Endovascular treatment of renal artery thrombosis caused by umbilical artery catheterization

AbstractRenal arterial thrombosis, usually in association with aortic thrombosis, has been reported as a result of prolonged neonatal umbilical artery catheterization. A case of renal artery thrombosis attributable to umbilical artery catheterization, resulting in malignant renovascular hypertension, in a 15-day-old neonate, treated by catheter-directed thrombolysis through the involuting umbilical artery, was studied. Resolution of systemic hypertension and partial return of right renal function followed rapid thrombus dissolution. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:949-53.

Photodegradation modifies microplastic effects on soil properties and plant performance

1. Microplastics (MPs) in soil affect plant–soil systems depending on their shape and polymer type. However, previous research has not yet considered the effects of degraded plastics, which are the plastic materials actually present in the environment. 2. We selected eight MPs representing different shapes (fibres, films and foams) and polymer types, and exposed them to UV-C degradation. Each MP was mixed with soil at a concentration of 0.4% (w/w). The phytometer Daucus carota grew in each pot. At harvest, soil properties and plant biomass were measured. 3. Photodegradation altered MP physical and chemical properties, impacting plant–soil systems. MP degradation effects on plant and soil were observed with fibres and foams, but there were negligible effects with films. The latter could be explained by the polymer structure of films and manufacturer's additives, potentially delaying their degradation. 4. Degraded fibres increased soil respiration more than their non-degraded counterparts, as photodegradation increased the positive effects of fibres on soil water retention. The emergence of oxygenated groups during degradation may have increased the hydrophilicity of fibres, enhancing their ability to retain water. Degraded foams increased soil respiration, which could be related to the possible leaching of organic substances with lower partition coefficients, which may promote soil microbial activity. 5. In contrast, degraded foams decreased soil aggregation, likely as degradation produced larger holes increasing their permeability. Also, the increase in hydrophilic molecules could have decreased soil particle cohesiveness. Degraded fibres and foams increased shoot and root mass as a result of MP effects on soil properties. Photodegraded MPs affected root traits, which could be linked to MP effects on soil water status and plant coping strategies. 6. Synthesis and applications. Photodegradation can intensify the effects that microplastics (MPs) have on plant–soil systems, which would have frequently been underestimated had we only worked with pristine MPs. Plastic companies, agricultural practitioners and researchers should consider that plastics are being degraded as they enter the soil. Policies should promote practices to minimize MP accumulation in soils and ensure their proper disposal

Characterization of Reactants Reaction Mechanisms and Reaction Products Leading to Extreme Acid Rain and Acid Aerosol Conditions in Southern California

Analyses of fogwater collected by inertial impaction in the Los Angeles basin and the San Joaquin Valley indicated unusually high concentrations of major and minor ions. The dominant ions measured were NO_3^-, SO_4^(2-), NH_4^+ and H^+ Nitrate exceeded sulfate on an equivalent basis by a factor of 2.5 in the central and coastal regions of the Los Angeles basin, but was approximately equal in the eastern Los Angeles basin and the San Joaquin Valley. Maximum observed values for NH_4^+, NO_3^- and SO_4^(2-) were 10., 12., and 5. meq L^(-1), while the lowest pH observed was 2.2. Iron and lead concentrations over 0.1 mM and 0.01 mM, respectively, were observed. High concentrations of chemical components in fog appeared to correlate well with the occurrence of smog events. Concentrations in fogwater were also affected by the physical processes of condensation and evaporation. Light, dissipating fogs routinely showed the highest concentrations. The chemistry of urban fog has been modelled using a hybrid kinetic and equilibrium computer code. Extreme acidity found in Southern California fog may be due either to condensation and growth on acidic condensation nuclei or in situ S(IV) oxidation. Important oxidants of S(IV) were found to be O_2 as catalyzed by Fe(III) and Mn(II), H_2)_2 and 0_3. formation of hydroxymethane sulfonate ion (HMSA) via the nucleophilic addition of HSO_3^-to CH_2 CH_2O(ℓ) significantly increased the droplet capacity for S(IV) but did not slow down the net S(IV) oxidation rate leading to fog acidification. Gas phase nitric acid, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide were scavenged efficiently, although aqueous phase hydrogen peroxide was depleted rapidly by reduction with S(IV). Nitrate production in the aqueous phase was found to be dominated by HNO_3 gas phase scavenging. Major aqueous-phase species concentrations were controlled primarily by condensation, evaporation, and pH

Molecular dynamics simulation of the order-disorder phase transition in solid NaNO2_2

We present molecular dynamics simulations of solid NaNO$_2$ using pair potentials with the rigid-ion model. The crystal potential surface is calculated by using an \emph{a priori} method which integrates the \emph{ab initio} calculations with the Gordon-Kim electron gas theory. This approach is carefully examined by using different population analysis methods and comparing the intermolecular interactions resulting from this approach with those from the \emph{ab initio} Hartree-Fock calculations. Our numerics shows that the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in solid NaNO$_2$ is triggered by rotation of the nitrite ions around the crystallographical c axis, in agreement with recent X-ray experiments [Gohda \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. B \textbf{63}, 14101 (2000)]. The crystal-field effects on the nitrite ion are also addressed. Remarkable internal charge-transfer effect is found.Comment: RevTeX 4.0, 11 figure

Fast evolving pair-instability supernova models: evolution, explosion, light curves

With an increasing number of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) discovered, the question of their origin remains open and causes heated debates in the supernova community. Currently, there are three proposed mechanisms for SLSNe: (1) pair-instability supernovae (PISNe), (2) magnetar-driven supernovae and (3) models in which the supernova ejecta interacts with a circumstellar material ejected before the explosion. Based on current observations of SLSNe, the PISN origin has been disfavoured for a number of reasons. Many PISN models provide overly broad light curves and too reddened spectra, because of massive ejecta and a high amount of nickel. In the current study, we re-examine PISN properties using progenitor models computed with the GENEC code. We calculate supernova explosions with FLASH and light-curve evolution with the radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA. We find that high-mass models (200 and 250 M⊙) at relatively high metallicity (Z = 0.001) do not retain hydrogen in the outer layers and produce relatively fast evolving PISNe Type I and might be suitable to explain some SLSNe. We also investigate uncertainties in light-curve modelling due to codes, opacities, the nickel-bubble effect and progenitor structure and composition

The adipose tissue production of adiponectin is increased in end-stage renal disease.

Adiponectin has antidiabetic properties, and patients with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance have low plasma adiponectin levels. However, although kidney disease is associated with insulin resistance, adiponectin is elevated in end-stage renal disease. Here we determine whether adipose tissue production of adiponectin is increased in renal disease in a case-control study of 36 patients with end-stage renal disease and 23 kidney donors. Blood and tissue samples were obtained at kidney transplantation and donation. The mean plasma adiponectin level was significantly increased to 15.6 mg/ml in cases compared with 8.4 mg/ml in controls. Plasma levels of the inflammatory adipokines tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly higher in cases compared with controls. Adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in visceral and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher in cases than controls, while adiponectin receptor-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in peripheral blood cells, muscle, and adipose tissue in cases compared with controls. Thus, our study suggests that adipose tissue production of adiponectin contributes to the high plasma levels seen in end-stage renal disease

Models of Consent to Return of Incidental Findings in Genomic Research

Genomic research has the capacity to generate a wide array of findings that go beyond the goals of the study—usually referred to as “incidental findings.” The evolving consensus of researchers, participants, and expert panels is that at least some incidental results should be made available to participants. However, there are a number of challenges to discussing these issues with participants and ascertaining their preferences, including the complexity and magnitude of the relevant information. Believing that usual models of informed consent are not likely to be effective in this context, we identify four approaches that investigators and IRBs might consider: traditional consent, staged consent, mandatory return, and outsourcing. Each has advantages and disadvantages compared with the other options, and which one is selected for a given project will depend on a mix of practical and normative considerations that are described in this paper

Immunomagnetic t-lymphocyte depletion (ITLD) of rat bone marrow using OX-19 monoclonal antibody

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) may be abrogated and host survival prolonged by in vitro depletion of T lymphocytes from bone marrow (BM) prior to allotransplantation. Using a mouse anti-rat pan T-lymphocyte monoclonal antibody (0×19) bound to monosized, magnetic, polymer beads, T lymphocytes were removed in vitro from normal bone marrow. The removal of the T lymphocytes was confirmed by flow cytometry. Injection of the T-lymphocyte-depleted bone marrow into fully allogeneic rats prevents the induction of GVHD and prolongs host survival. A highly efficient technique of T-lymphocyte depletion using rat bone marrow is described. It involves the binding of OX-19, a MoAb directed against all rat thy-mocytes and mature peripheral T lymphocytes, to monosized, magnetic polymer spheres. Magnetic separation of T lymphocytes after mixing the allogeneic bone marrow with the bead/OX-19 complex provides for a simple, rapid depletion of T lymphocytes from the bone marrow. In vitro studies using flow cytometry and the prevention of GVHD in a fully allogeneic rat bone marrow model have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the depletion procedure. © 1989 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted