Biocompatibility and biofilm inhibition of N,N-hexyl,methyl-polyethylenimine bonded to Boston Keratoprosthesis materials

The biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of N,N-hexyl,methyl-polyethylenimine (HMPEI) covalently attached to the Boston Keratoprosthesis (B-KPro) materials was evaluated. By means of confocal and electron microscopies, we observed that HMPEI-derivatized materials exert an inhibitory effect on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates, as compared to the parent poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and titanium. There was no additional corneal epithelial cell cytotoxicity of HMPEI-coated PMMA compared to that of control PMMA in tissue cultures in vitro. Likewise, no toxicity or adverse reactivity was detected with HMPEI-derivatized PMMA or titanium compared to those of the control materials after intrastromal or anterior chamber implantation in rabbits in vivo.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Contract DAAD-19-D-0002

Imaging Features of Adult Choledochal Cysts: a Pictorial Review

Choledochal cysts are rare congenital anomalies which are principally diagnosed by disproportional dilatation of the extrahepatic bile ducts. In addition, choledochal cysts are believed to arise from the anomalous union of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct outside the duodenal wall which is also proximal to the sphincter of the Oddi mechanism. The various types of choledochal cysts have been classified on the basis of these anomalous unions (Komi classification) and their anatomical locations (Todani classification). The multidetector computed tomography with reformatted imaging, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and an endoscopic retrograde cholangiography represent the important techniques providing the anatomical resolution and detail required to properly diagnose and classify choledochal cysts and their associated abnormal features of the biliary tree, as well as their pancreaticobile duct union. This study describes the various imaging features of a choledochal cyst in adults according to the various types of anomalous unions of the pancreaticobile duct according to Komi's classification and anatomic location according to Todani's classification. Lastly, we also review and discuss the associated abnormal findings developed in biliary systems

Susceptibility calculations for alternating antiferromagnetic chains

Earlier work of Duffy and Barr consisting of exact calculations on alternating antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin‐1/2 chains is extended to longer chains of up to 12 spins, and subsequent extrapolations of thermodynamic properties, particularly the susceptibility, are extended to the weak alternation region close to the uniform limit. This is the region of interest in connection with the recent experimental discovery of spin‐Peierls systems. The extrapolated susceptibility curves are compared with corresponding curves calculated from the model of Bulaevskii, which has been used extensively in approximate theoretical treatments of a variety of phenomena. Qualitative agreement is observed in the uniform limit and persists for all degrees of alternation, but quantitative differences of about 10% are present over the whole range, including the isolated dimer limit. Potential application of the new susceptibility calculations to experiment is discussed

Part 2: CT characterisation of pancreatic neoplasm: tumour mimics

There are numerous pancreatic and peripancreatic conditions that can mimic pancreatic neoplasms. Many of these can be confidently diagnosed on computed tomography (CT), while others will require further imaging. Knowledge of these tumour mimics is important to avoid misclassification of benign conditions as malignant and to avoid unnecessary surgery. Mimics can be grouped as parenchymal, vascular, biliary and peripancreatic. These are discussed and illustrated in this review

Effects of Pemafibrate on Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes or Ischemic Heart Disease: A 24-Week Observational Study

Yasuhiro Watanabe,1 Shoya Nonaka,2 Shuhei Yamaoka,1 Shoko Nakamura,1 Osamu Horikawa,1 Takashi Yamaguchi,1 Shuji Sato,2 Shunsuke Todani,2 Yuta Sugizaki,2 Takuro Ito,2 Hiroshi Mikamo,2 Mao Takahashi,2 Daiji Nagayama,3 Kazuhiro Shimizu,1 Atsuhito Saiki1 1Center of Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan; 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan; 3Nagayama Clinic, Tochigi, JapanCorrespondence: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Center of Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, 564-1 Shimoshizu, Sakura-City, Chiba, 285-8741, Japan, Tel +81-43-462-8811, Fax +81-43-462-8820, Email [email protected]: Pemafibrate is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator (SPPARMα) that improves lipid profile, but its effects on cardiovascular events remain unproven. This study examined changes in the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a marker of arterial stiffness, in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or ischemic heart disease (IHD) treated with pemafibrate.Patients and Methods: In this single-center, prospective, observational study, 95 patients with T2DM and/or IHD, who had hypertriglyceridemia (≥ 150 mg/dL) and started pemafibrate (0.2 mg/day) were analyzed. CAVI was measured at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment as an indicator of arterial stiffness, along with comprehensive assessment of lipid parameters including triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-HDL-C, and apolipoproteins.Results: No significant change in CAVI was observed after 24 weeks of treatment (median [interquartile range (IQR)]; baseline vs 24 weeks: CAVI 9.4 [8.8– 10.6] vs 9.6 [8.9– 10.8], p=0.715). However, pemafibrate significantly reduced triglycerides (233 mg/dL [171– 329] to 143 mg/dL [111– 187], p< 0.001), apolipoprotein C-II (8.1 mg/dL [6.1– 10.2] to 6.3 mg/dL [5.3– 8.3], p< 0.001), apolipoprotein C-III (15.3 mg/dL [12.2– 18.3] to 11.6 mg/dL [9.3– 14.2], p< 0.001) and liver enzymes; and increased HDL-C (45 mg/dL [39– 52] to 50 mg/dL [40– 60], p< 0.001), LDL-C (92 mg/dL [70– 111] to 103 mg/dL [79– 128], p< 0.001), apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II (both p< 0.05). Calculated small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol also decreased significantly (40 mg/dL [31– 49] to 36 mg/dL [28– 45], p=0.002).Conclusion: While pemafibrate improves lipid profile and liver enzymes, its short-term impact on vascular stiffness, as measured by CAVI, appears limited. Extended follow-up studies are needed to clarify its cardiovascular benefits in high-risk patients.Keywords: pemafibrate, cardio-ankle vascular index, CAVI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemi

One-Dimensional Model Systems: Theoretical Survey

In the early 1960’s one-dimensional model systems were regarded as amusing toys with the advantage of being far more easily solvable than their ’’real’’ three-dimensional counterparts. Now essentially 1-D (quasi-1-D) magnets can be ’’tailor-made’’ in the laboratory. Even more popular is the field of organic conductors like TTF⋅TCNQ, which are naturally quasi-1-D. Currently solitons and related solutions of non-linear, dispersive 1-D differential equations are ubiquitous in physics, including the area of 1-D magnetism. These developments are discussed in the Introduction. The rest of this paper is concerned with model Hamiltonians, model comparisons, critical singularities in 1-D (quasi-1-D) systems, accuracy of numerical techniques in comparison with exact solutions, brief accounts of dilute and disordered 1-D systems, and 1-D spin dynamics. Finally, a comment is made on a variety of interesting isomorphisms between 1-D magnets and phenomena in several other areas of physics, for example 2-D ferroelectrics, field-theoretic models, and realistic fluids. Comparison of theory and experiment has been the subject of several excellent reviews and is therefore not discussed here

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic imaging in children—techniques and an overview of non-neoplastic disease entities

Imaging plays a major role in the diagnostic work-up of children with hepatobiliary or pancreatic diseases. It consists mainly of US, CT and MRI, with US and MRI being the preferred imaging modalities because of the lack of ionizing radiation. In this review the technique of US, CT and MRI in children will be addressed, followed by a comprehensive overview of the imaging characteristics of several hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease entities most common in the paediatric age group

The International HapMap Project

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62838/1/nature02168.pd