Preparation of ABCBA-type block copolymers by use of macro-initiators containing peroxy and azo groups

Some new macroinitiators ( 5 ) containing azo and peroxy groups were synthesized by transformation of esters of poly(ethylene glycol) ( 1 ) (PEG) of different molecular weight with hydroxyl end groups and an azo group in the middle into the corresponding polymers with tert-butylperoxycarbonyl end groups by reaction with terephthaloyl chloride and subsequently with tert-butyl hydroporoxide. Decomposition in the presence of styrene at 60°C or with 3,6,9-triazaun-decane-1,11-diamine in presence of methyl methacrylate gave the corresponding ABA block copolymer 6 and the ABBA block copolymer 7 , respectively. Both block copolymers were used as polymeric initiators. The ABCBA block copolymer 8 was synthesized from 6 and methyl methacrylate or from 7 and styrene by thermally induced polymerization at 80°C. The resulting block copolymers were separated from the homopolymers by selective solvent extraction and characterized by spectroscopic and fractional precipitation methods.     

Hereditary fructose intolerance in a patient with phenylketonuria.

Classical phenylketonuria (PKU) and hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) are two inborn errors of metabolism that have an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. In this paper, we described a 3-year-old girl with PKU and HFI. The occurrence of these two defects in the same patient is thought to be fortuitous and not genetically related since this is the first reported case and the statistical probability of such an occurrence is very low.     

Biochemical profile of blood serum of siraz <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta capoeta umbla</Emphasis>

Seasonal changes in blood plasma biochemistry of siraz Capoeta capoeta umbla were determined throughout 1 year. In the present study, while the highest values for glucose and globulin were found in winter, the values for increased activities of total protein, albumin, calcium, sodium levels, albumin/globulin ratio, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were determined in summer. We determined that blood biochemistry values of siraz, which were positively affected by water temperature and pH, except glucose and globulin. Glucose and globulin were negatively affected by water temperature and pH. Consequently, it was concluded that the seasons are key factors when blood parameters are used as biomarkers for environmental alterations. It is difficult to define the most important factors affecting seasonal changes of blood biochemistry in fish.     

Carpal tunnel release by the Agee endoscopic technique. Results at 4 year follow-up

Ninety-five hands (86 patients) were treated by endoscopic carpal tunnel release using the technique of Agee. They were the first ones operated on by the senior author (GF) using this technique. The patients were interviewed at a mean follow-up of 4.5 years: 72% of hands were free of symptoms and 94% were described by the patients as functionally normal. Seventeen hands (out of 27) with residual or recurrent symptoms were examined. Nine hands (nine patients) were only partially improved (mean 6.7 on a 10 point scale) and in eight hands (seven patients), some symptoms had recurred after a mean delay of 3.8 years. It was possible to find a second pathology in most of these cases. It is necessary to inform the patient before operation that incomplete relief or recurrence of symptoms can occur after endoscopic carpal tunnel release, as with conventional release.     

The Factors Contributing to Death Anxiety in Cancer Patients

Suffering comes in many ways for patients confronting cancer. One of these is an unspecifiable fear about death, which is an existential issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and its correlates in cancer patients. Seventy cancer patients were assessed using SCID-I, Templer's Death Anxiety Scale, the Hospital Anxiety (A) and Depression (D) Scale, the Distress Thermometer, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), the Global Assessment of Functioning, and Glock and Stark's Dimensions of Religious Commitment scales, and these assessments were compared between cancer patients with and without death anxiety. Multiple regression analysis was conducted after correlation analysis between death anxiety and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Axis I psychiatric diagnosis, pain scores, and negative believes about what will happen after death were found to be higher in patients having death anxiety than patients not having death anxiety. Also life expectancy was perceived as shortened in patients with death anxiety. Death anxiety was associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and beliefs about what will happen after death. In conclusion, death anxiety could not be regarded as a natural consequence of having cancer; it is associated with the unresolved psychological and physical distress.     

Lumbar spinal stenosis in a young individual as a result of ligamantum flavum ossification: A case report

INTRODUCTIONSymtomatic lumbar ligamantum flavum calcification is quite rare in the young age group.PRESENTATION OF CASEThe authors report a case of young adult with diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, presenting with leg pain and neurological deficits. Computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies revealed ossification of the ligamantum flavum as the causative factor of the disease and the patient recovered completely after the decompressive operation.DISCUSSIONIt is emphasized that attention should be given to this rare etiological factor of lumbar spinal stenosis.CONCLUSIONComplete relief can be achieved with early and adequate surgery.     

Spatial and temporal expression of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) in fetal and adult human cerebral cortex

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a member of the Ena/VASP protein family and was for the first time identified in human platelets. VASP plays a role for cell adhesion and cell migration because of E/DFPPPPXD/E amino acid sequence in its structure which gives reaction with focal adhesion proteins. In this study we suggest that VASP expression may have important role for neural cell migration, differentiation, axonal growth and angiogenesis during prenatal cerebral cortical development. Our aim is to detect VASP expression by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in developing human neocortex and adult brain cortex (n = 12 samples from first, second, and third trimesters and n = 3 adult normal cerebral cortex). Our results suggest that VASP showed different immunostaining patterns between cerebral cortical plates in prenatal and adult human brain samples. We observed that the expression patterns of the VASP protein are clearly identified in fibers, cytoplasm of neural cells and endothelial cells of vessels. We detected that VASP indicates progressive expression from the adult brain to second trimester neocortexes. Therefore, we suggest that VASP may play a crucial role in the regulation of human neonatal cerebral cortical development.     

CCM2 expression during prenatal development and adult human neocortex

Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is one of the most common types of vascular malformations of the central nervous system, affecting nearly one in 200 people. CCM lesions are characterized by grossly dilated vascular channels lined by a single layer of endothelium. Genetic linkage analyses have mapped three CCM loci to CCM1, CCM2 and CCM3. All three causative genes have now been identified allowing new insights into CCM pathophysiology. We focused on the CCM2 protein that might take place in blood vessel formation; we report here the expression patterns of CCM2 in prenatal development and adult human neocortex by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. CCM2 was obviously detected in vascular endothelium and neuroglial precursor cells during development and also observed in arterial endothelium, neurons, some of the glial cells in adult neocortex. The expression patterns suggest that it could be one of the arterial markers whether this is a cause or a consequence of an altered vascular identity. CCM2 might play a role during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during human brain development. Furthermore, with this study, CCM2 have been described for the first time in developing human neocortex.