Assessment of Photoinduced Frontal Polymerization Processes for a Stable 1K System

Frontal polymerization (FP) has attracted increasing interest in recent years in various applications. This polymerization method can be very promising for the polymerization of thick materials with high fillers content in the range of 50–80% (weight) by local application of a reasonable amount of energy. In this work, recent advances in controllable and predictive behavior for photoinduced frontal photopolymerization are reported. Here, tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (Luperox-P) is selected to initiate thermal polymerization at depth because its high polymerization ability and its decomposition temperature is in a promising range, i.e., neither extremely high (monomer decomposition) nor very low (storage stability issues). Thermal imaging experiments are used to follow the temperatures in the samples in real time. The number of cured layers and the depth of cure are also determined. This paper investigates various factors such as the contents of both photo and thermal initiators, the light intensity, the fiber contents, the irradiation time, etc., resulting in a statistical design of experiments with the factors: 1) content of Luperox P and 2) the irradiation time used to investigate the influence on photoinduced frontal polymerization. Markedly, FP appears to be fully controllable for a storage-stable, tunable 1K system.     

Aspergillosis of the cranial base

Aspergillus is an ubiquitous organism seldom pathogenic in normal hosts. Aspergillus osteomyelitis of the spine occurs rarely in immunocompromised patients as a result of hematogenous spread from distant foci. We present a case of Aspergillus osteomyelitis in the region of the jugular foramen in a previously healthy male with no antecedent event. He presented with dysphagia, hypophonia, and weight loss of several months duration. Diagnosis was delayed due to nonspecific results of various imaging tests. We review the clinical course of fungal osteomyelitis, including appearance on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, culture characteristics, and gross appearance. Current treatment consists of surgical debridement and antifungal medications such as amphotericin B and itraconazole, and the efficacy of these are discussed.     

Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans.

The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C for adult nonsmoking men and women is 60 mg/d, which is based on a mean requirement of 46 mg/d to prevent the deficiency disease scurvy. However, recent scientific evidence indicates that an increased intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cataract, probably through antioxidant mechanisms. It is likely that the amount of vitamin C required to prevent scurvy is not sufficient to optimally protect against these diseases. Because the RDA is defined as "the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all healthy individuals in a group," it is appropriate to reevaluate the RDA for vitamin C. Therefore, we reviewed the biochemical, clinical, and epidemiologic evidence to date for a role of vitamin C in chronic disease prevention. The totality of the reviewed data suggests that an intake of 90-100 mg vitamin C/d is required for optimum reduction of chronic disease risk in nonsmoking men and women. This amount is about twice the amount on which the current RDA for vitamin C is based, suggesting a new RDA of 120 mg vitamin C/d.     

A community based lesbian sexual health service - clinically justified or politically correct?

Lesbian sexual health care is still a neglected issue. In order to address this, a needs assessment was carried out in Glasgow amongst the lesbian community and 200 responses were received. More than 40% of the respondents said they were unable to disclose their sexual orientation to their GP and were unable to discuss sexual health issues with them. Eighty-one percent said there was a need for a lesbian sexual health service and 71% said they would use such a service if it existed. Therefore a pilot clinic was set up in Glasgow and was co-ordinated by a multidisciplinary advisory group. The clinical component of the service was audited and it was found that gynaecology and fertility issues were the most common presenting condition (52%), followed by psychosocial issues (26%). Genitourinary problems, such as vaginal discharge, constituted 20% of presentations. Client satisfaction with the clinic was high. This pilot service showed that areas of sexual health care, such as the need for inclusion in cervical smear programmes and equality of access to assisted conception, are issues which are important to this minority group and which need to be addressed. The clinic is now ongoing as a result of the pilot scheme and is the only family planning based lesbian health service in the UK.     

Percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis: an alternative to surgery

AIM OF THE STUDY: To describe a technique of percutaneous CT guided catheter drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis and to report the results of this technique compared with those of the conventional surgical treatment and of other percutaneous drainage series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 1997, the series included 32 patients who had a severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis with a mean Ranson score of 4.6, scored into grade D (n = 10), and grade E (n = 22), according to the Balthazar radiological staging. Modified Van Sonnenberg 24 F double lumen catheters were used for continuous irrigation and aspiration. RESULTS: Forty-nine drains were inserted for 41 infected necroses and eight abscesses. Among the 32 patients, the proof of infected necrosis was obtained in 26 patients by fine needle aspiration and culture (enterococcus, staphylococcus, pseudomonas). The average delay of catheter insertion was 23 days after onset of pancreatitis; the mean duration of drainage was 43 days, and an average of three catheters per patient was required. Five patients (15%) died, and among the survivors, 16 (59%) presented 21 complications including 14 enterocutaneous or pancreatic fistulas. A subsequent surgical procedure including two necrosectomies was necessary in six patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis with a 15% mortality and 70% success rate, represents an interesting alternative to conventional surgery.     

Recent progress in the curative surgical treatment of stomach cancer

Surgical resection is currently the only potentially curative treatment for gastric cancer. Nodal extension, present in 3/4 of the patients, is related to topography and penetration of the tumor and is progressive, beginning by the perigastric proximal lymph nodes N1 to the perivascular distal nodes N2. A subtotal gastrectomy is possible for distal cancers and total gastrectomy is necessary for cancers of the middle and upper portions. D1 lymphadenectomy is the resection of the N1 perigastric nodes (> 15) and D2 lymphadenectomy is the resection fo the N2 perivascular nodes (> 25). In Japan, 5 year survival after D2 resection is very high, around 60%, but all the series are retrospective with a high proportion of superficial cancers. In several recent European controlled studies, D2 resection is responsible for a high mortality rate (> 10%) and the reported 45% survival is not statistically different from the D1 resection. In Western patients an "in-between" lymphadenectomy without spleno-pancreatectomy can be recommended with analysis of at least 15 nodes, and with a mortality lower than 5%. Pathological analysis of the operative specimen allows to use the new TNM classification where the number of positive lymph nodes is the main independent prognostic factor.     

Distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactive boutons on immunohistochemically-identified Renshaw cells in cat and rat lumbar spinal cord

A combination of anti-gephyrin- and anti-calbindin D28k-immunoreactivity was used to identify 129 and 171 Renshaw cells and their dendrites in cat and rat lumbar spinal cord, respectively. Using anti-5-hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactivity to label serotoninergic fibers and boutons, 1048 serotoninergic boutons were observed in close contact with the immunolabeled Renshaw cells, with an average of 4.4 and 2.8 close contacts on cat and rat Renshaw cells, respectively. Two-thirds of the observed appositions were formed on the somatic membrane.     

Spontaneous resolution of an in utero perirenal urinoma associated with posterior urethral valves

Ultrasound imaging of a 26-week-gestation fetus demonstrated a large, nonemptying bladder. At 27 weeks, a distended, thick-walled bladder, left hydronephrosis, and a perirenal urinoma were present, without ascites. Observation was undertaken, as the amniotic fluid volume was normal. At 29 weeks, the left perirenal fluid collection persisted but, at 30 weeks, was absent. After delivery at 36 weeks, no ultrasound evidence for perirenal urinoma or ascites was present. Isotope renal scan showed preserved renal function bilaterally. This case illustrates that in utero urinomas associated with posterior urethral valves can resolve spontaneously, with preservation of renal function.