Wetting and tribological properties of ionic liquids.

A phenomenological study of the surface-wetting and tribological properties of various ionic liquids was conducted using molecular dynamics simulations. The surface-wetting capabilities of the liquids were studied by simulating the morphological transformation of an isolated liquid drop in vacuum to its equilibrium state on solid surface. The tribological properties of the liquids were probed examining their flow behaviors and viscosities in computational lubrication experiments.

Effect of acute increase in blood pressure on intraocular pressure in pigs and humans.

Purpose: To study the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of a sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) and of changes in partial pressure of CO(2) (pCO(2)).

Methods: Two experimental studies were conducted: in pigs (n = 7), where BP was reduced by intravenous injection of sodium nitroprusside and increased by injection of angiotensin II; and in humans (n = 17 healthy subjects), where BP was increased by two types of isometric exercise (squatting and handgripping) performed for 2 minutes; IOP and pCO(2) were measured every 30 seconds during separate tests (rest, hyperventilation, isometric exercise) and then after 1, 3, 6, and 10 minutes of rest.

Results: In pigs, there is a linear relationship between BP and IOP variations: DeltaIOP = 1.

[Ultrasound imaging in the management of endophthalmitis].

Endophthalmitis is a major complication of surgery or trauma that may need an echographic evaluation by a general ophthalmologist in emergency. Echography is also useful for the therapeutic management of endophthalmitis. This review gives a general view of ocular lesions seen in this context (hyalitis, choroidal or retinal detachment, lens dislocation, intraocular foreign body, cellulitis).

[Serum levels of interferon-gamma and interleukine-10 in anemic children with vitamin A deficiency].

Studies done with human and animals have shown that the diminished vitamin A intake can produce anemia, but the ethiopathogenic mechanism hasn't been known due to the few studies about the complex interactions between micronutrients deficiencies, immune system and cytokine productions. The objective of the present study was to analyze the serum concentration of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in anemic and non anemic children according to vitamin A nutritional status. A descriptive study of 53 euthrophic children, without infectious diseases (45-77 month old; 29 girls, 24 boys), living in a slum in Maracaibo-Venezuela.

Structural patterns of injured mitochondria in human oedematous cerebral cortex.

Primary Objective: Cerebral cortical biopsies of 37 patients with clinical diagnosis of congenital malformations, brain trauma and tumours were studied to establish mitochondrial morphological alterations.

Methods And Procedures: Cortical biopsies obtained in the surgical room were immediately processed by conventional technique for transmission electron microscopy.

Results: Three injured mitochondrial morphological patterns were found: swollen clear, (SCM), swollen dense (SDM) and dark degenerated (DDM) mitochondria.