Electrochemically Active Block Copolymer Micelles Containing Coumarin Moieties

We report the first study of using CPE to disrupt block copolymer micelles containing an organic chromophore. Micelles formed by an amphiphilic diblock copolymer composed of PEO and PCMA are electrochemically active in aqueous electrolyte solution, displaying an irreversible oxidation process of coumarin at a potential of about 1.75 V. CPE of the micellar solution at the fixed oxidation potential allows a large amount of coumarin moieties inside the hydrophobic micelle core to be electrochemically oxidized, resulting in the transformation of small polymer micelles (ca. 38 nm) onto larger aggregates (ca. 1 µm). This study demonstrates that electrochemical redox reactions can be explored as a means to disrupt block copolymer micelles that contain a light‐sensitive organic chromophore such as coumarin.

     

Health Beliefs and Preventive Behaviors Among Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: a Latent Class Analysis

Prevention Science - The objectives of this study are to (1) characterize patterns of preventive behaviors 3 months after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the USA...     

Familial cytomegalic adrenocortical hypoplasia: an X-linked syndrome of pubertal failure

Five boys with familial cytomegalic adrenocortical hypoplasia have been followed up for an average of 19 years. Despite treatment with replacement corticosteroids, all 5 failed to show a spontaneous onset of puberty and, when assessed at ages 13 to 19 years, all had both sexual infantilism and skeletal immaturity. Hypogonadism was confirmed by low levels of plasma testosterone, and pituitary reserve of gonadotrophin was shown to be inadequate by testing with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. Two boys, both with adequate testosterone output on human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation, were given gonadotrophin therapy, whereas the other 3 were treated with parenterally administered testosterone. With treatment, all 5 patients showed advances in pubertal staging. Although the mechanism of the hypogonadotropism remains unclear, the association of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism with familial cytomegalic adrenocortical hypoplasia appears to be a constant one and may be considered as a treatable inherited syndrome of pubertal failure.     

Analysis of risk factors for complications and adverse obstetrical outcomes in women with Takayasu arteritis: a French retrospective study and literature review

Clinical Rheumatology - Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a large vessel vasculitis affecting young women of childbearing age. The outcome of pregnancies in TAK patients, factors associated with maternal...     

Paecilomyces variotii fungemia in a patient with multiple myeloma: case report and literature review

Infectious complications are common in patient with multiple myeloma. However, Paecilomyces variotii, a common saprophytic fungus, rarely causes human infection. We report the first case of P. variotii fungemia in this illness with good response with adapted anti-mycotic treatment.     

Penile strangulation by hair

Purpose

To know the causes and results of treatment of complications from a penile strangulation by hair in seven boys.

Methods

From April 2000 to December 2012, seven boys presenting serious penile complications by hair strangulation have been operated in two centers. All seven boys had transection of the urethra at the coronal level. And none of our patients were at the stage of necrosis or amputation of the glans. The age of the patients at surgery ranged from 34 to 134 months (mean 96 months).

Results

Four children presented urethrocutaneous fistulas (57 % of cases), and the innervation and vascularization of the glans remained poor after repair in three patients.

Conclusion

The penile strangulation by hair was due to a simple accident. However, several predisposing factors were discovered in our patients: lack of cleanliness; a moist environment with nocturnal enuresis; the presence of pubic hair in young children reported in the four children, and a coronal sulcus not covered by the foreskin in circumcised children.     

Liver transplantation with cavoportal or renoportal anastomosis: a solution in cases of diffuse portal thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: Liver transplantation was contraindicated in patients with diffuse thrombosis of the portal vein until the recent use of graft portal vein reperfusion with the caval flow or one of its tributaries. Long term results of these procedures are reported here.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients with diffuse portal vein thrombosis were transplanted by portal reperfusion via latero-terminal anastomosis between the native caval vein and the graft portal vein (2 patients) or termino-terminal between the native left renal vein and the graft portal vein (6 patients).RESULTS: Three patients died 3, 3 and 6 months following transplantation from intracerebral hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, and chronic rejection respectively. Three patients had complicated portal hypertension. Five patients were alive at home with a median follow-up of 9 months (2 to 37 months) with normal liver and kinase functions.CONCLUSION: Portal reperfusion with the caval vein flow allows transplantation of patients with diffuse poral vein thrombosis. According to our experience and to the analysis of the literature, reno-portal anastomosis is preferable to cavo-portal reconstruction.