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Lacosamide, one of the last antiepileptic drugs marketed, can cause extension of PR interval. Precautions are recommended when used in elderly and with other drugs extending PR interval. Cases of severe third-degree atrioventricular block have been reported only in post-marketing case reports when used at high-doses and remain rare. We report the case of an 88-year-old woman treated with bisoprolol, who experienced a complete atrioventricular block after initiation of lacosamide for epilepsy associated with neurodegenerative disease. This dramatic event required a pacemaker implementation. Not being dose-dependent (initiation dosage used), it seemed partially explained by drug-drug interaction with bisoprolol.

In the present paper, we analyze a seed fiber arising from Pergularia tomentosa L. (PTL). It was, primarily, characterized using different techniques. The morphology of the fibers was observed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). They are also checked in term of decomposition behavior through TGA/DTG instrument. The cristallinity index was determined using XRD and it was about 52 %. The chemical composition in terms of moisture percent, ash, waxes and fats, lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose were, respectively 8.5 %, 2.74 %, 1.88 %, 8.6 %, 16 % and 43.8 %. The contact angle value was measured and the evolution of drop profile was captured with video-camera using GBX Tensiometer Surfaces Sciences Studies. Further, fibers were dyed with Methylene Blue, Direct Red 79, Sumifix supra yellow 3RF and Reactive Blue 198. Color coordinates (ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, ΔC* and ΔH*) of the samples were so measured. All obtained data were compared to cotton fibers and some other cellulosic fibers. The Results revealed that, based on such properties, PTLF could be a competitive fiber in many applications field (textile weaving, composites, etc).

Gallium-substituted copper indium sulfide (CuIn(1−x)GaxS2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a convenient solvothermal method without usage of surfactants or toxic reductants such as hydrazine. Thiourea, sodium hydroxide, CuCl2·2H2O, InCl3 and GaCl3 were used as starting materials and ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent. The reactions were performed at 200 °C for 16 h. Effect of sodium hydroxide on the reaction products is analyzed. The powders are mainly characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area measurements and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results show that the gallium is successfully incorporated into the chalcopyrite crystal structure. The homogeneous powders obtained are constituted of nanoparticles with sizes in the range 20–30 nm and exhibit a specific surface area close to 65 m2/g. Further, the possible mechanism for the formation of CuIn(1−x)GaxS2 nanocrystals is explained. The optical band gap energies of the nanoparticles were in the range 1.48–1.75 eV.

Our purpose is to discuss the importance of multimodality imaging in the assessment of cardiac tumors and management. We have compiled a recent review of the scientific literature and embedded our clinical pathways and recommendations based on data and clinical experience. The use of contrast echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac masses has been shown to be helpful in distinguishing tumor from thrombus. Deformation imaging of cardiac tumors has been shown to differentiate better rhabdomyomas from fibromas in pediatric patients. Cardiac MRI (CMR) appears to be helpful in determining whether cardiac tumors are benign or malignant by identifying presence of infiltration, uptake of contrast in first pass perfusion and gadolinium enhancement. Patients with evidence of cardiac metastases by CMR show similar survival to stage IV cancer without cardiac metastases. In our institution, we use a standardized approach for the evaluation of cardiac masses, which includes multimodality imaging in the appropriate clinical context. The autotransplantation surgical technique has shown some promise in improving survival in patients with primary cardiac sarcomas. In our institution, we do not routinely recommend anticoagulation for “tumor-thrombus” in renal cell carcinoma due to risk of bleeding from primary tumor. Cardiac masses are often found incidentally, but sometimes can present with cardiovascular symptoms due to obstruction and valvular dysfunction, which may prompt imaging. It is important to determine whether the mass is a normal variant, imaging artifact, vegetation, thrombus, or tumor. Transthoracic echocardiography is ideally suited to be the initial imaging modality because of the portability, wide availability, lack of radiation, and relatively low cost. The gold standard cardiac imaging technique to distinguish tumor from thrombus is contrast enhanced CMR with prolonged inversion time. Advantages of CMR when compared to echocardiography regarding characterization of cardiac tumors are as follows: larger field of view, better spatial resolution, better tissue characterization, lack of attenuation, and ability to image at any prescribed plane. Primary and secondary cardiac tumors have particular characteristics in echocardiography and CMR. Imaging of cardiac tumors plays an important role in establishing a diagnosis and in planning management.

Background PBI-05204, a Nerium oleander extract (NOE) containing the cardiac glycoside oleandrin, inhibits the α-3 subunit of Na-K ATPase, as well as FGF-2 export, Akt and p70S6K, hence attenuating mTOR activity. This first-in-human study determined the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of PBI-05204 in patients with advanced cancer. Methods Forty-six patients received PBI-05204 by mouth for 21 of 28 days (3 + 3 trial design). Dose was escalated 100 % using an accelerated titration design until grade 2 toxicity was observed. Plasma PK and mTOR effector (p70S6K and pS6) protein expressions were evaluated. Results Dose-limiting toxicities (grade 3 proteinuria, fatigue) were observed at dose level 8 (0.3383 mg/kg/day). Common possible drug-related adverse were fatigue (26 patients, 56.5 %), nausea (19 patients, 41.3 %) and diarrhea (15 patients, 32.6 %). Electrocardiogram monitoring revealed grade 1 atrioventricular block (N = 10 patients) and grade 2 supraventricular tachycardia (N = 1). The MTD was DL7 (0.2255 mg/kg) where no toxicity of grade ≥ 3 was observed in seven patients treated. Seven patients (15 %) had stable disease > 4 months. Mean peak oleandrin concentrations up to 2 ng/mL were achieved, with area under the curves 6.6 to 25.5 μg/L*hr and a half-life range of 5–13 h. There was an average 10 % and 35 % reduction in the phosphorylation of Akt and pS6 in PBMC samples in 36 and 32 patients, respectively, tested between predose and 21 days of treatment. Conclusions PBI-05204 was well tolerated in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors. The recommended Phase II dose is 0.2255 mg/kg/day.

We conducted an investigation into the thermodynamic properties of two stoichiometric CaCu3Ti4O12(CCTO) samples prepared by solid-state reaction and soft chemistry methods to probe the stability of the material relative to simpler oxide constituents (e.g., CaO, CuO, and TiO2) over a wide temperature range. Thermodynamic functions (i.e., heat capacity, formation enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs free energies) have been measured from near absolute zero to 1100 K using calorimetric methods, including drop solution, low-temperature adiabatic relaxation, and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the thermodynamic characteristics of the magnetic-phase transition from the antiferromagnetic to the paramagnetic state are reported. It has been shown that CCTO is very stable relative to constituent oxides and calcium titanate at room temperature and higher, independent of the synthesis route. The enthalpic factor is dominant in the thermodynamics of CCTO, with the entropic factor having almost no effect on the stability of the compound relative to other oxide assemblages. The recommended values for the standard molar enthalpy of formation from constituent oxides and from elements at 298.15 K are −122.1 ± 4.5 and −4155.7 ± 5.2 kJ/mol−1, respectively. The mean of the third law entropy at 298.15 K is 368.4 ± 0.1 J/mol−1/K−1. Based on the thermodynamic data reported, the study confirms the possibility of CCTO decomposition in a reducing atmosphere or CO2 under conditions recently observed in experiments.

In pursuit of high permittivity materials for electronic application, there has been a considerable interest recently in the dielectric properties of various perovskite oxides like calcium copper titanate or lanthanum doped barium titanate. When processed in a particular way, this later material present at ambient temperature and at f = 1 kHz unusual interesting dielectric properties, a so called “colossal” permittivity value up to several 106 with relatively low dielectric losses. Moreover and contrary to what is classically expected and evidenced for this type of materials, no temperature dependence is observed. This behavior is observed in nanopowders based ceramics. An assumption to explain the observed properties is proposed. These results have important technological applications, since these nanoceramics open a new route to the fabrication of very thin dielectric films.

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is a small-molecule inhibitor of the fusion protein Bcr-Abl, the causal agent in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Here we report ten individuals who developed severe congestive heart failure while on imatinib and we show that imatinib-treated mice develop left ventricular contractile dysfunction. Transmission electron micrographs from humans and mice treated with imatinib show mitochondrial abnormalities and accumulation of membrane whorls in both vacuoles and the sarco- (endo-) plasmic reticulum, findings suggestive of a toxic myopathy. With imatinib treatment, cardiomyocytes in culture show activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, reduction in cellular ATP content and cell death. Retroviral gene transfer of an imatinib-resistant mutant of c-Abl, alleviation of ER stress or inhibition of Jun amino-terminal kinases, which are activated as a consequence of ER stress, largely rescues cardiomyocytes from imatinib-induced death. Thus, cardiotoxicity is an unanticipated side effect of inhibition of c-Abl by imatinib.

An understanding of fabric tensile behavior is essential for the development of new technical textile applications and for realistic simulations. Indeed, mechanical fabric properties, such as thickness evolution, are very important in classic uniaxial tensile tests. The authors have developed a very lightweight inductive sensor to measure the thickness evolution during such a tensile test. The main difficulty of this study had been to find out the most suitable sensor for the specific conditions of textile tensile tests. Three different plainwoven fabrics have been tested and results are discussed.

The hydrothermal synthesis of zircon in a fluoride medium leads principally to two kinds of zircons, differentiated by their morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability and solubility. Differences in the thermodynamic parameters of solution (pH, temperature, [F−]) could explain the formation of these two kinds of zircons. The main hypothesis involves two crystallization mechanisms. Both include a step of gel dissolution with formation of soluble species that are responsible for the crystallization. In each case, the silicon species seem to be monomeric without fluorine. However, the nature of soluble zirconium species depends on the thermodynamic parameters of the solution. At acid pH and with fluoride ions, the reactive species for the crystallization seem to be fluoride rich zirconium complexes. In this case, the zircon obtained contains a large amount of fluoride presumably located in silicon sites (Zircon A). At basic pH, and whatever the concentration of fluoride, the reactive species for crystallization seems to be linear polymeric entities. In this case, the zircon obtained shows a typical morphology in the form of layered agglomerates and a high specific surface area (Zircon B).