Preparation of Arsenobetaine hydrobromide

Crystalline arsenobetaine hydrobromide is deposited directly on addition of trimethylarsine to a benzene solution of bromoacetic acid. The product is stable, non-deliquescent and may be readily converted into the free betaine by passage through basic ion exchange resin

A propeller flap for single-stage nose reconstruction in selected patients: supratrochlear artery axial propeller flap

The paramedian forehead flap is the gold standard technique for nose reconstruction. It requires two different surgical operations which prolonged the postoperative dressing and care. We present our 5-year experience with a propeller flap based on the supratrochlear artery, which allows one-stage transfer of the forehead skin to the nose without the need for pedicle division. This technique is indicated in a selected group of patients who are not suitable for multiple-stage reconstructions because they have concurrent medical conditions, reduced mobility, or live far away from specialized medical centers. We have renamed this procedure as supratrochlear artery axial propeller flap, from the acronym STAAP flap, to stress the axial, well known and constant, vascularization of the flap. In the past 5 years, we have been performing 25 STAAP flaps; full-thickness nasal reconstruction was performed in 11 cases. The patients were 16 males and 9 females, with a mean age of 79.5 years. All patients had multiple comorbidities. Complete flap survival was observed in 23 cases and healing was complete in 7 days. In two cases, there was a partial distal necrosis of the flap treated conservatively. Cosmetic results were good and the patient's satisfaction was significant. These results indicate that the STAAP flap is a reliable and useful technique in selected cases, as old or noncompliant patients who benefit from a one-stage technique of nose reconstructio

Extraction and identification of the main compound present in Elaeis guineensis flower volatiles

The main compound contained in the volatile oils of the oil palm flowers was identified as l-methoxy-4 (2-propenyl) benzene or estragole. The same compound was extracted from the anthesizing male and female flowers of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The newly identified compound is believed to be responsible for attracting the adults of the oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kemerunicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Steam distillation of1 kg of fresh male and female flowers yielded O.7g and O.2g of volatile oils. The chemical structure and characteristics were confirmed by mass spectromeric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, and the infrared spectra analysis. The possible usage of the compound in ecological research on the weevil and in the industry' are discussed

Adipose-derived stem cells: true or false? A different point of view

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A difficult case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii

This study reports the case of a 55-year-old woman with diabetes with a necrotizing fasciitis of the right lower limb and the perineum, first admitted at the emergency department for septic shock with cardiac arrest, and later transferred to the department of surgery. Microbiological and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. A broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was administered and later readjusted according to the results of microbiological culture. Intensive hemodynamic support was required. Wounds were dressed daily with a 3 percent boric acid solution and a silver sulfadiazine-impregnated dressing. An extensive surgical debridement was promptly performed and repeated until complete control of the infection. Wounds were finally covered with split-thickness skin grafts. The infection was overcome 35 days after admission. The graft take was 100%. Postoperative rehabilitation was required because of the functional limitation of lower limb movements. Follow-up at 6 months showed no functional deficit and an acceptable aesthetic result. Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening disorder, especially in patients with diabetes, whose clinical diagnosis may sometimes be challenging. Early recognition and treatment represent the most important factors influencing surviva

Skewed Differentiation of Circulating Vγ9Vδ2 T Lymphocytes in Melanoma and Impact on Clinical Outcome

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate over time circulating γδ T lymphocytes in melanoma patients in terms of frequency, effector functions, and relationship with clinical stage and evolution, by comparing preoperative values to those obtained at a mean follow-up of 36 months or in the event of recurrence or disease progression, and to those of healthy controls. Also, we correlated the presence of tumor-infiltrating γδ T lymphocytes with clinical evolution of melanoma. Results Mean frequencies of circulating γδ T cells before and after melanoma removal were very similar and comparable to healthy subjects, but patients who progressed to stage III or IV showed a significantly decreased frequency of circulating Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. The distribution of Vγ9Vδ2 memory and effector subsets was similar in healthy subjects and melanoma patients at diagnosis, but circulating γδ T cells of patients after melanoma removal had a skewed terminally-differentiated effector memory phenotype. Highly suggestive of progressive differentiation toward a cytotoxic phenotype, Vγ9Vδ2T cells from patients at follow up had increased cytotoxic potential and limited cytokine production capability, while the opposite pattern was detected in Vγ9Vδ2T cells from patients before melanoma removal. Conclusions Follow-up data also showed that tumor infiltrating γδ T cells were significantly associated with lower mortality and relapse rates, suggesting that they may serve as a prognostic biomarker, for human melanom

Chemotaxonomy of the Lauraceae: N-Methyl-2,3,6 trimethoxymorphinandien- 7-one, the Major Alkaloid from Alseodaphne perakens'is

The leaves of Alseodaphne perakensis contain one major and a complex mixture of minor alkaloids. The major component was identified as N-methyl-2,3, 6-trimethoxymorphinandien-7-one by spectroscopic analyses of the parent compound, its methiodide salt and sodium borohydride reduction products

e+e- Pairs: a clock and a thermometer of heavy ion collisions

Recently, there is growing evidence that a new state of matter is formed in sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC: a strongly coupled Quark Gluon Plasma of partonic degrees of freedom which develops a collective motion. Dilepton spectra are not affected by strong interaction and can therefore probe the whole time evolution of the collision. Thus they may be sensitive to onset of deconfinement, chiral symmetry restoration, as well as the production of thermal photons. The PHENIX experiment measured the production of e+e- pairs in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV. An enhanced dilepton yield in the mass range 150<m_ee<750 MeV/c^2 is measured. The excess increases faster with centrality than the number of participating nucleons and is concentrated at p_T<1GeV/c. At higher p_T the excess below 300 MeV/c^2 has been related to an enhanced production of direct photons possibly of thermal origin.Comment: Proceedings of Quark Matter 2008, 8 pages, 7 figure

Composition of the Steam Volatile Oil from Hyptis suaveolens Poit

The steam volatile oil from the aerial parts of Hyptis suaveolens has been examined by combined GC-MS. Of the 70 components detected, 38 have been identified accounting for approximately 86% of the oil. ( β Caryophyllene was present to 41% and 1,8-cincole, terpinen-4-o 1, ex-bergamotene, sabinene and ex -copaene were the other major components. This oil appears to be chemically distinct from the one reported from H. suaveolens collected in South America