In vitro, KGKR (100-1000 mu g/mL) dose-dependently suppressed hip

In vitro, KGKR (100-1000 mu g/mL) dose-dependently suppressed hippocampal neuronal damage induced by both glutamate (100 mu

M) and kainate (1 mM). These data suggest MLN2238 chemical structure neuroprotection with KGKR requires continuous pre-ischemic treatment, and that the mechanisms of protection may be involved in inhibiting the glutamatergic receptors of the post-synaptic neurons.”
“Objective-To determine the mineral composition and anatomic location of urinary calculi and to investigate sex and reproductive status as predisposing factors for development of urolithiasis in potbellied pigs.

Design-Retrospective case series

Samples-Urinary calculi from 50 purebred and crossbred potbellied pigs.

Procedures-Laboratory records for urinary calculi of potbellied pigs submitted to the University BEZ235 in vitro of California-Davis Stone Laboratory from 1982 through 2012 were reviewed. Mineral composition of calculi was determined by polarized light microscopy, infrared spectroscopy,

and, in some cases, x-ray diffractometry.

Results-Of the 48 urinary calculi analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, 21 (44%) were composed primarily of amorphous magnesium calcium phosphate; another 9 (19%) were primarily composed of calcium phosphate in the form of apatite. Of 50 urinary calculi, 22 (44%), 14 (28%), 10 (20%), 3 (6%), and 1 (2%) were removed from the urinary bladder only, urethra, both urinary bladder and urethra, urine, and renal pelvis, respectively. Sex

of 6 potbellied pigs was not recorded. For 44 urinary calculi, 41(93%) were from males (11 sexually intact males and 30 castrated) and 3 (7%) were from females (2 sexually intact females and 1 spayed). Among males, 73% (30/41) of submissions were from castrated males.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In contrast to results from studies in commercial pigs, the most common composition of urinary calculi identified in purebred and crossbred potbellied pigs was amorphous magnesium calcium phosphate. Potential predisposing factors for urolithiasis in potbellied pigs may be similar to those for urolithiasis in commercial pigs. These include diet, urinary tract infections, and sex. Thus, prevention of ATM/ATR inhibitor urolithiasis should target these potential predisposing factors.”
“A 31-year-old man with medication-refractory seizures in the context of right mesial temporal lobe sclerosis and right occipital encephalomalacia is described. He experienced the onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms following resection of the right hippocampus and right occipital pole. Semistructured psychiatric evaluation was conducted 16 months after surgery. Results indicated that he fulfilled diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and that he was not depressed at the time of the evaluation.

Results Neurological involvement was observed in 13 patients (6

Results. Neurological involvement was observed in 13 patients (6.1%). Selonsertib datasheet No permanent inferior alveolar nerve damage was found (0%) and only 1 patient presented a permanent lesion of the ipsilateral lingual nerve (0.3%). Pell and Gregory classification and surgical difficulty were not associated with the incidence or gravity of neurological lesions (P = NS). Among the pathologies associated with third molars, only the variable “”abscess”" presented a significant correlation

with paresthesia (OR 6.86; 95% CI 1.21-38.8; P = .029).

Conclusion. The percentage of nerve injuries agrees with the literature data, inclusion class, and surgical technique seem not to influence paresthesia risk. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the role of infectious pathologies as a cofactor in the development of neurological lesions after oral surgery. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 107: e8-e13)”
“The RAPD technique was used for determining genetic differences between 12 wild-olive varieties grown in the Aegean

provinces of Izmir, Mugla, and Manisa in Turkey. Wild olives obtained from the same provinces were included in the same plot. Twenty of 25 operon primers (OP-I 4, OP-I 14, OP-I 15, OP-I 16, OP-I 17, OP-Q1, OP-Q2, OP-Q3, OP-Q4, OP-Q11, OP-Q12, OP-Q13, OP-Q14, OP-Q15, OP-Q16, OP-Q17, OP-Q18, OP-Q19, OP-Q20, OP-F1, OP-F2, OP-F3, OP-F6, OP-F7, OP-F8) yielded bands. The differences between the varieties were determined based on their genetic similarities, using principal coordinate analysis; genetic distances were determined using neighbor-joining analysis. The varieties find more wild 7 and wild 12 had the lowest genetic similarity (0.97, Jaccard similarity index); they also had the greatest genetic distance between them (0.3606,

Nei’s genetic distance). It was concluded that the RAPD technique is adequate for the evaluation of genetic relationships among wild olives. Principal coordinate analysis and neighbor-joining analysis gave results that support the use of this type of analysis to help understand the genetic background of olives and for further genetic studies.”
“This article presents and interprets a series of experiments performed to measure the velocity AC220 cell line of four inert low-density porous materials that were accelerated by an ablated thin-film titanium metal, created by vaporizing a 250-nm-thick layer of titanium with a high-energy, Q-switched, pulsed, and 1.054 mu m neodymium-glass laser. Inert powder materials were chosen to match, among other characteristics, the morphology of energetic materials under consideration for use in detonator applications. The observed behavior occurs near the thin-film titanium ablation layer, through complex physical mechanisms, including laser absorption in the metal layer, ablation and formation of confined plasma that is a blackbody absorber of the remaining photon energy, and vaporization of the remaining titanium metal.

A desirable feature of the approach is that, during the transmiss

A desirable feature of the approach is that, during the transmission of logic state, the transmit node itself should not significantly change its quantum state; this is successfully validated through simulations. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3596522]“
“Objective. The red complex bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola) INCB024360 have been implicated,

either singly or in combination, in the development of various forms of periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of “”red complex”" in acute periradicular abscesses by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Study design. Microbial samples were collected by aspiration from 32 cases SBE-β-CD inhibitor diagnosed as acute periradicular abscess. DNA was extracted from the samples by using a QIAamp DNA mini-kit and analyzed with real-time PCR.

Results. At least 1 member of the red complex was found in 84% of the cases. In general T. denticola, P. gingivalis, and T. forsythia were detected in 65.6%, 43.7%, and 40.6% of the cases, respectively. Red complex

was detected in 15.6% of samples taken from acute periradicular abscesses.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that “”red complex”" can participate in the pathogenesis of acute periradicular abscesses. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 110: 670-674)”
“A number of studies have pointed to the association of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and DARPP-32 (dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein,

32 kDa) with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these two genes are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia in the Malay population. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms Val66Met of BDNF, -2036C>G and g. 1238delG of DARPP-32 were genotyped in the Malay population in 200 patients with schizophrenia and 256 healthy controls. Analysis of allele and genotype frequencies in these two groups revealed no significant association VS-6063 ic50 of BDNF or DARPP-32 polymorphisms with schizophrenia in Malays. This is the first such association study in the Malay population.”
“A complete study is given in this paper on the structural properties of Ba(Sr,Ti)O-3 (BST) thin films which present various preferred orientations: (111) and (001) fiber and epitaxial textures. The films are deposited in situ at 800 degrees C by sputtering on Si/SiO2/TiOx/Pt substrates and the orientation is controlled by monitoring the concentration of O-2 in the reactive plasma or by prior deposition of a very thin TiOx buffer layer between BST films and substrates. The epitaxial films are obtained on (001)-alpha-Al2O3 substrates covered with TiOx buffer layers.

The results indicate that both Nax genes have the potential to im

The results indicate that both Nax genes have the potential to improve the salt tolerance of bread wheat.”
“Objective To investigate the correlation between circulating

endothelial cells (CECs) and vascular lesions in renal allografts. Methodology Sixty-two renal transplant patients were divided into four groups according to biopsy data. CECs were isolated from peripheral blood with anti-CD136-coated immunomagnetic Dynabeads and counted by microscopy during biopsy. CEC numbers were compared in each group, as well as the correlation between CECs and C4d and vascular changes in different groups. Result CECs counts were higher in the acute rejection (AR) with endarteritis group than in the normal group (p < 0.01), acute tubular necrosis (ATN) group (p < 0.01) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) group Anlotinib (p < 0.01), there were no difference among ATN, normal and CAN) group (p = 0.587). There was no difference among the normal group without hyaline, normal group with hyaline and CAN with hyaline group. An increasing CECs count was related to C4d-positive AR (p = 0.008; kappa score = 0.519) and infiltration of inflammatory cells (p = 0.002, kappa score = 0.573) in proximal tubule cells (PTCs). The CECs count decreased after intensive therapy in five patients (p = 0.001). Conclusion Elevation of the CEC count in blood was related to endarteritis. Elevation of CEC count was related to C4d deposition and infiltration

of inflammatory cells in PTCs.”
“Background: Solar drinking water disinfection (SODIS) is a low-cost, point-of-use water purification method that has been STI571 research buy disseminated globally. Laboratory studies www.selleckchem.com/products/cobimetinib-gdc-0973-rg7420.html suggest that SODIS is highly efficacious in inactivating waterborne pathogens. Previous field studies provided limited evidence for its effectiveness in reducing diarrhoea.

Methods and Findings: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 22 rural communities in Bolivia to evaluate the effect of SODIS in reducing diarrhoea among children

under the age of 5 y. A local nongovernmental organisation conducted a standardised interactive SODIS-promotion campaign in 11 communities targeting households, communities, and primary schools. Mothers completed a daily child health diary for 1 y. Within the intervention arm 225 households (376 children) were trained to expose water-filled polyethyleneteraphtalate bottles to sunlight. Eleven communities (200 households, 349 children) served as a control. We recorded 166,971 person-days of observation during the trial representing 79.9% and 78.9% of the total possible person-days of child observation in intervention and control arms, respectively. Mean compliance with SODIS was 32.1%. The reported incidence rate of gastrointestinal illness in children in the intervention arm was 3.6 compared to 4.3 episodes/year at risk in the control arm. The relative rate of diarrhoea adjusted for intracluster correlation was 0.

Forty-three tubers, out of a total of 320 tubers, had AMT-PET upt

Forty-three tubers, out of a total of 320 tubers, had AMT-PET uptake ratios greater than 1 and hence were classified as potentially epileptogenic. FA in epileptogenic tubers was reduced compared with the other tubers (P = .03). A significant negative

correlation was observed between AMT-PET uptake ratio of epileptogenic tubers and FA values (r = -.45; P = .003). Tubers with higher AMT-PET uptake ratios corresponded well with lower FA values in tuberous sclerosis complex SCH 900776 ic50 patients.”
“We report 12% efficient CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells prepared by low temperature close space sublimation (CSS). Both semiconductor films, CdS and CdTe, were deposited by high vacuum CSS in superstrate configuration on glass substrates Lonafarnib supplier with fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) front contact. The CdTe deposition was carried out at a substrate temperature (T(sub)) of <= 340 degrees C, which is much lower than that used in conventional processes (>500 degrees C). The CdTe films were treated with

the usual CdCl(2) activation process. Different optimal annealing times and temperatures were found for low-temperature cells (T(sub) <= 340 degrees C) compared to high-temperature cells (T(sub) = 520 degrees C). The influence of the activation step on the morphology of high-temperature and low-temperature CdTe is determined by XRD, AFM, SEM top views, and SEM cross-sections. Grain growth, strong recrystallization, and a reduction of planar defects during the activation step are observed, especially for low-temperature CdTe. Further, the influence of CdS deposition parameters on the solar cell performance JIB-04 mw is investigated by using three different sets of parameters with different deposition rates and substrate temperatures for the CdS preparation. Efficiencies about 10.9% with a copper-free back contact and 12.0% with a copper-containing

back contact were achieved using the low temperature CdTe process. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3639291]“
“Amiodarone hydrochloride is a potent anti-arrhythmic agent, known as a multiple ion-channel blocker in the heart. Although it has been detected in the rat brain, there are no data related to its central nervous system (CNS) effects. In this study, we evaluated anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects of amiodarone. Convulsions were induced by phentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (100 mg/kg) or caffeine (300 mg/kg) in mice. In both models, amiodarone prolonged both latency period and time to death, and acted as an anticonvulsant drug. It was found to be more effective in the PTZ model than in the caffeine model; none of the animals treated with 150 mg/kg dose amiodarone had died in the PTZ model. For hypnotic effect, sleeping was induced with pentobarbital (35 mg/kg) in rats.

Conclusions

Conclusions. Apoptosis Compound Library We could confirm that the integration can be made with good accuracy without the aid of fiducial markers for the maxillofacial-dental composite model from the different resolution of CT and dental models. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;110:370-378)”
“Epileptic discharges are not considered a part of the clinical picture of selective mutism, and electroencephalography is generally not recommended in its work-up. This report describes 6 children with selective mutism who were found to have a history of epilepsy and abnormal interictal or subclinical

electroencephalography recordings. Two of them had benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes. The mutism was not related in time to the presence of active seizures. GDC-0973 nmr While seizures could be controlled in all children by medications, the mutism resolved only in 1. Although the discharges could be coincidental, they might represent a co-morbidity of selective mutism or even play a role in its pathogenesis. Selective mutism should be listed among the psychiatric disorders that may be associated with electroencephalographic

abnormalities. It can probably be regarded as a symptom of a more complicated organic brain disorder.”
“Study Design. Multicenter, prospective, consecutive clinical series.

Objective. To report on the use and outcomes of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a prospective cohort study of 2206 children undergoing posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Summary of Background Data. There is no consensus on the use of MRI in the preoperative evaluation

of children with idiopathic scoliosis. Also, there is no consensus on the rate of abnormality and the relevance of abnormality on surgical outcome in so-called “”idiopathic”" scoliosis.

Methods. We reviewed the first 2206 patients entered consecutively into the Prospective Pediatric Scoliosis Study, a database of children (8-18 years) undergoing operation for scoliosis by pediatric spinal surgeons in the Spinal Deformity Study Group.

Results. There were 1812 girls (80.8%) and 394 Pitavastatin boys (17.5%). Mean age at operation was 14 years and 3 months. A total of 191 (8.6%) had juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (age <= 10 years). A total of 923 patients (41.8%) underwent spine MRI. Ninety-one abnormalities of the spine were detected (9.9% of the 923 screened), of which 39 (4.2%) were neural. There were 26 syringes (66.7% of neural abnormalities and 28.6% of all abnormalities), 12 Chiari malformations (30.7% and 13.2%, respectively), and 1 tethered cord (2.6% and 1.1%, respectively). Fifty-three patients (5.7%) demonstrated abnormalities affecting “”other”" parts of the spine than the neural elements. Patients undergoing MRI more frequently had a thoracic hyperkyphosis (P < 0.001), had a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (P < 0.001), had a Risser grade between 0 and 2 (P = 0.

The number of apoptotic keratinocytes, in terms of sunburn cells,

The number of apoptotic keratinocytes, in terms of sunburn cells, activated-caspase-3-positive cells and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells were all significantly reduced in recombinant human TRX-injected mice. Immunohistochemical intensity of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine was strikingly

reduced in recombinant human TRX-injected mouse. Western blotting showed that administration of recombinant human TRX attenuated duration of phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and intensity of phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in the early phase, which play important roles in inflammatory and apoptotic signaling. Collectively, these findings indicated that recombinant human TRX attenuated inflammatory Momelotinib chemical structure and apoptotic responses caused by UV-B. Possible mechanisms for this might be via redox regulation of stress signaling and reduction of reactive oxygen www.selleckchem.com/products/AG-014699.html species.”
“An individual substance (20 mg/l) exhibiting phytotoxic properties, which, on the basis its spectral characteristics, was identified as zinniol, was obtained from the fungus Alternaria cirsinoxia. The nonspecific activity of this phytotoxin, with respect to plants of different families, was demonstrated. The minimum concentration (200 mu g/ml) at which zinniol damages creeping thistle leaves and the median inhibition concentration (IC (50)) for rat embryonic fibroblasts

(264 mu g/ml) were determined.”
“We report an autopsy case of delayed anaphylactic shock due to contrast medium. A 17-year-old Japanese man underwent angiography using non-ionic contrast medium under the suspected diagnosis of Buergers disease. Initial symptoms appeared 6 h after the administration of the contrast medium, and death was confirmed 11 h later. Considering the clinical course and the results of the autopsy, we concluded that the direct cause of the patients death was severe acute circulatory failure due to a learn more delayed allergic reaction to the contrast medium. The reported incidence of serious delayed reactions or biphasic reactions to non-ionic contrast

medium is extremely low; however, we should be aware of such rare adverse reactions.”
“The parameters of transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA 105 for 5 domestic sorts and lines of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. saccharifera (Alef) Krass) were optimized. The system of transgenic tissue selection based on resistance to phosphinothricin, allowing to avoid the appearing of chimeric shoots among initial transformants was developed. The transgenic plants of sugar beet sorts Ramonskaya single seed 47, L’govskaya single seed 52 and RMS 73, and LBO 17 and LBO 19 lines expressing the gene of phosphinothricin acetyl transferase bar have been obtained. The resistance of these sorts and lines to the effect of phosphinothricin in vitro has been shown.

This morphological shift concurred with an increased incorporatio

This morphological shift concurred with an increased incorporation of palmitoyl-oleoyl-stearoylglycerol in the lattice, possibly giving rise

to eutectic GNS-1480 ic50 crystallization in lamellar crystal structures instead of the commonly observed dendritic crystals. The clarification of both phenomena provides a valuable, profound insight in the crystal growth step in the processing of edible oils. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disease that is difficult to diagnose due to the paucity of a diagnostic gold standard. For almost two decades, early-stage CP has been recognised in the context of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) when a patient

presents with typical pancreatic-type pain, normal conventional imaging examinations, and subtle findings of CP by EUS. Whether these EUS findings represent true early-stage CP that will progress or whether they are false positive findings remain unclear. The key to enhancing the diagnostic precision of EUS in CP is to use objective, widely-accepted criteria that are reproducible. The Rosemont Criteria is a significant step towards achieving this goal and needs to be validated in conjunction with long-term studies of early-stage CP. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“PURPOSE: To compare the ease of the flap lift after central corneal marking with 2 types of marking pens after femtosecond laser-assisted flap Sapitinib price creation in laser Nepicastat mw in situ keratomileusis.

SETTING: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.

METHODS: Porcine eyes were prepared for flap creation

with a femtosecond laser (IntraLase). The eyes were assigned to 1 of 4 groups. After the femtosecond laser treatment, the difficulty of flap lifting the 4 groups was compared.

RESULTS: Twelve porcine eyes, 3 in each group, were evaluated. In the 2 groups in which an oil-based pen was used, the corneal flap could not be lifted. In the 2 groups in which a water-based pen was used, the corneal flap was easily lifted.

CONCLUSIONS: Oil-based ink may reduce the ability of the femtosecond laser to penetrate the cornea. The resultant corneal flap may require aggressive manipulation to be lifted. When used to mark the center of the cornea before flap creation, water-based ink provided greater ease of corneal flap lifting than oil-based ink. Because the marking is located over the center of the pupil, any alteration of the cornea in this area from aggressive flap lifting may result in substantial visual loss. Therefore, the use of an oil-based ink to mark the central cornea must be avoided to prevent traumatic irregularities of the flap stroma.

Concentrations of progesterone were quantified in plasma at treat

Concentrations of progesterone were quantified in plasma at treatment to ensure cows had a normal response to PGF(2 alpha). Duration of estrus and the number of mounts received during estrus were recorded by

find more HeatWatch. If any part of estrus for a cow occurred at the same time as estrus for another cow, the cow was considered to have concurrent estrus with the other cow. Cows in the drylot had a shorter (P < 0.02; 61.8 +/- 3.1 h) interval to estrus after PGF(2 alpha) compared with cows on pasture (72.8 +/- 3.3 h). The interval to estrus was longer (P < 0.07) when cows were treated with PGF(2 alpha) on d 10 to 13 (76.7 +/- 3.3 h) of the estrous cycle than when treated on d 6 to 9 (62.3 +/- 4.7 h) or d 14 to 18 (62.9 +/- 3.6 h). Increasing the number of cows

concurrently in estrus increased the number of mounts each cow received per estrus (P < 0.001) and the duration of estrus (P < 0.01). When only 1 cow was in estrus, she received 11.0 +/- 6.2 mounts AZD2014 during 11.6 +/- 1.5 h. When >= 7 cows were in estrus at the same time, each cow received 50.4 +/- 3.2 mounts during 17.3 +/- 0.8 h. Cows in drylot were in estrus longer (P < 0.04; 16.4 +/- 0.8 h) than cows on pasture (14.2 +/- 0.7 h). Duration of the longest interval between mounts received decreased (P < 0.002) as the number of cows in estrus at one time increased (5.3 +/- 0.7 h for 1 estrous cow; 2.6 +/- 0.3 h when >= 7 cows were in estrus). We conclude that increasing the GW3965 mouse number of beef cows in estrus at the same time will increase the number of times a cow is mounted and the duration of estrus. The increase in estrous behavior associated with more cows in estrus could increase the number of estrous cows detected with infrequent visual observation.”
“The creep properties, that is, the velocity constant, activation energy, stress index, and time index, of a test piece (TP) cut from a glass-fiber-reinforced nylon 6 product were successfully determined by a compression creep test. In the determination of the creep properties,

the experimental creep curves for the TP were fitted by finite element analysis (FEA). Fiber-reinforced nylon 6 beams with different fiber orientations were also prepared, and their creep properties were successfully determined by a combination of the bending creep test and the corresponding analysis. The creep behavior of the press-fit component composed of a metal collar and a fiber-reinforced nylon 6 product was predicted by FEA with the determined creep properties of the TP. The predicted retention forces were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The effects of the fiber orientation on the long-term reliability of the press-fit component are also discussed. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

To verify risk factors for CMV reactivations in our cohorts, clin

To verify risk factors for CMV reactivations in our cohorts, clinical characteristics of all patients transplanted within the last 10 years were included in statistical analyses determining the relative risk for single and recurrent CMV reactivations.

Results. As expected, CMV serostatus, HLA match, and donor source significantly influenced the risk of recurrent CMV reactivation. Applying CMV-CTL tetramer monitoring for 2 years allowed the monitoring of 114 (85%) of 134 patients, by testing a set of tetramers representing 6

epitopes from 3 different CMV proteins. The presence of CMV-CTL MK-0518 in vivo before day +50 and their expansion post reactivation seem to protect against recurrent CMV reactivations. The mean number of CMV-CTL by day +100 was >5-fold higher in the recipient CMV-positive/donor-positive (R+/D+) group (91/mu L) compared with the R+/D-(13/mu L) and the R-/D+ (2/mu L) group. Seventy-nine percent of patients from the R+/D+ setting recovered >10 CMV-CTL per mu L by day +100, while almost 50% of the other groups failed to mount a CMV-specific response by that time (R+/D- : 58%; R-/D+:

43%).

Conclusion. Tetramer monitoring can help to predict (recurrent) CMV reactivation and is a useful approach to monitor individual patients with increased risk for recurrent reactivation post HSCT; thus, it could help to identify patients in need of adoptive transfer of CMV-CTL or to optimize the use of antiviral drugs.”
“A mixed hardwood Kraft pulp was used after oxygen HM781-36B purchase delignification to produce pure cellulose for dissolving purposes. A totally chlorine-free GW4869 bleaching and purification process was designed. It comprises an acid hydrolysis step in the presence of a metal chelating agent (EDTA) followed by a peroxide delignification stage under oxygen pressure catalyzed by a Cu(II)phenanthroline complex, a cold caustic extraction and finally, an ozone stage carried out under neutral conditions. High purity cellulose with less than 5% xylans could be produced. Both the catalyst and the ozone stage have an effect on the DP of the cellulose which then can be varied depending on the requirements. (C) 2013

Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Informed consent in today’s medical practice has become a cornerstone and a routine ethical component playing a major role in forming a therapeutic alliance with the patient. The present study sought to analyse the effectiveness of the consent forms and the consenting process in Otorhinolaryngology. This three month questionnaire-based study covered varying operations which ranged from tonsillectomies, grommet insertions to pharyngeal pouch stapling. Twenty-nine percent of consent forms were signed on the day of the operation. Of the patients who received leaflets (51%) during the process of informed consent, a majority (88%) found it useful. The respondents were satisfied with the explanation of the procedure, benefits and complications (70-74%).