Adsorbent 2D and 3D carbon matrices with protected magnetic iron nanoparticles.

We report on the synthesis of two and three dimensional carbonaceous sponges produced directly from graphene oxide (GO) into which functionalized iron nanoparticles can be introduced to render it magnetic. This simple, low cost procedure, wherein an iron polymeric resin precursor is introduced into the carbon framework, results in carbon-based materials with specific surface areas of the order of 93 and 66 m(2) g(-1), compared to approx. 4 m(2) g(-1) for graphite, decorated with ferromagnetic iron nanoparticles giving coercivity fields postulated to be 216 and 98 Oe, values typical for ferrite magnets, for 3.2 and 13.5 wt% Fe respectively. The strongly magnetic iron nanoparticles are robustly anchored to the GO sheets by a layer of residual graphite, on the order of 5 nm, formed during the pyrolysis of the precursor material. The applicability of the carbon sponges is demonstrated in their ability to absorb, store and subsequently elute an organic dye, Rhodamine B, from water as required. It is possible to regenerate the carbon-iron hybrid material after adsorption by eluting the dye with a solvent to which it has a high affinity, such as ethanol. The use of a carbon framework opens the hybrid materials to further chemical functionalization, for enhanced chemical uptake of contaminants, or co-decoration with, for example, silver nanoparticles for bactericidal properties. Such analytical properties, combined with the material's magnetic character, offer solutions for environmental decontamination at land and sea, wastewater purification, solvent extraction, and for the concentration of dilute species.

Minimal expansion for correction of male pattern baldness.

Tissue expansion for correction of male pattern baldness has not gained wide acceptance by patients or surgeons because of the substantial albeit temporary deformity of the expansion. Minimal expansion is an alternative. Scalp flaps can be expanded just to the point of becoming noticeable over 4 to 6 weeks followed by scalp flap transposition and easy closure of the donor site. The temporoparietal (Juri) or superiorly based (Dardour) flaps have been used unilaterally or bilaterally. The entire restoration is completed in approximately 8 weeks, is minimally deforming during the expansion phase, and does not require the patient to alter his lifestyle significantly or to go into hiding. Hair grafts, in contrast, do not begin to grow hair until 12 weeks after transplantation, and the process usually requires four sessions over an 8- to 12-month period with the patient looking temporarily variably absurd. Tissue expansion increases scalp available for flap restorations, which appear more natural than even the most well-executed hair transplants. Minimal expansion makes the process more palatable to the patient and surgeon.

Controlled tissue expansion in periocular reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue expansion is a technique useful in reconstruction when a shortage of tissue exists. This method allows the creation of skin similar in appearance and type to that immediately adjacent to the defect. The use of this technique as a stage in repairing large periocular defects is presented. The sequence of implant placement, expansion, and ensuing eyelid reconstruction is illustrated. METHODS: The soft tissue adjacent to an eyelid defect was expanded by means of a subcutaneously implanted reservoir that was progressively inflated over several weeks by percutaneous injection of fluid. The prosthesis was removed after adequate expansion had been achieved. The expanded tissue was then used to fashion a local flap to resurface the defect. RESULTS: Upper eyelid skin expansion was performed in one patient, and five patients received expansion in an adjacent area. The expanded tissue was then used to reconstruct the eyelid defect. The only complications encountered were tissue necrosis at the tip of an advancement flap in one patient and hematoma formation within the dissection pocket after expander insertion in another patient. CONCLUSIONS: This technique complements existing reconstructive methods and provides a valuable surgical alternative for managing various periocular defects. The potential application of this technique in eyelid and periocular reconstruction appears promising.

Use of a miniplate to provide intermaxillary fixation in the edentulous patient.

A case of severe facial trauma is presented. The fractures were stabilized using wire osteosynthesis and miniplates. Since no dentures were available intermaxillary fixation was achieved with a miniplate from the upper to the lower jaw, which resulted in a very satisfactory stabilization.

A simple, direct correction of the constricted ear.

A simple approach to correct the constricted ear is described using a V-Y advancement to lengthen the periphery. Then through a posterior incision, an anterior exposure allows the creation of cartilaginous folds with scoring and sutures under direct vision.

Hamartomas of the spleen.

A study of 12 cases of splenic hamartomas, rare benign lesions of the spleen, included one case of spontaneous rupture of a hamartoma that required emergency operation and two cases of hamartomatosis with splenomegaly. An increased incidence of accessory spleens was also noted. Therefore, although rarely symptomatic, hamartomas may occasionally be of clinical importance. Surgeons should be aware of these lesions in the differential diagnosis of splenic tumors that appear as filling defects on scintiscan or as splenic masses on abdominal exploration. Since it may also be a source of spontaneous splenic rupture, it should be considered as one of the rare causes of such an occurrence.

Hyposmolar stimulation of in vitro pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone: a potential clue to the secretory process.

Diluting the perifusion medium with water caused a striking prompt increase in LH secretion from perifused, acutely dispersed adenohypophseal cells. The minimum effective proportion of water was 4%; the quantity of hormone secreted was proportional to the dilution of the medium up to greater than 50% water. Secretion was not induced if the dilution was made with 5% aqueous mannitol to maintain isotonicity. The LH secretory responses to hyposmolarity or to LHRH were qualitatively indistinguishable. We suggest that expansion of the outer cell membrane may be an important initial component of the mechanism of secretion from adenohypophyseal cells.

Multiple forms of acid phosphatase activity in Gaucher's disease.

Although the primary genetic defect in all individuals with Gaucher's disease is a deficiency in glucocerebrosidase activity, the finding of marked elevations in splenic and serum acid phosphatase activity is almost as consistent a finding. Gaucher spleen and serum contain at least two forms of acid phosphatase that can be readily separated by chromatography on columns containing the cation exchange resin Sulphopropyl Sephadex. The major species of acid phosphatase (designated SP-I) contained in Triton X-100 (1% v/v) extracts of Gaucher spleen accounts for 65%--95% of the total activity and has the following properties: (1) it does not bind to the cation exchange column; (2) it exhibitis a pH optimum of 4.5--5.0; (3) it is inhibited by sodium fluoride (15 mM), L(+)-tartaric acid (20 mM), and beta-mercaptoethanol (2.1 M), and (4) it is resistant to inhibition by sodium dithionite (10 mM). The minor acid phosphatase activity (designated SP-II) present in extracts of Gaucher spleen has properties similar to those of the major species of acid phosphatase activity contained in serum from patients with Gaucher's disease: (1) it binds firmly to cation exchange columns (eluted by 0.5 M sodium chloride); (2) it exhibits a pH optimum of 5.0--6.0; (3) it is inhibited by sodium fluoride and sodium dithionite; and (4) it is resistant to inhibition by beta-mercaptoethanol (2.1 M) and L(+)-tartaric acid (20 mM). In addition, a second form of acid phosphatase that is tartrate resistant was found to be elevated in Gaucher serum. This form of serum acid phosphatase did not bind to Sulphopropyl Sephadex, was found to be significantly resistant to beta-mercaptoethanol (2.1 M), and was only partially inhibited by sodium dithionite (10 mM). The findings reported here indicate that at least three distinct forms of acid phosphatase activity are elevated in Gaucher's disease. Furthermore, the minor acid phosphatase activity contained in spleen homogenates has properties very similar to those of the major acid phosphatase activity observed to be present in serum of patients with Gaucher's disease. These data indicate that simple spleen spillage cannot account for the increased levels of serum acid phosphatase in patients with Gaucher's disease.

Determination of serum acid phosphatase in Gaucher's disease using 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate.

We describe a new assay that is useful for identifying individuals who may be affected with Gaucher's disease. The assay involves the determination of serum acid phosphatase activity using the fluorogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate. The assay measures acid phosphatase activity at pH 6.0 in the presence of 3.0 M 2-mercaptoethanol and requires a 5 microliter serum sample and a 15-min incubation period. Under these conditions, 2-mercaptoethanol preferentially inhibited the acid phosphatase activity in control serum but did not inhibit the elevated acid phosphatase present in the serum of patients with Gaucher's disease. Using this assay, we observed a 5-50-fold elevation in serum acid phosphatase activity in 8 patients with the adult, non-neuropathic form of Gaucher's disease when compared to control serum assayed under the same conditions. Serum from several heterozygotes free from pathology exhibited normal acid phosphatase activity when assayed at pH 6.0 in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Acid phosphatase activity in serum from patients with prostatic cancer can be distinguished from that in Gaucher serum on the basis of the well-documented sensitivity of the former to inhibition by sodium tartrate. A serum sample from a patient with Niemann-Pick disease exhibited a mild elevation in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity so that conclusive diagnosis of Gaucher's disease requires assaying leukocytes or fibroblasts from suspected patients for glucocerebroside:beta-glucosidase activity.