The Biosynthesis of Infrared-Emitting Quantum Dots in Allium Fistulosum.

The development of simple routes to emissive solid-state materials is of paramount interest, and in this report we describe the biosynthesis of infrared emitting quantum dots in a living plant via a mutual antagonistic reaction. Exposure of common Allium fistulosum to mercury and tellurium salts under ambient conditions resulted in the expulsion of crystalline, non-passivated HgTe quantum dots that exhibited emissive characteristics in the near-infrared spectral region, a wavelength range that is important in telecommunications and solar energy conversion.

Outcome of patients with meningomyelocele: the Ege University experience.

The medical records of 190 patients with meningomyelocele operated on between 1979 and 1993 were reviewed. In 65 patients, psychometric tests were performed. The Denver Developmental Screening Test and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised (WISC-R) were used in children under and over 6 years old, respectively. There were 82 boys (43.2%) and 108 girls (56.8%). The lumbar region was the site of the meningomyelocele in 113 patients (59.5%). Patients with cervical and sacral meningomyelocele had a higher rate of almost normal motor function than those with meningomyelocele at other levels (P=0.000). Only 36 (21.7%) of 166 patients followed up by us did not have hydrocephalus. We also noted that the higher the location of the meningomyelocele, the greater the control of both sphincters (P=0.014). Fifty-four percent of the hydrocephalic patients had a normal development or IQ. Psychometric tests were normal in 76% of those without hydrocephalus. Twenty-four patients were lost to follow-up. The follow-up of the remaining 166 patients ranged from 1 month to 180 months (mean 60.2 months). Fifty-three patients (32%) died, central nervous system infection being the most common cause of death (44%). The management of children with meningomyelocele needs a team approach.

Pediatric depressed skull fractures: analysis of 530 cases.

Depressed skull fractures (DSFs) account for 7-10% of children admitted to hospital with a head injury and 15-25% of children with skull fractures. We reviewed the records of 530 patients operated on for DSF from January 1, 1973, to December 31, 1993. This group was made up of 357 boys (67%) and 173 girls (33%) whose ages ranged from 1 day to 16 years (mean age 6.1 years). Fall was the most common cause of injury. Of the 530 patients with DSF, 66% had compound fractures. The incidence of compound fractures increased with age. Compound fractures caused more brain lacerations (29%) than simple fractures (15.5%) did. We also classified DSFs radiologically as true, flat, or ping-pong ball fractures. Associated intracranial lesions were found to be a bad prognostic factor. There were 13 deaths (2.5%) in this series. Satisfactory results were achieved in over 95% of the patients. Compound fractures are associated with a worse outcome and a higher incidence of intracranial lesions and cortical laceration. Unilateral pupillary dilatation and an admission GCS score of 8 or less are ominous signs in regard to mortality. We also found that the deeper the depressed bone, the higher the risk of both dural tear and cortical laceration and the worse the prognosis. A conservative approach should be followed in cases of simple DSF without associated intracranial hematoma and in cases in which the bone depression is not deeper than 1 cm.