Heat Sink Effect on Tumor Ablation Characteristics as Observed in Monopolar Radiofrequency,Bipolar Radiofrequency,and Microwave,Using Ex Vivo Calf Liver Model

Thermal ablation of liver tumors near large blood vessels is affected by the cooling effect of blood flow, leading to incomplete ablation. Hence, we conducted a comparative investigation of heat sink effect in monopolar (MP) and bipolar (BP) radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and microwave (MW) ablation devices.With a perfused calf liver, the ablative performances (volume, mass, density, dimensions), with and without heat sink, were measured. Heat sink was present when the ablative tip of the probes were 8.0 mm close to a major hepatic vein and absent when >30 mm away. Temperatures (T1 and T2) on either side of the hepatic vein near the tip of the probes, heating probe temperature (T3), outlet perfusate temperature (T4), and ablation time were monitored.With or without heat sink, BP radiofrequency ablated a larger volume and mass, compared with MP RFA or MW ablation, with latter device producing the highest density of tissue ablated. MW ablation produced an ellipsoidal shape while radiofrequency devices produced spheres.Percentage heat sink effect in Bipolar radiofrequency : Mono-polar radiofrequency : Microwave was (Volume) 33:41:22; (mass) 23:56:34; (density) 9.0:26:18; and (relative elipscity) 5.8:12.9:1.3, indicating that BP and MW devices were less affected.Percentage heat sink effect on time (minutes) to reach maximum temperature (W) = 13.28:9.2:29.8; time at maximum temperature (X) is 87:66:16.66; temperature difference (Y) between the thermal probes (T3) and the temperature (T1 + T2)/2 on either side of the hepatic vessel was 100:87:20; and temperature difference between the (T1 + T2)/2 and temperature of outlet circulating solution (T4), Z was 20.33:30.23:37.5.MW and BP radiofrequencies were less affected by heat sink while MP RFA was the most affected. With a single ablation, BP radiofrequency ablated a larger volume and mass regardless of heat sink.     

Three-dimensional human pattern visual evoked potentials. II. Multiple sclerosis patients.

Pattern visual evoked potentials were obtained from 46 patients with definite relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, using both a conventional 5-channel occipital array and a 3-D recording technique consisting of three bipolar derivations approximating the three dimensions of space. These three orthogonal wave forms were displayed as a 3-D Lissajous trajectory for each subject. Two of the 15 patients with completely normal conventional pattern VEPs had abnormalities of the orientation of the B-C curvilinear segment of the 3-D pattern VEPs. Delays in the first major occipital positive component (P100) were evident using both techniques; the correlation between P100 latency and the latency of the corresponding trajectory apex was r = 0.99 (P less than 0.01). Post-chiasmal MRI abnormalities were associated with 3-D VEP orientation abnormalities. Three-dimensional pattern VEPs are moderately more sensitive than conventional pattern VEPs at detecting dysfunction posterior to the optic chiasm in demyelinating disease and do not require the use of eccentric fixation to do so.     

School-Based Cardiovascular Health Promotion: The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH)

The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) is a multisite intervention research study that builds on significant progress made in school health education research in the 1980s. The study has three phases: Phase I deals with study design, intervention, and measurement development, Phase II involves the main trial in 96 schools in four states, and Phase III focuses on analysis. The intervention program targets third-fifth grade students and focuses on multiple cardiovascular health behaviors, including eating habits, physical activity, and cigarette smoking. Classroom curricula, school environmental change, and family involvement programs are developed for each grade level and behavioral focus. This paper describes Phase II of CATCH with a rationale for cardiovascular health promotion with youth. The process of change that appears to be necessary for school-based health promotion and that will be tested in CATCH are presented as a framework to guide these efforts.     

Fixed drug eruption to Tylenol: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Fixed drug eruptions due to Tylenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen) are very rare. The authors report two additional cases and review the literature.     

Leishmania infantum MON-98 isolated from naturally infected Phlebotomus langeroni (Diptera: Psychodidae) in El Agamy, Egypt.

Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-98 was isolated in El Agamy, Egypt. A total of 15 (1.07%) Leishmania-like infections in the anterior midgut and in the head was found in 1,405 Phlebotomus langeroni (Nitzulescu); none of 1,785 Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) was found infected. Four of the 15 cultures (26.7%) were indistinguishable from a reference L. infantum MON-98 strain using cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The isolation and identification of L. infantum MON-98 from naturally infected P. langeroni confirms that this species of sand fly is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in El Agamy.     

Behavioral effects of vehicles: DMSO, ethanol, Tween-20, Tween-80, and emulphor-620

Experimental drugs and compounds that do not easily dissolve in water or saline are frequently combined with vehicles like solvents, detergents, or vegetable oils. Yet very little has been reported on the behavioral effects of vehicles. In this study, we assessed the effects of a vegetable oil (emulphor-620), two detergents (Tween-20 and Tween-80), and two solvents [dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and ethanol] on the locomotor activity in CD2F1 male mice. Locomotor activity was monitored for 12 h after vehicle administration (IP). The concentrations for each vehicle were expressed as percent of vehicle in saline (v/v). Emulphor-620 did not affect locomotor activity at any concentration tested (2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, and 32%). Tween-20 significantly decreased locomotor activity at a concentration of 16% and Tween-80 at 32%. DMSO significantly decreased locomotor activity at concentrations of 32% and 64%. In contrast, ethanol produced a biphasic behavioral response: increased activity at a concentration of 16% and decreased activity at a concentration of 32%. These results will facilitate the selection and concentration of vehicles to be used in combination with experimental drugs or test agents.