Magnetic and Magnetocaloric Properties of Nano- and Polycrystalline Manganites La(0.7−x)EuxBa0.3MnO3

Here, we report synthesis and investigations of bulk and nano-sized La_(0.7−x)Eu_xBa_0.3MnO₃ (x ≤ 0.4) compounds. The study presents a comparison between the structural and magnetic properties of the nano- and polycrystalline manganites La_(0.7−x)Eu_xBa_0.3MnO₃, which are potential magnetocaloric materials to be used in domestic magnetic refrigeration close to room temperature. The parent compound, La_0.7Ba_0.3MnO₃, has Curie temperature T_C = 340 K. The magnetocaloric effect is at its maximum around T_C. To reduce this temperature below 300 K, we partially replaced the La ions with Eu ions. A solid-state reaction was used to prepare bulk polycrystalline materials, and a sol-gel method was used for the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction was used for the structural characterization of the compounds. Transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) evidenced nanoparticle sizes in the range of 40–80 nm. Iodometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to investigate the oxygen content of the studied compounds. Critical exponents were calculated for all samples, with bulk samples being governed by tricritical mean field model and nanocrystalline samples governed by the 3D Heisenberg model. The bulk sample with x = 0.05 shows room temperature phase transition T_C = 297 K, which decreases with increasing x for the other samples. All nano-sized compounds show lower T_C values compared to the same bulk samples. The magnetocaloric effect in bulk samples revealed a greater magnetic entropy change in a relatively narrow temperature range, while nanoparticles show lower values, but in a temperature range several times larger. The relative cooling power for bulk and nano-sized samples exhibit approximately equal values for the same substitution level, and this fact can substantially contribute to applications in magnetic refrigeration near room temperature. By combining the magnetic properties of the nano- and polycrystalline manganites, better magnetocaloric materials can be obtained.     

Therapy of ovarian inactivity in postpartum Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes by PRID and Ovsynch estrus synchronization protocols

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to assess therapeutical effect of modified Ovsynch and PRID estrus synchronization protocols in Bulgarian Murrah buffalo with inactive ovaries during the low-breeding season.MethodsThe study was carried out in 46 Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes with small inactive ovaries established by two consecutive transrectal ultrasonographies on Day 40 and 50 postpartum. At the start of the therapy the buffaloes were randomly divided into three groups. Group I (n=18) was treated by PRID-based protocol; Group II (n=18) was treated by Ovsynch based protocol and Group III (control; n=10) was injected intramuscular with saline at the same days as in the first two groups and fertile bull was introduced after that. The animals in the different groups were submitted to ultrasound examination at day of artificial insemination or bull introduction. Ovulation was determined 7 days post insemination by ultrasound. The pregnancy diagnosis was done 30 days after insemination. Mean diameter of the largest follicles at the start of therapy and the day of AI was registered. In the hormonal treated buffaloes estrus clinical sings, ovulation rate and pregnancy rate after AI were determined. In the control group pregnancy rate after spontaneous estrus was established. The mean diameter of the largest follicles determined on Days 40 and 50 after calving was not over 9 mm for all buffaloes.ResultsAt day of AI the average diameters of the preo-vulatory follicles in PRID and Ovsynch treated buffaloes were significantly (P<0.01) greater than these on Day 0. The cases of a clear uterine mucus discharge during the induced estrus were significant more (P<0.05) for Group I (94.4%) than Group II (66.7%). The pregnancy rate after AI (56.6% and 38.8%) in PRID and Ovsynch program was significant higher (P<0.05) than pregnancy rate after spontaneous estrus (10%) in the control group.Conclusionsthe treatment of buffalo ovarian inactivity could start on Day 50 postpartum. The PRID and Ovsynch estrus synchronization protocols by substitution of the second GnRH with hCG, could be successfully used for therapy of Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes with inactive ovaries during the low-breeding season.     

Simultaneous application of intravenous fat emulsion and charcoal hemoperfusion in quetiapine overdose case

The simultaneous application of intravenous fat emulsion and charcoal hemoperfusion in the case of severe quetiapine poisoning is described. The initial blood concentration of quetiapine was 5.9 µg/mL and rapid deterioration in the patient status was observed. When a lipid emulsion was infused a fast blood pressure recovery occurred which allows to perform extracorporeal clearance using charcoal hemoperfusion. At the end of the procedure the quetiapine concentration was decreased down to 1.5 µg//mL and fast recovery of the patient was observed.     

Nitric oxide and free stable nitroxyl radicals in the mechanism of biological action of the spin-labeled compounds

A comparison of more important physical, chemical and biological properties of the nitric oxide (NO) and free stable nitroxyl radicals (nitroxides) on the base of their structural similarity is made in the article. The active moiety in the nitroxide molecule represents a sterically hindered nitric oxide. The mechanisms of biological action of the nitroxides and especially of their derivatives with antitumor agents from the groups of nitrogen mustards, nitrosoureas, aziridines and triazenes (spin-labeled compounds) is explained through the biological activities of sterically hindered NO. Similarly to NO, nitroxides also can react with superoxide anion radical (O(2)(-)), they possess superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic action. While the interaction of NO with O(2)(-)yields very toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), its formation is strongly limited in the presence of a nitroxide. It is known that the nitrosourea antitumor drugs, like lomustine (CCNU) and carmustine (BCNU), showed high general toxicity, one of the reasons for that probability is the formation of NO, and subsequently of ONOO(-), during their metabolism. The biological investigations of the nitroxides showed their considerably lower general toxicity that could be explained with the SOD-mimetic action of the nitroxide present in their molecule.     

Monolayer-Zellkulturen zum Nachweis einer extragenitalen Tumorzelldissemination beim Ovarialkarzinom

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, da? die MZK aus flüssigen Proben ein sensibles diagnostisches Verfahren zum Nachweis einer extragenitalen Tumorzell-dissemination beim OvCA ist. Insbesondere bei kleinen Prim?rtumoren konnte in einigen F?llen ein diagnostischer Zugewinn zu den Resultaten der üblichen intraoperativen Staging-Verfahren (Histologie, Zytologie) erzielt werden.     

Surgical diseases of thyroid gland

Medical reports of 8,768 patients with various diseases of thyroid gland were analyzed. There were 1,563 (17.8) male and 7,201 (82.2%) female patients aged 6 to 86 years. One-nodular goiter was diagnosed at 13.85% patients, multinodular goiter - at 67.2%, diffuse toxic goiter - at 5.85%, thyreotoxic adenoma - at 4.91%, Hashimoto's thyroiditis - at 8.16% patients. Thyroid cancer was revealed at 1.56 patients with nodular goiter, at 8.45% - with multinodular goiter, at 2.72% - with diffuse toxic goiter, at 3.71% - with thyreotoxic adenoma, and at 27.09% patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Totally thyroid cancer was diagnosed at 741 (8.45%) patients including 71.12% papillary cancer, 26.47% follicular cancer and 2.42% medullar (anablastic) cancer. Some patients had metastases. It is concluded that all the patients with goiter should be operated. At diffuse toxic goiter the surgical treatment is indicated at the patients with recurrences or after 6 - 12 months of conservative treatment without clinical improvement.     

Nasal and sleep cycle--possible synchronization during night sleep

Regular cyclic changes in nostril airflow due to a nasal congestion and decongestion are known in literature as nasal cycle. Registration of breathing from each nostril separately gives possibility to registrate moments of alternative change of airflow of nostrils and periods of nasal cycle. This registration during night sleep shows that the length of these periods are about 1.5h, 3.0 h and 4.5h. The length of these periods are multiple of mean length of sleep cycle--about 1.5h. The alternative change of airflow through nostrils occurs through some of REM stages of the sleep. This shows, that during the night sleep becomes synchronization of nasal and sleep cycles in some of the REM phases of sleep. As a result--length of periods of the nasal cycle are one or more length of sleep cycle.     

Inhibiting effect of desalted extract from Galega officinalis L. on platelet aggregation.

The inhibiting and disaggregating effect of desalted and fractionated herbal extract of Galega officinalis L. on platelet aggregation in vitro is studied. At a concentration of 35 micrograms/ml in a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) the fraction inhibits 50% of aggregation by ADP and at 125 micrograms/ml PRP it inhibits fully the aggregation of PRP by ADP. At a concentration of 40 micrograms/ml PRP the fraction inhibits the initiation of platelet aggregation by collagen and at 50 micrograms/ml PRP inhibits the initiation of aggregation by thrombin. At a concentration of 65 micrograms/ml PRP the fraction can disaggregate 50% of the aggregated platelet-rich plasma by ADP and 25% of aggregated PRP by collagen.