Muscle elastography: a new imaging technique for multiple sclerosis spasticity measurement.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity is currently evaluated on the basis of neurological examinations such as Ashworth Scale (AS) and 0-10 NRS. Severity of spasticity is difficult to quantify. We investigated the use of real time elastography (RTHE) ultrasounds for evaluating objectively the muscle fibers status in MS spasticity patients and their changes after a new antispasticity treatment. Two studies were performed. In study A, 110 MS patients underwent a neurological evaluation based on the AS and RTHE. The RTHE images were scored with the new 1-5 muscle fibers rigidity imaging scale, here called MEMSs (Muscle Elastography Multiple Sclerosis Score). The correlation between AS and MEMSs was found to be statistically significant. In study B, 55 MS patients treated with THC:CBD oromucosal spray for their resistant spasticity were followed prospectively. MS spasticity was evaluated by the 0-10 NRS scale at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. MEMSs' figures were obtained at both timepoints. Responders to THC:CBD oromucosal spray (pre-defined as an improvement ≥20% in their 0-10 NRS spasticity score vs. baseline) were 65% of sample. These patients had a mean 0-10 NRS reduction of 1.87 and a MEMSs reduction of 1.97 (P values <0.0001). The remaining 35% of patients, classified as clinically non-responders, showed still a significant mean reduction in MEMSs (0.8, P = 0.002). Our overall results showed that RTHE, operativized throughout MEMSs, could be an objective gold standard to evaluate MS muscle spasticity as well as the effectiveness of antispasticity therapy.

[Abdominal compartimental syndrome as a complica-tion of Fournier's gangrene]. / Sindrome compartimentale addominale da gangrena di Fournier. Case report.

Analyzing a complex case and referring to the literature, the authors describe abdominal compartmental syndrome as a complication of Fournier's gangrene, stressing out the importance of an early diagnosis to perform prompt and effective treatment. The characteristic of this case is not represented only by the Fournier's gangrene rarity, but also by the appearance of an abdominal compartmental syndrome due to the gangrene extension from the scrotum to the abdominal wall and cavity through the spermatic funiculus. The treatment of the abdominal compartmental syndrome was the surgical toilette of the necrotic regions (scrotum, abdominal wall and cavity) together with an orchiectomy.

The atomic structure of niobium and tantalum containing borophosphate glasses.

A complete structural study has been carried out on sodium borophosphate glass containing increasing amounts of either niobium or tantalum. A combination of high energy x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy has been used to discern the local atomic structure of each component and the changes with M content, where M is either niobium or tantalum. The glasses are found to consist of tetrahedral borate and phosphate with octahedral MO(6). As expected, B and P play the roles of tetrahedral network formers. At low M content there are isolated MO(6) units with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] linkages that contribute to the glass network. As the M content increases, the number of [Formula: see text] links increases, and at the highest M content each MO(6) unit is connected to several others. The octahedra become significantly distorted as the niobium content increases, an effect that is not seen for tantalum.

13C NMR, GC and HPLC characterization of lipid components of the salted and dried mullet (Mugil cephalus) roe "bottarga".

13C NMR spectroscopy, in conjunction with HPLC and GC techniques, has been used to study the molecular composition of lipids extracted from commercial products of bottarga. To this goal, both the saponifiable and unsaponifiable fractions of lipid extracts were also examined by 13C NMR. Among the major lipid classes wax esters (WE) showed a concentration of more than 50mol%, triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) represented a minor fraction. Concentrations up to 29mol% of free fatty acids (FFA) were found. The most represented fatty alcohol was 16:0 that accounted for more than 50%, among fatty acids the most represented were 16:1 n-7, 22:6 n-3, 18:1 n-9, 16:0, and 20:5 n-3, in particular the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) averaged 40mg/g of the edible portion. 13C NMR spectroscopy put in evidence that cholesterol was present in its free and esterified forms and its total content was measured as ca. 10mg/g of the edible portion.

[Laparoscopic appendectomy]. / L'appendicectomia laparoscopica.

Most laparoscopic procedures are performed on an elective basis. However, as general surgeons have gained more experience with laparoscopy, they are employing this procedure also for the evaluation and treatment of acute abdominal conditions such acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, perforated gastroduodenal ulcer and abdominal trauma, acute pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction. Although its advantages are still under debate, the laparoscopic approach has already been adopted by many centers in the emergency setting.

1H and 13C NMR studies of melon and head blubber of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba).

Intact portions of melon, the echolocation organ of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), and the corresponding raw oils were analyzed by means of one- and two dimensional 1H and 13C NMR techniques. For comparative purposes the tissue and the raw oil of head blubber were also examined. Complete assignments of the spectra were obtained. Furthermore, dynamics of the lipid components was investigated by means of 13C NMR spin lattice relaxation time (T1). Analysis of the data revealed that lipid molecules in the tissue compartments experience a liquid-like microenvironment and that T1 values depend on the lipid composition and/or organization in the intact tissue framework. In particular, a dependence of the T1 values on the wax esters content in melon intact tissues was found. A possible correlation between dynamic parameters and sound propagation properties has been hypothesized.

Probing proteins in solution by (129)Xe NMR spectroscopy.

The interaction of xenon with different proteins in aqueous solution is investigated by (129)Xe NMR spectroscopy. Chemical shifts are measured in horse metmyoglobin, hen egg white lysozyme, and horse cytochrome c solutions as a function of xenon concentration. In these systems, xenon is in fast exchange between all possible environments. The results suggest that nonspecific interactions exist between xenon and the protein exteriors and the data are analyzed in term of parameters which characterize the protein surfaces. The experimental data for horse metmyoglobin are interpreted using a model in which xenon forms a 1:1 complex with the protein and the chemical shift of the complexed xenon is reported (Locci et al., Keystone Symposia "Frontiers of NMR in Molecular Biology VI", Jan. 9--15, 1999, Breckenridge, CO, Abstract E216, p. 53; Locci et al., XeMAT 2000 "Optical Polarization and Xenon NMR of Materials", June 28--30, 2000, Sestri Levante, Italy, p. 46).