On analytical solutions for liquid-filled non-shallow conical shell assemblies

On the basis of linear elastic shell theory, analytical results for stresses and deformations in liquid-filled conical shell assemblies are presented. For these structural configurations, which find application in elevated liquid containment and pressure vessels, such complete sets of closed-form results have never been presented before in the literature, to the author’s best knowledge. The membrane solution is adopted as the particular solution of the bending-theory equations, while the oneterm asymptotic-series solution for the axisymmetric bending of a non-shallow thin conical shell serves as the homogeneous component of the total solution, allowing all stresses and deformations to be conveniently obtained in closed form. These analytical results, used in combination with numerical analyses such as the finite-element method, permit a rapid and efficient analysis and design of the shell structures in question. The presented results have the added value of serving as a convenient benchmark for checking the performance of numerical formulations for problems of the type under discussion. A numerical example illustrates the value of the analytical results as a tool for parametric study and design

Studying a population undergoing nutrition transition: a practical case study of dietary assessment in urban South African adolescents

The South African Medical Research Council food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and protocol was used to determine food intake in 83 adolescents from the Birth To Twenty study. The FFQ was piloted on a small group (n=8). Specific problems which resulted in overestimation of energy intake were identified. The protocol was modified and administered to the remainder of the adolescents and their caregivers. Reasonable energy intakes were obtained, and time spent completing the FFQ was reduced. The modified protocol was more successful in determining habitual food intake although it would benefit from validation against other dietary intake techniques

Четыре радиоиндуцированные злокачественные опухоли, ишемическая болезнь сердца, атеросклероз и констриктивный перикардит у больной с лимфомой Ходжкина, получавшей лучевую терапию: клинический случай

Introduction. Radiation therapy (RT) has been widely used since the 1970s in the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. RT increases the risk of secondary malignancies and heart disease including coronary artery disease, noncoronary atherosclerotic valvular disease, valvular dysfunction, pericardial disease and radiation induced vasculopathy.Case Presentation. We describe a case of a patient with 4 secondary malignancies due to previous RT including parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma, breast multicentric infiltrating ducta, thyroid papillary microcarcinoma with follicular pattern and lung adenocarcinoma that later presented with severe constrictive pericarditis, which led to an emergency pericardiectomy – all of these were complications of her previous radiotherapy. She received a prompt diagnosis and treatment.\Discussion. Radiation-induced vascular disease (RIVD) occurs due to endothelial injury following RT; patients have up to 3–4 fold increase in risk of myocardial infarction due to CAD, therefore screening of CAD with a CT coronary angiography is recommended to begin 5 years after receiving RT in patients 45 and older and 10 years after RT in patients <45 years old. Radiation induced secondary malignancies (RISM) are seen in 17–19 % of cases and the risk increases by time since last RT session. Many factors contribute to the risk severity of developing RISM such as age of radiation, dosage and size of the area irradiated, and radiation technique. Lung and breast cancer are the most common forms of second malignancy. A prompt screening, diagnosis and treatment of the RT complications are vital and should be prioritized in every control.Актуальность. Лучевая терапия (ЛТ) для лечения лимфомы Ходжкина широко используется с 1970-х гг. ЛТ увеличивает риск развития злокачественных новообразований и заболеваний сердца, включая ишемическую болезнь сердца, некоронарное атеросклеротическое поражение клапанов, дисфункцию клапанов, заболевание перикарда и васкулопатию, индуцированную лучевой терапией.Описание клинического случая. Представлен клинический случай пациентки с 4 злокачественными новообразованиями, возникшими вследствие ЛТ: мукоэпидермоидная карцинома околоушной слюнной железы, мультицентрический инфильтрирующий протоковый рак молочной железы, папиллярная микрокарцинома щитовидной железы с фолликулярным вариантом и аденокарцинома легкого, с разитием последующего тяжелого констриктивного перикардита, что привело к экстренной перикардэктомии. Все эти осложнения были результатом предыдущей лучевой терапии по поводу лимфомы Ходжкина. Пациентка получила своевременную диагностику и лечение.Обсуждение. Радиоиндуцированные сердечно-сосудистые заболевания возникают из-за повреждения эндотелия после лучевой терапии. У пациентов с ИБС риск развития инфаркта миокарда повышается в 3–4 раза, поэтому скрининг ИБС с помощью КТ-коронарографии рекомендуется начинать через 5 лет после ЛТ у пациентов в возрасте 45 лет и старше и через 10 лет после ЛТ у пациентов в возрасте <45 лет. Развитие радиоиндуцированных злокачественных новообразований наблюдается в 17–19 % случаев; риск их развития растет с увеличением времени, прошедшего после завершения лучевой терапии. Многие факторы влияют на риск возникновения злокачественных опухолей: возраст, доза, размер полей и метод облучения. Рак легкого и рак молочной железы являются наиболее частыми локализациями радиоиндуцированных новообразований. Своевременная диагностика и лечение осложнений ЛТ должны быть приоритетом при контрольном обследовании

The chemokine receptor CCR8 is preferentially expressed in Th2 but not Th1 cells

In this paper we report on the cloning and characterization of mouse CCR8. Like its human homologue, it is predominantly expressed in the thymus. In the periphery, murine CCR8 mRNA was found most abundantly expressed in activated Th2-polarized cells and in NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells. Human CCR8 is also preferentially expressed in human Th2-polarized cells and clones. This pattern of expression suggests that CCR8 is part of a Th2-specific gene expression program. The CCR8 ligands I-309 and its mouse homologue T cell activation gene 3 (TCA-3) are potent chemoattractants for Th2-polarized cells. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that CCR8 plays a role in the control of Th2 responses, and may represent a potential target for treatment of allergic diseases

Aberrant in vivo T helper type 2 cell response and impaired eosinophil recruitment in CC chemokine receptor 8 knockout mice

Chemokine receptors transduce signals important for the function and trafficking of leukocytes. Recently, it has been shown that CC chemokine receptor (CCR)8 is selectively expressed by Th2 subsets, but its functional relevance is unclear. To address the biological role of CCR8, we generated CCR8 deficient (-/-) mice. Here we report defective T helper type 2 (Th2) immune responses in vivo in CCR8 -/- mice in models of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA)-induced granuloma formation as well as ovalbumin (OVA)- and cockroach antigen (CRA)-induced allergic airway inflammation. In these mice, the response to SEA, OVA, and CRA showed impaired Th2 cytokine production that was associated with aberrant type 2 inflammation displaying a 50 to 80% reduction in eosinophils. In contrast, a prototypical Th1 immune response, elicited by Mycobacteria bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) was unaffected by CCR8 deficiency. Mechanistic analyses indicated that Th2 cells developed normally and that the reduction in eosinophil recruitment was likely due to systemic reduction in interleukin 5. These results indicate an important role for CCR8 in Th2 functional responses in vivo

Exacerbation of facial motoneuron loss after facial nerve axotomy in CCR3-deficient mice

We have previously demonstrated a neuroprotective mechanism of FMN (facial motoneuron) survival after facial nerve axotomy that is dependent on CD4+ Th2 cell interaction with peripheral antigen-presenting cells, as well as CNS (central nervous system)-resident microglia. PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) is expressed by injured FMN and increases Th2-associated chemokine expression in cultured murine microglia. Collectively, these results suggest a model involving CD4+ Th2 cell migration to the facial motor nucleus after injury via microglial expression of Th2-associated chemokines. However, to respond to Th2-associated chemokines, Th2 cells must express the appropriate Th2-associated chemokine receptors. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Th2-associated chemokine receptors increase in the facial motor nucleus after facial nerve axotomy at timepoints consistent with significant T-cell infiltration. Microarray analysis of Th2-associated chemokine receptors was followed up with real-time PCR for CCR3, which indicated that facial nerve injury increases CCR3 mRNA levels in mouse facial motor nucleus. Unexpectedly, quantitative- and co-immunofluorescence revealed increased CCR3 expression localizing to FMN in the facial motor nucleus after facial nerve axotomy. Compared with WT (wild-type), a significant decrease in FMN survival 4 weeks after axotomy was observed in CCR3−/− mice. Additionally, compared with WT, a significant decrease in FMN survival 4 weeks after axotomy was observed in Rag2−/− (recombination activating gene-2-deficient) mice adoptively transferred CD4+ T-cells isolated from CCR3−/− mice, but not in CCR3−/− mice adoptively transferred CD4+ T-cells derived from WT mice. These results provide a basis for further investigation into the co-operation between CD4+ T-cell- and CCR3-mediated neuroprotection after FMN injury

Novel emerging therapy for erectile dysfunction: efficacy and safety of flat magnetic stimulation

Background: The erectile dysfunction (ED), which is the inability to achieve and/or sustain a penile erection sufficient to result in a satisfying sexual performance, represents a very common complaint. for men over forty years old. The aim of the study was to evaluate if Flat Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) technology could help individuals with symptomatic erectile dysfunction. Methods: Twenty patients with erectile dysfunction, underwent eight sessions of about 30 minutes each in a twice a week frequency with the study device. During treatments, every potential side effect was assessed. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was compiled by all patients at the beginning, after the eighth treatment and at 1 month from the end of the last treatment. The questionnaire scores were presented as median values along with the interquartile range (IQR) and we set the significance threshold at 0.01. Results: After the treatment and at 1-month follow-up, the increase in questionnaire scores was statistically significant compared to the baseline, thus supporting the clinical usefulness of this treatment. In particular, the result of the study indicates a statistically significant difference between IIEF score before treatment (Median = 34) and IIEF score after the end of treatment (Median = 45) and between IIEF score before treatment and IIEF score at 1-month follow-up (Median = 54). Conclusions: The study findings showed that FMS represents a promising treatment option to individuals affected by symptomatic erectile dysfunction

Samhd1 phosphorylation and cytoplasmic relocalization after human cytomegalovirus infection limits its antiviral activity

SAMHD1 is a host restriction factor that functions to restrict both retroviruses and DNA viruses, based on its nuclear deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) hydrolase activity that limits availability of intracellular dNTP pools. In the present study, we demonstrate that SAMHD1 expression was increased following human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, with only a modest effect on infectious virus production. SAMHD1 was rapidly phosphorylated at residue T592 after infection by cellular cyclin-dependent kinases, especially Cdk2, and by the viral kinase pUL97, resulting in a significant fraction of phosho-SAMHD1 being relocalized to the cytoplasm of infected fibroblasts, in association with viral particles and dense bodies. Thus, our findings indicate that HCMV-dependent SAMHD1 cytoplasmic delocalization and inactivation may represent a potential novel mechanism of HCMV evasion from host antiviral restriction activities