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A systematic review was conducted on studies reporting steroid injections with ultrasound for de Quervain. From 10 studies included and 379 wrists, 73.9% reported complete resolution of symptoms, 18.2% with partial and 7.9% without resolution. When compared to the landmark‐guided technique, ultrasound guidance showed significantly higher rates of symptom resolution (P= 0.0132) and lower pain scores (P< 0.0001). Twenty‐nine patients out of 163 who initially showed complete resolution of symptoms reported subsequent recurrence. We conclude that steroid injections guided by ultrasound present high rates of symptomatic relief through precise needle insertion, especially in cases of anatomic variability with subcompartments. This study is a systematic review, which aimed to investigate the efficacy of ultrasound‐guided corticosteroid injections in the treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis. The favourable outcomes reported in the literature demonstrate that steroid injections guided by ultrasound yield high rates of symptomatic relief, especially in cases of anatomic variability with subcompartments, and a low complication profile.

Recent polls on the public acceptance of nuclear power have been encouraging. Take for example the Special Eurobarometer 297 survey, published in June. This found 44% of European Union citizens [...]

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of early pulmonary complications and the value of initial clinical signs and paraclinical investigations in victims of smoke inhalation not suffering from burns following structural fires. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Thirteen-bed ICU. Patients: Sixty-four victims of smoke inhalation following household fires were admitted to the ICU between January 1987 and December 1992. Exclusion criteria from the study were patients with cutaneous burns or multiple trauma or blast injury, and patients found in cardiac arrest. Methods: Clinical, biological, and radiologic parameters were collected over a 5-day period. Results: The mortality rate in relation to progressive respiratory failure was 3.1%. Mean ICU stay was 5.8 days (range, 1 to 33 days), and was longer in the patients presenting with soot deposits in the oropharynx (p=0.02), dysphonia (D) (p=0.05), or ronchi (R) (p=0.0004) at the first examination, and in those having a positive sputum bacteriologic analysis (p=0.003) or requiring parenteral bronchodilator agents for more than 24 h (p=0.04). Thirty-five patients underwent mechanical ventilation (MV) for a mean of 101.2 h (range, 8 to 648 h). Mean MV duration was higher in the patients presenting initially with R (p=0.003), high carbon monoxide (but not cyanide) levels (p=0.02), or a positive bacteriologic sample (p=0.0001). Positive bacteriologic sampling correlated with the presence of D (p=0.02) or R (p=0.04) and with immediate intubation (p=0.0003). No correlation was found with chest radiograph. Conclusions: In this selected series of fire victims without cutaneous burns, respiratory injury was frequent. The initial clinical signs may be helpful to predict pulmonary complications. (CHEST 1997;111:671-75) Key words: clinical signs; nonburned patients; pulmonary complications; smoke inhalation Abbreviations: CN=cyanide; CO=carbon monoxide; [FIo.sub.2]=fraction of inspired oxygen, Smoke inhalation is a well-recognized cause of early respiratory injury and late sequelae.[1] Toxic gases and soot deposition may cause direct injury to the upper and lower airways and even [...]

Pilot randomized controlled trial with parallel groups.

Frostbite causes tissue damage through five major mechanisms, out of which two are amenable to treatment. The first-line treatment is rapid rewarming therapy using water at 40°C to 42°C, which addresses the formation of ice crystals in the intra and extra cellular compartments. The second mechanism is progressive tissue ischemia after rewarming and is only accessible to a second-line therapy represented by thrombolysis. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of thrombolysis. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study, where it was aimed to evaluate two groups of patients. A total of 18 patients were included in this study. Mean times between injury to thrombolytic therapy and admission to thrombolytic therapy was 26.04 hours (SD13.6) and 9.65 hours (SD9.89), respectively. All patients suffered injuries ranging from second-degree deep to third degree. The rate of patients having complete, partial, and no angiographic responses were 55.6%, 11.1%, and 33.3%, respectively. The main outcome of interest showed that 11 (61.1%) patients in total had amputations at different levels. Results showed that in the intervention group, five (55.6%) of the patients had amputations compared with six (66.7%) from the control group (P= .6) at comparable levels of amputation. The literature supports that the use of intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator might be beneficial for severe cases of frostbites; however, it lacks of studies of major significance and results are often controversial. Our study has not shown statistically significant results on amputation levels and cannot support the hypothesis of efficacy of thrombolytic therapy.

Free flap reconstruction in acute burns has high failure rates, relating mainly to a systemic inflammatory state. The “vulnerable phase” can last for 6 weeks after burn and can cause thrombosis of the flap microcirculation with patent arterial and venous anastomoses. Revision surgery alone may be unsuccessful, but thrombolysis can lead to flap salvage. We describe a case of successful flap salvage with thrombolysis after unsuccessful revision surgery by permeable arterial and venous anastomoses in a patient in the acute burn phase suffering from microcirculatory thrombosis. Thrombolysis in these cases has not been described to date, but it could contribute to salvaging flaps by radiological intervention alone. A 23-year-old man was admitted with a 38% TBSA burn, including loss of all eyelid skin. The right eye was reconstructed in a satisfactory manner, but the left eye required urgent corneal coverage on day 32 with a dorsalis pedis fasciocutaneous free flap. The flap was hypo-perfused postoperatively, but anastomoses were found to be permeable on exploration. Angiography performed postoperatively after revision confirmed anastomotic patency, but failed to demonstrate small vessel beds within the flap. Thus, r-tPa was given at the anastomosis site and immediately the flap recovered completely. However, a total of 10 packed red blood cell transfusions were needed over the next 9 days. Thrombolysis in the context of free flap microvascular compromise may improve the overall success rates, especially in acute-phase burn patients where this etiology may be found, due to a vulnerable inflammatory period.

La dissection artérielle spontanée est une pathologie dont la prévalence est difficile à connaître et qui varie selon le territoire artériel touché. Elle peut toucher l’aorte et toutes les artères périphériques de moyen calibre notamment les artères à destinée cérébrale, les artères coronaires et les artères rénales. La physiopathologie est commune, il s’agit d’un saignement au niveau de la média. Les étiologies sont diverses et varient en fonction du territoire. Les patients touchés ont peu de facteurs de risque cardiovasculaires. La dysplasie fibromusculaire est la pathologie à rechercher dans ces présentations quel que soit le territoire. Le pronostic vital et fonctionnel peut être engagé. Le traitement varie en fonction du territoire, de la gravité, et de l’étiologie. Le traitement médical conservateur est le traitement de première intention.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an underdiagnosed disease which can affect young people and with poor prognosis such as dissection or aneurysm rupture if unknown. This case illustrates a multi-vessel FMD with symptomatic severe bilateral ostial renal artery stenosis and intracranial aneurysms. One of the original features is a very late delay to diagnosis with 23 years between onset of hypertension and renal stenosis diagnosis, particularly due to lower quality of initial CT scan with milder and uncommon abnormalities. The experiment neuroradiologist had suspected the diagnosis of renal FMD because she developed intracranial aneurysms and he confirmed this diagnosis with an artery renal contrast injection during an intracranial angiogram Because of very tight and short stenosis, surgery was chosen for treatment and permitted the cure of hypertension, with normal home blood pressure after 6 months. Several particularities of FMD were presented in this case: important delay diagnosis due to rare lesion and lower sensitivity of CT in this form, the possibility to perform an angiography in high suspicion of FMD, poor prognosis risk with intracranial aneurisms and premature birth child, and the choice for surgery with cure of hypertension. We thought that hypertension etiologic evaluation must be repeated in case of resistant hypertension in young patients, particularly when they developed intracranial aneurysms.

We report the emergency embolization of a ruptured aneurysm of the internal iliac artery in a patient at high surgical risk. Admission computed tomography scan showed that the ostium of the aneurysmal internal iliac artery was covered by a covered stent. In this patient, we chose to carry out an embolization of the aneurysm and its efferent arteries by direct puncture of the aneurysmal sac using an antero-external abdominal approach under ultrasound guidance. Short-term results were favorable and we consider that this technique is one of the therapeutic options to discuss in such situation.

Background In head and neck cancer patients, multiple surgeries and radiation can leave the neck depleted of recipient vessels appropriate for microvascular reconstruction. The creation of temporary arteriovenous fistulas using venous interposition for subsequent microvascular reconstruction has rarely been reported in the head and neck. The authors report the largest series of temporary arteriovenous loops for head and neck reconstruction in vessel-depleted necks.Methods The authors performed a case series of major head and neck reconstructions using temporary arteriovenous fistulas with a saphenous vein graft. A subclavian surgical approach was used. All reconstructions were performed at least two weeks after the creation of the initial fistula.Results The authors have performed nine reconstructive cases for malignancy using five different free flaps. The subclavian and transerve cervical arteries were used, and the subclavian, internal jugular and cephalic veins were used for microanastomosis. Two cases of flap hematoma and one case of venous pedicle compression were recorded. No cases of flap failure were reported.Conclusions Reconstruction using temporary arteriovenous fistulas is a reliable technique that can be used in the vessel-depleted neck, with excellent outcomes in experienced hands.

The pathogenesis of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) remains poorly understood. Yet, understanding this mechanism has taken on new urgency after recent evidence indicating that FMD is not as rare as previously thought. We speculated that hormonal receptors in the walls of dysplastic renal arteries were implicated in the pathogenesis of FMD.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder with combination of at least 1 clinical and 1 laboratory criterion as defined by the SAPPORO statement. Clinical criteria result from vascular thrombosis that can affect artery, venous, or small vessel in any tissue or organ. Arterial stenosis is a rare lesion involved in APS, affecting mainly renal or intracranial arteries. We reported a case of a 33-year-old woman with abdominal angina and high blood pressure (BP). Imaging showed tight, not calcified, and hypodense stenosis of mesenteric superior artery and left renal artery, and a thrombosis of the celiac trunk. Treatment was digestive rest followed by angioplasty and stenting of mesenteric and renal artery, anticoagulation, antiplatelet, and statin therapy. Normal BP and digestive function were obtained postoperatively. Biological tests showed a positive lupus anticoagulant at diagnosis and at 12 weeks, which allowed us to make the diagnosis of APS. Physiopathology of stenosis in APS remains unclear but suggests arterial wall partial thrombosis, accelerated atherosclerosis, and/or proliferation of smooth muscle cells. We recommend screening of arterial stenosis in patients with APS and arterial symptoms, and inversely, searching for APS in young patients with atypical arterial stenosis to allow optimal therapy.

Inferior vena cava filter placement is performed to prevent pulmonary risk secondary to deep venous thrombosis. Indications for this treatment are limited to patients experiencing recurrences under well-managed anticoagulant treatment or presenting with contraindication to anticoagulant treatment. Nowadays, as these clinical situations are rare, this device is less and less used, all the more since, for several years now, thrombosis, fracture, or infectious complications as well as filter migration have been reported. Filter migrations are responsible for atypical and varied clinical presentations likely to defer diagnosis. To treat them, the filter is extracted, which is very risky in patients with a thromboembolic history. In our center, during a period of 14 years, we retrospectively collected and studied partial or complete vena cava filter migration cases that had been treated by extraction. We are reporting four very different clinical cases and, more specifically, the second published case of migration to a renal vein, which mimicked a systemic disease. Because of its very atypical clinical presentations, cava filter migration is an unappreciated and certainly underdiagnosed complication. However, this complication must not question cava filter placement when it is justified. In contrast, it prompts early filter extraction or long-term radiological surveillance.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in young patients is frequently associated with hereditary biological thrombophilia, autoimmune disorders, or neoplasia. Advances in venous ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography have allowed for the identification of inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies as newly considered etiologic factor. We present two cases of VTE in young patients: the first case involves left IVC in a 22-year-old man and the second involves IVC atresia in a 39-year-old man. IVC anomalies should be identified in young patients with spontaneous VTE involving the iliac veins because they are at a high risk for thrombotic recurrence and adaptation to long periods of antithrombotic therapy.

The grafting of polymethyl methacrylate PMMA from polyethyleneco1octene in the molten state by in situ radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate MMA was investigated through a kinetic modeling using a model compound approach. We resorted to pentadecane C15H32 and 2,6,10,15,19,23hexamethyltetracosane Squalane, C30H62 as models for both the copolymer ethylene and octene moieties. The attention was focused on the simulation of MMA conversion and PMMA average polymerization degree according to temperature, reaction time, and initiator ratio required for the polymerization of MMA in the presence of alkoxyl radicals and alkanes.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on the cell surface is an early marker of apoptosis. To select PS binding peptides as vectors of contrast agents to image apoptosis, a phage library has been exposed to perfused mouse livers. Phages not retained on control livers during the first perfusions were used for selections on apoptotic livers in a second series of perfusions. Four selected phages were further evaluated for binding to PS-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates. They presented an apparent affinity constant (Ka app) for PS ranging from 6.08 × 1010M to 1.62 × 1011M. These phages did not bind to phosphatidylcholine, and competition with annexin V confirmed their specific interaction with PS. The phage with the highest affinity-bound PS in ELISA with a Ka app= (1.6 ± 0.2) × 1011M. It carried the TLVSSL peptide that was synthesized. Specific competition with annexin V and with the synthetic peptide was performed and confirms the specificity of the interaction. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening2006:537-545)

Ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by titanium n-propoxide Ti(O-n-Pr)4 was compared to the one initiated by titanium phenoxide or Ti(OPh)4. Polymerization was confirmed to proceed via a coordination−insertion mechanism for both initiators after end groups analysis by 1H and 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. Bulk polymerization at 100 °C and with a M0/I0 (monomer/initiator ratio) equal to 300 was studied and compared with both initiators. The polymerization with Ti(OPh)4 exhibits a slower kinetic of reaction and the polymer synthesized an higher number-average molecular weight and higher polydispersity than with Ti(OPr)4. These results are consistent with evolution of the average number of active aryloxide groups per initiator (%@mt;sys@%%@ob@%%@ital@%N%@rsf@%%@sb@%aag%@sbx@%%@obx@%%@mx@%) during polymerization for this initiator. Indeed, %@mt;sys@%%@ob@%%@ital@%N%@rsf@%%@sb@%aag%@sbx@%%@obx@%%@mx@% determined by 1H NMR increases gradually during the polymerization to 2 for around 70% conversion and then decreases at the end of the polymerization and even over the time required for total conversion. This decrease of %@mt;sys@%%@ob@%%@ital@%N%@rsf@%%@sb@%aag%@sbx@%%@obx@%%@mx@% at the end of the conversion may be explained by important transesterification reactions with phenoxyl end groups of the polymer, which lead to the formation of larger poly(ε-caprolactone) chains. That is consistent with the increase in the number-average molecular weight of the polymer beyond the end of the conversion. The rheological study also confirms this result.

Pétrarque est un maître de l’imitation. On l’a montré surtout à propos de la forme et de la technique. Nous voulons insister ici sur les idées. La vaste culture du poète lui permet de se référer aux genres littéraires et à leurs divers contenus : Pétrarque sait distinguer leurs différences, leurs exigences et leurs implications idéologiques. Selon les méthodes de l’Académie platonicienne, de Cicéron et d’Augustin, il les met en dialogue en préservant la portée de la foi chrétienne. Pour le montrer, on peut utiliser ses références aux sources littéraires, aux philosophies gréco-latines. Il faut également tenir compte de son évolution personnelle et faire ainsi apparaître son influence ultérieure (Scève, Baudelaire, René Char).

We study the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrids in the molten state of the polymer without solvent, by reactive processing. The synthesis is based in a first step upon the crosslinking of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) through an exchange reaction between the pendant ester groups of EVA and tetrapropoxysilane (TPOS) in presence of dibutyltin oxide (DBTO) as an indispensable catalyst. Then in a second step the hydrolysis-condensation reactions of residual alkoxide groups results in silica network formation, which is covalently bonded with the organic network. An original approach was developed to correlate the evolution of the hydrolysis-condensation reactions through the assessment of propanol by gas chromatography and the evolution of the morphology through SAXS and TEM analysis. Silica-rich domains with a diameter close to 5 nm are obtained.

A thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) is tailored by a dynamic vulcanization process. TPVs can be processed as thermoplastics and have properties similar to conventional vulcanized rubbers. The main objective of our recent works was to tailor, by using the reactive extrusion process, a new TPV composed of polypropylene homopolymer (PP) as thermoplastic phase and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) as elastomer phase, which is crosslinked by tetrapropoxysilane (TPOS) as crosslinking agent in the presence of dibutyl tin oxide (DBTO) as catalyst. Crosslinking is carried out through a transesterification reaction between the ester groups of EVA and the alkoxysilane groups of TPOS. This exchange reaction is catalyzed by DBTO at temperatures above 100 °C. The main advantage of this chemistry that it is non-radical, and so prevent the degradation of PP, in comparison with crosslinking reactions using peroxides as initiators. Different reactive blends were prepared in the internal mixer of a Haake Plasticorder. In order to know how the crosslinking reaction has advanced, the EVA gel content and the volume swelling rate of the blend were measured. The aim of this study was to get a better understanding of the dispersion mechanism of EVA in the major phase during its dynamic vulcanization in the presence of PP in the minor phase. This paper deals with the correlation that exists between the evolution of the two-phase blend morphology and the extent of the crosslinking reaction on the elastomer phase during the elaboration of a TPV. In particular, we showed that the correlation was almost the same for the elaboration of the TPV in the internal mixer of the Haake Plasticorder (discontinuous process) and in a twin-screw extruder (continuous process). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

It was shown that the crosslinking of ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer by a tetraalkoxysilane in molten state, in the temperature range 100–250 °C, was obtained only in the presence of dibutyltin oxide. At this temperature EVA pendant ester groups readily react with dibutyltin oxide to give a dimeric 1-alkoxy-3-acetoxytetrabutyldistannoxane distributed along the polymer chains. The exact role of this tin compound in the ester–alkoxysilane reaction was elucidated through reactions of the tetraalkoxysilane with parent tin compounds: tributylethoxytin, dimeric diacyloxydistannoxane and finally a dimeric 1-alkoxy-3-acyloxydistannoxane, obtained by reaction of the dibutyltin oxide with a model ester instead of the EVA-ester pendant group. Ligand exchanges on tin atoms characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) showed that substitutions were selective and concern only the exo-cyclic tin ligand (OR or OCOR') without alteration of the dimeric distannoxane structure. Furthermore, these ligand exchanges occurred at room temperature. This approach with model compounds gave evidence that the crosslinking occurred via an alkoxy-Sn/alkoxy-Si exchange on the exo-cyclic sites of the distannoxane structure formed in situ. This distannoxane was shown to be an efficient catalyst of this transesterification. The temperature of formation of this catalytic species governed the temperature of the beginning of the crosslinking reaction. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Three-dimensional models of urban objects are widely used in geographic information systems, telecommunications, or defense applications. The classic technique for obtaining such models is stereoscopy. Images are densely matched, and images of above-ground structures are delineated. We propose two semiautomatic methods based on the Hough transform and statistically active models to delineate buildings. The first one delineates rectangular shapes; the second one deals with more-complex buildings. Each one is based on a criterion optimization that takes both photometric and altimetric information into account. Results based on real data show that the first method is robust and that the second one, which deals with a broad range of buildings, seems to be a good compromise between robustness and applicability.

R. Rashed, Les mathématiques infinitésimales du IXe au XIe siècles, vol. IV: Méthodes géométriques, transformations ponctuelles et philosophie des mathématiques, London, al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, 2002, XIII-1064-VII p.

The alcoholysis of PET with diols in the presence of dibutyltinoxide was carried out in a twin‐screw extruder with residence times of 1 min and without solvent. The reaction led to scissions of PET chains and to the synthesis of oligoester α,ω‐diols with average number molecular weights of about 1000 g·mol—1characterised by conventional techniques such as NMR, SEC and MALDI‐TOF. The alcoholysis kinetics was studied with a rheological tool under selected conditions, and it was shown that this reaction is quite compatible with the residence times in an extruder. This study clearly shows that the oligoesters synthesised by reactive extrusion have characteristics similar to the oligoesters synthesised by batch processes over many hours. Furthermore, the melting temperature of these oligoesters can be controlled between room temperature and 220°C by using diols with different structures for the alcoholysis.

Solidification under shear of dispersed polycarbonate (PC) fibers in copolymer polyethylene‐methyl acrylate matrix (EMA) was investigated using a hot optical shear device. First, the deformation of PC droplets and its modeling under isothermal conditions were studied for comprehension purposes. Overall agreement with literature models was found and the main influence of the viscosity ratio has been stressed. Second, the morphology control through dynamic quenching was experimented. It consists of solidifying the amorphous PC dispersed phase under shear flow. Break‐up times of PC fibers were taken into account. Shear rate and quenching‐time balance was demonstrated. Thus, during dynamic solidification, a fibrillar morphology could be obtained through rapid quenching. Long quenching times allow nodular morphology, whose size depends on the shear rate used. PC rods can be obtained by adjusting the shear rate during dynamic quenching.

In the presence of ethylene glycol, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) undergoes chain scissions with the formation of α,ω-hydroxyl oligomers, through classical transesterification by alcoholysis. ɛ-Caprolactone was subsequently added on the hydroxyl end groups of PET oligomers by ring-opening polymerization at different molar ratios of ɛ-caprolactone to PET oligomers. The chemical structure of the products was investigated by size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. A large majority of these products are soluble in common organic solvents. The thermal and ¹H NMR analyses reveal that the transesterification between base units of PET oligomers and ɛ-caprolactone during the synthesis is always present whatever the reaction conditions. This phenomenon leads to copolymers having thermal properties different from those of PET. However, some co-oligomers present the interest of keeping properties close to those of PET. The main purpose of this study was the synthesis of PET co-oligomers that are soluble in some organic solvents that would make their use easier, and so that they can be used further as hard segment precursers for polycondensation reactions. Ring-opening polymerization of ɛ-caprolactone onto hydroxytelechelic oligomers of PET.

L’auteur veut montrer comment les poétiques modernes interprètent les traditions et les enseignements de l'ancien classicisme. Il le fait à propos des poétiques modernes à partir de Charles Baudelaire mais en évoquant aussi certains de ses plus grands héritiers français: Gautier, Nerval et, après un detour par Leibniz et Vico, Valery et Mallarme. Les poètes modernes se souviennent des baroques et des classiques ainsi que des romantiques. Mais ils ne les prennent pas seulement comme modèles. Ils font entre eux des synthéses originales et créatrices, prolongeant ainsi leur méditation sur l’essence de la poésie elle-même.

A group of imidazo[1,2- a ]quinoxalines have been synthesised from quinoxaline by condensation of an appropriate haloester or intramolecular cyclisation of a keto moiety on an intracyclic nitrogen atom. The reactivity of the heterocycle was explored through diverse reactions such as electrophilic substitution, lithiation and halogen-metal exchange to give access to a new series of derivatives. Confirmation of their structure was mainly performed by NMR, after careful assignment of the signals in comparison to previous attributions made on the parent imidazo[1,2- a ]quinoxaline and discussion of available data in the literature. The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor activity of some of these derivatives has been assessed on isoenzymes type III and type lV. Compound 15 , 4-(methylamino)imidazo[1,2- a ]quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile, exhibited potent relaxant activity on smooth muscle, with a potency similar to the one measured with SCA 40, its structural analogue in the imidazo[1,2- a ]pyrazine series.

ABSTRACTDuring Trypanosoma bruceiinfections, the response against the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of the parasite represents a major interaction between the mammalian host immune system and the parasite surface. Since immune recognition of other parasite derived factors also occurs, we examined the humoral host response against trypanosome heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a conserved antigen with an autoimmune character. During experimental T. bruceiinfection in BALB/c mice, the anti-HSP60 response was induced when parasites differentiated into stumpy forms. This response was characterized by a stage-specific immunoglobulin isotype switching as well as by the induction of an autoimmune response. Specific recognition of trypanosome HSP60 was found to occur during the entire course of infection. Immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) and IgG2b antibodies, induced mainly in a T-cell-independent manner, were observed during the first peak of parasitemia, whereas IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies were found at the end of the infection, due to a specific T-cell-mediated response. Comparative analysis of the kinetics of anti-HSP60, anti-invariant surface glycoprotein 70 (ISG70), and anti-VSG antibody responses indicated that the three trypanosome antigens give rise to specific and independent patterns of immunoglobulin isotype switching.

Objective To evaluate the horizontal mattress technique in microvascular anastomosis for size-mismatched vessels.Methods The present study involved cadaveric simulation using size-mismatched (1.5:1) Thiel-embalmed cadaveric arteries. The authors performed horizontal mattress anastomoses using 9-0 nylon suture and recorded the procedure. Vessel patency was evaluated by saline infusion. Vessels were cut open and photographed; histological slides were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results Four anastomoses were performed. Vessels were found to be patent in all cases, with grade 0 leaks. Intima-on-intima apposition with no intraluminal exposure of muscularis nor adventitia were observed.Conclusion The present cadaveric study supports the technical feasibility of using horizontal mattress sutures in size-mismatched end-to-end anastomoses.

Librorum lectio in humano cultu magnas partes agit. Nam apud antiquos dialogorum usus semper uerba rebus conciliat. Apud medii aeui christianos sancti libri hominum corda sunt. Post renascentes litteras poetae noui et moderni silentium cum oratione conjungunt.

Background: Travel‐related illnesses have been studied in visitors to developing countries, but no studies have examined the incidence of health problems in visitors to developed countries.

This paper reports on results obtained on molded sheets of rigid PVC containing up to 1.5% of ferrocene by weight of polymer. Thermogravimetric and flash pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatographic analysis showed that the introduction of such small quantities of ferrocene considerably increases the amount of low molecular weight volatile materials and simultaneously decreases the amount of benzene generated by the decomposition of the samples. Smoke opacification data revealed that ferrocene plays a noticeable role as a smoke suppressant only at temperatures higher than 500° C and unexpectedly strongly enhances the amount of smoke generated at 400° C. A linear correlation has been found between the amount of benzene evolved from the degradation and the amount of smoke generated by the combustion of the samples at temperature higher than 500° C. Experimental evidence shows that in the presence of HC1 generated by the degradation of PVC in air, ferrocene molecules readily oxidize to a-ferric oxide. It is believed that the ferrocene molecule is not itself the active species in the mechanism

4-Chloro-2-hexene can be considered a model compound for the chlorinated allylic structure appearing in PVC chains after dehydrochlorination. This model compound was used to elucidate the mechanism of reaction of primary or secondary stabilizers.

Four samples of PVC polymerized in suspension (S) or emulsion (E) or in bulk at two different temperatures (Mi and M2) have been treated by ozone between -20 and 120°C, either in the solid state or in tetrachloroethane solution. Chain scission and peroxidation are observed with a clear parallel between the two processes. The polymer which contains the smaller amount of internal double bond (broken down at -20°C) is less sensitive to peroxidation and further chain scission at higher temperatures. Chemical or thermal peroxide decomposition experiments show that there are no residual peroxide structures in the backbone of the chain and the presence of ozone is necessary to cause chain scission. Ozonization in the solid state shows that, under Tg, the peroxidation process involves a dehydrochlorination step. A tentative mechanism for the ozonization process is suggested.

The co-cross-linking reaction of ethylene-co-vinylacetate (EVA) and ethylene-co-methylacrylate (EMA) polymer blends in the presence of dibutyltin oxide in the molten state is an interchain redistributive transesterification (ester-ester interchange reaction). It is shown with model esters, namely n-octyl acetate (1) and methyl nonanoate (2) in solution, that the efficientcatalytic species are 1,3-acyl, alkoxy distannoxane from the reaction of esters with dibutyltin oxide. An intermolecular dimeric rearrangement between acyl and alkoxy dimeric distannoxanes from (1) and (2) esters occurs at ambient temperature without ligand exchange. Ligand exchange on tin atoms by reactions between free ester (1) and dimeric distannoxane occurs at higher temperature at both acyloxy and alkoxy tin sites. Reactions are characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 119Sn). Tetra acyloxy or tetra alkoxy distannoxanes are also efficientcatalysts for this redistributive transesterification.

The translation product of the bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) gH gene was identified and characterized. Synthetic peptideswere used to generate specific antisera and a glycoprotein of 108K was precipitated by one of the antisera. Cross-immunoprecipitations with monoclonal antibodies to BHV-1 glycoprotein gp108 and the anti-gH peptide antiserum demonstrated that gp108 is the translation product of the gH open reading frame. Glycoprotein gH synthesis and intracellular processing was analyzed in infected Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells using anti-gp108 monoclonal antibodies. Glycoprotein gH is expressed as a beta-gamma protein and could be detected by radioimmunoprecipitation as early as 2 hr postinfection. Cotranslational N-glycosylation of gH is essential for the recognition by monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that N-linked glycans are involved in protein folding or that they are targets for most of monoclonal antibodies used in this study.

A new surface membrane protein, invariant surface glycoprotein termed ISG100, was identified inTrypanosoma brucei, using catalyzed surface, radioiodination of intact cells. This integral membrane glycoprotein was purified by a combination of detergent extraction, lectin-affinity, and ion-exchange chromatography followed by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein was expressed only in bloodstream forms of the parasite, was heavilyN-glycosylated, and was present in different clonal variants of the same serodeme as well as in different serodemes. The gene for this protein was isolated by screening a cDNA expression library with antibodies against the purified protein followed by screening of a genomic library. The nucleotide sequence of the gene (4050 base pairs) predicted a highly reiterative polypeptide containing three distinct domains, a unique N-terminal domain of about 10 kDa containing three potential N-glycosylation sites, which was followed by a large internal domain consisting entirely of 72 consecutive copies of a serine-rich, 17-amino acid motif (∼113 kDa) and terminated with an apparent transmembrane spanning region of about 3.3 kDa. The internal repeat region of this gene (3672 base pairs) represents the largest reiterative coding sequence to be fully characterized in any species of trypanosome. There was no significant homology with other known proteins, and overall the predicted protein was extremely hydrophobic. Unlike the genes for other surface proteins, the gene encoding ISG100was present as a single copy. Although present in the flagellar pocket, ISG100was predominantly associated with components of the pathways for endo/exocytosis, such as intracellular vesicles located in the proximity of the pocket as well a large, electron-lucent perinuclear digestive vacuole.

Bovine heart 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2) was phosphorylated by incubation with [γ- 32P]MgATP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC). After digestion with chymotrypsin, the phosphorylation sites for the two protein kinases were identified by peptide mapping, and microsequencing. Evidence for new phosphorylation sites for PKA (Ser-483) and PKC (Ser-84 and Ser-466) was obtained.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles including Scottish independence in March 2014 issue, "On Breaking One's Neck" in February 2014 issue and review of Mario Livio's book "Brilliant Blunders" in March 2014 issue along with responses from authors in same issue.

Cross-sectional.

TO THE EDITOR. —Intravenous ganciclovir (dihydroxy-propoxymethyl-guanine, BW B759U) has shown promising results in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), although serious side effects may prevent its use.1,2 Recently, intravitreal ganciclovir was reported to be effective as a short-term treatment in one case.3 Following is a report of one case in which this treatment stabilized the disease and maintained visual acuity near 1.0, thus preserving the patient's autonomy for over nine months. REPORT OF A CASE. —A homosexual male patient 38 years of age was diagnosed as having AIDS in November 1985, when he developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. In March 1987, bilateral CMV retinitis involving the posterior pole and the disc in the right eye and a large sector on the nasal periphery in the left eye was diagnosed by its typical ophthalmoscopic appearance. Visual acuity was 0.05 OD and 1.5 OS.

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