Primary isolated extramedullary plasmacytoma of the colon: a case report

The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaA 10th case of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) of the colon is reported. The term 'primary isolated extramedullary plasmacytoma' is preferred to those terms previously used. A broad classification of plasmacytoma of the gastrointestinal tract is suggested and a management policy, based on this classification, is outlined.Publishers' versio

Summary for the working group on linac codes

The linac codes group discussed two main topics: the PARMTEQ codes and their environment and limitations of the linac simulation codes. These topics are contained in this paper. 7 refs

Self Assembly of Copper(I) and Silver(I) Butterfly Clusters with 2-Mercaptothiazoline

X-ray data obtained from poor crystals which formed from the reaction of copper(II) acetate with 2-mercaptothiazoline reveal the formation of a product that is a polymer formed of tetranuclear, butterfly shaped Cu4(MT)4, 1, clusters. Preparation, isolation and structural characterization of a series of isostructural butterfly complexes was accomplished by addition of a Lewis base (pyridine, PPh3, or ASPI13) to the precipitate obtained from the reaction of copper(II) and/or silver(I) acetate with the appropriate stoichiometric amount of 2-mercaptothiazoline. The general formula of these clusters is L2M4(MT)4; 2, L = PPI13 and M = Cu; 3, L = AsPh3 and M = Cu; 6, L = PPI13 and M = Ag; MT = C3H4NS2_, known as 2-mer- captothiazolinate. The polymer [pyCu4(MT)4]„, 4, formed by the addition of pyridine to 1, was also characterized crystallographically. A mixed metal butterfly complex, (PPh3)2Ag2Cu2(MT)4, 8, is formed by addition of PPI13 to a suspension of the precipitate formed upon reaction of the free HMT ligand with a 1:1 mixture of copper(II) and silver(I) acetates in CH2CI2. FD-MS results of each of the precipitates obtained from the metal acetates and the free ligand indicate that the monomeric unit is M4(MT)4. 1H-NMR and 31P{1H}-NMR, both in solution and in the solid state are presented and interpreted

Nominal Logic Programming

Nominal logic is an extension of first-order logic which provides a simple foundation for formalizing and reasoning about abstract syntax modulo consistent renaming of bound names (that is, alpha-equivalence). This article investigates logic programming based on nominal logic. We describe some typical nominal logic programs, and develop the model-theoretic, proof-theoretic, and operational semantics of such programs. Besides being of interest for ensuring the correct behavior of implementations, these results provide a rigorous foundation for techniques for analysis and reasoning about nominal logic programs, as we illustrate via examples.Comment: 46 pages; 19 page appendix; 13 figures. Revised journal submission as of July 23, 200

The changing of the guard: groupwork with people who have intellectual disabilities

This paper considers the impact of service systems on group activities. It describes an inter-professional groupwork project facilitated by a social worker and a community nurse. The project provided an emancipatory experience for a group of adults who had intellectual disabilities. The group was charged with the task of reviewing and updating the recruitment and interview processes used by a 'Learning Disability Partnership Board', when employing new support workers. The paper begins with a brief history of intellectual disability and provides a context to the underpinning philosophical belief that people should be encouraged and supported to inhabit valued social roles no matter what disability they may have. It then identifies the ways in which the sponsoring health, education and social care services impacted on the creation and development of a groupwork project. It might have been expected that the nature of the intellectual disability would have been the major influence on group process. However the paper reveals that organisational constraints had a significant impact on group functioning. Issues including, staffing budgets and transport contracts impacted on group process and function. The results of the project show how, with adequate support, people with intellectual disability can make important decisions that have long-reaching impacts on the services

Insensitivity of visual short-term memory to irrelevant visual information

Several authors have hypothesised that visuo-spatial working memory is functionally analogous to verbal working memory. Irrelevant background speech impairs verbal short-term memory. We investigated whether irrelevant visual information has an analogous effect on visual short-term memory, using a dynamic visual noise (DVN) technique known to disrupt visual imagery (Quinn & McConnell, 1996a). Experiment 1 replicated the effect of DVN on pegword imagery. Experiments 2 and 3 showed no effect of DVN on recall of static matrix patterns, despite a significant effect of a concurrent spatial tapping task. Experiment 4 showed no effect of DVN on encoding or maintenance of arrays of matrix patterns, despite testing memory by a recognition procedure to encourage visual rather than spatial processing. Serial position curves showed a one-item recency effect typical of visual short-term memory. Experiment 5 showed no effect of DVN on short-term recognition of Chinese characters, despite effects of visual similarity and a concurrent colour memory task that confirmed visual processing of the characters. We conclude that irrelevant visual noise does not impair visual short-term memory. Visual working memory may not be functionally analogous to verbal working memory, and different cognitive processes may underlie visual short-term memory and visual imagery

Seasonality, risk-factors and burden of community-acquired pneumonia in COPD patients: A population database study using linked healthcare records

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is more common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than in the adult general population, with studies of hospitalised CAP consistently reporting COPD as a frequent comorbidity. However, despite an increasing recognition of its importance, large studies evaluating the incidence patterns over time, risk-factors and burden of CAP in COPD are currently lacking.A retrospective observational study using a large UK-based database of linked primary and secondary care records was conducted. Patients with a diagnosis of COPD aged ?40 years were followed for 5 years from the 1st January 2010. CAP and exacerbation episodes were identified from hospital discharge data and primary care coding records, and rates were calculated per month, adjusting for mortality, and displayed over time. In addition, baseline factors predicting future risk of CAP and hospital admission at CAP, were identified. 14513 COPD patients were identified: 13.4% (n=1938) had ?1 CAP episode, of whom 18.8% suffered from recurrent (?2) CAP. Highest rates of both CAP and exacerbations were seen in winter. A greater proportion of frequent, compared to infrequent exacerbators experienced recurrent CAP (5.1% versus 2.0% respectively, p&lt;0.001) 75.6% of CAP episodes were associated with hospital admission compared to 22.1% of exacerbations. Older age and increasing grade of airflow limitation were independently associated with increased odds of CAP and hospital admission at CAP. Other independent predictors of future CAP included lower body mass index, inhaled-corticosteroid use, prior frequent exacerbations and comorbidities including ischaemic heart disease and diabetes. CAP in COPD demonstrates clear seasonal patterns, with patient characteristics predictive of the odds of future CAP and hospital admission at CAP. Highlighting this burden of COPD-associated CAP during the winter period, informs us of the likely triggers and the need for more effective preventive strategies.<br/