RESUMEN
We report the observation of a doubly periodic surface defect pattern in the liquid crystal 8CB, formed during the nematic-smectic-A phase transition. The pattern results from the antagonistic alignment of the 8CB molecules, which is homeotropic at the surface and planar in the bulk of the sample cell. Within the continuum Landau-de Gennes theory of smectic liquid crystals, we find that the long period (≈10 µm) of the pattern is given by the balance between the surface anchoring and the elastic energy of curvature wall defects. The short period (≈1 µm) we attribute to a saddle-splay distortion, leading to a nonzero Gaussian curvature and causing the curvature walls to break up.
Asunto(s)
Cristales Líquidos/química , Modelos Químicos , Modelos Moleculares , Oscilometría/métodos , Simulación por Computador , Transición de FaseAsunto(s)
Leishmaniasis Visceral/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Italia/epidemiología , Leishmania/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmaniasis Visceral/diagnóstico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Adulto JovenAsunto(s)
Leishmania infantum/genética , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/patología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Piel/patología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Animales , Biopsia , Niño , Preescolar , ADN Protozoario/análisis , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Femenino , Humanos , Italia/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/genética , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adhesión en Parafina , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
We describe a case of a febrile patient returning from Senegal in which haemoscopic and molecular investigation confirmed tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF), suggesting Borrelia crocidurae as the causative agent. This case emphasises the need to include TBRF in the differential diagnosis of fever following a journey from endemic countries, including malarial areas.
Asunto(s)
Borrelia/genética , Fiebre Recurrente/microbiología , Adulto , Borrelia/aislamiento & purificación , ADN Bacteriano/análisis , Humanos , Masculino , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodosRESUMEN
The popularity in Western countries of dishes based on raw fish has led to an increased incidence of anisakiasis, a human parasitic disease caused by the ingestion of live anisakid larvae. The entire digestive tract may be involved, but the stomach and the small intestine are the most frequently affected sites. We report a case of acute abdomen due to Anisakis simplex infection that caused small bowel obstruction.
Asunto(s)
Abdomen Agudo/parasitología , Anisakiasis/diagnóstico , Obstrucción Intestinal/parasitología , Enfermedad Aguda , Adulto , Animales , Anisakiasis/complicaciones , Anisakiasis/cirugía , Peces/parasitología , Parasitología de Alimentos , Humanos , Yeyuno/parasitología , Yeyuno/cirugía , MasculinoRESUMEN
During the last few years the direct diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection has taken advantage of PCR. The present work tested the sensitivity and specificity of PCR for rDNA and p30 genes. Using ascitic fluid from infected mice rDNA PCR detected 0.5 tachyzoite/ml, while nested p30 PCR 1 tachyzoite/ml. The rDNA amplification was positive in all clinical samples from a single immuno compromised patient (blood, urine and bronchoalveolar fluid). In the same patient nested p30 PCR was positive only in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The rDNA and p30 amplicons were never found in any amniotic fluids tested. These results could prove the usefulness of rDNA amplification to detect T. gondii in blood.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos de Protozoos , Sangre/parasitología , ADN Protozoario/análisis , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , ARN Ribosómico 5S/genética , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Líquido Amniótico/parasitología , Animales , Líquido del Lavado Bronquioalveolar/parasitología , ADN Protozoario/genética , ADN Ribosómico/genética , Humanos , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Ratones , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Orina/parasitologíaRESUMEN
The diagonal ear-lobe crease, detectable especially after the age of 40, is still accepted as a sign of coronary heart disease risk. In the literature some authors report an association between anxiety and coronary heart disease. In our work a group of 143 patients with ear-lobe crease showed - in both sexes and in all examined decades (5th, 6th, 7th) - higher levels of anxiety than in the control group. The possible significance of the crease has been considered on the grounds of present knowledge of ear-acupuncture and the somatotopic mapping of CNS on the ear-lobe.
