Measurement of the magnetic anisotropy energy constants for magneto-optical recording media

Measurement of the magneto-optical polar Kerr effect is performed on rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) amorphous films using in-plane fields. From this measurement and the measurement of the saturation magnetization using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the magnetic anisotropy constants are determined. The temperature dependence is presented of the magnetic anisotropy in the range of -175 to 175 C. The results show a dip in the anisotropy near magnetic compensation. This anomaly is explained based on the finite exchange coupling between the rare earth and transition metal subnetworks

The Change of the Vessel Markings by Ligation of the Branch of the Pulmonary Artery

In relation with the collapse therapy of the lung, I observed the change of vessel markings of the lobe when the secondary atrophy of the lung occurs by ligation of pulmonary artery. Using a cat weighing 2-3 kg, I obtained specimens by infusing dyes in a living cat at various periods after operation. The results were as follows. 1) There were observed no dangerous symptoms by the ligation of the branch of the pulmonary artery. The necrosis of the ligated lobe did not occur. 2) Directly after the ligation there occurs a formation of a collateral pathway by a capillary communication from the vessels of the bronchial wall which extends to the wall of the alveolus, then by the newly built vessels which came outside the lobe through the adhesion with the peripheral area of it. 3) By ligation a thrombus will be formed in the pulmonary artery but a circulating pathway can be noticed inside the thrombus. This is considered to be a circulating pathway retrogradely to the pulmonary artery through the capillary net work of the alveolus wall by the vessels of the bronchial walls and the vessels which invaded from the outside of the lobe through the adhering portion. A week after the ligation the thrombus is nearly absorbed and the recovery of the circulation inside the pulmonary artery can be noticed. 4) The change of the lobe which occurs by the ligation of the branch of the pulmonary artery can be applied clinically

Effects of long term polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation on membrane lipid composition and growth characteristics in rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modifying the n-6:n-3 Fatty Acid Ratio (FAR) of diets using fish oil, soybean oil and butter on growth performance and the fatty acid profile of rat fed with commercial concentrate diet. Fifty individually housed Sprague-Dawley rats (average of 130±2 g of body weight) were fed concentrates at 5% of body weight daily. The treatments consisted of dietary n-6:n-3 FAR of 1.94:1, 5.67:1, 51.82:1 and 61.69:1. After feeding for 20 weeks in individual cages, rats were sacrificed 15 h after feeding and samples of blood were collected. Increasing dietary saturated fatty acid increased the body weight significantly in compared to other treatment groups. Concentrations of n-6:n-3 FAR in plasma increased linearly (p0.05) in rat plasma with different n-6:n-3 FAR. Proportions of oleic acid in plasma were unchanged by diet. The proportion of Arachidonic Acid (AA) decreased (p<0.05) in plasma of rat that fed with low level of n-6:n-3 FAR in compare to the diet with higher level. Proportions of all measured long chain n-3 fatty acids were greater in plasma when diets contained more C22:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3 from fish oil. By decreasing the dietary n-6:n-3 FAR, the proportions of long chain n-3 fatty acids in plasma increased dramatically; specifically, 22:6 n-3 and 22:5 n-3

High lactate levels are predictors of major complications after cardiac surgery

ObjectiveAlthough hyperlactatemia after cardiac surgery is common, the implications of raised levels remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether high lactate levels after cardiac surgery are predictors of major complications including mortality.Patients and MethodsThis was a substudy of TRACS (Transfusion Requirements After Cardiac Surgery), which was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled trial evaluating the effects of a transfusion strategy on morbidity and mortality.ResultsOf the 502 patients enrolled, 52 (10%) had at least 1 major complication. Patients with complications were older, had a higher EuroSCORE, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, lower preoperative hemoglobin, a higher prevalence of renal disease, and received more blood transfusions than the group without complications. Lactate levels were higher in the group with complications at the end of surgery (3.6 mmol/L [2.8-5.1] vs 3.3 mmol/L [2.2-4.8]; P = .018), immediately after intensive care unit (ICU) admission (0 hour) (4.4 mmol/L [3.1-8.4] vs 4 mmol/L [2.6-6.4]; P = .048); 6 hours (4 mmol/L [2.7-5.8] vs 2.6 mmol/L [2-3.6], P < .001), and 12 hours after admission (2.3 mmol/L [1.8-3.2] vs 1.7 mmol/L [1.3-2]; P < .001). In a multivariate model, higher age (odds ratio [OR], 1.048, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.011-1.086; P = .010), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 40% (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.200-7.510; P = .019 compared with LVEF of 40%-59%; OR, 3.571; 95% CI, 1.503-8.196; P = .004 compared with LVEF higher than 60%), higher EuroSCORE (OR, 1.138; 95% CI; 1.007-1.285; P = .038), red blood cell transfusion (OR, 1.230; 95% CI, 1.086-1.393; P = .001), and lactate levels 6 hours after ICU admission (OR, 3.28, 95% CI; 1.61-6.69; P = .001) are predictors of major complications.ConclusionsHyperlactatemia 6 hours after ICU admission is an independent risk factor for worse outcomes in adult patients after cardiac surgery

Nano-Antimicrobial Solutions Using Synthetic-Natural Hybrid Designs

Nanotechnology potential in antimicrobial therapy is increasingly demonstrated by various data. Results reveal antibacterial properties, comparable to that of conventional antibiotics. Working on parallel experiments, researchers continue to bring evidence demonstrating age-old-recognized antibacterial properties of various natural components of plant and animal origin. Later years brought an increasing trend for combining synthetic and natural composition in new constructs. The tendency aims to bring more on different essential aspects, such as active substance release, improvement of antibacterial effect, and up-regulation of the mechanisms at the structure-cell interface. Present chapter structures the up-to-date achievements in the field, including the concept of design, biological effects, benefits, mechanisms, and limitations of the field. Also, expected future research directions are to be discussed

Assessment of PULP score in predicting 30-day perforated duodenal ulcer morbidity, and comparison of its performance with Boey and ASA, a retrospective study

Background: /aim: Scores commonly employed to risk stratify perforated peptic ulcer patients include ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists), Boey and peptic ulcer perforation score (PULP). However, few studies assessed and compared the accuracy indices of these three scores in predicting post PPU repair 30-day morbidity. We assessed accuracy indices of PULP, and compared them to Boey and ASA in predicting post perforated duodenal (PDU) ulcer repair 30-day morbidity. Methods: Retrospective chart review of all PDU patients (perforated duodenal ulcers only) at the largest two hospitals in Qatar (N = 152). Data included demographic, clinical, laboratory, operative, and post repair 30-day morbidity. Area under the Curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity were computed for each of the 3 scores. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the accuracy indices of each score. Results: All patients were males (M age 37.41 years). Post PDU repair 30-day morbidity was 10.5% (16 morbidities). Older age, higher ASA (?3), Boey (?1) or PULP (?8) scores, shock on admission and preoperative comorbidities; and conversely, lower hemoglobin and albumin were all positively significantly associated with higher post PDU 30-day morbidity. PULP displayed the largest AUC (72%), and was the only score to significantly predict 30-day morbidity. The current study is the first to report the sensitivity and specificity of these three scores for post PDU repair 30-day morbidity; and first to assess accuracy indices for PULP in predicting post PDU repair 30-day morbidity. Conclusion: PULP score had the largest AUC and was the only score to significantly predict post PDU repair 30-day morbidity.Scopu

TLR2 expression is increased in rosacea and stimulates enhanced serine protease production by keratinocytes.

A diverse environment challenges skin to maintain temperature, hydration, and electrolyte balance while also maintaining normal immunological function. Rosacea is a common skin disease that manifests unique inflammatory responses to normal environmental stimuli. We hypothesized that abnormal function of innate immune pattern recognition could explain the enhanced sensitivity of patients with rosacea, and observed that the epidermis of patients with rosacea expressed higher amounts of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) than normal patients. Increased expression of TLR2 was not seen in other inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. Overexpression of TLR2 on keratinocytes, treatment with TLR2 ligands, and analysis of TLR2-deficient mice resulted in a calcium-dependent release of kallikrein 5 from keratinocytes, a critical protease involved in the pathogenesis of rosacea. These observations show that abnormal TLR2 function may explain enhanced inflammatory responses to environmental stimuli and can act as a critical element in the pathogenesis of rosacea