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This work reports on the influence of treatment conditions on the olive stones for adsorptive lead(II) ions. The olive stones were treated with acidic or alkaline solutions at various concentrations and contact time. The structure and surface properties of the resulting biosorbents were characterized by surface pH, Boehm's titration and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The olive stones sample, treated with HNO3, possess the highest surface oxygen containing functional groups (3.76 mmol/g), surface area (198 m2/g) and pore volume (0.081cm3/g) and the more adsorption capacity to the lead ions. The adsorption efficiency was higher for treated of olive stones with HNO3 than for treated with KOH. However, the weight loss of the adsorbent products was important with HNO3 treatment. It was also found that the time to reach equilibrium takes less 15 minutes. The effect of contact time, initial concentrations of adsorbate, ionic strength and adsorbent dose on the uptake of lead was studied in batch experiments. The kinetic data were fitted to the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order, and follow closely the pseudosecond order model. Equilibrium adsorption of Pb(II) were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models. The results reveal that the Redlich-Peterson isotherm models fitted the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider isotropic and stationary max-stable, inverse max-stable and max-mixture processes X = (X (s)) s ∈ R 2 and the damage process D X ν = | X | ν with 0 < ν < 1 / 2. We study the quantitative behaviour of a risk measure which is the variance of the average of D X ν over a region A ⊂ R 2 . This kind of risk measure has already been introduced and studied for some max-stable processes in Koch [Spatial risk measures and applications to max-stable processes, Extremes 20(3) (2017), pp. 635–670]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Hypertrophy/signal hyperintensity and/or gadolinium enhancement of plexus structures on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are observed in two‐thirds of cases of typical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The objective of our study was to determine the additional benefit of plexus MRI in patients referred to tertiary centers with baseline clinical and electrophysiological characteristics suggestive of typical or atypical CIDP. Methods: A total of 28 consecutive patients with initial suspicion of CIDP were recruited in nine centers and followed for 2 years. Plexus MRI data from the initial assessment were reviewed centrally. Physicians blinded to the plexus MRI findings established the final diagnosis (CIDP or neuropathy of another cause). The proportion of patients with abnormal MRI was analyzed in each group. Results: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy was confirmed in 14 patients (50%), as were sensorimotor CIDP (n = 6), chronic immune sensory polyradiculoneuropathy (n = 2), motor CIDP (n = 1) and multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (n = 5). A total of 37 plexus MRIs were performed (17 brachial, 19 lumbosacral and 8 in both localizations). MRI was abnormal in 5/37 patients (14%), all of whom were subsequently diagnosed with CIDP [5/14(36%)], after an atypical baseline presentation. With plexus MRI results masked, non‐invasive procedures confirmed the diagnosis of CIDP in all but one patient [1/14 (7%)]. Knowledge of the abnormal MRI findings in the latter could have prevented nerve biopsy being performed. Conclusion: Systematic plexus MRI in patients with initially suspected CIDP provides little additional benefit in confirming the diagnosis of CIDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with autoimmune diseases who still derive benefit from high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment, some physicians resort to subcutaneous (SC) Ig as a replacement therapy. Objective: To collect quality of life (QoL) and tolerance data on SCIg in patients for whom the switch from IVIg to SCIg is essential to maintain treatment. Methods: This observational study included patients with either idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) or chronic dysimmune peripheral neuropathies (CDPN) treated with IVIg, who had been switched to SCIg administration for at least three months. The main objective was to describe the impact of SCIg on QoL after six months, using the generic Short-Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36). The secondary objectives were to evaluate SCIg tolerance and clinical efficiency. Results: Eight centres recruited 12 IIM patients and two centres recruited 11 CDPN patients. Neither the physical nor the mental health SF-36 component summaries showed any QoL deterioration during the six-month study period and all IIM and CDPN patients remained clinically stable during the same period. The most frequent adverse effects were injection site reactions (50%), cutaneous tissue disorders (18.2%), and nervous system disorders (13.6%). Two serious adverse events (myocarditis and cerebrovascular accident) occurred in two patients. Conclusion: In these rare inflammatory diseases, high dose SCIg administration (which can be home based) has no deleterious effect on patient QoL. It appears to be a safe and efficient alternative to hospital-based IVIg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horse industry has soared in Europe in the last decades. This article analyses the existing and possible interactions between horses and rangelands, by taking horse feeding as well as environmental and socio-economic issues into consideration. Due to the amount of recent data available for France, this country serves as a case study for the EU. Even though rangeland-based feeding is common in traditional horse-farming systems and still exists today on some pastoral farms, most horses are fed on conserved forage and concentrates, especially when the economic value of the horse is high. Scientific literature and recent field data suggest that rangelands can be used as the main feed source for mares and growing horses, providing not only nutrition but also a suitable environment for training and welfare. Horses can contribute to the sustainable development of rangelands, if they are well integrated into the local agricultural context and if horse grazing is carefully managed. To achieve this, a better integration of horses in the agricultural sector (from the field to research activities) is needed. An issue of utmost importance is the access of horse owners to land and technical support, taking into account that horses are herbivores similar to ruminants, as well as the peculiarities of the horse industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Our objective was to evaluate the extent to which the 2005 recommendations of the European Federation of Neurological Sciences ( EFNS) on the multidisciplinary management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS) are followed in clinical practice. Methods This was a multicentre observational study involving six French ALS referral centres receiving prevalent and incident cases. Recommendations were translated into ad hoc questions referring to key aspects of management, and their application was evaluated by a clinical research assistant who independently examined the medical charts ( MCs). When necessary, an independent board-certified neurologist answered the questions based on examination of the MC and interview of the caring neurologist. Questions regarding diagnosis and communication were put to patients in a self-administered questionnaire. Results In all, 376 patients [176 incident, 200 prevalent cases; median age at diagnosis 62.8 years (interquartile range 55.7-72.3); sex ratio 1.37; 27.3% bulbar onset] were included. All the topics covered in the recommendations were evaluated: diagnostic delay (e.g. mean 13.6 months, associated with age and onset); breaking the news (e.g. criteria for communication quality were satisfactory in more than 90%); multidisciplinary and sustained support (e.g. clinic visits were scheduled every 2-3 months in 90%). Also considered were whether riluzole had been offered, symptom management, genetic testing, ventilation, communication defects, enteral nutrition, palliative and end-of-life care. Characteristics associated with poor compliance with some guidelines (schedule of visits, delayed riluzole initiation) were also identified. Conclusion This is the first evaluation of the application of the EFNS recommendations for the management of ALS in a nationwide sample. The results allow us to highlight areas for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose To provide a detailed phenotypical description of seronegative patients with generalized myasthenia gravis and antibodies to clustered acetylcholine receptors ( AChRs) and to assess their frequency amongst a French seronegative generalized myasthenia gravis ( SNMG) population. Methods A French SNMG database was created and the sera from the 37 patients included in it were analysed by immunofluorescence of cell-based assays using cotransfection of AChR subunit genes together with rapsyn to densely cluster the AChRs. Results Sixteen per cent ( n = 6) of the SNMG patients were found to have antibodies to clustered AChR. They presented either with early onset MG and thymic hyperplasia, late onset MG and thymic involution, or thymoma associated MG. They responded well to cholinesterase inhibitors and immunosuppressants. Conclusions Patients with antibodies to clustered AChR account for a significant proportion of SNMG patients and resemble patients with AChR antibodies detected by standard radio-immunoprecipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geste antagoniste is a voluntary maneuver that temporarily reduces the severity of dystonic posture or movements. It is a classical feature of focal and particularly cervical dystonia. However, the precise historical aspects of geste antagoniste still remain obscure. The goals of this review were (1) to clarify the origin of the geste antagoniste sign; (2) to identify the factors that led to its diffusion in the international literature; (3) to follow the evolution of that term across the twentieth century. We used medical and neurological French, German and English literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the PubMed database by entering the terms geste antagoniste, antagonistic gesture and sensory trick. The geste antagoniste sign is a legacy of the Paris Neurological School of the end of the nineteenth century. The term was introduced by Meige and Feindel in their 1902 book on tics, written in the vein of their master, Brissaud, who first described this sign in 1893. The almost immediate translations of this book by Giese into German and Kinnier Wilson into English contributed to the rapid spreading of the term geste antagoniste, which is still in use worldwide today. The term antagonistic gesture is the translation proposed by Kinnier Wilson, which also led to the use of the term geste antagonistique. The geste antagoniste sign has long been considered a solid argument for the psychogenic origins of dystonia until the 1980s when Marsden made strong arguments for its organic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: P2X receptors are widely expressed in cells of the immune system with varying functions. This study sought to characterize P2X receptor expression in the LAD2 human mast cell line and human lung mast cells (HLMCs).Experimental Approach: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and patch clamp studies were used to characterize P2X expression in mast cells using a range of pharmacological tools.Key Results: RT-PCR revealed P2X1, P2X4 and P2X7 transcripts in both cell types; mRNA for P2X6 was also detected in LAD2 cells. Under whole-cell patch clamp conditions, rapid application of ATP (1-1000 microM) to cells clamped at -60 mV consistently evoked inward currents in both types of cells. Brief application of ATP (1 s) evoked a rapidly desensitizing P2X1-like current in both cell types. This current was also elicited by alphabetamethylene ATP (10 microM, 94% cells, n= 31) and was antagonized in LAD2 cells by NF 449 (1 microM) and pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulphonic acid) (1-10 microM). A P2X7-like non-desensitizing current in response to high concentrations of ATP (1-5 mM) was also seen in both cell types (96% LAD2, n= 24; 54% HLMCs, n= 24) which was antagonized by AZ11645373 (1 microM). P2X7-like responses were also evoked in LAD2 cells by 2'(3')-0-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)ATP (300 microM). A P2X4-like current was evoked by 100 microM ATP (80% LAD2, n= 10; 21% HLMCs, n= 29), the amplitude and duration of which was potentiated by ivermectin (3 microM).Conclusion and Implications: Our data confirmed the presence of functional P2X1, P2X4 and P2X7 receptors in LAD2 cells and HLMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired sensory neuronopathies encompass a group of paraneoplastic, dysimmune, toxic or idiopathic disorders characterized by degeneration of peripheral sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia. As dorsal root ganglia cannot easily be explored, the clinical diagnosis of these disorders may be difficult. The question as to whether there exists a common clinical pattern of sensory neuronopathies, allowing the establishment of validated and easy-to-use diagnostic criteria, has not yet been addressed. In this study, logistic regression was used to construct diagnostic criteria on a retrospective study population of 78 patients with sensory neuronopathies and 56 with other sensory neuropathies. For this, sensory neuronopathy was provisionally considered as unambiguous in 44 patients with paraneoplastic disorder or cisplatin treatment and likely in 34 with a dysimmune or idiopathic setting who may theoretically have another form of neuropathy. To test the homogeneity of the sensory neuronopathy population, likely candidates were compared with unambiguous cases and then the whole population was compared with the other sensory neuropathies population. Criteria accuracy was checked on 37 prospective patients referred for diagnosis of sensory neuropathy. In the study population, sensory neuronopathy showed a common clinical and electrophysiological pattern that was independent of the underlying cause, including unusual forms with only patchy sensory loss, mild electrical motor nerve abnormalities and predominant small fibre or isolated lower limb involvement. Logistic regression allowed the construction of a set of criteria that gave fair results with the following combination: ataxia in the lower or upper limbs + asymmetrical distribution + sensory loss not restricted to the lower limbs + at least one sensory action potential absent or three sensory action potentials <30% of the lower limit of normal in the upper limbs + less than two nerves with abnormal motor nerve conduction study in the lower limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The involvement of respiratory muscles is a major predicting factor for survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recent studies show that noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can relieve symptoms of alveolar hypoventilation. However, factors predicting survival in ALS patients when treated with NIV need to be clarified. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 33 consecutive ALS patients receiving NIV. Ten patients had bulbar onset. We determined the median survivals from onset, diagnosis and initiation of NIV and factors predicting survival. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier test and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: The median initial and maximal total uses of NIV were 10 and 14 h/24h. The overall median survival from ALS onset was 34.2 months and worsened with increasing age and bulbar onset of the disease. The median survival from initiation of NIV was 8.4 months and was significantly poorer in patients with advanced age or with airway mucus accumulation. Survival from initiation of NIV was not influenced by respiratory parameters or bulbar symptoms. Conclusion: Advanced age at diagnosis and airway mucus accumulation represent poorer prognostic factors of ALS patients treated with NIV. NIV is a helpful treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, including patients with bulbar involvement. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief, spatially localized Ca2+ transients occur in the smooth muscle adjacent to perivascular nerves of small arteries during neurogenic contractions. We named these "junctional Ca2+ transients" (jCaTs) and postulated that they arose from Ca2+ entering smooth muscle cells through P2X1 receptors activated by neurally released ATP. Nevertheless, the lack of potent, subtype-selective P2X-receptor antagonists made determining the exact molecular identity of the channels difficult. Here we used small, pressurized mesenteric arteries from P2X1-receptor-deficient mice (KO) to test the hypothesis that jCaTs arise from Ca2+ entering the smooth muscle cell via P2X1 receptors. In wild-type (WT) arteries, confocal microscopy of fluo-4 fluorescence during electrical field stimulation (EFS) of perivascular sympathetic nerves revealed jCaTs in the smooth muscle cells adjacent to the perivascular nerves, similar to those reported previously in rat arteries, and α-latrotoxin (2.5 nM) markedly increased the frequency of "spontaneous" jCaTs. In the KO arteries, however, neither EFS nor a-latrotoxin elicited any jCaTs. A potent P2X-receptor agonist, α,β-methylene ATP (10.0 µM), elicited strong contractions and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in WT arteries but elicited neither in KO arteries. A biphasic vasoconstriction in response to EFS was observed in WT arteries. In KO arteries, however, the initial rapid, transient component of the biphasic vasoconstriction was absent. The data support the hypothesis that jCaTs represent Ca2+ that enters the smooth muscle cells through P2X, receptors activated by neurally released ATP and that this Ca2+ is involved in the initial rapid component of the sympathetic neurogenic contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lateral spread responses (LSR), an electrophysiological characteristic of hemifacial spasm (HFS), can be recorded during surgery. This work aims at evaluating the prognostic value of the persistence or suppression of the LSR at the end of the microvascular decompression (MVD) procedure of the facial nerve. Thirty-three patients with HFS, which had been evolving for 5.5 years, underwent MVD with intraoperative EMG. Monitoring required the placement of a needle in the frontalis and mentalis muscles. Responses were recorded after stimulation of inferior or superior branches of the facial nerve to search for abnormal ephaptic LSR. Preoperative abnormal LSRs were present in all patients. In 23 patients, LSR disappeared with vascular decompression and was not present upon closure. Among those patients, 20 were considered clinically cured and three still presented with mild/moderate spasm at 3-month follow-up. At late follow-up, 22 patients were free of spasm. One patient had recurrence of spasm at month 10. On the contrary, 10 patients had persistent abnormal LSR upon closure. Among those, seven were cured at early follow-up (3 months on average), whereas spasm disappeared at late follow-up (12 to 36 months) in the other three patients. The prognostic value of LSR monitoring is questionable; a good clinical result may be obtained in patients who presented with persistent LSR at the end of MVD. Delayed cure strongly supports the hypothesis that HFS is not only due to the mechanical pulsations of the elongated artery against the root exit zone of the facial nerve, but also to demyelination of the nerve and/or hyperactivity of the facial motornucleus generated by the neurovascular compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background: The success of clinical transplantation has led to a large discrepancy between donor organ availability and demand; considerable pressure exists to develop an alternative source of organs. The use of animal organs for donation is a possible solution that is not yet clinically applicable. Methods and results: A literature review was performed based on a Medline search to find articles on xenotransplantation. Keywords included hyperacute, acute vascular, xenograft rejection combined with concordant and discordant. Additional references cited in these articles from journals not included in Medline were obtained from the British Library. Limited information on unpublished, preliminary work has been included from sources known to the authors, based on their research work in the field. One hundred and forty-six references and four personal communications have been included in this review article. Conclusion: A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of xenograft rejection is developing rapidly. Strategies to abrogate hyperacute rejection have proved successful, but control of antibody-driven acute vascular rejection has not yet been achieved. The safety and viability of xenotransplantation as a therapeutic modality are still unproven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers the results of a study on the impact of vas deferens smooth muscle cells contraction on P2X receptors. Mediation of vas deferens through P2X; Subsequent lack of male fertility from a lack of sperm and not from sperm dysfunction when P2X receptors are deficient; Potential use of the decreased P2X receptors as a non-hormonal contraceptive pill; P2X receptors in the treatment of male infertility.

Presents information on a study which examined an approach for the prediction of the neutron-induced single event upset rate in components submitted to neutron environment. Description of the method; Application examples; Conclusions.

In Sweet's description of RF-thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia, the trigeminal nerve was stimulated at 50 c/s to evoke paraesthesias, in order to check the electrode location before the thermolesion is made. In 1979, we changed the frequency to 5 c/s, so as to produce in addition twitches in the masticatory muscles (in stead of the less detectable tetanization produced by 50 c/s stimulation). Since then, we started to observe, also, twitches in the muscles innervated by the facial nerve. These twitches were not always in the Orbicularis oculi (which corresponds to the classical blink reflex), but also in the lower facial muscles. Such clinically observable evoked motor responses (EMR)-which had not been reported before - were noticed in 44% of the 459 procedures performed from 1979 to 1988. When EMR were present, the threshold to evoke paraesthesias before thermolesion, and the duration of the thermolesion for obtaining a marked hypoaesthesia covering the entire painful territory, were significantly lower, respectively p<0.01 and p<0.001, than when EMR were absent. This indicates that the electrode was closer to the nerve when EMR were present. As a probable consequence, recurrence of pain was significantly lower in the EMR (+) group: 1.4%, than in the EMR (−) group: 5.8% (p<0.05). The twitches corresponded to the territory of the evoked paraesthesias in 95%, and to the hypoaesthetic area created by the thermolesion in 96%. So, getting EMR in the territory of the pain can be a helpful indicator for an accurate location of the electrode in the trigeminal root, according to its somatotopic organization. These EMR are hypothesized to be due to a trigemino-facial reflex. A preliminary intra-operative EMG study clearly shows that for EMR in the upper part of the face we are dealing with blinklike reflexes, whilst for EMR in the lower face, mechanisms still remain unclear and need further study to be understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In open-chest dogs transient occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery induced an immediate decline in the creatine phosphate content of the ischaemic area, a lesser decline of the ATP and total adenine nucleotide contents and a rise in S-T segments. Reperfusion after 15 min restored creatine phosphate level and intramyocardial electrograms to normal whereas ATP and total adenine nucleotide levels stayed down. None of these parameters were modified in the non-ischaemic area during the experiments. This study shows that there is no close relationship between electrical and biochemical events during either ischaemia or reflow. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A hollow punch-torque method was used to measure friction between tough pitch copper and three different lubricants. The tests indicated that the coefficient μ is not a function of the applied pressure, while the friction factor m is. Both μ and m depend only slightly on the degree of prior deformation. The range of pressure investigated was that encountered in drawing operations and is below that for lubricated sliding surfaces where sublayer plastic flow occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic Research in Cardiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studies the effects of systematic variations of ATP, ADP and H3PO4 concentrations and of the whole phosphate potential in the incubation medium on the oxygen uptake, respiratory control ratio and the kinetics of transformation of the nucleotides and phosphate. Effect of washing the mitochondria; Phosphate concentration at half maximum velocity of ATP synthesis and of substrate oxidation; Kinetics of transformation of the nucleotides added to the mitochondria.

Ocular neuromyotonia in the muscles innervated by the right oculomotor nerve was diagnosed in a patient without a history of radiation therapy. Electromyography of the levator palpebrae showed continuous motor unit activity. Brain MRI disclosed a close contact between the right third cranial nerve and a basilar artery dolichoectasia. The patient partly benefited from carbamazepine therapy. This unique finding suggests that neurovascular compression syndrome could be an hitherto unrecognised cause of ocular neuromyotonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor concerning progressive chorea and amyotrophy without acanthocytes.

To asses the long-term evolution of diabetic polyneuropathy after a combined kidney-pancreas transplant, an electrophysiological study was performed in 20 diabetic patients before transplant, and 1 (n=18), 2 (n=16), 3 (n=10) and 4 years (n=5) at a later date. Motor and sensory scores were calculated for conduction velocity and amplitude to determine the physiopathological process. During evolution the scores were not found to be decreasing. Motor and sensory velocity scores were significantly improved (p<0.05) 1 and 2 years after the graft, when score values tended to stabilize. Motor and sensory amplitude scores, which are more sensitive for axonal loss assessment were slightly but not significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]