Sclerosing perineurioma: case report and literature review.

Perineuriomas are rare tumors derived from perineural cells usually presenting as a single asymptomatic papule or nodule located on an extremity of an adult. A sclerosing subtype has been rarely described. We report a case of painful sclerosing perineurioma in a 42-year-old woman.

Adsorption of Pb (II) ions on variable charge oxidic calcined substrates with chemically modified surface.

Background: The paper describes lead ion adsorption on variable charge oxidic calcined substrates with chemically modified surfaces. Amphoteric oxides of iron, aluminum, titanium, and manganese, change their surface electric charge after acid or alkaline treatment, letting cationic or anionic adsorption reactions from aqueous solutions. This property allows using them as adsorbing substrate for heavy metals retention in water treatment systems. Methods: Substrate was prepared by extruding cylindrical strips from a saturate paste of the oxidic lithological material-OLM; dries it up and thermally treated by calcination. The study was performed by triplicated trial, on batch mode, using 2 grams samples of treated with NaOH 0.1N and non-treated substrate. Lead analysis was performed by AAS-GF. Freundlich and Langmuir models were used to fit results. Comparing differential behavior between treated and non-treated substrates showed the variable charge nature of the OLM. Results: Results show L-type isotherms for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions on the activated substrate, suggesting good affinity between Pb(II) ions and OLM's surface. Average value of adsorption capacity ( K) for activated substrate (1791.73±13.06), is around four times greater than the non-activated substrate (491.54±31.97), during the adsorption reaction, 0.35 and 0.26 mmolH + of proton are produced on the activated and non-activated substrate respectively using a 1 mM Pb(II) solution and 72.2 and 15.6 mmolH + using a 10 mM Pb(II) solution. This acidification agrees with the theoretic model of transitional metals chemisorption on amphoteric oxides, present in lithological material used for the preparation of adsorbent substrates, confirming the information given by the L-type isotherms. Conclusions: Results suggest that these variable charge oxidic adsorbent substrate show great potential as an alternative technique for water treatment at small and medium scale using granular filtration system. The easiness and low price make them suitable to apply in rural media where no treating water systems is available.

Physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia is one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in the 21st century. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is by no means an inevitable consequence of growing old. Several lifestyle factors may increase, or reduce, an individual's risk of developing AD. Much has been written over the ages about the benefits of exercise and physical activity. Among the risk factors associated with AD is a low level of physical activity. The relationship between physical and mental health was established several years ago. In this review, we discuss the role of exercise (aerobic and resistance) training as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of AD. Older adults who exercise are more likely to maintain cognition. We address the main protective mechanism on brain function modulated by physical exercise by examining both human and animal studies. We will pay especial attention to the potential role of exercise in the modulation of amyloid ß turnover, inflammation, synthesis and release of neurotrophins, and improvements in cerebral blood flow. Promoting changes in lifestyle in presymptomatic and predementia disease stages may have the potential for delaying one-third of dementias worldwide. Multimodal interventions that include the adoption of an active lifestyle should be recommended for older populations.

Photodynamic therapy with low-strength ALA, repeated applications and short contact periods (40-60 minutes) in acne, photoaging and vitiligo.

Topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being used for the treatment of actinic keratosis of the face and scalp. This study reports the results obtained after three to four treatments with ALA-PDT in patients with acne (n=12), photoaging (n=8) and vitiligo (n=6). ALA was applied on large areas (e.g., full face) and at very low strengths (1-2%). Side effects were minimal and self-limited.

Microneedling dilates the follicular infundibulum and increases transfollicular absorption of liposomal sepia melanin.

Encapsulation of chemicals in liposomes and microneedling are currently used techniques to enhance the penetration of several substances through skin and hair. In this study, we apply a liposomal melanin-fluorescein compound to an ex vivo model of human skin, using a new electrical microneedling device (Nanopore turbo roller). The product was applied by hand massage (A) or with the assistance of the electrical roller for 2 minutes (B). An additional test was performed free of product and with only the E-roller (C). Histological changes and product absorption were evaluated by optical and fluorescent microscopy 60 and 90 minutes after the treatment. Site B showed larger deposits of melanin-fluorescein at superficial and deep levels of hair structures in comparison to site A. Light, epidermal deposits of the melanin-fluorescein complex were also observed. Sites B and C showed a significant widening (47%) of the follicular infundibulum which could explain the increased penetration of the formulation. Microneedling also removed the scales and sebum residues in the neighborhood of the infundibulum. Targeting hair follicles with melanin may be useful to dye poorly pigmented hairs, improving laser hair removal. The procedure accelerates the delivery of melanin into hair structures allowing an even absorption, larger pigment deposits, and deeper penetration of the formulation into the hair.

Clinical effects in a cohort of cancer patients overexposed during external beam pelvic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of 28 overexposed cancer patients in a cohort of 153 treated with pelvic irradiation and to correlate the outcome with the doses received. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between August 2000 and March 2001, 153 patients were treated at the Instituto Oncológico Nacional of Panama with radiotherapy for cancers of the cervix, uterus, endometrium, prostate, and rectum using conventional techniques. In 56 patients, irradiated with partially blocked teletherapy fields, the treatment times were determined using a treatment planning system that generated isodose distributions. The absorbed doses received by the patients were calculated and the biologically effective doses (BEDs) and 2-Gy equivalent doses derived. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and late effects on normal tissues-subjective, objective, management, analytic scales (LENT/SOMA). The relationships between clinical outcome and dose were investigated and compared with published data. RESULTS: Of the 56 patients for whom treatment times were generated with the treatment planning system, 28 received some doses per fraction approximately double those prescribed. Using an alpha/beta = 10 Gy, the tumor BED(10) values ranged from 77 to 225 Gy. The rest of the patients received doses within 10% of the prescribed values. Seventeen of the 28 overexposed patients died 35 days to 21 months after treatment; 13 of the fatalities were caused by rectal complications. Survival was longer in those patients who had undergone colostomy. Bladder complications were less enhanced. The nonoverexposed patients with cervical cancer exhibited a greater incidence of treatment failures than generally reported in other centers. CONCLUSION: This study provides the clinical outcome after high doses of pelvic radiotherapy in a range not previously well documented. For cervical cancer patients receiving both tele- and brachytherapy, some deaths in this overexposure cohort occurred from assumed consequential rectal injury within 2 years, when the BED(10) values exceeded 70-80 Gy. The incidence was asymptotic to 100% fatalities at >150 Gy. This confirmed and extended other data in the literature.

Estudio metodológico sobre la medición de pH y conductividad eléctrica en muestras de compost / Methodological study on pH and electric conductivity measurements in compost samples / Estudo metodológico sobre a medição de pH e condutividade elétrica em amostras da compostagem

Resumen En el presente trabajo se estudió la influencia de la relación compost/extractante sobre las mediciones de pH y conductividad eléctrica (CE) utilizando agua y una solución de CaCl2 0,01 M como extractantes, tanto en la suspensión como en el sobrenadante del extracto centrifugado. Los resultados muestran que la medición de pHCaCl2 es independiente de la cantidad de extractante a diferencia de la medición en extracto acuoso, que incrementa con la dilución y se ajusta más a una función polinómica. En consecuencia, la medición debe realizarse donde la pendiente curva sea mínima o nula y la medición sea más independiente de la cantidad de extractante. Esto ocurre en relaciones compost/extractante superior a 1:8 para el extracto acuoso y superior a 1:5 para el extracto de CaCl2. Igualmente, el pHH2O es menor que el pHCaCl2, por lo que este último es un mejor extractante de acidez y, por ende, más cercano a la realidad de la muestra. Las mediciones de CE también presentan un comportamiento polinómico, por lo que deben ser realizadas a relaciones compost/extractante mayores de 1:6, donde los valores de CE son más independientes de la cantidad de extractante, realizando la corrección del blanco respectivo.

Abstract The present paper describes the influence of compost/solvent relations on pH and electric conductivity (CE) measurements, using water and CaCl2 0.01 M as extractants, in the extract suspension as well as in centrifuged supernatant. According to the results, pHCaCl2 seems to be more independent of extractant quantity, contrarily to aqueous extract measurements, which increases with dilution, described by a quadratic model. As a consequence, measurement must be performed where the curve slope is minimum or null, and where the measurement becomes independent of extractant quantity. For aqueous extract, it happens at relations compost/extractant greater than 1:8, and for CaCl2 extracts, greater than 1:5. pHH2O is higher than pHCaCl2 showing that CaCl2 is a better acidity extractant. EC measurements also show polynomical behavior, therefore must be performed on relations compost/extractant greater than 1:6, where EC values are more independent of extractant quantity. EC could be performed in CaCl2 extract, suspension or supernatant, with respective blank correction.

Resumo No presente trabalho estudou-se a influenza de relação compostagem/extractante sobre as medições de pH e condutividade clétrica (CE) usando agua e uma solução de CaCl2 0,01 M como extractante, tanto na suspensão como no sobrenadante do extrato centrifugado. Os resultados mostram que a medição de pHCaCl2 é mais independente da quantidade de extractante, a diferencia da medição em extrato aquoso à qual ajusta-se mais a uma função polinómica. Em consequência, a medição deve ser feita onde a pendente curva é mínima ou nula, e a medição seja mais independente da quantidade de extractante. Isto acontece às relações compôs/extractante superiores à 1:8 para o extrato aquoso, e superior à 1:5 para extrato de CaCl2. Igualmente, o pHH2O é menor do que o pHCaCl2, pelo que este último é um melhor extractante de acidez, e por isso mais cercǎos à realidade da amostra. As medições de CE igualmente apresentam um comportamento polinómico, pelo qual devem ser feitas a relações compostagem/extractante maiores de 1:6, onde os valores de CE são mais independentes da quantidade de extractante, fazendo a correção do branco respectivo.

Intestinal stenting in preterm, very-low-birth-weight infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and multiple perforations.

We present 2 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis with multiple intestinal perforations or areas of segmental bowel necrosis in preterm, very-low-birth-weight infants. We reviewed their charts and researched the related literature. We used SILASTIC (Silmag, Argentina) intestinal stents to avoid multiple formal bowel anastomosis or stomas and longer resections, and to reduce operative time. In the first case, we externalized the stent through the first and last perforation; and in the second, through a proximal jejunostomy and the orifice left after an appendectomy. This method was useful in avoiding short bowel syndrome in both infants, and they were discharged successfully. They are currently 31/2 and 2 years old, respectively, eating without any restriction and with mild developmental delays. Treatment of preterm infants with multiple bowel perforations or areas of bowel necrosis requires a maximal effort to preserve as much intestinal length as possible. Use of the SILASTIC stent technique provides a good treatment variant in selected cases to preserve bowel length, reduce operative time, and avoid short bowel syndrome.