Artifact from 131I-Contaminated Mask in Postradioiodine Therapy Scintigraphy.

A patient wearing the mandatory face mask because of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic underwent postradioiodine therapy scintigraphy. The spot view of the neck showed an area of uptake that was later demonstrated to be caused by contamination of the mask. This finding has led to updating the scan procedure for posttherapy scintigraphy by replacing the patients' masks before the scan acquisition.

Intrathecal Migration of an Epidural Catheter While Using a Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Technique for Labor Analgesia Maintenance: A Case Report.

We describe a case of intrathecal migration of a wire-reinforced epidural catheter in a parturient who received epidural labor analgesia. Epidural analgesia was initiated with a combined-spinal epidural technique and maintained by programmed intermittent epidural boluses. Epidural catheter aspiration after insertion was negative for cerebrospinal fluid. The patient's response to the first four doses of local anesthetic was consistent with epidural drug delivery. After the fifth dose, she developed a complete lower extremity motor block, hypotension, and high sensory blockade. Catheter aspiration was then positive for cerebrospinal fluid. After symptom resolution, labor pain was successfully managed with this inadvertent intrathecal catheter.

B-type natriuretic peptide increases after gastric bypass surgery and correlates with weight loss.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is the primary cause of death in the United States, with obesity as a leading preventable risk factor. Previous studies have established the beneficial effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on both weight and cardiac risk factors. Further assessment of cardiac function may be accomplished using B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which has demonstrated clinical utility in diagnosing congestive heart failure. This study aimed to assess changes in BNP after intentional weight loss through gastric bypass surgery. METHODS: Plasma volume, weight, and BNP were measured preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively for 101 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery by a single surgeon in an academic medical setting. Outcomes were compared by matched t-test. Multivariable linear regression and Pearson's correlation were used to examine predictors of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration. RESULTS: The concentration of BNP increased significantly from a mean preoperative level of 50.5 ng/l to postoperative levels of 73.9 ng/l at 3 months (P=0.013), 74.3 ng/l at 6 months (P<0.001), and 156.3 ng/l at 12 months (P<0.001). In addition, excess weight loss was the only statistically significant predictor of increased BNP concentration (odds ratio, 1.483; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Gastric bypass leads to significant excess weight loss and surprisingly increased BNP concentrations. Correlation of BNP increase with weight loss suggests an additional novel mechanism for surgically induced weight loss.

Phospholipid membranes decorated by cholesterol-based oligonucleotides as soft hybrid nanostructures.

DNA monomers and oligomers are currently showing great promise as building blocks for supramolecular arrays that can self-assemble in a fashion preprogrammed by the base pairing code. The design and build-up of hybrid DNA/amphiphilic self-assemblies can expand the range of possible architectures and enhance the selectivity toward a well-specified geometry. We report on the self-assembly properties in aqueous solution of a cholesteryl-tetraethylenglycol single stranded 18-mer oligonucleotide (ON 1TEG-Chol) and on its spontaneous insertion in fluid phospholipid membranes. Up to 500 units of these lipophilic ss-oligonucleotides can be incorporated in the outer leaflet of 350 A radius POPC vesicle. The insertion and hybridization with the complementary oligonucleotide are monitored through light scattering as an increase of hydrodynamic thickness, which is interpreted in terms of average distance between anchoring sites. The conformation of the ss-oligonucleotidic portion is strongly dependent on surface coverage, passing from a quasi-random coil to a more rigid configuration, as concentration increases. Interestingly, conformational details affect in a straightforward fashion the hybridization kinetics. Liposomes with single- and double-strand decorations remain stable within the experimental time window (about one week). The structure represents an example of successful and stable amphiphile/DNA supramolecular hybrid, where a DNA guest is held in a membrane by hydrophobic interactions. The lipophilic oligonucleotide under investigation is therefore a suitable building block that can effectively serve as a hydrophobic anchor in the fluid bilayer to assemble supramolecular constructs based on the DNA digital code.

A new organogelator based on an enantiopure C2 symmetric pyrrolidine.

The synthesis and the properties of a new chiral organogelator based on a C(2) symmetric pyrrolidine, are described together with its use for the synthesis of other functionalised organogelators.