Development of thermal models of footwear using finite element analysis.

Thermal comfort is increasingly becoming a crucial factor to be considered in footwear design. The climate inside a shoe is controlled by thermal and moisture conditions and is crucial to attain comfort. Research undertaken has shown that thermal conditions play a dominant role in shoe climate. Development of thermal models that are capable of predicting in-shoe temperature distributions is an effective way forward to undertake extensive parametric studies to assist optimized design. In this paper, two-dimensional and three-dimensional thermal models of in-shoe climate were developed using finite element analysis through commercial code Abaqus. The thermal material properties of the upper shoe, sole, and air were considered. Dry heat flux from the foot was calculated on the basis of typical blood flow in the arteries on the foot. Using the thermal models developed, in-shoe temperatures were predicted to cover various locations for controlled ambient temperatures of 15, 25, and 35 degrees C respectively. The predicted temperatures were compared with multipoint measured temperatures through microsensor technology. Reasonably good correlation was obtained, with averaged errors of 6, 2, and 1.5 per cent, based on the averaged in-shoe temperature for the above three ambient temperatures. The models can be further used to help design shoes with optimized thermal comfort.

Histamine H4 receptor: a novel therapeutic target for immune and allergic responses.

HIstamine is a biomolecular compound located in various parts of body. It participated in various important cellular activities associated with allergy and asthma. This magic bio-molecule is directly and indirectly involved in various biochemical reactions through G-protein couple receptors. Various histamine receptors and their unexplored biochemical activities attracted many biologists in last few decades. A surprising discovery of histamine H(4) receptor was done when scientist worked on histamine H(3) receptor in brain cells. The binding pocket of histamine H(4) differs by transmembrane domains (TM3, TM5 and TM6) from histamine H(3)-sub type. In this review, we enlightened various functions of histamine H(4) and use of histamine H(4) receptor antagonists in autoimmune diseases, allergic responses, inflammatory responses, and in superoxide generation which are helpful to establish H(4) receptor antagonists as newer anti histamines.

Chirality--a new era of therapeutics.

To develop the newer pharmaceuticals and to spur the strong growth, being a general property of 'handedness', chirality plays a major role. The Easson-Stedman principle shows the differences in the biological activity between enantiomers resulted from selective reactivity of one enantiomer with its receptor. It helps to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and to remove undesirable side effects by virtue of the unique activity of enantiomers. Racemic switching and marketing drug combinations are used as tools for drug life-cycle management and to redevelop racemic mixtures as single enantiomers.

Nodular subcutaneous histoplasmosis. A case report with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of a solitary subcutaneous nodule in the upper arm of a patient being treated with corticosteroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease contained numerous spherical, unstained, refractile particles mixed with necrotic cellular material and rare intact histiocytes with yeastlike inclusions. The morphology of the extracytoplasmic spheroids and cytoplasmic inclusions, as demonstrated with Gomori methenamine silver stain, was characteristic of Histoplasma capsulatum var capsulatum. This organism's identification was confirmed by excisional biopsy and microbiologic testing. If the characteristic intrahistiocytic, yeastlike forms are rare or absent, recognition of this peculiar, uncommonly encountered extracellular pattern is crucial to the diagnosis of infection with H capsulatum. This pattern may become more common with increased numbers of immunosuppressed patients and increased use of FNAB.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of multiple myeloma in a patient with renal-cell carcinoma: a case report.

A case of multiple myeloma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and confirmed by laboratory studies in a patient with a history of renal-cell carcinoma is presented. The patient was diagnosed with renal-cell carcinoma of the right kidney and a radical nephrectomy was performed. Eighteen months after this diagnosis was made, the patient developed chest wall pain and was found to have osteolytic bone lesions of the ribs and vertebral bodies. FNA of an osteolytic rib lesion disclosed multiple myeloma. Additional laboratory studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This case report demonstrates the value of FNA as a diagnostic tool for the follow-up of cancer patients, the subsequent discrimination between metastatic lesions and a second primary malignancy, and the cytology of multiple myeloma.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the vagina.

A 65-year-old woman with a history of recurrent vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia was found to have small cell carcinoma (SCC). Exfoliative cytology was instrumental in the discovery of each episode of vaginal neoplasia. Thorough examination of the patient established the tumor as being primary to the vagina, and immunohistochemistry confirmed it to be a neuroendocrine SCC. Eleven patients with neuroendocrine SCC of the vagina have been reported previously. Morphologic characteristics and histogenesis are discussed within the context of the embryology and natural history of extrapulmonary-genital SCC. They have been classified in the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation family of neoplasms. Originally, a neuroectodermal origin was proposed, but derivation now is thought to be from multipotential epithelial stem cells of the genital tract. Neuroendocrine SCC tends to be an aggressive neoplasm with a propensity for early spread. Long-term survival for patients with vaginal SCC has not been documented. Therapeutic decisions regarding SCC from this site have been based on information gained from the treatment of these tumors elsewhere. Combined modality therapy using initial surgery and adjuvant treatment, including systemic chemotherapy and local exposure to radiation, has produced an apparent complete response in our patient.

Psychiatric morbidity in clients of social workers: social outcome.

141 clients referred to social service department local social work teams (area workers) and general practice attachments were interviewed to assess their levels of psychiatric morbidity. 101 cases received clinical and social reassessment at twelve months. A substantial proportion (63%) had a positive social outcome according to the client and social worker, a finding confirmed by an independent social assessment. Family break up, more common in the area setting, was associated with a better clinical outcome. Attachment clients had significantly higher levels of psychiatric morbidity, and in clinical terms improved more frequently than area cases, but not significantly so. Clinically improved cases had a higher number of GP-social worker contacts. Both social and clinical variables contributed to the prediction of clinical outcome. By reducing the availability of attached workers, social services departments are removing a valuable source of help for people with psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric morbidity in the clients of social workers: clinical outcome.

Out of 141 new referrals to a Social Services Department 101 were assessed at inception and twelve-month follow-up using the Present State Examination (PSE), the Social Maladjustment Schedule (SMS) and the Case Review Form (CRF). Mental illness, financial and housing problems were the three problems most frequently identified by the social workers. At inception 72 (51%) of the subjects were PSE cases (ID greater than 5) and 25% at follow-up. The type of social work help offered to cases and non-cases did not differ. Social and clinical data collected at inception and follow-up were used to classify (using discriminant function analysis) caseness at inception and follow-up and clinical change. Caseness at inception (82% of subjects were correctly classified) was associated with depression, subjective social problems and poverty. Caseness at follow-up (74% correctly classified) was associated with poor coping abilities at inception and clinical features of depression. Clinical change (worsening) (71% correctly classified) was associated with seeing a Community Psychiatric Nurse and poor coping abilities at inception. The ability to classify correctly cases and change was enhanced when additional data from follow-up interviews were used. In the PSE cases, only clinical worsening was correctly classified by a high GHQ score at inception, age and poor coping abilities. The last result is similar to that obtained in general practice by Mann et al. (1981).