Macrophage Activation Syndrome as Onset of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a potentially fatal condition. It is a rare complication of several autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). The incidence of MAS associated with SLE is about 0.9–4.6% [1]. MAS is a multifarious disease, presenting with several signs and symptoms, including high fever, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hemorrhagic manifestations (e.g., purpura), and dysfunction of the central nervous system, like lethargy. Furthermore, MAS is characterized by several alterations in laboratory tests, including pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperferritinemia. MAS is classified among the group of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which includes familial HLH and secondary HLH. Secondary HLH is triggered by several causes, including infection, drugs, malignancy, and rheumatic disorder [2]. We report a rare case of MAS that occurred as first manifestation of SLE treated with high dose intravenous methylprednisolone and oral cyclosporine

Sensitivity and spatial resolution of square loop SQUID magnetometers

We calculate the flux threading the pick-up coil of a square SQUID magnetometer in the presence of a current dipole source. The result reproduces that of a circle coil magnetometer calculated by Wikswo with only small differences. However it has a simpler form so that it is possible to derive from it closed form expressions for the current dipole sensitivity and the spatial resolution. The results are useful to assess the overall performance of the device and to compare different designs

Sidereal frequency generator Patent

System generating sidereal frequency signals from signals of standard solar frequency without use of mixing operations or feedback loop

Practical guidelines for effective bank resolution

This study adopts a practical approach in developing a set of guidelines on designing a bank resolution framework and implementing efficient bank resolution methods in Latin America. It identifies six pillars that are useful for establishing a bank resolution framework. The study aims to guide policymakers choose from a set of bank resolution methods, by outlining their advantages and disadvantages and establishing efficiency requirements. The focus is on the good-bank/bad-bank approach, which is a type of purchase and assumption mechanism that has increasingly become part of the newer legal frameworks in Latin America. The good-bank/bad-bank approach is an effective bank resolution method because it can be very successful in meeting certain efficiency criteria, including the minimization of contagion costs and preservation of business.Banks&Banking Reform,,Access to Finance,Debt Markets,Bankruptcy and Resolution of Financial Distress

Elliptic Annular Josephson Tunnel Junctions in an external magnetic field: The statics

We have investigated the static properties of one-dimensional planar Josephson tunnel junctions in the most general case of elliptic annuli. We have analyzed the dependence of the critical current in the presence of an external magnetic field applied either in the junction plane or in the perpendicular direction. We report a detailed study of both short and long elliptic annular junctions having different eccentricities. For junctions having a normalized perimeter less than one the threshold curves are derived and computed even in the case with one trapped Josephson vortex. For longer junctions a numerical analysis is carried out after the derivation of the appropriate Perturbed sine-Gordon Equation. For a given applied field we find that a number of different phase profiles exist which differ according to the number of fluxon-antifluxon pairs. We demonstrate that in samples made by specularly symmetric electrodes a transverse magnetic field is equivalent to an in-plane field applied in the direction of the current flow. Varying the ellipse eccentricity we reproduce all known results for linear and ring-shaped Josephson tunnel junctions. Experimental data on high-quality Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb elliptic annular junctions support the theoretical analysis provided self-field effects are taken into account.Comment: 30 pages, 13 figure

Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss mode generation and interferometry for gravitational wave detectors

We report on the first experimental demonstration of higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LGpl) mode generation and interferometry using a method scalable to the requirements of gravitational wave (GW) detection. GW detectors which use higher-order LGpl modes will be less susceptible to mirror thermal noise, which is expected to limit the sensitivity of all currently planned terrestrial detectors. We used a diffractive optic and a mode-cleaner cavity to convert a fundamental LG00 Gaussian beam into an LG33 mode with a purity of 98%. The ratio between the power of the LG00 mode of our laser and the power of the LG33 transmitted by the cavity was 36%. By measuring the transmission of our setup using the LG00, we inferred that the conversion efficiency specific to the LG33 mode was 49%. We illuminated a Michelson interferometer with the LG33 beam and achieved a visibility of 97%.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and PRES: a case-based review of literature in ANCA-associated vasculitides

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a small-sized vessel systemic necrotizing vasculitis and belongs to the family of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides. The involvement of central nervous system in this condition is pretty rare. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and radiological entity described for the first time by Hinchey et al. (N Engl J Med 334(8):494-500, 1996) and characterized by MRI findings of reversible subcortical vasogenic edema predominantly in the white matter of posterior cerebral lobes. There are few case reports describing the concurrence of PRES with ANCA-associated vasculitides. We describe a case of PRES in a patient with a diagnosis of EGPA with a concise review of the literature. The exact cause of this syndrome is unknown. It has been related to eclampsia, drug-induced hypertension, renal insufficiency and also to rheumatologic diseases. Endothelial injury, hypertension and immunosuppressive medications can compromise the regulation of cerebral blood flow. In ANCA-associated vasculitides, patients presenting with symptoms of PRES represent a challenge to treatment with immunosuppressive medications. However, since an inflammatory process might be implicated, judicious use of these agents along with tight control of blood pressure and a supportive therapy may contribute to the resolution of the encephalopathic syndrome treating at the same time other manifestation related to the rheumatologic disease. Larger clinical studies are warranted to optimize the management of vasculitis-associated PRES

Di Benedetto, Antonio. 2016. Escritos periodísticos. Investigación, selec., pról. y notas Liliana Reales. Buenos Aires: Adriana Hidalgo Editora. 594 pp.

Fil: Granata, Gladys. Universidad Nacional de Cuy