Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis as a rare cause of non-surgical pneumoperitoneum.

Pneumoperitoneum as a finding on imaging examinations is not always a sign of acute abdomen due to gastrointestinal perforation. These findings must be viewed in connection with the clinical condition and personal history of each patient because they may also indicate a non-surgical or spontaneous pneumoperitoneum. This condition is repeatedly described but very often neglected. This paper presents the case report of a patient with non-surgical pneumoperitoneum where, despite proceeding according to the guidelines, no expected intra-abdominal pathology explaining the patient's problems was found.

Surgical management of colorectal injury in war.

The rate of colorectal trauma is 5-10 % in modern war conflicts. The most common causes include gunshots or shrapnel injuries; the contusion-laceration mechanism occurs in sporadic cases in the war zone. Despite modern surgical procedures, however, it is associated with a high rate of morbidity, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated in time. Surgical management is specified by simple scoring schemes - the colon injury scale, rectal injury scale and the Flint grading system. Colonic resection with primary or delayed anastomosis is not associated with a higher risk of complicated healing and is nowadays preferred over the construction of terminal stomas. These are indicated only for cases with severe hemodynamic instability in traumatic-hemorrhagic or septic shock with severe diffuse peritonitis. Trauma to the intraperitoneal segment of the rectum is treated in the same way as trauma to the colon. An extraperitoneal rectal injury without soft tissue devastation can be treated with or without a transanal suture. On the contrary, devastating injuries to the rectum including the pelvic soft tissues should be primarily controlled with a stoma with delayed reconstruction. Presacral drainage or rectal stump lavage are no longer recommended.

Neuro-inflammatory effects of photodegradative products of bilirubin.

Phototherapy was introduced in the early 1950's, and is the primary treatment of severe neonatal jaundice or Crigler-Najjar syndrome. Nevertheless, the potential biological effects of the products generated from the photodegradation of bilirubin during phototherapy remain unknown. This is very relevant in light of recent clinical observations demonstrating that the use of aggressive phototherapy can increase morbidity or even mortality, in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of bilirubin, lumirubin (LR, its major photo-oxidative product), and BOX A and B (its monopyrrolic oxidative products) on the central nervous system (CNS) using in vitro and ex vivo experimental models. The effects of bilirubin photoproducts on cell viability and expression of selected genes were tested in human fibroblasts, three human CNS cell lines (neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, microglial HMC3, and glioblastoma U-87 cell lines), and organotypic rat hippocampal slices. Neither bilirubin nor its photo-oxidative products affected cell viability in any of our models. In contrast, LR in biologically-relevant concentrations (25 µM) significantly increased gene expression of several pro-inflammatory genes as well as production of TNF-α in organotypic rat hippocampal slices. These findings might underlie the adverse outcomes observed in ELBW infants undergoing aggressive phototherapy.

Ln(iii)-complexes of a DOTA analogue with an ethylenediamine pendant arm as pH-responsive PARACEST contrast agents.

A novel macrocyclic DO3A derivative containing a linear diamine pendant arm, H3do3aNN, was prepared and its protonation and complexation properties were studied by means of potentiometry. It determined ligand consecutive protonation constants log K(An) = 12.62, 10.28, 9.67, 8.30, 3.30 and 1.58 and stability constants of selected lanthanide (Eu(iii), Yb(iii)) complexes log K(EuL) = 23.16 and log KYbL = 22.76. The complexes could be protonated on the pendant amino group(s) with log K(HLM) ≈ 5.6 and log K(H2LM) ≈ 4.8. Solution structures of both complexes were studied by NMR spectroscopy. The study revealed that the complex species exist exclusively in the form of twisted-square-antiprismatic (TSA) isomers. The complexes show significant pH dependence of the Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) between their amino groups and the bulk water molecules in the pH range of 5-8. Thus, the pH dependence of the magnetization transfer ratio of CEST signals can be used for pH determination using magnetic resonance imaging techniques in a pH range relevant for in vivo conditions.

N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide based cryogels--synthesis and biomimetic modification for stem cell applications.

The design of favorable mechanical properties and suitable surface modifications of hydrogels in order to stimulate specific cell response is a great challenge. N-(2-Hydroxypropyl) methacryl-amide (HPMA) was utilized to form macroporous cryogel scaffolds for stem cell applications. Furthermore, one group of scaffolds was enhanced by copolymerization of HPMA with methacryloyl-GGGRGDS-OH peptide in an effort to integrate biomimetic adhesion sites. The cryogels were characterized by stiffness and equilibrium swelling measurements as well as by scanning electron microscopy. Cell culture experiments were performed with human adipose-derived stem cells and substrates were found completely non-toxic. Moreover, RGDS-enriched cryogels supported cell attachment, spreading and proliferation, so they can be considered suitable for designed aims.

An ozone-generating system and chamber for testing injury to cultured cells.

A system was constructed which alternately exposed cultured cells to specific concentrations of ozone in the gas phase and then to cell culture medium. It was designed to produce a constant mass transfer between the gas phase and the exposed cell phase. Monolayers of neonatal rat lung fibroblasts cultured in miniature glass dishes were used to test for ozone toxicity. The cells were alternately exposed to ozone (0.05, 0.15, 0.45, 1.35, and 4.05 ppm) for 30 sec and then to culture medium for 30 sec over a 1-hr period. Toxicity was measured as inhibition of cell growth 4 days after exposure to ozone. Growth was significantly inhibited at all concentrations with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.8 ppm. The system described was effective for quantifying ozone toxicity for cultured lung cells.