Effect of organism environment upon bacteriostatic and mechanical properties of palacos R cement with antibiotic--second part]

The results of bacteriological tests of Palacos R cement with antibiotic 4 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after implantation in rabbit organism have been presented in this work. The results of tests of mechanical characteristics of cement with and without antibiotic samples after being kept in physiological saline for 3 to 6 weeks have also been discussed. Bacteriological tests prove that antibiotic (III generation cephalosporin) added to surgical cement retain its bacteriostatic properties. When tested on rabbits cement plus antibiotic retains its bacteriostatic properties after 4 weeks period. It has state, that by reason of prolonged time of activity antibiotic into surgical cement, it is necessary to investigate the mechanical characteristics of cement conditioned in physiological saline for 3 months at least.     

Effects of long-term treatment in Wilson's disease withd-penicillamine and zinc sulphate

The results of treatment withd-penicillamine (d-P) or zinc sulphate (Zn) in 67 newly diagnosed cases of Wilson's disease have been compared. All patients (7 with hepatic, 1 with psychiatric and 59 with neurological or preclinical forms) were fully compliant. During 12 years of observation, 34 patients receivedd-P and 33 Zn as the primary treatment. Fifteen patients (44%) discontinuedd-P, in 10 cases owing to side effects. Four (12%) patients discontinued Zn, in 2 cases because of side-effects. One patient who received Zn deteriorated during the first few months after the initiation of therapy. The effectiveness of longterm treatment withd-P and Zn was similar in those patients who were able to continue the initial therapy. Zn was tolerated better thand-P; we suggest, therefore, that it may be recommended as an initial therapy for patients in the preclinical stage of Wilson's disease or with neurological presentation of the disease. More observation is needed for patients with the hepatic and psychiatric forms of the disease.     

Change of Mechanical Properties of Repair Mortars after Frost Resistance Rests

The use of repair mortars for concrete structures repair with no or limited resistance to the impact caused by freeze and thaw cycles is often the primary repair failure cause. This is particularly important in Poland. Due to the geographical location of the country, there is a large temperature difference between summer and winter. The number of passes through the threshold temperature of 0 °C throughout the year in the winter season exceeds 100. The article presents a comparison of the frost resistance results of tests of repair mortars. The first method was performed according to the Polish Guidelines (without the use of de-icing salts) and the second method according to PN-EN 1504-3 (with the use of de-icing salts). The results obtained were inconsistent in many areas. In particular, significant differences in the results for the change in compressive strength and the change in bending strength were observed. In the case of the frost resistance testing without the use of de-icing salts, a decrease in compressive strength was usually accompanied by a decrease in bending strength. In the case of frost resistance tests with the use of de-icing salts, an increase in the bending strength of mortars was observed (even by a dozen or so percent) with a decrease in the compressive strength of mortars (even by several dozen percent).     

Evaluation of residual stress and texture in isotope based Mg11B2 superconductor using neutron diffraction

Magnesium diboride (MgB₂) superconducting wires have demonstrated commercial potential to replace niobium–titanium (NbTi) in terms of comparable critical current density. Its higher critical temperature makes MgB₂ wire suitable for liquid-helium-free operation. We recently reported boron-11 isotope-based low-activation Mg¹¹B₂ superconducting wire with decent critical current density appropriate for low-cost superconducting fusion magnets. In this study, we have mainly focused on the neutron diffraction technique to measure the residual stress in Mg¹¹B₂ superconducting wire for the first time. The residual stress state was given qualitative and quantitative interpretation in terms of micro- and macrostress generation mechanisms based on the isotropic model confirmed by neutron texture measurements. The relationship between the stress/strain state in the wire and the transport critical current density is also discussed. This investigation could pave the way to further enhancement of the critical current density of low-activation Mg¹¹B₂ superconducting wires suitable for next-generation fusion grade magnets.

Magnesium diboride (MgB₂) superconducting wires have demonstrated commercial potential to replace niobium–titanium (NbTi) in terms of comparable critical current density.     

Placental Schistosoma haematobium infection in a German returnee from Malawi

Schistosomiasis is a widespread helminthic infection which sometimes may affect travelers to endemic areas. We report on a case of urogenital and placental schistosomiasis in a 28-year-old German woman who had been exposed to schistosomiasis in Lake Malawi one year earlier. She experienced painless macrohaematuria in her 21st week of pregnancy. Cystoscopy revealed vesical lesions typical for urogenital schistosomiasis. Histopathology confirmed ova of Schistosoma (S.) haematobium. The patient was treated with praziquantel 40 mg/kg/body weight/day for 3 days. After 285 days of gestation and 18 weeks post treatment, the patient delivered a healthy girl. Histopathology of placenta revealed eggs of S. haematobium in placental stroma. The infant proved negative for anti-Schistosoma spp. antibodies at the age of 15 months. This is the first report on placental schistosomiasis since 1980 and the first case occurring in a traveler.     

Combined assessment of 3q26 amplification and promoter methylation in patients with high grade cervical lesions show age specific differences

A considerable proportion of high grade cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN2/3) are known to resolve on their own especially among young women. However, since reliable prognostic markers are still lacking, the diagnosis “CIN3” is still an indication for surgery which may result in overtreatment. It is conceivable that a combination of different, ideally independent molecular markers may provide more reliable results. In the present cross‐sectional study two established triage markers, 3q26 amplification and a methylation signature, were evaluated in an age‐dependent manner. The patient cohort comprised 60 patients with histologically confirmed CIN2/3 in two equally sized age groups (<30 years, ≥30 years). Cervical scrapes were analyzed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for 3q26 amplification and methylation specific PCR (GynTect®) for six different genome regions. Both assays showed a significantly different pattern of test outcome independent of age (P = .001). Moreover, the combination of both assays differed significantly for double positive and double negative cases when comparing the two age groups: In patients <30 years there were clearly less cases with positive methylation signature and amplification of 3q26 as in women ≥30 years (23% vs 63%, Bonferroni adjusted P = .016). Of particular interest is the finding that double negative results were exclusive for the young age group (0% vs 27%, Bonferroni adjusted P = .020). Since regression of CIN2/3 characteristically occurs among young women it is tempting to speculate that a double negative test result could be prognostic for regression of CIN2/3. This will have to be investigated further in a prospective longitudinal intervention study.     

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis and graft‐versus‐host disease induced by transmission of Norovirus with fecal microbiota transplant

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed to decolonize gastrointestinal tract from antibiotic‐resistant bacteria before allogeneic hematopoietic cells transplantation (alloHCT). AlloHCT was complicated by norovirus gastroenteritis, acute graft‐versus‐host disease, and eosinophilic pancolitis. Norovirus was identified in samples from FMT material. Symptoms resolved after steroids course and second norovirus‐free FMT from another donor.