Acute superior vena cava obstruction due to tight pericardial closure following congenital defect repair

The obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) of acute onset nature following surgery is a rare and serious condition. The tight closure of the pericardium over the heart during surgical procedures may cause external compression on the SVC. Echocardiography and Computed tomography (CT) scan aids in the diagnosis. Cutting open the pericardial stitches relieves the condition

Silymarin protects liver against toxic effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs in experimental animals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The first line anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF) and pyrazinamide (PZA) continues to be the effective drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis, however, the use of these drugs is associated with toxic reactions in tissues, particularly in the liver, leading to hepatitis. Silymarin, a standard plant extract with strong antioxidant activity obtained from <it>S. marianum</it>, is known to be an effective agent for liver protection and liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective actions of silymarin against hepatotoxicity caused by different combinations of anti-tuberculosis drugs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male Wistar albino rats weighing 250–300 g were used to form 6 study groups, each group consisting of 10 rats. Animals were treated with intra-peritoneal injection of isoniazid (50 mg/kg) and rifampicin (100 mg/kg); and intra-gastric administration of pyrazinamid (350 mg/kg) and silymarin (200 mg/kg). Hepatotoxicity was induced by a combination of drugs with INH+RIF and INH+RIF+PZA. Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin was investigated by co-administration of silymarin together with the drugs. Serum biochemical tests for liver functions and histopathological examination of livers were carried out to demonstrate the protection of liver against anti-tuberculosis drugs by silymarin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment of rats with INH+RIF or INH+RIF+PZA induced hepatotoxicity as evidenced by biochemical measurements: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and the levels of total bilirubin were elevated, and the levels of albumin and total protein were decreased in drugs-treated animals. Histopathological changes were also observed in livers of animals that received drugs. Simultaneous administration of silymarin significantly decreased the biochemical and histological changes induced by the drugs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The active components of silymarin had protective effects against hepatotoxic actions of drugs used in the chemotherapy of tuberculosis in animal models. Since no significant toxicity of silymarin is reported in human studies, this plant extract can be used as a dietary supplement by patients taking anti-tuberculosis medications.</p

The Electrical Resistance of AgTS-S(CH2)n-1CH3//Ga2O3/EGaIn Tunneling Junctions

Tunneling junctions having the structure AgTS–S(CH2)n−1CH3//Ga2O3/EGaIn allow physical–organic studies of charge transport across self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In ambient conditions, the surface of the liquid metal electrode (EGaIn, 75.5 wt % Ga, 24.5 wt % In, mp 15.7 °C) oxidizes and adsorbs―like other high-energy surfaces―adventitious contaminants. The interface between the EGaIn and the SAM thus includes a film of metal oxide, and probably also organic material adsorbed on this film; this interface will influence the properties and operation of the junctions. A combination of structural, chemical, and electrical characterizations leads to four conclusions about AgTS–S(CH2)n−1CH3//Ga2O3/EGaIn junctions. (i) The oxide is ∼0.7 nm thick on average, is composed mostly of Ga2O3, and appears to be self-limiting in its growth. (ii) The structure and composition (but not necessarily the contact area) of the junctions are conserved from junction to junction. (iii) The transport of charge through the junctions is dominated by the alkanethiolate SAM and not by the oxide or by the contaminants. (iv) The interface between the oxide and the eutectic alloy is rough at the micrometer scale.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Inner shell and valence shell electron excitation of gaseous molecules studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy has been used to obtain the inner shell electron excitation spectra of several different series of gaseous molecules. The spectra were all recorded under small momentum transfer conditions (usually 2.5 keV impact energy and small angle (~1°) scattering) and all spectral regions (both central atom and ligand) accessible by the present instrumentation (<1000 eV) have been measured. The series of molecules investigated include nitrogen containing molecules (NF₃, NH₃ and the methyl amines) and several phosphorus compounds (PX₃, X = H, F, Cl and CH₃; PF₅, OPF₃ and OPCL₃). In addition the spectra of Si(CH₃)₄ have been obtained and compared with published spectra of related Si containing compounds. All of the inner shell spectra show continuum structures which in many cases can be reasonably assigned to σ* shape-resonances. However, comparison of the inner shell electron excitation spectra of NF₃ with the X-ray photoelectron spectra (also reported here) show that continuum structure can also be ascribed, in some cases, to onsets of "shake-up" continua. The relationship of shape-resonance position and bond length is also examined in the systems studied here. The valence shell electron energy loss spectra of many of the above molecules are also reported. The assignment of these spectra is shown to be greatly facilitated by a comparison with the inner shell spectra. Finally, the inner shell and valence shell electron energy loss spectra of trans-1,3-butadiene and allene are also reported and assigned. In particular, the spectral assignment of the inner shell spectrum of allene allows clarification of its complex and controversial valence shell spectrum.Science, Faculty ofChemistry, Department ofGraduat

Historical archaeology of the Hannibalic invasion of Italia: technical applications

Open access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC 3.0 US) appliesPrevious attempts to plot the exact invasion route of the Punic army in 218 B.c. have been limited, with one excep- tion (de Beer 1967, 1969), to analysis of topography and previous historical arguments based on the interpretation of classical texts written by Polybius and livy. eliciting environmental information from classical literature led to a focus on environmental landmarks, including the rockfall that blocked the army on the lee side of the alps, a firing event described by livy, and the regrouping area where the army rested after conflict with the gauls and the trek over a major col of passage into italia.The use of various scientific methods to analyze these three major sites/events has led to a conclusive identification of the invasion route, and sites of interest to geoarchaeologistsYe

Electrical Resistance of Ag^TS–S(CH₂)_<i>n</i>−1CH₃//Ga₂O₃/EGaIn Tunneling Junctions

Tunneling junctions having the structure Ag^TS–S­(CH₂)_<i>n</i>−1CH₃//Ga₂O₃/EGaIn allow physical–organic studies of charge transport across self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In ambient conditions, the surface of the liquid metal electrode (EGaIn, 75.5 wt % Ga, 24.5 wt % In, mp 15.7 °C) oxidizes and adsorbs―like other high-energy surfaces―adventitious contaminants. The interface between the EGaIn and the SAM thus includes a film of metal oxide, and probably also organic material adsorbed on this film; this interface will influence the properties and operation of the junctions. A combination of structural, chemical, and electrical characterizations leads to four conclusions about Ag^TS–S­(CH₂)_<i>n</i>−1CH₃//Ga₂O₃/EGaIn junctions. (i) The oxide is ∼0.7 nm thick on average, is composed mostly of Ga₂O₃, and appears to be self-limiting in its growth. (ii) The structure and composition (but not necessarily the contact area) of the junctions are conserved from junction to junction. (iii) The transport of charge through the junctions is dominated by the alkanethiolate SAM and not by the oxide or by the contaminants. (iv) The interface between the oxide and the eutectic alloy is rough at the micrometer scale