We suspect that ectopic melanin deposition occurring due to chemotherapy may add to these effects worsening the already unpleasant symptoms. We associated the ectopic occurrence of follicular melanin after chemotherapy with splenic melanosis an interesting example of extradermal melanin localization and we expected an increase in splenic melanin deposition after chemotherapy. Using the C57BL/6 murine model of synchronized hair cycle induced by depilation, we visualized splenic melanin by means of several histological and histochemical protocols of staining: hematoxylin and eosin, May-Grunwald-Giemsa and Fontana-Masson. Unexpectedly, the splenic deposition of melanin decreased due to application of cyclophosphamide (i.p. 120 mg/kg body weight on day 9 post depilation). The drop was abrupt and lasted for at least 5 days (day 13-18 post depilation), as compared with normal hair cycle. Moreover, in mice with normal, depilation-induced hair cycle we observed a similar drop shortly before entering catagen (day 15 post depilation), followed by a slow and partial increase in splenic melanization up to day 27 post depilation in both groups. We conclude that cyclophosphamide negatively affects splenic melanization and/or extradermal transfer of ectopic melanin from the dystrophic hair follicles, but the most powerful down-regulator of splenic melanosis is normal and dystrophic catagen the phase of hair follicle involution and re-modelling

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage complicated by pulmonary embolism — problems with treatment

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) refers to a clinical syndrome resulting from injury of the alveolar capillaries, arterioles and venules leading to red blood cel accumulation in the distal air spaces. The conditions associated with DAH and underlying disease determine the prognosis and the treatment regimen. The coexistence of DAH with venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a seroius problem for clinicians and poses a challenge in the therapeutic management. We describe a young patient who developed massive DAH in the course of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease (formerly called Goodpasture’s syndrome) complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE)

Report of the interlaboratory comparison organised by the European Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Material - ILC01 2011- Formaldehyde in food contact migration solution

The Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) of the European Commission’s Directorate-General Joint Research Centre hosts the EU Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (EURL-FCM). One of its core tasks is to organise interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) among appointed National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). This report presents the results of the ILC of the EURL-FCM, which focused on the quantification of formaldehyde in migration solutions of 3% acetic acid from food contact materials. The test material used for preparation of the migration solutions were melamine kitchenware (spoons) containing formaldehyde. The EURL prepared and distributed three concentration levels of migration solution. The general aim of the exercise was to assess the proficiency of the official control laboratories and consequently the participants were free to use any analytical method of their choice. However, in view of the support to Regulation 284/2011, EURL suggested to limit the methods to the two procedures included in EN 13130-23 (i.e. standard for food contact). There were 62 participants to whom samples were dispatched (27 NRLs + 35 national control laboratories from Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, France, Portugal and Switzerland) and 61 of which submitted results. The homogeneity and stability studies were performed by the EURL-FCM laboratory. The assigned values were obtained after applying the robust statistics to the results of the participants. Participants were invited to report 4 results for each concentration level. Laboratory results were processed using several algorithms: ISO 13528 [1], Harmonized protocol [8], DIN 38402 A45 (Q-Hampel) [5] and ISO GUIDE 35:2006 [11]. Standard deviations for proficiency assessment (also called target standard deviations) were set based on Horwitz equation [2]. As a conclusion of the ILC exercise on the quantification of formaldehyde in the migration solution of kitchenware in 3% acetic acid, this ILC showed that: The participation in the ILC was satisfactory regarding the number of the participating laboratories. Sixty one participants laboratories submitted their results. Six of the participants submitted results obtained using two different sample preparation methods. From the EURL-NRL network all 27 laboratories reported results. For the network of NRL-FCM the outcome from the participation is regarded as satisfactory as there are all satisfactory results. For the network of national control laboratories only one laboratory does not send any results. More than 85% of all reported results were properly estimated. Comparing between the two sample preparation methods (EN 13130-23) used by the participants resulted in not significantly different mean values. Both methods were found interchangeable.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Innovative Biochar-Based Composite Fibres from Recycled Material

Carbon materials are becoming crucial in several industrial sectors. The drawbacks of these materials include their high cost and oil-based essence. In recent years, recycled materials have become possible alternative sources of carbon with several advantages. Firstly, the production of this alternative source of carbon may help to reduce biomass disposal, and secondly, it contributes to CO2 sequestration. The use of carbon derived from recycled materials by a pyrolysis treatment is called biochar. Here, we present composite materials based on different biochar filler contents dispersed in several thermoplastic polymer matrixes. Electrical conductivity and tensile break strength were investigated together with the material characterisation by DTA/TGA, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. Materials with good flexibility and electrical conductivity were obtained. The local ordering in composites resembles both biochar and polymer ordering. The similarity between biochar and carbon nanotubes’ (CNTs) XRD patterns may be observed. As biochar is highly cost-effective, the proposed composites could become a valid substitute for CNT composites in various applications

Structural and Optical Properties of Spray Coated Carbon Hybrid Materials Applied to Transparent and Flexible Electrodes

Transparent and flexible electrodes were fabricated with cost-effective spray coating technique on polyethylene terephthalate foil substrates. Particularly designed paint compositions contained mixtures of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphene platelets to achieve their desired rheology and electrooptical layers parameters. Electrodes were prepared in standard technological conditions without the need of clean rooms or high temperature processing. The sheet resistance and optical transmittance of fabricated layers were tuned with the number of coatings; then the most suitable relation of these parameters was designated through the figure of merit. Optical measurements were performed in the range of wavelengths from 250 to 2500 nm with a spectrophotometer with the integration sphere. Spectral dependence of total and diffusive optical transmission for thin films with graphene platelet covered by multiwalled carbon nanotubes was designated which allowed determining the relative absorbance. Layer parameters such as thickness, refractive index, energy gap, and effective reflectance coefficient show the correlation of electrooptical properties with the technological conditions. Moreover the structural properties of fabricated layers were examined by means of the X-ray diffraction

Flexible Temperature Sensors on Fibers

The aim of this paper is to present research dedicated to the elaboration of novel, miniaturized flexible temperature sensors for textronic applications. Examined sensors were manufactured on a single yarn, which ensures their high flexibility and good compatibility with textiles. Stable and linear characteristics were obtained by special technological process and applied temperature profiles. As a thermo-sensitive materials the innovative polymer compositions filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes were used. Elaborated material was adapted to printing and dip-coating techniques to produce NTC composites. Nanotube sensors were free from tensometric effect typical for other carbon-polymer sensor, and demonstrated TCR of 0.13%/K. Obtained temperature sensors, compatible with textile structure, can be applied in rapidly developing smart textiles and be used for health and protections purposes

Washable, Low-Temperature Cured Joints for Textile-Based Electronics

Low-temperature die-attaching pastes for wearable electronics are the key components to realize any type of device where components are additively manufactured by pick and place techniques. In this paper, the authors describe a simple method to realize stretchable, bendable, die-attaching pastes based on silver flakes to directly mount resistors and LEDs onto textiles. This paste can be directly applied onto contact pads placed on textiles by means of screen and stencil printing and post-processed at low temperatures to achieve the desired electrical and mechanical properties below 60 °C without sintering. Low curing temperatures lead to lower power consumption, which makes this paste ecological friendly