A spinor approach to Walker geometry

A four-dimensional Walker geometry is a four-dimensional manifold M with a neutral metric g and a parallel distribution of totally null two-planes. This distribution has a natural characterization as a projective spinor field subject to a certain constraint. Spinors therefore provide a natural tool for studying Walker geometry, which we exploit to draw together several themes in recent explicit studies of Walker geometry and in other work of Dunajski (2002) and Plebanski (1975) in which Walker geometry is implicit. In addition to studying local Walker geometry, we address a global question raised by the use of spinors.Comment: 41 pages. Typos which persisted into published version corrected, notably at (2.15

In vitro antimicrobial effects of aztreonam, colistin, and the 3-drug combination of aztreonam, ceftazidime and amikacin on metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are limited choice of antimicrobial agents to treat infection with metallo-<it>β</it>-lactamase-producing <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>. We evaluate the antimicrobial effects of aztreonam alone, colistin alone and the 3-drug combination of aztreonam, ceftazidime and amikacin on 23 strains of metallo-<it>β</it>-lactamase-producing <it>P. aeruginosa </it>by time-killing tests.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Strains used were from different hospitals in Japan and had different pulse-field gel electrophoresis patterns by restriction with <it>Spe</it>I. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 11 antimicrobial agents (piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, meropenem, aztreonam, ceftazidime, amikacin, tobramycin, arbekacin, ciprofloxacin and colistin) were determined using the agar dilution test. The effects of aztreonam, colistin and the combination of aztreonam, ceftazidime and amikacin were determined by time-killing studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bacteriostatic effects after 6 hours of drug exposure were observed in 12 strains (52.2%) of 23 strains of metallo-<it>β</it>-lactamase-producing <it>P. aeruginosa </it>with 48 mg/l aztreonam, in 19 strains (82.6%) with the 3-drug combination of 16 mg/l aztreonam, 16 mg/l ceftazidime, and 4 mg/l amikacin, and in 23 strains (100%) with 2 mg/l colistin. Bactericidal effects after 6 h drug exposure were observed in 1 strain (4.3%) with 48 mg/l aztreonam, in 8 strains (30.4%) with the 3-drug combination and in all 23 strains (100%) with 2 mg/l colistin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Evaluation of <it>in vitro </it>antimicrobial effects on metallo-<it>β</it>-lactamase-producing <it>P. aeruginosa </it>revealed relatively good effects of the 3-drug combination of aztreonam, ceftazidime and amikacin and marked effects of colistin.</p

The “Retrospective Commenting” Method for Longitudinal Recordings of Everyday Speech

Peer reviewe

Terapia fotodinâmica com ftalocianina de zinco tópica: avaliação da intensidade de fluorescência, absorção cutânea, alterações histológicas e imuno-histoquímicas na pele do modelo animal Topical photodynamic therapy with zinc phthalocyanine: evaluation of fluorescence intensity, skin absorption, skin histological and immunohistochemical changes in animal model

FUNDAMENTOS - Ftalocianinas são promissores agentes fotossensibilizadores na terapia fotodinâmica (TFD). OBJETIVOS - Avaliar intervalos, veículos e a incorporação de promotor de absorção na formulação tópica da ftalocianina de zinco (FC-Zn). Avaliar alterações macro e micromorfológicas e a expressão de Fas promovidas pela TFD com FC-Zn tópica no modelo murino. MÉTODOS - Por meio da espectrometria de fluorescência, foram avaliadas combinações de diferentes períodos de oclusão tópica das formulações gel ou emulsão de FC-Zn (1mg/dl), com ou sem monoleína 5%, no dorso do camundongo hairless. Após oito horas das diferentes formulações, os camundongos foram expostos ao laser de diodo de 670nm, dose de 50J/cm-². RESULTADOS - A fluorescência foi discretamente superior após oito horas e com a emulsão nos intervalos de uma, duas e quatro horas de oclusão. A intensidade do edema e da erosão correspondeu à necrose da epiderme e à imunoexpressão de Fas nos cortes histológicos de pele. CONCLUSÕES - Os achados indicam a ação fotodinâmica promovida pela interação entre FC-Zn e fonte de luz de 670nm. As alterações macro e micromorfológicas foram correspondentes e mais substanciais com a emulsão FC-Zn e monoleína, sugerindo a acentuação dos efeitos com essa formulação. A imunoexpressão de Fas e as alterações histológicas sugeriram a apoptose como mecanismo de morte celular na TFD com FC-Zn tópica.<br>BACKGROUND - Phthalocyanines are promising photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). OBJECTIVES - To evaluate the following parameters: intervals, vehicles and enhancer using topical zinc-phthalocyanine (Zn-PC) formulation. To examine macro and micromorphological changes and Fas expression induced by topical Zn-PC-PDT on murine skin. MATERIAL AND METHODS - Using fluorescence spectrometry, different intervals of topical occlusion employing Zn-PC gel or emulsion, with or without monolein 5% were studied. After an 8-hour occlusion of different formulations, the mice were exposed to 670 nm laser, at a 50 J.cm-² dose. RESULTS - Fluorescence was slightly higher after 8 hours, and also with emulsion formulation at one-, two- and four-hour occlusion periods. The intensity of edema and erosion were correlated to epidermal necrosis and to Fas immunoexpression in skin histological specimens. CONCLUSIONS - The results show the effects of photodynamic action promoted by the interaction between Zn-PC formulation and a 670-nm light source. Macro and micromorphological alterations were correlated and more substantial with monolein and Zn-PC emulsion, suggesting more marked effects with this formulation. The Fas immunoexpression and histological changes suggested that apoptosis plays a role in the mechanism of cell death caused by PDT based in Zn-PC