Conversion of carbon black recovered from waste tires into activated carbon chemical/microwave methods for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater.

In this research study, recovered carbon black (rCB) was obtained pyrolysis of waste tires. The obtained rCB was then converted into activated carbon species through both chemical treatment and microwave coupled with chemical treatment as a two-step activation process. The activated carbon obtained from chemical activation was denoted as C-AC, while that obtained from exposure to microwave followed by chemical activation was labeled as MC-AC.

Natural Reading in Parkinson's Disease With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) show eye movement abnormalities and frequently complain about difficulties in reading. So far, it is unclear whether basal ganglia dysfunction or cognitive impairment has a greater impact on eye movements during reading. To analyze eye movement behavior during a natural reading task with respect to cognitive state and dopaminergic therapy in PD and healthy controls.

Meta-analysis of endoscopic versus sublabial pituitary surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine whether the endoscopic or sublabial transseptal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary surgery has superior outcomes or decreased complication rates.

Study Design: Retrospective meta-analysis of literature.

Methods: A MEDLINE search was conducted identifying all relevant literature in the English language from 1998 through 2010.

Protein surface characterization using an invariant descriptor.

Aim. To develop a new invariant descriptor for the characterization of protein surfaces, suitable for various analysis tasks, such as protein functional classification, and search and retrieval of protein surfaces over a large database. Methods.

Clinical review: Ectopic cervical thyroid carcinoma--review of the literature with illustrative case series.

Context: More than 99% of thyroid cancers arise eutopically within the thyroid gland. The most frequent sites of ectopic thyroid tissue are lingual, sublingual, thyroglossal, laryngotracheal, and lateral cervical. Thyroid tissue can also be found in remote structures that were associated with the thyroid anlage during development, including the esophagus, mediastinum, heart, aorta, adrenal, pancreas, gallbladder, and skin.

Magnetic acupressure for management of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a preliminary study.

Background: To assess the efficacy of magnetic acupressure in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients were included in this randomized, double blind, preliminary prospective study. Thirty-three underwent ear, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures and twenty-five underwent gynaecological procedures.

Clinical experience with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema.

Objectives: To understand the presentation and clinical course of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-induced angioedema and to determine management factors associated with progression to airway compromise.

Study Design And Setting: Retrospective chart review of patients taking ACE inhibitors who presented to the emergency department with angioedema between December 1999 and July 2004 (n = 228). Clinical presentation, treatment, and clinical course were analyzed.

Bronchogenic cysts of the neck in adults.

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital sacs that result from maldevelopment of the primitive foregut. Although they occur predominantly in the chest, there are reports of lesions in extrathoracic locations. The majority of reported bronchogenic cysts located in the neck are found in the pediatric population; a review of the literature reveals few reports of bronchogenic cysts of the neck among adults.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to present four cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastatic to the head and neck, to recognize the appearance on radiographic studies, to understand the importance of preoperative embolization, and to review the results of treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with metastatic RCC to the head and neck.

Methods: The records of four patients diagnosed with metastatic RCC at a tertiary medical center over a 5-year period from 1996 to 2001 were reviewed and analyzed for demographic and outcomes data.

Angioedema associated with angiotensin II receptor antagonists: challenging our knowledge of angioedema and its etiology.

Introduction: Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors has long been associated with angioedema. Increased levels of bradykinin caused by the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme have been thought to be responsible for this side effect. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AT2 blockers), such as losartan potassium (Cozaar; Merck & Co.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema: a multicenter review and an algorithm for airway management.

Angioedema is a nonpitting edema of which the presentation ranges from benign facial swelling to airway obstruction managed by intubation or tracheotomy. The presentation of this disease is reviewed, and a treatment algorithm based on initial signs and symptoms is proposed for proper airway management. We performed a retrospective review of 108 patients treated in 2 tertiary care centers in the Washington, DC, area over a 5-year period.

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and thyroid disease.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration represents a critical diagnostic test in determining proper management of thyroid disease and the use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (USGFNA) has increased over the years.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing USGFNA. Two hundred fifteen patients underwent 234 procedures with 362 nodules aspirated within a 2 (1/2)-year period.

Tall cell variant: an aggressive form of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Twenty-four cases of the tall cell variant (TCV), a subset of papillary thyroid carcinoma, were identified in a group of 624 patients with thyroid cancer. All pathology specimens were reviewed, and each patient's carcinoma was categorized according to characteristics on presentation, local recurrence, distant metastases, follow-up, and tumor-related mortality. The TCV group was compared with a historical control group (Mazzaferri and Jhiang: 1355 patients).