First-passage process in degree space for the time-dependent Erdos-Rényi and Watts-Strogatz models.

In this work, we investigate the temporal evolution of the degree of a given vertex in a network by mapping the dynamics into a random walk problem in degree space. We analyze when the degree approximates a preestablished value through a parallel with the first-passage problem of random walks. The method is illustrated on the time-dependent versions of the Erdos-Rényi and Watts-Strogatz models, which were originally formulated as static networks. We have succeeded in obtaining an analytic form for the first and the second moments of the first-passage time and showing how they depend on the size of the network. The dominant contribution for large networks with N vertices indicates that these quantities scale on the ratio N/p, where p is the linking probability.

Cardiomiopatia arritmogênica do ventrículo direito em felino: relato de caso / Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomiopathy in a feline: case report

Felino de 3,3kg, fêmea, oito anos de idade, castrada, sem definição racial, foi atendida no Hospital Veterinário da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo (HOVET-USP), com histórico de dispneia, prostração, hiporexia e consequente emagrecimento progressivo, havia uma semana. Foram realizados exames de sangue: hemograma com contagem de plaquetas, função renal, função hepática e dosagens séricas de sódio e potássio, eletrocardiograma (ECG), radiografia torácica, ecoDopplercardiograma, e os resultados dos exames indicaram diagnóstico presuntivo de cardiomiopatia arritmogênica do ventrículo direito. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pela necropsia e pela constatação da presença de tecido fibroadiposo no miocárdio no exame histopatológico, possibilitando, assim, o relato do primeiro caso de cardiomiopatia arritmogênica do ventrículo direito, em gato, no Brasil.(AU)

A female 3.3kg feline, eight years-old, spayed, without racial definition, was submitted to the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo University (HOVET-USP) with dyspnea, prostration, hyporexia, and consequent progressive weight loss a week ago. Blood count with platelet count, renal and hepatic profiles, and serum sodium and potassium, chest radiography, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography were performed and diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy was assumed. The diagnosis was confirmed by necropsy findings and by the presence of fibro-fatty tissue infiltration observed in histopathology, thus featuring the first report of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in a cat in Brazil.(AU)

Chitosan-hyaluronic acid nanoparticles loaded with heparin for the treatment of asthma.

The purpose of this study was to produce mucoadhesive nanocarriers made from chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA), and containing the macromolecular drug heparin, suitable for pulmonary delivery. For the first time, this drug was tested in ex vivo experiments performed in mast cells, in order to investigate the potential of the heparin-loaded nanocarriers in antiasthmatic therapy. CS and mixtures of HA with unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin (UFH and LMWH, respectively) were combined to form nanoparticles by the ionotropic gelation technique. The resulting nanoparticles loaded with UFH were between 162 and 217 nm in size, and those prepared with LMWH were 152 nm. The zeta potential of the nanoparticle formulations ranged from +28.1 to +34.6 mV, and in selected nanosystems both types of heparin were associated with a high degree of efficiency, which was approximately 70%. The nanosystems were stable in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4, for at least 24h, and released 10.8% of UFH and 79.7% of LMWH within 12h of incubation. Confocal microscopy experiments showed that fluorescent heparin-loaded CS-HA nanoparticles were effectively internalized by rat mast cells. Ex vivo experiments aimed at evaluating the capacity of heparin to prevent histamine release in rat mast cells indicated that the free or encapsulated drug exhibited the same dose-response behaviour.

Successful therapy of iron intoxication in pregnancy with intravenous deferoxamine and whole bowel irrigation.

We describe the successful treatment of a severely iron-poisoned adult patient in week 26 of gestation with 10.2 g deferoxamine administered iv over 14 h and whole bowel irrigation (2 L/h of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution/nasogastric tube for 12 h) with a good maternal outcome and no adverse effects on the fetus.

Ovarian adenocarcinoma presenting with the sign of Leser-Trélat.

A 76-year-old woman with ovarian adenocarcinoma and sudden onset of many seborrheic keratoses is reported. This cutaneous sign, a marker of an internal malignancy, is known as the sign of Leser-Trélat. Its association with gynecologic neoplasms is reviewed.

Correlation of ultrasound and pathologic findings in patients with epithelial carcinoma of the ovary.

The findings from preoperative diagnostic ultrasound were compared with operative and pathologic findings in patients with ovarian cancer. Twenty laparotomies were diagnostic second-look procedures and 21 were therapeutic procedures in patients with clinically evident disease. Ultrasound was more reliable in patients with clinically suspected disease, but a site by site analysis demonstrated it is insensitive for detecting prevertebral adenopathy less than 3 cm in size, thin, 1.5 cm omental plaques, 5 cm or smaller lesions involving the mesentery or bowel and peritoneal masses 2 cm or less in size. Ultrasound was most sensitive in the detection of ascites.

Trophoblastic cell sensitivity to 8-day chemotherapy in nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Serial radioimmunoassay determinations of serum beta hCG and methotrexate were compared in two patients with nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (NMGTN) treated with Goldstein's modification of Bagshawe's intermediate-dose methotrexate-citrovorum factor rescue-treatment program. Pretreatment beta hCG levels (mIU/ml) ranged within the outer limits of the 10(3) log level. Following intravenous methotrexate, sharp serum peaks between 10(-6) and 10(-5) M were observed. Plasma disappearance was rapid with a 3 log drop noted within 24 hr to levels incapable of inhibiting DNA synthesis. beta hCG levels manifested a 1 to 1.5 log drop over the 8 days of chemotherapy and complete remission was noted within 5 to 6 weeks of the first dose of methotrexate. No significant clinical or laboratory toxicity was observed. Although cell culture studies show that 100% of cell death can be achieved with serum levels of 10(-5) M in methotrexate-resistant choriocarcinoma, similar data do not exist for previously untreated trophoblastic neoplastic cells. These preliminary observations suggest that serum methotrexate levels are important for establishing sensitivity levels in a heterogeneous population of trophoblastic cells in NMGTN and that the total dose of methotrexate may be safely preselected on the basis of the pretreatment beta hCG.

The Syed-Neblett interstitial template in locally advanced gynecological malignancies.

Twenty-eight patients with locally advanced malignancies of the cervix and vagina were treated with a combination of external radiation therapy and afterloading Syed-Neblett iridium template. There were 22 patients with squamous cell cancer and two patients with adenocarcinomas of the cervix. Four patients with squamous cell cancer of the vagina were treated with this method. Only patients with locally advanced disease (cervical lesion greater than 4 cm in diameter) and poor vaginal anatomy were selected for this modality of therapy. In our series the incidence of distant failures of 39% seems to confirm the significance of local volume of disease as a prognostic indicator; despite a local control rate of 59%, only 33% of our patients are alive from 25-51 months. Complications occurred in 12 patients (42%). Six patients (22%) developed severe rectal stricture or rectovaginal fistula necessitating diverting sigmoid colostomy; five patients (18%) developed hemorrhagic proctitis with diarrhea and tenesmus; one patient developed vaginal vault necrosis. Complications occurred 7 to 24 months following therapy. Six of the 12 patients developing complications are dead of disease. On the basis of this study and because of the low cure rate and high incidence of complications, the value of the Syed-Neblett template in locally advanced gynecologic malignancies should be reconsidered.