[The pacifism of Henry Dunant].

From various writings of the founder of the International Red Cross and above all from his late work L'avenir sanglant it is deduced as the Dunant anticipating and prophetically interpreting the curse of the war is an internationalist (for some aspects a romantic anarchist) and a convinced pacifist. We show therefore how much has been false and backbiters the defamations that followed to the attribution of the first Nobel prize for the peace.

Environmental, physical and structural characterisation of geopolymer matrixes synthesised from coal (co-)combustion fly ashes.

The synthesis of geopolymer matrixes from coal (co-)combustion fly ashes as the sole source of silica and alumina has been studied in order to assess both their capacity to immobilise the potentially toxic elements contained in these coal (co-)combustion by-products and their suitability to be used as cement replacements. The geopolymerisation process has been performed using (5, 8 and 12 M) NaOH solutions as activation media and different curing time (6-48 h) and temperature (40-80 degrees C) conditions. Synthesised geopolymers have been characterised with regard to their leaching behaviour, following the DIN 38414-S4 [DIN 38414-S4, Determination of leachability by water (S4), group S: sludge and sediments.

Intermediates in assembly by photoactivation after thermally accelerated disassembly of the manganese complex of photosynthetic water oxidation.

The Mn4Ca complex bound to photosystem II (PSII) is the active site of photosynthetic water oxidation. Its assembly involves binding and light-driven oxidation of manganese, a process denoted as photoactivation. The disassembly of the Mn complex is a thermally activated process involving distinct intermediates.

Bromide does not bind to the Mn4Ca complex in its S1 state in Cl(-)-depleted and Br(-)-reconstituted oxygen-evolving photosystem II: evidence from X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Br K-edge.

Chloride is an important cofactor in photosynthetic water oxidation. It can be replaced by bromide with retention of the oxygen-evolving activity of photosystem II (PSII). Binding of bromide to the Mn(4)Ca complex of PSII in its dark-stable S(1) state was studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Br K-edge in Cl(-)-depleted and Br(-)-substituted PSII membrane particles from spinach.

Primary meningeal Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of primary meningeal high grade Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A 38-year-old Caucasian man, with a negative past medical history, sought treatment after experiencing global headache for five days. CT-Scan revealed a right front-temporo-parietal hyperdense subdural expansive mass.

Photosynthetic O2 formation tracked by time-resolved x-ray experiments.

Plants and cyanobacteria produce atmospheric dioxygen from water, powered by sunlight and catalyzed by a manganese complex in photosystem II. A classic S-cycle model for oxygen evolution involves five states, but only four have been identified. The missing S4 state is particularly important because it is directly involved in dioxygen formation.

[Applicability of the new law of State and Regional Agreement on management of swimming pools].

The Authors carried out a survey on private and public managers of 80 Italian swimming pools to evaluate the hygienic aspects and safety of the swimming pools. Participants were submitted to a set of questions about the modifications recently brought to the Act on management of the swimming pools during 2003. The study showed a poor knowledge about the hygienic-safety parameters, in particular of chlorine doses, range of temperature and frequency of daily turnover of the swimming pool water.

Specific loss of the extrinsic 18 KDa protein from photosystem II upon heating to 47 degrees C causes inactivation of oxygen evolution likely due to Ca release from the Mn-complex.

Exposure of Photosystem II (PS II) membrane particles from spinach to a temperature of 47 degrees C caused the rapid release of the 18 kDa protein in parallel to inactivation of oxygen evolution. Previously, it has been suggested that the first heat-jump response involves rapid Ca release from the Mn complex of O2-evolution, followed by the slower release of (2 + 2) MnII ions [Pospisil P et al. (2003) Biophys J 84: 1370-1386].

Endomyocardial biopsy foretells ventricular function recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Patients with ischemic heart failure may benefit from coronary artery bypass grafting. The histopathological variables associated with improvement in ejection fraction 6 months after surgery were assessed.

Methods: This study comprised 24 patients indicated for coronary artery bypass grafting, ejection fraction < 35%, functional class II-IV heart failure, and mean age 59 +/- 9 years.

On the alcohol- and water-catalyzed tautomerization of vitamins K1- and K2-derived quinone methide intermediates.

Rates of conversion of 1,3-quinone methides into the corresponding 1,2-quinone methide tautomers, formed upon laser-flash excitation of vitamins K(1) and K(2) in CH(3)CN solutions, were determined in the presence of hydroxylic solvents (ROH; R = H, alkyl). In all cases, the tautomerization process is accelerated in the presence of ROH, and the corresponding observed rate constants show a cubed dependence on ROH concentration. This high-order dependency is attributed to a proton-relay transfer involving 3 equiv of ROH in each case.

[Pulmonary schistosoma nodule simulating neoplasia: case report].

Healthy patient in which during ordinary examination a pulmonary schistosomotic nodule with an adult parasite, was detected 25 years far from endemic region and after specific treatment with oxamniquine. Clinically the nodule simulated neoplasia.

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve restores motility in an animal model of achalasia.

Esophageal peristalsis generally does not return to normal after surgical treatment of achalasia. Direct electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve is known to stimulate antegrade peristalsis in the normal esophagus; however, it is not known whether electrical stimulation will induce return of peristalsis once an achalasia-like disorder has been established. The objective of this study was to perform quantitive and qualitative measurements of motility during electrical stimulation of the vagal nerve in an animal model of achalasia.

Right ventricular bronchogenic cyst.

We report an exceedingly rare case of primary bronchogenic cyst in the outflow tract of the right ventricle in a 48-year-old woman. In our review of the world literature, we found only 1 other report of an intracardiac bronchogenic cyst. Our patient's only symptom was mild dyspnea not associated with physical exertion, and the cyst was resected successfully.

Substituent effects on the thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of 1,3-diphenyltriazenes in aqueous solution.

The thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of some symmetrically p,p'-disubstituted 1,3-diphenyltriazenes has been studied by means of laser-flash photolysis techniques. The geometric isomerization is catalyzed by general acids and general bases as a result of acid/base-promoted 1,3-prototropic rearrangements. Acid catalysis becomes more prominent as the electron-donating character of the para substituent increases, while base catalysis becomes more important as the electron-withdrawing character of the para substituent increases.

Fetal myocardial hypertrophy in an experimental model of gestational diabetes.

Introduction: The frequent occurrence of prenatal hypertrophy of the muscular ventricular septum has been widely reported in fetuses of diabetic mothers.

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to test the hypothesis that the weight of the heart, the ratio of the cardiac weight to that of the body, the thickness of the muscular ventricular septum, and the myocytic profile within the ventricular septum are all increased in fetuses of diabetic rats in comparison to fetuses of normal rats.

Methods: Diabetes was induced in 5 pregnant Wistar rats, bearing 30 fetuses, on the eighth day after conception, by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin.

On the Mechanism of the Acid/Base-Catalyzed Thermal Cis-Trans Isomerization of Methyl Orange.

The thermal cis-trans isomerization of methyl orange (i.e., sodium 4-[4'-(dimethylamino)phenylazo]benzenesulfonate) in acidic aqueous solutions has been investigated by means of laser-flash photolysis techniques.

Kinetic studies on the thermal cis-trans isomerization of 1, 3-diphenyltriazene in aqueous solution. Effects Of acids and bases.

The thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of 1,3-diphenyltriazene (DPT) has been investigated in buffered aqueous solutions by means of laser-flash photolysis techniques. The cis-to-trans isomerization process is found to be catalyzed by general acids and general bases as a result of acid/base-promoted 1,3-prototropic rearrangements. Acid catalysis is attributed to rate-limiting proton transfer to the nitrogen-nitrogen double bond of cis-DPT, whereas base catalysis is attributed to rate-limiting base-promoted ionization of the amino nitrogen of cis-DPT leading to the isomerization.

[Stomach rupture due to barotrauma (a report of the 13th case since 1969)].

The thirteenth case of rupture of the stomach after a diving accident since 1969 is reported. This rare event was caused by equipment failure and panic reaction, which induced swallowing air during diving and consequential gas expansion in gastric cavity meanwhile the rapid ascent. Peritoneal decompression by paracentesis quickly improved the patient's condition and the following surgical laparotomy revealed a gastric tear along the lesser curvature, which was closed by suturing.

[Emergency surgery in inflammatory bowel disease. Experience in 26 cases].

Background: The emergency surgical treatment of inflammatory chronic bowel diseases is closely related to the classification of patients according to their symptoms and clinical conditions, as well as possible surgical options. In our study, an actual set of criteria is proposed for the classification of the degree of seriousness of symptoms, related to patient conditions, and applicable surgical strategies.

Methods: Retrospectively evaluation of the outcome of the disease has been performed over 26 patients undergoing emergency treatment in our Hospital, and with at least 5 years of follow-up.

[Balanced beta--alpha-blocker treatment with carvedilol in mild-moderate arterial hypertension].

The search for the ideal antihypertensive drug is ongoing. Carvedilol is a new beta-adrenoceptor antagonist which also causes peripheral vasodilation primarily via alpha 1-adrenergic blockade. Twenty patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and previous intolerance and side effects to other antihypertensive drugs were studied.

[Our experience with the surgical treatment of carcinoma of the colon].

The Authors analyze a series of 441 patients affected by carcinoma of the colon operated on between June 1980 and November 1993. The incidence of the different stages of the disease according to Dukes resulted comparable to that reported in the literature as well as the incidence of morbidity and mortality. Recostruction was performed in all cases with mechanical sutures (T-L for the right colon and L-T for the left colon) and without protection enterostomy.

[The therapy of the liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma].

The treatment of liver metastases should be addressed in a multidisciplinary way, considering the manifold therapeutic options available, for each of which corresponds a particular indication. The best results are obtainable with resective surgery in cases in which there is a partial involvement of the liver (25-50%) and a variable intra-hepatic distribution (monolobar), situations that correspond to Gennari stages I and II. In the authors' experience, the extent of the liver resection does not influence possible survival and oncologically correct resections should be carried out such as segmentectomies, pluri-segmentectomies or wedge resection in compliance with the principle of removing at least 1.