Novel Recommendations to Enhance the Quality of Life in Patients with Neuropathy in Hansen's Disease

Patients with leprosy (Hansen's disease) may have peripheral neuropathy leading to loss of thermal and tactile sensitivity which may further lead to disabilities and deformities. Those patients with nerve function impairment in their hands while tending to everyday activities such as holding utensils, consuming hot beverages, and handling sharp objects during household chores are prone to develop trauma on their hands leading to ulceration. For prevention of heat induced and other mechanical trauma, we propose innovative solutions such as using thermochromic painted utensils, corrugated paper cups, and cut-resistant gloves to overcome these hindrances. These will avoid the chances of developing non-healing ulcerations and thereby improve the quality of life of the patient

Representação artística das consequências neurológicas do Acidente Vascular Encefálico, nas obras de Otto Dix (1891-1969), a partir de seus 76 anos / Artistic representation of the neurological consequences of stroke in the works of Otto Dix (1891-1969), from the age of 76 / Representación artística de las consecuencias neurológicas del Accidente Vascular Encefálico en las obras de Otto Dix (1891-1969), a partir de sus 76 años

As doenças cerebrovasculares atingem cerca de 17 milhões de indivíduos por ano mundialmente, encontrando-se, entre elas, o Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE), que se caracteriza por déficit neurológico súbito decorrente de alteração vascular focal. No presente estudo, reporta-se o caso do pintor alemão Otto Dix, acometido por AVE no hemisfério direito, aos 76 anos. Em decorrência do episódio, desenvolveu heminegligência e hemiparesia à esquerda, hemianopsia, distúrbio de construção visuoespacial moderado, e apraxia associada ao déficit de propriocepção do membro superior esquerdo. Descrevem-se as mudanças na representação visual nas obras produzidas por ele, após a doença, a fim de correlacionar as consequências neurológicas através da expressão gráfica.

Cerebrovascular diseases reach about 17 million individuals per year worldwide, including Stroke, which is characterized by sudden neurological deficit due to focal vascular alteration. In the present study, the case of the German painter Otto Dix, affected by stroke in the right hemisphere, at 76 years of age, is reported. As a result of the episode, he developed left hemielegiation and hemiparesis, hemianopsia, moderate visuo-spatial construction disorder, and apraxia associated with proprioception deficit of the left upper limb. The changes in the visual representation in the works produced by him, after the illness, are described in order to correlate the neurological consequences through graphic expression.

Las enfermedades cerebrovasculares alcanzan a cerca de 17 millones de individuos por año en todo el mundo, encontrándose entre ellas el Accidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE), que se caracteriza por déficit neurológico súbito resultante de alteración vascular focal. En el presente estudio, se reporta el caso del pintor alemán Otto Dix, acometido por AVE en el hemisferio derecho, a los 76 años. En consecuencia del episodio, desarrolló heminexia y hemiparesia a la izquierda, hemianopsia, disturbio de construcción visuoespacial moderado, y apraxia asociada al déficit de propriocepción del miembro superior izquierdo. Se describen los cambios en la representación visual en las obras producidas por él, después de la enfermedad, a fin de correlacionar las consecuencias neurológicas a través de la expresión gráfica.

Antifouling evaluation of extracts from Red Sea soft corals against primary biofilm and biofouling

Objectives To evaluate antifouling property of extracts from Red Sea soft corals against primary biofilm and biofouling. Methods Seven species of soft corals Sarcophyton glaucum (a), Sinularia compressa, Sinularia cruciata (a), Heteroxenia fuscescens (a), Sarcophyton glaucum (b), Heteroxenia fuscescens (b) and Sinularia cruciata (b) were chosen to test their extracts as antibacterial and antifouling agents in Eastern Harbour of Alexandria, Mediterranean Sea. Bioactive compounds of soft corals were extracted by using methanol and concentrated under vacuum. The residues of extracts were mixed in formulation of inert paint which consisted of rosin, chlorinated rubber and ferrous oxide against micro and macro fouling organisms. The formulated paints were then applied on PVC panels twice by brush, hanged in a steel frame and immersed in Eastern Harbour of Alexandria Mediterranean Sea followed by visual inspection and photographic recordings. Results After 185 days of immersion in seawater, the antifouling results agreed with the antibacterial results where extracts of Sinularia compressa and Heteroxenia fuscescens (b) gave the best activity against marine fouling tubeworms and barnacles. The inhibition activity was correlated with the major functional groups (hydroxyl, amino, carbonyl, aliphatic (fatty acids), C[dbnd]C of alkene or aromatic rings and C[sbnd]Cl of aryl halides) of the extracts. Conclusions The strong antifouling activity makes them promising candidates for new antifouling additives. After the screening and application of natural organic compounds from soft corals, marine organisms show activity against micro and macro fouling organisms.

Antifouling evaluation of extracts from Red Sea soft corals against primary biofilm and biofouling

Objectives:To evaluate antifouling property of extracts from Red Sea soft corals against primary biofilm and biofouling.Methods:Seven species of soft corals Sarcophyton glaucum (a),Sinularia compressa,Sinularia cruciata (a),Heteroxenia fuscescens (a),Sarcophyton glaucum (b),Heteroxenia fuscescens (b) and Sinularia cruciata (b) were chosen to test their extracts as antibacterial and antifouling agents in Eastern Harbour of Alexandria,Mediterranean Sea.Bioactive compounds of soft corals were extracted by using methanol and concentrated under vacuum.The residues of extracts were mixed in formulation of inert paint which consisted of rosin,chlorinated robber and ferrous oxide against micro and macro fouling organisms.The formulated paints were then applied on PVC panels twice by brush,hanged in a steel frame and immersed in Eastern Harbour of Alexandria Mediterranean Sea followed by visual inspection and photographic recordings.Results:After 185 days of immersion in seawater,the antifouling results agreed with the antibactedal results where extracts of Sinularia compressa and Heteroxenia fuscescens (b) gave the best activity against marine fouling tubeworms and barnacles.The inhibition activity was correlated with the major functional groups (hydroxyl,amino,carbonyl,aliphatic (fatty acids),C=C of alkene or aromatic rings and C—Cl of aryl halites) of the extracts.Conclusions:The strong antifouling activity makes them promising candidates for new antifouling additives.After the screening and application of natural organic compounds from soft corals,marine organisms show activity against micro and macro fouling organisms.

Determination of Dexamethasone in Verdihong Paints by HPLC / 中国药师

Objective:To establish a method for the determination of dexamethasone in Verdihong paints to ensure safety and ef-fectiveness of the clinical medicines. Methods:An HPLC method with a Dikma C18 column (150 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) was used, the mobile phase was a mixture of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid (80∶20∶0. 5), the detection wavelength was at 240nm, the injec-tion volume was 20 μl, the column temperature was 30℃ and the flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 . Results:The standard curve of dexa-methasone was linear over the range of 3. 0-96. 0μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 7). The average recovery was 99. 45% with RSD of 1. 01%(n=9). Conclusion:The method is simple with good reproducibility, and can be used in the determination of dexamethasone in Verdihong paints.

Microbial evaluation and deterioration of paints and paint-products.

The microbial quality of materials and final products of a reputable paint industry in Lagos area were analysed. The bacterial contaminants isolated in the paint-products included Bacillus brevis, B. polymyxa, B. laterosporus, Lactobacillus gasseri, L. brevis, Esherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. The fungal contaminants detected in the paints were mainly Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and Penicillium citrinum. The microbial populations in the raw materials ranged from 1.0 x 106 – 9.5 x 106 cfu g-1 for bacteria and between 1.25 x 104 and 6.8 x 104 cfu g-1 for fungi while those present in packaging materials ranged from 3.45 x 106 – 7.65 x 106 cfu g-1 for bacteria and 2.4 x103 – 2.8 x 103 cfu g-1 for fungi respectively. The bacterial populations in the fresh paint samples monitored every two weeks from the time of production ranged from 1.6 x 101 – 4.7 x 105 cfu ml-1 while the fungal populations ranged from 1.0 x 101 – 5.5 x 103 cfu ml-1 over a ten-month study period. The optical density at 600 nm increased while transmittance, pH, specific gravity and viscosity of the paint samples decreased over the period suggesting gradual deterioration of the aesthetic qualities of the paint-products with time as indicated by the measured parameters.

Sistema de detección de rayos x para obtener imágenes digitales en el estudio de obras de arte / x-ray detection system for digital image acquisition in the study of artworks

La radiografía de rayos-X juega un papel importante en el estudio de obras de arte, específicamente suministra información sobre la génesis, autenticidad, técnica de la pintura, condiciones del material e historia de su conservación. El trabajo muestra un sistema desarrollado, a partir de detectores semiconductores de microbandas para adquirir imágenes de rayos X basado en la técnica de substracción logarítmica del borde de absorción K. El sistema se caracterizó y se muestran las primeras imágenes de su aplicación en la detección de pigmentos.

X-ray radiography plays an important role in the study of artworks. It particularly provides information on the origin, authenticity, painting technique, material conditions and its conservation history. This article describes a system based on semiconductor microstrip detector for acquisition X-ray images using the k-edge logarithmic substraction technique. The system has been characterized and the first images of its application for pigment detection are shown.

Content Determination of Testosterone Propionate in Testosterone Propionate Paints by HPLC / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To establish a HPLC method for the content determination of testosterone propionate in testosterone propionate paints.METHODS:The assaying was conducted on a Kromasil C 18 column with methanol-water solution(80∶20)as mobile phase,the detection wavelength was254nm and the flow rate was1.0ml/min.RESULTS:The linear concentration range of the testosterone propionate was100～400mg/ml(r=0.9997)with average recovery rate at98.5%(RSD=0.55%).CONCLUSION:The method is simple,accurate and reproducible,and it can be used for the quality control of testosterone propionate paints.