Online data visualization using the neural gas network.

A high-quality distance preserving output representation is provided to the neural gas (NG) network. The nonlinear mapping is determined concurrently along with the codebook vectors. The adaptation rule for codebook positions in the projection space minimizes a cost function that favors the trustworthy preservation of the local topology. The proposed visualization method, called OVI-NG, is an enhancement over curvilinear component analysis (CCA). The results show that the mapping quality obtained with OVI-NG outperforms the original CCA, in terms of the trustworthiness, continuity, topographic function and topology preservation measures.     

Storage of Platelets in a New Plastic Container: Polyvinyl Chloride Plasticized with Butyryl-n-Trihexyl Citrate

The effect of storage of platelets in a new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic material with a butyryl-n-trihexyl citrate (BTHC) plasticizer (PL 2209) was evaluated. The PL 1240 container, i.e. PVC plastic with a different plasticizer, tri-(ethylhexyl)-tri-mellitate, was used as a reference. Measurements of pH, pO2, pCO2, glucose, lactate, adenosine triphosphate, total adenine nucleotide content, lactate dehydrogenase and platelet factor 4 (PF4) were made during 5 days of storage. Similar results were noted comparing PL 2209 and PL 1240. Differences in pO2 and pCO2 indicate greater gas permeability in PL 2209 than in PL 1240. Significantly higher PF4 levels were found in PL 2209, but the difference could not be attributed to the PL 2209 container itself. Paired autologous reinfusion studies (111Indium) of 6 normal donors gave mean recovery values after 5-day storage of 41.1 +/- 7.4% (PL 2209) and 45.5 +/- 7.7% (PL 1240), t1/2 66 +/- 13 and 75 +/- 5 h, survival time (linear model) 6.3 +/- 1.0 and 6.8 +/- 0.7 and survival time (multiple-hit model) 6.0 +/- 0.7 and 6.5 +/- 0.4 days, respectively. Only the difference in survival time (multiple-hit) was significantly higher in PL 1240. The corrected count increments at 12-24 h following transfusion were 13,300 +/- 10,800 (PL 2209) and 13,600 +/- 11,600 (PL 1240) with no statistically significant difference found. These results indicate PL 2209 as an equivalent alternative to PL 1240 for the 5-day storage of platelets.     

Current methods in the diagnosis of adult-age cystic fibrosis]

An 19 year old male patient with cystic fibrosis is reported. The clinical, pathogenetic, anatomical features and literature data are reviewed. Attention is called to recent diagnostic facilities.     

Parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons and fibres in the teleost cerebellum

Summary The distribution of parvalbumin-(PV) immunopositive cell bodies and fibres in the cerebellum of two species of freshwater teleosts (Salmo gairdneri and Barbus meridonalis) was studied using a monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. A clear laminated pattern of PV immunoreactivity was observed. After PV-immunostaining, Purkinje cells were strongly labelled in their cell bodies, the initial segments of the axons and the dendritic trees. In the molecular layer, only the dendritic branches of the Purkinje cells were PV-positive. In the granule cell layer, extensive axonal plexuses and scattered cell bodies were observed. Most of the immunopositive perikarya were unequivocally identified as displaced Purkinje cells, whereas a reduced number of smaller neurons with unstained dendrites was also found. Eurydendroid cells, the efferent neurons of the teleost cerebellum, were negative; however, they were impinged upon by numerous PV-positive boutons, corresponding to terminals of Purkinje cell axons. Parallel fibres and climbing fibres, as well as stellate cells and granule cells were negative. Basket cells (or deep stellate cells) whose existence in the teleost cerebellum is discussed, were also not observed. The immunoreactivity distribution pattern for PV in the teleost cerebellum differs from previous observations on the localization of this protein in the cerebellum of amniotes.     

New surface modification for Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy: oxygen diffusion hardening (ODH)

PVD-TiN coating and N+ implantation of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy resulted in surface hardening to a depth of less 3 microns. The new oxygen diffusion hardening (ODH) treatment increased the hardness gradually to 50 microns. PUD-TiN showed an improvement in the tribological properties, while N+ implantation increased the PE wear rate. The wear rate of the ultrahigh-molecular-weight as well as the friction coefficient were reduced to one-half of the values achieved with the combination of CoCrMo-alloy when paired against the ODH-treated surface. In pairing with ZrO2-containing bone cement the ODH-treated surface showed only a minimal reaction.     

133Granulation Tissue Induction by Lassar Ointment vs. Collagen‐Polyvynilpyrrolidone in Venous Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers derived from tissue destruction is the consequence of a chronic inflammatory process that produces pain and physical disability, diminishing quality of life in patients. In this work, Lassar ointment and lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone were administered separated each on one half in the same ulcer to 9 patients at the beginning and every 4 days. On day 16, all patients were auto‐grafted with partial thickness skin. Granulation tissue and graft integration were assessed clinically during 3 months. Inflammatory infiltrate, type I and III collagens, elastic fibers, alkaline phosphatase as well as blood vessels were evaluated histologically or histochemically in biopsies taken at the beginning and 16 days after the local treatment. Clinically and morphologically, both treatments demonstrated appropriate granulation tissue promotion and optimal graft integration since the beginning. Nevertheless, in Lassar ointment treated group regionalization of alkaline phosphatase activity was observed, as well as the presence of granuloma in 2 of the 9 patients. In conclusion, Lassar ointment or lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone are two different promoters of granulation tissue in venous leg ulcers, however Lassar ointment has the capability to produce granuloma and an exacerbated immune response; in consequence, ulcer recidivism could be present, may be due to mineral deposits in the wound.     

Late-Onset Superficial Lymphatic Malformation: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Superficial lymphatic malformations are predominantly developmental malformations of infancy, but they may arise at any age. OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with a late-onset superficial lymphatic malformation. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 53-year-old woman was evaluated for a colored lesion that developed spontaneously on the anterior abdominal wall. The lesion was treated by surgical excision. Findings on histopathologic examination of the specimen were consistent with superficial lymphatic malformation. There was no recurrence of the lesion at 4 months after the operation. CONCLUSION: Superficial lymphatic malformations can develop in adults spontaneously without the presence of any predisposing condition. Because the majority of such late-onset malformations reported in the literature are localized lesions similar to the one in our patient, surgical removal with inclusion of subcutaneous tissue usually results in cure without recurrence.     

Magnesium-orotate supplementation for idiopathic infertile male patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study.

A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study was performed in order to examine the effect of magnesium-orotate in male idiopathic infertility. Ten males were treated daily for 90 consecutive days with 3000 mg magnesium-orotate (Magnerot) tablets (Group M). As a control, ten other males were treated in the same way with placebo (Group P). Conventional microscopic sperm characteristics (sperm concentration, motility ratio, total number of motile sperm cells, normal morphology ratio), plus total and ionized magnesium levels in seminal plasma and blood serum were evaluated both prior to treatment and on day 90, at the conclusion of the study. No significant changes in sperm characteristics, blood ionized or total Mg, or ejaculate total Mg levels were detected. However, ejaculate ionized Mg levels increased in Group M from 0.18 +/- 0.05 to 0.30 +/- 0.05 (mmol/l; mean +/- SD, p < 0.05). Within the observation period of 3 months, one pregnancy occurred in the partner of a male from Group M. In conclusion, magnesium-orotate treatment at a dose of 3000 mg/day leads neither to a significant improvement of sperm variables nor does it increase the pregnancy rates of female partners of treated males as compared to those of controls. Thus, magnesium-orotate treatment was not shown to be effective therapy for idiopathic male infertility.