Safety and feasibility of minocycline in treatment of acute traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Minocycline is a pleomorphic neuroprotective agent well studied in animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and brain ischemia. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that administration of minocycline in moderate to severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Score 3-12). Fifteen patients were enrolled in a two-dose escalation study of minocycline to evaluate the safety of twice the recommended antibiotic dosage; tier 1 n = 7 at a loading dose of 800 mg followed by 200 mg twice a day (BID) for 7 days; tier 2 n = 8 at a loading dose of 800 mg followed by 400 mg BID for 7 days. RESULTS: The mean initial GCS was 5.6 for Tier 1 patients and 5.4 for Tier 2. The Disability Rating Scale (DRS) had a trend towards improvement with the higher dose 12.5 SD ± 7.7 (N = 5) for Tier 1 at 4 weeks and 8.5 SD ± 9.9 at week 12 (N = 5), whereas for Tier 2 it was 9.7 ± 6.9 (N = 6) for week 4 and 6.0 SD ± 6.1 (N = 7) for week 12 (p = .251 repeated measures ANOVA). Liver function tests increased but resolved after the first week and there were no infections. CONCLUSIONS: Minocycline was safe for moderate to severe TBI at a dose twice that as recommended for treatment of infection. The higher dose did trend towards an improved outcome.

Using a multiwavelength LiDAR for improved remote sensing of natural waters.

This paper describes research to characterize the benefits of a multiwavelength oceanographic LiDAR for various water types. Field measurements were conducted to establish endmembers representative of both typical and extremely challenging natural conditions. Laboratory tests were performed using a prototype multiwavelength LiDAR in water tanks with optical conditions simulating both sediment-laden and biologically rich water types. LiDAR models were used to simulate the LiDAR signal from both field and laboratory experiments. Our measurements and models show that using a laser wavelength of 470-490 nm in the open ocean leads to an improvement factor of 1.50-1.75 compared to a 532 nm system. In more turbid areas using a laser wavelength of 560-580 nm leads to an improvement factor of 1.25. We conclude by demonstrating how using multiple LiDAR wavelengths can help detect and characterize constituents in the water column.

MR imaging of the yucatan pig head and neck vasculature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cerebral venous drainage system of the swine as a probable model to test whether extracranial venous abnormalities may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases as reported recently in multiple sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three Yucatan micropigs, 5 to 7 months old, were scanned with a comprehensive MRI protocol at 3 Tesla. The vascular anatomy of the head and neck was imaged using conventional and angiographic MR sequences. Phase-contrast MR images were collected at multiple levels of the neck and intracranial space to monitor flow. RESULTS: Three large cervical veins were observed; the external jugular vein draining the olfactory and gustatory tissues; the internal jugular vein (IJV) draining the cavernous sinus as well as surrounding soft tissues in the neck; and the ventral vertebral venous plexus (VVVP) surrounding the dural sac and paraspinal region. The majority of the cerebral blood flow in the pig appears to drain through the VVVP. Flow through the IJV comprised a nondominant component. Anastamoses were observed connecting the major veins of the neck bilaterally. CONCLUSION: The dominance of outflow from the brain to the VVVP may be analogous to the typical dominance of the IJVs in humans in the supine position.

Uranyl soil extraction and fluorescence enhancement by nanoporous silica gel: pH effects.

Nanoporous silica gel was employed to extract uranyl from contaminated soil and to enhance the fluorescence intensity and lifetime. The fluorescence lifetime and intensity of uranyl ions absorbed within nanoporous silica gel was measured from pH 1-13. The results show that the uranyl fluorescence intensity can be enhanced by approximately two orders of magnitude by the silica nanoporous matrix from pH 4-12 with the greatest enhancement occurring from pH 4-7. The enhanced fluorescence lifetime can be used in time-gated measurements to help minimize the influence of background environmental fluorophores.

Echinococcosis presenting as acute abdominal pain.

We present the case of a 71-year-old man with hydatid disease who travels frequently to and from the United States and Mexico. He presented to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of acute abdominal pain accompanied by neurological and urinary symptoms. A large cystic mass was found in the abdomen, as well as multiple metastases secondary to prostate cancer. Limited availability of history and lack of compliance in the past led to the unusual presentation of this patient. Challenges to diagnosis are discussed.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokine production by Schwann's cells dependent upon TLR4 expression.

Signaling of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) through its cognate ligand endotoxin appears critical in tissue inflammation associated with bacterial infection. We found that anti-GM1 antibody (Ab) enhances TLR4 expression in Schwann's cells (SCs) in vivo and in vitro. The anti-GM1 Ab-treated SC also showed increased release of pro-inflammation cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha after incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, down-regulation of TLR4 expression using antisense oligonucleotides targeted to TLR4 mRNA suppressed cytokine production in LPS stimulated cultures. These findings suggest that elevation of TLR4 expression increases sensitivity of SC to LPS and production of inflammatory mediators that may be responsible for peripheral nerve dysfunction.

Cellular automata models of the influences on solute diffusion through water.

A cellular automata (CA) model of liquid water has been used to study self-diffusion and the diffusion of a solute. The influences of temperature and solute hydropathic state are modeled as variables in this process. The self-diffusion model correlates very well with earlier experimental data. The diffusion of a solute experiences variation with temperature and its hydropathic states. These influences are found to relate to models of free hydroxy groups and the average cavity cluster size in bulk water. These preliminary models serve as the basis for modeling solute diffusion for specific contaminants of interest (such as heavy metals like uranium) in a water system, and addressing its migration patterns with water relative to temperature.

Models of solute aggregation using cellular automata.

A series of models using cellular automata (CA) are created to examine the influences on the phenomenon of solute aggregation. The models used the variations in hydropathic states of the solutes to produce changes in the clustering patterns. It was found that an increase in the hydrophobic character of the solute molecules led to greater aggregation. The effect of concentration of solutes was also modeled. These preliminary models of solute aggregation serve as the basis for subsequent models relative to both biological receptor interactions, and the fate and transport of environmental contaminants of interest.

XXY (Klinefelter syndrome): a pediatric quantitative brain magnetic resonance imaging case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: An extra X chromosome in males (XXY), known as Klinefelter syndrome, is associated with characteristic physical, cognitive, and behavioral features of variable severity. The objective of this study was to examine possible neuroanatomical substrates of these cognitive and behavioral features during childhood and adolescence. METHODS: MRI brain scans were acquired for 42 XXY and 87 healthy XY age-matched control males. We compared these 2 groups on regional brain volumes and cortical thickness. RESULTS: Total cerebral volume and all lobar volumes except parietal white matter were significantly smaller in the XXY group, whereas lateral-ventricle volume was larger. Consistent with the cognitive profile, the cortex was significantly thinner in the XXY group in left inferior frontal, temporal, and superior motor regions. CONCLUSION: The brain-imaging findings of preferentially affected frontal, temporal, and motor regions and relative sparing of parietal regions are consistent with observed cognitive and behavioral strengths and weaknesses in XXY subjects.

Steady-state and frequency-domain lifetime measurements of an activated molecular imprinted polymer imprinted to dipicolinic acid.

We recently demonstrated the synthesis and fluorescence activity associated with an optical detector incorporating a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP). Steady-state and time-resolved (lifetime) fluorescence measurements were used to characterize the binding activity associated with MIP microparticles imprinted to dipicolinic acid (DPA). DPA is a unique biomarker associated with the sporulation phase of endospore-forming bacteria. Vinylic monomers were polymerized in a dimethylformamide solution containing DPA as a template. The resulting MIP was then pulverized and sorted into small microscale particles. Tests were conducted on replicate samples of biologically active cultures representing both vegetative stationary phase and sporulation phase of Bacillus subtilis in standard media. Samplers were adapted incorporating the MIP particles within a dialyzer cartridge (500 MW). The permeability of the dialyzer membrane permitted diffusion of lighter molecular weight constituents from microbial media effluents to enter the dialyzer chamber and come in contact with the MIP. Results showed dramatic (10-fold over background) steady-state fluorescence changes (as a function of excitation, emission and intensity) for samples associated with high endospore biomass (DPA), and a frequency-domain lifetime of 5.3 ns for the MIP-DPA complex.

Spiritual expressions in the caring environment of adult day care centers.

Adult day care, an increasingly important community-based service for adults who need supervision and assistance with basic needs, is particularly important for African-American families in whom the placement of family members in institutions has traditionally been viewed as an unacceptable option. Actual utilization of adult day care services depends on the creation of a caring milieu in the centers, and one important element is the opportunity for spiritual expression. A recent ethnographic study explored factors influencing care expressions, patterns and practices in two adult day care centers with predominantly African-American clients and staff. The study findings included unique examples of indigenous spiritual expressions that had evolved in the cultural milieu of the centers, and provided the basis for recommended strategies to incorporate spirituality in adult day care and other clinical settings.