Uniform, large surface-area polarization by modifying corona-electrodes geometry.

We report on the uniform, large scale polarization of ferroelectric materials by a newly designed corona charging technique developing nonconventional electrodes geometry. The results of pyroelectric measurements represented the spatial homogeneity of the polarization attained through a surface area of ~25 cm(2).

Pituitary apoplexy following coronary artery bypass grafting: report of a case.

Abstract. Pituitary apoplexy can rarely occur after surgical procedures, mainly due to severe haemorrhage or hypotension. It is a serious condition that may lead to devastating complications and even to death. We present a 60-year-old male patient in whom pituitary apoplexy developed due to protamine anaphylaxis during coronary artery bypass surgery.

Quantitative measurements of adsorbate-adsorbate interactions at solid-liquid interfaces.

The interactions between adsorbates at a solid-liquid interface were studied by video-rate STM for the case of sulfur on Cu(100) electrode surfaces in HCl solution. Quantitative data were obtained by analyzing the S(ad) dimer dynamics within the surrounding c(2 x 2)-Cl adlattice as well as the adsorbate configurations. The interactions are repulsive for S(ad) separated by one or two lattice spacings and attractive at a separation of square root of 2 with energies comparable to adsorbates at the solid-vacuum interface. The S(ad) diffusion barriers are significantly reduced in the vicinity of a neighboring adsorbate.

Drugs with blocking effects on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system do not improve endothelial dysfunction long-term in hypertensive patients.

In essential hypertension, endothelial dysfunction has been documented many times and correlates with prognosis. The influence of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) on endothelial dysfunction has also been studied. The present study investigated the duration of the effects of RAAS-blocking drugs on endothelial function in 44 consecutive, never-treated, outpatients with mild to moderate hypertension. Patients (11 per group) received an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB; irbesartan 300 mg/day or valsartan 160 mg/day) or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi; fosinopril 10 mg/day or quinapril 20 mg/day). If target blood pressure (< 140/90 mmHg) was not achieved, 12.5 mg/day hydrochlorothiazide was added. Endothelial function, assessed by measuring brachial artery diameter, did not change significantly after 6 weeks, 1 year or 3 years of treatment in any group. Across all groups, endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation increased significantly after 6 weeks but, after 1 year, decreased below baseline and was at a similar level after 3 years; groups did not differ significantly. Both ACEi and ARB had similar effects on endothelial function; improvement occurred at the start of treatment but was not maintained. Endothelial dysfunction may be a resistant or irreversible feature of hypertension, requiring high doses of antihypertensive drugs and above-average patient compliance.

Thymoma: surgical results of 73 cases.

PURPOSE: Thymomas are uncommon tumours; they represent a broad spectrum of morphological and clinical behaviour. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence survival. METHOD: Seventy-three patients with thymoma who underwent thymectomy between 1980 and 2002 were reviewed. Prognostic factors assessed were: age, sex, presenting symptoms, histological features, stage at diagnosis and extent of surgical resection. RESULTS: Complete resection was achieved in 67 patients and incomplete in 6. Survival rates of patients in the 1st or 2nd stages were 100% and 92.8% for 10 years, respectively. A high incidence of myasthenia gravis (MG) associated thymomas (80.8%) was found. These patients had better survival rates when compared to non-myasthenic patients. However the mortality rate for malign thymomas was high (65.7%) due to tumoral invasion. The histological types of thymoma did not influence the survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: The association of MG with thymoma enables earlier detection of tumour, thus higher survival rates were achieved in these patients. Survival was also related to the stage of the tumour at diagnosis and the completeness of resection.

Video STM studies of adsorbate diffusion at electrochemical interfaces.

Direct in situ studies of the surface diffusion of isolated adsorbates at an electrochemical interface by high-speed scanning tunneling microscopy (video STM) are presented for sulfide adsorbates on Cu(100) in HCl solution. As revealed by a quantitative statistical analysis, the adsorbate motion can be described by thermally activated hopping between neighboring adsorption sites with an activation energy that increases linearly with electrode potential by 0.50 eV per V. This can be explained by changes in the adsorbate dipole moment during the hopping process and contributions from coadsorbates.

Anomalous dual drainage of the right pulmonary veins in a patient with cor triatriatum: report of a case without scimitar sign.

The majority of patients with partial anomalous drainage of pulmonary veins are asymptomatic during infancy and childhood. Patients with significant left-to-right shunt develop symptoms and benefit from early corrective surgery. Anomalous pulmonary veins draining into inferior vena cava is very rare and frequently encountered in association with scimitar syndrome. The purpose of this case report is to describe a non-scimitar patient with cor triatriatum who had anomalous dual drainage of right pulmonary veins into inferior vena cava/left atrium and anomalous connection of persistent left superior vena cava with a common pulmonary venous chamber. The patient underwent an operation with redirection of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into left atrium and ligation of persistent left superior vena cava.