Coincidental diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report

The aim of this case report was to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found on a panoramic radiograph coincidently diagnosed in an endodontic clinic. A detailed discussion on the differential diagnosis of similar such calcification found in the same region is also presented. A 14‐year‐old girl was referred to our department with the complaint of painless swelling in the left side of the lower jaw. Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed, leading to the initial diagnosis of chronic periapical abscess. The patient's medical history was re‐evaluated. Advanced imaging and excisional biopsy were performed in order to confirm the final diagnosis. Regarding the presenting signs and symptoms of bilateral carious mandibular molars, a periapical inflammatory process was considered in the provisional diagnosis. A thorough examination and investigations were suggestive of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula), and the patient underwent excision of the same. The clinician should consider the possibility of chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesions in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque lesions.     

Lidocaine hydrocarbonate and lidocaine hydrochloride for cesarean section: transplacental passage and neonatal effects

Twenty-six patients, ASA physical status 1, scheduled for elective cesarean section, were divided at random into two groups and received via an epidural catheter 20 ml of 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate (17.3 mg.ml-1 lidocaine base) with 5 micrograms.ml-1 epinephrine freshly added (Group CO2 = 13 patients) or 20 ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (17.3 mg.ml-1 lidocaine base) also with 5 micrograms.ml-1 epinephrine freshly added. Following clampage of the umbilical cord (at 40.1 +/- 4.9 min after the injection of lidocaine for the CO2 group and at 41.0 +/- 5.4 min for the HCl group), serum concentrations of lidocaine were measured both in the mother and in the umbilical vein. All newborns were examined by the same blinded pediatrician with Apgar scores at 1, 5 and 10 min and with Neurobehavioral Adaptive Capacity Scores (NACS) at 15 min, 2 h and 24 h. The concentrations of lidocaine in the serum were comparable in both groups: in the mothers 8.61 +/- 1.48 mumol.l-1 for the CO2 group vs 8.04 +/- 2.36 mumol.l-1 for the HCl group and in the newborns 3.86 +/- 0.84 mumol.l-1 for the CO2 group vs 3.92 +/- 0.95 mumol.l-1 for the HCl group. The ratio of umbilical vein to maternal vein concentrations of lidocaine was also similar in both groups: 0.45 +/- 0.07 for the CO2 group vs 0.54 +/- 0.24 for the HCl group. The percentage of newborns with a normal NACS (score > or = 35/40) was equal in both groups, i.e. 91% at 15 min and 2 h of life and 100% at 24 h of life.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

New biomaterials for Ni biosorption turned into catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling of aryl iodides in green conditions

In parallel with increasing Ni production and utilisation, Ni pollution in the soil–water continuum has become an alarming and global problem. Solutions for removing Ni from industrial effluents have been widely investigated and biosorption has emerged as an efficient, cost-effective, scalable and sustainable alternative for water treatment. However, the biosorption capacity is limited by the chemical composition of the biomaterial and the Ni-enriched biomaterials are rarely valorised. In this work, the biosorption capacity of three abundant biomaterials with different chemical properties – water hyacinth, coffee grounds and pinecones – was studied before and after functionalization, and reached a maximum biosorption capacity of 51 mg g⁻¹ of Ni(ii). A bioinspired functionalization approach was investigated introducing carboxylate moieties and was conducted in green conditions. The Ni-enriched biomaterials were valorised by transformation into catalysts, which were characterised by MP-AES and XRPD. Their characterisation revealed a structure similar to nickel formate, and hence the Eco-Ni(HCOO)₂ catalysts were tested in Suzuki–Miyaura reactions. Several aryl iodides were successfully cross-coupled to phenylboronic acids using Eco-Ni(HCOO)₂ without any ligand, a mild and green base in a mixture of green solvents.

New biomaterials were functionalised for biosorption of Ni from aqueous solutions and valorised as ecocatalysts in Suzuki–Miyaura green reactions.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the liver of hepatitis C patients

Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver was investigated to determine whether this method could be used to differentiate between the stages of fibrosis and inflammation for hepatitis C viral infection. DWI data were recorded for 18 hepatitis C patients and 10 control subjects using a modified pulse sequence allowing a 52 ms echo time delay. Acquisitions were performed with breath holding using five different b gradient factor values ranging between 50 and 250 s/mm(2) and in the three axes. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured from a 5.7 cm(2) area in the central region of the liver. The inflammation and fibrosis grades were evaluated histologically on a biopsy sample. The mean ADC values were 2.30 +/- 1.28 x 10(-3) and 1.79 +/- 0.25 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s for hepatitis C patients and control subjects, respectively. Using our technique, no correlation could be found between the ADC values and the inflammation or fibrosis scores, indicating that tissue changes produced by hepatitis C do not appear to be quantifiable by DWI.     

Ouabain, Na(+)-free and K(+)-free solutions and relaxations to nitric oxide and nitrovasodilators.

1. Experiments were designed to determine the effect of inhibition of Na+, K+ ATPase by ouabain, Na(+)-free and K(+)-free solutions on the relaxations induced by nitric oxide, nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside in coronary smooth muscle. 2. Rings without endothelium of canine left anterior descending coronary artery were suspended for isometric tension recording in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution, in the presence of indomethacin, propranolol, and phenoxybenzamine. The rings were incubated with ouabain, Na(+)-free or K(+)-free solutions prior to contractions with prostaglandin F2 alpha. 3. Nitric oxide induced transient relaxations which were significantly depressed by ouabain but were not affected by Na(+)- or K(+)-free solutions. Thus, the inhibitory effect of ouabain on relaxations to nitric oxide is not due to inhibition of the Na+, K+ pump. 4. The relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside was impaired both in the presence of ouabain and after incubation in Na(+)- or K(+)-free solution, suggesting that it may involve in part activation of Na+, K+ pumping. 5. Only high concentration of ouabain and Na(+)-free solution decreased the relaxation evoked by nitroglycerin, indicating that the mechanism of action of nitroglycerin on vascular smooth muscle does not involve the Na(+)-K+ pump.     

综合性ICU患者监护记录单临床应用的前瞻性研究

目的研究新时期综合ICU患者的临床监护记录单,以保证患者及护士使用过程的便利及安全。方法将我院ICU自2002年使用的“图标式ICU监护记录单”,在原表格的基础上根据综合ICU患者需要多系统监测的特点进行修订,主要以数字和符号表示形式形成新的护理记录表格,并采取对比的方法考证新旧两种表格的效用。结果两种表格各项指标比较：相同人数的护士分别填写两种不同表格所使用的时间分别是新表格平均（66±11）min,旧表格平均（97±10）min,每份表格的分数设为100分,护理质量检查小组检查的结果,新表格平均（97±2）分,旧表格平均（94±2）分,两组时间及分数比较差异有统计学意义（t=10．6263,4．0307;P〈0．01）;新旧表格使用合格率比较差异有统计学意义（90．12％比82．62％,x2=67．49,P〈0．01）。结论新的监护记录单更科学、更全面、简洁、更适合综合ICU不同种类的患者的记录要求,减轻护士工作量,减少记录时间,提高工作效率。