Urinary diversion via the continent ileocolonic reservoir has been performed at our institution since February 1988. During a 4-year period, 39 patients have received this procedure as an alternative ...to other forms of cutaneous urinary diversion at the time of exenteration. We analyze our data in terms of early and late (beyond 6 weeks) complications resulting directly from the operation or from this form of urinary diversion. A total of 18 patients (46%) suffered early complications resulting in an operative mortality rate of 7% (3 of 39 patients). One or more late complications occurred in six patients (15%). Only one patient required reoperation for a postoperative complication. With ongoing experience, problem areas have been identified that have led us to make modifications in technique. We review our experience with the incidence of early and late complications in terms of management and ultimate prevention.
A proline, a leucine, and two cysteine residues, introduced at positions 19, 28, 31, and 32 of bovine pancreatic RNase A, i.e. the positions occupied by these residues in the subunit of bovine ...seminal RNase, the only dimeric RNase of the pancreatic-type superfamily, transform monomeric RNase A into a dimeric RNase, endowed with the same ability of BS-RNase of swapping its N-terminal segments. The thermodynamic consequences of the progressive introduction of these four residues into RNase A polypeptide chain have been studied by comparing the temperature- and urea-induced denaturation of three mutants of RNase A with that of a stable monomeric derivative of BS-RNase. The denaturation processes proved reversible for all proteins, and well represented by the two-state N ⇔ D transition model. The progressive introduction of the four residues into RNase A led to a gradual shift of the protein stability toward that characteristic of monomeric BS-RNase, which, in turn, is markedly less stable than RNase A with respect to both temperature- and urea-induced denaturation. On the other hand, the thermal stability of a dimeric active mutant of RNase A is found to approach that of wild-type seminal RNase.
Magnetic Resonance Relaxation (MRR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are powerful tools to obtain detailed information on the pore space structure that one is unlikely to obtain in other ways. ...These techniques are particularly suitable for Cultural Heritage materials, because they use water 1H nuclei as a probe. Interaction with water is one of the main causes of deterioration of materials. Porous structure in wood, for example, favours the penetration of water, which can carry polluting substances and promote mould growth. A particular case is waterlogged wood from underwater discoveries and moist sites; in fact, these finds are very fragile because of chemical, physical and biological decay from the long contact with the water. When wood artefacts are brought to the surface and directly dried in air, there is the collapse of the cellular structures, and wood loses its original form and dimensions and cannot be used for study and museum exhibits. In this work we have undertaken the study of some wood finds coming from Ercolano's harbour by MRR and MRI under different conditions, and we have obtained a characterization of pore space in wood and images of the spatial distribution of the confined water in the wood.
Maize meiotic mutant desynaptic (dy) was tested as a candidate recombination modifier gene because its effect is manifested in prophase I. Recombination rates for desynaptic (dy) and its wild type ...were compared in two ways: (1) segregation analysis using six linked molecular markers on chromosome 1L and (2) cytogenetic analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-aided meiotic configurations observed in metaphase I. Chromosome 1L map lengths among the six linked markers were 45-63 cM for five F2 dy/dy plants, significantly lower than the wild-type F2 map distance of 72 cM. Chromosomes 2 and 6 were marked with rDNA FISH probes, and their map lengths were estimated from FISH-adorned meiotic configurations using the expectation-maximization algorithm. Chiasma frequencies for dy/dy plants were significantly reduced for both arms of chromosome 2, for chromosome arm 6L, and for eight unidentified chromosomes. There was a notable exception for the nucleolus-organizing region-bearing arm chromosome arm 6S, where dy increased chiasma frequency. Maize meiotic mutant desynaptic is a recombination modifier gene based on cytogenetic and segregation analyses.
Podocin (NPHS2) is a component of the glomerular slit-diaphragm, with major regulatory functions in renal permeability of proteins. Loss of podocin and decrease in resynthesis may influence the ...outcome of proteinuric renal disease such as segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and promoter
functionality plays a key role in this process. NPHS2 promoter variants with functional activity may be a part of the problem of podocin resynthesis. We sequenced NPHS2 promoter region from −628 to ATG in a large cohort of 260 nephrotic patients (161 with FSGS) who were presenting proteinuria
from moderate to severe and were receiving or had received modular therapies according to their sensitivity to steroids and other immune modulators. Three sequence variants (−236C>T, −52C>G, −26C>G) were identified in our study population that gave an allele frequency
below 1% (5 patients out of 520 alleles). Functional implications were shown for each variants that were most evident for −52C>G and −26C>G (−50% of luciferase expression compared to the wild-type sequence, p < 0.01). Consensus analysis for homology
of the −52 region with regulatory factors revealed homology for USF1 and the sum of experiments with gel retardation and with cells silenced for USF1 confirmed that this factor regulates NPHS2 expression at this site. In conclusion, three functional variants in NPHS2 promoter have been
identified in a large cohort of patients with nephrotic syndrome and FSGS that have a frequency <1%. One of these (i.e., −52C>G) is associated with a poor clinical outcome and evolution to end-stage renal failure. USF1 was identified as the transcriptional factor regulating
NPHS2 at this site. Even if not sufficient to cause FSGS per se, these variants could represent modifiers for severity and/or progression of the disease.
We present Chandra ACIS-I X-ray observations of 0FGL J1311.9-3419 and 0FGL J1653.4-0200, the two brightest high Galactic latitude (|b|>10 deg) gamma-ray sources from the 3 month Fermi-LAT bright ...source list that are still unidentified. Both were also detected previously by EGRET, and despite dedicated multi-wavelength follow-up, they are still not associated with established classes of gamma-ray emitters like pulsars or radio-loud active galactic nuclei. X-ray sources found in the ACIS-I fields of view are catalogued, and their basic properties are determined. These are discussed as candidate counterparts to 0FGL J1311.9-3419 and 0FGL J1653.4-0200, with particular emphasis on the brightest of the 9 and 13 Chandra sources detected within their respective Fermi-LAT 95% confidence regions. Further follow-up studies, including optical photometric and spectroscopic observations are necessary to identify these X-ray candidate counterparts in order to ultimately reveal the nature of these enigmatic gamma-ray objects.
In modern vehicles, the demand for on-board electric energy generation is rapidly growing in order to satisfy new requirements for passengers comfort and safety. This growth, which is predicted to ...reach 6 kW in the very next years, is forcing manufacturers to explore new solutions concerning the whole electrical system inside the vehicle. In particular, novel topologies of alternators are under research since the currently used Lundell type (claw-pole) alternator is reaching its power limits. In this paper an original torque dependant mechanical device is proposed in order to extend the speed range of an axial flux PM machine. This device displaces the rotors realizing a mechanical flux weakening with constant output power in generation. Simulations and experimental tests on a prototype realized in the lab are fully discussed.
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