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Actually, MgB2 is the lightest superconducting compound. Its connection with lightweight metals like Ti (as barrier) and Al (as outer sheath) would result in a superconducting wire with the minimal mass. However, pure Al is mechanically soft metal to be used in drawn or rolled composite wires, especially if applied for the outer sheath, where it cannot provide the required densification of the boron powder inside. This study reports on a lightweight MgB2 wire sheathed with aluminum stabilized by nano-sized γ-Al2O3 particles (named HITEMAL) and protected against the reaction with magnesium by Ti diffusion barrier. Electrical and mechanical properties of single-core MgB2/Ti/HITEMAL wire made by internal magnesium diffusion (IMD) into boron were studied at low temperatures. It was found that the ultra-lightweight MgB2 wire exhibited high critical current densities and also tolerances to mechanical stress. This predetermines the potential use of such lightweight superconducting wires for aviation and space applications, and for powerful offshore wind generators, where reducing the mass of the system is required.
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Despite the increasing availability of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, it is currently unclear how such services are regulated in Europe, due to the lack of EU or national legislation specifically addressing this issue. In this article, we provide an overview of laws that could potentially impact the regulation of DTC genetic testing in 26 European countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Emphasis is placed on provisions relating to medical supervision, genetic counselling and informed consent. Our results indicate that currently there is a wide spectrum of laws regarding genetic testing in Europe. There are countries (e.g. France and Germany) which essentially ban DTC genetic testing, while in others (e.g. Luxembourg and Poland) DTC genetic testing may only be restricted by general laws, usually regarding health care services and patients' rights.
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Athletes have a higher prevalence of LBP and spinal abnormalities on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compared to non-athletes. The objective of this study was to investigate the amount of spinal MRI abnormalities and the lifetime prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in 16 young elite Mogul skiers compared to 28 non-athletes in the corresponding age in a cross-sectional design. LBP was assessed by a questionnaire consisting of a part regarding previous or present back pain, the Oswestry disability index, and the EuroQol questionnaire. MRI examinations from Th5 to sacrum were conducted to evaluate spinal pathologies. The Mogul skiers had significantly more MRI abnormalities (like disc degeneration) in mean (7.25 vs 3.78, P < 0.023) compared to the controls. No significant difference was seen regarding the lifetime LBP prevalence between the groups (50% vs 42%, P = 0.555). No correlation could be found between disc degeneration and back pain in this study. Young elite Mogul skiers, compared to an age-matched control group of non-athletes, have an increased risk of developing spinal abnormalities potentially due to the different high loads that they are subjected to in their sport. Future relationship between the MRI abnormalities and LBP cannot be verified by this study design.
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Dolor de la Región Lumbar/diagnóstico por imagen , Vértebras Lumbares/diagnóstico por imagen , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Esquí , Adolescente , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Dolor de la Región Lumbar/epidemiología , Masculino , Enfermedades de la Columna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de la Columna Vertebral/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
A shortcoming of currently available oral cholera vaccines is their induction of relatively short-term protection against cholera compared to that afforded by wild-type disease. We were interested in whether transcutaneous or subcutaneous boosting using a neoglycoconjugate vaccine made from a synthetic terminal hexasaccharide of the O-specific polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O1 (Ogawa) coupled to bovine serum albumin as a carrier (CHO-BSA) could boost lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific and vibriocidal antibody responses and result in protective immunity following oral priming immunization with whole-cell cholera vaccine. We found that boosting with CHO-BSA with immunoadjuvantative cholera toxin (CT) or Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LT) following oral priming with attenuated V. cholerae O1 vaccine strain O395-NT resulted in significant increases in serum anti-V. cholerae LPS IgG, IgM, and IgA (P < 0.01) responses as well as in anti-Ogawa (P < 0.01) and anti-Inaba (P < 0.05) vibriocidal titers in mice. The LPS-specific IgA responses in stool were induced by transcutaneous (P < 0.01) but not subcutaneous immunization. Immune responses following use of CT or LT as an adjuvant were comparable. In a neonatal mouse challenge assay, immune serum from boosted mice was associated with 79% protective efficacy against death. Our results suggest that transcutaneous and subcutaneous boosting with a neoglycoconjugate following oral cholera vaccination may be an effective strategy to prolong protective immune responses against V. cholerae.
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Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Vacunas contra el Cólera/inmunología , Cólera/prevención & control , Oligosacáridos/inmunología , Vibrio cholerae O1/inmunología , Adyuvantes Inmunológicos/administración & dosificación , Administración Cutánea , Administración Oral , Animales , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Antígenos Bacterianos/administración & dosificación , Toxinas Bacterianas/administración & dosificación , Actividad Bactericida de la Sangre , Cólera/inmunología , Toxina del Cólera/administración & dosificación , Vacunas contra el Cólera/administración & dosificación , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Enterotoxinas/administración & dosificación , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/administración & dosificación , Heces/química , Femenino , Inmunización Secundaria/métodos , Inmunoglobulina A/análisis , Inmunoglobulina A/sangre , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina M/sangre , Inyecciones Subcutáneas , Ratones , Oligosacáridos/administración & dosificación , Análisis de Supervivencia , Vacunas Atenuadas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Atenuadas/inmunología , Vacunas Conjugadas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Conjugadas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
According to Slovak legislation any individual consuming ethanol may, under certain conditions, face substantial legal consequences. It is generally known that results of almost any breath alcohol test may be challenged by an experienced defense attorney using scientific principles of these tests. Most common of these legal attacks on breath alcohol test are presented. Lack of attention to this matter from medico-legal societies in Slovak and Czech Republic is also pointed out.
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Intoxicación Alcohólica/diagnóstico , Pruebas Respiratorias , República Checa , Humanos , EslovaquiaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Venous wall weakness is supposed to be the most probable reason of primary varicosis. There are conflicting findings in literature about its structural changes. NO is potent vasodilatator due to the smooth muscle relaxation. It is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). There are 3 known isoforms of NOS: nNOS (neuronal NOS), iNOS (inducible NOS), eNOS (endothelial NOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 varicose vein and 10 control vein samples were processed by standard light microscopy method. Sections were then processed by standard immuno-histochemic technique using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against all 3 NOS isoforms: iNOS, eNOS (SantaCruz, USA), nNOS (BioScience, USA). Antibodies expression was evaluated semiquantitatively and then proved morphometricaly by 2D image analysis (ImageJ 1.34n, National Institute of Health, USA). Total area of NOS isoforms expressions was determined by color analysis and color digital substraction. RESULTS: Histomorphological and semi quantitative evaluation of NOS isoforms showed discontinuous and significantly lower expression of all 3 NOS isoforms in tunica media of varicose veins compared with control group, where the expression of all 3 NOS isoforms was continuous. For the statistical analysis unpaired t-test was used. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results suppose lower NO levels in varicose vein wall, deducing that varicose vasodilatation is due to other mechanism, although the stage of chronic venous disease of varicose vein samples was undetermined. Our results are in contradiction with previously published results of Howlader et al., who observed raised total NO levels in patients with severe stages of chronic venous disease(Tab. 2, Fig. 13, Ref. 18).
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Óxido Nítrico Sintasa/metabolismo , Várices/metabolismo , Humanos , Óxido Nítrico Sintasa de Tipo I/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintasa de Tipo II/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintasa de Tipo III/metabolismo , Túnica Íntima/metabolismo , Túnica Media/metabolismoRESUMEN
The aim of our study was to verify possible utilization of RT-PCR method (Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction) as a diagnostic and prognostic modality of the progression of prostate cancer. This approach is commonly used for the detection of circulating carcinomatous cells in peripheral blood of patients with malignant breast tumors, and our ambition was to adopt this method for patients with prostate cancer. The contribution of this method consists in its ability to detect early stages of the dispersion of carcinomatous cells, so called micrometastases, in the peripheral circulation of patients. The estimation of the progression of the disease is especially important for the selection of appropriate therapy for individual patients. Using this method we analyzed 50 men: 28 patients with clinically localized or locally advanced prostate cancer, 7 patients with clinically proven metastases, 8 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 7 healthy young men.
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Células Neoplásicas Circulantes , Neoplasias de la Próstata/sangre , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Anciano , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Hiperplasia Prostática/sangre , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa/métodosRESUMEN
AIM: The authors analyse the patients hospitalized with a neuroischemic diabetic foot. They evaluate experiences and results of the crural arteries percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the diabetic patients. METHOD: It is a retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized during years 2005-2008 at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the Teaching Hospital J. A. Reiman Presov with the diabetic foot. During the study period 265 hospitalization in 205 patients were registered for complications of the diabetic foot. PTA of the crural arteries was performed on 74 lower extremities in 68 patients. 133 crural arteries were revascularized in this group of the patients. Indication for execution of the crural arteries PTA in the diabetic patients was critical limb ischemia on 68 revascularized lower extremities (91.9%). RESULTS: Technical success (residual stenosis no more than 30%, unobstructed revascularized crural artery to periphery) was achieved on 93 revascularized crural arteries (69.92%). They have control examination minimally 12 months after PTA in 54 revascularized lower extremities of the 68 patients with the neuroischemic diabetic foot. From this subset of the patients 28 lower extremities (51.85%) are healed according to clinical examination, on 7 lower extremities (12.96%) clinical signs of critical limb ischemia remain, 10 times (18.52%) low amputation was performed and 9 times (16.67%) high amputation was executed. CONCLUSION: The authors believe that PTA of the crural arteries is safe and effective method of critically ischemic diabetic foot revascularization. If revascularization is successful, it can effectively contributes to the lower extremity salvage of the patient with neuroischemic diabetic foot.
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Angioplastia de Balón , Angiopatías Diabéticas/terapia , Isquemia/terapia , Pierna/irrigación sanguínea , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Angiografía de Substracción Digital , Angiopatías Diabéticas/diagnóstico por imagen , Pie Diabético , Humanos , Isquemia/diagnóstico por imagen , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
AIM: Authors in the work analyse the patients hospitalized with thrombosis of the surgical infrainguinal reconstruction. They evaluate the causes of reconstructions occlusions, therapeutic options in the treatment and their experiences with treatment of these patients. METHOD: It is the retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized during years 2001-2006 at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the Teaching Hospital J. A. Reimana in Presov with thrombosis of the surgical infrainguinal reconstruction. During the study period 723 surgical infrainguinal revascularization procedures were performed. The basic therapeutic approach in the care of these patients is anticoagulation and digital subtraction angiography, then they decide between percutaneous endovascular treatment, surgical thrombectomy, reoperation with implantation of the new reconstruction or conservative treatment. In the phase of irreversible ischemia high amputation is indicated. RESULTS: Thrombosis of the reconstruction was occured in 109 subjects (15.8%). Prothesis was thrombosed in 71 subjects (65.14%), vein in 38 subjects (34.86%). Percutaneous endovascular treatment was indicated in 3 subjects (2.8%), surgical thrombectomy with correction of the stenosis in 23 subjects (21.1%), reoperation with implantation of the new reconstruction in 53 subjects (48.6%),conservative approach in 21 subjects (19.3%), high amputation in 9 subjects (8.2%). The secondary patency after 12 months according to the life table method analysis after percutaneous endovascular treatment was 75%, after surgical thrombectomy of the graft with correction of stenosis 37% and after reoperation with implantation of the new reconstruction 72%. CONCLUSION: Authors believe that the best treatment in the care of the patients with thrombosis of the surgical infrainguinal reconstruction and critical limb ischemia is implantation of the new secondary reconstruction with autologous vein.
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Arteriopatías Oclusivas/cirugía , Pierna/irrigación sanguínea , Trombosis/terapia , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Vasculares/efectos adversos , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Oclusión de Injerto Vascular/etiología , Oclusión de Injerto Vascular/terapia , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trombosis/etiologíaRESUMEN
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The connective tissue alterations in varicose vein wall are supposed to be one of the main causes of primary varicose vein (main sign of human lower limbs chronic venous insufficency). METHODS: 5 varicose vein samples from 5 patients undergoing stripping surgery of long saphenous vein were compared with 5 control samples of healthy (non-dilated) long saphenous veins from necroptic material (with no history of varicosis). They were fixed in a Baker solution, processed by use of light microscopic method, cut to ultra-thin sections (4-5 microm) and stained with PicroSirius Red for collagen. Sections were scanned with light microscope (Leica, Germany) and camera Canon S50 (Germany) and analysed by morphometric programme Image J v.1.38g (National Institute of Health, USA). RESULTS: In the group of healthy (non-dilated) veins the mean collagen I/III ratio value was 31.40 and in the group of varicose veins the mean collagen I/III ratio was 12.35; the difference is statistically significant: healthy veins contain significantly more of collagen subtype I and varicose veins contain significantly more of collagen subtype III in their walls. CONCLUSION: The statistically significant difference in the collagen I/III ratio between the groups of healthy (non-dilated) and varicose (dilated) vein walls is worthy of further following (Tab. 2, Fig. 7, Ref. 12). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.
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Colágeno Tipo III/análisis , Colágeno Tipo I/análisis , Vena Safena/química , Várices/metabolismo , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
We developed a microarray platform by immobilizing bacterial 'signature' carbohydrates onto epoxide modified glass slides. The carbohydrate microarray platform was probed with sera from non-melioidosis and melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei) individuals. The platform was also probed with sera from rabbits vaccinated with Bacillus anthracis spores and Francisella tularensis bacteria. By employing this microarray platform, we were able to detect and differentiate B. pseudomallei, B. anthracis and F. tularensis antibodies in infected patients, and infected or vaccinated animals. These antibodies were absent in the sera of naïve test subjects. The advantages of the carbohydrate microarray technology over the traditional indirect hemagglutination and microagglutination tests for the serodiagnosis of melioidosis and tularemia are discussed. Furthermore, this array is a multiplex carbohydrate microarray for the detection of all three biothreat bacterial infections including melioidosis, anthrax and tularemia with one, multivalent device. The implication is that this technology could be expanded to include a wide array of infectious and biothreat agents.
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Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/análisis , Bacillus anthracis/inmunología , Burkholderia pseudomallei/inmunología , Carbohidratos/química , Francisella tularensis/inmunología , Análisis por Micromatrices/métodos , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/inmunología , Bacillus anthracis/química , Burkholderia pseudomallei/química , Francisella tularensis/químicaRESUMEN
The diagnosis and the treatment of an unusual posttraumatic occlusion of a femoral superficial artery during skeletal traction has been described. Angiography of the arteries of lower extremities was done because a sharp pain, cold, parestesia of the foot and absent pulsies had been found. The occlusion of the right femoral superficial artery was seen in the place of the compression of the artery by a fragment of femur. The fracture of the femur was stabilized with Ender's rods immediately and the injured part of the artery was resected and replaced by a venous graft. The healing was without any complication. The symptoms, the diagnostic procedures and the therapy of the occlusion of the arteries caused by fractures of the extremities has been discussed.
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Arteria Femoral/lesiones , Fracturas del Fémur/complicaciones , Fracturas Cerradas/complicaciones , Heridas no Penetrantes/complicaciones , Accidentes de Tránsito , Adolescente , Constricción Patológica , Arteria Femoral/diagnóstico por imagen , Fracturas del Fémur/diagnóstico por imagen , Fracturas Cerradas/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Masculino , RadiografíaRESUMEN
The isolated iliac artery aneurysm is a rare disease. Diagnosis and treatment of these aneurysms according to their anatomic location is difficult. Authors describe diagnostic-therapeutic approach in the care of three patients at the vascular unit of the Surgical Clinic of the Teaching Hospital in Presov. They analyze different methods of treatment with emphasis on endovascular therapeutic methods mainly in the therapy of polymorbid high risk patients.
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Aneurisma Ilíaco/diagnóstico por imagen , Adulto , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Humanos , Aneurisma Ilíaco/cirugía , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , RadiografíaRESUMEN
Recreational and technical diving in the past twenty years have become extraordinary popular. Until then diving was a priority of police, army and scientists. Today more and more enthusiasts are exposed to abnormally high surrounding pressure. To the severest of all risks associated with diving, decompression sickness is the greatest threat. Even the most advanced scientific approaches yet did not reveal the complex mechanisms of decompression sickness formation. The majority of experiments use a live model for decompression sickness studies. This is associated with high fatality rate. The new approach of this scientific study is in the use of an in vitro working media as a means of visualization of gas bubbles due to decompression. The aim of this study is to bring above new approaches in in vitro gas bubble formation during decompression. Main goals are: development of in vitro inert gas bubble visualization and evaluation techniques after a real decompression dive with air a as the diving gas and EANx50 as a decompression gas. We selected cell cultures derived from human fibroblasts B-HEF-2 and cell cultures of mice N2A neuroblasts. We used two decompression profiles. "Explosive" decompression profile with a linear compression to overpressure of 50 bar with an rapid decompression to atmospheric pressure (1 bar). In simulation of a realistic decompression profile we used compressed air as a mean for compression and isocompression breathing gas and an EANx50 blend as a decompression breathing gas. This dive was planned with the use of a VPM-B decompression profile by V-Planner software v.3.62. Our latest experiments show that DNA fragmentation and apoptosis is activated during decompression shock. Use of culture cells can be of great value in further studies of decompression changes in the cellular and subcellular level.
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Enfermedad de Descompresión/fisiopatología , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Descompresión , Buceo/fisiología , HumanosRESUMEN
As of 1st January 2006, new criminal law consisting of the Act No. 300/2004 Coll. (Penal Code) and the Act No. 301/2005 Coll. (Criminal Procedure Code) became effective in the Slovak Republic. These two acts replaced Criminal Law originating from 1961. The author analyses impact and changes introduced with new Criminal Procedure Code in the regulation of expert witness in general and expert witness testimony.
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Derecho Penal , Testimonio de Experto/legislación & jurisprudencia , EslovaquiaRESUMEN
Legal framework for expert witnesses in the continental legal system differs from that of common law in many aspects. The position of an expert witness in continental legal system is more formalized and the processual rights and duties of an expert witness differs from rights and duties of witness in general. As of 1st September 2004 the Act No. 417/2002 Coll. on Expert Witnesses, Translators and Interpreters became effective in the Slovak Republic. The Act repealed expert witnesses legislation that originated from 1967 which is still effective in the Czech Republic. The authors present a short overview of the Act.
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Testimonio de Experto/legislación & jurisprudencia , EslovaquiaRESUMEN
As of 1st January 2003 the Law No. 417/2002 Coll. on the Usage of Deoxyribonucleotic Acid Analysis for the Identification of Persons became effective in the Slovak Republic. The Law sets the conditions to take samples due to carry out the forensic DNA analysis, laid down regulations for laboratories approved to perform DNA analysis and at the same time establishes national database of DNA profiles. The author presents short overview of the Law.