Microgravity compatible equipment for inert gas condensation of metals during parabolic flights.

Agglomerates of nanosized metal particles can be deposited onto a variety of substrates using a custom-built, microgravity-compatible evaporation/condensation device. A metal aerosol with high solid loading is produced by rf-induction coil heating of a metal melt in a laminar inert gas flow. Valves and flow controllers operating in hypergravity and microgravity conditions allow powder samples to be prepared from such aerosols suppressing buoyancy and sedimentation effects. We present here the technical details for such a parabolic flight compatible metal aerosol source together with some initial results of nanoscale Ni agglomerates synthesized and deposited under microgravity conditions.

Outbreaks of monophasic Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- in Luxembourg, 2006.

A monophasic Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- phage type DT193 emerged as the dominant serovar in Luxembourg in 2006, when it caused two major outbreaks involving 133 laboratory-confirmed human cases, 24 hospitalisations, and one death. The outbreak strain had an uncommon pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern STYMXB.0031 and antibiotic resistance profile ASSuT. A high proportion of cases were clustered in institutions for the elderly and in day-care centers. Strains identical to the outbreak strain were recovered from two control meals, a nappy changing table, retail sausages and caecal porcine samples at an abattoir. Locally produced pork meat is strongly suspected to have been the vehicle for the outbreaks, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear.

Dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography with a computed tomography imaging probe: initial clinical experience with transthoracic application in infants and children with congenital heart defects.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical applicability of a prototype computed tomographic echocardiographic imaging probe in paediatric patients with congenital heart disease. DESIGN: A phased array echocardiographic transducer (64 elements, 5 MHz) mounted on a sliding carriage was used transthoracically in various positions on the chest. The transducer moves from the outflow tract to the apex of the heart in 0.5 to 1.3 mm increments and records a tomographic slice of the heart at each increment level. Parallel images are recorded at a frame rate of 25-30 images/s. At each level a complete cardiac cycle is recorded. The images are digitised and stored in the image processing computer, which reconstructs the anatomical structures of the heart in a three-dimensional format by means of different grey scales. PATIENTS: 45 paediatric patients (age range 3 days to 17 years) with various congenital heart defects who had been admitted to hospital for diagnostic or therapeutic cardiac catheterisation or surgery. RESULTS: Good quality echocardiographic pictures were obtained in all but two of the 45 patients. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the heart were possible from transthoracic echocardiograms. The recorded cardiac chambers and valves were displayed in three-dimensions in real time (four-dimensionally). The heart was also displayed in real time in any desired plane and in up to five planes simultaneously without having to change the position of the transducer on the chest. Different parts of the heart were displayed in a view similar to that seen by a surgeon during an operation. Image acquisition took 3-5 minutes and three-dimensional reconstruction of various cardiac structures 20-90 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The computed tomographic imaging probe facilitates acquisition of echocardiographic data as multiple planes can be obtained from one transducer position. Display of three-dimensional structures of the heart may enhance the understanding of cardiac anatomy.

[Initial clinical experience with dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography (echo-CT) for imaging congenital heart defects in children]. / Erste klinische Erfahrungen mit dynamischer dreidimensionaler Echokardiographie (Echo-CT) zur Darstellung kongenitaler Herzvitien bei Kindern.

A prototype computed tomographic echocardiographic imaging probe was examined for its usefulness in diagnosing congenital heart disease in pediatric patients. A 64-element, phased-array, 5 Mhz, echocardiographic transducer mounted on a sliding carriage was used transthoracically on various positions of the chest. The transducer moves from the outflow tract to the apex of the heart in .5 to 1.3 mms increments and records a tomographic slice of the heart at each increment level. Parallel images are recorded at a frame rate of 25-30 images/s and are ECG- and respiration-gated. At each level a complete cardiac cycle is recorded. The images are digitized and stored in the image processing computer which reconstructs the anatomic structures of the heart in a three-dimensional format by means of different gray-scales. 54 pediatric patients with a variety of congenital heart defects were examined. Good quality echocardiographic pictures were obtained in all but 2 of the 54 patients. In these, three-dimensional reconstruction of the heart was possible from transthoracically acquired echocardiographic studies. The recorded cardiac chambers and valves could be displayed in a three-dimensional format in real-time (four-dimensionally). One could also display the heart in real-time in any desired plane and in up to 5 planes simultaneously without having to change the transducer position on the chest. Different parts of the heart could be displayed in a view similar to the one a surgeon has during the operation. Between 40 and 130 tomographic slices per patient were recorded. Image acquisition took 3-5 min and three-dimensional reconstruction of various cardiac structures took 20-90 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum procollagen III peptide levels in subjects with sarcoidosis. A 5-year follow-up study.

In a prospective study, Type III procollagen N-terminal peptide was measured in the sera of 38 subjects with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis at 6-month intervals over a period of 5 yr. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their radiologic presentation and clinical course: Group A (n = 10) subjects with sarcoidosis Type I without radiologic progression over 5 yr; Group B (n = 5) subjects with sarcoidosis Type I with radiologic progression to Stage II or III; Group C (n = 9) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III without progression over 5 yr; and Group D (n = 14) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III with radiologic progression. Lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, and DLCO), chest roentgenograms, and measurements of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (S-ACE) were performed concurrently with the S-PCP-III levels. Significantly higher levels of S-PCP-III were found in group B (Type I, progressive) (18.2 +/- 1.09 ng/ml) and in group D (Type II/III, progressive) (13.9 +/- 1.2 ng/ml) compared with those of Group A (Type I, stable) (9.1 +/- 1.09 ng/ml) and Group C (Type II/III, stable) (7.6 +/- 1.1 ng/ml) or normal volunteers (9.4 +/- 4 ng/ml) (p less than 0.001 for all comparisons). Changes in S-PCP-III levels tended to parallel the clinical course, and steroid treatment resulted in a significant decrease in S-PCP-III concentrations (p less than 0.001). In contrast, serum angiotensin converting enzyme (S-ACE) levels did not correlate with either the clinical course or radiologic changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)