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Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) using an incident energy tuned to the uraniumN4,5absorption edges is reported from epitaxial films of α -U 3 O 8 and UN. Theory shows that for U 3 O 8 the multiplets associated with a 5 f 1 configuration with a ground state of2F5/2and the excited state of2F7/2are observed. However, the strong transition predicted at a transfer energy of 1.67 eV is not observed. We assume this is a consequence of the intermediate state lifetime broadening due to interaction with continuum states when the transferred energy exceeds the onset of the continuum in the presence of the core hole. This hypothesis is supported by the results obtained for the 5 f -itinerant system UN, where no sharp transitions have been observed, although the broad scattering response centred at ∼1 eV is considered a signature of a predominantly 5 f 3 configuration in this band-like semi-metallic system. These experiments and theory add important information on these materials, both of which have been investigated since the 1960s, as well as whether RIXS at the uranium N edge can become a valuable tool for actinide research., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Masses in and near the interatrial septum may be either benign or malignant. The most common mass near the interatrial septum is lipomatous atrial septal hypertrophy (LASH). LASH can be present in patients with intracardiac malignancies, myxomas, lipomas, or other cardiac masses. It is important to recognize the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) characteristics of these pathologies to arrive at an accurate diagnosis with an appropriate plan for intraoperative resection. At the authors' institution, patients have been referred for surgery due to a finding of significant LASH masquerading as a left atrial myxoma. In challenging cases, TEE offers a thorough evaluation of the interatrial septum to delineate between multiple intracardiac masses., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The relationship between thermal detection threshold and rate of temperature change of the thermal stimulus when slow (<1 degrees C s(-1)) rates of change are employed was investigated. Using both the reaction time (RT) inclusive Method of Limits and RT exclusive Method of Levels healthy volunteers had warming (WDT) and cooling detection thresholds (CDT) measured at four different rates of temperature change (0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 degrees C s(-1)) from the thenar and/or mental regions using a contact thermode. With the Method of Limits, CDT increased linearly with rate of temperature change suggesting increments were due to RT artefacts. This was further supported by threshold assessment with the Method of Levels which showed CDT were unaffected by the rate of change in the RT exclusive method (P > 0.1). In contrast, WDT did not increase linearly with rate of stimulus temperature change when the Method of Limits was used and threshold assessment with the Method of Levels showed WDT assessed using a 0.3 degrees C s(-1) ramp rate were significantly higher than those measured with a 1 degrees C s(-1) rate of change (P < 0.05). This study indicates that adaptation to a warming stimulus can occur at faster rates of stimulus change than previously anticipated and identifies differences in warming and cooling pathways in sensitivity to adaptation.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of gabapentin, carbamazepine, and amitriptyline on temporal summation, simple nociceptive pain, and innocuous touch sensation in healthy volunteers., Methods: A placebo controlled four-way crossover double-blind randomized protocol was followed. Seventeen healthy subjects, male and female, aged 18 to 24, took part. Punctate pain, temporal summation pain to repeat punctate stimulation, and vibration detection threshold were assessed in triplicate. Study drugs were given as bedtime and early morning doses with assessments carried out midmorning., Results: Gabapentin and carbamazepine significantly reduced the intensity of temporal summation pain (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively), whereas amitriptyline significantly increased temporal summation pain (P < 0.001). None of the drugs affected pain produced by a single punctate stimulus (P > 0.05). Carbamazepine increased vibration detection thresholds (P < 0.05), but neither gabapentin nor amitriptyline had any detectable effect on vibration., Discussion: We have shown that gabapentin, carbamazepine, and amitriptyline, three pharmacologically different drugs, have distinct and quantifiable effects on somatosensory pathways in healthy volunteers. These findings provide a link between pharmacology of the study drugs and clinical effectiveness. The effects of gabapentin and carbamazepine on temporal summation pain show that these drugs can block centrally amplified wind-up pain in the absence of a neuropathic disorder.

Patients identified from hospital records as using alprostadil injections for erectile dysfunction were invited to take part in this open crossover study. On alternate weeks eight patients were given intracavernosal needle injections and transdermal needle-free injection of alprostadil in a randomized order. Efficacy of injection and associated pain were assessed and compared for the two methods. Pain produced during injection was significantly greater with the needle-free system than with the needle-tipped injection whilst efficacy was significantly less. Bruising was reported in all except one patient following needle-free injection only. Patient ratings of the needle-free injector were significantly lower than ratings for needle-tipped alprostadil delivery and when asked to express a preference, every patient chose the needle-tipped injection over the needle-free device.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia remains a difficult problem to treat. A number of therapies have been shown to be effective, but some patients have intractable pain., Patient: The case of a 76-year-old woman whose pain had been resistant to standard therapies is described. The pattern of quantitative sensory testing results for this patient led the authors to believe that she had an "irritable nociceptor" type of pathophysiology., Intervention: The patient was instructed to apply neat peppermint oil (containing 10% menthol) to her skin, resulting in an almost immediate improvement in her pain. This pain relief persisted for 4-6 hours after application of the oil., Results: The patient was successfully treated with topical peppermint oil. During 2 months of follow-up she has had only a minor side effect, with continuing analgesia. The authors believe this is the first evidence of peppermint oil (or menthol) having a strong analgesic effect on neuropathic pain. The possible mechanisms of action of peppermint oil are discussed.

Peripheral administration of the nociceptive agent capsaicin is used as an experimental tool to study neurophysiological and pharmacological aspects of the generation and control of pain. When investigating secondary hyperalgesia phenomena, current topical and intradermal capsaicin delivery methods have two key limitations. Intradermal injection can evoke severe chemogenic pain and both delivery methods produce an unstable area of dynamic mechanical allodynia. We present validity studies of a new preparation for capsaicin delivery that overcomes these limitations. The novel capsaicin formulation consists of a water-based semisolid jelly preparation containing 1% capsaicin which is applied topically under adhesive-free occlusion to a small area of the skin. We demonstrate that in healthy human subjects this model evokes areas of flare, punctate hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia which are equivalent to established models and that these areas are stable over time and reproducible on repeat experiments. The jelly formulation evokes only minimal chemogenic pain and, as the preparation remains in situ throughout the study providing constant capsaicin exposure, a stable area of dynamic mechanical allodynia is produced. These validation studies show that this novel capsaicin administration method is a practical, reliable and viable tool for investigating experimental secondary hyperalgesia., (Copyright 2001 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain.)

1. Isolated rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurones support vesicular, non synaptic release of substance P in a depolarisation and Ca2+ dependent manner. 2. In vivo this process may mediate cross-communication between DRG cells in some neuropathological conditions and is therefore a putative area for drug intervention. 3. The authors investigated the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) subtypes involved in somatic release of substance P. Fresh (< 1 day) cultures of DRG neurones were incubated with high K+ depolarising saline in the presence and absence of subtype selective VDCC blockers. Substance P released into the external media was collected and quantified using a radioimmunoassay. 4. The results show that L-type and N-type, but not P-type, VDCCs play an important role in high K+ evoked substance P release from rat DRG neurones.

Aim: General practitioners in the central Sydney area were surveyed to quantify the extent of, and attitudes towards, computerisation in Australian general practice., Method: Two surveys were mailed to all GPs in the central Sydney area, first in 1994, and again in 1996. The majority of questions in both surveys were identical. The results were collated and descriptive and comparative statistics calculated., Results: There was an increase in the use of computers for clinical tasks and, GPs' attitudes towards computerised prescribing systems became more positive. There was a persistent negative attitude towards the actual costs of computerisation., Conclusion: Methods are now required to transform the increased use of computers by GPs into improved outcomes for them and their patients.