Portal thrombosis: Percutaneous transhepatic treatment with urokinase — A case report

We present a case report of a patient suffering from portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis secondary to splenectomy. No surgical procedure could be performed due to the extension of thrombus.Local fibrinolysis treatment with urokinase through a percutaneous transhepatic approach was decided upon, and this procedure had a successful patient outcome.     

Hippocampal dopamine receptors modulate the motor activation and the increase in dopamine levels in the rat nucleus accumbens evoked by chemical stimulation of the ventral hippocampus.

A number of studies have shown that chemical stimulation (using N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) infusions) or electrical stimulation of the ventral hippocampus (VH) elicits locomotor activation and sustained increases in nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine (DA) levels in rodents. How DA neurotransmission in NAc is involved in these effects has also been well established. However, the modulatory role of the DA receptors located in VH is not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role played by VH D1 and D2 subtype receptors in both the locomotor activation and NAc DA increases induced by NMDA stimulation of the VH. This was assessed by studying how retrodialysis application of NMDA (50 mM, 10 min) affects motor activity and NAc DA levels during simultaneous retrodialysis administration of the D1/D5 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (100 and 250 microM, 60 min) or the D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (100 and 250 microM, 60 min). SCH 23390 attenuated or completely abolished NMDA-evoked locomotor activation and the concurrent increase in NAc DA levels. On the other hand, raclopride was initially able to attenuate the effects of VH NMDA stimulation. However, in the last phase of the experiments, animals showed an important increase in clonic seizure activity with a simultaneous and dramatic increase in NAc DA levels. Our results show that the NMDA receptor-mediated effects in the VH require both D1 and, probably, D2 receptors and suggest that DA in VH strongly modulates the excitatory outputs from this brain area.     

Mechanical Properties and Durability of CNT Cement Composites

In the present paper, changes in mechanical properties of Portland cement-based mortars due to the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and corrosion of embedded steel rebars in CNT cement pastes are reported. Bending strength, compression strength, porosity and density of mortars were determined and related to the CNT dosages. CNT cement paste specimens were exposed to carbonation and chloride attacks, and results on steel corrosion rate tests were related to CNT dosages. The increase in CNT content implies no significant variations of mechanical properties but higher steel corrosion intensities were observed.     

Disposition of d‐penicillamine,a promising drug for preventing alcohol‐relapse. Influence of dose,chronic alcohol consumption and age: studies in rats

Pharmacokinetic studies concerning d ‐penicillamine (an acetaldehyde sequestering agent) are scarce and have not evaluated the influence of chronic ethanol consumption and age on its disposition. Since recent preclinical studies propose d ‐penicillamine as a promising treatment for alcohol relapse, the main aim of the present work was to evaluate the influence of these two factors on d ‐penicillamine disposition in order to guide future clinical studies on the anti‐relapse efficacy of this drug in alcoholism. Additionally, the effect of the administered dose was also evaluated. To this end, three studies were carried out. Study 1 assessed the influence of dose on d ‐penicillamine disposition, whereas studies 2 and 3 evaluated, respectively, the influence of chronic alcohol consumption and age. Rapid intravenous administrations of 2, 10 and 30 mg/kg of d ‐penicillamine were performed using young or adult ethanol‐naïve rats or adult ethanol‐experienced (subjected to a long‐term ethanol self‐administration protocol) rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from the biexponential model. Statistical analysis of CL, normalized AUC₀^∞, V₁ and k₁₀ revealed that disposition, in the range plasma concentrations assayed, is non‐linear both in young ethanol‐naïve and in adult ethanol‐experienced rats. Notably, no significant changes in t_1/2 were detected. Chronic ethanol consumption significantly reduced CL values by 35% without affecting t_1/2. d ‐Penicillamine disposition was equivalent in young and adult animals. In conclusion, although DP pharmacokinetics is non‐linear, the lack of significant alterations of the t_1/2 would potentially simplify the clinical use of this drug. Chronic consumption of ethanol also alters d ‐penicillamine disposition but, again, does not modify t_1/2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-Sensing Properties of Alkali Activated Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) Composites Reinforced with Carbon Fibers

In recent years, several researchers have shown the good performance of alkali activated slag cement and concretes. Besides their good mechanical properties and durability, this type of cement is a good alternative to Portland cements if sustainability is considered. Moreover, multifunctional cement composites have been developed in the last decades for their functional applications (self-sensing, EMI shielding, self-heating, etc.). In this study, the strain and damage sensing possible application of carbon fiber reinforced alkali activated slag pastes has been evaluated. Cement pastes with 0, 0.29 and 0.58 vol % carbon fiber addition were prepared. Both carbon fiber dosages showed sensing properties. For strain sensing, function gage factors of up to 661 were calculated for compressive cycles. Furthermore, all composites with carbon fibers suffered a sudden increase in their resistivity when internal damages began, prior to any external signal of damage. Hence, this material may be suitable as strain or damage sensor.     

Atypical evolution of a calcified lipid cyst presenting spontaneously as a suspicious cluster of microcalcifications

We report an infrequent mammographic case in which a gross-calcified lipid cyst evolved spontaneously to form a cluster of pleomorphic microcalcifications which were indistinguishable from those seen in breast cancer. The biopsy performed was consistent with fat necrosis. Ultrasonography of the specimen showed a nodule with mixed echogenicity surrounded by a hypoechoic rim. To our knowledge, this behavior is extremely rare, with only one similar case reported in the literature.     

Influence of polyethylene glycol 4000 on the polymorphic forms of diflunisal.

The present study was carried out to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of diflunisal-PEG 4000 solid dispersions prepared by melting, solvent and melting-solvent methods. The solvents chosen were chloroform, methanol and ethanol-water due to the fact that the drug presents different polymorphic forms in these solvents. The characterization of solid dispersions was performed by X-ray powder diffraction because this technique has the advantage over other identification methods that it can detect both drug and ligand simultaneously. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the diflunisal-PEG systems suggested that the drug/polymer ratio and the solvent nature play an important role in the crystallization of the drug. In this regard, diflunisal crystallizes in form I at high concentrations of the drug (drug/polymer 2:1) in the solidified melt dispersions, however, polymorph III is mainly obtained as the polymer content increases (1:1 and 2:3). Likewise, in solid systems obtained by the solvent and melting solvent methods the drug solidifies in form III in ethanol/water and methanol while polymorph IV crystallizes in chloroform. Finally, DSC thermograms and hot-stage microscopy data of solid dispersions prepared by the melting method have allowed to draw the diflunisal-PEG 4000 solid-liquid phase diagram.     

Percutaneous retroperitoneal lymph node biopsy in carcinoma of the cervix

A percutaneous abdominal biopsy of retroperitoneal and pelvic lymph nodes was accomplished in 17 patients with carcinoma of the cervix. The indications for the needle biopsy are: (a) to determine the extent of neoplastic disease and (b) to facilitate treatment planning. The technique is discussed in detail.     

Portal thrombosis: percutaneous transhepatic treatment with urokinase--a case report

We present a case report of a patient suffering from portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis secondary to splenectomy. No surgical procedure could be performed due to the extension of thrombus. Local fibrinolysis treatment with urokinase through a percutaneous transhepatic approach was decided upon, and this procedure had a successful patient outcome.